InStore Audio Network
{{Short description|Provider of in-store radio and television networks}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Stingray Advertising
| logo = Stingray Digital.svg
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{Start date|1983}}
| former_names = Pop Radio (1983–1997)
InStore Broadcasting Network (1997–2014)
InStore Audio Network (2014–2022)
| location = 13 Roszel Road, Princeton, New Jersey
| industry = Retail Media
| num_employees = 65
| parent = Stingray Group
| products = Distribution of music & video
| homepage = [https://www.stingray.com/advertising-sales/in-store-retail-media/ Stingray Advertising]
}}
Stingray Advertising is an American broadcasting company that provides in-store music, video content and audio advertising for use in supermarkets, drugstores, and other retail stores. It is owned by the Canadian media company Stingray Group and based in Princeton, New Jersey.
The company was founded in 1983 as Pop Radio and was renamed to InStore Broadcasting Network (IBN) before rebranding to InStore Audio Network (ISAN){{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/106710/pop-radio-acquires-instore-broadcasting-network |title=Pop Radio Acquires Instore Broadcasting Network |publisher=AllAccess.com |date=2012-06-04 |accessdate=2014-08-26}} Through multiple ownership changes over the years, ISAN was acquired by Stingray in 2022 and adopted its current name later that year.{{Cite web |title=CVS Continues Digital Audio Out-of-Home Messaging |url=https://progressivegrocer.com/cvs-continues-digital-audio-out-home-messaging |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Progressive Grocer |language=en}}
History
File:In-Store Audio Network Logo.jpg
Founded in 1983 as POP Radio, ISAN was acquired by Heritage Media in 1990. The company was merged into Heritage subsidiary ActRadio, before Heritage was acquired by News America Marketing, a division of News Corporation, in 1997. Then known as the InStore Broadcasting Network, the company was spun off from News America Marketing in 2003, sold to Gary Seem and Jeff Shapiro. Its headquarters relocated from Salt Lake City to Princeton, New Jersey in 2014.{{Cite web |last=Nerz |first=Edward |title=InStore Audio Network Finds the Sound of Success |url=https://www.communitynews.org/princetoninfo/business/fastlane/instore-audio-network-finds-the-sound-of-success/article_a6e6d393-8b2d-5643-bf29-d0bdede71d4b.html |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Community News |language=en}}
ISAN was acquired by Montreal-based Stingray Group in January 2022.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-01-07 |title=Stingray Completes Its InStore Purchase |url=https://rbr.com/stingray-completes-its-instore-purchase/ |access-date= |website=Radio & Television Business Report |language=en-US}} The ISAN brand was phased out later that year, with the service rebranded as Stingray Advertising.{{Cite web |title=A new beginning for ISAN |url=https://instoreaudionetwork.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809004030/http://instoreaudionetwork.com/ |archive-date=2022-08-09 |website=InStore Audio Network}}
System
InStore Audio Network's music programming is housed locally on a music server at each location, containing the music library, audio messages and ISAN's proprietary scheduling and delivery software.{{cite web |date=2005-08-22 |title=Kroger launches digital signage / in-store TV network |url=http://www.wirespring.com/dynamic_digital_signage_and_interactive_kiosks_journal/articles/Kroger_launches_digital_signage___in_store_TV_network-240.html |accessdate=2014-08-26 |publisher=Wirespring.com}} This software enables each server to receive new audio ads and music playlists as often as necessary, transferred over the Internet.{{cite web |date= |title=Breaking News - ABC Entertainement [sic] Announces Retail Media Advertising and Content Deal with Instore Broadcasting Network and Kroger |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2006/08/16/abc-entertainement-announces-retail-media-advertising-and-content-deal-with-instore-broadcasting-network-and-kroger-22064/20060816abc01/ |accessdate=2014-08-26 |publisher=TheFutonCritic.com}} The playlists dictate what will be played during the following week in that particular store so that every retail store can be customized with its own music and/or audio messages.{{cite web |date=2006-06-07 |title=Duane Reade In-Store Video Ads Target NYC Media Buyers | News - Advertising Age |url=http://adage.com/article/news/duane-reade-store-video-ads-target-nyc-media-buyers/109734/ |accessdate=2014-08-26 |publisher=Adage.com}}{{cite web |date=2006-03-15 |title=PrincetonInfo |url=http://www.princetoninfo.com/index.php/component/us1more/?key=03-15-06%20shopping |accessdate=2014-08-26 |publisher=PrincetonInfo}}
Clients
In 2012, ISAN said it provided advertiser-supported music programming to over 33,000 supermarkets, pharmacies, and other stores in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gladstone-capital-corporation-invests-120-million-in-instore-audio-network-155987705.html |title=Gladstone Capital Corporation Invests $12.0 Million in InStore Audio Network - MCLEAN, Va., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ |publisher=Prnewswire.com |date= |accessdate=2014-08-26}} Its typically works with retailers who are national or regional in nature.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8cQKHy8uh4oC&pg=PA148 |title=Think Strategically - Xavier Gimbert |via=Google Books |date=2011-05-31 |accessdate=2014-08-26}} Included are stores owned by Ahold (including Giant Food Stores, Stop & Shop, Tops and Martin's), Albertsons (including Safeway and others), Kroger, Supervalu, Meijer, and Southeastern Grocers.{{cite web|last=Cooper |first=Kent |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/bob_kasten_works_internationally_in_dc_life_after_congress-224965-1.html |title=Bob Kasten Works Internationally in D.C. | Life After Congress : Roll Call Hill Life |publisher=Rollcall.com |date= |accessdate=2014-08-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://raportal.riteaid.com/vn/VNBULLETIN/VNBULLETIN.ASHX?DocID=15217|title=Rite Aid Marketing Resources Tool Kit FY2019|last=|first=|date=|website=Rite Aid|page=13|access-date=2018-09-17}}
Competitors
InStore Audio Network directly competes with the following companies:
- Mood Media, the parent company of Muzak, DMX Music, and PlayNetwork
- MTI Digital
References
External links
- [https://www.stingray.com/advertising-sales/in-store-retail-media/ Stingray Advertising]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20220106171900/http://www.instoreaudionetwork.com/ InStore Broadcasting Network] (at the Wayback Machine)
{{Stingray Digital}}
Category:Music companies of the United States