By Susan Ashworth, Radio World
Attendees will find abundance of curated programming focused on opportunities and challenges.
Attendees will see a boost in radio-focused speakers, sessions and strategies at this year’s NAB Show.
By integrating the Radio Show into the larger NAB Show universe, attendees will find an abundance of curated programming focused on the opportunities and challenges facing radio professionals today.
The show will feature a number of trends relevant to the radio industry. Sessions will focus on devising local market sales strategies, creating content for podcasting and other digital outlets, and using data and advanced technology such as AI to drive personalized content for listeners. Other sessions will share details on the evolution of the digital dashboard and the increase in voice platforms used to access audio content in the home or car.
There are many learning opportunities and demonstrations for engineers throughout the show floor and Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference (which requires an NAB Show Conference pass). Sales and management professionals can find a wealth of information on management, business and advertising issues during sessions planned with the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB).
Erica Farber, president and CEO of RAB, said the sales and marketing sessions to be presented are focused on helping attendees “accelerate their efforts in their local communities.”
Attendees can also hear firsthand from executives such as Beasley Broadcast Group CEO Caroline Beasley. In Tuesday’s session “Media, Meta and More With Caroline Beasley,” John Clark, NAB’s executive director of PILOT, sits down with Beasley for a one-on-one conversation to talk about the company’s successful ventures in broadcast, digital, esports and the dashboard.
Tackling another trend in radio — programming, marketing and production for podcasting — will happen in a series of sessions on podcasting. Partnering with Podcast Movement, sessions will look at trends like programmatic advertising in podcasting and ways to make a podcast stand out and how to create and manage a smooth and efficient production.
There is strong demand for streamed media, said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt, “whether it be audio or video, ad supported or subscription, live or on-demand, via handheld remote or voice controlled. Streaming is an exciting and growing way broadcasters and media companies are reaching consumers,” he said.
After several years apart, the show added a series of specialized programs and social events within the new NAB Networking Lounge, located in the North Hall, so attendees can reconnect or establish new connections.
“There has been a lot made of how businesses have been able to adapt to doing business remotely, and while it is true to a degree, there is nothing that can deliver the same impact as in-person interaction,” said Chris Brown, executive vice president and managing director of Global Connections and Events for the NAB. “At a large event like NAB Show there is an energy, excitement and shared connection that simply can’t be replicated. So come ready to engage with old and new friends.”
Other networking opportunities include special programs and events at the NAB Member Lounge as well as the new NAB Show Sip-and-Speak series, casual events that encourage attendees to grab a drink and take part in small-group Q&A discussions with industry leaders, courtesy of Benztown Media
The radio community is also welcome to an official NAB radio happy hour celebration, courtesy of Radioplayer Worldwide Ltd., in the NAB Networking Lounge on Monday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. where attendees will be feted with complimentary cocktails and entertainment by KOAS-FM’s DJ Thump. Organic networking is also expected to happen at this year’s radio-designated hotel, the Bellagio Resort & Casino.
Exhibitors located on the show floor have been reorganized and streamlined with content lifecycle themes of Create, Connect, Capitalize and Intelligent Content. Exhibitors will be located in the area that they best represent, with companies like Xperi and RCS, HDRadio and radio automation systems companies, respectively, in the West Hall; media management company Wideorbit, automation company Enco and audio broadcast equipment manufacturer Wheatstone in the North Hall; and production, encoding and transmission company Comrex in the Central Hall.
The show will also highlight big names in radio including actor Nick Cannon and CEOs Bob Pittman of iHeartMedia and David Field of Audacy. A series of awards will honor excellence in radio including the National Radio Award, Digital Leadership Award, Engineering Achievement Award and honoring of the radio inductee into the NAB Radio Hall of Fame.
Radio executives and various reports indicate there’s much to be excited about when it comes to radio’s future. A recent report from the Radio Advertising Bureau found that radio stations can expect to see another strong year from digital sales, with sales forecasted to grow 22 percent after generating $1.5 billion in digital sales last year.
