Kurt Hanson is Publisher of the daily web-based newsletter called “RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter” (www.kurthanson.com) and is considered one of the world’s leading experts in the field of new delivery mechanisms for radio (including Internet radio, satellite radio, HD radio, and podcasting). Kurt is also CEO of AccuRadio (www.accuradio.com), the world’s leading independent, multichannel Internet radio property.  AccuRadio reaches nearly a million unique listeners per month with its 300+ channels of rock, pop, jazz, classical, country, Broadway, Celtic, and more. 

In addition to its vast breadth and depth of channels, AccuRadio is unique among major Internet radio properties in that it specifically targets the 25-to-54-year-old audience (primarily at work). Kurt originally developed his reputation within the radio industry as the founder and CEO of Strategic Media Research (SMR), a market research firm respected throughout the radio industry (particularly for its “STAR” program of professional call-out music research  and its “AccuRatings” product), which he built into a $10 million business.

In Fall 1999, Kurt launched RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter, which has become the leading voice of Internet radio worldwide. In that capacity, he speaks at conferences, trade shows and industry events, both in the U.S. and around the world, and has provided consulting services for clients in both the broadcast radio and Internet radio industries.

In Summer 2000, Kurt and his team launched AccuRadio, initially simply as a experimental website to demonstrate the capabilities of Internet radio.  Following a public launch during the Christmas 2002 season, it has since become one of the top multichannel webcasters in the world. AccuRadio is one of only five webcasters in the world -and the only commercial webcaster- nominated for the 2006 Webby Awards ("the Oscars of the Internet") for Best Radio.

Earlier in his career, Hanson worked at various terrestrial radio stations, including WOKY/ Milwaukee, WLS/Chicago, WDAI/Chicago, and WLUP/Chicago. He holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

(2007)