So, what makes Third Ear Radio different from other stations?
LISTENER BASED PROGRAMMING
5 complaints heard about Classic Rock stations
and 5 ways how we've solved them.
1. I hear the same songs over and over:
Most Classic Rock stations have an average playlist of 250 songs from less than 100 artists.
Third Ear Radio has a library of easily 2500 songs by over 500 artists.
2, I hear too many commercials:
The average Classic Rock station has nearly 15 minutes of commercials per hour with as many as 4 in a row.
Third Ear Radio has 8 minutes of commercials an hour with only 2 commercials per set.
3, There is no theater of the mind radio anymore:
Most Classic Rock stations have moved their focus from entertainment to advertising and left the listener behind.
Third Ear Radio features classic theater of the mind radio with clips from shows like Firesign Theater and Monty Python.
4, I like some other Classic genres too but I never hear them:
The general rule of Classic Rock Programming is CLASSIC ROCK ONLY.
Third Ear Radio plays lots of Classic Rock some Classic R&B, even a few choice Reggae cuts.
5, There's no more humor in radio:
As was said before Classic Rock Programming is usually Classic Rock only.
Third Ear Radio plays stand up bits from classic performers and produces original comedy as well.
ADVERTISING WITH RESULTS
In addition to ground breaking programming Third Ear Radio provides unique opportunities for small, medium, and large businesses to connect with their target consumer, whomever or wherever they may be with attention-winning solutions that resonate and engage audiences — no matter what their marketing objective may be. Find out more in our ADVERTISING section.
WE ARE NOT JUST STREAMING RADIO
Third Ear Radio is also a social center, a refuge and a community – albeit one which just happens to make streaming radio. Third Ear Radio is pleased to be serving all of these functions – they add up to what sets us apart. Having said that, with our station serving so many functions, we always keep in mind our core function, to entertain.
Third Ear Radio staff and key workers are driven by their love of the medium and inspired by the potential to change a listeners day by offering them quality entertainment.
Why Digital Streaming, and why Classic Rock?
Digital Streaming Radio is rapidly on the rise.
Recently millions of people began working from home so their commutes have disappeared. With them, the drive-time music and talk radio habits of many Americans have changed dramatically. Instead of listening in the car, people are calling on digital platforms to fire up some music while they do tasks at home.
Working from home means more time for entertainment: in the last two weeks of March, 60% of people are engaging with more entertainment, according to MRC Data and Nielsen Music. About a quarter of those surveyed added at least one new subscription service, and 38% of that group added a new music subscription service.
​
-
Over three-quarters of internet users in the US will listen to digital audio formats this year.
-
Around 30 percent of this audience will listen to streaming audio through a smart speaker device.
-
In 2021, the average adult will spend more time listening to digital streaming services than the radio.
-
By 2021, over two-thirds of digital streamers will access content via a mobile device.​
Classic Rock is also on the rise.
Nielsen reports show in streaming services there’s been a significant shift away from new pop songs as album releases have slowed — streams of the top 200 U.S. songs fell 28% from mid-March to mid-April. Older songs have been on the rise, reflecting both the decline in new releases, and a hunger for the comfort of familiar songs, such as classic rock lists featured on Spotify’s new “At Home” playlists
According to Nielsen Audio and self-reported music consumption data from Nielsen Music 360 in an annual survey of 3,000 people, nearly half (48%) of music listeners are fans of the rock genre. Nielsen also shows that classic rock fans are more likely to be older, suburban or rural dwellers and have a significant representation from the Midwest. While rock radio audiences often skew male, the gender split of classic rock music fans is nearly 50-50 with close to 1/2 of classic rock fans being 45-54, 29% are 55-64, 11% are 25-34 and 14% are 35-44 reaching a wide swath of adult Americans.
​
-
Follow the money. Millennials have an average income of $65,373, Gen X average $95,168, and Baby Boomers average $79,736. eMarketer
-
People 50+ (classic rock lovers) collectively spend $3.2 trillion annually. This amount is greater than the GDP of countries such as Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, Brazil and France. U.S. Census data via Huffington Post
-
Nearly half of surgeons (49%) choose rock to play in their operating room — and it’s almost all classic rock — followed by classical (43%), jazz (24%), and R&B (21%). Spotify Report
​
-
With its multi-generational appeal, it makes sense that classic rock is used more each year in movie trailers. More than four in ten (44%) Americans say trailers frequently or sometimes convince them to see a film. Nearly six in ten (57%) say they are frequently or sometimes sold on seeing a film because of its trailer. That’s why you hear so many familiar classic rock artists in movie trailers. Jacobs Media
-
Classic rock is voted the favorite genre among age groups spanning 35-65+, and almost half (49%) of 25-34 consider it their favorite. Statistica
Streaming Revenue is steadily rising
More mobile listening and the growth of streaming radio helped propel digital audio ad spending in 2019. The Interactive Advertising Bureau has released its final tally for ad spending across the online landscape and it reports total internet audio advertising revenue reached $2.7 billion last year. That was a 21.2% increase over the $2.3 billion spent by advertisers on digital audio in 2018.
​
Nearly eight of every ten online audio ad dollars were directed toward mobile listeners, according to the IAB. “Audio [advertising] on mobile devices grew 25.3% in large part due to the growth of streaming radio,” the report said. That compared to 7.6% growth for desktop audio advertising. The share for mobile is also slightly bigger for audio than for other online segments. Total mobile ad revenue grew by a quarter (24%) last year in the U.S.
