Anybody can give data, but not everyone can give advice.

– Jon Coleman, Founder

Our Story

Our story begins in the summer of 1978 when Jon Coleman worked for a radio and TV research and consulting company called Media Associates in Dallas, Texas. That year, Jon started his own company to serve media brands. Without an office, Jon and his wife Linda would write questionnaires and analyze studies from their home, while subcontracting the data processing. Eventually, they rented a small office and the company began to grow.

“We don’t just deliver research – we deliver insights to help you build and strengthen your brand”

Now doing business as Coleman Research, Jon and his staff began to develop our products and services. He believed that not only did we need to provide superb data, but we also needed to consult and provide clients with in-depth analysis. The approach worked as the company grew substantially. Jon attracted former executives Pierre Bouvard and Chris Ackerman and current president Warren Kurtzman to begin building the media research industry’s leading team. During this period, the company also opened its office in Hamburg, Germany from which John Mönninghoff began to build Coleman’s European radio station research business.

In 2000, our name was changed to Coleman Insights, to better reflect the benefits the company delivers to its clients. We continued to grow with the addition of John Boyne to our executive team and the acquisition of mediaEKG in 2009, which resulted in Sam Milkman also joining the company. Jay Nachlis joined the firm as a consultant in 2017 and built the firm’s podcasting division.

In September 2024, Coleman Insights was acquired by Quest Global Research Group, Inc., a leader in the market research industry. This partnership enables both companies to broaden their offerings and deliver enhanced services to clients across the market research community in all verticals, beyond radio, podcasting, and streaming. Combining Coleman’s strategic insights and Quest’s data collection capabilities, services, and technologies will offer more innovative solutions for solving clients’ biggest business challenges.

Through its work with hundreds of brands in more than a dozen countries, Coleman Insights shares with its clients what we have learned and our experiences. 

At Coleman Insights, we encourage our clients to be “Outside Thinkers.” For example, we believe:

  • Brand usage should fit into existing habits, rather than trying to change habits
  • Brands should fulfill the needs and expectations their customers have of them
  • Language should be used to describe the product in ways the consumer clearly understands
  • Marketing should be conducive to the lifestyle of the consumer

Utilizing Outside Thinking can result in more targeted messaging, stronger brands, and more appealing content.

We don’t just deliver research – we deliver insights to help build and strengthen your brand. There are no cookie-cutter solutions. We believe the best research is customized for each situation, and delivered with a clear, outlined strategic plan designed to achieve results over the long term.