Cumulus Media’s access to Nielsen’s national radio ratings is on course to end Sept. 10, with Nielsen telling a federal judge that extending the current arrangement is not commercially workable even as the companies remain locked in a court fight over a new deal. “Nielsen considered in good faith whether it could extend Cumulus access to Nielsen’s current Nationwide report beyond September 10, 2026,” the ratings company tells a federal court. “Unfortunately, it is not commerc

Based on several research studies, including a new one from Google and brand tracking firm Tracksuit, increasing brand awareness can drive share of search, which can in turn increase market share. “The earlier you invest in brand, the greater the return,” the Google/Tracksuit report says. “That’s not a feeling. That’s return on awareness.” In the new global study, which analyzed 31 brands across 15 categories, Tracksuit conducted always-on tracking of awareness, consideratio

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez says she wants to remain on the commission, despite spending much of her tenure as its lone Democrat publicly challenging some of the agency’s most consequential decisions. Gomez’s term expired at the end of June, but she remains under a carryover provision that could allow her to serve through the end of 2027 unless another commissioner is nominated and confirmed by the Senate. “I’d love to be reconfirmed, and I have supporters in the Senate, whic

Podcast advertisers that remain focused on reach and low CPMs may be missing the medium’s biggest advantage, says Earmax Media co-founder Andy Maxwell. He argues that podcast campaigns should instead be built around conversions, well-defined communities, and creative that gives listeners a reason to act. Appearing on the podcast “PodBiz,” Maxwell says some brands continue to approach podcast inventory as part of a broader digital audio buy, emphasizing how many people they ca

Ideastream Public Media Chief Content Officer Mark A. Rosenberger and General Manager Jenny Northern will retire Oct. 1 after decades of service to public media in Northeast Ohio. The two longtime executives have played key roles in shaping Ideastream’s content and broadcast operations as the organization expanded across television, radio and digital platforms. “Mark and Jenny have dedicated many years of extraordinary service to public media and have had a lasting impact on

Triton Digital and RCS are looking to move programmatic radio advertising beyond the largest broadcast groups by replacing the hardware traditionally used to insert programmatic commercials with a direct software connection to stations’ playout systems. The companies are integrating Triton’s programmatic platform with RCS’s Zetta automation software, allowing stations to choose which over-the-air commercial slots they want to make available to programmatic buyers. “This is su

Holiday shopping is starting earlier, and iHeartMedia says advertisers can use audio to reach consumers during the inspiration and consideration phases of the season rather than waiting for the December buying rush. According to iHeartMedia, 60% of holiday shoppers begin purchasing at least two months before the season reaches its peak. The company says that makes early fall an important period for brands seeking to build awareness and influence purchase decisions. Audio can

While religion – including stations featuring religious teaching, hymns and other related content – has been the most-programmed format in the U.S. since February of this year, passing longtime champ country, country has managed to reverse its steady decline in total stations since December of last year, according to Inside Radio/PrecisionTrak’s latest monthly station counts. While country shed 44 stations from December 2025 to July 2026, it added four in August, marking the

Audacy says it remains committed to working with smaller and independent podcasters, but how it will do that is evolving. The company has announced it will wind down the operations of Audacy Creator Lab on Nov. 1. “It’s a very small part of our overall podcasting business where we continue to see and invest in growth,” an Audacy spokesperson says. “We’re exploring new ways to support independent creators, and our immediate priority is ensuring a smooth transition for our curr

A podcast trailer study that found authenticity and clarity often matter more than slick production is getting a second look, with “Trailer Park: The Podcast Trailer Podcast” launching a three-part miniseries that moves beyond the research findings to how creators can put them to work. The series debuts today (Aug. 28) and builds on research conducted this spring by Coleman Insights in partnership with NOVA Entertainment, Pantheon Podcasts and Arielle Nissenblatt, host of “Tr