Today’s Radio belongs to the Lawyers

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 30, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – New Arbitron/Edison study indicates 1 in 4 listen to MP3 audio … IN THE CAR.  [That’s with manual plugs … more will switch when wireless Bluetooth and 3G/4G connections make it easy and live.]  Citadel CEO wants to extend the bankruptcy process to keep control of this mess. [So much attention should be put on content and listeners instead of lawyers and bankers.] Details of Adam Carolla podcasting, bringing in revenue, and  how his former employer CBS is now handling his ad sales.   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – EMI has more debt than assets and the only interested party, Sony, in any licensing deal could be walking away.  Looks like this music company will no revert to the bankers or vulture capitalist on Wall Street.  No more music here.  Citadel bankruptcy moves, link to legal website, and reports February revenues of $53M / net income $4M.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Radio forecasters keep raising expectations with higher revenue forecasts.  McCain uses radio to fend off radio-man Hayworth in AZ Republican primary.  Million$ going into radio.  Arbitron improved February metrics for 18-34 year old Blacks and Hispanics.   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Video is radio’s hot new sales tool.  In some cases it is the base which radio campaigns are built from.  Online video ad market now tops $1B/year. More Arbitron changes to increase Black and Hispanic data accuracy.  Sirius XM settlement with the Copyright Royalty Board might hold clues to the cost for AM/FM radio if Congress imposes a performance ryoalty.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – CBS ready to sell News/Talk KFWB-AM Los Angeles.  Write in candidate forces KMBZ/Kansas City to air racially charged and anit-Semitic ad claims.  Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Radio’s future and the iPad … don’t confuse the content.   Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Nielsen estimates smartphones will overtake regular cell phones by 2011.  Houston school district starts an internet radio station and expects to earn $1M in annual revenue (former radio man Pat Fant leads the charge).   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Advertisers will shift from Mass to Niche and “Individual”.   Mark Mark’s words:  an ocean of competitors not beholding to Arbitron will place no obstacle between themselves and the future of advertising.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Out Damned Spot! 2 … Evite digital banner revenue generator looks longingly at radio [is this a man bites dog story?]   Read more …

Audio Graphics (Unknown) … Mobile numbers for radio … radio delivered through a mobile connection will eventually challenge broadcast … so experiment now while you have time.    Read more …

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

Autos driving up Radio Rev$ Expectations

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 29, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) –State legislatures looking to tax advertising at a time when state associations are not very strong.  Congress still deciding whether or not to bring the PRA to the floor [with 260 signed in opposition is this a possibility? Or, lobbyist protecting their fees?].  Could LA KFWB’s plug get pulled by CBS and will it go foreign language? Sirius has problems with the stock price below $1 but more concerns as analyst forecast weak subscriber trends when other audio services show reach the dashboard.     Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Leads with the KFWB news talk sale discussions by CBS.  Sirius stock pricing, Dallas’ Fan changes, and pro-POT spots to air in California.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Barclays Capital (Wall Street) turn positive on the economy and ad spending driven by autos with the most recent radio rev$ forecast now looking up 7%.  RBR thinks the Sirius stock price issue will get kicked down the road to September and go away if ad rev$ do improve.    Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Bureau of Labor predicts fewer radio jobs in total but some areas stronger some weaker.  Touches on the Barclays Capital revised ad rev$ forecast from -4% to +2%, and now +7%..   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Reports Clear Channel lobbying at $800k in 4Q … news widely reported last week at $350k.  [Late and wrong?]  Presents the NAB board press release as the 2^nd news item.   Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Upcoming Radio Renaissance … the obsession with making new media an extension of the present is fatal.   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – A New – and Easier – Way to Take your Station’s Content Mobile.  Interview with Larry Leung, CEO of AirKast with 900 terrestrial stations on the platform and hundreds in the pipeline.   Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Out, Dammed Spot!  Blogs about spot load and concludes with … program the good stuff and may the best content win.  Read more …

Radio Survivor (Unknown) … Safe Radio from the United Kingdom aims to unite young people from different backgrounds and give them a platform to air views and promote understanding. The station’s presenters are mostly young and diverse mix of people.   Read more …

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

Radio stuck in the rear view

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 26, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Leads with some stations “Sold out and regretting it”  as the recession rate card looks too cheap.  Market up with auto advertisers, issue ads, and some smart retailers recognizing business is up.  GM returns with a test ad buy based on radio stations bid on how many test drives they can generate [Google ad words for radio?]  ESPN adds local website to NYC market.  Internet is now “more essential” than TV for many Americans.    Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Clear Channel spent $819,000 on lobbying about ownership rules, digital billboards, and the “Fairness Doctrine”.  [No performance rights?]  Same Internet more important than TV article but ads the nine-year shift has been steady and profound.  For persons under 45 the gap is even greater.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Top reader picks here … Lady CaCa on Osmond’s comments; RAB Board passes posting resolution, Rush Limbaugh and the Costa Rica ticket campaign.  Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Gen X Radio mixes ‘90s alternative with hip-hop makes big ratings splash. Classic rock shows modest growth. Stations say digital growth less than 10% but a 1 of 7 indicate digital growth was 26% or greater [Think they get it … how about you? ]   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Picks up the lobbyist feed how well they are doing their jobs to keep the performance royalty fight alive and their $3.5M/quarter fees coming.  Repeats the Clear Channel PD assignments announced much earlier in the week.    Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – At Cumulus, “Uncle Lew” Wants You … and details the new Cumulus on air recruitment program.  Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – April 12 RAIN Summit speaker list grows with Clear Channel and NextMedia speakers.  News:  AT&T announces subscription mobile music service ($6.99/month), Matrix for Social media Engagement, and more Pandora listenership items (adds 85,000 listeners each day / 45 of the top 50 advertisers are here).   Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … March Smartness and cell phones not for the team but for the coach.  Read more …

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

Radio blogs scream LOCAL. Real news is ugly.

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 24, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Lenders are aggressively selling off radio-group loans, urging bankruptcy cleanup, and anxiously looking toward the NAB meeting “to look for group guys that are hiding from them”.  Seattle’s KING-FM goes non-com “with all the changes in media, commercial advertising is no longer fit for KING-FM.”   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Forecaster BIA/Kelsey says radio will grow over the next 5-years after dropping 18% last year to $13.7B revenues.  BIA thinks progressive groups will recognize they are more than over-the-air transmitters. Online plays a big part of the higher expectations.  Hudson and Harrigan have left the station … no longer at KILT.  NAB drops $3.25 million on lobbying efforts to oppose the Performance Rights Act (preserve royalty free music broadcasting) … for just Oct-Nov-Dec’09.  [Lobbyist on both sides are never going to let this gig die.].  Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Courts lift the stay on cross ownership of broadcasting and print properties in a single market.  It’s only in the top 20 largest markets.  FCC commission says it’s only a modest relaxation.  Rush Limbaugh Costa Rica plane ticket funds raised and more to send the talker away … fat chance.    Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Covers the BIA forecast and highlights the importance of digital dollars. Item on cross-ownership indicates it will not usher in a new wave of deal making.    Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Repeats the BIA forecast and cross-ownership rule changes without adding much perspective.    Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – The Spectrum Buy Back Plan and Radio … closing line … it’s not real broadcasters who suddenly made terrestrial broadcasting second class … it’s the consolidators who had their way with LIVE LOCAL radio.   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Your Website Needs Something to Do … The web is for people who want something  … it’s not for people who want to be advertised at.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Local Shmocal, Part 3 … “If you still have some assets left … truly value what local is all about , you have the foundation to rebuild … especially if the other stations are taking the easy way out [to nowhere]. . Read more …

Radio Survivor (Unknown) … FCC’s National Broadband Plan and radio …   Read more …

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

Radio shows its strength at the Red River

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 22, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Regent’s Chapter 11 plan finds another player from “Wall Street” the kind that wants to be paid to go away.  Just when everyone thinks they have a plan the spoiler comes along.  Top billing stations in Chicago are all-news.  More low power FMs coming.   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Leads with the Regent reorganization plan.  [Wall Street players will only go away when the cash is gone. Regent still has cash so the game goes on.]  Another over-extended debtor EMI Music wants to license its music to rival groups in North America to help avoid debt default.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Interesting reader pick “Ads provide lessons in Viral Marketing” identifies four elements:  Awareness/engagement, buzz, celebrity, and distinctiveness.  “Live, Local, and First” the Mighty 790 serves as a central hub with the Red River folks in Fargo, ND.  Local radio stations become information centers.  Radio is portable with up to the minute news.   THE STRENGTH OF RADIO. Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Radio rev$ up 6% in February after 31-months of consecutive declines.  Still, there is a lot of ground to recover.   Big markets lead recovery.  Scranton, PA skyrockets 42%.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Repeats Kornheiser apology for cyclist comments covered well by other pubs last week.  Second item KSTP PD motorcycle accident item … also old news.    Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Paid Radio and the crossroads of free or subscriber businesses.  Google … the next evil empire?    Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – CBS is counting on subscriptions to make Last.fm profitable in 2010. NPR supports national broadband plan.  ReplaceAds launches a mobile platform.   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Don’t be K-Pigs … start thinking like a listener.  Stop thinking like a cost-cutting broadcaster.   Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Local Schmocal … if the internet makes the world local than what is your advantage?  Tomorrow, what local stations can do with what’s left in the tank.  Read more …

Radio Survivor (Unknown) … Takes a look at SXSW bands … “blown away by the sheer amount of bands”.    Read more …

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

Morning Radio Headlines … SOS

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 19, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Old meets new in Las Vegas with FCC boss to keynote NAB show and the old/new media split.  March Madness TV contract might change and possibly land the radio broadcasts at ESPN Radio?  DC sports talk host puts down cyclist and lights up controversy.  Newest all-news radio in Moscow is the first CBS Radio affiliate in Russia.   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – KSTP PD critically injured riding motorcycle.  Lady Gaga Ex sues for $30 million says he is 20% owner in their company and he “discovered her”.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Auto sales suggest a rebound in US ad spending.  Auto sales up 9.9% this year and 13% increase in February.  Long article with screen shots for traffic and revenue management systems going paperless.   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – FCC proposal to begin annual national EAS testing.  IR survey of radio people say podcasts should be free or drive more listeners to Pandora.  Grand Rapids broadcasters draws $30k fine for operating with no staff.  Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Arbitron names new members to Advisory Council and creates slots for network, public, and digital radio.  Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Latest Radio Management Tactics Exposed.  Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Slacker Internet radio says they have sold out ad inventory every month since Q2 last year.  Slacker manager says low spot load presses AM/FM broadcasters to cut back 12-14 minutes of spots an hour.  Pandora’s royalty payments account for 45% of SoundExchange non-interactive streams.  More devices to get internet radio and new 4G phone items.  Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Radio’s Innovation Funk … and what you won’t see at the NAB Radio show. Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … 37 Million Reasons or $37M digital revenue for 2010 March Madness is worth reading about.  There are no shortage of great digital ideas and incredible opportunities … but you have to make them happen.   Read more …

Radio Survivor (Unknown) … Hey Rush … Artists need Insurance Too!  Read more …

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

Top Billers for Last Year Radio Rev$

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 18, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Wall Street analyst Marci Ryviker says radio rev$ pacing up double digits lead by large market and early buyers avoiding the anticipated influx of political spending later this year.   Top biller last year $55 million LA KIIS-FM.  Two tracking agencies generally agree radio rev$ off 20% last year, TV down 9.5%, Outdoor -13%, magazines -11%, and newspapers down 20%.  Internet display ads where up 7%.  Two more good interviews as part of TRI “Radio2010” series.    Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – KIIS/LA is the nation’s top biller, LA the top radio market, and Clear Channel the biggest rev$ owner.  Top 10 lists included.   More details on the Ryviker analyst forecast with comments that “pricing continues to firm into Q2”.  Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Worldspace sat-caster and debtor-in-possession business has terminated discussion with Liberty Media (largest Sirius XM shareholder) so the restructure attempts end.  Does this mean Worldspace just shuts down?  NPR comes out eager to work with FCC National Broadband Plan as NPR also pursues “Robust digital media” program to ease access to public radio content on mobile devices.   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Covers the BIA/Kelsey top biller figures well covered in the larger publications.   Adds item about Sprint’s new mobile device “Supersonic” to be the first 4G smart phone.  It also has FM radio receiver.    Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Leads with Sirius XM “delisting” issues and appeal to keep the stock publicly listed.     Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Blogs the “Price of Stealing Music is Coming Down” and the real problems with the music industry. Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Links to a new guide “Basics of Music Licensing in Digital Media” that clearly and concisely answers questions.  Next, digital music sales grow as CD sales fall, songwriters and publishers are coming out ahead.  Two former CC execs get new partner that sold dMarc broadcasting to Google.  The new venture will build digital players for sports franchises.   Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Blogs about the benefits of Transparency and radio audience research.  Read more …

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

Radio Rev$ Outlook Mixed

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 17, 2010 … happy St. Patrick’s Day

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Leads with Forecast for 2010 – fewer stock buybacks and cash dividends … as lenders call the shots with debtor controlled radio groups.  Beasley Group remains committed to HD radio and the article properly notes they are also an owner in the HD concern.  Some groups indicate Q2 is robust with “pacings up 40-50%”.  Katz says national spot looking up 17%, 23% and 21% for April, May, June.  Larger markets are doing better than smaller markets.  Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – EMI music group now paying the price for previous “great expectations”.  EMI warns a significant shortfall in meeting debt covenants, CEO says he will step down.  They are also in legal dispute with Citigroup over advice and financing for the now-gone-bad deal.  Vulture fund KKR coming in to pick over the remains.  Kantar Media reports 2009 total ad expenditures fell 12% to industry total of $125B.  Only Internet and Free Standing Inserts where up last year at 7% and 3% respectfully.   Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Moody’s give Sirius XM an upgrade with replacement debt financing.  Sony Music cuts $250M deal with Michael Jackson recordings.  Not everyone at the FCC is handing over the keys to broadband interests.  Mignon Clyburn wants to apply the breaks.   Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Despite all the other publication leads, IR leads with BIA/Kelsey prediction radio revenues will be up just 1% for the current year.  Liberty Media walks from WorldSpace after months of negotiations and says it is not interested in the international satellite radio market … anymore.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – FCC releases 376-page plan for affordable access to broadand for 100-million households and wants 500 MHz of spectrum for mobile internet access.  FCC Commissioner McDowell concerns that the new plan is just an old-fashioned monopoly-era service idea.     Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Radio is in Play for Gordon Gekko … the blogger compares the movie Wall Street to the current state of the AM/FM radio industry.  Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – On the Internet Radio front … NPR designs a Flash-less app for the Apple iPad.  Sonos raised $25M.  New Pew study says 1 in 3 in US listen to radio online.   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Presents a short video of the bloggers panel presentation at the Canadian Music Week.  Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Search Me … an interesting piece about internet search volume and future business.  Catch the graph comparing Sirius XM and Pandora.  Read more …

Radio Survivor (Unknown) … FCC’s National Broadband Plan wants new broadband activity adjacent to Sirius XM radio … you know the concerns about interference.     Read more …

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

$75 solution at Jocobs Media Blog

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 15, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Citadel tending to the real business of radio chooses to launch WBAP-FM Ft Worth rebroadcasting the powerful AM signal to attract younger listeners.  Slacker, the internet radio station, plans to intro on-demand music.”  Sirius XM borrows more to pay off expensive loads coming due as the stock flirts with delisting.  TRI “Radio 2010” has two more CEO interviews … one up and one down.  Interesting gains with cross media platform from Davis Media.   Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Tribune CEO infamous “newsspeak” banned-words memo leaks and now he’s on a witch hunt.  [Best to let this one just fade away.]  The wolves are at EMI’s door as Warner Music and the hedge-fund KKR seek to buy & break up the firm.  EMI has Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” and the Beatles.  Read more …

RBR (69,924) – Most read here:  the Tribune’s banned words memo/witch hunt; Christians fire back at Glenn Beck; Congressman Dingell makes it official:  Thumbs down to PRA.  Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Broadcaster Traffic Consortium (11-group alliance) works with navigation device makers with surprises on the drawing board.  Location-based ads show promise with banner ads based on GPS position.  Ad buyers lining up with Arbitron and pushing for PPM encoding.     Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Leads with the WBAP-AM new FM simulcast.  Second item about the growing opposition to  the Performance Royalties.  Finally, a new publisher editorial in the masthead, “My Life As Jerk”.    Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – A long blog on the Tribune banned works memo, leak, and witch hunt titled “The WGN Memo You Can’t Ignore”.  What’s a real estate mogul and former shock jock doing running a newspaper company with one radio station? [No this is not a knock-knock joke.]   Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – What’s a “Radio” mommy?  Short blog to video about what to do when the next generation doesn’t recognize a radio.  The idea is that “radio” is not the exclusive or primary device for quality content.   Also be sure to catch Strategy, the Disney Way. Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) ... Canadian Music Week panel summary with the big takeagways … stations reinvest in personality with $75 solution; and give people what they want with a sense of surprise and unpredictability.  Ends with … radio can do local better than anyone else.  Read more …

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

Most interesting today … Ford Mkt Mgr Video at Hear 2.0

Radio Headlines CELLit Media – March 12, 2010

Radio-info (241,488 Monthly Visits says Compete.com) – Leads with the Clear Channel 4Q financial results and details how they pulled 20% more cash out of 10% less radio.  [Wall Street style radio.]  WLS adds movie reporter and great example of top 10-market station committed to mostly local talent. T-R-Is “Radio 2010” CEO conversations continue with Lakes Media and one other CEO that is having a great year but wants to remain unidentified.  Read more …

All Access (103,247 Monthly Visits) – Pink Floyd won case again EMI selling individual tracks.  Entercom gets Bank of America to amend credit agreement for more operating time.  Read more …

RBR (69,924) – RBR has Howard Stern winning Woods mistress beauty pageant details and picture. Other items:  WGN restricted phrases; LifeLock pay $12M to settle FTC charges; Clear Channel 4Q financials; and Leno back on ratings top.  Read more …

Inside Radio (14,153) – Leads with “Clear Channel” sees smallest rev$ drop since 2008.  Seattle based Fisher Communications sees signs advertisers coming back but not at the pace others report.  Citadel clears important part of bankruptcy with Judge cancelling contracts.   Read more …

Radio Ink (13,505) – Leads with press release details of Clear Channel 4Q financials.  Follows with Fisher Communications and Wells Fargo analyst press release information widely reported elsewhere … yesterday.   Read more …

BLOGS

Inside Music Media (Unknown) – Revenge of the Dickey’s and the ugly mess with former Cumulus manager Kristin Okesson.   Read more …

Kurthanson/RAIN (10,397) – Nokia shows off net-connected car dashboard; Spark Radio aggregates webcasts; Slacker builds hip-hop channel; and AirKast launches new Max Media stations.  Read more …

Hear 2.0 (4,290) – Great 5-minute video interview with Ford’s Social Media head.  IMPORTANT    Read more …

Jacobs Media Blog (Unknown) … Oxymorons that you just have to love.  Read more …

Radio Survivor (Unknown) … FCC’s National Broadband Plan and radio …   Read more …

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