I should amend what I wrote yesterday about wondering whether or not radio will "catch the political revenue stream just waiting to be had as we head into November." They sure didn't catch any revenue stream in 2007. The Radio Advertising Bureau has just released figures that show radio revenue down 2.5% to $19.6 billion in 2007, the lowest low since 2003...
Local revenue was off 2% to $15.1 billion with national down 6% to $18.5 billion. Network radio did have a good year, up 4% to $1.1 billion thanks to big spending in the retail and automotive fields. Besides network radio increasing its numbers, take a big, fat guess as to where non-spot revenue increased. If you said Internet revenue, you're ahead of the current curve of most radio GM's. Radio revenue produced mainly by online sales grew 10% to $1.7 billion...
In addition to local sales being a number one priority, if you're a GM, your number 1A) priorities better be a tie between national radio buys and the Internet. If you're not a network station, there's no number two to worry about. You've got plenty enough to worry about anyway, according to the numbers...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1770] Boston Massacre: It started with a crowd of colonists taunting British soldiers and escalated into the infamous 'Boston Massacre' with 5 Americans killed. Two Brits will later be convicted of manslaughter. The Massacre is recreated in this YouTube clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tYEjhnpNV7k ...
- 1963] 'Happy Trails': Legendary Country artist Patsy Cline dies in a small plane crash in Camden (TN) returning from a Kansas City benefit for the widow of a local disc jockey. Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy's pilot/manager were also killed. The following is a tribute to the great Patsy Cline: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0XZPbj6UAWw ...1982] John Belushi dies of a drug overdose in a Hollywood hotel room. Belushi was just 33. This is the 'Nightline' wrap of the tragedy: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EnUm_Vne_W8 ...
- 1966] Man of Steel: Steel union official Marvin Miller is selected as executive director of the MLBPA, the baseball players union. Major League players should kiss the ground Miller walks on for their inflated salaries...
- 1969] Creem rises: Creem Magazine is published for the first time, aimed at competing with Rolling Stone Magazine. They fail to do so...
- 1973] Wife swap: Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich arrive at spring training and announce that they have swapped wives, children and dogs. Within two years both players are gone from baseball. Had Fox been around, this would have been the first reality series...
- 1993] He'll be back: Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs retires after winning 3 Super Bowls in 12 years. Gibbs becomes a successful racing car team owner in NASCAR but will return to the NFL as coach of the Redskins several years later...
- 1993] Myopic vision: Cuban President Fidel Castro says that Hillary Clinton "is a beautiful woman." When asked how many fingers a reporter is holding up, Castro replies, "what reporter?" ...
- 2001] Keeps on tickin': VP Dick Cheney undergoes angioplasty for a partially blocked artery...
- 2002] This Ozzy is not a Nelson: MTV begins airing "The Osbournes." TV goes downhill from there. Here's a clip of the show: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dTqxQ2o7OsU ...
- 2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart is convicted of obstructing justice and lying to the government about why she unloaded Imclone stocks just before the price dropped...
Music Memories:
- 1955] Elvis (sigh)ting: Elvis Presley makes his first TV appearance on "Louisiana Hayride." On the same date Elvis is honorably discharged from the Army. This is one of the songs Elvis did on LH: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ey0Ajvwm99I ...
Commentary:
Congratulations to John Gorman (ex-WMMS PD) who is being honored by the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters for "Excellence in Broadcasting" at the CAB's 18th Annual Awards for Excellence Luncheon, April 2 at the Double Tree Hotel Cleveland South. Along with John, the 2008 honorees are Brian Fowler & Joe Cronauer from Mix 106.5 and Fox 8's Neil Zurcher. For Clevelanders wishing to attend: http://www.cabcleveland.com/ ...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Niki Taylor (32), Eva Mendes (34), Teena Marie (52), Penn Jillette (53), Marsha Warfield (54), Eddy Grant (60) who will celebrate on "Electric Avenue": http://youtube.com/watch?v=vtPk5IUbdH0 , Murray Head (62) who will celebrate with "One Night in Bangkok": http://youtube.com/watch?v=MHA5cYtgjUQ , Samantha Eggar (69), Fred Williamson (70) and Dean Stockwell (72)...
Timeline Countdown: 4 days until Daylight time, 15 days until the beginning of spring and 20 days until opening day...
