NAB Sounds Off On SoundExchange-Backed Radio Report

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RBR+TVBR on Wednesday provided an exclusive analysis of a new report from a professor of Music Business at New York University-Steinhardt Department of Music & Performing Arts Professions who declares that “broadcast radio is struggling to remain relevant as consumers embrace streaming platforms.”


The NAB’s EVP/Communications, Dennis Wharton, immediately responded to the White Paper from Larry Miller, the first-ever Production Manager for WHTZ-FM “Z100″ in New York.

“Since its inception, critics of broadcast radio have mistakenly forecast its demise,” Wharton says. “This silly Steinhart report – backed by SoundExchange (a group bankrolled in part by giant record labels pushing a radio ‘performance tax’) – continues that tradition. Contrary to the report’s conclusions, millennials are not abandoning local radio. According to Nielsen, millennials are listening in greater numbers than ever before, not just to over-the-air programming, but also to local radio on digital platforms. Every week, 265 million Americans tune into hometown radio stations for their favorite songs, to discover new artists, and to hear legacy artists whose careers have been sustained by local radio airplay.”

He continues, “Most importantly, radio’s unique role as a local medium allows stations to provide listeners with relevant news, community programming and lifeline emergency weather information – day in and day out. Radio stations are committed to providing consumers with our unique service wherever they are, whether online, on mobile devices, on smart speakers or in the connected car. Make no mistake – local radio will be powerful entertainment medium for decades to come.”

Wharton also offered “point-by-point” analysis that seeks to refute several claims made in the NYU-Steinhart report from Miller:

  • New research confirms that Generation Z, who are projected to account for 40% of all consumers in the U.S. by 2020, are showing little interest in traditional media, including radio, having grown up in an on-demand digital environment.

Wharton referenced data from iHeartRadio noting that radio is hugely popular with teens, with 81% saying it will always be part of their lives. Additionally, radio connects with 9 in 10 teen and is key for discovery. Further, some 75% of Generation Zers said they use radio to find new music and two-thirds rely on radio to uncover new products, movies and events.

  • AM/FM radio is in the midst of a massive drop off as a music discovery tool by younger generations.

A study by Nielsen in 2015 found that 59% of millennials chose AM/FM radio and satellite radio as their preferred choice for discovering new music, Wharton notes. In addition, 87.9% of Americans aged 12-17 turn to radio each weekly, and they spend nearly 10 hours a week listening to local radio.. Even when they use streaming services to find new songs, younger generations continue tuning into radio to listen to their favorite music.

  • By 2020, 75% of new cars are expected to be “connected,” breaking radio’s monopoly on the car dashboard and relegating AM/FM to just one of a series of audio options behind the wheel.

Broadcasters understand that the connected car, and self-driving cars, will offer challenges and opportunities for radio stations to retain our supremacy on the in-car dashboard, says Wharton. “For example, we’ve devoted the opening session of the 2017 Radio Show to the connected car and exploring the opportunities surrounding these trends. Yet, we believe the relationship between radio and the automobile is an enduring one, and consumers seem to agree. Just take a look at the blowbackagainst auto manufacturers when they removed AM radio from electric cars because of interference concerns. There is a reason three-fourths of all adults tune into the radio in their vehicle every week.”

  • Year over year, radio advertising revenue dropped 4% while digital/mobile spend was up 11% according to Standard Media Index’s Q2 2017 report, showing that even in local advertising, radio cannot sustain its dominance.

Radio revenues are cyclical and vary widely market-by-market, Wharton notes.

“As studies have shown, radio actually offers advertisers the highest return on investment out of any media platform,” he says. “Factor in the controversy surrounding the waste, fraud and abuse in the online digital advertising space, radio has a unique opportunity in front of it. You now have execs at major advertisers expressing concern with fraudulent airplay, ads ending up on questionable websites, and consumers paying no attention to online ads. Advertisers will find none of that on broadcast radio.”

  •  Notwithstanding the digital radio platform developed by iHeartRADIO, for which the payment of a performance royalty is required, broadcast radio does not pay a sound recording performance royalty to artists and rights owners. Economists have concluded that innovation has stalled out, because, in general, the business remains focused on driving EBITDA through reduced content cost (no sound recording royalty obligation) as a result of government price suppression (to $0) by current public policy.

“Currently, 206 Members of the House of Representatives and 23 Senators agree with their hometown broadcasters that there is a mutually beneficial relationship between local radio and the music industry and have signed onto a resolution opposing a performance royalty,” Wharton notes.

  • As a result, radio’s importance to music industry revenue is rapidly diminishing. In a business now driven by access to music versus ownership, record labels have shifted their focus to digital platforms to introduce new artists and monetize back catalog.

“Apparently, no one told the record labels this,” Wharton retorts. “Radio continues to play an important role for the music industry in helping new artists get discovered and established artists remain in the limelight. Countless artists and record label executives have praised local broadcast radio for its role in exposing the public to new music, driving album and merchandise sales, and filling concert venues.”

RBR+TVBR

1 COMMENT

  1. Nielsen’s audio data is best in class and is the industry accepted currency for the buying and selling of radio advertising. Our gold-standard panels and surveys fully represent the marketplace and provide comprehensive and representative measurement of consumer usage of Radio.

    We strongly disagree with the report by NYU’s Steinhardt Music Business Program as referenced in yesterday’s article.

    In Nielsen’s latest Total Audience Report 2017, Q1 data shows that Generation Z spent over 35 hours per month listening to AM/FM radio and 88% of Generation Z use radio each week. Meanwhile, Nielsen’s Ethnic Audio Today report cites that nearly 75 million weekly radio consumers are Black and Hispanic – up from 73 million a year prior.

    Millions of Americans rely on radio for information and entertainment every week. Nielsen data affirms radio’s continued vitality. In the face of a constantly shifting media landscape, radio continues to have the broadest weekly reach among all media.

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