TL;DR

Direct response advertising companies specialize in campaigns built to generate measurable, immediate action: calls, clicks, leads, and sales. This guide ranks 11 of the top DR agencies by channel specialty, pricing signals, speed to air, and real client results. Berk Marketing leads the list for remnant radio DR buying, with savings of 40-70% off rate card and the ability to launch campaigns in as little as 24 hours. If your priority is podcasts, DRTV, or multichannel remnant buying, other specialists on this list will fit better.

Why Direct Response Advertising Companies Exist

Most advertising agencies talk about brand awareness, impressions, and reach. Direct response advertising companies talk about something simpler: did the phone ring? Did the order come in?

The distinction matters more than ever. According to Nielsen’s Marketing Mix Modeling research, radio advertising delivers an average return of $10 to $12 for every $1 spent, outperforming most other media. Yet most businesses don’t know this because their agency never bothered to measure it. That’s the gap DR agencies fill.

Direct response advertising is built around accountability. Every spot, every placement, every dollar gets tracked back to a result. If a campaign doesn’t produce, you know within days, not quarters.

AM/FM radio still commands a 64% share of ad-supported audio according to Edison Research’s Q3 2025 Share of Ear report. Sports and News/Talk formats capture the highest listener attention, at 76% and 73% respectively. And brands using AM/FM radio advertising enjoy a 28% higher market share than those without, per Peter Field’s IPA research.

The numbers explain why radio advertising works so well for direct response. But the medium only performs when the buying, creative, and tracking are handled by specialists who understand DR mechanics.

Get a free rate quote from Berk Marketing to see what remnant radio rates look like for your business.

How We Selected These Companies

Every agency on this list was evaluated against eight criteria:

1. DR specialization. Does the agency build campaigns around measurable response, not vanity metrics?
2. Channel coverage. What media does the agency buy across?
3. Remnant and discounted buying capability. Can they access below-rate-card inventory?
4. Creative production. Do they write, produce, and test DR-optimized ads?
5. Attribution technology. Call tracking, promo codes, vanity URLs, or proprietary analytics?
6. Client proof. Named clients, verifiable results, or documented case studies?
7. Speed to air. How fast can a new campaign launch?
8. Pricing transparency. Do they give directional budget guidance publicly?

One important distinction: remnant media and discounted media are not the same thing. Remnant inventory is unsold airtime that stations need to fill before it expires. Discounted media is negotiated below rate card but still pre-scheduled. Strategic Media Inc. has noted that “remnant media has a place in any DR radio campaign, but the bedrock of campaigns will be the discounted media.” The best direct response advertising companies use both together. You can learn more about how remnant radio advertising works and why it saves so much.

At-a-Glance Comparison Table

Company	Primary Channel	Best For	Savings Claimed	Speed to Air	Notable Proof
Berk Marketing	Radio (AM/FM, SiriusXM), remnant TV	Remnant radio DR, talk/sports targeting	40–70%+ off rate card	As little as 24 hours	Big Lou campaign
Converze Media Group	Radio, TV, digital	Multichannel remnant at scale	50%+ off traditional rates	Not specified	Optima Tax Relief, Inc. 500 #1
Strategic Media Inc.	Radio, podcasts, streaming	Data-driven DR radio testing	DR-level discounted rates	2–4 weeks for test	Vistaprint, Babbel, Hims
Oxford Road	Podcasts, radio, creator video	DTC brands scaling via audio	Enterprise pricing	Varies	DraftKings, Boll & Branch
RadioActive Media	Podcasts, radio endorsements	Celebrity/host DR campaigns	Not disclosed	Varies	Squatty Potty (5x ROAS)
Hybrid Media Services	Radio, streaming, podcasts	Audio-only DR specialists	Deep remnant discounts	7–10 days	Wesley Financial Services
DX Media Direct	TV + radio remnant, CTV, digital	Combined TV/radio remnant DR	35–90% off	Not specified	5+ year client retention
The Remnant Agency	TV, radio, billboards, CTV	Multi-media remnant buying	Deep discounts	Not specified	30+ years radio experience
The Radio Agency	Radio only	Traditional radio DR	Performance-driven pricing	Not specified	25+ years, B2B + B2C
TVA Media Group	DRTV production + placement	Infomercial + short-form DRTV	Shared-risk deals available	Production timelines	Fortune 500 clients
Ad Results Media	Podcasts, digital audio, radio	Digital-audio-first DR	Not disclosed	Not specified	AI-powered optimization

The 11 Best Direct Response Advertising Companies

1. Berk Marketing

Best for: Remnant radio DR, especially advertisers targeting homeowners and decision-makers ages 35-64+ through news, talk, and sports formats.

Editor’s Pick. Berk Marketing is a Los Angeles-based advertising agency that has specialized in remnant radio and TV buying for over 25 years. The firm plans, buys, and produces direct response campaigns across local and national AM/FM, SiriusXM, and select TV platforms including DirecTV, DISH, and Hulu.

Primary channels: AM/FM radio (local and national), SiriusXM satellite radio, remnant TV, CTV/streaming

Pricing signals:

• No fixed tiers; budget consultations start at $5,000-$10,000/month and scale upward
• A 30-second radio spot with a $500 rate card price may cost approximately $150 via remnant placement
• Savings of 40-70%+ versus standard rates
• Creative production often available for under $100 for test spots

Key features:

• On air in as little as 24 hours, enabling rapid launch campaigns that let advertisers test quickly
• CALL TRACK system with source attribution, missed-call capture, and ROI visibility
• SiriusXM advertising access to 30M+ U.S. subscribers, targeting business owners and affluent listeners
• Full creative production (scripts, voiceover, editing) with DR-optimized messaging
• Strategic buying partnership with Hybrid Media Services
• Deep expertise in talk radio and sports talk radio formats
• Concierge planning that handles market selection, station negotiations, schedule building, and ongoing optimization

Notable proof: Berk Marketing is the agency behind the Big Lou Term Life Insurance campaign, one of the most recognized radio campaigns in the U.S. The Big Lou spots became a cultural fixture across SiriusXM and talk radio nationally, demonstrating the kind of frequency and memorability that drives direct response at scale. The agency also managed the longest continuously running radio campaign on WFLA (Earth’s Best Natural Pest Management) and has long-term relationships with clients including Westminster Mint, Xtermite, PowerSales University, Bailey & Galyen Law, and The Dick Law Firm.

Real user perspective: Clients have noted immediate results. One automotive dealer reported phones ringing with buyers on their first day on SiriusXM. Another client in the bullion industry said their radio cost per lead had never been lower.

Honest limitations:

• Remnant inventory means less daypart control; you trade precision for savings
• Talk and sports radio formats skew older and male, which is excellent for many DR offers but may not suit brands targeting younger or female-skewing demographics
• Broadcast attribution requires discipline with call tracking, offer codes, and landing pages
• Remnant availability fluctuates week to week, requiring flexible pacing expectations

2. Converze Media Group

Best for: Mid-to-large DR advertisers needing multichannel remnant buying at scale across radio, TV, and digital.

Founded in 2009 by Tedd Barr and Philip Yancey, Converze Media Group operates out of Huntington Beach, California and has grown into one of the larger direct response advertising companies focused on remnant buying.

Primary channels: Radio (national and local remnant), TV, digital, OTT/CTV

Pricing signals:

• Clients average 50%+ off traditional radio rates
• Converze negotiates north of $60 million annually in fixed and preemptible radio inventory
• No publicly stated minimum spend
• Proprietary AIM Analytics platform included with media buys

Key features:

• Scale buying power across multiple media channels simultaneously
• Proprietary analytics platform for real-time campaign optimization
• Relationships with major broadcast networks for remnant access
• Both national and local market coverage

Notable proof: Converze helped Optima Tax Relief reach #1 Financial Service Company on the Inc. 500 List in just 3 years. The VP of Marketing at Wise Food Co. has said: “Converze’s attention to detail and commitment to finding real value in our media buys has made radio a sustainable long-term marketing medium for our business.”

Honest limitations:

• Larger agency structure may not deliver the boutique speed and personal attention of smaller shops
• Less emphasis on SiriusXM-specific or satellite radio strategies
• At $60M+ in annual buys, their sweet spot is bigger-budget advertisers

3. Strategic Media Inc.

Best for: DTC and national brands wanting a methodical, data-driven DR radio testing approach before scaling.

Strategic Media’s principals literally wrote the book, Direct Response Radio. Based in Maine and operating since approximately 2000, SMI takes a test-and-scale methodology that has made them a go-to for brands entering radio for the first time.

Primary channels: Radio (AM/FM, SiriusXM, streaming), podcasts, programmatic audio

Pricing signals:

• SMI states they can test multiple ads across multiple audiences for less than $30,000, including ad development and media dollars
• They’ve noted that “what costs $100,000 in TV costs $1,000 in radio; what takes 3-6 months in TV takes 2-4 weeks in radio”

Key features:

• Thousands of tests across hundreds of variables captured in a proprietary database since 2000
• Test-and-scale methodology designed to minimize upfront risk
• Combined remnant and discounted media buying strategies
• Drive-to-web campaign specialization

Notable proof: “Through SMI’s successful drive-to-web radio campaigns, Vistaprint has grown exponentially across the U.S. and Canada.” They also helped Babbel and Hims scale their radio presence.

Honest limitations:

• Radio-only specialist with no TV or CTV buying capability
• Roughly 20 employees, so bandwidth may limit simultaneous large campaigns
• Testing phase requires patience; not ideal for advertisers who need to be on air tomorrow

4. Oxford Road

Best for: Venture-backed DTC brands wanting to scale through podcast and creator-based DR campaigns at enterprise budgets.

Oxford Road, led by CEO Dan Granger, merged with Veritone One in a deal valued at a potential $104 million. The combined entity is now the world’s largest podcast advertising agency, which fundamentally changes what they offer compared to traditional direct response advertising companies focused on broadcast.

Primary channels: Podcasts, radio, streaming audio, creator-based video, YouTube

Key features:

• Proprietary Audiolytics system that tailors every word to audience behavior and business goals
• Massive scale in podcast inventory and host-read placements
• Creator-based video and YouTube DR capabilities
• Data infrastructure built for DTC performance marketing

Notable proof: Oxford Road helped over a dozen DTC brands scale from startups to valuations exceeding $1 billion. DraftKings has noted: “Since 2013, DraftKings has worked closely with Veritone One to scale and optimize our media buying efforts.”

Honest limitations:

• Primarily podcast and influencer focused; traditional remnant radio is not their core strength
• Enterprise-level minimum budgets likely required
• Less suited for local or regional DR campaigns
• The Veritone merger may create integration complexity during the transition period

5. RadioActive Media

Best for: Brands wanting celebrity and host endorsements from personalities like Howard Stern, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, and Sean Hannity.

RadioActive Media operates at the intersection of influencer marketing and direct response, placing brands within high-profile host reads and live endorsements on major shows.

Primary channels: Podcasts, terrestrial radio, influencer endorsements

Key features:

• Access to top-tier radio and podcast personalities for endorsement-style DR campaigns
• Relationship-driven placements that build trust through host credibility
• Experience across both broadcast radio and podcast formats

Notable proof: Their Squatty Potty campaign resulted in a 5x return on investment for every dollar spent. The exposure was reportedly a factor in Squatty Potty achieving a deal with Lori Greiner on Shark Tank. A former VP of Marketing at FreshBooks stated: “I have chosen to work and continue to work with RadioActive Media over the years because of their integrity.”

Honest limitations:

• Heavy influencer and podcast orientation; less suited for traditional AM/FM remnant buying or small-budget DR testing
• Celebrity endorsement placements typically require larger budgets
• Less infrastructure for remnant rate negotiation compared to remnant-first agencies

6. Hybrid Media Services

Best for: Audio-only DR advertisers wanting a specialist agency with deep remnant relationships, exclusively focused on the power of audio.

Hybrid Media Services has been exclusively dedicated to audio since 2007. Their focus is narrow by design: radio, streaming audio, and podcasts. Nothing else.

Primary channels: Radio, streaming audio, podcasts

Pricing signals:

• Deep remnant discounts through established broadcaster relationships
• Typically takes around 7 to 10 days to get a remnant media buy onto the air

Key features:

• Pure audio specialization with no distraction from TV or digital display
• Strong remnant buying relationships across major broadcasting companies
• Strategic buying partnership with Berk Marketing, suggesting coordination for mutual client benefit

Notable proof: The President of Wesley Financial Services has said: “When it comes to radio advertising, no one beats Hybrid Media Services.”

Honest limitations:

• No TV, CTV, or video offering whatsoever
• Narrower channel mix limits cross-platform DR strategies
• 7-10 day launch timeline is good but not as fast as agencies offering 24-hour deployment

7. DX Media Direct

Best for: Advertisers wanting a single-agency remnant buying solution across both TV and radio with hands-on support.

DX Media Direct positions itself clearly in the DR camp: “Direct Response Advertising is advertising that pays for itself. Every ad is built to drive immediate action: calls, clicks, leads, and sales you can measure in real time. No vanity metrics, no guesswork.”

Primary channels: TV (remnant, CTV, streaming), radio, digital, outdoor, podcasts

Key features:

• Cross-channel remnant buying spanning TV, radio, and digital
• Combined traditional and connected TV capabilities
• DR-focused creative development
• Long-term client relationships

Notable proof: One client shared: “I’ve been working with the team at DX Media Direct for 5+ years now and it’s been great.” The sustained relationship speaks to consistent performance.

Honest limitations:

• Broader scope may mean less depth in radio-specific DR optimization compared to audio-first agencies
• Newer brand recognition relative to some established DR radio specialists
• Pricing signals suggest wide variance (35-90% off), which means results depend heavily on inventory availability

8. The Remnant Agency

Best for: Advertisers who want remnant-priced placements across multiple traditional media channels, not just audio.

The Remnant Agency takes the remnant concept and applies it broadly across TV, radio, billboards, CTV, and print. Their team brings over 30 years of experience in the radio industry, both buying media and owning/managing radio stations, and they position themselves as a trusted partner to every major broadcasting company.

Primary channels: TV, radio, billboards, CTV, print

Key features:

• Multi-media remnant buying from a single agency
• Deep broadcaster relationships from station ownership background
• Traditional media coverage that extends beyond audio

Honest limitations:

• Broader remnant focus may dilute DR-radio depth compared to audio-first specialists
• Less emphasis on creative production and DR scripting
• Multi-channel scope means radio may not always be the priority in campaign strategy

9. The Radio Agency

Best for: B2B and B2C brands wanting a dedicated radio-only partner with a 25+ year track record in direct response.

The Radio Agency (radiodirect.com) earned their DR credibility the hard way. They’ve described losing accounts when sales metrics fell short of profitability but being rewarded with budgets doubled, tripled, and even increased tenfold when campaigns worked. That kind of candor is rare among direct response advertising companies.

Primary channels: Radio only (AM/FM, SiriusXM)

Key features:

• Emphasis on baseline metrics before campaign launch
• Dedicated phone numbers, unique URLs, and promo codes for attribution
• 25+ years of radio-only DR experience
• Both B2B and B2C campaign expertise

Honest limitations:

• Radio-only means no TV, CTV, or digital options for cross-channel DR expansion
• Limited public pricing information
• Smaller agency footprint may constrain capacity during peak demand

10. TVA Media Group

Best for: Product companies needing DRTV infomercial production combined with media placement.

TVA Media Group has a three-decade history of producing and placing direct response commercials for Fortune 500 companies, top-10 ad agencies, national associations, startups, and government agencies. They’re the pick when your DR strategy centers on television, especially short-form and long-form infomercial production.

Primary channels: DRTV (short-form, long-form), radio, print, digital, airlines, PR

Pricing signals:

• Shared-risk MEDIAblitZ partnerships where TVA splits upfront campaign costs in exchange for a small commission on sales
• This model reduces upfront risk for advertisers testing DRTV

Key features:

• In-house production for infomercials and short-form spots
• Shared-risk pricing model that aligns agency incentives with advertiser results
• Multi-decade DRTV expertise across product categories

Honest limitations:

• TV-production-centric; less suited for audio-first or remnant-radio-heavy DR approaches
• Production timelines are longer than radio (weeks or months vs. days)
• DRTV budgets typically exceed what radio DR testing requires

11. Ad Results Media

Best for: Brands wanting data-driven podcast and digital audio campaigns with AI-powered optimization.

Ad Results Media (ARM) describes itself as “a specialist media agency focused on delivering results that drive brand growth and performance” with a data approach “powered by proprietary insights and fueled by AI and machine learning.”

Primary channels: Podcasts, digital audio, broadcast radio, YouTube

Key features:

• AI and machine learning-powered campaign optimization
• Podcast-first buying infrastructure
• Broadcast radio capabilities alongside digital audio
• Data-driven approach to audience targeting

Notable context: ARM highlights that Edison Research’s Infinite Dial 2026 reports 73% of drivers still listen to AM/FM radio in-car each month, making it the #1 audio source, reinforcing the opportunity in broadcast radio.

Honest limitations:

• Digital-audio-first orientation; less remnant-buying infrastructure than DR radio specialists
• Brand-response hybrid approach may not suit pure hard-DR advertisers seeking immediate, trackable ROI
• Less emphasis on traditional remnant rate negotiation

How to Choose the Right Direct Response Advertising Company

Picking from a list is one thing. Making the right choice requires matching your specific needs to an agency’s strengths.

Start With Your Channel Needs

If your audience listens to talk radio and sports talk, you need a radio-first DR agency. If you’re selling a physical product that benefits from visual demonstration, DRTV makes more sense. If your customers are podcast listeners, go with a podcast-focused DR shop. The worst mistake is hiring a generalist agency that claims to do everything but specializes in nothing.

Practitioners on Reddit consistently emphasize that radio is “100% dependent on repetition” and that advertisers cannot run a two-week test to judge whether it works. That insight should shape both your agency choice and your budget expectations. You need a partner who will tell you this upfront rather than let you burn through a small test budget and declare failure.

Budget Range Matters

Some direct response advertising companies cater to enterprise budgets (Oxford Road, Converze at scale), while others can get meaningful results from $5,000 to $10,000 per month (Berk Marketing, Strategic Media Inc. for testing). Be honest about what you can spend monthly for at least 8-12 weeks before expecting to evaluate results.

Demand Real Attribution Infrastructure

The single biggest reason DR radio campaigns fail isn’t bad creative or wrong stations. It’s bad tracking. Any agency you hire should provide, at minimum:

• Dedicated phone numbers per station or market
• Vanity URLs or unique landing pages
• Promo codes for each campaign flight
• Call recording and missed-call capture
• Source attribution that ties responses to specific stations and dayparts

Learn more about the best ways to track offline conversions from radio before you evaluate agencies.

Speed to Air Is a Real Differentiator

Some agencies can get you on the air in 24 hours. Others take 7-10 days for remnant buys, or 2-4 weeks for a structured test. If speed matters for your business (seasonal offers, competitive response, time-sensitive promotions), ask specifically about launch timelines during your initial consultation.

Watch for Warning Signs

Avoid agencies that:

• Won’t share client references or named case studies
• Promise guaranteed results without discussing tracking infrastructure
• Push large upfront commitments before testing
• Can’t explain the difference between remnant and discounted media
• Focus on impressions and reach instead of cost per lead and ROAS

The best direct response advertising companies will talk about radio advertising KPIs like cost per call, cost per lead, and return on ad spend. If an agency leads with CPM, they’re probably not a DR specialist.

One More Consideration: Creative Quality

Your ad has to sell. The best media buy in the world won’t compensate for a weak offer or confusing call to action. Look for agencies that produce their own DR creative or have proven processes for testing multiple scripts. Strong offer wording and CTAs are what separate a campaign that generates calls from one that generates silence.

Explore Berk Marketing’s full service offerings to see how remnant radio DR campaigns are structured from media planning through call tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct response advertising?

Direct response advertising is any form of advertising designed to generate an immediate, measurable action from the audience. That action could be a phone call, a website visit, a text message, or a purchase. Unlike brand advertising (which builds awareness over time without tracking specific responses), direct response campaigns are judged entirely on whether they produce trackable results. Radio, TV, podcasts, and digital audio are the most common channels used by direct response advertising companies.

How much do direct response advertising companies charge?

Pricing varies significantly. On the lower end, agencies like Berk Marketing work with monthly budgets starting at $5,000-$10,000, while Strategic Media Inc. offers structured DR radio tests for under $30,000 including creative and media. Larger agencies like Oxford Road and Converze Media Group typically work with enterprise-level budgets. Some agencies, like TVA Media Group, offer shared-risk models where they split upfront costs in exchange for a commission on sales.

What is the difference between remnant and standard ad buying?

Standard ad buying means negotiating rates for scheduled time slots at or near the station’s published rate card. Remnant buying means purchasing unsold airtime that a station needs to fill before it expires, often at 40-70% below rate card. Remnant offers significant savings but comes with less control over exact daypart placement. The strongest DR radio strategies use both remnant and discounted media together. During high-demand advertising periods (election season, major holidays), remnant spots may be scarce or unavailable entirely. Honest agencies will tell you this.

How do you track ROI from radio and TV DR campaigns?

The standard toolkit includes dedicated phone numbers for each station or market, vanity URLs, unique promo codes, and call tracking software with source attribution and recording. Berk Marketing’s CALL TRACK system, for example, provides source attribution and missed-call capture. Radiocentre research found that exposure to radio advertising made listeners 52% more likely to include the advertised brand in their internet browsing, with 58% of that browsing occurring within 24 hours, so website traffic lifts are another important signal to monitor.

Can I test DR radio without a huge budget?

Yes. Strategic Media Inc. states they can run multi-ad, multi-audience tests for under $30,000. Berk Marketing starts consultations at $5,000-$10,000/month with creative production sometimes available for under $100 per test spot. The key is committing enough budget and time to generate statistically meaningful results. A two-week test with minimal frequency will almost always fail, regardless of agency.

Which radio formats work best for direct response?

News/talk and sports talk consistently deliver the highest engagement for DR campaigns. According to research data, sports content garners 76% listener attention and News/Talk hits 73%. These formats attract attentive, loyal listeners who develop trust-based relationships with hosts, making them more receptive to advertising messages. For advertisers targeting older male audiences, these formats are particularly effective. LeadsRx research shows brands can see up to a 14% increase in website traffic from AM/FM radio ads, and an Audacy geofencing study demonstrated a 20-40% boost in customer visits from radio campaigns.

What makes a DR agency different from a regular media buyer?

A regular media buyer focuses on reaching a target audience at a competitive CPM. A DR agency focuses on generating a specific, trackable action at a profitable cost per acquisition. This changes everything: the creative approach (stronger offers, clearer CTAs, urgency), the media strategy (formats and dayparts that drive response, not just reach), and the reporting (cost per call and cost per lead, not impressions). Direct response advertising companies live and die by whether the phone rings.

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Ready to see what remnant radio rates look like for your campaign? Contact Berk Marketing for a free consultation and custom rate quote. With over 25 years of DR radio buying experience, campaigns launching in as little as 24 hours, and built-in call tracking, they make it straightforward to test whether radio can deliver the ROI your business needs.