By Dave Charles, CEO of Media RESULTS Inc.

I asked three AI sources (CHAT GPT, Perplexity AI and Claude AI the following on behalf of radio.  In what ways can radio be more attractive to its listeners in all demographics and format variations?  Here’s the distillation of what came back.

Radio still has a powerful role to play, even in a digital age dominated by on-demand content. Making radio more attractive across all demographics and formats means blending traditional strengths (like personality and immediacy) with modern expectations (like interactivity and personalisation). Here’s a rundown of how that can happen:

Make It Personal

Dynamic content curation: Use listener data (time of day, location, interests) to tailor playlists or segments.

Shoutouts and requests: Give people a voice — literally. Let them call/text in or interact via social media, and use their names/stories on-air.

Stronger Personalities

Authentic, relatable hosts: People tune in for people. DJs and hosts who feel real, diverse, and engaging keep listeners coming back.

Segment variety: Blend news, humour, storytelling, music, and interviews to appeal to short attention spans and different tastes.

Cross-Platform Presence

Social media integration: Use Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X to share behind-the-scenes content, clips, and polls.

Podcasting: Repurpose great interviews and segments as on-demand episodes.

Mobile apps: Custom station apps with exclusive content, song ID, request features, and even games.

Enhanced Music Discovery

Curated niche segments: Feature deep dives into genres, emerging artists, or listener-submitted tracks.

Collaborations with artists: Host live in-studio performances or Q&As to create unique moments.

Time-Sensitive Value

Live and local: Emphasise breaking news, traffic, weather, and events. That immediacy is something on-demand can’t replicate.

Countdowns and contests: Create appointment listening with countdowns (Top 10s, etc.) and limited-time giveaways.

Reflect Audience Diversity

Multilingual programming: Especially in urban areas, blending languages and cultures makes radio feel more inclusive.

Cultural spotlights: Celebrate holidays, music, and stories from all communities.

Smarter Tech Integration

Smart speakers & car dashboards: Optimise presence on Alexa, Google Assistant and connected vehicles.

AI-generated personalisation: Smart recommendations or even AI DJs that tailor segments for different moods or users.

Two-Way Storytelling

Call-ins & voice notes: Bring back real-time storytelling and debates.

Interactive polls & trivia: Use apps or social to let listeners shape the content in real time.

I frequently use AI the most challenging questions and always find some amazing responses.  AI is an amazing resource for research and idea generation  This is a new tool that radio has in its tool box.  Use it to improve your radio stations offering.