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  • Powerful Phrases that Motivate

    • 04/16/2019
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: baseball, branding, Chicago Cubs, coaching, management, radio programming
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    Over the years I’ve spent a lot (LOT!) of time watching and talking baseball. It’s not only because of my love of the game, but because – for me – baseball has valuable lessons for life and for radio. Over the years I’ve shared many things baseball has taught me – especially things that are

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  • What Can Radio Learn from Online Shoppers?

    • 03/14/2019
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: country radio programming, radio programming, Talent
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    2018 was another big year for online shopping. Holiday spending alone totaled more than 120-billion dollars. Worldwide e-commerce this year is expected to reach 3.45-trillion dollars. So what drives online shopping satisfaction? And what can radio learn from online shoppers? According to more than 1300 US online shoppers, here’s what makes a great shopping experience:

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  • Do More with Less by Empowering Your Superfans

    • 03/03/2019
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: branding, marketing, Nielsen ratings, radio programming
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    Doing more with less has been radio’s new normal for a while now. Every aspect of a station is impacted, but especially when it comes to growing an audience and fan base. If you have a marketing budget to help you out, awesome. Use it wisely. However if you don’t, there’s still a place to

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  • Radio’s Future Is Calling. Answer or Ignore?

    • 02/18/2019
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: Audience Research, country radio programming, teens and radio
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    Anytime there’s an opportunity to learn something, I want to be there. And I assume that most of you feel the same way. But there are times when radio’s future sends a text or makes a call to someone who ignores the outreach. What a missed opportunity. Today’s Facts and Opportunities and their impact on

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  • It Only Takes Two Things to be “In the Moment”

    • 01/31/2019
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: country radio programming, radio programming
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    Being in the moment is powerful for any station (or business). Fortunately it requires just two things.

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  • Roadmap Through the Years: 5 Key Radio Listener Trends

    • 01/22/2019
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: Uncategorized
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    As radio professionals, we’re trend experts. We trend ratings, sales, music call out and more so we can get a handle on what’s going on and to find competitive advantages that lie ahead. And hopefully Listener Trends are in your list as well. One of our favorite trending projects at A&O&B involves our annual online

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  • Formats with the Most Momentum Entering 2019 – Plus One Hack to Help You Prosper

    • 01/09/2019
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: Uncategorized
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    Two years ago we started a new annual post: “Formats With the Most Momentum Going into the New Year.” We use Nielsen’s Tops of 2018: Radio report for the data which looks at the 10 leading formats (shares) in PPM markets from January to November. They are broken out for 6+, 18-34 and 25-54. By

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  • A&O&B’s Year End Music Rewind: Was Country Music in 2018 A Bit Squirrelly?

    • 12/18/2018
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: country music, country radio programming, radio programming
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    Country music in 2018 was a mixed bag. Some might say it was even a bit squirrelly. But before we get to all of that, here are the Top 15 songs for 2018 based on A&O&B’s research scores and airplay recommendations:   RANK ARTIST TITLE Final LAL Callout Final Positive 1 Brown, Kane Heaven 1

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  • Is Alexa Still Radio’s Friend?

    • 12/07/2018
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: air talent, Alexa
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    With the latest upgrade, Alexa is lobbying to replace your station’s music director. OK, that’s a little over the top. However the software is now allowing a back and forth with device owners who are Amazon Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers. The goal is to create for them more personalized playlists.  Additional dialogue is

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  • Tagline Thinking: 5 Ways to Create A Competitive Advantage

    • 11/29/2018
    • Posted by: Mike O'Malley
    • Category: branding, radio programming
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    One way to find out how a brand wants to be perceived is to check its tagline. A strong tagline needs to be relevant and meaningful to the target. A good one, like Wal-Mart’s “Save money. Live better,” is helpful in defining who you are as a brand and what you’re famous for. Such taglines

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