Friday, May 28, 2010

FCC Must Right The Wrong Of 1996...

(Memorial Day Weekend Edition)
They may have broadband on their minds but the FCC must right the wrong of 1996 in order to keep radio from sliding back into a third-world media source. Since Congress established the radio rule in 1996 and the FCC set up the TV/radio rule three years later, empires have been built to crumble and fall. The rules relaxed previous ownership limits far too much. The seven FM, seven AM and seven TV stations rule (7-7-7) allowed Clear Channel, Citadel and other corporations to dominate radio with ownership of thousands of stations. In 1996, there were 10,257 commercial radio stations with 5,133 owners, according to the FCC. Today there are less commercial stations and 39% fewer owners: 11,202 (total includes public radio & LPFM) and 3,143 respectively. And how has deregulation affected revenue???

Advertising revenue for radio has fallen by almost 11% between 2006 and 2008. Between 2008 and 2009, revenue fell about 22%. During the same timeline, advertising's new darling, the Internet, grew 25% (between 2006 and 2008), before taking a nap and dropping 5% (between 2008 and 2009)...

The FCC is now looking for answers. They'd like to know if we still need radio ownership limits. My belief is that whatever the FCC rules on the future of radio ownership and consolidation they better have a more effective litmus test for potential buyers then they had from 1996 on or else people will remember the good old days when we had over 11,000 (total includes public radio & LPFM) radio stations and 39% fewer owners...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1907] Taxiiiiiiii: The first taxis in the U.S. arrive in New York City followed by an increase in traffic accidents and fights (5/31)...
2.1953] Because it was there: Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest (5/29)…
3.1957] Westward ho: The National League approves the move of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to Los Angeles and San Francisco (5/28). The Mets will come along in 1962 when the National League returns to New York…
4.1970] The people's choice: Baseball's All-Star Game voting returns to the fans so they can vote .220 hitters into the game (5/30). You've gotta have a criteria for voting, people...
5.1973] Gotcha: Columbia Records President Clive Davis is fired for allegedly misappropriating company funds. Clive continues to thrive in his late 70s (5/29) after making a remarkable comeback…
6.1982] They call it the streak: 21-year old Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. begins his consecutive game streak (5/30). He will eventually move to shortstop but his streak will last more than 13 years and 3 months and break Lou Gehrig's previous consecutive game streak record...
7.1989] Bumper cars at the Indy: Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr. play bumper cars at the Indy 500 with Unser helping Fittipaldi to win the race - not what Unser had in mind (5/28)…
8.1998] ‘Happy Trails’: Former Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate Barry "Mr. Conservative" Goldwater dies at 89 from complications of a stroke (5/29)…

9.1998] Another SNL tragedy: Comic Phil Hartman, 49, of “Saturday Night Live” and “Newsradio” is shot to death at his home in California by his wife Brynn who then takes her own life (5/28)…
10.2005] Vanishing teen: American teen Natalee Holloway is last seen leaving a bar with three young men while vacationing in Aruba before disappearing (5/30). Her body has never been found...

Music Memories:
1942] Recorded on this date: "White Christmas" - Bing Crosby (5/29)...1968] The Beatles begin recording their White Album (5/30)...1969] "Honky Tonk Women" - Rolling Stones (5/31)...1969] "Give Peace A Chance" - John Lennon and Yoko Ono (recorded 5/31 at one of their bed-ins)...
1957] #1 on this date: "Love Letters in the Sand" - Pat Boone (my favorite P.B. hit)(5/31)...1963] "It's My Party" - Lesley Gore (5/30)...1964] "Love Me Do" - The Beatles (5/30)...1971] "Brown Sugar" - Rolling Stones (5/29)...1972] "I'll Take You There" - Staple Singers (5/31)...1973] "My Love" - Paul McCartney & Wings (5/30)...
1969] Released on this date: "My Cherie Amour" - Stevie Wonder (5/31)...1975] "One of these Nights" - Eagles (5/31)...1982] "Combat Rock" LP - Clash (5/31)...1982] "Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor (5/31)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (5/28) Elizabeth Hasselbeck of 'The View' (33), John Fogerty (65), Billy Vera (66), Gladys Knight (66), Rudolph Giuliani (66), NBA logo silhouette Jerry West (72) and Carroll Baker (79)...(5/29) Melissa Etheridge (49), Annette Bening (52), LaToya Jackson (54), Rebbie Jackson (60), correspondent Bob Simon (69), Al Unser, Sr. (71), former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent (72)...(5/30) Manny Ramirez (38), Wynonna Judd (46), Ted ('Ace' on 'Love Boat') McGinley (52), Pro Football Hall of Famer Gayle Sayers (67), Michael J. Pollard (71), Keir ("2001") Dullea (74) and Clint "Cheyenne" Walker (83)...(5/31) Colin Farrell (34), Robert Dean Phillips (43 - Happy Birthday Rob), Brooke Shields (45), DMC aka Darryl McDaniel (46), Joe Namath (67), Sharon Gless (67), Peter Yarrow (72) and Clint Eastwood (80)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Memorial Day, 8 days until the Belmont Stakes, 23 days until Father's Day and 24 days until summer...

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Radio's Ad Spending Slump Is Over...

Radio can thank an upswing in ad spending by auto, retail, financial and political for ending its long sales slump. Kantar Media reports that radio sales are up 7.4% to $1.72 billion. Local sales are up 4.6% to $1.11 billion, national spot catapulted 19% to $396.8 million and network radio improved by 3% over Q1 2009, taking in $215.7 million. While Q1 was up 10.5% for television media, national syndication was down 13.2%, there was no love for magazines (-3.2%) except for Sunday editions, newspaper spending was off 3.7%, outdoor dipped -0.4% and Internet (display ads only) was up 5%. And who were the big spenders???

Proctor & Gamble increased its Q1 ad spending 17.7%, AT&T in a battle with Verizon upped their spending for the quarter by 26.7% while Verizon scaled back it's spending by 9.1%. Other big spenders included General Motors (+28.5%), telecom (+10.6%), Pfizer (+46.2%) and financial services (+10.1%). Kantar reports that while some media sectors enjoyed a greater lift than others, Q1 spending hikes "were broadly distributed across advertisers and categories, and that's an encouraging signal for the market going forward." ...

This uptick in ad spending marks the first quarterly increase since Q1 of 2008 and the most significant gain since the first three months of 2006. The big dark cloud that's been hovering over radio for what seems like forever, is starting to lift...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1668] New England justice: Three colonists are expelled from Massachusetts for being Baptists. Lighten up people!!!
2.1932] Debuted on this date: Massachusetts Governor Joseph Ely signs a bill making Sunday baseball possible at Fenway Park…1937] The Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County opens to “pedestrians only". On May 28th it opens to traffic…
3.1941] Sink The Bismarck: The British naval and air forces do! 2,300 are killed on the German battleship
4.1957] Top 40 eh?: CHUM (AM) becomes Canada's first top 40 station...
5.1960] Catch this!: The Baltimore Orioles debut a giant catcher’s mitt, the size of Rhode Island, to help Clint Courtney catch Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckleball…
6.1968] Papa Bear hangs up his paws: George Halas retires after 48 years as coach of the Chicago Bears…
7.1969] Disney discovers Florida: Construction of Walt Disney World begins in Orlando. The theme park will open in 1971...
8.1995] Superman upended: Christopher Reeve is paralyzed when thrown from his horse during a jumping competition in Charlottesville (VA)…
9.1997] The Supes Rule: The Supreme Court rules that Paula Jones can pursue her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton while he is in office. It will eventually cost Clinton $850,000 to settle the case...
10.1998] Guilty as charged: The government’s star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing case, Michael Fortier is sentenced to 12 years in prison for not apologizing for not warning anyone about the deadly plot...


Music Memories:
1957] Released on this date: "That'll Be The Day" - Buddy Holly & The Crickets ...1962] "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" LP...


Commentary:
Art Linkletter started his career in radio in the 40's but will mostly be remembered for hosting such highly rated television shows as House Party, Kids Say The Darndest Things and People Are Funny. There was no one better at interviewing kids, which led to a successful series of books quoting children. In his autobiography, Confessions of a Happy Man (1960) he revealed that he had had no contact with his natural parents or his sister or two brothers since being abandoned in Canada when just a few weeks old. Linkletter was adopted by Mary and Fulton John Linkletter and later moved to the United States. Linkletter died yesterday two months before his 98th birthday. No cause of death was given...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Jamie Oliver
(35), Jack ('30 Rock') McBrayer (37), Todd Bridges (45), Peri Gilpin (49), Bruce Weitz (67), Cilla Black (67), Louis Gossett Jr. (74), Lee Meriwether (75), Ramsey Lewis (75), Sumner Redstone (87) and Henry Kissinger (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until Memorial Day, 9 days until the Belmont Stakes, 24 days until Fathers' Day and 25 days until summer...




Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Renaissance Man Smulyan Goes Private...

When asked why he's taking his company, Emmis Communications private, here's how Founder, Chairman/CEO Jeff Smulyan responded: "Because I would rather be private than public if it's humanly possible. It's hard to be a public broadcasting entity these days. Wall Street doesn't love us. They don't love radio, they certainly don't love newspapers and magazines." Smulyan got his wish with the announcement that Emmis has signed a definitive merger agreement under which his new company JS Acquisitions, will take the company private. Smulyan who expanded Emmis Communications into the broadcast TV business in 1998 only to disband it all just a few years later, recently predicted that radio is about to experience a renaissance...
Smulyan explained his renaissance prediction by saying that "People are going to realize that the terrestrial distribution mechanism is an incredibly efficient distribution system. The thing we have in radio that we don't have in TV is, we have that one-to-everyone link that's efficient. There's no filters, there's no third party, there's no satellite, there's no cable." One of Smulyan's goals is to get FM receivers in all mobile devices, "It's pretty much becoming ubiquitous around the world. There have probably been a billion cell phones sold around the world with radios in them. We're making great progress here, having gotten great interest from the FCC and Congress about the issue." ...
Smulyan's attempt to take Emmis private won't go unchallenged. When making his plans known in April, at least half a dozen law firms were planning to investigate the impact on shareholders, and two suits have been filed, claiming the share price (the cash tender is $2.40 a share for common stock and an exchange offer of notes due 2017 for preferred stock) is too low. Shares at closing yesterday were $2.14 per share...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1868] Acquittal: President Andrew Johnson is acquitted (by 1 vote) of all charges in his impeachment trial...
2.1896] How now Dow Jones?: The Dow is published for the 1st time with the average price of the 11 initial stocks at $40.94, a bloody fortune in 1896...
3.1959] Wake me up before you throw-throw: The word "Frisbee" becomes a registered trademark of Wham-O...
4.1959] No one's perfect: Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitches 12 perfect innings but loses in the 13th on the 1st hit he gives up - a Joe Adcock home run...
5.1972] Can you pass the SALT?: SALT 1 is signed by the U.S. and USSR putting a freeze on the testing and deployment of land and sub based ICBMs and ballistic missiles for 5 years...
6.1977] Who needs Spiderman: George H. Willig is arrested after he scales the South Tower of the WTC in 3 1/2 hours (or about the time it takes to get crosstown)...
7.1978] You can bet on it: The first legal casino in the eastern U.S. opens in Atlantic City...
8.1994] And somewhere Elvis is kvelling: Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley secretly wed in the Dominican Republic. They divorce 19 months later. I wish they would've kept it a secret from us...
9.1998] Now you tell us: The Supreme Court rules that Ellis Island, historic gateway for millions of immigrants, is mainly in New Jersey, not New York...
10.2004] Guilty as charged: Terry Nichols is found guilty of 161 state murder charges for helping carry out the Oklahoma City bombing. He receives 161 consecutive life sentences. Not enough for that crime...

Music Memories:
1959] #1 on this date: "The Battle of New Orleans" - Johnny Horton...1970] "Everything is Beautiful" - Ray Stevens...1980] "Funkytown" - Lipps, Inc...
1965] On Shindig!: The Rolling Stones, Jackie DeShannon, Sonny & Cher and Jimmy Rodgers...
1973] Released on this date: "Smoke On The Water" - Deep Purple...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Lenny Kravitz (46), Bobcat Goldthwait (48), 'Miami Vice's' Philip Michael Thomas (61), Hank Williams Jr. (61), Stevie Nicks (62), Levon Helm (70), Brent Musburger (71) and James Arness (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Memorial Day, 10 days until the Belmont Stakes, 25 days until Father's Day & 26 days until summer...




Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Old Media Should Be Paying Attention To New Media...

A new Pew Research study shows that while new media still relies on old media for information, mainstream news outlets didn't "follow new media's agenda." Mainstream would do well to do so. Pew found only one story, the controversy related to emails from climate change researchers, that was a major story first on the blogs before it later gained more attention from traditional media. Pew Center's deputy director, Amy Mitchell believes that "As social media sites and tools continue to evolve, so too will the interplay among new and traditional outlets and citizen's relationship to the news." The study found that blogs in particular still rely on traditional news sources such as newspapers and broadcast news outlets for their information. More than 99% of the stories linked to on blogs came from traditional news sources, with 80% of those links coming from the BBC, CNN, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Only 50% of Twitter Tweets were linked to "legacy" sources...

The Pew study found the three types of new media differed in their news agendas, with blogs - evenly split among conservatives and liberals, "gravitating toward stories that elicited emotion, concerned individual or group rights or triggered ideological passion." Twitter posts tended to focus on passing on important information, while YouTube users engaging not through comments but through selection and sharing" of videos, according to the center. The study covered the news linked to millions of blogs and social media pages tracked by Icerocket and Technorati for one year starting in January 19, 2009 and ending on January 15, 2010, and also studied YouTube's news channel videos during the same period. It examined news stories linked to in Tweets and monitored from June 15, 2009 through January 15, 2010...

While the results of this Pew study are valuable, it doesn't take an elaborate research project to find the pulse of social websites. It's pure emotion. People are more candid on social nets then they are face-to-face. Bloggers, for the most part - have an agenda while social network users are consumed with passing on their own personal information, whether you care to share it or not. This includes ego-driven celebrities, too. Quotes from sports stars made on social networks often appear in newspapers and magazines. As the line between traditional media news and new media news becomes thinner, instead of just plugging their social network links, radio and TV should also be reading public blogs and checking the social links for stories...


10 Timeline Memories...

1.1925] Guilty as charged: John T. Scopes is indicted in Tennessee for teaching 'Darwin's theory of evolution'...
2.1935] Bye bye Bab(e)y: Babe Ruth hits his 714th and final home run as a member of the Boston Braves. The blast reportedly traveled more than 600 feet...
3.1951] Say Hey: Future Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays debuts with the New York Giants...
4.1961] To the moon Alice: President John F. Kennedy asks America to work toward putting a man on the moon...
5.1969] Everybody's Talking: "Midnight Cowboy" premieres in New York City. Ron Lundy's voice is heard in this clip...
6.1978] Eclipse of the moon: Keith Moon plays with The Who for the last time. In September he will OD at 32...
7.1979] Tragedy at O'Hare: An American Airlines DC-10 crashes on takeoff from O'Hare International in Chicago killing all 271 on board and 2 on the ground...
8.1986] Put your hand in the hand: An estimated 7 million people form a line for "Hands Across America" to raise money for the nation's hungry and homeless...
9.1992] He's baaack: Jay Leno debuts as the new host of NBC-TV's "Tonight Show", succeeding Johnny Carson...
10.2006] Gotcha: Former Enron Corp. chiefs Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling are convicted of conspiracy and fraud for the company's downfall. Skilling is sentenced to 24 years in prison; Lay died before he could be sentenced...

Music Memories:

1962] Released on this date: "Twist and Shout" - Isley Brothers...1968] "Jumping Jack Flash" - Rolling Stones...
1969] Recorded on this date: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" -Hollies...
1975] #1 on this date: "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" - Freddy Fender...1983] "Flashdance...What a Feeling" - Irene Cara...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Anne Heche (41), Mike Myers (47), Karen Valentine (63), Leslie Uggams (67), Jessi Colter (67), Tom T. Hall (74), Cookie Gilchrist (75), K.C. Jones (78) and Hal David (89)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Memorial Day, 11 days until the Belmont Stakes, 26 days until Father's Day & 27 days until summer...

Monday, May 24, 2010

Unpaid Performance Royalty Millions Pile Up...

The recent announcement by Digital Music News that $200 million in unpaid performance royalty money is piling up has been confirmed by SoundExhange. Besides being an embarrassment for SoundExchange, what does it say about properly dispersing performance royalties? SoundExchange is designated by the Librarian of Congress as the sole organization authorized to collect royalties paid by services required to 'pay for play' music by performers. SoundExhange is also designated by the U.S. Copyright Office to distribute collected royalties to copyright owners and performers entitled to those royalties. So why is there $200 million collecting dust and possibly interest in the coffers of SoundExhange???

Most of the $200 million "highlights the problems this organization is facing locating performing artists" according to Digital Music News. The problem, SoundExhange says, is in part caused by the booming popularity of online radio. "The whole industry is increasing year-over-year", says SoundExchange executive Laura Williams. "We're just part of, or more accurately a reflection of, that explosion." SoundExhange was questioned why services like Pandora have to pay "such heavy royalties if the money ends up in a holding tank, with large amounts undistributed?" Pandora reportedly spent $30 million of their $50 million revenues in 2009 on royalties. Pandora founder Tim Westergren defended SoundExchange saying that "As a musician myself, that musicians need to step up here. I don't think SoundExchange is trying to hold on to money. It's just remarkably hard to get musicians to take the initiative." ...

At least one attorney reviewing the situation noted that "any non-profit (which SoundExchange is) carrying more than $200 million on its books has a serious problem." Here are the questions I have for SoundExchange: 1) If the $200 million is gaining interest is the amount of interest deducted from future payments?, 2) What happens to unpaid royalties that for one reason or another cannot be disbursed?, 3) Can you devise a better system of making royalty disbursements? (If not) 4) why should you continue be authorized by Congress to collect performance royalties???


10 Timeline Memories...

1.1844] Debuted on this date: Samuel Morse transmits the message: "What hath God wrought?" from Washington to Baltimore as he opens America's 1st telegraph line. His assistant, Alfred Vail who receives the message says: "Huh?"...
2.1883] Happy 127th: The Brooklyn Bridge opens to the public...
3.1935] Let there be light: Cincinnati and Philadelphia play the 1st major league night game with the Reds on top 2-1. FDR pushes a button in Washington to turn the lights on...
4.1958] Wedding Bells: UPI is formed by a merger of United Press and the International News Service...
5.1974] The curtain comes down: The last "Dean Martin Show" airs on NBC-TV after a run of 9 years. This is a clip containing bloopers of one of Dino's shows...
6.1974] "Happy Trails": Jazz great Duke Ellington passes away from pneumonia and lung cancer. Sir Duke was 75...
7.1987] Like father, like son: Al Unser, Sr. wins his 4th Indy 500 at the age of 47. Four years later, same date in 1991, Al Unser, Jr. wins it, making junior the first, second-generation winner...
8.1988] Recordbreakingtalk: John Moschittasetsarecordforfasttalkingwith586wordsperminute...
9.1994] Guilty as charged: Four men are convicted of bombing the World Trade Center in 1993. Each receives a sentence of 240 years in prison and a free ticket to burn in hell...
10.2000] Slaughter House: Five are killed, two wounded when 2 gunmen enter a Wendy's in Flushing. The gunmen tie up the victims in the basement and shoot them. This was one of the most heinous crimes in New York City history...

Music Memories:

1969] Lip syncing on 'American Bandstand': The Guess Who do "These Eyes" and "Laughing"...
1974] On "Midnight Special": Richard Pryor hosts musical guests Olivia Newton-John and Boz Scaggs...
1964] #1 on this date: "Love Me Do" - The Beatles...1969] "Get Back" - The Beatles... 1975] "Shining Star" - Earth, Wind & Fire...1984] "Let's Hear It For The Boy" - Deniece Williams...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Rich Appel (53), Roseanne Cash (55), Priscilla Presley (65), Patti LaBelle aka Patricia Holt (66), Gary ('Radar' of *M*A*S*H) Burghoff (67), Bob Dylan (69) and Tommy Chong (72)...

Timeline Countdown: 7 days until Memorial Day, 12 days until the Belmont Stakes, 27 days until Father's Day and 28 days until summer...


Friday, May 21, 2010

NPR Leads Radio In New Media Growth...

(Weekend Edition)...
They may be National Public Radio, depend on grants and public donations to survive but no website is as thoroughly complete as NPR's. They'll find any NPR station you're looking for, offer newsletters, podcasts, mobile, RSS feeds, widgets and more and then tell you what and how to get it. It's not the flashiest but is the most complete website you'll find. Not only do they have the most functional website in radio, they also lead the medium in new media growth. Five years ago, NPR entered the digital age with podcasts. According to the head of NPR Digital Media, Robert Spier, the lessons NPR learned provided the jumping off point for later content dissemination and engagement via the mobile web and mobile application. "We started podcasting at the right moment - we couldn't have timed it better"...

NPR didn't stop there. They built off the success of podcasting, moved into mobile technology to reach out to their current audience while attracting new listeners. They launched NPR Mobile in the summer of 2007 in an experimental partnership with ten member stations. NPR has since diversified its mobile strategy with apps. The NPR iPhone app had 1 million downloads in its first month. All the apps are free to users. Digital media like NPR's core operations are funded through underwriters and donations. Some of the local stations choose to charge but the nation-wide service is free...

It's ironic that Radio Advertising Bureau President Jeff Haley just told the BIA/Kelsey Digital Strategies for Broadcasting conference "Explode your brand, explode your content into as many places as possible. To me, this is a very exciting time in radio. We are coming back from the abyss." You mean like NPR has already done Jeff???

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1927] Touchdown: Charles A. Lindbergh lands his “Spirit of St. Louis” near Paris completing the first solo flight across the Atlantic (5/21)…
2.1934] They're young, they're in love and they kill people: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are shot and killed in an ambush set up by former Texas Ranger Frank Hamer (5/23)...
3.1960] Musical call letters: WRCA changes call letters back to WNBC (5/23). To whoever was responsible: Thank you. On October 7, 1988, WNBC signs off forever...
4.1968] Buried at sea: The nuclear powered submarine USS Scorpion with 99 men aboard is heard from for the last time. The remains of the sub are later found on the ocean floor 400 miles southwest of the Azores (5/21)…
5.1977] Rounding second and heading for third: Seattle Slew wins The Preakness Stakes and will become the first of two consecutive Triple Crown winners (Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner, wins in 1978) when he wins the Belmont Stakes in June (5/21)...
6.1979] Guilty as charged: Former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White is convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting deaths of mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk. Believe it or not, White uses the “Twinkie” defense, claiming that junk food fueled his rampage (5/21)…
7.1980] Wedding Bells: Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue swap "I Do's" (5/22). They're still happily married...
8.1990] Just a dream, just a dream: Bob Newhart closes out his “Newhart” series by waking up Emily (his TV wife played by Suzanne Pleshette) and realizing that his new series about his life as an innkeeper was a dream. It’s the final first-run episode of the series that ran 8 seasons (5/21)…
9.1992] One more for the road: Johnny Carson hosts his final "Tonight Show" with Bette Midler singing to him (5/22). Johnny started hosting the show on October 2, 1962...
10.2002] Once was lost, now is found: The remains of Chandra Levy are found in a Washington (DC) park (5/22). California Congressman Gary Condit is questioned because of his personal relationship with the intern but is never charged with the crime...

Music Memories:

1955] Recorded on this date: Chess Records new artist Chuck Berry records his 1st single, "Ida Red". During the session Leonard Chess changes the title to "Maybelline" (5/21)...
1961] #1 on this date: "Mother-In-Law" - Ernie K-Doe (5/22)...1966] "When A Man Loves A Woman" - Percy Sledge (although Michael Bolton tops the charts in 1991 with his version, Percy's is still the best (5/22)...1972] "Oh Girl" - Chi-Lites (Paul Young would cover this song years later with a very good version but there's nothing like the original one (5/22)...
1966] Released on this date: "Paperback Writer/Rain" - Beatles (5/23)...1971] "Ram" LP - Paul McCartney (5/21)...
2002] Celebrate good times, c'mon: American Bandstand celebrates its 50th anniversary (5/23)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (5/21) Lisa (Cuddy on "House") Edelstein (44), Mr. T, a.k.a. Lawrence Tero Tureaud (58), Al Franken (59), Leo Sayer (62), Marcie Blane (66), Ronnie Isley (69) the lead singer of the Isley Brothers & Ara Parseghian (87)...(5/22) Naomi Campbell (40), Mike Breen (49), Bernie Taupin (60), Bernard Shaw (70), Richard Benjamin (72), Peter Nero (76), Charles Aznavour (86) and Judith Crist (88)...(5/23) Jewel (Kilcher) (36), Drew Carey (52), Mitch Albom (52), Buck Showalter (54), Marvelous Marvin Hagler (58), General aka Norman Johnson (67), Joan Collins (77), Barbara Barrie (79) and Betty Garrett (91)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until Memorial Day, 15 days until the Belmont Stakes, 30 days until Father's Day & 31 days until summer...

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Radio Can Monetize Their Audiences With Video...

Radio is getting it's pants beaten off by new media. Radio hasn't been considered new media in about 80 years yet there's no reason it can't tap into digital era revenue. While year-over-year online video viewership fell 0.2% to 133.5 million unique viewers in April 2010, month-over-month is up 1.3% from March 2010 to April 2010. There's no reason to believe that April 2010 total video streams of 9.4 billion will stop growing. They were up 1.6% during the month. Nielsen supplied the figures and they have more to dispense...

If you're wondering who's got the top online brands ranked by unique viewers look no further than YouTube, circling the field with 97.1 million. Yahoo is next with 27.5 million, followed by Facebook with 24.2 million. Then there's the rest of the field. YouTube is number one in video streams with 4.9 billion. Hulu is number two with 687.8 million. If you're looking to tap into new media revenue, don't go any deeper than YouTube, Yahoo!, Facebook and Hulu. That means offering all 4 websites on your website and selling ads to support them...

Another report from Nielsen shows that online advertising declined for the first time last year, yet online video advertising grew 41%, reaching $1 billion. Nielsen projects growth of another 41% this year. Reasons given for video advertising's rapid growth are it's easy for advertisers to understand and measure and for publishers to use. It's time for radio to tap into that advertising revenue stream...


10 Timeline Memories:

1.1873] Truly riveting: Levi Strauss receives a patent for using rivets to strengthen the pockets of the jeans he manufactures…
2.1899] Pedal to the metal: Jacob Erman of New York City becomes the first U.S. driver to be arrested for speeding. He exceeded the 12 MPH speed limit. Now here's one lucky speeder who got away...
3.1916] Solid as a Rockwell: Norman Rockwell's artwork, “Mother’s Day Off” appears on the first cover of “The Saturday Evening Post”…
4.1927] Lucky Lindy: Charles Lindbergh takes off from Long Island’s Roosevelt Field to cross the Atlantic en route to Paris aboard “The Spirit of St. Louis“…
5.1932] Also winging it: Amelia Earhart takes off to fly solo across the Atlantic becoming the first woman to achieve the feat…1939] Pan Am begins regular service from New York when a “Yankee Clipper” takes off from the harbor in Port Washington (LI)…
6.1976] Red Sox-Yankees duke it out: Carl Yastrzemski hits 2 home runs, giving him 5 in 2 games, an ML record in an 8-2 Red Sox win over the Yankees as a melee breaks out resulting in Bill Lee injuring his pitching arm. The fight starts when Lou Piniella barrels into catcher Carlton Fisk. Lee, “The Spaceman” will never fully recover…
7.1977] Beatlemania breaks out: The musical “Beatlemania” opens at the Winter Garden Theater in Manhattan…
8.1989] ‘Happy Trails’: SNL comedian Gilda Radner dies from cervical cancer at 42… 9.1993] Curtains: “Cheers” closes its doors for the final time with 40% of the population or nearly 100 million watching at home...
10.2008] Bad news for Teddy: Senator Edward Kennedy, D-MA, is diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor...


Music Memories:
1967] Signed, sealed, delivered: Jimi Hendrix signs his 1st contract with Reprise Records...
1971] Released on this date: "What's Going On" LP - Marvin Gaye...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
David Wells (47), Gov. David Paterson (56), comedian Dave Thomas (61), Cher (64) and Joe Cocker (66)...

Timeline Countdown: 11 days until Memorial Day, 31 days until Father's Day & 32 until summer...


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Digital Ad Spending Shows Serious Growth...

The digital era hit us like a ton of bricks. Revenue invested in supporting this digital age we live in has taken much longer. It now appears that digital ad spending is catching up in a hurry, according to eMarketer which has just revised its forecast to predict a steeper increase of nearly 11% for US online ad spending in 2010, which follows a drop of 3.4% last year. US spending on online ads will reach $25.1 billion, up from $22.7 billion. eMarketer's previous prediction in December, was for 5.5% growth. Brand marketers realize they need to engage their target audiences where they spend time and that's becoming more and more - digital. And where is that advertising support going???

US online ad spending growth, by format on a 5-year projection (2009-2014) shows Video leading the way. In 2009, 38.6% of advertisers put their product behind video clips while banner ads (3.8%) and search (1.4%) were the only other formats to have positive growth numbers. In 2014, a 4th format (lead generation) is expected to be second with 7.4% to video's 33% format...

BIA/Kelsey is also recognizing the shift to digital ad spending: "While traditional media currently dominates the local ad market, a steady shift to digital will continue over the next five years." Fisher Communications CEO Colleen Brown wisely told a BIA/Kelsey conference yesterday: "We need to be able to sell everything from a $60,000 television spot to a $35 directory listing. It's OK to roll up nickels -- they're adding up." Finally, here's my advice to radio stations with websites - have you included television on your homepage yet???

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1536] Heads, you lose: Anne Boleyn, second wife of England’s King Henry VIII is beheaded after being convicted of adultery. Peter Noone left that part out of his hit…
2.1921] The more things change: Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act which establishes national quotas for immigrants…
3.1960] This King is dethroned: Alan Freed is arrested with 7 others on suspicion of commercial bribery. Freed refused to sign an affidavit in 1959 denying he had accepted payola. Although payola was not yet a crime, Freed is charged with 26 counts of commercial bribery but escapes with just a fine. His career, however, is ruined…
4.1962] Happy Birthday Mr. President: Marilyn Monroe performs a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday” for President John F. Kennedy with Jackie by his side during a fund raiser at Madison Square Garden…
5.1969] Debuted on this date: Six-year old Jodie Foster makes her show business debut on “Mayberry R.F.D.”…1999] “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" premieres and sets a new record for opening day sales at 28.5 million…2005] “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” almost doubles the original movie with 50 million on opening day…
6.1973] Big Red: The great Secretariat, winner of the Kentucky Derby, wins the Preakness by 2 1/2 lengths. In three weeks, perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of all-time will run away with the Belmont Stakes...
7.1992] Veep Speak: Vice President Dan Quayle criticizes “Murphy Brown” because the title character has a baby out of wedlock…
8.1992] Taking a bullet for Joey: Mary Joe Buttafuoco is shot in the head and seriously wounded by her husband Joey’s teenager lover, Amy Fisher
9.1994] ‘Happy Trails’: Former first-lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis passes away from cancer at 64…

10.1994] Curtains: We say goodbye to “L.A. Law” which ends it’s 8-year run...

Music Memories:

1958] Released on this date: "Splish Splash" - Bobby Darin (released as the 1st 8-track master recording pressed on a plastic 45-RPM disc)...1973] "Kodachrome" - Paul Simon...

1960] Recorded on this date: "Save The Last Dance For Me" - The Drifters...
1965] #1 on this date: The Beatles top the charts with "Ticket To Ride", their first single to feature Paul McCartney on lead guitar...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Kevin Garnett (34), Grace Jones (62), Pete Townshend (65), Nora Ephron (69), Nancy Kwan (71), David Hartman (75) and Jim Lehrer (76)...

Timeline Countdown: 12 days until Memorial Day, 32 days until Father's Day & 33 days until summer...


















Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Christmas Comes Early For Citadel...

"The debtor has met the burden of confirmation." With those words, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Burton Lifland made Citadel CEO Farid Suleman a happy man. Shareholders of the company didn't buy the judge's ruling, saying the company is worth more than executives and bankers say it is. The judge agreed with the bank and the executives, called Suleman "very credible in his testimony" - good night and good luck. Citadel is now out of bankruptcy and $762.5 million in bailout money richer. Holders of $2.14 billion of secured debt will gain 90% of the shares of the reorganized company, holders of unsecured claims will receive the remaining 10% of the stock and $36 million in cash. Equity holders will receive 0% or bupkus as they used to say in my old neighborhood...

This was a case where the judge sided with Suleman's people who argued that Citadel's worth was lower than the $2.6 billion shareholders testified to. "We're glad it's over and we can get on with running the company" - Farid Suleman. That company owns 224 radio stations in cities that include New York and Chicago and distributes programming to 4,000 stations. The largest radio station owner in the U.S. is Clear Channel Communications Inc. and the second-largest is CBS Corp's radio unit...

The other key to the judge's decision was not allowing opponents of the plan to have an expert witness testify on the Citadel valuation, agreeing with Citadel that the proposed witness wasn't an expert in broadcasting. When the shareholders tried to stall for time while they came up with new expert testimony, the judge had seen enough Perry Mason episodes to put an end to that. Case closed...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1631] This I swear: John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts...
2.1897] The Count begins: A public reading of Bram Stoker's new novel "Dracula" or "The Un-dead" is staged in London...
3.1934] No kidding around: Congress approves the “Lindbergh Act” making kidnapping a capital offense…
4.1951] Move on: The United Nations moves out of its temporary headquarters in Lake Success (NY) for its permanent home in Manhattan. Those of us who live in Manhattan would like it to move back...
5.1980] Blowing its top: The Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington State explodes, leaving 57 dead or missing...
6.1995] ‘Happy Trails’: Elizabeth Montgomery, star of “Bewitched” passes away from colorectal cancer at 62…
7.1998] Guilty as charged: The federal government files a sweeping antitrust case against Microsoft Corporation...
8.1998] Curtains: "Murphy Brown" starring Candice Bergen ends its 10-year run...
9.2003] Miserable news: "Les Miserables", the third-longest running show in Broadway history, closes after more than 16 years and 6,680 performances. Susan Boyle revives it thanks to her hit...
10.2004] Perfecto: Arizona’s Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher, at 40, to pitch a perfect game, against Atlanta…

Music Memories:

1968] Released on this date: Formerly a #1 hit for the immortal Nick Lucas in 1929, "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" is released by Tiny Tim. It will reach the top 20...
1959] #1 on this date: "Kansas City" - Wilbert Harrison...1960] "Cathy's Clown" - Everly Brothers... 1963] "If You Wanna Be Happy" - Jimmy Soul...1969] "Get Back" - The Beatles...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Tina Fey (40), George Strait (58), Rick Wakeman (61), Reggie Jackson (64), Albert Hammond (66), Dwayne ("Dobie Gillis") Hickman (76), Jack Whitaker (86) and Bill ("Maude") Macy (88)...

Timeline Countdown: 13 days until Memorial Day, 33 days until Father's Day & 34 days until Summer...


Monday, May 17, 2010

ASCAP Gets Slapped For It's Greed...

That two-year old court case that ended in defeat for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) should be a precedent-setting decision made in uncharted waters. The disagreement was based on whether mobile should generate more revenue than other traditional media, like radio or TV. When ASCAP was challenged about the $41 million tab they imposed on MobiTV for 8 years of mobile royalties, a New York U.S. District Court Judge ruled in favor of MobiTV and found that mobile is like any other delivery technology from cable TV to satellite. That $41 million has shrunk to a more manageable $300,000. MobiTV CFO Bill Losch is pleased with the court's decision: "I think from our perspective we definitely feel we should pay a fair price, but what ASCAP was proposing was not only out of the realm of possibility, it was also a completely different model than the accepted model. We are a leader in the space as far as content aggregation, and we felt it was important for them to establish a precedent." Am I the only one who sees more precedent establishing decisions on the horizon???

Where ASCAP went wrong was asking for a higher royalty rate and off of a different revenue base that was much larger. A traditional cable operator normally pays different rates for different content, typically a fraction of a percent. ASCAP proposed charging rates based on what the end-user pays in subscription feeds, not what MobiTV was paying for the content. That was a much larger revenue base. Based on those two factors alone the fees were drastically different. What ASCAP was doing was making up their own rules, which doesn't work unless your name is Gordon Gekko...

Since everything is negotiable and there is no rate rulebook for royalties, the ASCAP v MobiTV case will be played out again and again. Only the names of the litigant and defendant will change...

Timeline Memories...

1.1792] NYSE sighting: The New York Stock Exchange is founded by a couple of dozen brokers meeting under a tree on what is now Wall Street. They were probably out of work. This is what they created...
2.1846] Safe Sax: The saxophone is patented by Antoine Joseph Sax...
3.1875] Derby 1st: Aristides wins the 1st Kentucky Derby...
4.1939] Peanuts, popcorn, Cracker Jacks and TV?: Princeton beats Columbia 2-1 in 10 innings at Baker Field in the 1st televised baseball game on experimental W2XBS. This was the New York Times review: "It is difficult to see how this sort of thing can catch the public fancy" (gulp)...
5.1970] Hammerin' Hank: Henry Aaron singles and homers in a game against the Reds giving him 3,000 hits and 570 home runs. Only two other players have had 3,000 hits and 500 or more home runs: Willie Mays and Eddie Murray. Barry Bonds fell 65 hits shy of that mark...
6.1973] Scandalous: The Senate begins hearings into the Watergate scandal...
7.1983] Getting out the broom: The Islanders sweep Edmonton in 4 games to win their 4th consecutive NHL Stanley Cup. Only Montreal has done better, winning 5 in a row (1956-1960)...
8.1992] "Happy Trails": Bandleader Lawrence Welk dies of pneumonia at 89...2004] Tony Randall passes away at 84 of complications brought about by pneumonia...
9.1996] This one's for Megan: Bill Clinton signs legislation authorizing "Megan's Law", named for 7-year old Megan Kanka from New Jersey who was raped and killed in 1994. This law requires neighborhood notification when sex offenders move in to a neighborhood...
10.1998] Perfecto: David Wells pitches a perfect game as the Yankees beat Minnesota at Yankee Stadium. It's just the 13th perfecto in the modern era of baseball...

Music Memories:

1963] On the way to Monterrey: Joan Baez headlines the 1st Monterrey Folk Festival. The festival also features: Bob Dylan, making his west coast debut, Peter, Paul and Mary and The Weavers...
1973] Released on this date: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" - Stevie Wonder...1975] "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" LP - Elton John (the LP is certified Gold when it ships)...1975] "I'm Not In Love" - 10cc...
1974] #1 on this date: "The Streak" - Ray Stevens. Boog-uh-dee, Boog-uh-dee...1983] "Let's Dance" - David Bowie...
1980] On "Saturday Night Live": Paul and Linda McCartney are the musical guests...

Commentary:
A tribute to Shadoe Stevens will take place on Tuesday, June 15th at the Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles. The tribute will feature 'Federated Group' Commercials Best Of & Shadoevision. One of the most berserk, outrageous and unforgettable TV comedies of the 1980's doled out thirty seconds at a time will be featured along with other wacky delights. Shadoe Stevens will play a mime playing Shadoe Stevens. For more information and a free translation of the tribute, call 323-655-2510 or go to http://www.cinefamily.org/ ...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Craig Ferguson (48), Enya (49), Sportscaster Jim Nantz (51), Bob Saget (54), Sugar Ray Leonard (54), Taj Mahal aka Henry St. Clair Fredericks (68) and Dennis Hopper (74)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 days until Memorial Day,, 34 days until Father's Day & 35 days until summer...



Friday, May 14, 2010

Terrestrial Radio Ad Rates Are Up Despite Downturn...

(Weekend Edition)

This is not a 'buyer beware' sales market for terrestrial radio. While radio stations raise their rates, only 16% of media buyers questioned, believes that internet and satellite radio represents a major threat to traditional radio. There's some wisdom behind that surprising belief. Many media people believe that internet, satellite and HD have small, devoted audiences and "those people inclined to listen to them have already switched over." The Media Life survey showed that many respondents feel that those other services have already had an impact on traditional radio. The big concern now is in-car penetration from Pandora, internet and satellite...

While 2009 was a rotten year for terrestrial radio sales, 34% of those polled in an Inside Radio Survey report have raised their rates from 1% to 4% higher. One-quarter of respondents increased their rates 5% to 7% higher and 21% say rates are up 8% or more. Only 17% kept their rates flat. There's a reason for the great majority of stations raising their rates. The belief is that many clients never left radio but spent less last year. Many broadcasters believe the goal isn't bringing advertisers back but instead, getting them to spend more and use that pressure on inventory to raise rates higher...

It sounds good on paper, anyway...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1602] If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air: Bartholomew Gosnold, an English explorer known as “The Columbus of New England”, discovers Cape Cod (our favorite spot in N.E.) (5/15)…
2.1888] Not Cousin Brucie: Emile Berliner becomes the first radio disc jockey when his voice is heard on a flat disc demo (5/16)...
3.1904] Truly Olympic: The first U.S. Olympics is launched in St. Louis (5/14)…
4.1941] The Streaker: Joe DiMaggio goes 1-for-4 and starts his 56-consecutive game hitting streak (5/15). This is an untouchable record...
5.1948] The state of Independence: Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaims the independent state of Israel as British rule in Palestine comes to an end (5/14)…
6.1957] At the Copa: A brawl breaks out at the 29th birthday party for Billy Martin at the Copacabana (5/16). Billy, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Johnny Kucks, Hank Bauer and assorted spouses take part in the melee. Lots of fines are handed down and in four weeks Billy Martin wears a Kansas City uniform...
7.1972] A campaign comes to a tragic end: Democratic would-be presidential nominee George C. Wallace is shot and paralyzed by gunman Arthur Bremer while campaigning in Laurel (MD) (5/15)…
8.1998] ‘Happy Trails’: Pop icon Frank Sinatra passes away, his way, at 82 following a heart attack (5/14)…
9.1998] Seinfeld farewell: The finale of “Seinfeld” airs after 9 years on NBC-TV (5/14)...
10.2002] Finding a pearl: The remains of kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, 38, are found (5/16) and will be returned to his wife...

Music Memories:

  • 1965] On American Bandstand: Jackie DeShannon ("What The World Needs Now Is Love" (This clip is from 'Shindig!) and The Ronettes ("Be My Baby") I'm not sure where this live version came from (5/15)...
  • 1970] Released on this date: "Ohio" - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (10 days after Kent State (5/14)...1966] "Pet Sounds" LP - The Beach Boys (5/16)...

    "Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (5/14) Amber Tamblyn (27), Cate Blanchett (41), Suzy Kolber (46), David Byrne (58), George Lucas (66), Jack (Cream) Bruce (67) and Patrice Munsel (85)...(5/15) Soprano daughter Meadow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler (29), ESPN's Dan Patrick (54), George Brett (57), Chazz Palminteri (58), Lainie Kazan (70), Trini Lopez (73), Madeleine Albright (73) and Anna Maria Alberghetti (74)...(5/16) Tori Spelling (37), David ("Bones") Boreanaz (41), Tucker Carlson (41), Janet Jackson (44), Mare Winningham (51), Debra Winger (55), Olga Korbut (55), Pierce Brosnan (57)...

    Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Memorial Day, 37 days until Father's Day & 38 days until summer...
  • Thursday, May 13, 2010

    Car Radio Listeners Get Another App...

    In-car radio listening continues to expand with another player joining the fight for supremacy. Livio Car Internet Radio is a new iPhone app, developed specifically to be used for in-car listening. While giving consumers over 42,000 AM/FM internet-only radio stations via Radio Time radio service, you'll also be able to listen to your favorite local station by using your GPS location to track local stations and listen to them in digital quality. The cost is reasonable with the app priced at $4.99. Livio comes complete with social features to allow you to share your favorite stations with friends through Twitter & Facebook as all good apps must...

    Livio will not deliver advertising. 28-year old company founder Jake Sigal explains: "Even though Pandora has a free app you still have Pandora advertising. So one end of spectrum is free, which is what Pandora is doing and on the other is XM and Sirius where you pay $12.99 a month. Pandora provides great customized music, but doesn't provide live and local, we're doing that, we're doing that with a one-time use fee. We think that's fair. We thought about doing a free version that's ad supported but visual ads are unsafe while driving." It's interesting to note that Livio, founded in 2008 developed its app to let users listen to Pandora and NPR in-home...

    While there will be other radio apps added to in-car listening, what's becoming clear is that the major players will be providing thousands of internet radio station choices, the better to compete with Sirius XM, Pandora and local, public & network radio stations. I believe it will take internet radio some time to establish itself in order to catch up with Pandora & Sirius XM. When they do, internet will become part of the big 3 in-car listening sources with terrestrial radio trailing the field. And down the stretch they come...

    10 Timeline Memories:

    1.1607] That’s settled: The English colony at Jamestown (VA) is settled. It will be founded the following day…
    2.1846] There goes the Cinco de Mayo celebration: The U.S. declares that a state of war exists against Mexico…
    3.1929] It’s a numbers game: When the Indians beat the Yankees 4-3 in Cleveland, it marks the first game to feature numbers on the backs of the players…
    4.1940] Churchillian: Winston Churchill tells the British House of Commons: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” in his first speech as prime minister. So how come the group wasn’t called ‘Blood, Toil, Tears & Sweat’??? Just asking…
    5.1976] The Doctor makes a house call: Led by Dr. J, the New York Nets win their second ABA title with a thrilling come-from-behind (they trailed by 22 with 17 minutes left) victory over Denver at the Nassau Coliseum in the last ABA game. After this game the ABA becomes part of the NBA…
    6.1981] The Pope takes a bullet: Pope John II is shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter’s Square by Turkish assailant Mehmet Ali Agca
    7.1985] Wedding Bells: Bruce Springsteen and Julianne Phillips rock down the aisle. Bruce is on fire. They will separate in 1989 and then divorce…
    8.1993] Elite company: One day before his 40th birthday, George Brett becomes only the 6th player with 300 (or more) home runs and 3,000 hits. The historic ball is picked up by a fan on a veteran’s hospital outing. The fan is blind. True!!!
    9.2000] Rickey released: The Mets release Rickey Henderson after he fails to hustle and turns a double into a single. He was also hitting .219 with no home runs at the time…
    10.2007] ‘Happy Trails’: Bill Todd aka Johnny Williams, former WRKO disc jockey passes away from Lou Gehrig’s disease...


    Music Memories:

    1966] Recorded on this date: "Sunny Afternoon" - The Kinks...1970] Badfinger begins recording "No Matter What"...
    1970] Debuted on this date: The Beatles movie "Let It Be" premieres in New York...1977] Dolly Parton makes her New York City debut at The Bottom Line...
    1977] Mira Que Linda: Linda Ronstadt denies reports that she was offered $1 million to be photographed nude for a Hustler centerfold...


    "Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

    Darius (Hootie) Rucker (44), Sean McDonough (44), Dennis Rodman (49), Bobby Valentine (60), Stevie Wonder (60) and Harvey Keitel (71)...

    Timeline Countdown: 18 days until Memorial Day, 38 days until Father's Day & 39 days until summer...


    Wednesday, May 12, 2010

    Paying For Terrestrial Radio's Funeral Will Be Costly...

    Since we've already killed terrestrial radio, it's our responsibility to pay for its funeral. Radio doesn't deserve a potter's field burial. Burying a major media source deserves a royal tribute, a burial fit for a king or Michael Jackson. Radio gave us over eight decades of entertainment and all for free. Name another media that's done that. I didn't think so. As The Motley Fool mentioned recently there will be "A high price for freedom since connectivity doesn't come cheap these days." So what are we paying for today's versions of transistor radios???

    If an iPhone is the smartphone of your choice, you're paying anywhere from $70 to $120 for minutes and texting. Sprint's Overdrive is less costly at $60 a month. Verizon, T-Mobile and others are similarly priced between $60 and $120. If you can't imagine that more than half of the country is paying up to and over $100 for smartphone plans, you're not alone. Satellite radio which everyone railed against because it had a monthly fee, compared to smartphones is now considered a bargain at $15 a month...

    Discussing the depth of Internet radio and yes, even Pandora is an entirely different subject for another time...

    10 Timeline Memories:

    1.1926] The 400 Club: Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators joins Cy Young as the only 400-game winners in baseball history with a win over the St. Louis Browns. No pitcher has even come close to that number since and never will. In 2008 Greg Maddux became the 9th pitcher to win 350 games but he retired after the season. Randy Johnson finished his career at the end of 2009 with 303 wins. We're not likely to see another 300 game winner in decades...
    2.1932] Lindbergh baby found: The body of the kidnapped son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh is found in a wooded area near Hopewell (NJ)…
    3.1956] No-no, not again: The Dodgers’ Carl Erskine pitches a no-hitter against the cross-town rival Giants. The 2-0 shutout is Erskine’s second no-no…
    4.1959] Victim #4: Liz Taylor takes husband number four, Eddie Fisher. The two will remain married until March, 1964…1971] Wedding Bells ring out for Mick Jagger and Bianca Perez-Mora as the couple rocks down the aisle in St. Tropez. The marriage lasts until 1979…
    5.1960] The Odd Couple: Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley team up on a TV special and swap hits…
    6.1970] Let’s Play Two: Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks becomes the 9th player to hit 500 or more home runs. In April, 2009, Gary Sheffield hit his 500th, as a member of the Mets...
    7.1985] Knicks win the lottery: The New York Knicks win the rights to Patrick Ewing in a special drawing, begging the question, was this tainted love for the New York franchise???
    8.1991] Teddy tribute: With Ted Williams in attendance, Lansdowne Street (outside Fenway Park) is renamed “Ted Williams Way” on the 50th anniversary of his great 1941 season when he became the last .400 hitter in baseball history…
    9.2001] ‘Happy Trails’: Perry Como passes away in his sleep at his home in Florida after a lengthy bout with Alzheimer’s disease. Perry, one of the nicest people I ever met, was 87…
    10.2002] Busted: Dionne Warwick is arrested at Miami International Airport when baggage screeners find 11 marijuana joints inside her lipstick container. She’s charged with possession of less than 5 grams of the stuff and signs an affidavit promising to appear in court...


    Music Memories:

    1965] Recorded on this date: "Satisfaction" - Rolling Stones...
    1972] Released on this date: "Exile on Main Street" (LP) - Rolling Stones...
    1977] Gold Standard: "Hotel California" earns a gold record for The Eagles...


    "Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

    Emilio Estevez (48), Ving Rhames (51), Steve Winwood (62), Billy Swan (68), Burt Bacharach (82) and Yogi Berra (85)...

    Timeline Countdown: 19 days until Memorial Day, 39 days until Father's Day & 40 days until summer...

    Tuesday, May 11, 2010

    A New Breed Of Talkers Is Being Hatched...

    If you're wondering where the next generation of yakkers can be found, you might try a website called BlogTalkRadio. Alan Levy, founder of BTR says "I think that concept of talk radio is just one that resonates with more fervor in the conservative dialogue, and it's translating through to the online platforms, which is perhaps the largest Internet platform for free call-in radio." Proof of that theory isn't hard to find. How many personal emails and tweets are politically slanted? The answer is too many...

    So now that we know where the next breed of Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannitys and Glenn Becks are being hatched, we turn to Michael Harrison, founder of the trade journal Talkers Magazine for his view as told to the Los Angeles Times: "The Internet is going to be the place that becomes the new farm team for traditional radio. These are people who are interested in emulating terrestrial radio and they're doing it from their kitchen table." According to the Times, some of the at-home talkers are bloggers learning a new medium. Some are former terrestrial radio personalities looking for a new home...

    But can they bluster and bully like Rush, be as conservative as Sean or cry like Glenn? If they're not successful as talkers, they can always change gears and switch to a music format. They would still be emulating Limbaugh and Beck but in reverse...


    10 Timeline Memories:

    1.1949] In an instant: The first Polaroid Camera sells for $89.95 in New York City “but for you - $85.95“…
    2.1960] The Pill: The first contraceptive pill is made available on the market...
    3.1972] Say Hey returns: Returning to the city he started in, Willie Mays returns to New York to play for the Mets. The Say-Hey Kid is traded for the immortal Charlie Williams and $50,000 cash…
    4.1973] Charges dropped: Charges against Daniel Ellsberg for his role in the Pentagon Papers case are dismissed by Judge William M. Byrne, who cites government misconduct...
    5.1981] ‘Happy Trails’: Reggae legend Bob Marley dies at 36 from cancer in a Miami hospital…2006] Former heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson passes away at 71 from prostate cancer...
    6.1987] On trial: Klaus Barbie goes on trial in France for war crimes committed during World War II...
    7.1988] God Bless America: A star-studded Carnegie Hall concert is held to honor the 100th birthday of legendary song writer Irving Berlin. Performers include: Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Madeline Kahn, Marilyn Horne and others. Berlin was too feeble to attend but watched on TV…
    8.1996] Everglades crash: An Atlanta-bound ValuJet DC-9 catches fire shortly after takeoff from Miami and crashes into the Florida Everglades. All 110 on board are lost...
    9.1997] Who's deep blue now?: The Deep Blue IBM computer defeats Garry Kasparov to win a six-game chess match between man and machine in New York...
    10.2004] Beheaded: A video on an al-Qaida-linked Website shows the beheading of American hostage Nicholas Berg, who had been kidnapped in Iraq...

    Music Memories:

    1957] Flunking out: Buddy Holly and the Crickets fail an audition for "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts". Buddy didn't disappoint Arthur Murray...
    1968] Released on this date: "MacArthur Park" - Richard Harris...1974] "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number" - Steely Dan...
    1964] #1 on this date: "My Guy" - Mary Wells...1981] "Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes...1985] "Crazy For You" - Madonna...
    1965] TV Debut: The Byrds sing "Mr. Tambourine Man" on "Shivaree""...

    "Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

    Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn (51), Mike Lupica (58), Dr. Robert Jarvik (artificial heart) (64), Eric Burdon (69) and Mort Sahl (still cranky after all these years) (83)...

    Timeline Countdown: 20 days until Memorial Day, 40 days until Father's Day & 41 days until summer...

    Monday, May 10, 2010

    Moonves Takes Most Overpaid CEO Honors...

    A just-concluded Bloomberg survey has examined the compensation of 271 chief executive officers and results ranged from a high of $43.2 million for CBS Corporations' Les Moonves to $245,322 for Google Inc.'s Eric Schmidt. So why the enormous discrepancy? Well for one thing, salary expert Graef Crystal, who conducted the survey concluded that pay for performance is a fiction. Crystal's study was devised amid rising concern that executive pay is too high and calls from the president and others that CEO's should suffer when companies mess up. A couple of us feel CEO's should not reward themselves anyway. Like a mad accountant and using formulas he developed along with the ancient Greeks, Crystal, 73, crunched the numbers to see whether these astronomical salaries are "commensurate with ability." Crystal tossed in shareholder returns to determine whether that may have led to higher pay. Crystal reached his conclusion by stating, "Simply put, companies don't pay for performance." ...

    So what should Moonves compensation be? Moonves would take a $28 million pay cut under a model that Crystal developed. Schmidt, the most underpaid CEO should get more than a $17 million raise. Crystal's model reapportioned pay according to a formula based two-thirds on shareholder return and one-third on company size, measured by its sales. Crystal found that 159 of the 271 CEOS would get raises if the total CEO payroll last year were redistributed according to his formula. Based on that, 112 CEO's are just plain greedy...

    It doesn't take any kind of study or formula to realize that when times are bad, corporate heads should not reward themselves with grotesquely staggering numbers as compensation, especially now when everyone from the president on down is watching. Make that - anytime...

    Timeline Memories...

    1.1872] I am woman hear me roar: Victoria Woodhull becomes the 1st woman nominated for the U.S. presidency (Sorry Hillary)...
    2.1908] Put them all together they spell Mother: The 1st Mother's Day observance takes place during church services in Grafton (WV) and Philadelphia...


    3.1924] Chief Cheech: J. Edgar Hoover is appointed head of the FBI, a job he will hold until his death in 1972...
    4.1927] In Stereo?: The Hotel Statler in Boston becomes the 1st hotel to install headsets in each of its 1,300 rooms. And what exactly did they listen to, Morse Code???
    5.1965] Yaz and the Mick: The Red Sox beat the Yankees 3-2. All the runs are supplied by Carl Yastrzemski and Mickey Mantle...
    6.1969] Wedding Bells: The merger of the AFL and NFL becomes official with Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore agreeing to move to the AFL. The AFC and NFC are formed with two-13 team conferences...1986] Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear rock down the aisle. They will divorce in 1993...
    7.1970] Faster than a speeding bullet: In one of the greatest sports moments captured on video and in print, Boston Bruins superstar Bobby (#4) Orr flies through the air after taking a pass from Derek Sanderson and putting the puck in the St. Louis net for the winning OT goal that produces an NHL championship for the Bruins...
    8.1974] NBA Champs: Led by the great Dr. J aka Julius Erving, the Nets win the 1st of their 2 NBA titles by defeating Utah. Erving puts up 20 points and grabs 16 boards...
    9.1982] Musicradio is no more: At exactly 12 noon Musicradio 77 becomes Talkradio 77. After Dan Ingram joined Ron Lundy for the final Musicradio show, the WABC chime was used for the last time at 11:59:55 a.m. WABC switched to top 40 in December of 1960 and for 22 years dominated ratings in New York. This was the final jock lineup on this date in 1982: 5-9 a.m. Ross and Wilson, 9-11:59:55 a.m. Ron Lundy and Dan Ingram. Jay Clark was Operations Manager...
    10.1997] Happy Trails: The state of Illinois executes convicted serial killer John Wayne Gacy, 52, for the murders of 33 young men and boys...

    Music Memories:

    1954] Released on this date: "Rock Around The Clock" is released as a single commercially (promo copies went out May 6). The 1st time around Bill Haley & the Comets do not have a hit, charting only for 1 week. One year later after "Blackboard Jungle" premieres, the song will top the charts in July of 1955...
    1964] Debuted on this date: Dusty Springfield makes her U.S. television debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show". This clip is from 1965..
    1969] At the White House: The Turtles perform at the White House and Mark Volman celebrates by falling off the stage 4 times. Reportedly they then proceeded to smoke weed in the Lincoln bedroom. This clip is not from that performance...
    1974] Recorded on this date: Eric Clapton records "I Shot The Sheriff" which will top the charts...
    1985] Breaking up is hard to do: The Go-Go's announce their breakup...


    Commentary:

    Lena Horne, who broke racial barriers as Hollywood's first black leading lady, passed away last night in New York at 92. Horne took her singing talent to Hollywood and starred in movies for four decades. In 1981 she received a special Tony Award for "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music". Lena Horne was a one-of-a-kind entertainer who will always be remembered for her signature song, "Stormy Weather"...

    "Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

    Bono aka Paul Hewson (50), Chris "Boomer" Berman (55), Donovan Leitch (64) Dave Mason (64), CT basketball coach Jim Calhoun (68), Jim Hickman (73), Gary Owens (74) and Pat Summerall (80)...

    Timeline Countdown: 21 days until Memorial Day, 41 days until Father's Day & 42 days until summer...