Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Radio Ad Spending & Revenue Show Good Movement...

Wells Fargo Securities analysts Marci Ryvicker and Timothy Schlock have some good news for radio: "From most of the conversations we have had, core advertising has been better than expected, driven by auto, retail, telco and financial. We asked operators and media buyers if this is merely a result of advertisers pulling budgets forward in advance of the political onslaught. For the most part, there has been no evidence that this is the case, although most admit it is hard to know for sure." On top of that good news comes word from analyst Jim Boyle that the radio industry just posted its best year-over-year revenue numbers in four months in August. Radio was up 7% last month compared to a year ago. This, according to data collected from a sample of markets...

Before we get ahead of ourselves, Ryvicker and Schlock remain cautiously optimistic about radio's chances in 2011. With the ad budget season approaching, the analysts say "of the various media buyers we have spoken with, preliminary rumblings are that 2011 budgets seem to be in line with 2010. Of course this can change quickly depending on consumer spending patterns in a slowing economy." The analysts say that national spending in all media is still pacing ahead of local, though the latter has shown improvement. "It sounds like local is going to tread along the bottom until unemployment and housing improves, so those companies with significant national exposure" - like CBS and Clear Channel Outdoor "have the greatest advantage." ...

Could political spending boost Q4 enough to give radio one of its best year's in the last few? While messages are mixed with political spending up is some areas but slow in others, Kantar Media says that the political season just started this week and "it's the most competitive political environment we've ever seen." Kantar's prediction is that "just about every media segment will see increases this year, led by radio, local TV and cable." ...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1957] Premiered on this date: "Maverick" starring no, not John McCain but James Garner. This was one of the first shows I mailed promotion kits to affiliates when I was a mailboy at ABC. "Maverick" would run for 5 seasons and was one of the first hit shows for this fledgling network at the time...1964] "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", the spy show that made stars of Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. It ran for four seasons...
2.1961] Peace be with you: President John F. Kennedy signs a congressional act that establishes the Peace Corps...
3.1967] On the cover of Time Magazine: The Beatles...
4.1969] Home run derby: The Giants' Willie Mays becomes the second player, behind Babe Ruth, to hit his 600th home run. Hank Aaron will pass Mays and The Babe. Barry Bonds passes them all...
5.1975] You missed: Sara Jane Moore fails in an attempt to shoot President Gerald Ford outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco (it's the second attempt on Ford's life in 17 days)...
6.1980] "Happy Trails": Irving Berlin dies at the age of 101. Cause of death was being 101...
7.1987] Out on strike: The second regular season strike in five years hits the NFL. This time only 1 game during the 16-game season is cancelled...
8.1995] SOLD!: Time Warner strikes a $7.5 billion deal to buy Turner Broadcasting System, Inc...
9.2004] That's a fine thing: CBS is fined $550,000 by the FCC for showing Janet Jackson's exposed right tata during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show which I witnessed in Houston. The case has finally been settled...
10.2007] New justice: John Roberts' nomination as chief justice clears the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 13-5 vote...

Music Memories:

Commentary: Microphone Technology and Multi-Dimensional Sound-A Symposium will be presented at the NYU Steinhart Center's James Dolan Recording Studio on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. Hosts for the symposium are Agnieszka Roginska & Jim Anderson (New York University) and James G. Williamson (AES NY Section Chair). A meet & greet will begin at 8:30 am, followed by presentations at 9. For additional information contact the Audio Engineering Society...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Scott Baio (49), Joan Jett (52), Andrea Bocelli (52), Debby Boone (54), Shari Belafonte (56), David Stern (68), Joni James (80) and Tommy Lasorda (83)...

Timeline Countdown: Autumn arrives at 11:09 tonight, 14 days until the MLB playoff opener, 36 days until the World Series begins & 39 nights until Halloween...
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