Never before has auto sales been tied to radio revenue as it is now. With satellite and internet radio making major inroads in-car, joining terrestrial radio and every form of audio entertainment available, auto sales matter and October was a welcome month for all media forms mentioned above. Auto sales put in their strongest performance of the year in October as media buyers showed confidence in the economy and incentives lured them into dealerships. Every major automaker but Toyota chalked up better results last month. Overall industry sales accelerated 13.4%, according to the New York Daily News...
The key to huge auto sales could have been more promotions this October than last - about $2,800 per car as auto dealers cleared out older models and pushed their year-end models. The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate last month was 12.3 million vehicles, the best monthly rate since August 2009 when Cash-for-Clunkers brought Americans flooding in to dealers. Rebecca Lindland, IHS Automotive analyst says "Consumers who have a job are feeling a little bit better. They feel like the worst is over and they're starting to trickle back into showrooms." ...
Chrysler, Ford, Honda and Nissan all posted double-digit percentage jumps in sales. At GM, sales rose 3.5%, while Toyota, still struggling with safety recalls and an aging lineup said sales skidded 4%. The truth will be in the telling for radio as to whether October numbers will spur the medium or not. Fourth quarter numbers will provide the answer...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1960] Election Daze: Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy defeats Richard Nixon for the presidency. The age of Camelot dawns...
2.1965] Premiered on this date: The Pillsbury Dough Boy debuts...
3.1965] A little bit of soap: "Days of Our Lives" debuts on NBC-TV...
4.1966] MVP...MVP...MVP: The Orioles' Frank Robinson wins the American League MVP Award and becomes the first player in baseball history to win the award in both leagues. In 1961 he won the award with Cincinnati...
5.1968] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Cynthia Powell Lennon is granted a divorce from John Lennon after 6 years of marriage...
6.1970] Record Breaker: New Orleans placekicker Tom Dempsey, born without toes on his kicking foot, kicks a record-setting 63-yard field goal. In 1998 Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos ties Dempsey with his 63-yard boot, no doubt aided by Denver's mile-high altitude...
7.1979] 'Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage': premieres on ABC-TV. While the show was meant to be temporary, it evolves into "Nightline" in March, 1980...
8.1988] The tank photo did it: Vice President George H.W. Bush wins the presidential election, beating Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis...
9.2000] Closing the door: Waco special counsel John C. Danforth releases his final report absolving the government of wrong-doing in the 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian compound. Case closed...
10.2004] All-Out Attack: Thousands of U.S. troops attack strongholds of Sunni insurgents in Fallujah (Iraq)...
Music Memories:
- 1964] Like two peas in a pod: Judy Garland and 18-year old daughter Liza Minnelli perform together at the London Palladium...
- 1968] Newest member of The Supremes: Jean Terrell (sister of boxer Ernie Terrell) replaces Diana Ross as lead singer. Jean sang the lead on "Up The Ladder To The Roof", "Stoned Love" and "Floy Joy"...
- 1971] Released on this date: "Led Zeppelin IV" LP (featuring "Stairway To Heaven"...
Commentary:
The 30th Reunion of the original Rock 'N' Bowl is coming up on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 from 7PM to 11PM at Pinz, 12655 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. The night of bowling will benefit the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program. Forms are available to sponsor a lane or register a bowler by clicking here...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Jack Osbourne (25), Tara Reid (35), Parker Posey (42), Courtney Thorne-Smith (43), Gordon Ramsay (44), Rickie Lee Jones (56), Jerry Remy (58), Alfre Woodard (58), Mary Hart (60), Bonnie Raitt (61), Angel Cordero Jr. (68), Morley Safer (79), Patti Page (83) and Norman Lloyd (93)...
Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Thanksgiving, 23 days until Hanukah, 43 days until winter and 46 days until Christmas...
