Radio has historically been seen as a marginal, last-minute advertising medium. But today the reality is very different. While mainstream media spending is on the wane, radio spend is increasing. Why? Because times have changed. The power of traditional brand-image marketing is evaporating, and advertising isn't a one-way process any more. Now it's all about 'brand conversations' - ongoing customer relationships that brands must manage positively in order to succeed.

Radio has a spontaneous feel. It's human and interactive, it expresses emotion and invites response. None of these attributes is unique to radio, but together they offer an exceptional opportunity to brands seeking to engage their customers in conversations. In spite of this, all-too-often advertisers and agencies still use radio for its basic tactical abilities, leaving its emotional power untapped.

Combining theory, listener insight and practical advice, here is an essential guide to harnessing the power of radio as the 'brand conversation medium', for your brand. Drawing on examples from leading organizations including Carphone Warehouse, Waitrose, British Airways, Nestle and the UK Government, the authors explore the scale and effectiveness of radio advertising, how it works, its role in current brand thinking, why a more creative approach is needed and - most importantly -- how to actually go about creating better ads.