Radio's financial futures are starting to gel as SNL Kagan, the Radio Advertising Bureau and BIA/Kelsey all agree that radio revenue will be up more than expected this year. Good thing because Pandora appears to be cleaning everyone's clock. Pandora is the elephant in the room. The elephant that everyone in radio hopes will just go away. The good news is that Pandora isn't radio, it's a music service - advantage radio for remaining local and free. The bad news is that maybe Pandora is the new radio. 50 million Pandora users are doing fine, thank you. They don't seem to be concerned about whatever Pandora might be called - it's their favorite source for music and that's all they care about...
Pandora just took another giant step by launching its own ad platform for its iPad app. The 30 million mobile Pandora users can now view video and audio ads from within the app and Lexus, Starbucks and Budweiser are still considering target advertising campaigns according to Spacelab and Advertising Age. Pandora, the new online chart topper in radio after beating out CBS Radio and Clear Channel from 6am to midnight in April and May is now eyeing the automobile dashboard arena. Pandora will be working with Ford and other car manufacturers on making Pandora a part of an internet-connected dashboard radio...
It wasn't that long ago that Pandora met with lawmakers, got in the middle of the performance royalty fight and stood toe-to-toe with the big guys. At one point, founder Tim Westergren considered shutting down Pandora. That consideration is now just a bad dream...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1904] East River tragedy: More than 1,000 die when fire erupts aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New York City’s East River. From my window I can see the actual location of the tragedy in the river, near Hell Gate...
2.1923] The Ironman era has begun: Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig makes his major league debut with the Yankees...
3.1948] Debuted on this date: WPIX-TV (11) begins broadcasting in New York City…1969] "Hee Haw" debuts on CBS-TV, hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark…1973] "American Graffiti (Where were you in '62?)" premieres in New York City…
4.1938] Talkin’ Baseball: Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer spoils Ebbets Field’s first night game by pitching his second consecutive no-hitter. It's safe to say that this record will never be broken because a pitcher would have to pitch 3 consecutive no-hitters to break it…1977] The Mets do the unthinkable, trading Tom Seaver to Cincinnati for Pat Zachry, Steve Henderson, Doug Flynn and Dan Norman. The Mets will eventually reacquire Seaver in 1983…
5.1978] Wedding bells: King Hussein of Jordan marries 26-year old American Lisa Halaby, who becomes Queen Noor...
6.1992] Are you smarter than a fifth-grader?: Vice President Dan Quayle puts on a dunce cap and sits in the corner after spelling potato with an "e". The Trenton (NJ) elementary school than spells Quayle's name: "d-u-m-m-y"...
7.1995] If the glove don't fit, you must acquit: That was the quote from attorney Johnnie Cochran in the O.J. Simpson double-murder trial after O.J. struggles to put on the murder gloves. Case over, O.J. walks...
8.1996] ‘Happy Trails’: The legendary Ella Fitzgerald dies from circulation problems, having lost both legs in 1994. Ella was 79…
9.2005] Autopsy results: The autopsy on Terri Schiavo is released, backing the contention of her husband, Michael, that she was in a persistent vegetative state when they pulled the plug...
10.2006] Gates bows out: Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates says he will transition from day-to-day responsibilities at the company to concentrate on the charitable work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Since then, he and his wife have given out millions to help people worldwide..
Music Memories:
•1956] How do you do: 15-year old John Lennon and 13-year old Paul McCartney meet for the 1st time when John and his Quarrymen perform at a church dinner in Liverpool...
•1958] On "The Ed Sullivan Show": "Twilight Time" - The Platters...
•1963] Released on this date: "Surf City" - Jan and Dean...
•1963] #1 on this date: "Sukiyaki" - Kyu Sakamoto, becomes the 1st Japanese record to go to #1 in America...
Commentary...
The New York AES Section presents "The Dawn of Commercial Digital Recording' presented by Tom Fine and hosted by Robert (Auldworks) Auld, tonight from 6:30 to 9pm at the Dolby Screening Room, 1350 Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) in Manhattan. The event is open to the public...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Neil Patrick Harris (35), Andy Pettitte (38), Leah Remini (40), Courteney Cox Arquette (46), Helen Hunt (47), Wade Boggs (52), Jim Belushi (56), Air Supply's Russell Hitchcock (61), Muff Winwood (67) and former N.Y. Gov. Mario Cuomo (78)...
Timeline Countdown: 2 days until Father's Day, 6 days until Summer and 19 days until July 4th......
