Radio World describes NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith as someone who "pressures quietly, accommodates loudly and argues reasonably" but Smith as smooth and suave as he is, has one huge test to pass this year before being completely accepted by the majority of radio's populace. Smith's litmus test will be final action on the Performance Rights Act, the act that would tax terrestrial radio for playing music. Broadcasters will be watching closely to see how the PRA is handled by Smith. After the 2008 elections, the odds were high that there would be a final resolution of the act coming out of Congress. It was still possible that Congress would act before they recessed at the end of 2010 but radio dodged a bullet instead...
A key reason for NAB board members to hire Smith was to stop or slow the PRA. He's been able to do that so far but some kind of settlement must be negotiated. The strength of the National Association of Broadcasters is on the line and broadcasters will need to be happy with the results or Smith's value will be diminished - his leadership in doubt...
When LPFM (low power FM) legislation was passed by the House in December and then the Senate, the NAB approved passage with thoughts of new NAB members in mind: "NAB (also) announces that after the new year, the group will be extending an invitation to supporters of low-power FM to an event at NAB headquarters heralding passage of the legislation." One big, happy family. Radio World writes that "The person who wears the public face of NAB must address two key audiences. He must serve the needs of association members, foremost. But he must also consider how his actions and statements are perceived among the legislators who are in a position to influence the businesses of those members. Words have consequences." The jury is still out...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1892] Basketball rules: The official rules of basketball are published for the first time in Springfield (MA) where the game is invented (1/15)…
2.1952] Debuted on this date: “The Today Show” on NBC-TV with Dave Garroway and Jack Lescoulie (1/14)...
3.1954] Wedding Bells: Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe marry at San Francisco City Hall. Marilyn will charge ‘mental cruelty’ in October and the couple will divorce (1/14)…
4.1963] Color blind: George C. Wallace vows “segregation forever” as he’s sworn in as Governor of Alabama. Eventually Wallace drops his racial discrimination stance (1/14)…
5.1967] Super Sunday: The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in what will eventually be called Super Bowl I. Back then it was called the NFL Championship Game (1/15)…
6.1974] Best Seller: "Jaws" by Peter Benchley is published with a movie planned (1/16)...
7.1974] Debuted on this date: “Happy Days” on ABC-TV. The highly rated show will run until July of 1984 and spawn the spin off, ‘Laverne and Shirley’ in January, 1976 (1/15)…
8.1988] Jimmy the Geek: CBS-TV fires Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder one day after his racial comment that during slavery, “blacks had been bred to produce stronger offspring” (1/16). His comments got worse…
9.1998] Circular filed: Whitewater prosecutors begin questioning Hillary Rodham Clinton about the gathering of FBI files on past Republican political appointees (1/14)…
10.2009] Captain America: Thanks to the heroic efforts of Capt. Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, 57, and his co-pilot, 155 lives are saved as U.S. Airways Flight 1549 lands safely in New York City’s Hudson River (1/15)…
Music Memories:
- 1957] Recorded on this date: "Lucille" - Little Richard (1/16)...
- 1961] Signed, sealed, delivered: Motown signs the Supremes (1/15)...
- 1964] So, sue me: Vee Jay Records files suit against Capitol and Swan over recording rights to the Beatles (1/15)...
- 1966] The Name Game: David Jones changes his last name to 'Bowie' to avoid confusion with Monkee Davy Jones (1/14)...
- 1970] Someday means never: Diana Ross and the Supremes perform their last concert together at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas (1/14)...
- 1971] Released on this date: "My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison (1/15)...1976] "Frampton Comes Alive" LP - Peter Frampton (1/16)...1989] "Back In The U.S.S.R." LP - Paul McCartney (1/14)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (1/14) Jason Bateman (42), LL Cool J (43), Marjoe Gortner (67), Faye Dunaway (73), Julian Bond (71), Jack Jones (73), Allen Toussaint (73), Clarence Carter (75), Caterina Valente (80) and Andy Rooney (92)...(1/15) Chad Lowe (43), Marty Lyons (54), Charo (60), Andrea Martin (64) and Margaret O'Brien (74)...(1/16) Kate Moss (37), Roy Jones, Jr. (42), Sade (Adu) (52), Debbie Allen (61), John Carpenter (63), Dr. Laura Schlessinger (64), Jim Stafford (67), Barbara Lynn (69), A.J. Foyt (76) and Marilyn Horne (77)...
Timeline Countdown: NFL Division Playoffs are on, MLK Day is Monday, 9 days until NFL Conference championships, 23 days until Super Bowl XLV, 30 days until Pitchers & Catchers & 31 days until Valentines Day...
