By Bob McCurdy -

In the dark. It’s not a good place for any of us to be when it comes to understanding radio’s impact, role, and value it can bring to a media plan. With Nielsen’s Commspoint, we can avoid the dark and shed light on exactly how radio stacks up against 70 other media options available to advertisers.
Last week, I worked with an agency that was interested in understanding how various media channels performed against their client’s media objectives. The advertiser was targeting 18-49 adults who frequented quick-service restaurants (QSR) across several markets in a single state.
The media objectives were to “build reach quickly” (get the word out), “control messaging by time of day and day of week” (breakfast and lunch specials), “generate heavy frequency” (share of voice), “target by MSA” (specific test markets), while enabling consumers to “visualize the product” (looks delicious).

It was also critical to communicate that the advertised item was a “good-tasting, high-quality” product with the ultimate media goal being to generate “awareness” and ultimately “trial.”
Take a few minutes to peruse the chart below and check out how the various media channels performed against the media tasks and tactics referenced above. Also take note as to how AM/FM radio performed against various digital and mobile media options.

To quickly refresh, Commspoint results are derived from an in-depth U.S. consumer survey that quantifies each media channel’s suitability to deliver against certain media tasks and a media expert panel that quantifies each media channel’s ability to execute against various media tactics. This tool is the backbone for the vast majority of channel planning done in the ad industry.

A few quick observations:
– AM/FM radio ranked #2 out of 71 media channels evaluated, and radio’s overall score was 83% of TV’s (62.6/75.8). Note, this doesn’t take into consideration each medium’s “pricing” but does take into consideration each medium’s reach potential. With “pricing” factored in, the gap between radio and TV would likely be even smaller.

– Radio contests/promotion, a channel which is often requested by agencies and clients in RFPs as added value, ranked as the 5th most effective channel in this analysis.
– AM/FM radio’s overall impact was 37% greater than digital online audio (Pandora, Spotify).
– AM/FM radio’s overall impact was 18% greater than YouTube desktop and mobile.
– AM/FM radio’s overall impact was 26% greater than Facebook mobile or desktop ads.
– AM/FM radio’s overall impact was 7% greater than mobile video.
Note bad for a medium that’s been around for a century.

The media channels highlighted in yellow are audio channels we offer. Those highlighted in blue are media channels that we can mobilize for any advertiser interested in a cross-platform campaign. It’s important that we effectively highlight more than our on-air assets, as we can provide advertisers with sampling opportunities, mobile advertising, event involvement, e-blasts, professional recommendations in the form of DJ endorsements, mobile texts, and participation in experiential events, all of which can enhance any marketing effort.

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Keep in mind that each Commspoint analysis is unique as it is based on the designated target as well as the respective weighting assigned to the various tasks and tactics.
We have done dozens of similar analyses involving automotive, retail, and other categories, and in just about every instance, where the ultimate goal is “awareness,” “consideration,” or “trial,” AM/FM radio shines. And while some of the new media perform quite well, AM/FM radio’s star, more often than not, shines brighter.

The media landscape is in constant flux, requiring all of us in advertising, both on the sales and buying/planning side, to re-evaluate what we “think” we “know.” Commspoint can help with this effort.