Afternoon Is the New Morning
I was a new PD at Q101 in Chicago in the early 80’s when I noticed a strange phenomenon. At 3 pm all of the radios in the offices switched over to (competitor) WLS-FM to hear Steve and Garry. What was going on with Steve Dahl and Garry Meir to attract so much attention?
After listening closely, two lightning bolt insights hit me that forever changed my radio viewpoint. One, unlike the hyper DJs of the day, these guys were having authentic conversations and sharing real-life experiences. And two, this was going on during afternoon drive and they were only playing 4-5 songs per hour on a Top 40 FM with big ratings. What?
Ryan Seacrest made an impact locally in Los Angeles in the late ‘90’s in afternoon drive. He and Lisa Foxx teamed up to produce stellar ratings at Star 98.7, connecting with listeners stuck in LA’s massive traffic.
Today there is a burgeoning trend in radio for personality-driven afternoon driveshows. Afternoon shows are boosting ratings in Rock, AC, Country, Top 40, and Urban. Out-of -home radio listening does not peak in mornings; it peaks at 76% in afternoon drive, according to Nielsen.
The vast majority of radio listening today occurs in autos and the workplace. Overall usage is higher in afternoons than in mornings in several markets. The combination of automobile and at-work listening is powerful, particularly in big markets with heavy afternoon traffic.
It’s happening at major companies and major markets including:
- Cumulus: WDVD Detroit – Robby & Rochelle, WNNX Atlanta – Kage Kult Show, WNBM New York – D.L. Hughley
- Saga: WHQG Milwaukee – Joe & Borna
- Entercom: KISW Seattle – The Men’s Room, KALC Denver – Slacker & Steve
- iHeart: WKTU New York – Hollywood Hamilton
- Hubbard: WIL St. Louis – Mason & Remy
- Riviera: KKFR Phoenix – Tino Cochino
There are many more.
Radio’s edge and power in the competitive landscape is its intimacy and the ability to connect with people emotionally. Captivating talent forms a relationship with listeners that creates P1 fans and loyalty that music services cannot.
The decision to add a personality benchmark in afternoons is, of course, predicated on your station’s marketing life cycle and competitive situation. Like mornings, when there are two stations with the same music format, the one with an entertaining show wins.
Is there an opportunity in your market to strengthen your brand with a personality afternoon drive benchmark? Jump on it before your competitor does.
Photo credit: flickr.com/prayitnophotography/6806878281/
