Head of Creative Development

Kristy Martino

Kristy Martino is the Head of Creative Development here at SMI, and a champion of imagination and ingenuity. The former founder of an award-winning branding and design agency and 2026 keynote speaker for the international CopyCon conference, she now brings her acumen for translating consumer desire to all things Audio. Kristy is also a fierce community advocate and has served on the boards of Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, New Hampshire Public Radio, and the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition.

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Articles by Kristy Martino

Culture

SMI Spotlight: Pam Wolfgram’s 24 Year Tenure

Written by Kristy Martino

Here at Strategic Media, we recently celebrated our 26th year in business. More than a major milestone, it has served as a reminder of just how much this…

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Male radio presenters having a great time in a studio

Advertising Podcasts

How to Create Great Host-Read Ads: 8 Tips for Peak Performance

Written by Kristy Martino

Top Tips for a High-Performing Host-Read Podcast Ad Host-read podcast ads work because they leverage something no other channel can replicate: trust between the host and their audience.…

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Close-up of a woman's ear and hand through a torn hole in the paper. Yellow background, copy space. The concept of eavesdropping, espionage, gossip and tabloids.

Advertising Podcasts Radio

How to Create Great Audio Ads: 10 Proven Tips for Peak Performance

Written by Kristy Martino

Audio advertising has evolved far beyond traditional radio. Today, brands reach listeners across broadcast, streaming platforms, podcasts, and smart speakers—yet the fundamentals of what makes an ad effective…

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Black couple, road trip or freedom in car travel on summer love holiday adventure or location vacation. Smile, happy and trust bond man or comic woman singing to dance music with energy or sunglasses

Advertising Culture Radio

Understanding Today’s Core Listening Audiences

Written by Kristy Martino

A winning audio strategy begins with understanding who is actually listening—and how they engage. Today’s most dynamic growth audiences include Black Americans, Hispanic/Latinx listeners, Gen Z, and single…

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Two men sitting at a radio desk in front of CBS News Radio microphones.

Advertising Radio

What the CBS News Radio Shutdown Means for Advertisers (And How to Stay Ahead)

Written by Kristy Martino

Image courtesy of the NYT What the CBS News Radio Shutdown Means for Advertisers (And How to Stay Ahead) The recent announcement that CBS News Radio would terminate…

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Serious girl with headphones looking at smartphone display while scrolling through playlist to choose favorite track

Advertising

Why a Multi-Channel Audio Strategy Matters

Written by Kristy Martino

Nielsen’s latest report, The Record: Q3 U.S. Audio Listening Trends, examined how U.S. audiences spent their time consuming audio in Q3 2025 and found that Americans spend an…

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Selective focus photography of an arrow moving toward a yellow and red dart board.

A New Era of Precision: Strategic Media Adopts Podscribe’s SmartServe

Written by Kristy Martino

At Strategic Media, our mission has always been clear: empower our clients with the tools and intelligence they need to reach audiences with maximum impact. Today, we’re excited…

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Back View Of Man Looking at 3D Cyberspace With Animated Social Media Interfaces, Online Video Games, Viral Videos, Internet Content. Visualization Of Male Enthusiast Surfing Computer Network

Advertising Culture

This is Your Brand on GLP-1

Written by Kristy Martino

There’s something distinctly human about the search for the magic pill. Diet culture has churned out plenty of contenders: from amphetamine-laden capsules and tablets to the over-the-counter appetite…

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A hand holds magnifying glass focusing on the word Trends within the year 2026.

Culture

SMI’s Top 5 Audio Trends For 2026

Written by Kristy Martino

From terrestrial radio to streaming, podcasting, and beyond, audio is in a state of constant motion, with people experiencing aural evolution in real time. In 2026, the landscape…

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