Archive for January, 2010
Jan 29 Not Sure there is a Radio headline: CELLit’s take on daily radio news
Radio Headlines January 29, 2010
Best of the Day – Not sure … where’s the Steve Jobs of Radio? Seems accountants are running radio.
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Is it Black Friday? Leads with “Debt Watch, not Death Watch” … six radio companies are in Chapter 11. Follows with Salem’s top execs taking pay cuts [it must be difficult if execs taking pay cuts] and makes the third item Westwood strongly object to #4 spot on Forbes’ Rish List. [Time to go back to work or join a bank.] Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Gaga for Gaga as she opens the Grammys Sunday night. She may be the real thing. Her album generated four #1 songs and sold 15.3 million tracks in 2009. All from the girl attending the Sacred Heart school in Manhattan. NextMedia files paperwork to move back from debtor-in-possession status. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Must be end-of-the-month financial. RBR leads with Wells Fargo analyst high on TV debt but passing on radio bonds. Analyst are not bullish on a big rebound in radio revenue. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – RI leads with the Westwood PR release that Forbes’ placement on the financial “Risk List” is misleading and based on outdated/inaccurate information”. [We’ll see.] Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Interesting three items: Toyota adjusts radio in light of auto recall; Podcasts reach the unreachable educated/affluent audience; Radio orphans (downsized) finding second life online. Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – More on Clear Channel, Cumulus, and Citadel employment practices. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Continues its guerilla marketing with Radio and Internet Summit April 12 at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel same time as the NAB show next door at the convention center. Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – What the iPad means for Radio … really. The importance of content couldn’t be clearer. Stuff worth sharing … many media formats … that the audience wants to share. Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … Game Enhancer … Steve Jobs, new cars, and radio. Fav line … “Radio may be an “old” technical platform, but that doesn’t mean the content can’t be new, fresh, and exciting.” Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
RBR makes sense of panel discussion: CELLit daily radio headline round up
Radio Headlines January 27, 2010
Best of the Day – RBR makes sense out of the Minority Broadcasters panel discussion.
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Tom asks the question … What does Liberty’s John Malone see in Live Nation/Ticketmaster? He stepped up ownership to 35% after merger approved. Malone is former cable mogul, now into sat-TV and show business. Lots of radio management changes, some for talent some for consolidation savings. Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Asks the same question of Liberty’s John Malone and adds he also owns 40% of Sirius XM. [If Malone shows up with anything related to Apple … this is a real story.] Interesting research that indicates radio advertising is very effective at leading shoppers to the web. For 10% of the measured campaign spending, radio generated 34% of the brand browsing. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Lead is about FCC panel discussion concerning minority broadcasters and the Internet. RBR Observation … discussion applies to all broadcasters and suggests even stations that cannot afford internet investments should establish whatever presence they can, experiment and … learn … then ramp up. Good read about Ezra Kucharz and perhaps what CBS plans ahead for their Internet presence. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Repeats the press release information put out by Citadel, Clear Channel, and others. Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Headlines Kaiser Family Foundation research published last weekend. Teens give radio 32-minutes out of an 8-hour media day. Southern California Broadcaster Assoc President says recovery arrives and predicts 3-5% revenue gains. [Interesting!] Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Jerry speculates on Apple’s Tablet Effect on Radio … wait a few hours and see what the real tablet brings and we’ll see if this becomes “I told you so”. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – RadioTime’s Top 19 formats and #1 is news. New iPhone app with built-in GPS allows streaming by location. Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – Interview with Seth Godin and new book Linchpin is still a good read. Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … Chicken-Egg of it … ends with “it’s been so long since terrestrial radio actually created the type of programming that might make consumers actually want to by a new radio.” Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
Radio’s New Normal and No Return to Yesterday: CELLit’s daily take on radio headlines
Radio Headlines January 26, 2010 … Hear 2.0 has today’s best
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Controversial merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster approved with some changes to strengthen competitive options. Michael Savage comments about getting back after getting sacked. Next for Air American talent … Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Leads with Live Nation / Ticketmaster merger approval. Cumulus headquarters changes. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Reports estimates of $500-million more political spending and links to report which broadcasters have the most to gain. Reports on list of 2,700 companies at financial risk of bankruptcy … Westwood One is #4 on the list and Eastman Kodak is #1. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Industry tribute to James Quello, who died Sunday at the age of 95. Quello was former FCC commissioner / leader of WRJ-Detroit. Clear Channel names Louis Garcia new director of presentation development. Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Radio facing fewer indecency fines while activists insist radio not cleaning up its act. Howard Stern strategy spot-on for Howard Stern. Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – The Howard Stern – Sirius XM – Clear Channel dust up says a lot about John Hogan, CC CEO and putting his money where his mouth isn’t. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Recent Kaiser Family Foundation Study found young people 8 to 18 spend 8-hours day consuming media: 2-hours with music of which 32-minutes each for music on computers and 32-minutes with AM/FM radio. GM’s new dashboard radio to pause live radio broadcast for up to 20-minutes [fast forward? Another blow to untargeted advertising?] Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – Navigating Radio’s “New Normal” – A conversation with Seth Godin. “Those who learned to do jobs in the 1960 or 1970 are in big trouble. Those 40-50 year old executives hoping to wait this thing out … are in really big trouble. Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … Think Small … new perspective on contest prizes. Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
Star Wars and Galatic Battle Ahead: CELLit take on daily radio headlines
Radio Headlines January 25, 2010
Best of the Day – Star Wars with sat-casters, Clear Channel, and Howard Stern
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Clear Channel Courting Howard Stern? CEO Hogan emailed statement to Business Week and Stern’s on-air comment signal the game is on. [Could this move also say CC wants to goose ratings, increase syndication, and prep the business for a move to cash out with a public offering in 3-5 years?] Radio talker resigns to challenge John McCain. Good stuff on Paul Harvey and FBI Director Hoover. Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Another lead with the Clear Channel / Stern public comments. CC has other high profile personalities like Limbaugh and Seacrest so they are not afraid to put their $$$ up. [Can Sirius XM afford to lose this marquee talent?] Over the weekend Jim Kennedy exits Cumulus VP/Urban after 10-years with the company. Other VP assumes his responsibilities in what appears to be a cost cutting move. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Why Air American Failed? RBR says the political guys tried to run radio. The talent was right and many former shows now successful elsewhere. Cute item … even the guy that launched Limbaugh didn’t agree with him but knew how to run a radio show. Former eBay CEO making full use of radio in her early campaign for California governor. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Repeats the Stern, Clear Channel comments. Second item, Berkery Noyes reports 441 media-industry (TV, radio, print, cable) “deals” down 37% from 700 prior year. Biggest category was internet media and the biggest deal Comcast-NBC Universal. Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Political ad avalanche coming with new Supreme Court ruling that allows unlimited corporate political spending. Second item is about Clear Channel and Stern. Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – How to Rehire Radio People … and some ugly details about the Broadcasters Foundation and the $125k Lowry Mays gift. 60% of the RBR reader pole thinks the money is tainted. Federal Tax filings for the Broadcasters Foundation indicate a lot more of the foundation’s money could go to help radio people. See the seven-steps for making it work better. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Pandora internet radio leads the field by 40% higher “average active sessions”. Pandora hires VP/Audio Sales. Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – Takes on Pandora and questions the streaming strategies of AM/FM broadcasters. Mark’s point … online radio is a playground for more content and more value, powered by the reach of your over-the-air broadcast. Broadcasters must provide more stuff worth seeking. Stuff drives usage. Usage brings monetization. It doesn’t happen the other way around. Are you a leftover? Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … Two Fronts … and lessons about supporting two battles … PPM and digital. Don’t ignore your digital presence, community engagement, audience networking, personality lineup, and listener integration. PPM is only one front. Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
Potential for more political ad spend: CELLit’s take on morning radio headlines
Radio Headlines January 22, 2010
Best of the Day – Potential for more political ad spend
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Leads with The Supreme Court changes political campaign spending rules so expect political ad spending to set an all time record this year. Ad rates not be limited to Lowest Unit Rate. Disclosure requirements remain. Long Island’s “Party” drops NYC simulcast. Stern hints he is considering terrestrial radio after current Sirius XM contract. [Seems he is trying to start a horse race for his next mega-payday.] Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Department of Justice agrees file-sharing verdict is Constitutional. No profit motive required for track owners to collect damages. Webcast Metrics has Pandora tops for the December rankings ahead of CBS, Clear Channel, and Citadel. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Supreme Court opens up cash portals. RBR take on Stern … lots of talk but Stern stays at Sirius XM for less pay but also less work. Next item Air America shuttering Jan 25. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Leads with item about the Air America staff memo, service started 5-years ago will file Chapter 7. Dick Orkin asks NAB to remove his plaque from the Broadcast Hall of Fame as he is embarrassed to be with Limbaugh. Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Exclusive report behind paywall … PPM impacts programming risks stations willing to take with new music. Air America shut down. Parrott broadcasting files Chapter 11 as 3-station group cannot carry its $1 million debt. Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Details about Clear Channel’s latest salary dump and ends with “major radio groups disrupted lives, ended careers and doubled or tripled workloads”. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Leads the news with 32% use Internet radio services weekly. References some Apple comments that new tablet device seeks to change print/TV like iTunes changed music. Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – Raises the question … will Apple announce a FREE streaming music utility? Ends with the thought … either become the lowest cost broadcaster or invest to provide unique and compelling content to sustain an audience. Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … Motown, Hockeytown, Techtown … take on the recent Detroit auto show and dashboard entertainment centers. The big issue is how AM/FM will fare when consumers can easily access an iPod, fully loaded hard drive from the vehicle’s USP port, a DVD player, and any Internet station. You cannot voice track your way out of this one. Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
Top Reader Pick at RBR – Tough Payroll Coming Up? CELLit Daily Radio Headline Summary
Radio Headlines January 21, 2010
Best of the Day – Top reader pick at RBR “Got a Tough Payroll Coming Up?”
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Leads with Apple’s growing influence over “old media”. Expected new tablet doesn’t have FM radio chip and Radio-info writer concludes … (radio) has to build strong brands … across multiple platforms. More on Magna ad rev$ forecast 2.5% radio rev$ decline doesn’t square with some radio leaders “talk” about stronger results. Still, few executives will be hiring. Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Long-in-the-works LiveNation/Ticketmaster merger down to the wire and AEG is playing games to get more venues. Grammy Awards will Honor Michael Jackson. BIA/Kelsey releases its top five trends to watch 2010 … #4 Broadcasters Win with Localism … win with local brands, local content, and local sales forces. [What have you got?] Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Top reader pick “Got a Tough Payroll Coming up? Details ThriftyMart.com National Radio Auction bartering radio time for merchandise, auctions, and $$$ to stations. Feature news lead about NYTimes charging for website news access. RBR says dream on. [It’s about content and content costs money. Online rev$ just don’t pay the bills. If the NYTimes can make it then the world changes.] Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Leads with a Government Accounting Office report covered yesterday in most news. [Anybody home here? Publisher masthead still has New Year’s resolutions!] Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Royalty fight goes to court with wide gap remaining between radio stations and ASCAP/BMI. [Did you expect anything else?] CBS cross-media play to bring in more women to male heavy NY, LA, Detroit radio clusters. Sovereign City Radio liquidation sees new direction in deal market. Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – The Tipping Point for Radio … 2010 as advertisers tell radio what they really think by driving down the price of commercials as consumers get their news and entertainment online and from mobile devices. FM radio is not included in the next “must have” products. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Gartner research says smartphones will surpass the installed base of PC equipment and more people will access the web from mobile devices. [Wireless, mobility, entertainment … what’s your digital plan?] Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – Online video preview to a full interview with Seth Godin that will present later this month. It’s about his new book “Linchpin: Are you Indispensable?” Quotes … in 10-years nobody is going to say they are glad to own 660 on the AM dial. Video runs 3-minutes … catch it you can. Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … Boom Year … and the opportunity with Boomers. Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
2010 local radio rev$ forecast -2.5%: CELLit daily radio headline summary
Radio Headlines January 20, 2010
Most Reported today … Magna forecast of 2010 media spend … local radio … is that all there is?
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Leads with Emmis “triumphs in Hungarian court.” Hungarian courts agree Emmis got screwed by regulator. Sirius pre-announces some Q4 results with 257,000 more net subs and $100 million in free cash flow. [Net subs up 1.5% on “Cash for Clunkers” and slightly lower churn is better than expected given Apple pumping out 10-million new iPhones/iTouch devices every quarter. Is there where sat-radio plateaus and starts milking the cash cow? ] Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Interpublic’s MAGNA 2010 media forecast predicts local radio at $12.8 billion down 2.5% and thinks 2011 will be down 10%. Big winners? TV with the election year and Olympics. Direct online to $15.6 billion up 12% with national online ad spending to $5.8 billion up 4%. [Does this say online will become 2x bigger than local radio?] Other items: Emmis Victory; GAO and FCC procedural changes; and the Sirius subscriber numbers. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Covers the Magna Forecast with details how the forecast is calculated. Other news the same: Emmis and GAO-FCC processes. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Leads with the same Magna forecast. Next item from President of Southern California Broadcasters defending radio … 9 of 10 people listen to radio each week, only TV is more; and 60% more people listen to radio than log on to the internet. [Go girl!!] Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Leads with the Magna forecast. Sadly, news that privately-held Bustos Media is in technical default with loans. Another, Debut Broadcasting gets bank permission to rework it’s debt seen as positive indicator that some banks still see a future in radio. Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Takes on the “Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award” … and thinks it should be the “Lowry Mays Execution Award”. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Tech analyst Gartner predicts in next 3-years more people will access web by mobile smartphone than traditional computers. So, this leaves broadcasters 3-years to prepare for a world in which the majority of the audience will tune in on a wireless device. Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – Passive and active contextualization beats nothing at all. Deep but important explanation. Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … Commoditization … what’s your “chef” that separates your operation from the competition? Got a secret sauce? Are listeners talking about your key differences? Will you invest in what advertisers need in order to set themselves apart? Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
Jacobs Blog Powerful Afternoon Thoughts: CELLit sums morning radio headlines 1-19-2010
Best of the Day – Jacobs Blog and powerful thought from the afternoon. Also, check RBR for a fantastic MP3 of NY air checks.
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – The Numbers Game and listener/rev$ numbers for radio, Sirius XM, and Pandora. Radio has 236-million; Sirius XM 35-million; Pandora 10-million. [Readers left hanging for the point?] MediaNews Group files “pre-pack” Chapter 11 … equity gone, debt swapped less than 20-cents on the dollar, and management stays in place with incentives that might one day own 20% of the company. [Why?] Citadel fighting over sales guy’s non-compete. [Sense the irony here?] Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Cox in trouble over morning co-host with issues about not doing a live read for spot promoting the cable-TV company. Coincidence that host has been critical of the local cable service or just staff changes? Local paper thinks there was more. Details on the Simon Cowell arrangement with Sony. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Leads with Consumer Electronics Growing, Visitors clicking via Smart Phone. Within three years smart phones will outnumber PCs. 30% of new phones are smart, data connected devices. Technology does not wait … it is time to engage or go home. Memories of New York radio golden era air checks and online MP3 file. Listen … it’s a hoot! Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Leads with Haitian relief radiothons and FCC commissioner comments. Broadcast Foundation introduces Mays Excellence In Broadcasting Award with first award winner announced at NAB Show. Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Exclusive Inside Radio sample predicts Dec rev$ up 2% for radio … first up in 31-months. Massachusetts political cash spigot opens wide with $8 to $10 million in radio over the last few weeks! Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – “The Mad Media Meltdown” Leno, Consolidators, NBC, and radio’s future belongs to those that will innovate, acquire new skills, and bring out the talent in others. Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) … “Taking it Personally” 96rock/Raleigh programmer and afternoon drive personality, Jay Nachlis (“Foster”), chimes in with his powerful experience … MUST READ. Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
Jacob’s Blog 8-steps for better 2010: CELLit daily radio headlines 1-28-2010
Best of the Day – Jacob’s Blog and eight things to do now for a better 2010
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Leads with NYC revenue rankings for 2009 and CBS leads broadcasting the World Champion New York Yankees. New York revenue gains in December with auto and banks returning to advertising. More on CBS “Boom” radio and Pittsburgh line up changes. Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – 32-year careen comes to an end for WPGC/Washington morning fixture Donnie Simpson. Universal Music group begins layoffs effecting 1% worldwide work force. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Leads with details from new book “Profitably Buying and Selling Radio Stations” tracing the history of minority tax certificates. Saga Communications begins 6x/year color glossy magazine for Women of Central Iowa called “Intuition”. Advertisers are looking to use more than 60-second commercials. Mag starts with 300-distribution points. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Citadel changes Chicago leader after current GM serves 24-years. No other details. Limbaugh still dancing around Haiti donations issue. Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Leads with reader survey that radio ad buyers less interested in radio spots. Worries about a “double-dip” radio recession. Arbitron working on a new engagement metric. Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Tackles the “Free Media” topic as a warm up for his January Media Labs. Mentions no industry speakers shilling their own products just straight talk about the hard work ahead to succeed. Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Leads with Clear Channel contextual ad-serving platform for audio ads. The system has been in testing for the past year. Reviews “Radio Tuna”, an internet radio search service. Read more …
Hear 2.0 (4,173) – Challenges the reader Is Radio just “Radio” or is it something Bigger? Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) – “The Numbers” including 10,000 lost radio jobs and eight suggestions to do something. Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
Sirius XM Smoke Screen? CELLit Radio Headlines 1/15/2010
Radio Headlines January 15, 2010
Best of the Day – Sirius XM sets up smoke screen before 4th quarter financial data.
Radio-info (255,191 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Tom Taylor questions the unusual release of Sirius XM Arbitron audience data. The numbers in this special survey are impressive but is this info intended to soften the coming 4th quarter subscriber information? Boasting this info gives Howard Stern more fuel to negotiate his gorilla sized contract. Or, will Stern go the new media route? Read more …
All Access (92,023 Monthly Visits) – Universal Music Group cuts 50-staffers or 1% of worldwide work force. Rush Limbaugh’s comments on Haiti draw White House response and more listeners to his show. It’s all he-said / she-said and Rush continues to rule. Read more …
RBR (29,457) – Leads with the Sirius XM “bigger” audience claims and RBR comments … custom survey doesn’t cut the mustard and challenges XM to back it up. Next radio up … new Arbitron CEO begins to work with critical clients and their well connected political allies. Read more …
Radio Ink (14,294) – Clear Channel expands “in-Context” ads program as exclusive to their network. Examples … Wal-Mart album sale advert runs after music track and Geico save 15% advert runs at :15 pat the hour. NAB launches radio/TV PSAs featuring First Lady Michelle Obama and Red Cross donations. Read more …
Inside Radio (11,821) – Census Bureau begins $133 million campaign to increase mail in participation. Ads in 28-languages. More on the Clear Channel “semantic ads”. IR calculates 1.7 listeners per paid sub for the “timely” release of Sirius XM audience data ahead of 4th quarter financials. [How bad was the sat-caster’s Christmas?] Read more …
Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Radio’s Believe it or Not … latest allegations from JD’s callers about consolidators running radio groups. Clear Channel cuts cancer patient salary – but only his? Read more …
Kurthanson/RAIN (8,505) – Writes about the expensive in-car internet access and asks if consumers might find advertisers to help offset the cost? Next, if NBC missed the obvious … are you? Read more …
Jacobs Media Blog (1,188) – Lessons from “Conan the Barbarian” and managing on air talent in today’s world of internet social media. Read more …
Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.
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