Tuned In Radio is a Chattanooga-based advertising production and media buying firm that creates, places, and manages radio campaigns for businesses across the Southeast. Unlike national media agencies that treat Chattanooga as one market among hundreds, Tuned In operates as a regional specialist, handling everything from 15-second spot production to integrated multi-station buys that span Tennessee, Georgia, and surrounding states.
The firm produces radio advertising in-house, meaning clients can move from concept to on-air in days rather than weeks. The production studio handles voice recording, music licensing, sound design, and final mixing. On the media side, Tuned In negotiates station rates and builds schedules across Chattanooga outlets (including iHeartRadio, Entercom, and Cumulus affiliates) and extends campaigns into secondary markets when clients need broader reach. The operation is small enough to work with single-location businesses and large enough to manage six-figure annual media budgets for regional chains.
Tuned In charges on a project basis for production (typically $300 to $800 per finished 60-second spot, depending on complexity and talent) and takes a percentage of media spend for buying and placement, standard in the industry at 10 to 15 percent of gross media cost. A client running a modest three-month campaign on two or three Chattanooga stations might commit $2,000 to $4,000 in production and $8,000 to $15,000 in media spend. Larger regional campaigns cost proportionally more. The firm also offers media planning consultation without a production component for clients who already have spots recorded. Pricing can vary; contact the firm directly for quotes tied to your specific campaign length and station reach.
Larger full-service agencies in Chattanooga (such as those affiliated with national holding companies) typically require higher minimums and longer commitments, often $15,000 to $25,000 per month, and may treat radio as one channel among many rather than a specialty. Independent digital-first agencies in Chattanooga focus almost entirely on paid search, social media, and display advertising, leaving radio production and buying to outside vendors or not offering it at all. Tuned In fills the gap for businesses that want radio as a primary channel and need a local partner who knows Chattanooga's station landscape intimately and can move fast. Choose Tuned In if you're committed to radio and want in-house production quality without the overhead cost of a full-service agency; choose a larger firm if you need integrated TV, print, and digital in one relationship; choose a digital-first shop if radio isn't in your mix.
The firm works best for regional retail chains, automotive dealers, healthcare providers, and services that benefit from frequent local radio exposure and can commit to 8 to 12-week campaigns. It also suits restaurants and retailers launching seasonal promotions with a fast turnaround. Tuned In is a poor fit for one-off national brands needing only occasional local radio, startups with no media budget, or campaigns that demand TV or print as primary channels. The firm does not typically handle branding or strategic consulting apart from media planning; clients should have clear marketing goals before reaching out.
Initial consultations are usually a phone call or in-person meeting at the studio to discuss campaign goals, target audience, offer, and desired stations. Tuned In will ask about budget and timeline and provide a rough media plan and production estimate. If you move forward, the next step is a creative brief and script development, followed by studio time for voiceover and mixing. Once the spot is complete and approved, Tuned In submits it to stations and manages schedule placement and reporting. Clients receive monthly performance reports showing spot frequency, daypart distribution, and reach estimates.
Tuned In operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited weekend availability by appointment. The office is located on the North Shore and has street and lot parking. Remote consultations and file transfer are standard practice, so out-of-area clients do not need to visit in person. Turnaround on a basic production spot is typically 5 to 7 business days from script approval; expedited 48-hour turnaround is available at a 25 percent rush fee.
Tuned In Radio has held a foothold in Chattanooga's media landscape for over a decade by focusing narrowly on radio when larger agencies deprioritize it and moving faster than traditional production houses. For any local business treating radio as a core channel, it merits a conversation.
