Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Not The Same Old Song For Radio...

When The New York Times jumps all over a song it's either different, special or controversial enough to write about. Categorize this one as all of the above. The song is Cee Lo Green's viral hit, soon to be renamed "Forget You." It's being retitled so that radio can play it. The video of "F--K YOU", with no blanks in the title or song is at 3 million YouTube views and growing. This is not a fleeting expletive so I guess the FCC isn't too concerned about it - that and no radio station that I know of is playing it uncensored. Some radio stations have edited the numerous dirty words, which has to be butchered to an unlistenable state, since as the New York Times points out "The crude phrase is the title, chorus and punch line to the song." Craig Marks, editor of Billboard magazine could only think of a handful of hit songs that have had that many expletives included in it...

Marks adds "Even if it is the most happy song, radio is not going to play it." Well not until it's "Forget You" because this is indeed a hit song - one listen or view should convince you of that. According to the Times, Cee Lo's label, Elektra, part of the Warner Music Group, is keeping interest in the single on YouTube. An album, "The Lady Killer" drops in December. Elektra doesn't offer any clues as to how many more-than-fleeting expletives will be contained in the LP...

YouTube and the internet, neither controlled by the FCC has been given carte blanche with "F--K YOU" or anything else that might be deemed indecent but let's hope Cee Lo Green, half of the duo, Gnarls Barkley of "Crazy" fame doesn't set a precedent with the soon to be released "Forget You", unless of course it's a hit song that can be edited...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1888] Enter the Ripper: Prostitute Mary Ann Nichols is found murdered in London's East End. She is generally regarded as the first victim of Jack the Ripper...
2.1954] Oh Carol: Hurricane Carol hits the northeast killing nearly 70 (60 in New England alone) and resulting in millions of dollars in damage...
3.1969] Rocky is gone: Undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano dies in a light plane crash in Iowa, the day before his 46th birthday. Rocky is the only undefeated heavyweight champ in history...
4.1980] Solidarity begins: Poland's Solidarity labor movement is born with an agreement signed in Gdansk that ends a 17-day strike...
5.1985] Gotcha: California's "Night Stalker" killer Richard Ramirez is captured by residents of an East Los Angeles neighborhood...
6.1997] Death of a Princess: This was the day that Princess Diana meets her death in that tragic crash in a French tunnel. The world mourns the 36-year old Diana...
7.2001] Papers please: A Bronx team's third-place finish in the Little League World Series is ruled invalid because one player (Danny Almonte) is two years older than the age limit of 12...
8.2002] "Happy Trails": The legendary Lionel Hampton dies from cardiac arrest at 94...
9.2005] Trampled to death: Some 1,000 people are killed when a religious procession across a Baghdad bridge is engulfed in panic over rumors of a suicide bomber...
10.2007] Liar, liar, your pants are on fire: Mike Nifong, former district attorney of Durham County (NC) is sentenced to a day in jail for lying to a judge when pursuing rape charges against three falsely accused Duke lacrosse players...

Music Memories:
1974] Curtains: After 4 seasons on the air, The Partridge Family TV show ends but David Cassidy's star continues to glow.
1976] No wonder that sounded familiar: A judge rules that George Harrison is guilty of copying from the Chiffons' hit "He's So Fine" when writing "My Sweet Lord."
1995] Cleveland rocks: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens in Cleveland (OH)...
2009] Record breaker: Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" becomes the longest running single in Billboard's Hot 100 history at 71 weeks on the chart...

Commentary:
The Audio Engineering's New York Section will hold their September meeting with a screening of "Copyright Criminals" with a panel discussion to follow, hosted by Roger Johansen of Tangerine Mastering. The screening and panel discussion will be held at the New School's jazz performance space, 55 West 13th Street (5th fl.). The event will be held Tuesday, September 14 at 6:30 pm...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday:
Deborah Gibson (40), Marcia Clark (57), Richard Gere (61), Giants coach Tom Coughlin (64), Van Morrison (65), Itzhak Perlman (65), Crickets' drummer Jerry Allison (71) & Frank Robinson (75)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until the college football season begins, 6 days until Labor Day, 9 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 23 days until autumn arrives...

Monday, August 30, 2010

Simulcasting Becomes A Solution For AM Radio...

As former AM power houses like WSB Atlanta start losing their core audience to age they find it increasingly likely to join a growing movement toward simulcasting their AM format on FM. Faced with the alternatives of selling WSB, changing it's news/talk format or simulcasting, Cox radio decided on the latter. WSB had seen listener numbers drop by more than 25% among all listeners and 54% among 25-54's, the key demographic for advertisers. This is not the first Cox news/talk station to decide to simulcast. The Cox number one rated news/talker in Jacksonville (FL) pulled the trigger earlier and sister stations in Dayton and Tulsa have joined the movement. Non-Cox stations in Seattle and San Francisco also decided to simulcast and WTOP, #1 Washington, D.C. news/talker followed suit...

Dan Kearney, Vice President of Cox Media Group's Atlanta operations told Radio Business Report "WSB 750 AM has one of the strongest signals in the country powering its awards-winning news, weather, traffic and talk format. We are anticipating significant ratings growth by simulcasting WSB on FM. Previous simulcasts of this nature across the country have lead to 15 - 200% increases." ...

Simulcasting AM on FM was a common practise prior to the FCC decree in the 60s that AM/FM radio stations must program separately at least 50% of the time. The solution to that edict was to simulcast your highly rated format during the day and run separate programming overnight. We did that in Boston with WRKO AM/FM until the overnight format became the dominant station and replaced the AM format with it. We would build a new compatible sister station for overnights. That's not what WSB or other AM stations are simulcasting for. They're simulcasting to increase their AM base and hope that the younger demos who listened to the previous FM format find news/talk interesting enough to listen to. It seems to be working in other markets - why not???

Timeline Memories:
1.1958] Teenage Disc Jockey: WINS Program Director Mel Leeds hires 16-year old Mitch Lebe, "The Teenage Disc Jockey." Mitch will move from DJ to news and spend over 50 years as a newsman in New York on such stations as WINS, WCBS and WBBR...
2.1965] Confirmation day: Thurgood Marshall is confirmed by the Senate as the 1st black Supreme Court Justice...
3.1976] Debut day: Tom Brokaw joins the "Today Show" as news anchor. Brokaw interviews Marshall McLuhan in this clip...
4.1984] SOLD to the highest bidder: An auction of Beatles memorabilia in London, including Ringo Starr's snare drum and an unpublished John Lennon book fetches $270,000 (USD)...
5.1988] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Julianne Phillips files for divorce from Bruce Springsteen. Bruce gave love a bad name...
6.1989] Queen of Mean guilt: A federal jury in New York finds Leona Helmsley guilty of income tax evasion but acquits her of extortion. Upon her death the 'Queen' left $12 million to her dog (The New York Post had a picture of Leona holding the pooch with the headline: The Rich Bitch, one of the Post's classic headlines)...
7.1992] An Emmy for the moose: "Northern Exposure" wins an Emmy for "Outstanding Series"...
8.1993] Dave TV: David Letterman begins his "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS-TV...
9.2005] Katrina II: A day after Hurricane Katrina hit, floodwaters cover 80% of New Orleans, looting spreads and rescuers in helicopters and boats pick up hundreds of stranded people...
10.2006] "Happy Trails": Following a series of strokes, veteran actor Glenn Ford passes away at 90 (remember "Blackboard Jungle"?)...

Music Memories:
1961] #1 on this date: 1961] "Michael" - Highwaymen...1965] "Help!" - Beatles...
1964] A Beatles sighting: The Beatles draw 18,000 to the Atlantic City Convention Hall. This was a great year, I was a jock at WMID and my daughter Lynn had been born at AC Hospital in January. The Democrats held their National Convention where the Beatles played that summer also...
1970] Paint it Wight: Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, the Who, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, the Moody Blues and more, appear at the 'Isle of Wight Pop Festival'...
1981] Released on this date: "Tatoo You" (LP) - Rolling Stones...

Commentary...
The annual Giants of Broadcasting library fundraising event will be held in New York in October with 11 new Giants joining the 105 "giants" previously named. In alphabetical order, the new "giants": Dick Clark, Norman Corwin, Sam Donaldson, Edward O. Fritts, Hal Jackson, Art Linkletter, Rue McClanahan, Agnes Nixon, Daniel Schorr, Lesley Stahl and David Wolper. Congratulations to the new "giants"...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Andy Roddick (28), Cameron Diaz (38), Gordon (WRKO) Brown (39), Michael Chiklis (47), Robert "The Chief" Parish (57), Timothy Bottoms (59), Lewis Black (62), Peggy Lipton (64), Elizabeth Ashley (71), Warren Buffett (80), and the "Queen of Country Music" Kitty Wells (91)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the college football season begins, 7 days until Labor Day, 10 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 24 days until autumn arrives...


Friday, August 27, 2010

Don't Look To This FCC To Be Proactive...

(Weekend Edition)
Rather than crafting new indecency rules, this FCC administration led by Julius Genachowski has decided to ask a U.S. Court of Appeals to reconsider last month's ruling to table the government's restrictions on indecent speech on TV and radio broadcasts. The court ruled that some of the FCC's policies on indecent speech violated broadcasters First Amendment rights and questioned the agency's broader indecency restrictions. Rather than being proactive, the FCC has delayed the inevitable - the setting of more clearly defined indecency rules. Now you can look for a Supreme Court challenge to the government's authority to restrict speech on the airwaves and the FCC has no one to blame but itself...

"The three-judge panel's decision in July raised serious concerns about the Commission's ability to protect children and families from indecent broadcast programming" says FCC general counsel Austin Schlick. He added that "The Commission remains committed to empowering parents and protecting children, and looks forward to the court of appeals' further consideration of our arguments." But if the court considered the FCC's indecency policies a violation of the First Amendment, why would it reconsider their decision? Because the FCC is asking them to without more clearly defining their policies? I don't think so...

It is widely known that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's expertise is in technology, a tremendous asset to have at a time when media is being transformed into this great new digital era but until he designs more clearly defined indecency rules and regulations - that don't violate the First Amendment, this FCC administration will be deemed a failure. With more indecency cases pending, this should be more of a priority than new technology...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1922] Spot Radio is born: The 1st radio commercial airs on WEAF (which becomes WNnnnnBC) in New York City and no it was not a commercial for Carvel or Castro Convertibles, it was a 10-minute ad for the Queensboro Realty Co. which cost $100 to air (8/28)...
2.1963] "I have a dream": A quarter of a million people participate in a peaceful civil rights rally in Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently delivers his "I have a dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial (8/28)...
3.1963] Hotline: The hotline communications line between Washington and Moscow goes into operation. This was the second most important hotline after the Drake batphone (8/29). While campaigning, Barack Obama talks about the phone...
4.1967] Curtains: Dr. Richard Kimble stops running: The last episode of "The Fugitive" draws 72% of the TV audience as Kimble is freed in a wild water tower chase where Lt. Philip Gerard kills the one-armed guy who was about to kill the good doctor. A witness agrees to testify that the one-armed dude killed Kimble's wife (8/29)...
5.1968] Democracy at work?: Police and anti-war demonstrators clash in the streets of Chicago as the Democrats nominate Hubert H. Humphrey for president (8/28)...
6.1972] Gold Standard: Swimmer Mark Spitz captures the first of 7 gold medals at the Munich Olympics. Michael Phelps is yet to be born (8/28)...
7.1982] Legal larceny: 23-year old Rickey Henderson steals his 119th base, breaking Lou Brock's season record. Rickey still holds the career record of 1,406 SB's (8/27)...
8.1984] Teacher in Space: President Ronald Reagan announces his "Teacher in Space" project, 11,000 teachers apply and Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire is selected but will tragically lose her life aboard Challenger. Barbara Morgan, a former teacher and part of the program returned safely from her mission a few years ago (8/27)...
9.1992] Sold to the highest bidder: John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "A Day In The Life" are sold for $87,000 at auction (8/27)...
10.2005] Katrina the killer: Hurricane Katrina makes landfall along the Louisiana coast, overwhelming the levees protecting New Orleans. The massive flooding takes more than 1,500 lives (8/29)...

Music Memories:
1961] Released on this date: "Please Mr. Postman" - Marvelletes, the 1st #1 pop hit for Motown (8/28)...1964] "Oh, Pretty Woman" - Roy Orbison (8/29)...1965] "Highway 61 Revisited" LP - Bob Dylan (8/27)...1966] "Cherish" - Association (8/27)...1970] "Lola" - Kinks (8/29)...
1964] Live from Forest Hills: On the day the Beatles appear on the cover of LIFE magazine, they play at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium before a sellout crowd of 16,000 in the 1st of 2 shows (8/28). Cousin Brucie and Scott Muni interview Ringo Starr...
1966] The Beatles Last Date: The Fab Four play their last U.S. date at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Bob Sherwood still has tickets for that show, worth more than an original share of GM, no doubt (8/29)...
1971] #1 on this date: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - Paul McCartney (8/29)...1982] "Abracadabra" - Steve Miller (8/29)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (8/27) Paul Reubens a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman (58), Tuesday Weld (67), Daryl Dragon a.k.a. The Captain (68) & Tommy Sands (73)...(8/28) Leann Rimes (28), Jason Priestly (41), Jack Black (41), Shania Twain (45), Scott Hamilton (52), Ron Guidry (60), David Soul (67), Lou Piniella (67), Ben Gazzara (80) and Billy Grammer (85)...(8/29) Lea Michele (24), Rebecca DeMornay (51), Robin Leach (69), Elliott Gould (72), Senator John McCain (74) and Richard Attenborough (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until Labor Day, 13 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 27 days until autumn arrives...




Thursday, August 26, 2010

So How Does The NAB Really Feel???

When the NAB decided to answer opponents of installing radio chips in mobile devices, they pulled no punches, going as far as saying mobile carriers may be guilty of "anti-competitive behavior" as they try to block the plan. And they did it in a 1,300 word post about the "facts" in favor of mandatory FM radio. Dennis Wharton's diatribe was a thousand words longer than Lincoln's 'Gettysburg Address'. The only thing missing was "(Chips) of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." No one knows if Congress is buying this plan or not but we know that cell phone manufacturers aren't. "The height of absurdity" is what the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) called it last week. And there was more: "Rather than adapt to the digital marketplace, NAB and RIAA act like buggy-whip industries that refuse to innovate and seek to impose penalties on those that do." One of the beefs that the CEA has is the extra cost and possible battery life issue of an FM receiver, noting that some cell phones do have the feature and that consumers can buy one if they choose...
The NAB wonders why the cell phone makers are arguing "against this pro-consumer feature" with their "exaggeration, rhetoric and factual inaccuracies." The NAB argues that those opposing a government FM mandate are probably suffering from a "simple case of anti-competitive behavior because radios don't chew up cell phone data plans." ...
The NAB wisely used the safety issue which could sway Congress on the need for radios in mobile devices. Wharton's document does make a strong point - the cell phone industry has been slow at rolling out an emergency alert system of its own. While the industry noted this week that such a system was coming "soon", the law requiring it was passed 4 years ago. Surely an oversight but a costly one - one that could be a game changer...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1873] The birth of a broadcasting maven: Dr. Lee DeForest is born. He's the inventor of the audion tube which makes broadcasting possible. Jean Shepard talks about meeting DeForest in this clip...
2.1873] School bells ring and children sing: The school board of St. Louis (MO) authorizes the 1st U.S. public kindergarten...
3.1939] Baseball comes to the tube: The 1st televised major league baseball games are shown on experimental W2XBS (now WNBC-TV). It's a double-header between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds...
4.1947] Breaking the barrier: Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Dan Bankhead becomes the 1st black pitcher in major league baseball...
5.1957] Edsel death notice: Ford rolls out the 1st Edsel (1958 model). The last Edsel rolls out at the end of November of '59 (1960 model)...
6.1964] LBJ all the way: The Democratic National Convention nominates LBJ for a full term with Hubert H. Humphrey as his running mate in Atlantic City (living in AC at the time, I remember seeing both candidates at their palatial rental waiting to be escorted to the Convention Hall for their coronation)...
7.1970] Duane turns into a Domino: Duane Allman starts recording as a member of Eric Clapton's new band, Derek & The Dominoes...
8.1974] "Happy Trails": Charles Lindbergh dies of cancer on the Hawaiian island of Maui (Lindbergh was 72)...
9.1986] Rough sex death: Jennifer Levin is found strangled in Central Park. Preppie Killer Robert Chambers eventually confesses but uses a "rough sex" defense. He will serve 15 years (the 1st 5 in solitary) and is released at age 36 in August of '05. Chambers was sentenced to a lengthy term in jail for possession of heroin and cocaine in 2009...
10.2003] Blame NASA: Investigators conclude that NASA's overconfident management and inattention to safety doomed the space shuttle Columbia as much as damage to the craft did...

Music Memories:
1967] Released on this date: "Purple Haze" - Jimi Hendrix...

Commentary:
The Tampa Bay Radio Reunion is set for Saturday, November 6, 2010. Please RSVP to Sandy Hall at swoodworth@embargmail.com or call 813-205-5247. Sandy needs a headcount for the reunion. Tedd Webb adds that "if you missed it last year, you missed a good one, so pass along the info and come swap lies and have a few brews." Note: The reunion will start at 2 PM...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Macaulay Culkin (27), Bob Cowsill (58), Lee Trevino (59), Valerie Simpson (59), Geraldine Ferraro (72), Tommy Heinsohn (73) and Ben Bradlee (86)...

Timeline Countdown: 11 days until Labor Day, 14 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans & 28 days until autumn arrives...


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Reports Of Radio's Death Greatly Exaggerated...

With apologies to Mark Twain, the reports of radio's death have been greatly exaggerated. As Steve Lohr in his recent New York Times piece points out, "evolution - not extinction - has always been the primary rule of media ecology." The predictions of demise are growing. The web is dead, phone calls, e-mail, blogs, Facebook - last rites given - all are dead. Really? What happened to the prediction that television would bury radio and movies? Lohr points out that it's the impact of the accelerated pace of change and accumulated innovations in the internet-era media that create those rumors. Those starting the death rumors can't comprehend what's happening quickly enough to keep up with them - no less accept them. "Change has changed qualitatively" says Janet Sternberg, an assistant professor at Fordham University and president of the Media Ecology Association, a research organization...

"Radio is a supple and durable technology that has outlived quite a few predictions of its demise," says John Staudenmaier, editor of the journal Technology and Culture, who regards podcasts as the long-lived medium's latest incarnation. "It's the country cousin of radio, still the transmission of audio only." Another timely quote comes from Paul Saffo, a visiting scholar at Stanford University who specializes in technology's effect on society: "We're experiencing the biggest media petri dish in four centuries." ...

So go with it, or go away. I don't want to hear any more predictions about the death of anything because history tells us not to believe them. There's a time for dying for all things but don't believe it's happened until you see a death certificate. You won't find one for radio...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1949] NBC Radio debuts: "Father Knows Best". The show moves to TV in 1954...
2.1952] No-no x 2: Tiger righthander Virgil Trucks becomes only the 3rd pitcher in major league history to throw 2 no-hitters in the same season with a 1-0 shutout of the Yankees at Yankee Stadium (strangely enough, Trucks will finish the season with a 5-19 record for the lowly Tigers)...
3.1960] One is the loneliest number: The AFL in their inaugural season decide to place the names of the players on the back of their uniforms...
4.1984] "Happy Trails": Truman Capote dies of liver disease at 59 at the home of friend and former wife of Johnny Carson, Joanne Carson...
5.1985] Too young to vote: The Mets' Dwight "Doc" Gooden at 20 becomes the youngest pitcher to win 20 games (Doc will finish the season at 24-4)...
6.1991] Emmy Gold: "Cheers" and "LA Law" are the big winners at the 43rd Emmy Awards...
7.1993] Sheik your booty: Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman is indicted by a federal grand jury for terrorist activities, one of which was the 1st World Trade Center bombing...
8.1994] In the drink: Jimmy Buffett's plane flips over after taking off from the Nantucket airport. Buffet will swim to safety (and then proceeds to get 'wasted away again in Margaritaville')...
9.2001] Rock & Roll tragedy: 22-year old Latina singer Aaliyah and 8 others are killed when their plane crashes in Marsh Harbor in the Abacos Islands of northern Bahamas (the overloaded plane appeared to have engine trouble)...
10.2009] Teddy departs: Edward M. Kennedy dies of brain cancer at his home in Hyannis Port. Teddy was 77 at the time of his death...

Music Memories:
1973] Released on this date: "Ramblin' Man" - Allman Brothers...1975] "Born To Run" LP - Bruce Springsteen...1976] "Boston" LP...1979] "Cars" - Gary Numan...1986] "Graceland" LP - Paul Simon...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Claudia Schiffer (40), Rachael Ray (42), Billy Ray Cyrus (49), Elvis Costello (56), Gene Simmons (61), Tom Skerritt (77), Regis Philbin (79), Sean Connery (80) & Monty Hall (89)...

Timeline Countdown: 12 days until Labor Day, 15 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 29 days until autumn arrives...

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

It's Chips Ahoy For Radio Capable Mobile Devices...

Despite mounting opposition to a cell phone mandate that would put FM radios in mobile devices, combo chipsets are flying out the door. According to ABI Research, the so-called "combo" chips, which gather a variety of connectivity types in one small package are expected to approach 280 million worldwide by the end of the year and 979 million chipsets will ship in 2015. The chips are integrated with different radio technologies like FM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS on a single chip. The downside is that performance may be comprised but the combo chips will flood the market because they save money, space and power. "The market for combo chipsets is taking off. Mobile phones are the main market for these combinations today, although ABI Research believes that for true mass adoption, combos will have to penetrate other product types that require short-range wireless: laptops and consumer electronic devices." Apparently vendors like Broadcom, TI, CSR, Atheros, and Qualcomm (Snapdragon platform) may not be so discriminating - as they continue on a course to break McDonalds burger count...

While manufacturers let the chips fly and fall where they may, tech trade groups including a coalition of six technology industry associations sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees urging them to resist efforts by the NAB and RIAA for an FM technology mandate for mobile devices...

While members of Congress appear ready to work with radio on the issue, some radio executives have questioned why the outlined deal doesn't specify HD Radio instead. Since HD Radio is a copyright of iBiquity, the more generic designation of FM is probably the reason the latter is being used instead of the former. That's my guess, anyway...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1814] Washington sizzles: British forces invade Washington, D.C. and set fire to the Capitol and the White House...
2.1932] Nonstop Amy: Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly nonstop across the U.S.A. traveling from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey in just over 19 hours...
3.1954] Commies not welcome: The Communist Control Act virtually outlaws the Communist Party in the United States...
4.1981] Guilty as charged: Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years-to-life for the murder of John Lennon...
5.1989] Banned from baseball: Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti bans Pete Rose permanently for betting on sports, including baseball as manager of the Reds...
6.1992] Andrew slams into Florida: Hurricane Andrew smashes into Florida causing record damage and 55 deaths in Florida, Louisiana and the Bahamas...
7.2004] Terrorism in the sky: Chechen separatists set off bombs aboard two Russian airliners that crash after take off. 90 people are killed...
8.2006] Pluto is downsized: Pluto is no longer a planet after being demoted to a "dwarf planet". Dwarfs protest...
9.2007] NFL lowers the boom on Vick: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is indefinitely suspended without pay for his involvement in dogfighting. Vick landed on his haunches with the Philadelphia Eagles after serving a jail sentence...
10.2009] C.O.D.: The Los Angeles County coroner's preliminary assessment is that Michael Jackson's death was caused by an overdose of the anesthetic propofol...

Music Memories:
1961] #1 on this date: "Wooden Heart" - Joe Dowell...1973] "Brother Louie" - Stories...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Dave Chappelle (37), Marlee Matlin (45), Craig Kilborn (48), Cal Ripken Jr. (50), Vince McMahon (65), Mason Williams (72) and Kenny (R2-D2) Baker (76)...

Timeline Countdown: 13 days until Labor Day, 16 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 30 days until autumn...




Monday, August 23, 2010

Radio Gets A Good Report Card But Shouldn't Party Yet...

The radio revenue figures released by the Radio Advertising Bureau at the end of the week were impressive and encouraging but radio is not the only industry to experience a bounce. Have you taken a look at the turnaround the car business is going through? Platinum Today reports that the U.S. enjoyed its best month (July) for auto sales since the "Cash For Clunkers" incentive scheme in August 2009. Lower-priced car sales are playing a major role in the turnaround and before we get too excited about the success that radio and the auto industries are having, the caution flag is still up with predictions of a possible downward trend developing for both industries in Q3...
Since car radio sales provide a vital lifeline for radio, especially satellite radio, both factions will be paying close attention to car sales for the rest of the year. National revenues are leading the way for radio's 6% increase in Q2. Since car sales are climbing, it's no surprise that the auto industry has provided 28% of the $500 million more ad dollars spent to-date than a year ago. Car revenue tops the list, followed by financial services (+24%) and grocery (+23%)...
While national radio and the auto industry walked down the aisle together, local radio, although up, was up only 3% during Q2. Digital revenue (comprised from activity generated by websites, internet/web streaming and HD Radio) was up 25% in Q2 to $157 million and $280 million in the first half of the year. While growing rapidly, digital remains radio's smallest source of revenue. A pool of more than 100 markets provided the data...

10 Timeline Memories...
1.1902] Fannie Fah-muh: Fannie Merrit Farmer opens her 1st cooking school, Miss Farmer's School Of Cookery in Boston (MA)...
2.1927] Sacco & Vanzetti sacked: Italian-born anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti are executed in Boston for the murders of 2 men during a 1920 robbery. They would be vindicated in 1977 by Governor Michael S. Dukakis...
3.1974] Could it be Superman?: John Lennon, with May Pang by his side, reports seeing a UFO in New York City (no word on whether or not the UFO saw John)...
4.1979] Dancing to America: Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defects while the Bolshoi Ballet tours in New York City...
5.1993] Michael in a jam: The LAPD confirms that Michael Jackson was the subject of a criminal investigation...
6.2000] Surviving Survivor: 51-million viewers watch the first season finale of "Survivor" on CBS-TV. Contestant Richard Hatch wins the $1 million prize. Hatch who doesn't have a problem winning TV shows, has lots of problems with life. He's been in several jams since "Survivor"...
7.2001] Chandra who?: California Congressman Gary Condit tells ABC-TV's Connie Chung that he had no involvement in the disappearance of Chandra Levy (whose body is later found)...
8.2002] Mowing down the crowd: New York publicist Lizzie Grubman pleads guilty in a hit-and-run crash that injures 16 outside a Hamptons nightclub...
9.2003] Jailhouse justice: Former disgraced priest John Geoghan, the convicted child molester dies after an inmate attacks him in a Massachusetts prison...
10.2008]Running mate: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama introduces his choice of running mate - Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Then the fun begins...

Music Memories:
1962] #1 on this date: "The Loco-motion" - Little Eva...1972] "Brandy" - Looking Glass...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Kobe Bryant (32), Jeremy Schaap (41), Queen Noor (of Jordan) (59), Rick Springfield (61), Shelly Long (61), Ron Blomberg (62), Barbara Eden (76), Mark Russell (78) and Vera Miles (81)...

Timeline Countdown: 14 days until Labor Day, 17 days for the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 31 days until autumn arrives...

Friday, August 20, 2010

Weighing In On Dr. Laura...

(Weekend Edition)

We all have our own opinion about Dr. Laura Schlessinger's liberal use of the "n" word and her subsequent exit from radio but what do other people think? A newly conducted poll by Inside Radio shows that 58% say radio hosts can still say whatever is on their mind but 41% agree with the good doctor and believe there are too many potential landmines for on-air hosts. Typical comments included this one: "Talk show hosts have every right to say what they would like, within reasonable bounds of decency and respect. The marketplace has every right not to listen." Then there was this: "There's a difference between speaking your mind and enraging the public." ...

One respondent says "The environment today is a tightrope between creative expression that drives ratings and not giving special interest groups pushing an agenda a reason to hurt you or your station through threats of sponsor boycott." Others believe it reflects a larger trend in the country: "There's too much Big Brother breathing down our necks, forcing everyone on-air to be politically correct." Reaction was mixed about Dr. Laura's exit: "She doesn't have to leave radio. She's probably just sick of the grind and this was as good an excuse as any. There were those that felt that it might be a publicity stunt to draw attention to Dr. Laura's future projects. And there were those that yearned for the way things used to be: "Ah, for a return to the days when good taste was always a primary rule." ...

Hosting a radio talk show can be perilous but you can't be timid. Timid doesn't pull numbers, controversy does. It seems to me, in this case, Dr. Laura had about had it with the tightrope act and was ready to cash in her chips now before she wound up in a room furnished with Goodyear Tire and Rubber products. By the way Dr. Laura will make a fine host if she decides to continue her career. Prime candidates should include Sirius XM or CNN...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1858] The original debates: Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, both candidates for U.S. Senate, go toe-to-toe in the 1st of 7 debates that people are still talking about. The opening round is held in Ottawa (IL) (8/21)...
2.1878] The birth of the unemployed lawyer: American Bar Association is founded in Saratoga (NY). No shortage of lawyers at the spa city (8/21)...
3.1906] Nipper sighting: The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden (NJ) begins to manufacture the Victrola (8/22). The hand-cranked machine with horn cabinet sold for $200 -- a bloody fortune in 1906...
4.1959] Hawaii Five-O: Hawaii becomes our 50th state as President Eisenhower issues the order for the 50-star U.S. flag (Aloha) (8/21)...
5.1966] Put the bat in the coconut: With no limes available, Juan Marichal puts a bat in the coconut of Dodgers catcher John Roseboro during an on-field brawl in a Dodgers-Giants game (8/22)...
6.1983] "La Cage aux Folles": "Queen for a Day" in French, reaches Broadway with George Hearn and Gene Barry starring in the lead roles (8/21)...
7.1989] A self-defense claim: Record executive Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty are shot to death by their sons Lyle and Erik, who claim self-defense after being abused. The 1st trial ends in hung juries but eventually the brothers are convicted and are still serving their terms (8/20)...
8.1990] Don't let the door hit you on the way out: George Steinbrenner steps down as Yankees owner after being banned from baseball by Commissioner Fay Vincent, Gene Michael is named VP/GM. Steinbrenner is reinstated in 1993 (8/20)...
9. 1992] Scud Stud crashes and burns: NBC fires "Scud Stud", Arthur Kent two weeks after he refuses an assignment to Croatia (8/21) (this after he becomes a "star" for his Gulf War coverage). Arthur Kent is now seen as often as Jimmy Hoffa...
10.2008] Bolt of lightning: Usain Bolt of Jamaica wins the 200-meter race in the 2008 Summer Olympics setting a new world record (8/20)...

Music Memories:
1964] Hottest selling LP: "The Chipmunks sing the Beatles" (8/22)...
1965] Released on this date: "Eve of Destruction" - Barry McGuire (8/21)...1965] "Do You Believe In Magic" - Lovin' Spoonful (8/21)...1966] "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" - Temptations (8/20)...1974] "Angie" - Rolling Stones (8/20)...
1980] Debuted on Broadway: Linda Ronstadt in "The Pirates of Penzance" (8/21)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (8/20) Joan Allen (54), Al Roker (56), Robert Plant (62), Jim Pankow (63), Connie Chung (64), Graig Nettles (66), Ron Paul (75) and George Mitchell (77)...(8/21) Hayden Panettiere (21), Usain Bolt (24), Amy Fisher (36), Kim Cattrall (54), Harry Smith (59), Patty McCormack (65), Jackie DeShannon (66), Kenny Rogers (72) and Melvin Van Peebles (78)...(8/22) Tori Amos (47), Cindy Williams (63), Steve Kroft (65), Bill Parcells (69), Valerie Harper (70), Carl Yastrzemski (71), General Norman Schwarzkopf (76) and Ray Bradbury (90)..

Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Labor Day, 20 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 34 days until autumn arrives...



Thursday, August 19, 2010

Mobile Is Passing Internet In Popularity...

The newly formed alliance between the music industry and radio seeking FM radio chips in mobile devices is not only timely, it could save the medium. According to a new report from Nielsen Wire, with research from The Cambridge Group, mobile media will significantly outpace the internet and other traditional media platforms. Worldwide estimates are that over the next 5 - 10 years, mobile penetration will climb to roughly 140 phones per 100 inhabitants, even in poorer economies. The report notes that mobile media platform growth occurs because access to mobile devices and services generally occurs at lower household income levels. For example, internet penetration in established economies generally requires an income threshold of around $20,000 of per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to achieve a 50% penetration rate in a specific territory. But for mobile penetration, household income levels can be as low as $5,000...

Nielsen says large economies worldwide are expected to grow on average by 4 or 5% more than established economies for the next 5 years. "Defying classic economic models, the demand for communication via mobile phones leads traditional media growth, signifying a global, disruptive phenomenon. Growth for the internet will continue but at a more predictable growth pattern." When it comes to ad revenue, a different structure for marketers and advertisers will apply when it comes to marketing campaigns. Mobile will lead other media platforms...

The Nielsen/Cambridge report indicates how vitally important it is for the radio and music alliance to convince Congress to include radio chips in mobile devices...


10 Timeline Memories:
1.1960] Convicted: A tribunal in Moscow convicts American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers of espionage. Gary will serve his time and eventually be released in February 1962...
2.1973] Wedding Bells: Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson say "I do". The marriage ends in 1980...1993] Kim Bassinger and Alec Baldwin unite and what exactly were they thinking???1993] Mattel and Fisher Price walk down the aisle...
3.1976] Vote for me: President Gerald R. Ford wins the Republican presidential nomination at the party's national convention in Kansas City...
4.1977] "Happy Trails": The legendary Groucho Marx dies of pneumonia at 86. Groucho always said he wanted to be buried above Marilyn Monroe. He didn't get his wish...
5.1981] Curtains: The final episode of "Charlie's Angels" airs after 5 years as a series. Here's an earlier episode...1993] "Cheers", one of the most popular sit-coms of all-time ends its 11-year run...
6.1991] Bobbed: Hurricane Bob, the first major hurricane of 1991 hits the Northeast leaving 10 dead and $2.8 billion in damages...
7.1996] Tucked in: A judge sentences former Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker to 4 years probation for his Whitewater crimes...
8.2003] Bombed in Baghdad: A suicide truck bomb strikes U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, killing 22 including the U.N. envoy. Remember 'Shock & Awe' which happened earlier in the year???
9.2004] A private matter: Google goes public, opening at $85 and closing at $100 with 22 million shares sold. A share of Google now goes for $490...
10.2005] So sue me: A Texas jury finds Merck & Co. liable for the death of a man who'd taken Vioxx, awarding his widow $253.4 million in damages. The award will be reduced to about $26 million...

Music Memories:
1979] #1 on this date: "My Sharona" - The Knack (it stays at #1 for over a month)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Matthew Perry (41), Lee Ann Womack (44), Kyra Sedgwick (45), John Stamos (47), Ron Darling (50), Adam Arkin (54), Mary Matalin (57), Tipper Gore (62), Bill Clinton (64), Billy J. Kramer (67), Fred Thompson (68), Jill St. John (70), Johnny Nash (70), Ginger Baker (71)...

Timeline Countdown: 18 days until Labor Day, 21 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 35 days until autumn arrives...


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

National Radio Sales Continue To Grow...

Despite some dire predictions of another recession lurking, there's no proof of that with recently reported national sales figures. Radio groups like Radio One and Citadel have seen growth and Katz Media Group shows that national spot is up 16% through July, compared to the first 7 months last year. Looking ahead, third quarter numbers are pacing up 15% or as Katz puts it: "While these pacing numbers only reflect business on the books today, they show strong momentum for the 4th quarter, which is pacing at more than 50% growth compared to last year's period." ...
The categories driving national spot radio include retail, up 18.7% in Q3, +109% in Q4, entertainment is pacing up 20.5% in Q3 and 37.8% in Q4, auto is up 23.6% in Q3 and 55.6% in Q4. Also up are telecom by 15.3% in Q3 and 65% in Q4 and consumer products are up 13.3% and 39.3%. Among the big spenders in the last half of the year are Safeway, Walmart and Supervalu in retail, Geico, JP Morgan/Chase and Allstate in finance. Comcast, Sony, Fox and ESPN in entertainment are your big spenders and O'Reilly Auto Parts, Honda, Chevrolet, Mini and Ford in the auto category. Katz reports the recovery in national spot is reflected across markets of all sizes. In Q3, 55 of the top 100 markets are expected to be up more than 10%, and in Q4, 94 of the top 100 markets are up double digits...

Looking ahead, political is expected to show gains. Katz notes that almost 75% of political-issue spending comes between August and Election Day in November or as the Democratic National Party might sing: "Happy Days Are Here Again" ...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1920] Suffer no more ladies: The 19th Amendment fo the Constitution, which guarantees the right of women to vote, is ratified when Tennessee becomes the 36th state to approve it...
2.1937] FM CP: The 1st FM construction permit is issued in Boston. W1XOJ in Paxton goes on the air 2 years later. That station is now WAAF in Westborough (MA)...
3.1961] That wall is not for handball: Construction of the Berlin Wall separating the western and eastern sectors of Berlin is completed...
4.1963] Breaking the color barrier: James Meredith becomes the first black to graduate from the University of Mississippi...
5.1967] All news all the time: WCBS in New York goes all-news as they decide to compete with WINS. Both stations are now owned by CBS Radio. This is a fairly recent tour of CBS...
6.1967] Brutal beaning: Red Sox star outfielder Tony Conigliaro is beaned by the Angels' Jack Hamilton at Fenway Park. A promising future is cut short although Tony C. will recover from the beaning but never be the same player again...
7.1988] Bagging a Quayle: Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle is nominated as George H.W. Bush's running mate at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans...
8.1992] Curtains: One of the greatest players to wear Celtics green or any NBA uniform, Larry Bird announces his retirement after 13 years...
9.1996] Tapped out: A record 6,654 (or 13,308 feet if my math is correct) tap their brains out at Macy's "Tap-o-mania" in front of Macy's on 34th Street. They set a new world's record. They should be damn proud of it too. Multiply the contestants in this video by about 13,000 feet and you'll get an idea of what it looked like....
10.2005] BTK packs his bags: A judge in Wichita, Kansas sentences BTK serial killer Dennis Rader to 10 consecutive life terms...


Commentary: The author of the "Shot Heard Round The World", Bobby Thomson has died. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Thomas hit one of the most dramatic homeruns of all-time on October 3, 1951 to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and put the New York Giants in the World Series. Thomson always seemed more embarrassed than proud of what he did that day, according to Dave Anderson's account of his passing in yesterday's New York Times. Thomson died Monday at age 86. On a personal note, my father worked with Thomson's dad in the shipyards of Staten Island where Bobby made his home...

Music Memories:
1962] Released on this date: "If I Had A Hammer" - Peter, Paul & Mary...1973] "China Grove" - Doobie Brothers...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Andy Samberg (32), Edward Norton (41), Christian Slater (41), Dennis Leary (53), LaBelle's Sarah Dash (65), Martin Mull (67), Matt Snell (69), Robert Redford (74) and Rosalynn Carter (83)...


Timeline Countdown: 19 days until Labor Day, 22 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 36 days until the arrival of autumn...



Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Radio & The Music Industry Become Allies...

Although they fight tooth and nail over performance royalties, music labels and radio broadcasters have turned from enemies to frenemies when it comes to FM radio chips in smartphones. Both industries want Congress to mandate that FM radio receivers be built into cell phones, PDAs and other portable electronic devices. And how do those cell phone, PDA and other portable electronic device manufacturers feel about that? "The backroom scheme of the NAB and RIAA to have Congress mandate broadcast radios in portable devices, including mobile phones, is the height of absurdity," says Consumer Electronics Association president Gary Shapiro. The less-than-enthusiastic Shapiro adds this punctuation to his statement: "Such a move is not in our national interest." Got it? Shapiro had more: "Rather than adapt to the digital marketplace, NAB and RIAA act like buggy-whip industries that refuse to innovate and seek to impose penalties on those that do." ...

This newly formed alliance between music and radio appears to be part of a grand scheme leading to a compromise and settlement with regard to the Performance Rights Act. Radio is leaning toward paying around $100 million a year (less than it feared) and in return it would get access to a larger market through the mandated FM radio chips in portable devices. "As regards the chip, this is a key issue for the radio industry" according to musicFIRST and they too like FM chips in smartphones, PDAs, etc. "It gives consumers access to more music choices." ...

Shapiro counters with this: "The performance royalty legislation voted out of the Senate Judiciacy Committee does not include this onerous and backward-looking radio requirement." Shapiro is determined to keep it that way. There are reports that the deal has not been finalized but when it is, the two sides still need to convince Congress to go along. Both musicFIRST and the NAB are hopeful something can be wrapped up late this year or early in 2011. The NABs Dennis Wharton has another wrinkle to add: "We would argue that having radio capability on cell phones and other mobile devices would be a great thing, particularly (cue the violins) from a public safety perspective. There are few if any technologies that match the reliability of broadcast radio in terms of getting lifeline information to the masses." Uh-huh...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1790] Musical Capitals: The capital of these United States moves from New York City to Philadelphia. Apparently they preferred cheesesteaks more than bagels and lox...
2.1896] Thar's gold in them thar hills: The Klondike gold rush is set off by George Carmack who discovers gold in Rabbit Creek, Alaska...
3.1920] "Happy Trails": 29-year old Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians is beaned by Yankees fastballer Carl Mays on August 16th and succumbs to the beaning today. It's the first and last time a baseball player is killed in a game (so far)...1973] 34-year old Paul Williams of The Temptations dies from a self-inflicted gun shot wound...
4.1969] Woodstock finale: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair concludes near Bethel (NY)...

5.1969] Eye of a hurricane: Hurricane Camille slams into the Gulf Coast, killing 248...
6.1987] Hess checks out: Rudolf Hess, last member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle is an apparent suicide at Spandau prison at age 93...
7.1992] Daddy dearest: Woody Allen admits to being romantically involved with 17-year old Soon-Yi Previn, adopted daughter of Mia Farrow, Allen's longtime companion. They are now married. Woody and Soon-Yi, not Woody and Mia...
8.1998] "I'm confessin": President Bill Clinton finally admits to an improper relationship (but not sex, right?) with "That woman, Miss Lewinsky"...
9.2000] Mazel tov: The Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles nominates Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman for vice president. The video shows his days supporting John McCain...
10.2008] Olympic Gold: American swimmer Michael Phelps wins his eighth gold medal, setting a record for most golds at an Olympic games, beating Mark Spitz's previous record of 7 set in 1972...

Music Memories:
1964] Released on this date: "You Really Got Me" - Kinks...1968] "Hush" - Deep Purple...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Dustin Pedroia (27), Jorge Posada (39), Donnie Wahlberg (41), Sean Penn (50), Belinda Carlisle (52), Robert DeNiro (67) and Maureen O'Hara (90)...

Timeline Countdown: 20 days until Labor Day, 23 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 32 days until autumn arrives...




Monday, August 16, 2010

New Report Shows Digital Radio Explosion Is Coming...

Sometime next year, handset manufacturers will implement an HD radio chip in every smartphone. That's what ABI Research senior analyst Sam Rosen predicts in a new report. The chip would move streaming digital audio from the carrier's network to the public spectrum the radio stations use. With the implementation of an HD radio chip, smartphones will be able to hear the digital over-the-air stations. The ABI report says that by 2015, digital radio will reach 200 million people. The report calls this a boon to users as music is data-heavy and carriers have started phasing out unlimited data plans in favor of tiered pricing...

"Everyone followed the news this spring when AT&T adopted tiered data usage plans. That ultimately came about because they couldn't handle the data traffic to a sustainable point. A study in the U.K. showed they could only handle 4-5 million streaming audio listeners. Providers like AT&T want to give customers a good user experience with the content they want on their phone, but they (AT&T) don't have infinite network bandwidth", Rosen says. According to Rosen, current radio streaming on smartphones can cost approximately 35 cents an hour. An HD radio chip in smartphones will take the burden off of AT&T's network. Users would also not be at risk of going over data caps...

"You could download apps that would allow you to see what stations there are. Or because of the ability of the electronic programming guide, you could see what songs are on every station. You could have the artist alert, which is what Sirius XM does. It tells you when your favorite artist has a song on. These features are all possible on high-end smartphones" Rosen says. If you're wondering how much of a threat a smartphone listening explosion would create for Satellite radio, Rosen says as long as Sirius XM has personalities like Howard Stern and Martha Stewart, "it's unlikely that many people would completely leave the satellite service provider." Rosen believes that HD radio on smartphones will be appealing for people looking to listen to their favorite local station. Local radio will love that prediction...


10 Timeline Memories:
1.1948] The Babe goes down swinging: Babe Ruth loses his battle with throat cancer at 53. His body lies in state at Yankee Stadium as thousands pay their respects...
2.1954] On the cover of Sports Illustrated: Milwaukee slugger Eddie Matthews as SI debuts...
3.1977] The King is dead: Elvis Presley dies suddenly at home in Memphis. Cause of death is listed as "coronary arrhythmia." The King was just 42. The world mourns...
4.1983] Wedding Bells: Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher tie the knot...1985] Madonna and Sean Penn marry. What were they thinking? ...
5.1987] Sole survivor: Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes on take off from a Detroit airport killing 156. The sole survivor is a 4-year-old girl...
6.1987] Peace, love and harmony: Thousands worldwide begin a two-day celebration of the "harmonic convergence," which believers call the start of a new, purer age of humankind...
7.1988] Vote for me: Vice President George H.W. Bush picks Indiana Senator Dan Quayle to be his running mate on the Republican ticket...2000] Delegates to the Democratic National Convention nominate VP Al Gore for President...
8.1993] Rescue me: A 68-year old manufacturer of tuxedos, Harvey Weinstein, is found buried alive in a bunker near the Hudson River after being kidnapped 12 days earlier. Ransomed for $2 million, the money and suspects are arrested including a longtime employee of the victim...
9.2003] Busted: A car driven by U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow runs a stop sign on a rural road in South Dakota, collides with a motorcyclist who dies in the accident. Janklow will be convicted of manslaughter and forced to resign from Congress...
10.2008] Record-breaker: Michael Phelps wins the 100-meter butterfly by a hundredth of a second for his 7th gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, tying Mark Spitz's 1972 record...

Music Memories:
1962] Musical chairs: Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best as Beatles drummer...
1966] Released on this date: "Last Train To Clarksville" - Monkees...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rumer Willis (22), Sports interviewer Bonnie Bernstein (40), Steve Carell (48), Timothy Hutton (50), Madonna (52), 'Titanic' & 'Avatar' director James Cameron (56), J.T. Taylor (Kool and The Gang) (57), Kathie Lee Gifford (57), Leslie Ann Warren (64), Julie Newmar (77), Eydie Gorme (79), Frank Gifford (80) & Ann Blyth (82)...

Timeline Countdown: 21 days until Labor Day, 24 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 38 days until autumn arrives...

Friday, August 13, 2010

Radio Adjusts Format Clocks For Better PPM Results...

(Weekend Edition)
Ever since Arbitron hit radio with their Portable People Meter or PPM measurement, the medium and ad-heads have been trying to figure how to use it effectively. Apparently radio has figured out that if you move your stopsets to :15 and :45 you can get better average quarter hour shares (AQH) - the holy grail of the ad world. That's what a majority of music stations in PPM markets have done, according to a new study by Media Monitors. The report shows a "pronounced shift" away from the traditional stopset at :20 and :50 after the hour. Media Monitors compared spot placement times in August 2009, which were mostly placed at :20 and :50 to today where PPM stations are now running their commercials at :15 and :45. And why did radio move their stopsets in PPM markets? Because Arbitron revealed where to place stopsets to maximize AQH performance on music stations in PPM markets, not that there's anything wrong with that. At least they shared that tip with everyone and not just an exclusive few...

And where did this knowledge come from? A study called "The Impact Of Commercials On Station Performance" which concluded that placing stopsets at the top and bottom of the hour (or at 15 and 45 minutes past) would minimize bounce and reduce missed quarter hours on music stations in PPM markets. The average station could increase AQH performance by 35% by getting credit for all the quarter hours in which listeners heard the station, the study concluded. As for stations in diary markets, shifting your spot load, won't work. It just works for stations measured electronically. Media Monitors CEO Philippe Generali said they found "Twice as many stations in PPM markets are playing spots at :15, compared to last year. The first quarter hour, however, remains a traditional 'sacred cow' where hardly any music station wants to be caught in a commercial break."...

So now that the PPM secret is out, won't it come down to the actual performance of the radio station? Knowing that moving your stopsets produces better AQH shares helps but not every station will improve their performance by 35%. The station with the best programming will not only get closest to that 35%, they'll also win the market. Nothing new there...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1907] The dawning of auto accidents: The 1st taxicab hits the streets of Manhattan. The 1st crash will follow shortly (8/13)...
2.1912] Now the real hams come out: The 1st experimental radio license for a college radio station is given to St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia (8/13)...
3.1939] Classic premiere: The MGM musical "The Wizard of Oz" opens at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood (8/15)...
4.1953] Whiffed: The whiffle ball is invented providing lots of future major league players with their first taste of hitting a pitched ball (8/14)...
5.1958] Wedding Bells: Buddy Holly and Maria Elena Santiago rock down the aisle in Lubbock (TX) (8/15)...
6.1961] United we stand, divided we fall: Berlin is divided by a barbed wire fence to halt the flight of refugees. Two days later work begins on the Berlin Wall (8/13)...
7.1969] Live from Woodstock: Richie Havens opens the historic 3-day music event (8/15). Also appearing during the weekend of music, mayhem, mud and luvvv, man, include acts like: Janis Joplin, Sly & the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Crosby, Stills & Nash and more...
8.1995] "Happy Trails": Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle loses his battle with liver cancer at 63. Mantle campaigned actively for the donation of organs to save lives during his final days (8/13)...2007] Baseball Hall of Famer and Broadcaster Phil Rizzuto dies in his sleep at 89 (8/13)...
9.2003] Blood money: Libya agrees to set up a $2.7 billion fund for families of 270 people killed in the 1988 Pan Am bombing (8/13)...
10.2003] Lights out: A massive blackout hits the northeast and parts of Canada with 50 million losing power (8/14)...

Music Memories:
1952] Recorded on this date: The original version of "Hound Dog" by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (8/13)...
1965] Released on this date: "Help" (the single) - Beatles (8/13)...1965] "Hang On Sloopy" - McCoys (Rick Derringer) (8/14)...1966] "You Can't Hurry Love" - Supremes (8/13)...1971] "Reason To Believe/Maggie May" - Rod Stewart (the 'A' side was "Reason" until everyone started flipping the record)(8/14)...1976] "Rock 'N Me" - Steve Miller Band (8/14)...
1965] Live from Shea Stadium: The Beatles set a record for the largest single crowd at a concert as Shea Stadium swells to 56,000 fans screaming their brains out for the Fab Four (8/15)...
1969] Live from Woodstock: Here's what it looked and sounded like...(8/15)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (8/13) Debi Mazar (46), John Slattery (48), Danny Bonaduce (51), Dave "Baby" Cortez (72), Mudcat Grant (75), Pat Harrington (81) and Fidel Castro (84)...(8/14) Tim Tebow (23), Clay Buchholtz (26), Ex-Patriot's linebacker Mike Vrabel (35), Halle Berry (44), Magic Johnson (51), Marcia Gay Harden (51), 'Far Side' cartoonist Gary Larson (60), Danielle Steel (63), Susan St. James (64), Steve Martin (65), Jimmy (NFL) Johnson (67), David Crosby (69), Dash Crofts (70), Earl Weaver (80) & Buddy Greco (84)...(8/15) Ben Affleck (38), Debra Messing (42), Princess Anne of Britain (60), Jimmy Webb (64), Linda Ellerbee (66), Jim Lange (77), Mike Connors (85) and Rose Marie (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 24 days until Labor Day, 27 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 41 days until the arrival of autumn...

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Yearly Trends Show Radio's Condition As Stable...

Radio is in ICU but the condition of the medium is not on life support or even critical, it's stable, according to a year-to-year comparison of different ratings companies. Harker Research came up with the idea of comparing one year trends in PPM markets, Arbitron diary markets and with recent Nielsen numbers. The comparison showed some surprises, including the condition of radio not being as dire as many people think. To represent PPM markets, Harker looked at the top five PPM markets since they could compare the latest month, June 2010, to a year ago. To represent diary markets they used five markets just outside the top 50 comparing spring 2010 to spring 2009. All total, that represented a large cross-section of listeners in large, medium and small markets. Some 70 million respondents were covered in large, medium and small markets. Now that is a sizeable sample...
While each service measures the same thing (Reach, Time Spent Listening or TSL and Average Quarter Hour or AQH) they always come up with different results. Arbitron reminds us that PPM ratings are based on audience estimates and should not be relied on for precise accuracy or precise representativeness of a demographic or radio market. What the comparison shows is that radio is just about where it was a year ago. There are no dynamic swings one way or another. In the 5 PPM markets, 12+ reach was up nearly 3%, in the Arbitron diary markets, reach was up slightly (+1.6%) and Nielsen was up 1%. All 3 services show a slight increase in the proportion of people listening to radio (reach). In TSL, PPM markets fell 4%, Arbitron diary markets were down 2% but Nielsen gained 3%. The TSL average showed a decline of less than a quarter-hour in the past year. The AQH rating in PPM markets is down a little over 2%, Arbitron diary markets were off slightly while Nielsen stations had an increase of 5%...
What does this all mean aside from what we all knew to begin with - numbers vary from study to study? What it means is that radio is not on life support but is in a holding pattern. About the same number of people listen to radio now as they did in 2009. They listen about the same length of time as they did in 2009, maybe off a quarter-hour. It's all in the eye of the beholder - is it partly cloudy or partly sunny? Is the glass half-empty or half-full? The fact that there's no growth is enough to worry about...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1877] Phonograph sighting: Thomas Edison invents the phonograph and makes the 1st sound recording. Clive Davis signs the Tom Edison Band to a longterm contract...

2.1960] Looking for an echo: The first balloon satellite, Echo 1, is launched by the U.S...
3.1969] For Sale...SOLD: The Boston Celtics are sold for $6 million. The highest price for an NBA franchise at the time...
4.1977] O Solo Mio: The space shuttle Enterprise passes its first solo flight test by taking off atop a Boeing 747, separating and then touching down in the Mojave Desert...
5.1985] Disaster in the air: A crippled Japan Air Lines Boeing 747 on a domestic flight crashes into a mountain, killing 520...
6.1994] Strike 3 - You're out: Major league baseball players go on strike rather than allow team owners to limit their salaries. The strike lasts 232 days, cancelling the World Series for the 1st time in 90 years. Still a good baseball trivia question - who won the 1994 World Series? - no one!!!
7.1998] Justice served: Swiss banks agreed to pay $1.25 billion as restitution to Holocaust survivors to settle claims for their assets...
8.2000] Losing a nuke sub: The Russian nuclear sub Kursk and its 118-man crew are lost in the Barents Sea during naval exercises...
9.2004] "I am a gay American": New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey announces his resignation and acknowledges that he had an extramarital affair with a man...
10.2009] 'Happy Trails': Jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor, Les Paul dies of complications from pneumonia at the age of 94...

Music Memories:
1967] Making their debut: Fleetwood Mac make their stage debut in Great Britain at the Windsor Jazz & Blues Festival. This clip is from 1970. This is not the Fleetwood Mac you're used to...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Pete Sampras (39), Peter Krause (45), Mark Knopfler (61), Sam Rosen (63), George Hamilton (71) and Charlie O'Donnell (78)...

Happy Anniversary Diane...

Timeline Countdown: 25 days until Labor Day, 28 days until the NFL opener (Minn. @ New Orleans) & 42 days until autumn arrives...

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Alternative Media Fuels A Healthier Radio Market...

Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS), a private equity firm projects that in 2010, total spending on broadcast and satellite radio will grow for the first time since 2007. Together, they will enjoy a bump of 3.3% to $17.68 billion. While the bottom dropped out for broadcast radio by 19.4% in 2009 to $14.25 billion due to the economic downturn, satellite radio's subscription and advertising spending rose to 2.5% in 2009 to $2.39 billion, primarily due to subscription rate increases. Spending on online and mobile advertising rose 13.5% in 2009 to $480 million, as advertisers targeting younger listeners explored emerging outlets such as streaming audio websites and mobile phones. This mix of media usage, as homogenized as the milk you added to your cereal this morning is projected to remain relatively flat through 2014 as consumer and business users continue to migrate to digital platforms like computer tablets, eBooks and smart phones - seeking more searchable, shorter and more focused content, according to VSS. The forecast assumes that broadcast radio groups, seeking to shed heavy debt, will reorganize into smaller station groups that provide more focused content ...

One media form not expected to be included in the mix is HD Radio. VSS believes HD Radio will have "minimal" impact on drawing in more listeners - unless radio groups spend more on different programming as station conversions have slowed as groups cut expenses. Internet car radio is another story...

"When internet radio migrates into the car via OEM (original equipment manufacturer) wireless hubs in new vehicles, stations will be forced to compete directly against internet-only audio streams, and the issue of improved sound quality, one of HD Radio's biggest marketing points, will become a non issue.", VSS says. Whether radio can leverage its programming expertise into compelling content that will prevent listeners from drifting to other enticing digital audio options remains a question, VSS concludes...

One thing is certain. Radio sources will have to do much more than present a rubber-stamped music intensive format and nothing more. If you're not giving your audience anything different than every other radio source is offering - you lose...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1934] The Rock: Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, receives federal prisoners for the 1st time. Get ready for the 'Birdman', mates...
2.1952] Long live the King: Hussein is proclaimed king of Jordan following the abdication of his father, King Talal...
3.1965] Watts explodes: 34 are killed and more than 1,000 injured during rioting in Watts...
4.1972] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley file for divorce. They married in May of '67...
5.1984] Not so funny to the Russians: Ronald Reagan jokes: "today we have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."...
6.1992] Malled: The Mall of America, the biggest shopping mall in the country opens in Bloomington (MN)...
7.1998] Greasing the palm: British Petroleum (a.k.a. 'Bippy') purchases Amoco for $49 billion in the biggest foreign takeover of a U.S. company...
8.2000] Pat throws his hat: Pat Buchanan wins the Reform Party presidential nomination in a victory bitterly disputed by party founder Ross Perot's supporters...
9.2002] Chapter 11: U.S. Airways files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...
10.2006] "Happy Trails": Former talk/variety show host Mike Douglas dies on his 81st birthday. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990 but was considered cancer-free when he dies from unknown causes...

Music Memories:
1956] Released on this date: "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis Presley...1962] "Surfin' Safari" - Beach Boys...1962] "Green Onions" - Booker T and MG's...1968] "Hey Jude" - Beatles. The first Beatles release on Apple...1973] "Free Ride" - Edgar Winter Group...
1964] #1 on this date: "Everybody Loves Somebody" - Dean Martin...1974] "The Night Chicago Died" - Paper Lace...1984] "Endless Love" - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie...
1966] Farewell Tour: The Beatles begin their final tour of America in Chicago. At a press conference at O'Hare, John Lennon apologizes for his statements comparing the Beatles with Jesus Christ...
1969] Making their debut: Diana Ross invites 350 guests to the Daisy Club in Beverly Hills to unveil her new discovery: The Jackson Five...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Singer Joe Jackson (56), Hulk Hogan (57), Steve Wozniak (60), Eric Carmen (61), (Ask) Marilyn vos Savant (64), Kenny Gamble (67), Arlene Dahl (82) and Claus von Bulow (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 26 days until Labor Day, 29 days before the NFL opener (Minn. @ N.O.) and 43 days until autumn arrives...