Chief Technology Officer, Audacy
Search every verified Sarah Foss interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a September 2021 interview, Sarah Foss, then Chief Information Officer at Entercom (later Audacy), described the company's evolution from a traditional radio broadcaster to an audio company. She noted that following the merger with CBS Radio three years prior, the company invested in the radio.com streaming platform, acquired two podcasting companies, and announced the acquisition of a sports betting company. Foss stated that Entercom had built a data platform using first-party listener information, which she said provided advertisers with robust audience visibility and the ability to attribute campaign outcomes, such as a listener visiting a store or adding an item to a shopping list via smart speaker. Foss said that the "rediscovery of radio and audio" in 2020 had shifted advertiser interest, with agencies and advertisers working with Entercom on data strategies to target audiences across platforms including mobile, car, smart speakers, and computers. She reported sellouts on radio.com and "massive interest" from advertisers targeting local and national audiences, attributing this to the company's ability to connect brands to content and demonstrate campaign success.
“Three years ago when we merged with CBS Radio, we inherited radio.com which was one of the first radio streaming platforms of its kind. We have doubled down and done a lot of investment in that, including acquiring two podcasting companies and recently a sports betting company.”
“We really talk about ourselves now as an audio company for consumers to engage with spoken word, music, streaming services, and now even games and services like sports betting.”
“Audio is not only an incredibly robust experience that you can have and take with you everywhere and engage with in many different ways, unlike video where you have to be watching the whole time.”
“Radio right now is the number one reach medium in the country. We have all the components with the stations, radio.com, podcasting, and new consumer-based services to create compelling content and targeted audiences for advertisers.”
“Entercom has built a data platform that allows us to look at our audience not just with comScore data but with first party information from listeners across all platforms, enabling robust visibility for advertisers.”
“We are working with advertisers and agencies to marry our first party data with their data to connect the dots for holistic campaigns and show outcomes like when a listener drives to a store or adds something to a shopping list via smart speaker.”
“We totally believe that the listener will consume audio content wherever she wants, whether on mobile, in the car, at home via smart speakers, or on computers, and we sell across these platforms to reach audiences holistically.”
“Listeners can now access local sports talk radio or games from anywhere through our platforms, allowing advertisers to target not only specific content predispositions but also wherever the consumer is listening.”
“The rediscovery of radio and audio in 2020 has shifted advertiser thinking; with first party data, we enable them to find consumers, attribute success within campaigns, and connect brands to the content consumers want, leading to successful campaign outcomes.”
“We're seeing sellouts on radio.com and massive interest from advertisers targeting local and national audiences, with exciting platform growth from both listeners and advertisers.”
TV, Sarah Foss, the chief information officer of number-two US radio group Entercom, explains the attraction. Turn up the volume ...
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