FINNEY MEDIA’S “WHY LISTEN?”™ SURVEY REVIEWS FEMALE PREFERENCES IN CHRISTIAN RADIO LISTENING

Women come to Christian radio to grow spiritually, be encouraged

Media Contact: Chuck Finney, President, 214-676-7713 or chuck@finneymedia.com

DALLAS (June 18, 2017) — Women dominate the listenership of Christian radio stations in both music and talk formats, according to research conducted by Dallas-based Finney Media.

In Finney’s “Why Listen?” Survey, women were identified as key to understanding both Talk and Music listenership for Christian radio stations; Finney released this week a paper drawn from the survey entitled “What Women Want from You, Christian Radio.”

“We found that women can make up three-quarters of a Christian radio station’s listenership,” said Chuck Finney, President of Finney Media. “That is the type of information that can help Christian stations understand their market needs better, and adapt where necessary.”

Finney Media, a research firm in the radio market, surveyed more than 23,000 listeners at 72 radio stations, networks and programs on the relevant formats of Music, Music & Talk, Teaching and Spoken Word; Finney Media periodically releases newly compiled information from the study.

The primary reason women listen to Christian radio is to grow spiritually. More than 80 percent of female participants cite this motivation. Other reasons women listeners give are instructive: They want to be encouraged, specifically to hear kindness and find calm in hectic lives.

The survey also found that a female listener can be an effective ambassador for Christian radio stations because of loyalty — as long as the station creates an encouraging, positive atmosphere for her and her family.

Finney conducts the Finney Media“Why Listen?”™ Survey to help stations better understand who is listening to them.

“Understanding a radio station’s listeners and how they perceive the station’s message and brand is crucial to making sound ministry decisions that will keep it moving forward,” Finney said.

Finney Media utilizes focus groups, perceptual studies, and representative sample music testing to determine optimal program length, the best mix of talk and music, what song selections build listenership, and which topics rate highest in generating a deep-impact heart connection.

For more information and deeper insights into radio listenership, contact Chuck Finney at 214-676-7713 or visit finneymedia.com. The white paper “What Women Want from You, Christian Radio” can also be downloaded from the site.

ABOUT: Finney Media Research has been impacting Christian formats for eight years, helping clients obtain deeper impact and expanded audiences through listener research and consultation. Founder Chuck Finney has spent his career in radio, helping stations grow and better relate to their audiences through in-depth research. Finney served as Chairman of Christian Music Broadcasters and is currently a member of the Radio Committee of the National Religious Broadcasters. He recently won the Scott Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award from Christian Music Broadcasters. Click here to read our next blog