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...
