In 1922, when WGL-AM became the first radio station in Philadelphia, many considered the medium a fad. Even in 1937, a hit song written by George Gershwin, Our Love Is Here To Stay, proclaimed radio to be a "passing fancy and in time may go".
Philadelphia radio, however, has survived the advent of talking-movies, television, eight tracks, and cassettes in stereo. More recently, radio has withstood a tsunami of digital options including, YouTube, SiriusXM, Pandora, and Spotify.
As the Coronavirus pandemic rolls over into a second year, Philadelphia radio has hung tough and not ceded its ground despite listener's shifting lifestyles. This is crucial news for small business owners who depend on local stations to market their goods and services.
Each week, according to Nielsen, Philadelphia radio reaches more Delaware Valley consumers than all other local advertising options. More than local TV and local cable. More than streaming video options like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. And more than online audio platforms like Pandora and Spotify.
Radio's dominance in the media universe is not only true in Philadelphia. It is a fact across the country as well.
Last week, Nielsen released its latest survey of America's media consumption. The research reveals that consumers still prefer local radio over television and digital options.
At the onset of the pandemic, as many local consumers abandoned their daily commutes and sheltered at home, they took their favorite Philadelphia radio stations with them.
Historically, radio's strength was among Delaware Valley consumers who listened away from home. But that shifted to at-home listening during the worst days of the pandemic. As listeners begin to return to the roads, their favorite stores, and their offices, radio is going back with them.
Despite the shift in listening locations, the amount of time consumers spend with Philadelphia radio has remained remarkably consistent. According to the most recent Nielsen research, the time adults allot to radio listening is back to pre-pandemic levels.
Philadelphia radio's resiliency during the pandemic is encouraging to local business owners who depend on local media to drive sales.
Between April 30 and May 27 of last year, the darkest days of the pandemic, Nielsen analyzed the sales results of a retailer who conducted an advertising campaign during that period using both radio and TV.*
According to Nielsen, during the campaign period, the retailer experienced a 6.2% increase in sales growth. The majority of the increase came from households where consumers were exposed to the advertising campaign.
When Nielsen looked at how each advertising medium contributed to sales growth, the consumers who were exposed only to the retailer's radio commercials were three times more likely to make a purchase than those exposed only to television advertising.
Overall, according to Nielsen, people who were exposed to only the retailer's radio commercials represented only 20% of all advertising impressions. However, these same consumers were responsible for 42% of the sales increases.
This is the bottom-line of this study for any Philadelphia small business owner who is struggling with where to place their limited marketing budgets. Radio produces the strongest increase in sales for every dollar invested. In this Nielsen study, the retailer earned a $28,000 increase in sales for every $1000 spent.
These findings confirm 21 previous studies by Nielsen, which demonstrate that, on average, radio advertising returns $10,000 in advertising for every $1000 invested. The chart below shows the range of returns from each study.
Radio advertising has helped Philadelphia business small business owners survive wars, depressions, recessions, and natural disasters. Clearly, a worldwide pandemic is no match for radio's strength, either.
More Advertising Advice For Philadelphia Small Business Owners
- OTT & CTV: Who Watches Streaming Video In Philadelphia?
- Philadelphia Homeowners Plan To Spend Stimulus Cash On Improvements
- Does Anyone Listen To Philadelphia Radio At Night?
- Grab A Larger Share Of Philadelphia's Accelerating Retail Spending
- Advertise in Philadelphia: How Local Consumers Use The Internet?
*Research Commissioned By Cumulus | Westwood One
