Do Radio Shows Really Need Traffic And Weather?
This came up as a suggested tweet from the twitter of Sarah Peters @SaraOnMic . She is the marketing director and mid-day talent at a station in Greensboro, NC.
Are traffic updates great ‘local’ content for radio? Or is it a waste of a break because not everyone is driving, and most drivers use apps for road notifications. Is it relevant or an outdated content feature? — @SaraOnMic
Do radio shows need traffic reports?
Owning my age, when I used to drive a lot in New York City, I’d flip between AM news stations 1010 WINS and 880 CBS News. One had traffic and weather together on the 8s. The other on the 1s.
I’m writing this at an age where not only are there a lot of kids who have never listened to an AM radio station. I’m writing this for radio personalities who may not be consumed . . . on the radio.
Traffic is sponsorable.
Traffic is local. In this age of homogenization, traffic and weather makes your show feel like it is serving the community.
Is traffic really that accurate? In New York, there is a lot of traffic on TV. I never understood TV reports for traffic. The TV traffic reports traffic in the same ten spots there is traffic every day.
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That said, I have a brand new iPhone. Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps can be annoying when I’m trying to enjoy an audio program. And honestly, Waze has been freezing (I have a brand new iPhone 13 Pro Max). Google Maps and Apple . . .
And don’t get me started on the weather! 90% of morning show weather is a comedian asking Siri What’s the weather!
Then again, I just found out there is going to be a heatwave in my area. But I found out because the power company sent me a text asking me not to use more than my share of power.
Now, me, I’m just a silly comedy writer / comedian with no experience in marketing.
That said, I do like construction updates.
I like hearing the names of towns in my area.
I like major traffic updates.
I like to hear the names of streets in my area.
And I like that all to be short.
What do you think? Do morning and talk radio shows really need to do the traffic and weather?
