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...
