(Weekend Edition)
Sure there's been the anticipated rah-rah, preaching to the choir nonsense and politicking in Washington, D.C. where the NAB Radio Show is wrapping up - but there's also been some sound advice. Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs offered some insight in competing with this mobile world that's moving in on us at warp speed. Jacobs advises not to take mobile for granted: "Don't view mobile through the radio prism." This mirrors what BIA/Kelsey VP Steve Passwaiter offered earlier when he said "digital is not a hobby." You just can't stream your regular programming without offering something else. You must "make your audio stream a first-class service." It doesn't have to be HD or CD quality but a stream must feature enough contextual content to separate it from just a made-for-mobile rubber stamp. This can take any number of creative forms, but at its essence, must connect to user preferences...
More advice from the Radio Show: "Wake up to Pandora" but don't necessarily mimic it. Do heed what Pandora does best, putting the consumer experience first by enabling user customization and choice. Radio's greatest assets are built around contextual content and personal connection, not just music. Take advantages of these native capabilities, the ones that Pandora can't touch. Remember what it is that consumers like best about you and play to those strengths in the mobile realm...
Regarding sales: "Mobilize your sales strategy." Mobile must be a key component of cross-platform value proposition that shows clients how multiple products and platforms fit together into a composite solution. Mobile is not an added value, but a targeted opportunity. Shawn Sires of Airkast, a mobile content provisioner , says "there isn't enough mobile inventory to keep up with the dollars chasing it." The biggest problem facing local sales people is ROI (Return on Investment). Local businesses are "looking to local media for answers." Passwaiter suggests telling your local accounts: "Don't worry about how the technology works" just know how to tell the advertiser how a service moves people to buy. It wasn't all smoke and mirrors at the NAB Radio Show...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1903] World Series #1: The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Americans (Red Sox) 7-3 in the first World Series game but Boston wins the series (10/1)...
2.1951] Shot heard round the world: The Giants’ Bobby Thomson hits a 3-run, walk-off home run beating the Brooklyn Dodgers in the third and deciding game of their playoffs. Russ Hodges said it best: “The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant.” Ralph Branca tossed up the lollipop (10/3)…
3.1955] Premiered on this date: "The Honeymooners" kicks off 16 successful seasons (10/1)...1962] "The Lucy Show", featuring Lucille Ball as Lucy Carmichael, runs for 12 years (10/1)...1962] Johnny Carson debuts as regular host of NBC's "Tonight Show" (10/1)...
4.1961] Roger that: Yankees slugger Roger Maris hits home run #61 at Yankee Stadium, breaking Babe Ruth's season record of 60 hit in 1927 (10/1)...5.1970] Team Tragedy: A plane carrying 30 members of the Wichita State football team crashes. All 30 are killed (10/2)…
6.1975] The Thrilla in Manilla: Heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali retains his title with a TKO of Joe Frazier in the 15th round (10/1)...
7.1978] Bucky “Bleepin’” Dent: Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent’s 7th inning home run at Fenway Park leads the Yankees to a one-game playoff victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees win the AL pennant (10/2)…
8.1995] O.J. walks: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the 1994 murders of wife Nicole Brown and Ronald L. Goldman (10/3). Thirteen years later in 2008, same date, O.J. is convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping. He’s currently serving a sentence for the crimes…
9.1998] “Happy Trails“: Gene Autry, Hollywood’s ‘Singing Cowboy’ dies from lymphoma at 91 (10/2)…
10.2002] Sniper rampage begins: A man is shot and killed in a grocery store parking lot in Wheaton (MD), the 1st victim in a series of sniper attacks in the DC area that will leave 10 dead (10/2)…
Music Memories:
- 1964] Released on this date: "The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons" LP (on Vee Jay) (10/1)...
- 1965] Debuted on Shindig: The Who (10/2)...
- 1973] Number One on this date: "Half-Breed" - Cher (10/3)...1982] "Jack and Diane" - John Cougar Mellencamp (10/3)...
- 1970] O solo mio: Curtis Mayfield leaves the Impressions for a highly successful solo career (10/1)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (10/1) Randy Quaid (60), Stephen Collins (63), Rod Carew (65), Stella Stevens (74), Julie Andrews (75), Tom Bosley (83), Roger Williams (86) & Jimmy Carter (86)...(10/2) Tiffany (39), Kelly Ripa (40), Lorraine Bracco (56), Sting (59), Annie Leibovitz (61), Donna Karan (62), Don McLean (65), Rex Reed (72) and Maury Wills (78)...(10/3) Ashlee Simpson (26), Gwen Stefani (41), Rev. Al Sharpton (56), Dennis Eckersley (56), Dave Winfield (59), Lindsey Buckingham (61), Biff Henderson (64), Roy Horn (66), Chubby Checker (69) and Gore Vidal (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 5 days until the MLB playoffs start, 27 days until the World Series begins & 31 nights until Halloween...
