The Challenge: Modernize the Mobile Listener Experience
Tyler Media knew their listeners wanted more from their radio app experience. Today’s listeners need more than just the traditional over-the-air broadcasts. Audience expectations have shifted toward a mobile experience that feels polished, intuitive, and fully aligned with each station brand. Listeners want streaming, podcasts, and video in one place, with a clean interface that makes it easy to move between live, on-demand, and interactive features. The group already had a mobile app provider, and the functionality was acceptable, but it did not fully support mobile-first listener engagement or the type of digital sponsorships and mobile ad revenue Tyler Media wanted to grow.
“The look and feel were fine, but Futuri offers something a little more dynamic. Just a better overall experience for the listener,” says Tyler Hough, Digital Media Manager at Tyler Media.
They needed a mobile app for radio stations that matched the way listeners consume content today, supported future growth in streaming and podcasting, and turned their mobile presence into a stronger revenue channel.
The Solution: A Fully Branded Mobile App Built for Today’s Listeners
Tyler Media chose Futuri Mobile as the foundation for a new, fully branded radio station app for its stations. Futuri Mobile is explicitly built as a mobile app for broadcasters, not a generic consumer streaming app, which aligned with Tyler Media’s goals for both listener experience and sponsorship.
The decision centered on several key needs:
- Responsive, human support from a partner that understands radio.
- Fast implementation and smooth integration with existing systems.
- A modern and intuitive user interface that reflected the station’s brand
- Analytics that help guide content and sponsorship strategy, and give them better insight into mobile listener behavior.
What surprised Hough most was how smooth the build and launch process felt.
“It was a pretty seamless operation,” Hough notes. “It [mobile app] seemed to be created pretty quick.”
Instead of a long, complex digital project that pulled staff away from programming and sales, the Futuri Mobile team worked collaboratively with Tyler Media’s staff to ensure a smooth implementation.
“I think a lot of people get scared off by having to integrate digital products or just refreshing an old product because they think it will take an inordinate amount of time and energy making it happen,” Hough says. “Rusch and his team made it so easy. And, more like working with a friendly co-worker and not just tech support on the other end.”
Features That Keep Listeners Coming Back
Once Futuri Mobile was live, Tyler Media’s app quickly became a daily habit for listeners. Several features quickly stood out as drivers of mobile listener engagement:
On-demand content that fits real life
Futuri Mobile made it easy to bring together live streaming, podcasts, and long-form content in one mobile app. With podcast and YouTube video integration, listeners can catch up on shows, interviews, and long-form content on their own schedule, rather than being tied to a broadcast clock. This improved the overall digital audio streaming experience while extending the life of on-air content.
Apple CarPlay support for in-car listening
CarPlay integration in the Futuri Mobile app improved the in-car experience for commuting and weekend listening. Audiences stay connected to their favorite Tyler Media brands while they drive, with a familiar in-dash interface instead of a clunky workaround. Being present in Apple CarPlay turns the mobile streaming app into a natural part of daily driving, helping to protect and grow time spent listening.
Targeted push notifications that drive tune-ins
Tyler Media uses Futuri Mobile push notifications as a real-time engagement tool to drive appointment listening and highlight key content moments.
“It’s been really cool to send out a notification when a coach’s show is about to begin or when we are running a contest,” Hough says. “It seems to have driven listenership.”
Push alerts keep the station top of mind and give mobile listeners a simple way to tap back into live content at the right time. This strengthens listener engagement while helping programming and promotions teams activate specific priorities.
Turning a Better App Into New Revenue
Upgrading to a modern, branded mobile app for radio did more than improve the listener experience. It also created new mobile sponsorship inventory and stronger digital revenue opportunities.
When Tyler Media switched to all-Christmas music, the group sold a dedicated streaming sponsorship that used Futuri Mobile placements as a core part of the package. The Futuri Mobile app supported branded holiday elements in the stream and inside the mobile experience.
This approach delivered three clear benefits:
- Branded placement tied to high-demand holiday listening format
- A premium environment for a single sponsor
- A clear, measurable connection between mobile listening and the advertiser
In other words, a better listener experience translates into a higher value digital asset for advertisers.
This type of integrated sponsorship is an example of where mobile is headed in the radio industry. Brands want more than a schedule of on-air spots. They want to live inside moments that matter to engaged, mobile-first listeners. This type of mobile sponsorship is where radio station apps are heading as broadcasters look to grow digital audio revenue and prove a clear return on investment.
Results: Stronger Brand Presence Across Devices
For Tyler Media, adopting the Futuri Mobile radio station app has delivered value in three key areas.
- Listener experience
The app looks and feels like each Tyler Media brand. Navigation is simple, and content types that matter most to modern listeners are front and center. Listeners get a consistent, mobile-first experience on phones and in the car. - Operational efficiency
The rollout did not require a large internal project team or a steep learning curve. The Futuri team handled the heavy lifting, which allowed Tyler Media to stay focused on programming and revenue. Tyler Media’s team stayed focused on content, promotions, and revenue while still getting a modern mobile app for radio that integrated with their existing systems. - Revenue and sponsorship
With a premium mobile environment in place, the group created new sponsorship inventory around tentpole programming and special events, starting with a Christmas-themed streaming promotion. The Futuri Mobile platform provides sales teams with more options to build integrated campaigns that combine on-air, digital audio streaming, and in-app presence.
The Right Partner Turns a “Complex Build” Into a Manageable Launch
For broadcasters who have been putting off a mobile refresh because it feels too big or too technical, Hough’s advice is direct.
Ease of execution is what stands out most about the Futuri partnership.
Many broadcasters assume that building or upgrading a mobile app will take months of internal work, create new headaches for engineering and programming, and pull people away from their core jobs. Tyler Media’s experience suggests a different story when the right partner is in place.
With the right mobile app partner for broadcasters, the internal lift is manageable, and the payoff includes better listener engagement, stronger brand consistency, and new digital revenue opportunities.
Looking Ahead: Ready for What Listeners Do Next
For Tyler Media, Futuri Mobile is both a technology upgrade and a strategic decision to keep pace with how their audience listens and watches.
As streaming, podcasting, and mobile listening continue to grow, the group is now positioned to:
- Serve live and on-demand content in one branded app
- Stay present in the car with CarPlay integration
- Use real-time engagement tools like push notifications to drive tune-in
- Package sponsorships that connect advertisers with mobile listeners in meaningful ways
Tyler Media now operates a mobile hub that aligns listener experience, content strategy, and revenue goals on a single Futuri Mobile platform.
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