June 20, 2017 | MusicRow.com | Finney Media Finds Women Are Primary Christian Radio Listeners

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

Contact: Chuck Finney
Finney Media
Phone: (214) 676-7713
www.finneymedia.com

Top Reason People Listen to Christian Teaching-Formatted Radio

Orlando, February 28, 2017:  Today at the National Religious Broadcaster Radio Summit event in Orlando, Finney Media President Chuck Finney highlighted the biggest reason that listeners listen to Christian-Teaching formatted stations.

“People come to grow spiritually,” Chuck said during the presentation. 91% of our Teaching survey respondents indicated it’s a main reason they listen to this format. These listeners tune in for good news—that’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ—and also good news of how their faith makes a difference in their daily life. Life is hard. Things hurt. And the Christian Teaching format provides hope.”

Finney’s summit presentation highlighted eight key findings from the national Finney Media Why Listen?™ Survey 2016. For this format, the headlines include this surprise: Your Teaching listener comes to you for encouragement.

72%–almost three out of four—say a main reason they come to Christian Teaching radio is to be encouraged.  Finney also presented the Net Promoter scores for the format; they came in at 72, an extraordinarily high number that demonstrates positive listener passion for the format.

Concerning giving to Christian Teaching radio, 89% said that a main reason they give is because these stations “courageously teach God’s truth.”

Headlines are available at finneymedia.com, and the NRB presentation can be requested at whylisten@finneymedia.com.

About Finney Media: Finney Media Research has been impacting Christian formats for eight years, helping clients obtain deeper impact and broader audiences through listener research and consultation.

For more information, contact Chuck Finney at 214-676-7713 or visit finneymedia.com.

Top Reason People Listen to Christian-Formatted Radio Released

Dallas, September 12, 2016:      Last week at Christian Music Broadcaster’s Momentum Conference in Orlando, Finney Media President Chuck Finney highlighted the biggest reason that listeners tune in to Christian music and music/talk stations: “People come to grow spiritually. 80% of our survey respondents indicated it’s a main reason they listen to Christian radio. That’s both exciting and challenging because Christian radio constantly works to make a difference in listeners’ lives.”

Finney’s conference address highlighted eight key findings from the national Finney Media Why Listen? Survey 2016. Over 23,000 Christian radio listeners in the U.S. and Canada participated. The headlines include this summation: Your Christian radio listener wants you to be like Jesus; in tone, music, and Scripture.

Finney detailed that 46% of Christian music and music/talk radio listeners indicated they are likely to leave when an announcer has a negative or angry tone. But the positive news is that 77% come to Christian radio to be encouraged. A full 79% said that a main reason they listen is for worshipful Christian music. Finney also presented the Net Promoter scores for Christian formats; the combined score came in at 76, a surprisingly high number that demonstrates listener passion.

Headlines are available at FinneyMedia.com, and the Momentum presentation can be requested at whylisten@finneymedia.com.

Finney Media Research has been impacting the Contemporary Christian Music format for eight years, helping clients obtain deeper impact and broader audiences through listener research. The group is increasingly working within other formats, including the Christian Teaching and Talk format.

For more information, contact Chuck Finney at 214-676-7713 or visit FinneyMedia.com.

*Updated October 2016

Strong Participation reflected industry backing for the Finney Media Why Listen? Survey “Deepening and Expanding the Christian-Formatted Message”

Dallas, August 29, 2016:  Finney Media President Chuck Finney today observed that his Momentum presentation next Thursday, September 8, will confirm, surprise and expand understanding of the Contemporary Christian music audience. Finney will present eight headlines that reflect multiple windows into the audience, drawn from the results of over 20,000 participants engaged in the first Finney Media Why Listen? national survey this year.

“Your listener seeks–yes, seeks–spiritual growth. And in the process the radio station plays a powerful bridge role.” To help quantify this relationship, Finney will include the sum Net Promoter Score for all participating music stations, as part of the presentation.

Each participating station will receive their own Net Promoter Score when they obtain their personalized results in September. The Finney Media Why Listen? Survey 2016 will be followed by a Dallas-Ft. Worth area Workday for a deep dive into results and practical action steps. It will be held Spring of 2017.

Finney Media Research has been impacting the Contemporary Christian Music format for eight years, helping clients obtain deeper impact and broader audiences through listener research. The group is increasingly working within other formats including the Christian Teaching and Talk format.

For more information, contact Chuck Finney at 214-676-7713 and visit FinneyMedia.com

*Updated October 2016

Christian Music Broadcasters, National Religious Broadcasters and Advocace encourage participation in THE Finney Media WHY LISTEN?: “Deepening and Expanding the Christian-Formatted Message” Nationwide Research Project

Dallas, January 25, 2016: Finney Media President Chuck Finney today announced that Finney Media Research, in cooperation with Christian Music Broadcasters, National Religious Broadcasters and Advocace will engage in a national research project that will unearth ways to expand and enrich ministry messages. The survey will discover how listeners interact with Christian radio, their expectations for content and what causes them to light up and take a step in the direction of Jesus. It will explore what compelled the first financial gift and how the station can encourage the listener to continue giving.

The research, to be conducted late Spring 2016, is open to all Christian stations, both music formatted and teaching or any combination including Christian ministries working in these media spaces. There will be national results plus station or ministry specific results available for participating entities. Stations and ministries will have the opportunity to commit to participate between now and April 18. Signup details are available at finneymedia.com/research.

Finney says, “Christian radio’s reach the last few years has exploded to new heights. We, and a lot of our friends in Christian radio, are curious to find out why. Why listen to Christian radio? We look forward to working with stations and ministries across the country to find the answers.”

Finney Media Research has been impacting the Christian Radio for nearly seven years, helping clients obtain deeper impact and broader audiences through representative sample music research, focus groups, and perceptual studies.

For more information, contact Chuck Finney and see finneymedia.com/research

*Updated October 2016