Radio Advertising picks up, and internet/smart phone ratings now a reality

Briefing by Inside Radio

Radio looks to shake off slow 2013 start in Q2.

The slow plod of advertising sales in first quarter rarely gives station managers a good feeling, but this year the soft beginning to the year proved to be as much reality as perception. With today’s start of the critical second quarter — with the big-billing months of May and June — the pace of advertising sales is showing signs of improvement, especially in larger markets.

Salem creates Christian web radio portal.

Salem Communications has quietly built one of the biggest digital businesses in radio during the past three years by focusing on its target of Christian programming. In the fourth quarter, 17% of company revenue came from its online business. In a move that will merge broadcast and digital, Salem is launching ChristianRadio.com, a portal for its music and conservative talk content.

Reports: AM/FM captures one-fifth of media usage.

Two different studies paint a remarkably similar picture of radio’s place on today’s ever-widening media landscape. Independently they conclude AM/FM radio captures one-fifth of media usage.

Internet beats radio to cross-platform measurement.

The online world appears to have solved the cross-measurement conundrum with the introduction of comScore’s Media Metrix Multi-Platform service. The company says its new internet measurement product delivers a “unified view” of desktop, smartphone and tablet audiences. The development is already helping one radio group.