Thursday, May 6, 2010

Radio Ad Spending A Mixed Bag...

To paraphrase a line from "That's Life": "You're riding high in April, Shot down in May", the months may change but you get the picture. The ad placement business is volatile at best. Our friends at Mediaguide who study such things, issued their newest AdMonitor report which shows that Q1 auto revenue was strong with domestic up 12.5% and foreign auto up 17.8% year-over-year. Mediaguide EVP Joan Gerberding says "In spite of or because of auto recalls, ad spending seems to be showing slow but steady growth." Bank and credit union business is up 54% from Q1 2009 and home improvement was up 32%...

So are happy days here again? Not so fast. As program directors know well, you're only as good as your last book and the radio revenue book just closed its first chapter. The book won't be complete until all 4 chapters of 2010 are written...

While there's a long way to go before we know if radio revenue has gone full-circle, Gerberding takes an optimistic view: "We're seeing growth in a number of consumer categories which could certainly give the impression that things are starting to turn around a bit for the economy."


10 Timeline Memories:

1.1835] Start the presses: James Gordon Bennett publishes the New York Herald for the first time…

2.1851] This is a lock: Linus Yale patents the clock-type lock and has the good sense to put his name on it…
3.1915] Bambino goes yard: Babe Ruth hits his first home run (as a Red Sox pitcher) against the Yankees. Three years later on the same date, he hits one against the Yankees as a position (first base) player…
4.1937] Oh the humanities: The hydrogen filled German dirigible Hindenburg crashes and burns in Lakehurst (NJ) killing 36 of the 97 people aboard in one of the most vivid scenes ever captured on film…
5.1954] Run a mile in my shoes: Roger Bannister becomes the first runner to finish a mile under 4 minutes. His time: 3:59:59.4…
6.1957] Profiles of a Pulitzer: John Fitzgerald Kennedy wins a Pulitzer Prize for his book "Profiles in Courage"…
7.1960] Wedding Bells: Britain’s Princess Margaret walks stiffly and properly down the royal aisle with commoner Anthony Armstrong Jones. They will stiffly and properly divorce in 1978…
8.1978] Last Triple Crown Winner: Affirmed captures the Kentucky Derby and will become the last Triple Crown winner…2006] Barbaro wins the Kentucky Derby, a first for jockey Edgar Prado. Sadly, tragedy awaits Barbaro in a tumultuous year for the thoroughbred…
9.1999] The Long Island Lolita is free: A parole board in New York votes to release Amy Fisher after 7 years for shooting her lover’s wife, Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the face…
10.2004] Friends no more: An estimated 51.1 million watch the final first-run episode of “Friends” on NBC-TV…

Music Memories...
  • 1972] Released on this date: "Rocket Man" - Elton John...
  • 1973] O solo Mio: After 18 singles and 7 albums together as Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon goes solo at one of my favorite theaters - The Music Hall in Boston. Paul does 'Kodachrome', a solo hit from 1973 in this clip....
  • 1995] Honorary degrees: James Taylor and Natalie Cole receive honorary degrees at Berklee College of Music's 50th Anniversary Commencement. In this clip Carly Simon talks to Tom Brokaw about JT. And here's Natalie Cole in the 70's...

Commentary:

A Tribute to Shadoe Stevens will take place on Tuesday, June 5th at the Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles. The tribute will feature "Federated Group" Commercials Best Of & Shadoevision. One of the most berserk, outrageous and unforgettable TV comedies of the 1980's doled out thirty seconds at a time will be featured along with other wacky delights. Shadoe Stevens will play a mime playing Shadoe Stevens. For more information and a free translation of the tribute, you may call 323-655-2510 or go to http://www.cinefamily.org/ ...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Devil goalie Martin Brodeur (38), Lindsay Brough (39), George Clooney (49), Roma Downey (50), Tom Bergeron (born in Haverill, MA) (55), Tony Blair (57), Bob Seger (65) and Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays (79)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Mother's Day, 25 days until Memorial Day, 45 days until Father's Day and 46 days until summer...