Better yet, can radio survive without the Internet? This will be the 7th straight year of little or no growth in the $20 billion radio industry but there is hope for 2008, a political year. As Barrington Research analyst James Goss told Reuters earlier this week, "chances are, 2008 will be better due to Internet dollars or nontraditional revenues and political dollars." Clear Channel, CBS Corp. and Emmis Communications Corp. have seen ad revenue growth at radio station Web sites. CBS radio CEO Dan Mason adds, "We're having explosive growth in Web usage and it's indicative of where radio is going in the future." Market analyst David Bank said "there can't be industry growth unless these broadcasters get new advertisers that traditionally haven't used radio and that's why I think Google is the most important thing to watch." ...
If you're wondering how much is at stake in political advertising, that revenue potential should hit about $3 billion in 2008, up 40% from 2006. But here's the rub. In 2006, radio only got 8% of the political dollars. Reliable forecast estimates for 2008 have radio getting more than 10% of that $3 billion or as Stu Olds of Katz Media Group puts it, "there's a huge opportunity to more than double the dollars in radio to about $300 million in 2008. I think it's a realistic goal." ...
One thing for certain - if your station has a website, you better be taking advantage of it. Not only is your website a revenue stream but in addition to ballyhooing your magnificent jock lineup, promotions and music lists, you better be doing social networking, chatting with your audience and linking the Internet to your website. It's time to join the electronic revolution or be left behind...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1961] Cue up "Bruce Almighty": TWA shows the 1st in-flight movie. I was once on a cross-country flight that showed "Airport". Scary enough, right? I also had another flight on a Whisper Jet and sat next to a Boeing engineer who told me that those planes have been known to lose a wing on occasion. These were two of my most memorable flights...
- 1966] Wedding Bells: 50-year old Frank Sinatra and 21-year old Mia Farrow tie the knot. Old Blue Eyes had pants older than Mia...1986] Caroline Kennedy, 28-year old daughter of JFK, walks down the aisle with Edwin A. Schlossberg in Centerville (MA), not far from the Kennedy compound...
- 1967] Cool: The 1st air conditioned NYC subway trains (the "F" train) rolls down the tracks. Thank you MTA...
- 1969] In orbit: Apollo 11 and astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins circle the moon in orbit. On the 20th they touch down...
- 1976] Olympic magic: Tiny 14-year old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci scores a perfect 10 on the parallel bars. "Comaneech" becomes an overnight sensation...1980] The Moscow Summer Olympics begin minus about half the nations (including the U.S.) of the world who were boycotting because of Soviet intervention in Afghanistan... 1996] The most recognizable man in the world, Muhammad Ali lights the Olympic torch starting the games in Atlanta and here it is on video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=seF7noys9QQ ...
- 1982] Going to Hall: Tony Gwynn who is about to join the Baseball Hall of Fame in a couple of weeks, makes his major league debut with 2 hits. Tony goes on to win a record 8 NL batting titles and collect 3,141 hits before retiring in 2001...
- 1985] NASA goes to school: New Hampshire school teacher Christa McAuliffe is chosen to ride aboard the space shuttle. Christa was on the ill-fated Challenger when it exploded in 1986...
- 1990] Guilty as charged: Baseball's all-time hits leader Pete Rose is sentenced in Cincinnati to 5 months in prison for tax evasion...
- 1994] The sky is falling: Four 26-lb. ceiling tiles fall from the roof of the Kingdome in Seattle just hours before a scheduled game...
- 2005] Just super: The president nominates John Roberts to replace Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor who retires. Instead, Roberts will wind up succeeding Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who dies in September...
Music Memories:
- 1954] Released on this date: "That's All Right (Mama)" - Elvis Presley...
- 1958] Will the real Drifters please stand up: Drifters mgr. George Treadwell goes backstage at the Apollo Theater and fires his group. George walks across to the dressing room of the group's opening act, The Crowns and hires them as replacements. The Crowns lead singer? Ben E. King...
- 1968] #1 on this date: "Grazing in the Grass" - Hugh Masekela...1976] "Kiss and Say Goodbye" - Manhattans. Watch these great moves: http://youtube.com/watch?v=F1JhBu_x81Q ...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
What a relief to know that Reverend Al Sharpton will not protest any new hiring of Don Imus...Imus can sleep well tonight with that news...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Anthony Edwards (45), Brian May of Queen (60), The Eagles' Bernie Leadon (60), Ilie Nastase (61), Vikki Carr (66), George Hamilton IV (70), Sue Thompson (82), Pat Hingle (83) and George McGovern (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 8 days until the BB HOF induction, 11 days until all NFL training camps will be open and 16 days until the NFL HOF...
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