Your Digital Age Quiz link at JacoBlog

Radio Headlines February 26, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Radio One balks at moving corporate offices back to D.C.  Attendance up at this year’s Country Radio Seminar with $99 unemployment rate and other admission discounts.  Arbitron publishes new edition of “Black” and “Hispanic” Radio Today highlighting strong radio use in both communities.  [Arbitron makes nice to go forward … see more down this blog.]   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Univision blasts PPM as they announce poor radio financials.  Univision says Arbitron PPM samplings methodology is biased against minorities … especially those with only cell phones.  Univision says the answer is available but Arbitron doesn’t want to incur the expense.  Agenda for CRS includes:  “Zero Promotion Budget = Doing More with Nothing” and “The Radiothon Effect”.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Sirius beats financial guidance by a lot. With some subscriber growth and a lot of cost cutting including pass thru of music royalty fees.  Bigger issues ahead … long-term intentions of Liberty Media and 40% equity stake, Howard Stern contract, and debt payments [also, internet radio like Pandora and Slacker with the growing use of always on digital smartphones].   Also covers the Univision – Arbitron dispute. Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Lead story indicates some Christmas stations may be converting seasonal gains into long term listeners.  Touches on the Univision-Arbitron story.  Country listeners want more variety.   Spanish language market sees 1^st quarter revenue momentum.  Headlines only … complete articles for paying subs only.    Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Covers the Sirius XM financial report with press release statistics and repeats another pr release about new CBS/Orlando management change [gets the picture wrong?].     Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Covers Cumulus sales employment practices and raises the issue about inside or outside sales rep status with regard to overtime pay and expenses.   Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – NPD study shows online radio listener with 41% more music downloads while on-demand services like Spotify downloaded 13% less.  Marketron and Ando Media announce new ad management tool that works simultaneously for both on-air and Internet stations.  Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Embrace your brand not simple your ingredients.  Your brand is what consumers say it is … not what you want it to be.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … What’s your digital age? Link to a 10-question survey everyone in radio should take.   JacoBlog … knowing digital is critically important to media professionals to relate, communicate, and engage with rapidly changing audiences.   Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Mostly National News Today for business thats 75% Local

Radio Headlines February 25, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Les Moonves will be running CBS until at least 2015 when he’s 65. Base salary the same at $3.5 million but expect higher performance bonus.  Entercom and Alpha fighting over managers and non-competes.  6-years later Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction still in court.  Great stuff from Dave Ramsey keynote at CRS … radio got fat, sassy, and sloppy.  Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Moody’s says Clear Channel restructuring inevitable as $13.8 billion debt comes due in 2016 … company’s debt level unmanageable and not likely to be refinanced.  Nielsen ad spending figures for 2009 are available.  The year finished at $117 billion down $12 billion or 9%.  Spot radio -8.7% and network radio -9.7%.  Biggest gains … Spanish +32%, Cable +15%, FSI Coupon +12%, Internet … even.  Full list of major winners and losers …  Read more …

RBR (69,924) – musicFIRST organization kicks off www.piggyradio.com but RBR has the real details how royalty $$$ split … 50% label, 45% lead singer, 5% all other in the band.  Long discussion about TV spectrum and broadband [that the lobbyist will not let go anywhere until they have milked it for all the $$$ they can get].   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Census ad money arrives with $133 million and $21 million for radio.  Topline of the Nielsen ad spending report.   Toyota’s new attitude may help radio.  Les Moonves and CBS item.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Leads with Les Moonves new deal.  Clear Channel launches TOTAL OUT OF HOME network with new digital billboards.  Chicago launch and later expansion to other markets.    Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Predicts Disney will sell ABC Television and outlines recent Disney moves.  Concludes … new media is starting to kill traditional media and force their clueless caretakers to take their money off the table.  Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – New Countryman model mini-van will offer mini-connected central computing system that uses iPhone’s 3G network to connect.  App controlled from the car’s center column.  New Slacker internet radio feature allows Android/Blackberry to cache music and smooth over rough wireless connectivity issues.   Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Morning Shows listen up – Hear 2.0 video interview with Randy Lane

Radio Headlines February 24, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Country Radio Seminar 2010 – It’s a whole new decade.  Even country music listeners have new attitudes about social media, email, and smartphones.  Interesting idea that country radio should be the backbone of rebuilding domestic vehicle sales.   ABC News cuts don’t extend to radio.   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Net News leads with illegal file sharing jury award of $675,00 and appeal to federal judge to reduce the 30-song incident to $21.  Full day agenda for the CRS 2010 Seminar … Ramsey, Artist Awards, Consumer Research findings, PPM Discussion, and 9:30p Rascal Flatts Party.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Top reader picks … Scripps hangs for sale sign on United Media – syndicator of news-paper features.  ABC News lets 300-staffers go … it’s a new economy.   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Entercom CEO David Field predicted double-digit 2010 rev$ gains and stays with his bullish view, but says the key will be rates.  TargetSpot offers advertisers copy splitting and plans GPS integration for more accurate listener targeting.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Leads with Entercom Q4 and full year 2010 financial numbers but the real story is CEO’s bullish outlook.    Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Details Clear Channel negotiating tactics with morning show talent contracts … terminate and rehire at lower rates.  Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Leads with RadioDNS, a project to match a broadcast with an online web service so content can be tagged for later use or purchase.  Out-of-work D.C. jock’s podcast averages 15k downloads/day and makes iTunes “top 20” list of comedy programs and has already paid off the show’s start up costs. Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Randy Lane 9-minute video interview … Take your Morning Show from “Good” to “Great”.   Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … JacoBLOG asks “Who Are You?  Promises to publish comments only with writer’s identity … healthy dialog comes with accountability. [Bravo!]   Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Arbitron Moves Forward – Lobbyist Make Great Money with Radio

Radio Headlines February 23, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – NBA strategy working to push back the Performance Rights Act so no new royalty, tax, or performance fee paid by radio stations. New NAB learder and former Senator Gordon Smith is doing his job. [With so much money in play expect this to be a lawyer/lobbyist dream issue … both sides have money to spend and lose.  Full employment for Washington DC.]   Salem co-founder accepts a pay cut to $250,000/year plus bonus option.  Arbitron expands Radio Advisory Council.     Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – All Access reports Salem co-founder takes paycut to $250,000 with possibility for performance bonus.   Sirius XM gets more time to implement  leased channel requirement. [Company lobbyist at work.]  Tiger’s apology draws crowd to ESPNRadio.com   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Most read article “TargetSpot adds mobile ad platform” with big rev$ expectations for this new business.  IN CASE OF EMERGENCY – Case Study:  The Flood of the Century … worth a read for your community. Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Latest data shows turnaround in auto advertising.  Radio Disney has no plans to exit the business but is putting more emphasis on digital platforms [What about you?]  Arbitron Council adds nine.  Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Arbitron Expands Advisory Council with more reps for urban and Spanish-language broadcasters.  Four more lawmakers sign on to anti-royalties resolution.  Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Still interested in record companies suing illegal downloaders?  Lots of details but the same old story [record companies don’t understand the customer is always right].  Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Highlights strength of digital segment of the 2009 radio summary.  Pandora reportedly earned $50 million in 2009 topping previous estimates.   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – How to evaluate good ideas for your website … CCA rule.  Short, sweet read worth your time.  Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Radio Rev$ Declines – Worst Behind or Ahead?

Radio Headlines February 22, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – A $21.5-billion industry now $16-billion says RAB as radio slips -18% for 2009.  Radio industry has two back-to-back bad years down -9% in 2008 and now -18% in 2009.  The 4^th quarter was only down -8% and some signs that 1^st quarter this year could be flat or up slightly.  Digital is a strong performer.  This year auto is returning, along with groceries, financial services, and entertainment.  Local, digital, and off air are 3/4^th of revenue. [See structural changes to digital media options covered in other publications.] Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Royce Com appoints ace programmer Robert Scorpio new OM/PD  to define the Mainstream Top 40 Radio genre of tomorrow.  Scorpio says he’s cognizant of programming adjustments for PPM markets.  [Robert … follow the consumer you cannot do it all with format adjustments.]  Simon Cowell replacement speculation.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Speculates Sirius XM might be a possible acquisition target of Liberty Media.  They already own 40% of the satcaster.  Liberty also owns WorldSpace a beleaguered international satellite radio broadcaster.  Powerful details explained for Performance Rights, royalties, radio jobs, and where the money goes.   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – IR exclusive … after 31-consecutive monthly declines Inside Radio says January’10 radio rev$ are up +1%.  However, IR follows with economists at BIA/Kelsey predicting that a structural change in the local media industry point toward digital.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Covers the RAB industry rev$ report and highlights “radio went from -25 percent in May to flat in December – a tremendous lead-in to 2010.”  Radio Ink also covers the BIA/Kelsey predictions noting local media spending slow thru 2011 with a meaningful recovery in 2012 with a steady shift toward digital.  Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Radio’s Employee Uprising … could set consolidators on their heels in an area they never saw coming – employment abuses [easy to miss when you run a business with a spreadsheet from Wall Street].    Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – RAIN reviews Stereomood that creates playlists around your mood or activity … relaxing, need love, happy.  Arbitron considers measuring online radio again.   Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Constant Contact High using radio to grow revenues, employment, and the business.  Great lesson here.  Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

CBS shows the way to a better 2010. Arbitron needs friends.

Radio Headlines February 19, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – CBS Radio to show positive growth in 1^st quarter after improving performance thru last year.  The daily leads from a former radio group head … had it with ethnic broadcasters and PPM being unfair.  He raises the better question.  How bad where the paper dairies? [About time somebody stood up.]  NextMedia plan to exit bankruptcy lets management stay in place with management incentive plan to retain 14% of equity.  Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – American Idol Cowell’s not a Stern fan … but loves Lady Gaga.  FCC commission proposes new rules for agency communications to revitalize and energize the agency operations.  Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Arbitron CEO has his hands full coming to terms with the PPM coalition.  CEO says he is working with the Media Accreditation Council. [Is it time for others to stand up and support Arbitron?  The meters are way better than the old paper diaries.]   Next, CBS reports good start to the new year and if a huge election battle comes 2010 should get better.   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – More on CBS business success.  Different take on Arbitron with focus on new streaming measurements for online radio, new cell-phone-only panel members, and projections of improved company financials.  [Thanks IR for the perspective.]  Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – More on the CBS radio business trends and details of the Arbitron financial report released earlier this week.    Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Employee Class Action Suit Filed Against Cumulus and details how to join for other states.   Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – New Windows Phone 7  … the real action, the exciting innovations, and the fun will be in mobile from now on.  CNet feature columnist Molly Wood tells satellite to make its move now.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Face It … and the relentless advance of mobile technology and Facebook.  Jacobs tells radio … move with your audience or face falling behind.   Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Radio Ink Tells Radio to Look in the Mirror

Radio Headlines February 18, 2010

Best of the Day – Radio Ink … Looking in the Mirror  

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Getting lucky with Sirius … stock price goes above $1 but debt, internet competition and Howard Stern contract issues are still there.  Arbitron and SBS go at each other.  SBS contractually obligated to encode but say rating information is not reliable or accuate.   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Arbitron reports full year increase 4% increase in revenues and $42-million net income.  4^th quarter results are even stronger.  AM/FM needs more competition?  Apple appears to be getting ready a music streaming service.  Google doing the same.    Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Reports more on the SBS/Arbitron issues.  Court says SBS must encode even if they are not a paying customer.  SBS ordered by the court to increase performance bond to $250,000 from $100,000.  More on the PPM dispute moving from courts to state attorney generals,  FCC, and Congress.    Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Political ad dollars coming but you will need a strategy. Facebook phenomena keeps growing … Nielsen shows users spend 7-hours month on the social media site.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Publisher Eric Rhoads has a new editorial “Look in The Mirror” … A MUST READ.   Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Radio’s Latest Believe It or Not.   Employee reported work practices of the big three consolidators.   Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – NPR has a new Android app.  USA Today profiles MOG’s $5/mo on-demand music service.  Clear Channel testing a new social networking platform.   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – The Secret to Successful Streaming …  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Big promotion ideas to inspire you.  Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Radio Broadcaster Grows Revenue

Radio Headlines February 17, 2010

New Northwest Broadcaster grows radio revenues … see Inside Radio

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Emmis possibly making a run for sports in Chicago.  CBS broadcasting rights with the White Sox up at the end of this season.  CBS breaks up country simulcast to become “High Desert Sports Radio”.  Cox makes format changes in Birmingham. Citadel drops Big Boy from its talent roster and is looking for a new hood.   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Court tells SBS and Arbitron to look into mediation as SBS must resume encoding.  SBS has other issues as stock price below $1/share raises delisting issues.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Wall Street analyst raises CBS outlook with improved but still down Q4 revenue and higher expectations for 2010. Sirius XM stock price is on the verge of $1/share and reduces the threat of delisting.  Interesting article “Four Words to Shake up the Radio Industry” … local advertising on Pandora.     Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Leads with SBS/Arbitron encoding continues until arbitration or final ruling whether the PPM contracts can be broken.  Arbitron problem is that others will also stop encoding.  Interesting story about New Northwest Broadcasters (31-stations Alaska, Oregon, Washington) revenues trending up 24% and first quarter local revenue could be up 10%.  CEO says new rep firm, new programmers, new local programming, reduced syndicated programming makes the difference and decision to spend more on sales training. [Amazing!!!]    Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Repeats the SBS / Arbitron and SBS stock delisting issues.     Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Digs deep into the “Stoopidity of Warner Music” and take the issue of Warner 360 deals, Cherry Picking, and Monetizing Music Acts.   Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Wireless Application Community works to form an alternative to Apple’s App Store.  Next item, competing views about radio customer targetability and Pandora.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Jacobs Media Summer School announced for remedial training of those working radio with exponentially more responsibility and less compensation.  Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Radio … digital ahead or take up accounting

Radio Headlines February 16, 2010

Past the tipping point … it’s digital ahead or take up accounting

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Clear Channel bankruptcy is “no longer imminent” but the long term financial structure remains unsustainable.  CC’s debt amounts to 15-times one-year’s free cash flow.  The only reason they got by this year was borrowing on their outdoor business to make the radio debt work. Look for significant cost reductions ahead. [It doesn’t help CC forced the banks to complete a deal everyone knew wouldn’t work.  Too bad for a lot of good radio families.]  Christmas music is over and the “halo” isn’t bright in some markets.    Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Former Clear Channel afternoon talk host to run against incumbent John McCain.  Some criticism he remained on air too long before announcing his decision to run.  [CC style?]  Sen. Evan Bayh decides not to seek reelection.  His wife sits on the Board at Emmis Communications and CEO Jeff Smulyan is big Democratic Party contributor.  Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Leads with details about Wall Street equity and loans to radio consolidators.  RBR comment “institutional money that drove up prices seems to be exiting”. Groundwork set for broadcast entrepreneurs to reenter the business.  The pendulum swings back.    Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Big three streaming radio providers now block international listeners to save money since US advertisers only pay for the domestic audience.   Microsoft’s new Windows Phone will have an analog FM receiver.  Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Former Westwood COO,Bortnick,  becomes Cumulus RVP/Northeast.  Moody’s upgrades Clear Channel [see Radio-info for more details].   Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Why radio will be an $8-billion business in 2016.  Radio groups are headed into the history books unless they open their financial books and wake up to the mobile future.   Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – CBS Radio has shut down online streaming to listeners outside the US because of the complexities of music licensing but also cut off news, sports, and talk radio to overseas audience.[?]   Pandora will come build in to the new Microsoft Windows mobile OS.    Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – If you are use to leveraging scarcity of news, traffic, or music hits and your sales effort consisted of managing inventory then stop, turn around, and start selling value – outcomes.  Or, you’re screwed.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Jacobs Media talent maven, Keith Cunningham, writes about Oprah and this guy rocks with an important message for talent. Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.

Broadcaster infighting while Pandora Builds

Radio Headlines February 15, 2010

Broadcasters fight over PPM and streaming costs while Pandora begins selling local ads

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – The popular CBS/AOL streaming radio player cuts off access beyond US for cost and regulatory issues.  SBS resumes People meter encoding under protest.  Midwest Amanda Media, owner of 28-stations, bought at the peak 2007 and now defaulting on $16-million loan.  Hearing to appoint a “receiver” postponed so both parties back talking. Citadel making more format changes to simulcast and save money.  Live rock 100.t WWMM is going away.    Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Sirius XM does live show “Catholic Guy” from Mardi Gras.  SBS back to encoding for People Meters but fights the accuracy and reliability of the methodology.  Clear Channel gets slight credit rating upgrade as default no longer eminent having sold $2.5-billion in new debt to repay other borrowings that where coming due.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Comes late with SBS encoding issue and Group Prisa – Spanish Cable Company coming to US Radio.  RBR only one to headline Glenn Beck’s radio interview when Texas governor candidate gets tripped up.  Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Paid subscribers get to read about PPM Rating Point conversion perspective about audience size estimates. PPM transition since 2007 “becomes smoother”.  Advertisers tepidly coming back to radio but ANA survey says three-quarters of marketers still under pressure to cut spending.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – PPM Coalition – which included minority broadcasters hurt by the move away from paper diaries – renews call to the FCC for PPM investigation.   Clear Channel moves the full ESPN line up to WSAI [eliminating more local talent?]  Read more …

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Offers the music publishing industry his 6-step plan to renew growth, increase revenue, and become a force in music again.   Texting has shown the way.  Mobile carriers are doing it.  Music publishers need to hang out with consumers more than they hang out with lawyers.    Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Valentine’s Day was the great opportunity for webcasters to show off their creative niche programming with “romantic wedding hits and “Love Bites”.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Pandora Sells Out … gunning for broadcast radio and CEO tells everyone his goal is to replace traditional radio as we know it.   Pandora is winning the streaming wars and adds thousands of new users every day.   Now, they are selling zip code level ads to small and medium size businesses.   It’s all happening because of the accessibility on mobile phones.  [The new Walkman® is here and it rings for Pandora.]   Read more …

Is it time to make your radio website dynamic, interactive, and talk worthy? CELLit Media has answers.