Google will launch an Audio Ads service linking with Clear Channel Radio stations in the USA.

The paid-search ads on radio will provide “contextual targeting” according to Google, which has been highly successful with this approach on its online search engines.

Google already serves paid search ads on the Clear Channel Radio websites and is now negotiating to serve ads on Clear Channel radio stations. The service is planned for launch later this year and will be sold through the AdWords platform. It is expected to bring a new level of automation to radio ad bookings and put radio back in the spotlight with advertisers.

Google currently sells radio ads through its dMArc online auction technology. Marketers can buy the radio ads through AdWords. Currently, ads can be targeted by market, demographic or station but not contextually by content.

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