From the opening session on radio’s financial future hosted by Marci Ryvicker, to the closing discussion with Bob Pittman and David Field, Radio Ink’s Forecast 2019 event was our best so far, and we’ve been doing this for 16 years now.
Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti said, “There’s a saying that there’s something special about ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and this year’s Forecast certainly lived up to the adage. Thanks to a stellar lineup and great participation by so many, both on stage and in the audience, this is a Forecast that will be talked about for months to come. And hopefully, the information and ideas shared exclusively in that conference room will help guide and prompt a lot of direction for the industry in the year ahead.
The general feeling from speakers, panelists, and attendees is that the future is bright for radio. Many see the growth of streaming, smart speakers, and podcasting as an opportunity for radio, as the audience for audio consumption continues to grow with these additional platforms.
There still needs to be ongoing education with the ad community, about the power of radio, if revenue is going to grow at a decent clip without the push of political. And we heard that while the auto category continues to struggle, the sports gambling category could be big for radio. ESPN’s Traug Keller said, “This is bigger than people think. The numbers coming out of New Jersey are staggering.”
How do we get every advertising agency CEO to believe in radio as Havas Media Group North America CEO Colin Kinsella believes? “Radio has more penetrating power than any other medium.” Kinsella suggested to the Forecast full house that we take all the young radio buyers to Columbus and have them drive around in traffic so they can appreciate radio.
2019 Forecast co-chair Caroline Beasley said, ““It was a honor and a privilege to be a part of such an inspiring event focused on innovation as we collectively focus on the future of our industry.”
Look for pictures from the event on our Facebook page soon and in the next issue of Radio Ink Magazine.
And, reserve this date everyone — November 20, 2019 — and join us at the Harvard Club in New York City.
