NextRadio Update: More Downloads, More Stations, More Listening -- But More Content Needed

Still Growing

EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS and NEXTRADIO have provided an update of their regularly collected data, as well as some new discoveries about NEXTRADIO app users. The findings: Over 140,000 app downloads (In NET NEWS 12/10/13, they crossed the 83.000 threshold); .Over 6,700 FM radio stations tuned to from the app (up from 5,500 stations); over 98,000 hours of listening through NEXTRADIO (a huge jump from 43,000 last DECEMBER); and a A 4.2/5.0 GOOGLE PLAY STORE user rating

Hoping to fuel those numbers is the introduction of two new NEXTRADIO-enabled phones -- the Boost® MAX available from BOOST MOBILE, and the  LG G Flex available at SPRINT.COM.

In its latest blog posting, NEXTRADIO cites its goals for 201:

* Increased consumer awareness via more market saturation, radio station promotions, SPRINT marketing efforts, internal marketing efforts, etc.
* More activations -- getting users to activate the app once the phones are in their hands is a matter of informing the consumer and increasing demand.
* Boosting User retention from their 32% benchmark set before the holidays. The key to doing that is by delivering more enhanced content to the app Better reviews -- the biggest criticism are still that headphones are required (an educational issue) and ... once again ... stations lack enhanced content.
* Industry visibility at MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF STATE BROADCASTING ASSOCIATIONS, NAB SHOW, RADIO SHOW and more.
* Develop more and deeper Automotive relationships regarding NEXTRADIO in-car capabilities.

On top of creating enhanced content delivery, some stations are beginning to explore enhanced advertising. EMMIS Top 40/Rhythmic KPWR (POWER 106)/LIS ANGELES was the first station to sell an ad campaign on NEXTRADIO, and value in the platform for their sales team was apparent:

"Looking over these goals, we realize that we have a lot of work ahead of us," the blog post concludes. "This effort is a game of inches. Every move forward counts – more phones, more users, more station involvement, more awareness – and we all are a part of helping move the chains."

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