Google’s AI Overview is a year old and has generated sharp reductions in organic and paid search clicks. Advertisers must prioritize top of funnel advertising so they can “be known before they’re needed.” Key findings: As a result of Google’s AI Overviews, search traffic is down sharply and maintaining it now costs significantly more than

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A new case study from Katz Radio Group suggests radio advertising can play a significant role in motivating homeowners to explore short-term hosting opportunities tied to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. The study, featured in Katz Radio’s Sound Answers blog, examined how audio advertising influenced consumer attitudes and intent for a global travel marketplace

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BridgeRatings: Dave Van Dyke, dvd@bridgeratings.com For decades, radio sounded like people. Not brands. Not positioning statements. Not carefully filtered messaging strategies. People. Stations had personalities. Cities had identities. Air talent sounded like human beings living in the same world as the audience. Even when radio was polished, it still felt alive. Somewhere along the way,

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A new study commissioned by Cumulus Media and Westwood One highlights how long-term AM/FM radio advertising helped Henkle’s Ace Hardware build strong brand awareness and customer loyalty in Joplin, Missouri. The research, conducted by Quantilope in January 2026 among 150 consumers in Joplin, found Henkle’s Ace Hardware ranked third in unaided brand awareness behind national

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Triton Digital announced an expanded integration of its Sounder.AI contextual targeting and brand suitability tools within The Trade Desk programmatic advertising platform, aimed at improving podcast ad targeting and campaign optimization. The enhanced integration gives advertisers access to activation-ready audience segments powered by Sounder.AI, enabling buyers to move beyond traditional podcast show and genre targeting

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Dave Van Dyke, BridgeRatings There’s a growing belief in our industry that the future of radio will be solved by digital. Streaming. Apps. Smart speakers. Connected dashboards. And yes—those platforms matter. They expand reach. They remove geographic limits. They meet listeners where they already are. But let’s be honest about something most people are avoiding:

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Dave Van Dyke, BridgeRatings | Now offering media and career strategy insights | dvd@bridgeratings.com For a century, radio has been the ultimate “companion” medium. But for most of that history, the relationship was one-way: we talked, and they listened. We thrived on the “Lean Back” experience, where listeners invited our signal into their cars and

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Dave Van Dyke, BridgeRatings | dvd@bridgeratings.com There was a time when radio introduced people to culture. You heard new songs on the radio before your friends did. Air talent told you which artists mattered. Stations created excitement around music, trends, and moments before the rest of the world caught on. Radio was once a discovery

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Younger Americans are spending more time with audio each day than older listeners, according to new data from Edison Research’s Share of Ear study. As of the first quarter of 2026, listeners ages 13-34 average four hours and 30 minutes of daily audio consumption, the highest among all age groups. That compares with four hours and

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To build an auto brand and dealership, one must target current brand owners as well as those who drive the competition. According to S&P Global Mobility data, Ford has a 59% loyalty rate, meaning nearly 6 in 10 customers returning to the market bought another Ford. Ford’s truck loyalty is even higher, with the 2025

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