Tuesday, November 30, 2010

New Study Shows Mobile Consumers Don't Want Radio Chips...

What's going on? First, Apple denies single-station radio apps for their iPhone and now, a new study shows that a large majority of consumers don't buy smartphones for radio, anyway. Mark Ramsey Media, in conjunction with VIP Research asked a national sample of more than a thousand radio listeners ages 10-54 whether they had ever specifically looked for a mobile phone that contains FM radio. The answer was not what the NAB, RAB or radio in general was looking for. Eighty-eight percent said "NO", only 4% said "Yes" and "Doesn't Apply" finished higher at 8%...

The Ramsey/VIP study did not ask whether or not consumers would download a radio app on their mobile phone and Ramsay/VIP notes that there are many phones on the market already which feature FM radio built in. What the survey designers were looking for is this - what will motivate consumers to purchase their device over any other? The answer to that question was that 83% wanted a particular phone regardless of whether or not it featured FM radio. We have to conclude that they wanted the phone because they just liked that particular phone. Wait - am I repeating myself? They bought the phone because they were sold on the merits of Blackberry, Droid or iPhone, etc. Commercial brainwashing will do that you know...

Radio was thrown a bone when consumers were asked "If you did look for a phone containing an FM radio, did you ultimately purchase one?" Sixty-nine percent said "Yes", 28% said "No" and 3% said "Don't Know." That 69% that said yes comes from the 4% that said yes when asked if they would specifically look for a phone that contains an FM radio or not. Well, it was a small bone thrown to radio...


10 Timeline Memories:
1.1939] Happy Landings: New York’s LaGuardia Airport begins operations as a plane from Chicago lands at 12:01 a.m…
2.1940] Wedding Bells: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz conga down the aisle to a latin beat…
3.1972] No news is good news: White House Press Secretary Ron Ziegler tells the press that there will be no more public announcements concerning troop withdrawals from Vietnam after they had reached a level of 27,000…
4.1993] Brady Law: President Bill Clinton signs the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Bill) into law…
5.1993] Klaas murder solved: Richard Allen Davis is arrested after confessing to abducting and killing 12-year old Polly Klaas
6.1994] Jaguar sighting: The NFL announces that the Jacksonville Jaguars will become the league’s 30th franchise…
7.1996] Happy Trails: After performing on stage, Tiny Tim collapses and dies from congestive heart failure at 71…2007] Daredevil motorcycle rider Evel Knievel passes away from a terminal lung disease at 69…
8.2001] Artificial heart victim: Robert Tools, the first person to receive a fully self-contained artificial heart, dies after living with the device for 151 days…
9.2004] Jeopardy champ falls: Ken Jennings finally loses but takes home $2.5 million, TV’s all-time biggest game show haul…
10.2007] Clinton crisis: Hillary Clinton’s Rochester (NH) campaign office experiences a hostage crisis when Leeland Eisenberg enters and holds three people hostage for 5 hours…


Music Memories:

Remembering: Gil McDougald, former Yankee infielder who won 5 World Series titles with the team, died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82. Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher, Whitey Ford on McDougald: "Gil was a great guy, well-liked by the team and a helluva ballplayer. He was a good fielder and was always a fierce competitor." McDougald was American League Rookie of the Year (1951) and a 6-time All-Star. Both McDougald and Ford can be seen in this clip of a scene on a Phil Silvers Show...

Commentary:

The 2010 Third Annual New York Voiceover Mixer is coming up on Saturday, December 4 at Tonic, 727 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. Here's your chance to mingle with top voiceover industry people from around the world at the east coast's premiere networking event! Admission is free with your official RSVP by email. RSVP via Facebook will not guarantee admission. Click here for more information...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Clay Aiken (32), Ben Stiller (45), Billy Idol (55), Mandy Patinkin (58), Paul Stookey (73), Jimmy Bowen (73), Frank Ifield (73), G. Gordon Liddy (80), Dick Clark (81), Robert Guillaume (83) and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (92)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 day until Hanukah, 21 days until winter, 25 days until Christmas, 32 nights until New Year's Eve & 39 days until NFL Wild Card Playoffs...

Monday, November 29, 2010

Re-Visiting Performance Royalty Act...

Since Performance Royalty Act (PRA) talks blew up, there hasn't been much action but there has been a lot of talk. The talks fell apart just before the mid-term election when the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) released their terms for a deal that would include a limited performance fee of between 0.25% and 1% of a station's net annual revenue, and made the fees contingent on Congress requiring that all mobile devices include a radio chip. The Tennessean, pro-music organ out of Nashville - Music City, published a feature article yesterday calling PRA "An important issue for Middle Tennessee, because royalties could put hundreds of millions of dollars a year in the pockets of artists and record companies nationwide, according to an estimate by the Government Accountability Office (GAO)." ...

Tom Matzzie, a spokesman for musicFirst, responded to the NAB terms saying the broadcasters had rewritten a deal that had been agreed to during the summer. "It might even be worse for the music companies than the status quo" says Matzzie. NAB CEO Gordon Smith says that claims of a previously negotiated deal are "demonstrably false. If this were true why would our two sides have continued negotiations in August, September and October?" Neil Portnow, CEO of The Recording Academy fired off the latest salvo in a recent letter published in Billboard that, for the first time ever, "not a single artist thanked a radio station in his or her acceptance speech" during the academy's Grammy Awards telecast in January. The same can not be said for other award shows, it should be noted. So, what's next for the PRA???

The lame-duck session of Congress won't offer any help to the PRA stand-off and then will break for Christmas. In January, a new Congress takes over with a radically changed makeup in the House and Senate, which means that PRA will have to be presented to Congress all over again. Instead of re-negotiating PRA terms, the salvos coming from both sides will increase. Bet on it...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1890] The military tradition begins: The first Army-Navy football game is played at West Point with the midshipmen of Navy stuffing the Cadets of Army 24-0. Highlights from last year's game...
2.1934] The NFL tradition begins: The Detroit Lions begin an annual NFL Thanksgiving Day tradition, dropping a 19-16 decision to da Bearsss. It was the first NFL game aired on national radio...
3.1948] Debuted on this date: "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" debuts on NBC-TV...1953] American Airlines begins the first regular commercial NY-LA air service. This video shows AA in action in the 30s...
4.1963] Warren Commission: LBJ names Chief Justice Earl Warren as head of a commission investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy...
5.1975] What's your name, who's your daddy?: Bill Gates names the company he and Paul Allen started as Microsoft, formed to write the BASIC computer language for the Altair...
6.1976] There's a reason he's called 'The Killer': Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shoots his bass player twice in the chest while aiming at a soda bottle. The bass player survives but Dick Cheney takes note...
7.1976] Call him 'The Straw': Free agent Reggie Jackson aka "the straw that stirs the drink", signs a 5-year deal with the Yankees, helping the Bombers win 3 AL pennants and 2 world series championships...
8.1980] Record-breaker: The Georgia Bulldogs end the season unbeaten and untied following a 38-20 win over Georgia Tech as Herschel Walker breaks a freshman record with 1,616 rushing yards. #1 Georgia will beat #2 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl and Walker wins the Heisman Trophy two years later...
9.1981] "Happy Trails": Natalie Wood drowns in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island at the age of 43. Natalie who was with husband RJ and Christopher Walken, could not swim...1986] Legendary leading man Cary Grant dies of a stroke at 82...

10.2001] Loss of a Beatle: George Harrison loses his battle with cancer at 58. ..
Music Memories:

Remembering: Serious actor who would become a comic star - Leslie Nielsen, has passed away from complications from pneumonia. Nielsen died yesterday at the age of 84. Nielsen will always be remembered for this scene from the 1980 hit movie, Airplane...

Commentary:
The 2010 Third Annual New York Voiceover Mixer is coming up on Saturday, December 4 at Tonic, 727 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. This is your chance to mingle with top voiceover industry people from around the world at the east coast's premiere networking event! Admission is free with your official RSVP by email. RSVP via Facebook will not guarantee admission. Click here for more information...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Mariano Rivera (41), Don Cheadle (46), Kim Delaney (51), Howard Johnson (50), Howie Mandel (55), Felix Cavaliere (68), Chuck Mangione (70), Vin Scully (83) and Minnie Minoso (88)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until Hanukah, 22 days until winter, 25 days until Christmas & 32 nights until New Year's Eve...

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Digital Advertising Targets Radio...

(Thanksgiving Edition)

Radio is being targeted by digital advertisers like never before, according to Jack Myers Media Business Report's Media Vision 2020. The report projects total 2010 U.S. marketing communications and advertising investments will grow 3.2% to $601.5 billion. Myers tells The Huffington Post that "traditional advertising investments in television, print, radio and out-of-home are projected to grow only 1.8% but digital advertising investments in these media will grow by an estimated 28%, spurring total 3.6% growth in traditional media categories."

"The newly recalibrated data includes 57 media and marketing categories and, for the first time in any advertising analysis, breaks down digital and traditional investments for 14 traditional media and marketing categories. The report eliminates the traditional barriers between above and below-the-line marketing budgets. Marketers are integrating their budget allocations to reflect the increasing cross-over between their marketing and sales functions, which have historically been separated. This trend is apparent in social media, which is growing 50% to $1.2 billion in 2010. (Most Facebook advertising is accounted for within the new Online Originated Display Advertising category, which is increasing 9.2%)." ...

The move toward more digital and social media usage is starting to spread. Radio One, Lincoln Financial Media and other companies are experimenting with ways to harness exploding social media usage to enhance their brands while driving new digital dollars. Look for more of the same in 2011...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We all have too many things to mention that are worth being thankful for...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1789] 1st Thanksgiving: A day of Thanksgiving is set aside by President George Washington to observe the adoption of the U.S. Constitution (11/26)…
2.1925] Debuted on this date: The longest running live music show debuts on WSM Nashville when host George Dewey Hay invites an 83-year old Civil War veteran to play fiddle for an hour. The ‘WSM Barn Dance’ begins (11/28). In 1927 its name is changed to the “Grand Ole Opry“...
3.1942] Play it again Sam: “Casablanca” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman debuts at the Hollywood Theater in Manhattan (11/26)…
4.1942] Down in flames: A devastating and deadly fire destroys the Cocoanut Grove night club in Boston, taking nearly 500 lives (11/28)…
5.1963] Live from Dallas: Jack Ruby shoots and mortally wounds Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President Kennedy. This happened live on television - still hard to believe. Here’s the video clip (11/24)…
6.1971] AWOL with ransom: Hijacker D.B. Cooper parachutes from a Northwest flight over Washington State with $200,000 in ransom. His fate is still unknown (11/24)…
7.1978] City Hall massacre: San Francisco mayor George Moscone and City Hall Supervisor Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist, are shot to death inside City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White (11/27)…
8.1980] No mas, no mas: Sugar Ray Leonard defeats Roberto Duran for the welterweight crown after Duran pleads “no mas, no mas” in the 8th round, ending the fight (11/25)…
9.1999] Elian gets his 15 minutes: 6-year old Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez is rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida. The saga of Elian begins (11/25)…
10.2009] Tiger caged: Tiger Woods is hospitalized after sustaining injuries in a car crash outside his home in Orlando. You know what happened next (11/27)...

Music Memories:
  • 1965] Released on this date: "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice" - Lovin' Spoonful (11/27)...1967] "Magical Mystery Tour" LP - Beatles (11/27)...1970] "All Things Must Pass" LP - George Harrison (11/27)...1970] "My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison (11/28)...1970] "Your Song" - Elton John (11/28)...
  • 1966] Recorded on this date: The Beatles begin recording "Sgt. Pepper" (11/24)...1986] "Do They Know It's Christmas" - 36 British and American stars, including Phil Collins, Boy George, George Michael, Sting, U2, Duran Duran & James Taylor get together as Band-Aid with proceeds going to Ethiopian famine relief, conceived by Bob Geldof (11/25). First up to sing is Paul Young...
  • 1967] Number One on this date: "Incense & Peppermints" - Strawberry Alarm Clock (11/26)...1994] "I'll Make Love To You" - Boyz II Men (11/26)...
  • 1974] Lennon's farewell: Elton John and John Lennon sing a duet of "I Saw Her Standing There" at Lennon's last stage appearance at Madison Square Garden plus two other songs (11/28)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (11/24) Katharine Heigl (32), Stanley (Chip) Livingston (60), Donald 'Duck' Dunn (69), Pete Best (69) & Paul Tagliabue (70)...(11/25) Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush (both 29), Christina Applegate (39), Jill Hennessy (42), Amy Grant (50), Bruno Tonioli (55), John Larroquette (63), Ben Stein (66) & Percy Sledge (70)...(11/26) Harry Carson (57), John McVie (65), Jean Terrell (66), Rich Little (71) & Tina Turner (71)...(11/27) Jaleel ("Urkel") White (34), Samantha Harris (37), Michael Vartan (42), Robin Givens (46), "Sweet" Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (53) & Jayne Kennedy (59)...(11/28) Jon Stewart (48), S. Epatha Merkerson (58), Paul Shaffer (61), Randy Newman (67), Gary Hart (74) and Berry Gordy Jr. (81)...

Timeline Countdown: Happy Thanksgiving, 7 days until Hanukah, 27 days until winter & 30 days until Christmas...


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Pandora Remains On Top In Ando Rankings...

Pandora has gained just about 100,000 new listeners over a span of five months in the latest Ando Media online rankings. Proving their worth as the online listening leader, Pandora has grown from 391,000 listeners in April, to 486,000 listeners in August. Other results worth noting are the rankings of CBS, Clear Channel and Citadel. All made gains over the same period. Pure-play Slacker Radio is flat over the same five month period, finishing #7 in average active sessions and actual number of average active sessions (19,600 to 20,600). Ando adds that Slacker's number "Does not include mobile data". No reason was given for excluding the mobile numbers. The gap between Pandora and the rest of the field was once again, Secretariat winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths...

CBS (streaming terrestrial stations, AOL Radio & Yahoo LaunchCast included) was a distant second with about 156,000 average active sessions. That number was 150,000 in July. Clear Channel was #3 with 122,000 (from 114,000 in July), #4 is Citadel, up from 38,000 to about 42,000 (July to August) and #5 is Entercom, up from about 22,800 to 24,427. Slacker, ESPN Radio, Cox, Cumulus and the rest of the pack take up the rear...

A total of 16 of the top 20 webcasters in Ando Media's domestic ranker for the month of August were up compared to July in average active sessions (AAS) during the primetime Monday-Friday, 6am-8pm daypart. The best way to sum up the Ando is by Pandora's continued dominance. There's Pandora and then, there's everyone else...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1876] Politics as usual: Corrupt Tammany Hall leader William Marcy (Boss) Tweed is captured in Spain and returned to authorities in New York…
2.1889] Jukebox Saturday Night every night: The first jukebox goes into service at the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco. Owned by developer Louis T. Glass, the box contains an Edison tinfoil phonograph with 4 listening tubes. A nickel bought a few minutes of music. The jukebox took in a whopping $1,000 in 6 months…
3.1936] A Life is born: The first edition of Life is published…
4.1971] Chinese imports: Representatives of the People’s Republic of China are seated at the U.N. In 1950, Nationalist China was seated...
5.1980] Earthshaking: A series of earthquakes in Southern Italy takes 3,000 lives…
6.1981] A secret no longer: Ronald Reagan secretly signs off on Iran-Contra…
7.1984] Hail Mary: Doug Flutie connects with roomie Gerard Phelan and Boston College defeats Miami 47-45 in one of the greatest college football games of all-time. Bernie Kosar was the Miami QB…
8.1985] Hijacking: Gunmen hijack an Egyptian plane, 60 are killed…
9.2006] Spy snuffing: Former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko dies in London from radiation poisoning after making a deathbed statement blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin
10.2000] Drawing a blank: The Florida Supreme Court refuses to order Miami-Dade County to resume counting ballots by hand in the presidential race…

Music Memories:
  • 1960] Number One on this date: "Are You Lonesome Tonight" - Elvis Presley...1974] "I Can Help" - Billy Swan. I had the pleasure of working with Billy who was a member of Kris Kristofferson's band...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Miley Cyrus (18), Jonathan Papelbon (30), Robin Roberts (50), Bruce Hornsby (56), Sen. Chuck Schumer (60), Tom Joyner (61), Luis Tiant (70) and Gloria Lynne (79)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until Thanksgiving, 8 days until Hanukah, 28 days until winter and 31 shopping days until Christmas...

Monday, November 22, 2010

Radio Revenue Registers Impressive Gains...

Radio revenue didn't reach double numbers like the internet did in Q3 but a 5% increase in the quarter over Q3 2009 is still impressive. Radio revenue reached $12.7 billion in the first three quarters of the year for an increase of 6% or $946 million compared to last year. The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) also reports that national revenue went up 10% in Q3, 14% year-to-date (YTD) while local was up 3% in Q3, 3% YTD. While radio will take the national business, it's local's slow growth that's keeping most radio operators cautious about a total economic recovery...

Political advertising helped boost Q3 numbers but it was other growth categories that fueled the increase. Communications/Cellular tops the YTD revenue chart, followed by Auto, Financial Services, TV/Cable, Food, Dept./Discount Stores & Professional Services. RAB states that "Automotive, Financial and Department Store marketers are most notably promoting radio's economic growth. The four top radio categories all registered spending well above the $300 million level in Q3 and the top two (Communications and Automotive) are already above the $1 billion mark for the year to date through September - with Financial Services and TV/Cable all imminently poised to move up to that level. Radio also received a major cash infusion from political advertisers in the final throes of this year's competitive mid-term elections"...

While all of this Q3 and YTD news is welcome, it will still take a more substantial increase in local revenue - radio's bread and butter - that will indicate that the recovery is finally here...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1906] It's better than a white flag: The "S-O-S" distress signal is adopted at the International Radio Telegraphic Convention in Berlin...
2.1955] Elvis Money: RCA pays $25,000 to Sam Phillips for the rights to the music of a truck driver from Tupelo (Miss) by the name of Elvis Presley. Colonel Tom Parker tosses in a $5,000 bonus which Elvis spends on a pink Cadillac for his mother ("such a good son")...
3.1963] A day we’d all like to forget but never will: President John Fitzgerald Kennedy is gunned down in Dallas. A day we always remember what we were doing at the time. I was recording a Canada Dry spot at WMID, Atlantic City. LBJ is sworn in as our next president...
4.1977] SST service starts: Regular passenger service between New York and Europe on the supersonic Concorde begins on a trial basis...
5.1980] “Happy Trails“: Aging blond bombshell Mae West suffers a fatal stroke at 87…1997] INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence, 37, is found hanging in his Sydney, Australia hotel suite…
6.1986] Baby champ: Mike Tyson becomes the youngest world heavyweight champion by KOing Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas (Tyson is 20 years, 4 months old which is his biological age, not his mental age)...
7.1995] Toys are us: The first Disney/Pixar film is the first feature film made entirely from computer graphics: Toy Story - will earn more than $361 million world-wide...
8.1998] Dr. Death: “60 Minutes” airs videotape of Dr. Jack Kevorkian unethically administering lethal drugs to a terminally ill patient...
9.1999] Going to hall: Wayne Gretzky ("The Great One") is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame with 61 NHL records to his credit...
10.2005] Night night, Nightline: Ted Koppel hosts his final edition of ABC News' Nightline. The show continues without Koppel...

Music Memories:

Commentary:

The 2010 Third Annual New York Voiceover Mixer is coming up on Saturday, December 4 at Tonic, 727 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. Here's your chance to mingle with top voiceover industry people from around the world at the east coast's premiere networking event! Learn to cup your hand over your ear and enunciate loudly and clearly with as much resonance as you can muster. Admission is free with your official RSVP by email. RSVP via Facebook will not guarantee admission. Click here for more information...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Scarlett Johansson (26), Boris Becker (43), Mariel Hemingway (49), Jamie Lee Curtis (52), Steve Van Zandt (60), Sandy Alderson (63), Billie Jean King (67) and Robert Vaughn (78)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Thanksgiving, 9 days until Hanukah, 29 days until winter and 32 shopping days until Christmas...



Friday, November 19, 2010

Despite The Hard Sell, HD Radio Is Just Not Sticking...

(Weekend Edition)

iBiquity gets an A+ for effort but a D for results in its long journey to make HD Radio relevant. They continue to experiment with new HD models and will continue to do so well into 2011 but it might be too late to make an impact. Most major radio companies and many auto manufacturers have been doing iBiquity's bidding, but so far the results are just not there. And iBiquity continues to spend tons of advertising money to produce results. The HD Digital Radio Alliance aired 20,413 commercials just last week encouraging listeners to upgrade to an HD Radio but the effort doesn't seem to be resonating in the radio industry, according to a new poll...

Inside Radio conducted an "unscientific survey" in which more than six-in-ten (62%) respondents indicated that they don't own an HD receiver. Thirty-eight percent (38%) do own an HD Radio - a higher ownership figure than the general population. Among those who do own an HD Radio, nearly one-quarter (23%) said it was an at-home radio. Nearly one-in-five (18%) use one in their office, while 15% have an HD Radio in their car and 13% own a portable device such as Zune HD. One respondent says "The audio on HD Radio is so much better than regular FM and the highly compressed audio on satellite radio." Another respondent says "Content is king. If your market has interesting stations, it's a great device." Still another respondent has "a couple at home and few sprinkled around my radio group. Usually the analog tuners in these things are great." But there are plenty of HD critics with complaints ranging from "Have not been able to receive HD content" to "I try to listen, but the signals are unreliable." ...

One advantage iBiquity might have is not requiring radio stations to buy their product. Rick Greenhut, Director of U.S. Broadcast Sales, says "The station doesn't write a check. It runs commercials. We've taken barter to the next step." In some cases, a station may choose to use a finance company to pay the equipment supplier so an HD Radio transmitter can be built and shipped quickly. As long as the ads air, Citadel will pay the equipment manufacturers and iBiquity the necessary hardware and licensing costs to convert or upgrade the stations involved, even if they're not the stations where the ads aired. Citadel Media handles the paperwork necessary for the ad agencies to prove the spots aired per the contract. It would be interesting to know what Citadel did to get that plum assignment...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1863] Four Score, for sure: President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address as he dedicates a national cemetery at the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania (11/19)…
2.1877] Talking Machine: Thomas A. Edison announces the invention of the phonograph or as he calls it, his “talking machine.” (11/21)…
3.1959] Rama Lama Ding Dong: The Ford Motor Company halts production of the Edsel (11/19)…
4.1960] Knocked into Monday: Frank Gifford is leveled by the Eagles Chuck Bednarik in a blind-sided hit that will wind up ending the career of the Giants star running back. The Eagles clinch the Eastern Conference title. As a reward Gifford will wind up with Kathie Lee (11/20)…
5.1966] Hanging them up: Future Hall of Fame pitcher, Sandy Koufax announces his retirement from baseball, one month shy of his 32nd birthday, due to arm problems. Koufax simply dominated his era (11/19)…
6.1982] Youngest SNL host: That would be 7-year old Drew Barrymore who also made an appearance that year on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show (11/20)…
7.1987] Wedding Bells: Demi Moore and Bruce Willis rock down the aisle. They divorce in 2000 when Demi discovers where Ashton Kutcher lives. She robs his cradle in 2005 (11/21)…
8.1994] Rock and Roll transplant: David Crosby receives a liver transplant (11/20)…
9.1998] A Starr is born: Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr lays out his evidence against President Bill Clinton during a daylong appearance before the House Judiciary Committee (11/19)…
10.2004] Fight Night: In one of sports ugliest scenes, a fight breaks out on the floor, Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson of the Pacers charge into the stands and fight with fans during an NBA game in Detroit. Officials end the Pacers’ 97-82 win with 45.9 ticks left. Fines and suspensions follow. Fan John Green who tossed his drink at Artest, was banned for life in Detroit and hefty fines are levied at Artest, Jackson and others (11/19)…

Music Memories:


Tribute: Congratulations to Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff for having a street in Philadelphia's Center City, named after them on the eve of the 40th anniversary (2011) of Philadelphia International Records. Thanks to Sparkie Martin for the story. Here's the piece that Channel 6 (ABC) used in covering the tribute...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (11/19) Savion Glover (37), Jodie Foster (48), Meg Ryan (49), Ann Curry (54), Calvin Klein (68), Garrick Utley (71), Ted Turner (72), Dick Cavett (74), Larry King (77) and Alan Young (91)...(11/20) J.D. Drew (35), Bo Derek (54), Joe Walsh (63), Judy Woodruff (64), Veronica Hamel (67), VP Joe Biden (68), Norman Greenbaum (68), Dick Smothers (71), Richard Dawson (78), Estelle Parsons (83) & Kaye Ballard (85)...(11/21) Michael Strahan (39), Nicollette Sheridan (47), Lorna Luft (58), Livingston Taylor (60), Goldie Hawn (65), Earl Monroe (66), Dr. John (70), Marlo Thomas (73) and Stan Musial (90)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Thanksgiving, 12 days until Hanukah, 32 days until winter and 35 shopping days until Christmas...





Thursday, November 18, 2010

Ad Buyers Are Having A Lovefest With The Internet...

Advertisers may be warming up to radio but they're having a lovefest with the internet. Q3 of 2010 has seen U.S. internet ad revenues soar to a record $6.4 billion, a 17% increase over Q3 of 2009. Numbers are courtesy of the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). "The internet has transformed consumer's lives and how they experience entertainment, information and brands," says Randall Rothenberg, President & CEO of IAB. "Marketers have embraced digital media because that's where they can engage with their consumers. This vibrant, innovative industry is creating jobs and contributing to the growth of the U.S. economy." We'll find out how radio measures up to the internet when the Radio Advertising Bureau releases its third quarter numbers before Thanksgiving but no one is holding their breath that they'll come anywhere near 17%...

"The numbers add credence to Morgan Stanley internet analyst Mary Meeker's contention that the web ad economy has significant upside potential, perhaps to the tune of an eye-popping $50 billion," according to Wired.com. Rafat Ali, founder of PaidContent and an expert on the economics of the web, says "One day it's hopeful and another day we're still going down the drain. But the larger inevitable trend is that online advertising is going to keep growing bigger." David Silverman, a partner at PwC offers this: "Advertisers are shifting more of their brand messaging online, accounting for this welcome surge in a difficult economy. This trend reflects the accelerating shift in consumer behavior towards the internet and away from traditional media." ...

There's no way that radio can compete with the growth of the internet but it can still pull enough numbers away from the web to boost its own revenue. With that in mind, look for radio companies to add internet advertising experts - that is, if they can pull them away from the internet...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1928] Mickey debuts: The 1st successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiers in New York City. It's Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie" starring Mickey Mouse...
2.1959] Also Premiering on this date: William Wyler's "Ben Hur" at a Loew's Theater in Times Square...2005] "Walk The Line", the story of Johnny Cash opens...
3.1969] 'Happy Trails': Kennedy patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy dies in Hyannis Port (MA) at 81. Kennedy had suffered a massive stroke 8 years earlier...1994] Cab Calloway dies in a Delaware nursing home of a stroke at 86...
4.1978] The horror of Jonestown: People's Temple leader Jim Jones forces his followers to commit mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana by drinking a cyanide-laced fruit-flavored concoction. Only about a dozen escape. The final death toll: 913, including 276 children. Jones is fatally shot in the head...
5.1987] Pink slips are on the way: CBS Inc. agrees to sell its record division to SONY Corporation for about $2 billion...
6.1990] Wedding Bells: Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall tie the knot in Bali. They will have 2 children during their 9 year marriage which breaks up after allegations that Mick fathered a child with Brazilian model Luciana Morad...2006] Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are married in Italy. That's amore...
7.1991] Free at last: Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon free Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite and educator Thomas Sutherland...
8.1999] Guilty as charged: A jury in Jasper (TX) convicts Shawn Allen Berry of murder for his role in the dragging death of James Byrd Jr., but spare him the death penalty...
9.2002] A new call for arms inspection: U.N. arms inspectors return to Iraq after a four-year hiatus. They call on Saddam Hussein's government to cooperate with their search for weapons of mass destruction. You know the rest of this story...
10.2008] Big Three plead poverty: Big Three automakers plead with Congress for a $25 billion lifeline, warning of a national economic catastrophe should they collapse...

Music Memories:

Commentary:
The 2010 Third Annual New York Voiceover Mixer is coming up on Saturday, December 4 at Tonic, 727 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. Here's your chance to mingle with top voiceover industry people from around the world at the east coast's premiere networking event! Admission is free with your official RSVP by email. RSVP via Facebook will not guarantee admission. Click here for more information, he said with cupped hand over ear...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
David "Big Papi" Ortiz (35), Owen Wilson (42), Elizabeth Perkins (50), Kevin Nealon (57), Linda Evans (68) and Brenda Vaccaro (71)...

Timeline Countdown: 7 days until Thanksgiving, 13 days until Hanukah, 33 days until winter and 36 shopping days until Christmas...




Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Local Radio Would Be Missed But Not That Much...

A hypothetical survey to determine how much listeners would miss local radio, showed that respondents wouldn't be that upset if their favorite radio stations went poof and disappeared. This has to be disappointing news for terrestrial radio. Markramsey.com in conjunction with VIP Research, designed a "critical question in that it reflects the degree to which radio is consumed because of what it does as opposed to being consumed simply because it's convenient, ubiquitous, and habitual." Three specific responses were offered to respondents as a multiple choice - our favorite kind of test when we were in school. Response was mixed, disappointing but inconclusive...

The majority (39%) of those responding said 'It would be too bad, but I'd find other ways to inform and entertain myself', 37% said 'I'd be very unhappy and would miss my stations a lot', and 24% said 'It wouldn't matter much to me, I can get what radio provides elsewhere.' When broken down by format, News/Talk listeners were far more likely to be unhappy without radio and miss their stations. Men are more likely to dismiss radio than women. Survey designers sum up survey results by saying "So the lesson for us all is that while attracting usage may be relatively easy, evoking passion is a lot more difficult. And the key in this process is investing in unique and quality content that listeners care about. In the long run, the best way to avoid obsolescence is to be worth missing. The best way to avoid substitution is to be irreplaceable." ...

It's my belief that listeners like local radio because it's local radio and it's free. Two major factors not available elsewhere. It's not much different than a team that has a fan base. That fan base may fluctuate depending on wins and losses but it doesn't go away - neither will radio...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1934] Wedding Bells: Lyndon B. Johnson marries Claudia Alta Taylor, but you know her as "Lady Bird"...
2.1956] A Hollywood ending: Jim Brown finishes his college career at Syracuse by running for 6 touchdowns and kicking 7 extra points in a 61-7 massacre of Colgate...
3.1968] Heidi Ho: NBC-TV switches from an exciting Jets-Oakland game to "Heidi". Here's what we didn't see: The Raiders score 2 TD's in 9 seconds to hold on to a 43-32 win over the Jets. The final score is shown in a crawl over, what else ? "Heidi"...
4.1973] I'm not a crook: President Richard Nixon tells an AP managing editors meeting in Orlando (FL) that "people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook." In front of a news organization's meeting ???
5.1985] Debuted on this date: Howard Stern on K-Rock (WXRK)...
6.1997] The Joe Gibbs Academy: To graduate, you get elected to the Hall of Fame and then come back. NHL great Mario Lemieux gets inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame and then returns to play and eventually get into ownership of the Pittsburgh Penguins...
7.2003] Guilty as charged: John Allen Muhammad is convicted of two counts of capital murder in the Washington (D.C.)-area sniper shootings. He was executed in 2009...
8.2003] This I swear: Action actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is sworn in as the 38th Governor of California. Just call him 'The Governator'...
9.2006] Kramer goes off: Former 'Seinfeld' star Michael Richards unleashes a barrage of racial slurs during a stand-up routine at the Laugh Factory...
10.2006] 'Happy Trails': Hall of Fame college football coach Bo Schembechler dies at 77...

Music Memories:

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rachel McAdams (32), RuPaul (50), Chris Daly (56), Howard Dean (62), Tom Seaver (66), Lorne Michaels (66), Danny DeVito (66), Lauren Hutton (67), Martin Scorsese (68), Bob Gaudio (68) and Gordon Lightfoot (72)...

Timeline Countdown: 8 days until Thanksgiving, 14 days until Hanukah, 34 days until winter and 37 shopping days until Christmas...

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Radio Distances Itself From Newspapers...

At one time, not long ago - radio and newspapers were both headed toward oblivion, but as radio starts to turn the corner, newspapers continue to decline. Radio leaves ICU - newspapers gets last rites. Radio's little guys may still be struggling but most big radio groups reported single-digit growth in revenues in the third quarter compared to last year - modest, but noteworthy on the heels of straight declines, notes Media Post. Big newspaper publishers continue to struggle in Q3 with single-digit declines across the board. Radio and newspapers - two ships passing in the night...

Just yesterday, Citadel reported that its station group posted a 3% revenue gain in the third quarter. Other Q3 radio gainers include Clear Channel Radio, the country's largest radio group where total revenues increased 6%, thanks to automobile, political, financial services and health care business. CBS Radio's revenues grew 9%, Cumulus chalked up revenue gains of 3.6%, Emmis grew 4% and Entercom reported third-quarter gains of 3%. The average big radio group Q3 gain totaled 5% compared to Q3 of 2009. Newspaper revenues headed in the other direction in the third quarter...

At the New York Times Co., total revenues dipped 2.7%, due to a 1% drop in ad revenues and a 4.8% drop in circulation. McClatchy declined 5.7%, reflecting a 6.4% drop in ad revenues and a 3.8% drop in circulation. At Gannett, publishing revenue slipped 4.8%, mostly due to a 5.1% drop in advertising revenue. Total revenues were flat thanks to its TV business. The lone newspaper gainer was the Washington Post, up 5% in newspaper revenues, due mostly to increases in general advertising and digital revenues. Minus the Washington Post increases, smaller newspaper publishers took it on the chin, much like everyone else...

In a Radio vs. Newspaper comparison, what we're seeing is the former, slowly returning to respectability while the latter continues to suffer. Radio is recovering, newspapers are being forced to go online in order to survive. Radio is not out of the woods yet, but it is out of ICU...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1957] The streak ends: Dick Lynch scampers around right end for a touchdown, ending Oklahoma's streak of 47 consecutive wins. Notre Dame beats the #1 ranked Sooners 7-0 in Norman (OK)...
2.1959] The birth of The Pats: William "Billy" Sullivan Jr. and a group of Boston businessmen is awarded the 8th and final franchise in the American Football League (AFL). The Boston Patriots are born...
3.1960] "Happy Trails": Clark Gable dies of a heart attack at 59...
4.1966] Dr. Sam is free: Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard is acquitted in his second trial on charges of murdering his pregnant wife in 1954...
5.1973] Put this in your pipe and smoke it: President Richard M. Nixon signs the Alaska Pipeline measure into law...
6.1981] Wedding Bells: Luke marries Laura on "General Hospital" before a TV audience of 16 million viewers...1987] Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet rock down the aisle. They separate in 1990 and divorce in 1993...
7.1982] Over and out: An agreement is announced in the 57th day of a strike by the NFL players...
8.1995] Diseased: Attorney General Janet Reno discloses that she has Parkinson's disease...
9.2001] A federal case: Congress passes an aviation security bill mandating that airport screeners be federal employees...
10.2004] Rice is nice: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is picked as the new secretary of state. She succeeds Colin Powell...

Music Memories:

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Oksana Baiul (33), Maggie Gyllenhaal (33), Lisa Bonet (43), Diana Krall (46), Dwight Gooden (46), Marg Helgenberger (52), Jo Jo White (64) and Clu Gulager (82)...

Timeline Countdown: 9 days until Thanksgiving, 15 days until Hanukah, 35 days until winter & 38 days until Christmas...


Monday, November 15, 2010

Digital Coupons Come To Radio...

Coupons are a hot commodity and they're everywhere. Thousands of retailers are willing to give visitors access to savings, deals and special offers, including local merchants and national chains like Target, Sears and Nordstroms. You'll see dozens of coupons saving you money on whatever you're thinking of buying before this day ends. And now coupons are invading radio. MediaDailyNews reports that 45 million consumers used digital coupons in 2009 -- up almost 20% from 38 million in 2008. In terms of percentage, that represents an increase from about 12% to 14% of the total U.S. population. Of this group, 13.1 million are exclusive digital coupon users, meaning they don't clip coupons from the newspaper -- up about 39% from 9.4 million in 2008...

A number of major media groups will begin offering consumers coupons via their web sites through partnerships with eDeals.com. Partners include Post Newsweek TV, Cordillera Communications, Journal Broadcasting and a number of CBS Radio affiliates. The partners will integrate eDeals.com's retail platform into their network of sites from which they'll dole out savings to consumers. New eDeal.com partnerships have sprouted up in more than 40 radio stations in markets like Tampa-St. Petersburg, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Detroit, Milwaukee, Tucson, Tulsa, Boise and San Antonio. Under the terms of the deal, partners get an even commission split. The company says more major markets will follow...

Digital coupons are in demand. Earlier this year, Coupons.com said the total volume of coupons redeemed from the Coupons.com network reached $858 million in 2009 -- up from about $320 million in 2008 and $140 million in 2007, for a total increase of over 500% in just two years. Chances are good that you'll see 2 or 3 coupons every time you check your email today. Sure you can delete whatever you're not interested in, but the ad's impression has already been made and eventually you'll get hooked enough to take advantage of one of those digital ads. It works and it's a great revenue source. Radio is smart for jumping on the coupon craze while it still is relevant...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1926] Debuted on this date: The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) debuts with a radio network of 24 stations. The first network broadcast is a 4-hour special from the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria featuring big band music...
2.1956] From song to stage & screen: Elvis Presley's movie career is launched when "Love Me Tender" premieres at the New York Paramount Theater. The film will earn back it's $1 million cost in just 3 days. Over the next 13 years Elvis will appear in 33 movies...1990] David Bowie makes his Broadway debut in "The Elephant Man"...
3.1939] Planting the seed: FDR lays the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C...
4.1967] MVP...MVP...MVP: The Red Sox' Carl Yastrzemski wins the AL MVP in the best individual season performance by a player I've ever seen (this includes watching Mantle & Maris in New York). Yaz won the highly coveted Triple Crown in '67 and it hasn't been done since...
5.1969] Anti-War: A quarter of a million protesters stage a peaceful demonstration in Washington, D.C., against the Viet Nam War...
6.1988] Staking their claim: The legislative body of the PLO proclaims the establishment of an independent state. Zionists take a different view...
7.1992] Not a petty career: Richard Petty's 35-year reign as stock-car king ends in a fiery crash when his famous #43 gets caught in a pileup in his last race. Unhurt, he finishes the race retiring with 7 NASCAR championships and 7 Daytona victories. Both are records...
8.1993] Guilty as charged: A judge in Mineola (LI) sentences Joey Buttafuoco to 6 months in jail for the statutory rape of Amy Fisher, who shot and wounded Joey's wife, Mary Jo...
9.2005] Saving face: In Amiens, France, Isabelle Dinoire becomes the first person to undergo a partial face transplant. A mauling by an attacking dog earlier in the year badly disfigured her face...
10.2007] Gotcha: Baseball home run king Barry Bonds is indicted on charges related to grand jury testimony during which he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds pleaded not guilty and is still awaiting trial...

Music Memories:

  • 1969] Released on this date: "I Want You Back" - Jackson Five...
  • 1990] Read my lips: A Milli Vanilli publicist admits that Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus never sang a note on their album when they lip-synched, performing live...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Frida Lyngstad of ABBA (65), Sam Waterston (70), Yaphet Kotto (73), Petula Clark (78), Edward Asner (81) and judge Joseph Wapner (91)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until Thanksgiving, 16 days until Hanukah, 36 days until winter and 39 shopping days until Christmas...

Friday, November 12, 2010

Is Radio Doing Enough Social Networking???

(Weekend Edition)

Radio is facing a new world and trying to figure out how to fit into it. It's a world of mobile devices and social networking. As the medium continues becoming more socially involved, Gowalla Communications Manager Pia Arthur offers this advice: "There are currently several things radio stations can do to become active on Gowalla", a popular location-based gamemaker. "Radio stations can create trips for certain events, and they can do giveaways for check-ins to their events and concerts. Through comments, stations can also receive feedback from listeners about events they are hosting." That's one way to get the attention of the Facebook generation. "The goal is to give listeners a great experience while sponsors and broadcasters benefit from more personalized engagement with the audiences they want to reach" says Moblico's Pierre Barbeau, CEO of the mobile solutions company...

While location-based gaming might sound like all fun and games, Alice Radio in San Francisco recently teamed up with Gowalla to raise money for Haiti and even VH1, Bravo and The History Channel have signed on for location-based social games, according to RadioWorld. Barbeau adds "By linking radio to location-based social media games, we turn radio into a '3D experience' that expands reach for everyone. In the end, this drives revenues to new levels." ...

This might all sound designed for the lower end of the demographic scale, but if Bravo and The History Channel are involved, maybe it's worth looking into. In addition to Gowalla, other popular location-based gamemakers include Foursquare, Brightkite and SCVNGR...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1931] A 'Nessie' sighting: The first known photo of the 'Loch Ness Monster' is taken (11/12)...
2.1940] Fantastico: "Fantasia", not the singer, the Walt Disney masterpiece debuts (11/12)...
3.1968] Premiered on this date: "Yellow Submarine", the animated movie (11/13)...1997] The Disney musical "The Lion King" opens on Broadway (11/13)... 4.1974] "Happy Trails": Karen Silkwood, 28, a technician and union activist from Oklahoma who inspired a movie of her life, is killed in a suspicious car crash (11/13)...
5.1979] 'Chocolate Thunder': 76er Darryl Dawkins shatters a fiberglass backboard doing a monster dunk in Kansas City and starts a new fad that provides ESPN with about a million 'Sports Update' show opens (11/13)...
6.1986] It's a family affair: Doubleday Publishing agrees to sell the Mets to Nelson Doubleday & Fred Wilpon for $80.7 million (11/14). The publishing company bought the team for a then-record $21.1 million in 1980...
7.1987] AIDS ban banned: The AMA issues a policy statement saying it was unethical for a doctor to refuse to treat someone solely because that person has AIDS or is HIV-positive (11/12)...
8.1996] Wedding Bells: Michael Jackson and mother-for-hire Deborah Rowe make it official (11/14)...1998] Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman marry but there's some debate over who wore the bridal gown (11/14). The marriage ends in 9 days. So what took so long???
9.1996] Guilty as charged: Jonathan Schmitz, 26, is convicted of second-degree murder for shooting Scott Amedure, a gay man who'd revealed a crush on Schmitz on a "Jenny Jones" TV show. Schmitz is serving a 20-25 year prison term (11/12)...1997] Ramzi Yousef is found guilty of masterminding the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Yousef is serving a sentence of life without parole (11/12)...2004] Scott Peterson is sentenced to death for murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and dumping her body in San Francisco Bay. Peterson remains on death row (11/12)...
10.2001] Belle Harbor hell: American Airlines flight 587 crashes in Belle Harbor, Queens shortly after taking off in perfect weather, from JFK, taking more than 260 lives (11/12)...

Music Memories:

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (11/12) Anne Hathaway (28), Tonya Harding (40), Sammy Sosa (42), Nadia Comaneci (49), Neil Young (65), Al Michaels (66), Booker T. Jones (66), Bryan Hyland (67), Ruby Nash Curtis (71) & Bob Crewe (79)...(11/13) Jimmy Kimmel (43), Whoopi Goldberg (55), Chris Noth (56), Joe Mantegna (63) and Garry Marshall (76)...(11/14) Josh Duhamel (38), Curt Schilling (44), Condoleezza Rice (56), Yanni (56), Stephen Bishop (59), Britain's Prince Charles (62), Buckwheat Zydeco aka Stanley Dural Jr. (63) and Jimmy Piersall (81)...

Timeline Countdown: 13 days until Thanksgiving, 19 days until Hanukah, 39 days until winter and 42 shopping days until Christmas...



Thursday, November 11, 2010

Technology Offers Revenue Generating Advice To Radio...

(Veterans Day Edition)

Any good radio program director looks for technical advice from his chief engineer but never asks his tech expert for programming advice. There's a reason for that. Chief engineers are hired to produce the best possible sound a station can offer and maintain the equipment that gives them that. Technical people do tech work and programming people program. It is interesting though to seek advice from tech people as to what has the best chance of making money for a radio station. That's music to a general manager's ears. Equipment manufacturer Wheatstone has done just that. With help from Alethea Research, Wheatstone just conducted a survey called "Revenue-Generating Radio Technologies: A Progress Report." The survey asked radio professionals involved in technology management, including engineers and operations and other technical management to rate in order 10 different ways of generating money for their station. While the results were somewhat predictable, they are still worth noting...

'Streaming Our Signal Over The Internet' was number one and generated 30.9% of respondents choices. 'Website That Interacts With Listeners' was second with 19.2%, followed by 'Streaming Multiple Channels' (12.7%), 'Using Social Media To Win Listeners' (10.0%) and 'Promoting Station With A Mobile Phone App' (5.5%). The rest of the top 10 included 'Broadcasting More Than One HD Channel' (4.0%), Creating Podcasts (3.8%), 'Broadcasting in HD Radio' (3.1%), 'Website That Creates Musical Discovery' (1.0%) and 'Website That Delivers Video' (1.0%). The study found that almost all radio tech people believe the internet will play a bigger part in the future of radio, and that among new revenue-generating technologies, streaming a station's signal has the biggest earning potential (see above figures). Another interesting finding, according to RadioWorld is that "The day will come slowly, but in 15 years a majority of radio stations expect they will have more online listeners than RF (radio frequency) listeners." Despite that expected long-term decline in over-the-air listeners, however, the study found that few radio stations expect to ever turn off their transmitters...

Other findings include radio technology that will be more IT-centric (Information Technology) and IP-centric (Internet Protocol). There will be more automation, as well as more networking between stations, IT networks, and office and audio networks. Three years from now, the stability of each radio stations network will be more important, as will networks with no single point of failure." More audio consoles will be networked and the bandwidth of those networks will be required to increase. Welcome to the world of technology. I'm glad I chose programming...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1918] Armistice Day: World War I ends when the Allies and Germany sign an armistice aka "Armistice Day". Many countries refer to Veterans Day as Remembrance Day...
2.1921] Dedication Day: The Tomb of the Unknowns is dedicated at Arlington Cemetery by U.S. President Warren Harding...
3.1938] The Philadelphia Flyers take note: Kate Smith sings Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" for the 1st time on network radio...
4.1940] Debuted on this date: The Jeep, manufactured for the war effort...
5.1972] 'Happy Trails': Berry Oakley (Allman Brothers) is killed in a motorcycle accident one year and 13 days after Duane Allman met the same fate - and just 3 blocks away. Oakley was 24...2004] Palestinian leader, controversial Yasser Arafat dies in Paris at 75. Israel does not sing 'Happy Trails'...
6.1984] The gift that keeps on giving: President Ronald Reagan accepts the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a gift to the nation from the Vietnam Memorial Fund...
7.1986] Wedding Bells: Sperry Rand and Burroughs walk down the aisle with their baby "Unisys" becoming the second largest computer company...
8.1993] Dedication Day II: A bronze statue is dedicated in Washington (D.C.) to honor more than 11,000 American women who served in the Vietnam War...
9.1996] The Wall that heals: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund unveils "The Wall that Heals", a half-scale replica of the memorial that will tour communities throughout the U.S...
10.2002] MVP x 5: Barry Bonds wins the MVP award for an unprecedented fifth time...

Music Memories:

  • 1958] Recorded on this date: "The Twist" - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters (the original version)...
  • 1963] Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Brian Epstein and Ed Sullivan sign a 3-show contract for Beatles appearances...
  • 1967] Released on this date: "In and Out of Love" - Supremes...

Commentary:
The book is called KHJ: Inside Boss Radio and it makes the perfect Christmas gift for audiophiles who always wanted to know what it feels like to program a radio station. Ron Jacobs takes you from his first day at KHJ, to the glory days of one of America's most famous radio stations - KHJ Los Angeles. You'll read actual memos sent from Ron to the air staff and discover lots of other little known facts about the running of one of the most successful top 40 stations of all time. The book also comes with 2 accompanying CD's. To find out how you can order KHJ: Inside Boss Radio, click here...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Mark Sanchez (24), Leonardo Di Caprio (36), Calista Flockhart (46), Demi Moore (48), Stanley Tucci (50), Marshall Crenshaw (57), Jesse Colin Young (69), Warner Wolf (73) and Jonathan Winters (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 14 days until Thanksgiving, 20 days until Hanukah, 40 days until winter and 43 days until Christmas...

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Facebook Infringement Suit Against WFNX Could Be Payback...

So, what's really behind the Facebook infringement suit against Phoenix Media, owner of alternative formatted WFNX Boston and the Boston Phoenix newspaper? Is Phoenix really infringing on the social media giant or is this payback for an earlier infringement suit brought by Phoenix Media against Facebook in 2009? That infringement suit against Facebook was based on a patent it holds related to setting up online profile pages. Tele-Publishing Inc, another Phoenix subsidiary, provides online dating services to newspaper and broadcaster websites. Facebook, challenging the validity of that patent, claims that it doesn't use the technology, made the counterclaim of infringement in that case. It was at that time that the District Court judge said Facebook would have to pursue its infringement claim in a separate case...

In this recent suit, Facebook alleges that WFNX and other media outlets of Phoenix Media are using features on their websites that infringe on Facebook patents. Facebook claims that the WFNX online music player, a "band guide" and restaurant search, infringe on the social media giant's patents. At least one patent specialist said that suits like the one Facebook filed against the Phoenix are expected and common, according to RadioWorld. Robert Plotkin, a patent lawyer from Burlington who specializes in patent protection says the suit is a defense measure: "One reason that many companies obtain patents is to use them defensively to bring counterclaims against other parties if they are sued for patent infringements." ...

Since most of us are not infringement lawyers but do appreciate creative websites, WFNX has one worthy of enjoying. It can be accessed by clicking here...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1775] Semper Fi: The U.S. Marines are organized under authority of the Continental Congress...
2.1871] Dr. Livingstone, I presume?: Journalist-explorer Henry M. Stanley finds missing Scottish missionary David Livingstone in central Africa and delivers his famous greeting: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" to which Livingstone replies: "And you arrrrrre?"...
3.1954] Dedicated to the ones we love: The Iwo Jima Memorial is dedicated in Arlington (VA)...
4.1969] Debuted on this date: 'Sesame Street' on PBS...
5.1975] Down with the ship: The ore-hauling ship Edmund Fitzgerald sinks during a storm in Lake Superior with all 29 crew members on board (leading to the hit by Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" or as one CBS-FM caller asked: "Can you play the 'Wreck of Ella Fitzgerald?")...
6.1980] Cabnapping: CBS-TV network anchor Dan Rather claims he was kidnapped in a cab but it turns out that Rather refused to pay the driver for the ride (leading to the R.E.M. hit: "What's the cab fare Kenneth?")...
7.1982] Memorialized: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is opened in Washington (D.C.)...
8.1984] Comeback Terps: Backup Maryland QB Frank Reich stages one of the greatest comebacks in college football history, throwing 6 TD passes in the 2nd half and overcoming a 31-0 deficit as the Terps beat Miami 42-40...
9.1993] With malice toward none: John Wayne Bobbitt is acquitted on the charge of marital sexual assault against his wife Lorena Bobbitt (aka "The Blade") who is later acquitted of malicious wounding of her husband. Apparently cutting off one's genitals is not malicious enough in Virginia...
10.2009] Death by execution: John Allen Muhammad, mastermind of the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, is executed in Virgina. Muhammad was 48...

Music Memories:

1965] Number One on this date: "Get Off Of My Cloud" - Rolling Stones...1974] "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" - Bachman-Turner Overdrive...
1967] Released on this date: "Nights in White Satin" - Moody Blues...1973] "Rock On" - David Essex...1986] "Live 1975-1985" box set - Bruce Springsteen...
1969] Gold Standard: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Gene Autry. It was released in 1949...


Commentary:
The 30th Reunion of the original Rock 'N' Bowl is coming up on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at Pinz, 12655 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. The lanes will be rockin' from 7PM to 11PM to benefit the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program. To obtain sponsorship and registration forms, click here...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Ellen Pompeo (41), Tracy Morgan (42), Linda (ESPN) Cohn (51), Mackenzie Phillips (51), Sinbad (54), Ann Reinking (61), Greg Lake (63), Dave Loggins (63), Donna Fargo (65) and Russell ('The Professor') Johnson (86)...

Timeline Countdown: 15 days until Thanksgiving, 21 days until Hanukah, 41 days until winter and 44 days until Christmas...



Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Local Radio Sales Trail National Business...

When it comes to radio sales, local is playing catch-up. The national spot radio market is coming back a lot quicker than local, according to Katz Media Group President/CEO Stu Olds. National spot revenue is pacing up 37% in the fourth quarter and next year looks just as good. Spurring the growth of national business is political, thanks to the mid-term election, automotive, entertainment, professional services and retail. With political dropping out, automotive - up 67.6% in Q4 is up 121.1% in Q1 (2011). Entertainment is pacing up 38.3% in Q4 and 82.2% in Q1. Professional services is pacing up 47.8% in Q4 and 33.3% in Q1, while retail is pacing up 23.5% in Q4 and 47.5% in Q1...

Olds claims the recovery "has swept the country" with New York (+30.5%), Boston (+13.8), San Francisco (+33.1%), Houston (+25.2%), Philadelphia (+29%), Detroit (+25.4%) and Oklahoma City (+32.7%) leading the way. Radio Ink says "Political advertising is helping push prices up, with more than 90% of markets showing higher prices, according to recent tracking data." Katz reports that average minute rates rose 1.8% in August, 6.8% in September, and 15.9% in October. Looking at pacings to date for Q1 2011, average minute rates are up 2.6%...

Several radio groups, among them - Salem and Saga, while reporting gains in revenue, say that local advertisers are slow to return but national gains will help them stay positive into 2011...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1872] Beantown's ablaze: The Great Boston Fire kills 20, causing millions of dollars in damage...
2.1888] The Ripper rests: Jack the Ripper kills Mary Jane Kelly, his last known victim...
3.1913] Great Lakes storm: More than 250 die in the most destructive natural disaster ever to hit the Great Lakes -- 19 ships are destroyed...
4.1938] Kristallnacht: Nazi troops and sympathizers destroy and loot Jewish businesses, burn synagogues and kill 91 Jews. They also round up 25,000 in an event known as 'Kristallnacht' or 'Night of Broken Glass'...
5.1953] Supes Rule: Somehow the Supreme Court upholds a 1922 ruling that major league baseball does not come within the scope of federal antitrust laws. Were there 9 justices named Ito???
6.1965] Lights out: The great northeast blackout turns the lights out in 9 states and two provinces of Canada. It affects 25 million people for more than 13 hours...
7.1967] On the cover of Rolling Stone: The first issue of Rolling Stone Magazine is published with John Lennon gracing the cover...
8.1979] False alarm: NORAD computers and a military command center in Maryland detect a massive Soviet nuclear missile attack. After reviewing the raw data, guess what? No attack. Oops...
9.1989] Wall? What wall?: Happy Germans dance on top of the Berlin Wall as Communist East Germany opens its borders, allowing citizens to travel freely to the west...
10.2005] Suicide kills: Three suicide bombers carry out nearly simultaneous attacks on three U.S. based hotels in Amman, Jordan, killing 60 and wounding hundreds...

Music Memories:

Commentary:
Ron Jacobs has written an ultimate chronicle of what it feels like to program a radio station. Ron takes you from his first day at KHJ, to the glory days of one of the most famous radio stations of all-time. I especially loved the staff memos he includes in the book. For additional information on the book and accompanying CDs - click here ...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Nikki Blonsky (22), Nick Lachey (37), Lou Ferrigno (59), Bob Gibson (75) and Whitey (the White Rat) Herzog (79)...

Timeline Countdown: 16 days until Thanksgiving, 22 days until Hanukah, 42 days until winter and 45 days until Christmas...