Case Study: How a Multi-Market Radio Group Drives App Downloads and Listener Engagement with Individual Station Apps
The Challenge: To Consolidate or To Connect?
In a world where mobile is the front door to media, a leading regional radio group spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland faced a dilemma familiar to many broadcasters: how to deliver hyperlocal engagement in a platform designed for convenience.
Their existing multi-station mobile app was functional but impersonal. The app diluted each station’s identity, and its limited compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto meant missed opportunities in the car, still one of radio’s strongest environments.
“We were trying to do too much in one place. Listeners didn’t feel like the app belonged to their station,” a senior programming leader at the company shared.
The Solution: Individual Station Apps That Build Community
The broadcast group implemented Futuri’s Streaming, Mobile, and SmartSpeakers™ solutions across their station portfolio, replacing their multi-station app with individual branded apps for each station. This wasn’t just a tech swap. It was a strategic decision to give each brand digital ownership, improve car compatibility, and unlock new tools for engagement and monetization that matched each station’s individual branding and personality.
Implementation included:
- Individual Futuri Mobile™ v12 station apps optimized for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with audience engagement features like flash contesting and open mic.
- Futuri Streaming™ with reliable, high-quality audio and analytics reporting.
- Futuri SmartSpeakers™ to extend reach into the home with hands-free convenience.
The group worked closely with Futuri’s VIP Support Team, particularly Ken Payne, Tier 1 Support Team Lead, to resolve any initial challenges and ensure smooth operations across all properties.
The Results: Spikes in Downloads, Surges in Engagement, and a Morale Boost
Measurable Growth
Almost immediately, download rates climbed, especially during app-exclusive contests in major markets.
But what surprised the team most wasn’t the numbers.
It was the organic adoption of features like Open Mic.
“It’s not like we’re even soliciting it. Listeners just started using the talkback tool on their own,” explained the program director.
This passive engagement became a window into how audiences wanted to interact; directly, personally, and on their own terms.
Meanwhile, each station’s ability to analyze listener behavior (time spent, entry points, device types) became a powerful input for programming and promotions strategy, especially in non-Nielsen markets.
More Than Metrics: The Power of Ownership
Beyond the technical improvements, the shift changed culture. Empowering each station with its own app gave local teams a renewed sense of pride and ownership.
“I think it gave them a sense that, you know, this is my app that I can promote. It gave them ownership of it,” one manager noted.
This local control encouraged team pride and on-air promotion, reinforcing each brand’s identity and avoiding the generic feel of a shared company app.
Moving the Needle: Key Features Driving Success
Flash Contesting: Exclusive to the app, contests built urgency and drove regular downloads — a favorite tactic in top-tier markets.
Open Mic: Enabled unprompted listener feedback, becoming a real-time engagement engine for morning shows.
Responsive Support: Futuri’s tech and VIP Support Team, including direct support from Ken Payne, ensured metadata challenges were handled swiftly, minimizing disruption.
Why Futuri?
After evaluating five other vendors, the group chose Futuri.
The decision came down to three factors:
- Monetization Readiness – Clear pathways to sponsorship, ad placement, and branded experiences
- Listener Experience – CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and app UX that felt intuitive and modern
- Hands-On Support – Fast resolution on technical issues, with a team that understood radio’s real-world pressures
Looking Forward: Building on Success
The multi-market radio group continues to explore new ways to leverage their mobile platform. With version 12’s new image and video upload capabilities, they’re considering new contests to complement their existing successful strategies.
And for stations outside of traditional ratings coverage, Futuri’s real-time listening analytics are becoming essential, providing valuable listening duration metrics and geographic reach information.
“I look at the data pretty regularly. It helps us track hours, usage, reach, things we never had access to before,” shared the station manager.
Final Thoughts: Connection Through Technology
For this multi-market broadcaster, Futuri’s Mobile and Streaming solutions solved more than technical challenges—they created a framework for deeper audience relationships. By giving each station its own digital home, the company empowered their teams while providing listeners with more personal, accessible ways to connect.
“Radio is more of a personal connection, and you can connect more personally, I think, with an app because, you know, it’s one-on-one.”
Ready to see how individual station apps can transform your listener engagement?
Discover what Futuri Mobile and Streaming can do for your stations.
