Mel Phillips Now And Then...

The Importance Of Social Nets To Radio...

2011-04-18T07:11:00.000-04:00

The importance of using social networks has been underscored once again. Although social networks have been around for less than five years, their impact as a traffic source has become a driving force for business and entertainment. Outbrain, a recommendation engine, conducted a recent study in which they "pulled a sample data set of 100 million sessions across more than 100 web publishers - defining a session as a series of page views within a website with no more than 30 minutes between one page view and the next." The results, according to Media Post showed that the top content viewed were news stories, entertainment and lifestyle categories. All of those categories received the most traffic from social sources. Surprisingly, sports ranked last...

Far too many jaded radio people tend to forget that radio is an entertainment source, but of course it is. Falling right after web searches for news sources, web surfers consider entertainment their second choice. That means that radio has to use the leading social sites, Facebook and Twitter as a magnet not only for station websites but for listening to radio itself...

Outbrain, in their study thought it was worth comparing relative traffic quality to see what differences exist between Facebook and Twitter. They found that both sites drive "similarly engaged audiences in terms of page views per session, bounce rates (those who bounce from one to another) and hyper-engaged reader sessions. The one difference was in their relative reach (defined as the number of unique visitors per 1,000 sessions." The results showed that "a session from Facebook was 40% more likely to be from a unique visitor compared to Twitter, whose audience was more likely to be made up of repeat visitors." However you interpret those results, radio needs to do a better job of convincing social network consumers to, not only visit their websites but listen to their station...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1775] In the midnight hour: Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on their ride from Charlestown to Lexington (MA) to warn the colonists that those nasty Redcoats were coming. This is Patriot's Day in Boston which features the Boston Marathon and a morning game at Fenway Park...
2.1906] Shake and bake: San Francisco is devastated by an earthquake that takes 3,000 lives...
3.1923] Opening day: John Philip Sousa's band plays the national anthem as Yankee Stadium opens in the Bronx. The Yankees beat the Red Sox in the opener 4-1...
4.1949] Brits take note: The Irish Republic is proclaimed...
5.1956] Wedding Bells: Actress Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier of Monaco...
6.1978] Returning the canal: The U.S. Senate votes (68-32) to turn the Panama Canal over to Panamanian control in 1999...
7.1983] Death at the embassy: A suicide bomber kills 63, including 17 Americans, at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon...
8.1999] The Great One bows out: Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer plays his last professional game at Madison Square Garden...
9.2002] Gotcha: Police arrest actor Robert Blake in the shooting death of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley one year earlier. Blake will be acquitted but is found liable in a civil case...2003] Scott Peterson is arrested in the death of his wife, Laci, who was 8 months pregnant when she vanished on Christmas Eve, 2002. Peterson was sentenced to death and is currently on death row at San Quentin...
10.2007] Supes rule: The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling,uphold a federal ban on a medical procedure that opponents call partial-birth abortion...

Music Memories:

1939] Cowboy Up: Gene Autry records "Back In The Saddle Again"...
1965] Number One on this date: "I'm Telling You Now" - Freddie & the Dreamers...1975] "Philadelphia Freedom" - Elton John...2006] "Bad Day" - Daniel Powter...

Events:
The "IBS-Spring Palooza" is coming Friday & Saturday, April 22 & 23, 2011. The weekend of local, live music on member stations of the IBS Student Radio Network, helps local college bands get airplay, creates a buzz around your station and raises some money for local charities. For additional information contact Backbone's George Capalbo, gcapalbo@backbone.com or Steve Theo, Pirate! Promotions, steve@piratepirate.com

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": America Ferrera (27), Kourtney Kardashian (32), Conan O'Brien (48), Jane ("Hot In Cleveland" & Frasier") Leeves (50), Eric Roberts (55), Rick Moranis (58), James Woods (64), Hayley Mills (65), rock critic Robert Christgau (69) & Barbara (Della Street on "Perry Mason") Hale (89)...

Timeline Countdown: Passover begins at sundown, 6 days until Easter Sunday, 10 days until the NFL draft, 19 days until the Kentucky Derby & 20 days until Mother's Day...

Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace On Merger...

2011-04-15T07:07:00.000-04:00

(Weekend Edition)

We've reached the part of the wedding ceremony where anyone objecting to the impending union of the couple getting married, may voice their concern. This wedding happens to be the joining in holy matrimony of Cumulus Media and Citadel Broadcasting but it's not any different. So, if you have any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace. Actually you have until "no later than May 13, 2011" proclaims the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC says that "oppositions to petitions to deny must be filed no later than May 23, 2011" and "replies must be filed no later than May 31, 2011". But before you send in something silly like "are these revenue bleeding broadcast companies crazy?", think again. The Commission "reserves the right to return any application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission's rules, regulations or policies." You wouldn't want to upset the FCC would you???

Cumulus, the groom in this wedding is conforming with the FCC's wishes by filing a plan with the agency to put 14 stations into a trust (Volt Radio, LLC) for sale in order for the company to comply with ownership rules. The total number of stations involved in the merger is close to 600 at a cost of $2.4 billion for Cumulus Media...

Those intending to file petitions to deny become parties to the proceeding, so you better have a valid reason to object and set aside some time to serve some merger duty...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1912] That sinking feeling: Four hours after hitting an iceberg, the Titanic sinks in the Northern Atlantic (4/15)...
2.1940] Bagel Bob: The linescore for the Chicago White Sox was 0-0-0 as Bob Feller of Cleveland pitches the first and only opening day no-hitter (4/16)…
3.1947] Breaking the color barrier: Jackie Robinson becomes major league baseball's first black player, making his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie, playing first base goes hitless in 3 at-bats (4/15)...
4.1955] Mickey D. arrives: Ray Kroc opens the first McDonald's fast-food restaurant (4/15)...
5.1960] Rock & Roll Wreck: 21-year old rocker Eddie Cochran dies in Bath, England from injuries sustained in a car crash that seriously wounds Gene Vincent. Vincent will recover from his injuries (4/17)...
6.1962] CBS cries ‘Uncle’: Uncle Walter Cronkite succeeds Douglas Edwards as anchor of the CBS Evening News. In 1963, this newscast is stretched to 30 minutes (4/16)...
7.1965] Making the Most of Havlicek's steal: In a call made famous by Johnny Most ("Havlicek Stole the Ball") the Celtics win the Eastern Division championship over Philadelphia when John Havlicek steals an in-bound pass as time runs out (4/15)...
8.1985] It's Marvelous: Marvelous Marvin Hagler retains his world middleweight crown in a great battle with Thomas "Hitman" Hearns that ends in a 3rd round TKO (4/15)...
9.1998] 'Happy Trails': Cancer claims the life of Linda McCartney at 56 (4/17)...
10.2007] Massacre in Blacksburg: Virginia Tech senior Seung-Hui Cho goes on a shooting rampage resulting in 32 deaths and his own in a suicide on campus in Blacksburg (VA) (4/16)...

Music Memories:

1965] Debuted on this date: The Hollies make their American debut on a Murray the K show at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater (4/16). The Hollies on a 1965 TV show...1965] "Help Me Rhonda" - Beach Boys (4/17)...1966] Buffalo Springfield performs for the 1st time as the opening act for The Byrds in San Bernadino (CA) (4/15). For 'what it's worth', here's a clip of Buffalo Springfield (introduced by The Monkees' Peter Tork) from the 1967 Monterey Music Festival...
2009] Number One on this date: "Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas (4/15)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (4/15) Danny ("Cold Case") Pino (37), Samantha Fox (45), Emma Thompson (52), Lois Chiles (64), Dave Edmunds (67), Roy Clark (78) & Michael Ansara (89)...(4/16) Jon Cryer (46), Martin Lawrence (46), Ellen Barkin (57), Bill Belichick (59), Kareem Abdul Jabbar (64), Jim Lonborg (now a dentist in Hanover, MA) (69), Bobby Vinton (76) & Pope Benedict XVI (LXXXIII)...(4/17) Jed Lowrie (27), Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham (37), Jennifer Garner (39) & Norman "Boomer" Esiason (50)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Passover, 9 days until Easter Sunday, 13 days until the NFL draft, 22 days until the Kentucky Derby & 23 days until Mother's Day...

Radio's Conversion To Digital Shows Slow Growth...

2011-04-14T07:12:00.002-04:00

Will radio reach a point when digital signals will be required like television? The FCC will eventually make that requirement but radio better hope it doesn't come anytime soon. Radio is simply not prepared to go digital. To date, only 1,627 radio stations have converted to digital - that represents just 16% of total stations. Radio World reports that FCC Audio Division Chief Peter Doyle made that claim at the NAB Radio Show. Doyle says the conversion to digital rate amounts to "maybe a handful" each month. Doyle believes the poor economy is likely responsible for the conversion rate. Budget cuts have taken their toll on radio in all areas of operation. Then there are those that have yet to be convinced that conversion to digital results in revenue gains ...

Asking for a power increase is tempting because there's never been an easier time to increase broadcast power than now. Notifying the FCC is about all that's required. Doyle is concerned about the stations that are simply "replicating analog coverage", which doesn't produce a digital signal. It just gives stations a better analog signal. Then there's HD, a product of iBiquity Digital. HD (which does not stand for "High Definition") proponents feel their stations would more easily qualify for a power increase should they better protect neighboring stations from potential interference. They would be correct in that assumption...

We live in a digital world where AM radio gets a pass until someone comes up with real digital AM. FM stations aren't as lucky. Not only is stereo a must for FM but so is digital. Better to do it now before the FCC mandates it. That day is coming...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1865] A bad day at the theater: President Abraham Lincoln is shot and mortally wounded by actor John Wilkes Booth while attending the comedy "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater in Washington (DC). He will die of his wounds the following day...
2.1894] Pass the popcorn: The first public showing of Edison's kinetoscope aka 'moving pictures' is held...
3.1902] The money man: James Cash Penney opens his first retail store, The Golden Rule Store in Kemmerer (WY). The name will be changed to J.C. Penney...
4.1910] Play ball: President William Howard Taft throws out the 1st ball for the Washington Senators-Philadelphia A's game in Washington (DC) and a tradition is born...1969] The first major league game is played in Canada (Montreal)...
5.1912] Down with the ship: The Titanic, on its maiden voyage, hits an iceberg and begins to sink. It will fully sink at 2:27 a.m. on April 15th. More than 700 survive but 1,517 lose their lives...
6.1939] Sour grapes: John Steinbeck publishes "The Grapes of Wrath"...
7.1956] Get out the splicing bars: Ampex Corporation demonstrates the first commercial magnetic tape recorder for sound and picture...
8.2003] Gotcha: U.S. commandos in Baghdad capture Abul Abbas, leader of the Palestinian group that killed an American on the hijacked Achille Lauro in 1985...
9.2003] A Tikrit to ride: Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit falls to U.S. led forces with unexpectedly light resistance...
10.2008] Wedding Bells: Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp., announce they are combining...

Music Memories:

1955] Released on this date: "Ain't That A Shame" - Fats Domino...
1959] Number One on this date: "Come Softly To Me" - Fleetwoods...1974] "TSOP" - MFSB...1980] "Call Me" - Blondie...

Events:
Ensele Art Gallery presents the Gallery Collection of legendary rock photographer Richard E. Aaron, this Saturday, April 16 from 5pm to 10pm. Admission is $20 per guest with proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation, serving Southern California & Southern Nevada. The gallery is located at 23480 Park Sorrento, Calabasas (CA)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Adrien Brody (38), Anthony Michael Hall (43), Brad Garrett (51), Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore (66), Pete Rose (70), Julie Christie (70), Frank Serpico (75), Loretta Lynn (79) & Marvin Miller (94)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until Passover, 10 days until Easter, 14 days until the NFL draft, 23 days until the Kentucky Derby & 24 days until Mother's Day...

NAB's Smith Calls Performance Tax Bill Dead

2011-04-13T06:44:00.000-04:00

All that was missing was the playing of Taps after National Association of Broadcasters President/CEO Gordon Smith proclaimed the Performance Tax Bill Dead. In his keynote address at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Smith claimed that NAB "stopped the legislation that would impose a performance tax on local radio stations." Smith called the tax movement a "freight train headed for passage" that the trade group brought under control by seeking a good faith, workable agreement with the music industry. Smith added this: "Our objective was to make certain that if something passed, it provided a bright future for radio. We offered to compensate record labels and performers if they would help us get broadcast radio on every future cell phone, which is important not only for entertainment, but more importantly to provide the public with an effective alert warning system." ...

Smith adds that the music industry turned the deal down: "In the end the record labels rejected our offer, but the performance tax bill also died. We remain open to discussions. We're still at the table, and we hope the other side comes back. By the way, the context of our approach marked a stark divergence from the past." You can be sure that the music industry will have their own version of this story coming soon. In his closing statement Smith finally yields to radio's necessary inclusion of broadband in its platform...

"The world of the future must include broadcasting and broadband without degrading either" says Smith. He won't get many arguments from that statement...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1870] Get the picture?: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded in New York City...
2.1940] Their cup runneth over: The New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup by beating Toronto in the NHL playoffs. They also won in 1994...
3.1943] Dedicated to the one I love: President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Jefferson Memorial on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth...
4.1954] Debuted on this date: Hank Aaron makes his major league debut with Milwaukee going 0 for 5 in the Braves loss to Cincinnati...1963] Pete Rose gets his first major league hit (a double) for Cincinnati...1978] Reggie Jackson hits a home run and 'Reggie Bars' rain down at Yankee Stadium as Robert Phillips and his dad enjoy their Reggie Bars...
5.1964] Breaking the color barrier: Sidney Poitier becomes the first black performer in a leading role to win an Academy Award, for "Lilies of the Field."...
6.1970] Crippled Apollo returns safely: Apollo 13, four-fifths of the way to the moon is crippled when a tank containing liquid oxygen bursts. The astronauts aboard return safely...
7.1986] The record-breaking Master: Jack Nicklaus wins his record 6th Masters title...1997] At 21, Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters. Also the youngest person to wear the hideous green jacket...
8.1986] Mazel tov: Pope John Paul II visits a Rome synagogue in the first recorded papal visit of its kind...
9.1998] Wedding Bells: NationsBank and Bank of America announce a $62.5 billion merger...
10.1999] Guilty as charged: Jack Kevorkian is sentenced to 10 to 25 years for the second-degree murder of a man whose assisted suicide was shown on "60 Minutes" in 1998. He is released after serving a few years because of his health...2005] Eric Rudolph pleads guilty to carrying out the deadly bombing at the 1996 Olympics and 3 other attacks. He is now serving 4 consecutive life sentences...

Music Memories:

1965] Grammy Gold: Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto win a Grammy for 'Record of The Year' ("Girl From Ipanema"). Getz also wins for 'Album of The Year' (with Joao Gilberto) and The Beatles win for 'Best New Artist of the Year"...
1965] Recorded on this date: "Help" - The Beatles...
1971] Released on this date: "Brown Sugar" - Rolling Stones (their 1st release on their new Rolling Stones label...
1999] All Divas All The Time: Sir Elton John appears as a guest 'Diva' on "VH1 Divas Live" which stars Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Cher, Faith Hill, Brandy, LeAnn Rimes and Mary J. Blige...

Events:

The Worldwide Radio Summit will be held, Friday April 29 & Saturday April 30 at the W Hotel in Hollywood. Registration fee is $275. For additional information, contact All Access...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rick Schroeder (41), Caroline Rhea (47), Chess champion Gary Kasparov (48), Peabo Bryson (60), Al Green (65), Composer Bill Conti (69), Paul Sorvino (72) & Lyle Waggoner (76)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Passover, 11 days until Easter Sunday, 15 days until the NFL draft, 24 days until the Kentucky Derby & 25 days until Mother's Day...

Majority Of Internet Listening Is Done At Home...

2011-04-12T06:48:00.001-04:00

The RAIN (The Radio And Internet Newsletter) Summit West, part of the NAB Radio Show in Las Vegas has produced some interesting information about listening habits. Yesterday, TargetSpot CEO Eyal Goldwerger announced that 79% of internet radio listening is done at home. Fifty-two percent of listening is done at work. Goldwerger believes that the traditional conception of 6am to 8pm is a lot longer than that. He also says "They're listening for hours at a time" according to Radio Info. He adds "59% of internet radio listeners spent about the same amount of time listening to broadcast radio and most importantly - broadcast radio "still owns the drive time." ...

Goldwerger also reports that adding internet radio advertising to a broadcast radio campaign increases ad response 3.5 times, while adding internet radio to other internet advertising boosts response 2 times, according to All Access. Fifty-two percent of respondents said they recalled internet radio ads from the past 30 days, and 42% said they actually responded to the ads. Eighty percent of respondents said they listen to one to three hours per day of internet radio, with 45% listening on mobile devices...

This study, commissioned by Target Spot and conducted by Park Associates consisted of 1,000 internet radio listeners in the U.S. That's a sizable number and the results of that study being presented today at the RAIN Summit West should be taken seriously by radio broadcasters if they intend to continue to compete in an ever-changing media world...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1861] Hardly civil: The Civil War begins as confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter...
2.1877] The tools of ignorance: The catcher for Harvard's baseball team, James Tyng (it should have been 'Pyng') wears a modified fencing mask behind the plate. It's believed to be the 1st catcher's mask ever used in a baseball game. The new catcher's mask looks like this...
3.1938] Blood letting: The 1st U.S. law requiring a medical test for a marriage license is enacted in New York. Drawing blood is no longer required, it's been replaced by fogging up a mirror. If you're thinking of getting married in the Bahamas, watch this...
4.1945] 'Happy Trails': President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies from a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs (GA) at 63. Harry S. Truman is sworn in as our new President...
5.1960] Veeck as in Wreck: Bill Veeck and Chicago's Comiskey Park introduce the 1st exploding scoreboard...
6.1966] Rock & Roll Wreck: Jan Barry (Jan & Dean) crashes his car at Dead Man's Curve, (good song title) is seriously injured but survives...
7.1988] Vote For Me: Sonny Bono is elected mayor of Palm Springs (CA)...
8.1995] Gitchy Gitchy yaya dada: Drew Barrymore jumps on David Letterman's desk, lifts her sweater up with her back to the audience and gives Letterman an eyeful as a birthday present...
9.2004] Concentrated juice: Barry Bonds ties Godfather Willie Mays for 3rd place with his 660th home run. Eventually Bonds sets the all-time record with 762 home runs...
10.2007] Canned Imus: Don Imus is fired for his racial references to the Rutgers' women's basketball team. On the same day New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine is seriously injured in an automobile crash. Corzine was on his way to a meeting with the team and Imus...

Events:
An Evening with Irv Joel. The Man Behind The Scene, will be presented tonight by the New York Section of the Audio Engineering Society at The New School For Jazz Performance, 55 West 13th Street in Manhattan. A Meet & Greet will begin at 6:30pm, and the presentation will follow at 7...

Music Memories:

1954] Recorded on this date: "Rock Around The Clock" - Bill Haley & Comets. This was the quote from producer Milt Gabler: "I hope you guys don't need any rehearsal time with the 'clock song'. We've only got time for a couple of takes.". Many regard this as the first Rock & Roll song...
1954] Released on this date: "Shake, Rattle and Roll" - Big Joe Turner (this is the original version of a song that Bill Haley will cover)...1969] "The Boxer" - Simon & Garfunkel...1975] "When Will I Be Loved" - Linda Ronstadt...
1966] Number One on this date: "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" - Righteous Bros...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Jennifer ("House") Morrison (32), Claire Danes (32), Vince Gill (54), Andy Garcia (55), David Cassidy (61), author Tom Clancy (64), David Letterman (64), Ed ("Modern Family") O'Neill (65), Steppenwolf's John Kay (67), Herbie Hancock (71) and Jane Withers (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Passover, 12 days until Easter Sunday, 16 days until the NFL draft, 25 days until the Kentucky Derby & 26 days until Mother's Day...

NPR Dodges A Bullet...

2011-04-11T07:07:00.000-04:00

NPR fans can exhale. Their favorite radio source is safe - for now. The six-month budget deal announced at the 11th hour Friday grants public radio a reprieve but it's a short one. Programmers at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio would be wise to spend the next 6 months figuring out how to position their stations once the plug is finally pulled. The Daily Caller reports that "The continuation of funding for public broadcasting is one of several significant victories for Democrats regarding the policy riders in the bill still emerging hours after Democratic and Republican leaders struck a deal to avert government shutdown." ...

While neither party should be taking bows for anything regarding decisions that affect our lives, the saving of public broadcasting stands out given the heavy criticism leveled at it over the last several months, dating back to the botched firing of Juan Williams for his racial comments. NPR fired Williams over the phone after his famous "I get worried. I get nervous." Williams was referring to seeing flight passengers "dressed in muslim garb." Some defended Williams' right to offer that opinion while others criticized the way Williams was fired - over the phone. Then there was NPR's charge that the Tea Party was "racist" because it was thought that a Muslim group with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood was contemplating the donation of $5 million. That episode was caught on an undercover video in which NPR executive Ron Schiller also said that NPR would be "better off" without federal funding...

I don't believe NPR would be better off without federal funding but public broadcasters better come up with a programming plan that doesn't require that funding in the next 6 months...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1924] Debuted on this date: WLS Chicago signs on...
2.1951] MacArthur canned: President Harry S. Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of his Far East command...
3.1961] Dylan debut: Bob Dylan makes his professional debut at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village. Dylan opens for John Lee Hooker. Prior to that Dylan lasted 3 weeks as a member of Bobby Vee's backup band, the Shadows before being fired...
4.1962] Meet the Mets: The New York Mets make their National League debut with an 11-4 loss in St. Louis. There would be 119 more losses before the end of the season.
5.1979] Amin is out: Idi Amin is deposed as president of Uganda as rebels and exiles backed by Tanzanian forces seize control of the capital, Kampala...
6.1980] Ban on sexual harassment: The Equal Opportunity Commission issued regulations prohibiting sexual harassment of workers by supervisors...
7.1981] Wedding Bells: Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli rock down the aisle. They separate in October, 2001 and Valerie drops Eddie, filing for divorce at the end of 2005...
8.1988] Oscar time: Cher wins the 'Best Actress' Oscar for her role in "Moonstruck"...
9.1996] Tragedy in the sky: 7-year old Jessica Dubroff, who was trying to become the youngest person to fly cross-country is killed with her father and flight instructor after taking off from Cheyenne (WY)...
10.2007] Charges dropped: Against 3 former Duke University lacrosse players who were falsely accused of rape...

Music Memories:

1957] Number One on this date: "All Shook Up" - Elvis Presley...1982] "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" - Joan Jett & Blackhearts...

Events:

The IBS-Spring Palooza will be held Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23. For more information on the weekend of local, live music on member stations of the IBS Student Radio Network, contact George Capalbo (gcapalbo@backbone.com) of Backbone Networks or Steve Theo (steve@piratepirate.com), Pirate! Promotions...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Joss Stone (24), Jason Varitek (39), Bill Irwin (61), Peter Riegert (64), Louise Lasser (72), Joel Grey (79), Ethel Kennedy (83) and former NY Gov. Hugh Carey (92)...

Timeline Countdown: 7 days until Passover, 13 days until Easter Sunday, 26 days until the Kentucky Derby & 27 days until Mother's Day...

Webcast Metrics Methodology Is Hard To Beat...

2011-04-08T06:47:00.000-04:00

(Weekend Edition)

The newly accredited Triton Digital's Webcast Metrics, formerly Ando Media, is a growing force that will be hard to match by Arbitron or any other measurement company. Webcast Metrics actually allow any broadcaster to measure its internet audience from a streaming server. It's an audience measurement service as Triton advertises, that "Does not rely on memory, opinion or input from consumers." They further add that their analytics platform is "Server-based and accessible on-demand for custom audience analysis. The customizable dashboard feature allows Triton Digital customers to analyze and compare audience metrics on many levels." Triton claims that their service is licensed by hundreds of broadcasters and pure play online services. And yesterday, their service became accredited by the Media Rating Council (MRC)...

Triton has something else going for it - the MRC audit committee which has had its battles with Arbitron, is in love with Webcast Metrics. George Ivie, MRC Executive Director and CEO says of Triton, "It's commitment to quality, as evidenced by its commitment to the MRC accreditation process, demonstrates the seriousness with which it takes its leadership role in the streaming audio measurement space." All that was missing from Ivie's statement were a few lip smacks and red roses. Triton issued a press release in which the measurement company vows to "Continue to improve and innovate our offerings, providing the marketplace with the best data possible." ...

What makes this accreditation so valuable for Triton is the growing number of internet listeners that has reached an estimated 52 million and that number is climbing...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1912] Where did you say the lifeboats are?: The Titanic sets sail on its ill-fated maiden voyage from Southampton, England (4/10)...
2.1947] Breaking the color barrier: 28-year old Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player to be signed by a major league team when Dodger President Branch Rickey signs Jackie to a contract at the team's Montague Street executive offices in Brooklyn (4/10). All Jackie will do is guide the Dodgers to 7 pennants and a World Series victory (1955) in his 10 years in Brooklyn...
3.1963] Cape Cod Tragedy: 129 die as the nuclear powered submarine USS Thresher fails to surface off Cape Cod (MA) (4/10)...
4.1974] Chicken is hatched: College student Ted Giannoulas answers a radio station ad for a mascot in San Diego and becomes the 'San Diego Chicken' (4/9)...
5.1974] A new home run king: Hank Aaron passes Babe Ruth, becoming baseball's new Home Run King with his 715th home run off of Dodger pitcher Al Downing (4/8). Barry Bonds has since passed Aaron...
6.1975] Breaking the color barrier: Frank Robinson of the Cleveland Indians becomes the Major League's 1st black manager (4/8)...
7.1992] Adios: Former Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega is convicted in Miami of 8 drug and racketeering charges and is sentenced to 30 years in prison (4/9). After serving his U.S. sentence in Sept. 2007, Noriega was extradited to France. After a retrial, he was found guilty and sentenced to 7 years in a french prison in July, 2010...
8.1992] Sad news conference: Tennis great Arthur Ashe announces at a news conference that he has AIDS (4/8)...
9.1994] Rock star a suicide: The body of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain is found in Seattle, another apparent victim of suicide. Cobain was 27 (4/8)...
10.2003] Off his pedestal: Today was the day that the Saddam Hussein statue came down in downtown Baghdad as Iraqis celebrate the collapse of his regime (4/9)...

Music Memories:

1958] Recorded on this date: "Splish Splash" - Bobby Darin (4/10)...
1966] Released on this date: "When A Man Loves A Woman" - Percy Sledge (4/9)...1973] "My Love" - Paul McCartney (4/9)...
1967] Number One on this date: "Somethin' Stupid" - Frank & Nancy Sinatra (4/10)..
1972] Debuted on the charts: "Oh Girl" - Chi-Lites (4/8) (Their one and only chart topper)...

Events:

Legendary Rock 'n Roll photographer Richard Aaron presents Rock Pix to Benefit the National Kidney Foundation serving Southern California & Southern Nevada on Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 7PM-10PM at the Ensele Gallery, 23480 Park Sorrento in Calabasas (CA). Admission is a donation of $20 per guest. For additional information, click here...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (4/8) Patricia Arquette (43), Julian Lennon (48), Gary Carter (57), Grand Funk's Mel Schacher (60), Steve Howe of Yes (64), John Havlicek (71), Shecky Greene (85) and Betty Ford (93)...(4/9) "The Cosby Show"'s Keshia Knight Pulliam (32), Cynthia Nixon (45), Jeff Zucker (46), Dennis Quaid (57), Peter Gammons (66),"The Waltons" Michael Learned (72) and Playboy publisher and founder Hugh Hefner (85)...(4/10) Haley Joel Osment (23), Mandy Moore (27), Peter MacNicol (57), Steven Seagal (59), Original Spinner Bobbie Smith (75), John Madden (75), Omar Sharif (79), Max von Sydow (82) and Harry ("Dragnet" & "M*A*S*H") Morgan (96)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until Passover, 16 days until Easter Sunday, 29 days until The Kentucky Derby & 30 days until Mothers Day...

Internet Enabled Dashboards Are Critical To In-Car Listening...

2011-04-07T07:01:00.001-04:00

(Third Year Anniversary Edition)

Car manufacturers have gotten the message. CD's and DVD's are out and internet radio is in. The trend has now shifted toward internet dashboard radio and products that can play music directly from a Universal Serial Bus (USB) stick or Secure Digital (SD) memory card. According to Financial, an increasing number of radios have direct connections for digital multimedia players and many mobile phones can also be linked via Bluetooth, providing access to online music while in the car and the ability to make hands-free calls. As a result, many of the car radios that have most recently come on the market don't have a CD or DVD device but internet radio is a must in order to compete with other car manufacturers...

According to Inside Radio, the number of cars with a connected car system is expected to grow from 45 million at the end of 2011 to 210 million worldwide by 2016. The global view by Financial isn't quite as enthusiastic. They see the share of the overall car radio market as having increased from 3% in 2009 to 6% last year. What's clear is that in-car radio growth is highly dependent on manufacturers and their technical innovations which include enabling in-car internet access to attract new consumers and encourage drivers with older devices to upgrade to more modern products...

While in-car terrestrial and satellite radio listening won't go away - at the very minimum, the former better be streaming their signal. The latter was first with in-car dominance and have a strong fan base. For both, life has become a lot more challenging...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1930] Empire Steel Building: The first steel columns are set for the Empire State Building...
2.1948] Some enchanted evening: Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" starring Mary Martin opens on Broadway...
3.1957] The trolley swan song: The last of New York City's electric trolleys completes its final run from Queens to Manhattan...
4.1958] Screened in: The Los Angeles Dodgers erect a 42-foot screen in left field at the Coliseum to cut down on home runs, only 250-feet down the line. The screen won't stop Frank "Hondo" Howard from clearing it with his bombs...
5.1963] Diaper duffer: At the age of 23, Jack Nicklaus becomes the youngest golfer to win the green jacket at the Masters Tournament...
6.1967] Who's your daddy?: Tom Donahue begins the progressive aka AOR (Album Oriented Rock) FM format at KMPX in San Francisco. Donahue will become known as the "Father of FM Radio." ...
7.1969] Save me: The Dodgers' Bill Singer is credited with the first official 'save' against the Reds. Write it down trivia fans. Here's an audio clip of Singer's no-hitter from 7/20/70 w/the great Vin Scully doing the play-by-play...
8.1970] An Oscar for The Pilgrim: John Wayne wins his first and only Oscar for his role in "True Grit". It took him over 200 films to accomplish the feat...
9.1998] Filling Sonny's shoes: Mary Bono, Sonny's widow, wins a special election to serve out the remainder of her husband's congressional term...
10.2003] Palace taken: U.S. troops rumble through downtown Baghdad and seize one of Saddam Hussein's opulent palaces...

Music Memories:

•1968] #1 on this date: "Honey" - Bobby Goldsboro...1970] "Let It Be" - Beatles ..1974] "Bennie and the Jets" - Elton John...
•1985] Elton lights a candle: Elton John performs "Candle in the Wind" at Farm Aid IV in tribute to Ryan White, a young AIDS patient who dies later that day...

Events:

The 2011 NAB Show will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center starting Saturday, April 9 for conferences, Monday, April 11 for exhibits. The 2011 NAB Show will run until Thursday, April 14. For registration and additional information, click here...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Russell Crowe (47), Janis Ian (60), John Oates (62), David Frost (72), Jerry Brown (73), Wayne Rogers (78), James Garner (83), Ravi Shankar (91), Bobby Doerr (93) and R.G. Armstrong (94)...

Timeline Countdown: 11 days until Passover, 17 days until Easter Sunday, 30 days until the Kentucky Derby & 31 days until Mother's Day...

Ten Years Of Growth For Online Radio...

2011-04-06T06:44:00.001-04:00

Online Radio listening made its entry 10 years ago (2001) with a paltry 5% of weekly listening. Five years later (2006) online weekly listening, which includes AM/FM streams, more than doubled with 12%. Playing double or nothing one more time, online radio is now at 22% or 57 million listeners. The numbers are courtesy of the new Arbitron/Edison Infinite Dial 2011 study. The major catalyst for online listening started with the availability of broadband internet access. Now, it's moving into mobile devices - that's where the new growth is being fueled. In addition to mobile, online radio car listening should spur even more growth as that form of listening grows. It wouldn't be surprising to see another doubling of online listeners in the next 5 years, at all...

The Arbitron/Edison study shows "the vast majority (89%) of weekly online radio listeners also tuned to local AM/FM broadcast stations in the past week, demonstrating that listening to online radio is a complement to, not a replacement of, their over-the-air listening. In addition, time spent with radio among weekly online radio listeners is the same, not less than, the average population"...

What's interesting to note is that only 11% of those listening to online radio did not listen to AM/FM radio, which proves to me, at least, that they don't have to go far from one source to find the other...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1930] Twinkie munch: Hostess Twinkies are invented by bakery executive James Dewar who washes it down with a scotch...
2.1958] Arnie's Army: 28-year old Arnold Palmer wins the Masters in Augusta (GA). Arnie's Army is born...
3.1973] Designated: The Yankees' Ron Blomberg becomes the American League's first designated hitter at Fenway Park. A rule still in effect but only in the American League. The National League knows better...
4.1974] Share and share alike: The Yankees who start sharing Shea Stadium with the Mets while Yankee Stadium is renovated, beat the Indians 6-1 in their first game there. The bombers will play there in 1974 & 1975. They get their stadium back in time for the opener in 1976...
5.1980] Stick it: Post-it notes are introduced to the public...
6.1980] Curtains: Gordie Howe's remarkable 26-year NHL career ends when at 52 he plays his last game and scores his 801st and final goal for Hartford against his former team - the Detroit Red Wings...1987] Dodger VP Al Campanis is quoted as saying "blacks lacked the necessities to be managers" to Ted Koppel on "Nightline". Campanis soon lacks the necessity of a job...
7.1992] 'Happy Trails': Science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov dies at 72 from AIDS, contracted by a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery...1998] Legendary Country singer Tammy Wynette dies in her sleep in Nashville at 55. Tammy, who I had the pleasure of meeting, was known as "The First Lady of Country Music" for having 18 Number one hits on the Country charts...
8.1998] A marriage made on Wall Street: Citicorp and Travelers Group announce a merger creating the largest financial-services conglomerate in the world under the name Citigroup...
9.2004] This school knows basketball: On April 5th, the Connecticut Huskies men's team wins the NCAA championship by beating Georgia Tech 82-73. On April 6th the female Huskies win their title by beating Tennessee 70-61. It's the first time a Division 1 school wins both titles in the same season. This past Monday night Jim Calhoun won his third championship as coach of the UConn Huskies...
10.2009] Going to Hall: The great Michael Jordan is elected to the basketball Hall of Fame...

Music Memories:

•1963] Heard on the radio on this date: "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore who heard her first record on WINS coming home from school...

Events:

The first annual Worldwide Radio Summit will be held Friday & Sunday, April 29 & 30 at the W Hotel in Hollywood. Admission is $275 to register. For additional information, click here...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Zach Braff (36), Paul Rudd (42), John Pizzarelli (51), Marilu Henner (59), John Ratzenberger (64), Roy Thinnes (73), Billy Dee Williams (74), Merle Haggard (74) and Andre Previn (82)...

Timeline Countdown: 12 days until Passover, 18 days until Easter Sunday, 31 days until the Kentucky Derby & 32 days until Mother's Day...

Modest Gains Forecast For Radio In 2011...

2011-04-05T06:53:00.001-04:00

This probably wont come as shocking news to the radio station owners that find themselves barely surviving but signs are now pointing to a not-so-hot year for radio revenue. BIA/Kelsey is now predicting modest revenue gains in 2011. They predict a small increase in radio revenue for the current calendar year. After growth of 5.4% in 2010, BIA/Kelsey is forecasting growth of 3.7% for radio in 2011. According to Radio Ink, "the minuscule jump of less than 4% goes against the grain of every bit of anecdotal evidence coming in from radio stations around the country." BIA/Kelsey is predicting a 4.5% growth in 2012, thanks to political advertising. Modest gains are also forecast for radio from 2013 through 2015...

In addition to revenue predictions for radio in the coming years, a new U.S. Ad Spending report from eMarketer shows radio getting 9.9% of the ad spend pie for 2015, which ranks just above magazines (6.7%), outdoor (4.4%) and various directories (2.9%). According to Adweek, TV will get the lion's share of ad spend in 2015 - 39.2%, followed by internet (25.6%) and the rest. Radio ranks 4th in ad spend among both new and old media...

Both the BIA/Kelsey and eMarketer forecasts are just that and from what I've learned from doing research is not to look at just one report but instead to look for developing trends. So far the trends are showing slow growth for radio in the years ahead...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1949] A killing blaze: A fire in an Effingham (IL) hospital kills 77 and leads to nationwide fire code improvements in the U.S...
2.1969] Hell no, we won't go: Massive antiwar demonstrations occur in many U.S. cities...
3.1976] 'Happy Trails': Reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes dies from kidney failure at 72...1992] Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton succumbs to cancer at 74...2006] Gene Pitney is found dead in his Cardiff (Wales) hotel room during a UK tour. Pitney dies from natural causes...
4.1982] Chapter 11: Record World Magazine, which was founded in 1946 as Music Vendor and changed its name to Record World in 1964, folds...
5.1984] Record breaker: Kareem Abdul Jabbar becomes the highest scoring player in NBA history with 31,421 career points. He still holds the career record with 38,387 points...
6.1987] Release the hounds: Fox Broadcasting Co. makes its prime time TV debut...
7.1992] The siege is on: The Siege of Sarajevo begins when Serb paramilitaries murder peace protesters...
8.1993] What timeout?: Michigan's Chris Webber calls a timeout his Wolverines don't have, resulting in a technical and loss of the ball. North Carolina wins its 3rd national title (second under Dean Smith) 77-71...
9.1999] Surrender made and accepted: Libya surrenders two suspects in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland to a U.N. representative...
10.2008] Death of an icon: Charlton Heston dies from pneumonia at 84...

Music Memories:

•1985] "We Are The World": An estimated 5,000 radio stations simultaneously play "We Are The World" to raise money to feed those starving in Africa and the U.S...Harvey Mednick considers this one of the proudest moments at R&R for he and Dwight Case...
•1993] Rocking the ground: Ground is broken in Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...

Events:
"An Evening with Irv Joel, The Man Behind The Scene" will be held on Tuesday, April 12 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm at the New School For Jazz Performance, 55 West 13th Street in Manhattan. The event is being sponsored by the New York Section of the Audio Engineering Society...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Larry Shannon (39?), Agnetha (ABBA) Faltskog (61), Michael Moriarty (70), Colin Powell (74) & Billy Bland (79)...

Timeline Countdown: 13 days until Passover, 19 days until Easter Sunday, 32 days until the Kentucky Derby & 33 days until Mother's Day...

Radio Optimism Based On Wall Street Optimism...

2011-04-04T07:07:00.003-04:00

The first quarter of 2011 wasn't so hot for radio but optimism is filtering in from Wall Street about Q2. U.S. blue chips opened the second quarter Friday by reaching their highest level since June 2008 as investor optimism rose after an upbeat U.S. employment report. Wall Street watchers are optimistic as the Dow Jones industrial average climbed above the 12,400 mark on views the U.S. economy is on a solid recovery track, car sales are up and analysts say the data signals that recovery in the world's largest economy remained firmly on track, according to Forex Yard. Market Watch reports that the market should continue to rise for the rest of the year, although the pace of gains may slow. Radio is hoping that Wall Street optimism rubs off...

When asked by All Access recently where radio's growth will come from, James Boyle, Wall Street analyst believes that "Radio stations have a chance to be a mature media that has positive, diversified revenue, and improving or stable margin prospects rather than the mature Newspaper industry, which continues to hemorrhage revenue, lose margins and readers. Of the three big mature media - Newspaper, TV and Radio - Radio should want to look a lot more like TV than newspapers. It is long past time to diversify radio revenue from solely advertising." Boyle also sees radio experimenting with coupon or Groupon type promotions with local merchants so they can "take advantage of radio's experience in simulating more sales traffic, than first-time sellers from a competing online coupon service." ...

Radio's continuing state of flux needs a good second quarter. It doesn't have to blow the doors off, it just has to be good - an improvement over Q1. Radio is hoping they get one...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1818] Twenty down-30 to go: Congress decides the U.S. flag should consist of 13 red & white stripes and 20 stars, with a new star to be added for every new state...
2.1902] All roads lead to Oxford: British financier Cecil Rhodes leaves $10 million in his will to provide scholarships at Oxford University in England...
3.1949] Call it NATO: Twelve nations, including the United States, signs the North Atlantic Treaty...
4.1968] MLK gunned down: Martin Luther King Jr. is gunned down while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis...
5.1974] Henry ties it up: Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves ties Babe Ruth's career home run record by hitting his 714th HR in Cincinnati...
6.1983] Jimmy V scores: North Carolina State are the champions of the NCAA with a stunning upset of mighty Houston, 54-52. Coach Valvano looks for someone to hug at the buzzer...
7.1991] Tragedy in PA: Sen. John Heinz (R-Penn) & 6 others are killed when a helicopter collides with Heinz's plane over a schoolyard in Merion...
8.1999] Bueno, Si?: The Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 8-2 in baseball's first season opener held in Mexico...
9.2001] Nomo No-No: Red Sox pitcher Hideo Nomo no-hits Baltimore to become only the 4th MLB pitcher to pitch no-hitters in both leagues...
10.2007] Nappy-headed I-man: Don Imus makes offensive on-air remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Despite a subsequent apology, Imus is fired by CBS Radio & MSNBC...

Music Memories:

1960] Recorded on this date: "Are You Lonesome Tonight" - Elvis Presley...
1963] Number One on the radio: "He's So Fine" - Chiffons...1973] "The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia" - Vicki Lawrence...
1964] Top 5 on the charts: 1) "Can't Buy Me Love", 2) "Twist and Shout", 3) "She Loves You", 4) "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and 5) "Please, Please Me"...all by The Beatles...

Events:

The IBS Spring Palooza is scheduled for Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23. IBS Palooza is a weekend of local, live music on member stations of the IBS Student Radio Network. For additional information, email George Capalbo at Backbone (gcapalbo@backbone.com) or Steve Theo of Pirate! Promotions (steve@piratepirate.com...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": David Blaine (38), Robert Downey Jr. (46), David E. Kelley (55), John Hannah (60), Christine Lahti (61), Craig T. Nelson (67), Hugh Masekela (72), Clive Davis (79) and Maya Angelou (83)...

Timeline Countdown: The NCAA Championship game is tonight, 15 days until Passover, 21 days until Easter, 33 days until the Kentucky Derby & 34 days until Mother's Day...

Arbitron Still Has A Long Way To Go For Full Accreditation...

2011-04-01T06:40:00.002-04:00

(Weekend Edition)

It's been a long, hard struggle for Arbitron. They've had a tough time getting accreditation for their portable people meter (PPM) radio audience measurement services. Over the last several months accreditations have been trickling in and yesterday's pickup of 11 additional markets should make them happy for about a minute. They still have a long way to go...

Arbitron announced yesterday that they've secured accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC) for its PPM measurement service in 11 markets. I'm happy for them but as Research Magazine notes, 34 markets remain for accreditation. To-date, MRC, the industry's measurement cop, has signed off on 14 out of a total of 48 PPM markets, along with an analysis tool for PPM data. While the reasons services fail to be accredited are not disclosed by auditor MRC, it's not hard to figure out that each market is submitted to an annual audit, according to an Arbitron spokesman. Gregg Lindner, the company's chief research officer says "We will continue to work with the MRC with the goal of achieving accreditation for PPM radio ratings across all PPM markets...

Arbitron will get its chance to turn things around in those 34 markets with the 14 they already have accreditation in. All 48 markets will be audited again in 2011 when Arbitron submits them at MRC's request. If you're keeping score - 14 markets down with 34 to go...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1876] Play Ball: Boston beats Philadelphia 6-5 in the first official National League game. The Boston Red Caps become the Braves and the Philadelphia A's will be expelled after the '76 season (4/1)...
2.1877] With 6 you get egg roll: President Rutherford B. Hayes rolls out the first Easter egg as the annual Easter Egg Roll begins on the White House lawn (4/2). 134 years later, it's still being done (4/2)...
3.1936] Death by electrocution: Bruno Hauptmann is electrocuted in Trenton (NJ) for the kidnap-murder of the Lindbergh baby (4/3)...
4.1966] The Mets win the lottery: The New York Mets win the rights to "The Franchise" aka Tom Seaver in a lottery drawing after the Atlanta Braves violated rules by signing the pitcher after the college season had started. Three years later Seaver helps the Mets win their first World Series (4/3)...
5.1972] Strike One: Major leaguers walk out at the end of spring training and begin the first general player's strike in sports history. They return April 13 (4/1)...
6.1972] 'Happy Trails': Mets manager Gil Hodges who managed the Mets to their first world championship in 1969, dies of a heart attack while playing golf in West Palm Beach (FL) two days before his 48th birthday. Yogi Berra replaces Hodges as Mets manager (4/2)...
7.1976] A ripe Apple: Apple Computer is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (4/1)...
8.1984] Marvin murdered: Marvin Gaye is shot to death by his father in Los Angeles one day before his 45th birthday (4/1)...
9.2003] Saving Private Lynch: American troops enter a hospital in Iraq and rescue Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, held prisoner since her unit was ambushed 9 days earlier (4/1)...
10.2010] iPad launch: Apple launches the iPad (4/3). To date, more than 15 million have been sold...

Music Memories:

1964] Recorded on this date: "I Get Around/Don't Worry Baby" - Beach Boys (4/2)...1967] "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - Beatles (4/2)...
1965] Released on this date: "Wooly Bull" - Sam The Sham and The Pharaoh's (4/3)...1976] "Margaritaville" - Jimmy Buffett (4/1)...1978] "Sir Duke" - Stevie Wonder (4/2) (Stevie's tribute to Duke Ellington)...

Events:

Rock 'n Roll photographer Richard Aaron presents a selection of his favorite shots in a benefit to help the National Kidney Foundation serving Southern California and Southern Nevada. Admission is $20 per guest at the Ensele Gallery, 23480 Park Sorrento in Calabasas (CA), Saturday, April 16 from 7pm-10pm...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (4/1) Rachel Maddow (38), Susan Boyle (50), Gil Scott-Heron (62), Jimmy Cliff (63), Rusty Staub (67), Rudolph Isley (72), Ali MacGraw (73), Debbie Reynolds (79), Jane Powell (82) and Brendan Byrne (87)...(4/2)'Law and Order's' Christopher Meloni (50), Emmylou Harris (64), Linda Hunt (66), Reggie Smith (66), Leon Russell (69), Dr. Demento (Barrett Hansen) (70) and Carmen Basilio (84)...(4/3) Leona Lewis (26), Picabo Street (40), Eddie Murphy (50), David Hyde Pierce (52), Alec Baldwin (53), Tony Orlando (67), Wayne Newton (69), Marsha Mason (69), Jeff Barry (73) & Doris Day (89)...

Timeline Countdown: The Final Four tips off on Saturday Night, Monday night is the Championship Game, 18 days until Passover, 24 days until Easter, 36 days until the Kentucky Derby & 37 days until Mother's Day...

Traditional Media Advertising Is Still Number One & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-31T06:51:00.001-04:00

A new nine-country study shows traditional media still packs a bigger punch than social media when it comes to advertising. Deloitte research and YouGov conducted the study in 6 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, U.K and the U.S.). They combined their results with qualitative studies from Brazil, India and Korea. Deloitte and YouGov asked respondents how often they visited websites after being exposed to various types of media, dividing answers into 3 categories: "frequently", "occasionally" and "rarely or never." In every country, social networks registered scores below those of radio spots, newspaper ads and email offers...

Here in the U.S., social media scored in single digits (9%) as the choice for those looking at ads. The UK only registered 3%. Search engines returned the best ratings as 36% of contributors agreed companies like Google and Bing are their number one source for finding websites. That percentage reached 43% in Japan. Television ads followed with 20%, edging email alerts and deals with 16% and press advertising at 13%. Deloitte says email marketing has become more effective, as the number of Americans accessing sites has grown from 61% to 66%, based on data collected over the last 3 years...

Without looking at all the results of the various studies, I would say that social networks are used less for finding a great buy but not necessarily for socializing. As a user of both Facebook and Twitter, I would say social websites are quite healthy. I just wouldn't be looking for my next purchase on a social web unless "word-of-mouth", not used in the studies, influenced me...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1918] Time after time: For the first time in U.S. history, Daylight Savings Time goes into effect. Clocks are moved ahead one hour at 2 a.m...
2.1923] They shoot horses, don't they?: The first U.S. dance marathon is won by Alma Cummings who sets a new world record of 27 hours in New York City. Gig Young finishes second...
3.1931] Luck of the Irish runs out: 43-year old Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne and seven others are killed in a plane crash in Kansas as the legendary coach was headed to Hollywood to make a football movie...
4.1943] Another opening, another show: Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" opens on Broadway. Although Howard Keel played the lead on Broadway, Gordon MacRae played that role on the big screen with Shirley Jones as his wife...
5.1975] Going out a winner: John Wooden coaches his last game, a 92-85 UCLA win over Kentucky which gives the Bruins their 10th National Title under 'The Wizard of Westwood'...
6.1976] Pulling the plug twice: The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that Karen Ann Quinlan could be disconnected from her respirator. Quinlan remains comatose until 1985 when she passes away...2005] Terri Schiavo dies at a hospice in Florida, 13 days after her feeding tube is removed in a right-to-die dispute that reached the courts, Congress and the White House...
7.1986] 'Happy Trails': O'Kelly Isley, who I had the pleasure of knowing, dies of a heart attack at 48. The Isley Brothers first hit was "Shout"..1998] Former New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug dies from heart disease at 77...
8.1992] Premiered on this date: "Dateline NBC"...
9.1995] Tejano tragedy: 23-year old Tejano singing idol Selena is shot to death by Yolanda Saldivar, president of Selena's fan club. The shooting takes place outside a Corpus Christi motel room...
10.1999] Murder is the rap: 4 New York City police officers are charged with murder for killing Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant, in a hail of bullets. The officers are acquitted in 2000...

Music Memories:

•1958] Released on this date: "Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry...
•1975] Number One on this date: "Lovin' You" - Minnie Riperton. The song was produced by Stevie Wonder. I never met a lovelier person than Minnie who at one time sang backup for Stevie and led the group Rotary Connection...

(WRKO...The Launch (Part 23) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. This is the final day I'll be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

That, to the best my memory bank can process information stored 44 years ago, is the way I remember events leading to and including the launch of WRKO. The history of the station is still being written. Top 40 ruled from March 13, 1967 to
1981 when WRKO changed to its present news/talk/sports format...

When I was hired to program WRKO-FM, I was told I was hired for "what was between my ears", not for my voice. What? They didn't like my aircheck? Programming "ARKO" was easy. I knew the music and ARKO didn't talk back. The great Curt Gowdy once summed up his success to me as "being in the right place at the right time." That may be true but we all know what he did with the opportunity he was given. There's probably some wisdom in Curt's statement for all of us who ever had the privilege to work at WRKO...

My own memories of 1967 are filled with once-in-a-lifetime events. Two months after we launched WRKO, Robert Dean Phillips was born in Needham's Glover Memorial Hospital on May 31, making his Dad, a happy man and giving his sister. Lynn, a brother to play with in the backyard. The next month WRKO would become the number one music station in Boston, beating WBZ and WMEX. I was officially named program director of WRKO-AM that summer - the "Summer of Love", which would give way to "The Impossible Dream" for the Red Sox who went from next to last in the standings in 1966 to the World Series in 1967. What a year!!!

This history of "WRKO...The Launch" was written for those of us lucky enough to have worked in the early stages of a great radio station and for all the terrific radio people who followed us, including the legion of listeners who chose a career in radio because of what they heard on NOW Radio...

- The End of The Beginning -

Mel Phillips March, 2011

(Many thanks to Shel Swartz, webmaster of the WRKO.org website for all the airchecks, photos, profiles, news articles, station memos & maps he provided. Access to his website can be made by clicking here, to Donna Halper for all the hours of research she did at the Boston Public Library to verify dates and events, and to everyone who offered quotes, information, advice and support)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Sal Selletto (39), Rhea Perlman (63), Al Gore (63), Gabe Kaplan (66), Christopher Walken (68), Herb Alpert (76), Shirley Jones (77), Richard Chamberlain (77), Gordie Howe (83) and William Daniels (84)...

Timeline Countdown: Today is MLBs Opening Day, 2 days until Final Four, 19 days until Passover & 25 days until Easter Sunday...

Is It Too Late For Bonneville To Change Its Mind? & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-30T07:02:00.001-04:00

So ya think Bonneville might like a do-over? Further proof that "timing is everything" has just reared its ugly head. What was Bonneville thinking when they included WTOP-FM in their sale of 17 radio stations to Hubbard Broadcasting for $505 million? The proposed deal was filed with the FCC in January, 2011. Just two months later comes word that WTOP-FM is the top billing radio station in the U.S. BIA/Kelsey announced the list of top ten billing stations yesterday with an asterisk next to WTOP-FM indicating the pending deal from Bonneville to Hubbard Broadcasting. Hubbard will be holding its Christmas party today. Why wait???

In addition to WTOP-FM being on T-O-P of the top billing station list are four FM's & five AMs. Seven of the ten have either a news, talk or sports format, two are CHR with one Alternative formatted station in the mix. BIA/Kelsey notes that audiences attracted by news, talk or sports are very attractive to national and local advertisers and "thus, these stations can generate substantial revenues." Most of the stations in the top ten were there in 2009. They include KISS-FM (LA), WCBS-AM (NY), KFI-AM (LA), WLTW-FM (NY), WHTZ-FM (NY), WBBM-AM (CHI), WINS-AM (NY) & KROQ-FM (LA). The only newcomer was WFAN-AM (NY)...

WTOP-FM GM Joel Oxley tells Radio Ink the secret to his station's success: "People always know exactly what we're doing when they listen to us. Being on FM has been huge for us. A lot of our listeners are younger and we have an even split between male and female listeners." An FM news station (in stereo, no less) was tried by the late Jack Thayer when he headed NBC Radio in the 70's. He even used the call letters WNWS (FM). As with most of his innovations, he had the right idea. He was just about 40 years too early...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1867] North to Alaska: The U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. The deal will be known as "Seward's Folly" after Secretary of State William H. Seward who brokered the deal for the U.S...
2.1909] Feelin' Groovy: The Queensboro Bridge aka the 59th Street Bridge, linking Manhattan and Queens opens to traffic, becoming the first double-tiered bridge. Now you can call it the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge..
3.1966] Back to work: Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale end a 32-day double holdout and sign with the L.A. Dodgers for equal $135,000 salaries. A bucket of balls and a fungo bat costs more than that today...
4.1967] Pass the pepper: The cover picture of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" LP is shot at Michael Cooper's photo studio in Cheslea, England...
5.1981] 'Honey, I forgot to duck': President Ronald Reagan is shot by John Hinckley. Reagan will make a complete recovery as will D.C. police officer Thomas Delahaney, also shot. Press secretary James Brady is not as lucky. Brady is left with permanent brain damage from his gunshot wound to the head. The 'Brady Law' will be passed in his name...
6.1986] "Happy Trails": Legendary actor James Cagney dies from a heart attack at 86...2002] Queen Mother Elizabeth of England dies of natural causes at 101...
7.1987] This guy's smart: Keith Smart pops a 17-foot jumper from the corner with 4 seconds left to give Indiana a 74-73 win over Syracuse as the Hoosiers celebrate their 3rd NCAA title under coach Bobby Knight...
8.1992] Musical call letters: WNSR (105.1) changes call letters to WMXV (The Mix) in New York. Today, Power 105 occupies that frequency...
9.1993] Touch 'em all Charlie: Charlie Brown hits his 1st home run in the Peanuts comic strip. Charlie wins his first game in this clip...
10.2009] Government issue: President Barack Obama takes unprecedented government control over the auto industry, rejecting GM & Chrysler restructuring plans...

Music Memories:

• 1989] O Solo Mio: Gladys Knight performs solo for the 1st time since her grammar school days. She sings 'Pip-less' during a Las Vegas date. Gladys says the Pips could be the "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me"...

(WRKO...The Launch (Part 22) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

The late Roger Allan was our News Director when WRKO was launched. Roger was there at the old Yankee Network and remained for our format changeover and over 20 years beyond. Roger added these comments shortly before his passing in 2008 at the age of 79: "How can I ever forget the day we kicked Boston in the ass? The Now Generation hit Boston big. It's a 'happening.' There was the Globe, the Herald and the WRKO top 40 sheets (click "Music Surveys"). We had the newest of the new broadcast styles with 20/20 News which won innumerable news awards from UPI, AP & RTNDA thanks to people like John ("the barrrrometric pressure") Masters & Bob Stevens, Bill Rossi and Bob Cusack. The George Capalbo studios had the nation's best equipment. What a time for all of us."...

Which leads us to George Capalbo (click "Miscellaneous" for some of George's handiwork). George was our Director of Engineering but he also did our station filings: "I vividly recall filing the change of call letters with the FCC to make it legal. I was working long and exhausting hours to prepare for the big changeover. I have fond memories of the management and staff all pulling in the same direction and the elation we still experience at the success of the legendary WRKO." Gordon Brown, was one of the younger technicians who would become a disc jockey favorite: "I was promoted from Production Supervisor to Engineer as management wanted younger guys spinning the rock for the new jocks. I was matched with Chuck "Chuckles" Knapp on the 9-midnight shift. Chuck and Gordy became a solid team for several years...

Bill Wayland was one of our best salesmen. Bill went from selling a N/T MOR format to a Top 40 without missing a beat. Bill was at the Sack Savoy Theater the night of May 6, 1967 when all hell broke loose at the 4am showing of "Casino Royale": "I remember standing on Washington Street at 3am watching the police arrive. Memories. But I knew way before the ratings came out that WRKO was a hit. I walked the Irish Riviera from Dorchester to Southie on Carson Beach, on a warm day and all I heard was WRKO and the Red Sox on WHDH. We were there."

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 23: Final Thoughts)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Norah Jones (32), Celine Dion (43), Piers Morgan (46), Tracy Chapman (47), MC Hammer (49), Paul Reiser (54), Eric Clapton (66), Warren Beatty (74), Rolf Harris (81), John Astin (81), Richard Dysart (82) and Peter Marshall (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 day until MLB Opening Day, 3 days until Final Four, 20 days until Passover & 26 days until Easter...

Performance Royalty Opposition Grows & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-29T06:49:00.001-04:00

After the White House endorsed a performance fee on radio, the National Association of Broadcasters fired off its answer to Washington. The NAB issued this statement: "This is hardly a new policy position from the White House. NAB remains unalterably opposed to legislation creating an onerous, jobs-killing fee on America's hometown radio stations without offsetting provisions and benefits that recognize the unparalleled promotional value of radio airplay. NAB offered a legislative package to resolve this issue last year, which was summarily rejected by the musicFirst Coalition. Our offer still stands." Glowing endorsements of radio's help from recording artists followed. That letter was sent two weeks ago. Just one week earlier a non-binding House resolution opposing a performance fee was introduced. Inside Radio now reports that the number of lawmakers who've signed on has doubled and the number is expected to climb with Congress back in session...

The music industry's cause wasn't helped one bit by this week's announcement of digital royalty distributions topping $252 million. These royalties come from webcasting, satellite radio, television music channels and similar streaming platforms. SoundExchange President Michael Huppe was doing cartwheels: "The royalty pay-out increases reflect several trends: the success and growth of streaming services; increased awareness among artists and copyright holders of the need to register with SoundExchange to claim royalty payments; and improved processing of previously unpayable balances through data clean-up. New registrants are still able to collect several years of back royalties, often resulting in large first-time payouts." Huppe also pointed to the rising subscribership of digital music services like Pandora and Sirius XM as a source of increasing revenues...

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't these fees go to music artists? The answer to that question is that compared to the prior year, the average payment for artists was up 80% (to $2,800); for rights holders it was up 39% (to more than $14,000). And oh, by the way, SoundExchange's overall distributions in its first decade has reached over $600 million, according to Radio World. Anyone have a problem with that???

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1951] I spy: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. A charge denied by their children…
2.1959] When you’re hot you’re hot: “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon premieres…
3.1962] I kid you not: Jack Paar hosts NBC’s “Tonight Show” for the last time. Here's Jack with Johnny Carson...
4.1971] Guilty as charged: Lt. William Calley Jr. is found guilty of premeditated murder of at least 22 Vietnamese civilians and is sentenced to life in prison. Calley wins a court case and is paroled. He now lives free in Columbus (GA)…
5.1971] Death rap: A jury in Los Angeles recommends the death penalty for Charles Manson and 3 female followers for the 1969 Tate - Lo Bianca murders. His sentence is commuted to life in prison in San Quentin, where he resides today…
6.1973] Turn out the lights: The last United States troops leave South Vietnam ending America’s direct military involvement in the war there…
7.1974] Four dead in O-Hi-O: Eight Ohio National Guardsmen are indicted on charges stemming from the shooting death of 4 Kent State students in May of 1970. All are later acquitted and released…
8.1992] Uh-huh: Candidate Bill Clinton acknowledges experimenting with marijuana “a time or two” but says “I didn’t inhale and I didn’t try it again”…
9.2002] An enemy of the state: Israel declares Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat an enemy and sends tanks and armored personnel carriers to fully isolate him at his headquarters in the West Bank…
10.2005] “Happy Trails“: O.J. Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran dies from an inoperable brain tumor at 67…

Music Memories:

1957] Number One on this date: "Party Doll" - Buddy Knox...1976] "Disco Lady" - Johnnie Taylor (the first platinum certified single w/over 2 million units sold)...1987] "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - Starship...
1962] Gold Standard: "Duke of Earl" - Gene Chandler...
1973] The Cover of Rolling Stone: 12 days after "The Cover of Rolling Stone" peaks at #6, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show get their wish...

(WRKO...The Launch (Part 21) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

In sports, a team manager or coach is as good as his or her team. In radio, a station is only as good as its general manager and WRKO had one of the best in Perry S. Ury. Perry's personality and will to win filtered down through all of us. I can honestly say I never worked for a better GM. While some general managers believe in a hands-on approach, Perry knew how to delegate responsibility to his department managers. Perry summed up his feelings about WRKO's success by saying this: "My memories of the transition from talk to our version of the Drake format was really historical. You guys in programming and promotion did such a professional job of tailoring the station musically and promotionally to Boston. I think the strike of the engineers helped even more. We proved that the music was the thing and that we could survive the strike if we gave our listeners what they wanted. At any rate, thankfully the jocks came back early and we of average talent (me) - could go back to desk jockeying rather than newscasting, although I will admit it was a real charge to go back to my roots in broadcasting. My best to all who made broadcasting in the late sixties so exciting at WRKO - Boston"...

Harvey Mednick, Promotions Director (click "Now Happenings" to see some of Harvey's promotions) of WRKO remembers his time in Boston: "WRKO was a true team effort and the unique mix of people and personalities contributed greatly to its success. In all the years that followed, at all the stations with which I was involved, there's never been a more diverse, yet united group than you, Bob (Henabery), Perry (Ury), Paul (Power), George (Capalbo), Bud (Simmen) and me, all committed to one simple mission: to create the most entertaining and innovative radio station Boston, and the industry has ever known. And with an unmatched singularity of purpose, an incredible amount of talent and a lot of hard work, we did it!"...

Paul Power, Music & Prod. Dir WRKO: "This was the greatest radio journey of my life, handling the music, production and assisting in programming this sitting 50,000 watt "Rig" (quoting J.J. Jeffrey here), taking it from worst to first in just a few months. As a 10-year old kid bitten by the radio bug and listening to the radio greats from 1955 on, and also growing up less than a mile from where WRKO would move in '68 (short commute), I will forever feel honored and indebted to Mel, Perry and all my other friends who helped me realize this dream!"...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 22: More quotes from Management)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Jennifer Capriati (35), Lara Logan (40), Lucy Lawless (43), John Popper (44), Elle Macpherson (48), Walt "Clyde" Frazier (66), Terry Jacks (67), Vangelis (68), Eric Idle (68) and John McLaughlin (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until MLB Openers, 4 days until Final Four, 21 days until Passover & 27 days until Easter...

ROI Still A Problem In Digital Ad Growth...

2011-03-28T07:01:00.002-04:00

Not having a tangible measurement for digital advertising remains the biggest obstacle to convincing local advertisers to pony up with digi-dollars. This has to have an effect on radio revenue growth. Advertisers are so used to ROI or return-on-investment, that until there's an acceptable measurement for digital and social ads, they're reluctantly investing in new media ways to sell their product. Twenty-three of 24 marketers surveyed in a new report from the World Federation of Advertisers and WPP (Web Presence Providers) firm Millward Brown is committed to increasing the time and money they spend on social media in the next 12 months, even if they don't think they can accurately measure the results. This, according to Advertising Age...

Inside Radio confirms the confusion by reporting that Borrell Assocates says the radio industry is "barely treading water" in the local digital space and is poised to see its share shrink - not grow - unless there's a rethink in the coming years. Borrell finds the average station billed $60,000 in local digital revenue in 2010. The World Federation of Advertisers and Millward Brown, mentioned earlier, don't agree on the spending part. The marketers they polled will be spending more social ad money and the advice from WFA and Millward Brown is "to commit considerable resources to social networking, install community managers and focus on areas that fit most closely to a brand's objectives, because it's tough to deliver strongly on every front."

Despite not having a litmus test for digital and social advertising, look for more, not less money invested on both fronts this year. The digital genie is out of the bottle. Memo to the audience measurement world: come up with an acceptable return on investment measurement for digital and social spending ASAP!!!

Timeline Memories...
1.1797] This is the way we wash out clothes: Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patents a washing machine...
2.1963] The Name Game: Sonny Werblin, no doubt inspired by nearby LaGuardia Airport, changes the name of the New York Titans to the Jets (3/28) just before Shea Stadium becomes a runway for LaGuardia and the new home of the Jets in 1964...
3.1967] New Ironsides: Raymond Burr stars in the TV movie "Ironside" which will become a highly rated, long-running series...
4.1969] 'Happy Trails': Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th president, dies of heart failure at 78...1987] Maria von Trapp, whose life inspired "The Sound of Music", dies in Morrisville (VT) from heart failure at 82...
5.1974] The Streaker: A streaker runs onto the set of "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson (but Ed McMahon is quickly subdued by NBC pages)...
6.1979] Wedding Bells: Eric Clapton marries George Harrison's ex, Patti "Layla" Boyd as he starts the 1st leg of a tour. The marriage lasts 9 years...
7.1979] Life imitates Art: A nuclear meltdown starts at Three Mile Island (PA) 12 days after "The China Syndrome" premieres...
8.1992] One-Man highlight film: Christian Laettner of Duke hits a 17-foot turn-around jumper just before the buzzer, giving the Blue Devils a dramatic 104-103 win over Kentucky to win the NCAA East Regional title. 9 days later Duke becomes the 1st team in 19 years to repeat as national champions with a victory over Michigan...
9.1995] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": The bubble bursts for Lyle Lovett as Lyle and Julia Roberts announce their separation. They were married 21 months...
10.2007] Gotcha: Former major league pitcher Ugueth Urbina is convicted of attempted murder in Venezuela in 2005 and sentenced to 14 years in prison...

Music Memories:

1968] Number one on this date: "(Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay" - Otis Redding ...1971] "Just My Imagination" - Temptations...
1958] Recorded on this date: "Summertime Blues" - Eddie Cochran...1966] "Green Grass" - Gary Lewis & Playboys...1967] "Brown-Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison...

(WRKO...The Launch (Part 20) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

Chuck Knapp and J.J. Jeffrey were two original members of the Now Crowd back on March 13, 1967 when WRKO was launched. Chuck remembers following Arnie Ginsburg on the air at 9pm each night: "Arnie always introed me as the guy from Fergus Falls, Minnesota and then did his traditional Arnie chuckle. I loved following him on the air." And what does Chuck remember most about 1967? "I saw the World Series that year, was introduced to Ted Williams by Curt Gowdy, met Bobby Orr and watched him play, saw Bill Russell in the bar at the station building on Brookline Avenue and so much more. Since Arnie never returned to the air I got to work 7 days a week for the next 7 months until we hired Gary Martin and I moved up to 6pm-9pm." Chuck also remembers racing at New England Dragway with J.J., $8 World Series tickets and giving away Sgt. Pepper artwork to a contest winner...

J.J. Jeffrey sends best personal regards from his "Villa in Dorchester." J.J. remembers "Light My Fire", The Red Sox! '67 erupts with WRKO! A gathering of radio people who took Boston and New England and said "Pay Attention." They did! The D.J.'s couldn't wait to get to "work" everyday to play the latest Beatle songs and other hits. Fabulous people to work with: 'Smitch' (Bobby Mitchell), Dale (Dorman), 'Joe' Cash (Joel Cash), Chuck (Knapp), Gary (Martin), Jon (Powers), Shadoe (Stevens), Ernie (Anastos), Roger (Allan), Paul (Power), (Dan) Tucker, Harry the W (Weinstein), Sid (Gaynor), Gordie (Brown), Chet (Kelly), Frank (Santos), (Bill) Wayland, Mike (Horn) & "Woodies" (Dick Woodies). Loved the promotions! 'Casino Royale,' Candy Apple Red Mustang, Top 500, Black Box & the Christmas Wish. And the names of the D.J.'s on the marquee at 21 Brookline Avenue. What a kick to 'Shepard' over the Drake format. The Johnny Mann jingles! The engineers who made the Big 68 sound like an FM. Thank you management team, Perry (Ury), Mel (Phillips), Bob Henabery and Harvey (Mednick) for "smoothing the way for us to rise to the top in New England. J.J. Jeffrey (3pm-6pm) on the Big 68 ('says proudly')"...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - part 21: We Hear From Management)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Stefani Germanotta aka Lady Gaga (25), Vince Vaughn (41), Chris Myers (52), Reba McEntire (56), Dianne Wiest (63), Gerry House (63), John Records Landecker (64), Rick Barry (67), Ken Howard (67), Jerry Sloan (69) and Charlie McCoy (70)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until MLB Opening Day, 4 days until the Final Four, 6 days until the NCAA Championship game, 22 days until Passover & 28 days until Easter Sunday...

Pandora Continues Its Online Dominance & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-25T07:09:00.003-04:00

(Weekend Edition)

The new Ando Media Audio Top 20 Ranker for January has been released and Pandora continues its dominance. In the Domestic Ranker, based on Average Active Sessions (AAS), Pandora quadruples second place CBS Radio Inc. 522,330 to 103,228, 6am-12mid, Mon-Sun. AAS is defined as total listening hours divided by hours in the reported time period. In session starts, defined as number of different requests for streams with a duration of at least one minute, Pandora just annihilates CBS with over 344 million starts to over 66 million. Pandora and CBS Radio are the only online stations in six-figures in average active sessions. The number 3 station in rank is Clear Channel (82,992 AAS), followed by Citadel with 31,601 and Slacker rounds up the top 5 with 26,338. To see the complete Ando Ranker, click here...

The Ranker is a listing of the top-performing internet audio stations and networks measured by the Webcast Metrics audience measurement. The Ranker only measures listening online, it does not measure any radio listening like Arbitron does. How important has the monthly Ando Ranker become? According to Ando, their clients number about 7,000 internet radio stations but unless you're Pandora, you won't get many buys using their Ranker when pitching advertisers...

Radio should be aware of what they're facing in internet competition but local stations don't stand a chance of gaining any traction in the Ando, unless they're an affiliate of one of the giant radio groups...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1794] In The Navy: President George Washington and Congress authorize creation of the U.S. Navy (3/27)…
2.1884] Red Sox Nation is born: The first long-distance call is made from Boston to New York in which two people argue the merits of their baseball teams before a shouting match ensues and the phrases “Red Sox Nation” and “Evil Empire” are heard often followed by the slamming of the phone (3/27)…
3.1911] Up in flames: 146 women are killed at the “Triangle Shirtwaist Company” in New York City. The owners of the company are charged with manslaughter when it’s discovered that the factory doors were locked. In 1914 they are forced to pay damages to all the victim’s families (3/25)…1990] Fire races through an illegal social club (”Happy Land“) in Manhattan, killing 87, mostly Honduran and Dominican immigrants (3/25)…
4.1939] March Madness: The first NCAA championship game is won by the Oregon Ducks, 46-33 over Ohio State (3/27). The NCAA will dominate the NIT starting in the mid-50s…
5.1953] Doctor Feelgood: Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine against Polio (3/26)…
6.1977] Tenerife tragedy: A KLM Boeing 747 attempting to take off, crashes into a Pan Am 747 on the Canary Island of Tenerife killing 582 (3/27)…
7.1979] Bird vs. Magic: Michigan State contains Larry Bird of Indiana State with Magic Johnson outscoring him 24-19 and the Spartans win their first NCAA title 75-64 (3/26)…
8.1988] Guilty as charged: Robert E. Chambers Jr. pleads guilty to 1st-degree manslaughter in the death of 18-year old Jennifer Levin in Manhattan’s so-called ‘Preppy Murder Case’ (3/25). Chambers is now serving a 19-year sentence for selling drugs in 2008…
9.1996] Monopoly money: The redesigned $100 bill goes into circulation (3/25)…
10.1997] Where’s the spaceship?: The bodies of 39 members of the “Heaven’s Gate” cult who’d committed suicide are found in Rancho Santa Fe (CA) (3/26)…

Music Memories:

1960] Recorded on this date: "Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison (3/25)...1967] "Groovin" - Young Rascals (3/27)...1972] "Burning Love" - Elvis Presley (3/27)...
1965] Guitar swap: Jeff Beck replaces Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds (3/26)...
1969] Bed-in: John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their 'bed-in' for peace at the Amsterdam Hilton (3/26)...
1970] Woodstock on the big screen: The classic documentary "Woodstock" premieres. The film will win an Oscar for "Best Documentary" (3/26)...
1974] Number One on this date: "Sunshine on My Shoulders" - John Denver (3/27)...1984] "Footloose" - Kenny Loggins (3/27)...
1981] Released on this date: "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" - AC/DC (3/27)...1984] "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper (3/27)...

(WRKO...The Launch (Part 19) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

The strike not only made local news, it was also picked up by the national trade magazines. The April 25th edition of Variety noted that "an IBEW strike had started at WRKO with jocks, refusing to cross picket lines." Billboard and other publications also noted the strike. On May 6th, at the height of the strike, we hit Boston right between the eyes with a promotion that would make headlines. Although it could have stopped our two-month-old Top 40 era dead in its tracks, some tap dancing to RKO corporate by Perry Ury, eased the pain of the riot that broke out at the Sack Savoy Theater in downtown Boston. "Wear a trenchcoat and dark glasses at 4 am and see 'Casino Royale' for free." About 20,000 insomniacs did. The next morning we were on the front page of the Boston Globe and New York Times. Harvey Mednick's dream promotion became a nightmare, or so we thought. We weren't proud of what we created but all of New England felt the impact of WRKO's reach and we knew we had arrived as a major radio force. The 1967 Casino Royale premiere was chronicled on the SONY Collector Edition DVD released a couple of years ago...

The strike continued into May, 1967 and there is a John Rode aircheck recorded May 28th that indicated the strike had ended sometime that month. All the members of the original Now Crowd came back on the air with the exception of Arnie Ginsburg and Dick Burch. Chuck Knapp would have his shift extended to cover some of Arnie's hours and worked 7 days a week until we had a complete staff again. We segued music overnight until Jon Powers came aboard in June. Despite the strike, the impact we made in Boston and throughout New England was immediate and lasting. In an August edition of Billboard Magazine, Claude Hall reported that we had climbed to number one in the June-July Hooper Ratings...

In 1967, more than 400,000 students were attending colleges and universities in the Boston metro area and WRKO would become the breeding ground for many future radio careers. Most of those we hired to answer the request line and as board operators came from Northeastern University, Boston University and Emerson College. The students that cut their radio teeth at WRKO included a future radio station owner (Dick Booth), a future radio consultant, historian and author (Donna Halper) and several future disc jockeys (Bob Raines, Ron Brindle, Dave Thompson, Bob (Charley Roberts) Schuman, Ron Hurst & Don Azars). Rich Stadlen and Gil Shaw also made radio their careers. In all there must have been a dozen new hires in 1967 that would make their mark in radio...

(Next Week: "WRKO...The Launch" - part 20: We Hear From The WRKO Staff)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (3/25) Katharine McPhee (27), Danica Patrick (29), Sarah Jessica Parker (46), Marcia Cross (49), Lee Mazzilli (56), Elton John (64), Aretha Franklin (69), Anita Bryant (71), Gloria Steinem (77) & Gene Shalit (79)...(3/26) Jennifer Grey (51), Curtis Sliwa (57), Steven Tyler (63), Diana Ross (67), Bob Woodward (68), James Caan (71), Nancy Pelosi (71), Fred Parris of the Five Satins (75), Alan Arkin (77), Leonard Nimoy (80) & Bob (Bob & Ray) Elliott (88)...(3/27) Stacy Ferguson (Fergie) (36), Mariah Carey (41), Quentin Tarantino (48), Michael York (69) & Cale Yarborough (72) and Michael York (66)...

Timeline Countdown (3/35): 6 days until MLB Opening Day, 7 days until the Final Four, 9 days until the NCAA Championship game, 25 days until Passover & 31 days until Easter...

Radio Remains The Greatest Influence On Music Listening & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-24T07:01:00.001-04:00

A new music study shows that 82% of those polled identified radio as having the greatest single influence on their music listening. This good news will be welcomed by an industry labeled as part of the "old media" that's losing its influence. The respondents in this study also gave the music industry an 82% rating but on the negative side. Eighty-two percent feel that the music industry is doing an average to poor job in their ability to identify good music. The results of the new Orpheus Media Research study aren't all favorable for radio though...

While the study showed radio's influence on music listening as high as 82%, other results were a mixed bag. Forty percent of respondents are interested in finding new ways to discover new music. Fifty-seven percent indicated that they most often relied on radio or word of mouth to learn about new music. Fourteen percent indicated that they relied on mainstream media, while 44% rate their friends as good or excellent at identifying good music. In its study, Orpheus polled 500 U.S. consumers, aged 18 years and above, identifying respondents' current music habits and the role music plays in their lives. Forty percent of the respondents listen to music more than 3 hours per day. Less than half of the study were not active music listeners, if you define "active" as 3 hours or more per day. Given my above average research study experience, this was a fairly reliable study...

While radio can put a positive spin on the Orpheus results, there's nothing positive coming out of a recent Pew analysis which indicates that adults tend to use mobile devices to get local news and information that serve an immediate need. The medium has failed consumers who obviously feel that radio is not serving them with the things that it used to do best, so they go elsewhere...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1900] The Bronx is up and the Battery’s down: New York City Mayor Robert Van Wyck breaks ground for the New York subway tunnel that will link Manhattan and Brooklyn…
2.1955] Who’s your Big Daddy?: Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” opens on Broadway. The play stars Ben Gazzara and Barbara Bel Geddes. In 1958, it's made into a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor...
3.1956] Don Russell: Senior Bill Russell leads the University of San Francisco to its second straight NCAA title with a 83-71 win over Iowa as the Dons win their 55th straight game - a record at the time…
4.1958] Elvis has left the draft board: Elvis Presley is inducted into the Army. Although he was drafted the previous December, the Army allowed Elvis to finish filming “King Creole“…
5.1962] Death visits the ring: Emile Griffith beats Benny “The Kid” Paret senseless in a welterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden. Ten days later Paret dies from his injuries…
6.1964] JFK in silver: The Kennedy half-dollar is issued by the Treasury…
7.1980] Debuted on this date: “Nightline” debuts with Ted Koppel. In 1979 the news show debuted with coverage of the Iran crisis. Koppel left the show in November of 2005 but the show continues to air with new hosts…
8.1988] Guilty as charged: Former national security aides Oliver L. North and John M. Poindexter plead innocent to Iran-Contra charges…
9.1989] Oil slick for the ages: The Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound after running aground…
10.2010] Doo Wop Death: Johnny Maestro, lead singer of the Crests and Brooklyn Bridge, dies from cancer at the age of 70...

Music Memories:

1973] Bum-mer: Lou Reed is bitten on the tucus by a male fan at a concert in Buffalo. Both Reed and the fan get tetanus shots...
1973] Released on this date: "Dark Side of the Moon" LP - Pink Floyd, which stays on the charts for a record-breaking 741 weeks...1978] "With a Little Luck" - Paul McCartney & Wings...
1975] Number One on this date: "Lady Marmalade" - LaBelle...1985] "One More Night" - Phil Collins...

(WRKO...The Launch (Part 18) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

When I left Tampa for Boston in the summer of '66, I thought my disc jockey days were behind me forever. Although I liked being a jock, I had gotten tired of saying the same things and playing the same music every day, 6 days a week. Goodbye jockdom, hello programming. I wasn't expecting to go back on the air but when the technicians walked out, followed by the on-air staff in March, 1967, guess who was the next morning drive guy for the next few weeks? You're looking at him...

Since I had last jocked at Big WALT in Tampa less than a year earlier, I was prepared and wasn't a bit nervous. My only fear was that everyone would turn off the radio at the same time when they didn't hear Al Gates & Feathers. Click here for my profile and aircheck at the bottom of the page. When you listen to the aircheck you'll hear a two-voice promo (voiced by Harvey Mednick and I) for the infamous 4am premiere of the James Bond movie, "Casino Royale." This was the promotion that made headlines and was Harvey's ticket to fame. Thousands of fans would show up at the theater for the premiere and riots broke out. The out-of-control event not only made the front page of the Boston Globe, it was also front page news in the New York Times. Included on the aircheck is GM Perry Ury coming out of a newscast...

While I was used to running my own board, WRKO had technicians for that. While they were on strike we used some of the brightest college kids in the area. Running my board was Bob Schuman, now known as Charley Roberts. With over 100 colleges and universities in the Boston metro, there was an ample supply of talented students to choose from. Many would make radio a career. I continued to do the morning show, mostly with Bob for several weeks on a Monday-Friday schedule. While I was the only live disc jockey on the air, we segued music the rest of the day and night. News was provided mostly by Bob Henabery and Perry...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - part 19: WRKO's student body)

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Lara Flynn Boyle (41), Star Jones (49), Kelly LeBrock (51), Donna Pescow (58), Louie Anderson (58), Tommy Hilfiger (60), Nick Lowe (62) and Bob Mackie (71)...

Timeline Countdown: 7 days until MLB Opening Day, 26 days until Passover & 32 days until Easter...

There's More Than Stern's Lawsuit Brewing At Sirius XM & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-23T07:06:00.005-04:00

The Wall Street Journal is all over the Howard Stern Sues Sirius story. Shira Ovide writes in her Deal Journal blog that Howard's "production company is suing, claiming the satellite radio company has refused to pay stock awards it owes to him based on subscriber targets in Stern's contract. The lawsuit also says Sirius owes money to Stern's agent under a consulting agreement." Sirius XM figures that Stern's option for a 3-day week and a reported salary of $80 million should satisfy Stern quite well, thank you. The controversy appears to stem from whether subscribers from XM, the rival satellite company at the time, should count toward the subscriber goals in Stern's contract. Sirius absorbed XM in 2008. Howard Stern is not the only subject on Sirius XM's mind...

Sirius XM has identified their satcom as "Now Playing Everywhere", playing up the access subscribers have on their "computer, iPad, compatible internet radios, and of course that smartphone in your pocket." Now they're looking for additional information from their subscribers. Inside Radio reports that Sirius XM is surveying subscribers about internet radio services in general and Pandora in particular. Sirius XM has hinted in the past that it may offer subscribers who listen to their service online the ability to personalize its content like the satcaster they don't consider competition. That would be Pandora...

Although Mel K downplays the success of Pandora, he's wisely looking into a way to beat them at their own game. He won't admit it though because he considers terrestrial radio his biggest competitor. This might offer proof that he just might be concerned about Pandora's success whether he admits it or not...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1775] Liberty rules: Patrick Henry calls for America’s independence from Britain, telling the Virginia Provincial Convention: “Give me liberty of give me death.”…
2.1839] OK?: The first recorded use of “OK” is used in the Boston Morning Post…
3.1857] Going up?: Elisha Otis installs the first modern passenger elevator in a public building at the corner of Broome & Broadway in Manhattan…1858] Eleazer A. Gardner of Philadelphia patents the cable streetcar and then is escorted out of his neighborhood when neighbors find out that his name is Eleazer. The same kind of cable car is still in use in San Francisco...
4.1942] Evacuation day: With WWII being fought, the U.S. Government begins evacuating Japanese-Americans from West Coast homes to detention centers…
5.1950] You can't beat this: “Beat The Clock” premieres on CBS-TV, hosted by Bud Collyer. The original show will run through February, 1958 when the show switches to ABC-TV until January, 1961. The show goes into syndication and continues to run until September of 1979…
6.1983] Star Wars: President Ronald Reagan proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative aka “Star Wars.”…
7.1983] “Happy Trails“: 61-year old Dr. Barney Clark, a retired dentist dies after living 112 days with a permanent artificial heart…
8.1989] Guilty as charged: Joel Steinberg is sentenced to 25 years for killing his adopted daughter. After serving some time he is released and is now a construction worker in Harlem…
9.1998] Hold the ice: “Titanic” wins 11 Oscars tying “Ben-Hur” and “The Lord of The Rings (the Return of the King)” with the most Academy Awards in history…
10.2003] Saving Private Lynch: A U.S. Army maintenance convoy is ambushed in Iraq with 11 soldiers killed and 7, including Pfc. Jessica Lynch, captured. A daring U.S. raid will free her…

This Just In: Actress Elizabeth Taylor has died this morning from congestive heart failure. The screen legend was 79...

Music Memories:

1961] Recorded on this date: "Can't Help Falling In Love" - Elvis Presley...
1963] Released on this date: "Surfin' U.S.A." - Beach Boys..
1981] Number One on this date: "Rapture" - Blondie...1983] "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson...1985] "Uptown Girl" - Billy Joel...

(WRKO...The Launch (Part 17) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

The length of the IBEW strike at WRKO is in dispute, owing to the fact that AFTRA held a vote to honor picket lines set up by the technicians after the techs walked out. My best recollection is that the strike lasted 10 weeks. Being part of management I was allowed to cross the picket lines. Our GM Perry S. Ury remembers events leading to the strike: "For me it was a day of pride and vindication for the decision to change the format and put the "Boston Rocker" on the air. My most vivid memory was an extremely nasty call from Mr. McCurdy, the head of the engineer's union (IBEW). The threat to 'ruin WRKO and General Tire' for making the format move was very real at the time." ...

Chuck Knapp recalls the AFTRA vote which would recommend not crossing the picket lines already set up by IBEW: "I remember the first AFTRA vote was to cross the picket lines and then a second vote was taken after some impassioned pleas from TV booth announcers. Two people switched their votes and we stayed out for 6 weeks while they tried to work things out. What a mess that was. We were all new, most from out of town and had no money." ...

No one seems to remember the actual date the strike started but it was days after the new format was launched. I was standing behind Arnie Ginsburg who was preparing to start his show at 6pm. I and a few other people were in-studio in case AFTRA voted to honor the IBEW strike. Arnie got a phone call from the shop stewart shortly before the start of his show. Disappointed that he would not be doing his show and that his union had voted to not cross the picket lines, Arnie left for home. He did not know that he would never return to the air on WRKO because of a non-compete contract he had signed while at WMEX...

Using management people and some college students that would major in WRKO radio for the next few weeks, we segued music back-to-back. In the morning I would be doing morning drive. Perry, Bob Henabery and other management personnel would be doing the news. It had only been a few months since I did my last show in Tampa at WALT and I had done morning drive at WKDA Nashville before that. I knew the requirements of a good morning man - a positive energy with lots of time checks, weather conditions, sports, local town and city mentions. I was ready to resume my disc jockey career. All I needed now was sleep and an early wake-up...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - part 18: The First Full Day Of The Strike)

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Perez Hilton (33), Keri Russell (35), Chaka Kahn (58), Ric Ocasek of The Cars (62), Sir Roger Bannister (82) and Marty ("Hello Dere") Allen (89)...

Timeline Countdown: 8 days until MLB Opening Day, 27 days until Passover & 33 days until Easter...

Arbitron Trumpets Radio Increases & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-22T06:48:00.001-04:00

I took one look at the USA Today headline and said "From your lips to God's ears." Even 1010 WINS New York talked about radio's "dramatic" increases. David Lieberman's headline set the tone for all this enthusiasm: In a renaissance for radio, more listeners are tuning in. Those of us that follow radio perhaps more closely than Mr. Lieberman believe that radio is holding its own for being branded as "old media" but no one close enough to knowing radio's condition is as excited as Arbitron and other members of "old media" are this morning...

USA Today cites several sources for its enthusiasm. They mention "(the) average of 241.6 million people 12 and older who listened to conventional radio stations each week last year" for "an increase of 2.1 million over 2009 - and up 4.9% vs. 2005, according to an annual study that media and marketing research company Arbitron released Monday." "Radio is much stronger than the general perception of it has been", says Carol Henley, Arbitron's Exec/VP of sales and marketing. Other sources for USA Today include the recent announcement of the Cumulus Media proposal to buy Citadel, the increase of Hispanic radio listeners (up 1.1 million last year), the stronger local ad market and an increase in auto sales, which may be tempered by the earthquake and tsunami horror in Japan...

Look, all of these sources have credibility but let's not buy the hype yet. Terrestrial radio has to play it like good sports teams do - one game at a time. In this case, one quarter at a time. Once we see one solid year, then there will be something to be excited about...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1882] Wives 2 - 10 get pink slips: Congress outlaws polygamy but not everywhere…
2.1895] Pass the popcorn: Auguste and Louis Lumiere project a movie on a screen. This is believed to be a public first…
3.1933] Watered down booze: During prohibition, FDR signs a measure to make wine and beer containing up to 3.2 percent alcohol legal…
4.1972] Equal Rights: Congress sends the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution to the states for ratification. It falls short of the three-fourths approval needed…
5.1978] “Happy Trails“: Karl Wallenda, 73-year old patriarch of The Flying Wallendas, falls to his death while attempting to walk a cable extended between two hotels in San Juan (PR)…
6.1987] Garbarge: A barge loaded with 3,200 tons of garbage leaves Islip (NY) on a six-month journey in search of a place to unload. The barge is turned away by several states and three countries before space is found back in Islip…
7.1990] Busted: A jury in Anchorage, Alaska, found former tanker captain Joseph Hazelwood innocent in connection with the Exxon Valdez oil spill, but convicted him of a minor charge of negligent discharge of oil…
8.1991] Not too: High school instructor Pamela Smart, accused of manipulating her student-lover into killing her husband, is convicted in Exeter (NH) of murder-conspiracy…
9.1995] Guilty as charged: Colin Ferguson is sentenced to life for the LIRR massacre in which he killed 6 people in 1993. He is serving his sentence at Attica Prison…
10.1997] Baby skates: Tara Lipinski of the US becomes the youngest women’s world figure skating champion at age 14 years, 10 months…

Music Memories:

1970] Number One on this date: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel...1980] "Another Brick in The Wall" - Pink Floyd...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 16) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

The original members of the Now Crowd scattered wide and far and almost all of them had successful careers in radio after they left WRKO. Most are still working. Where are they now? We'll start with Al Gates. To no one's surprise because of his ability to read commercials as good or better than anyone else on our staff, Al has made a living as as one of the top voice-over announcers in the country. Al makes the New York Metropolitan area home. At last word, John Rode owns a book store outside of Toronto, Canada and is no longer on the air following successful on-air jobs in Canada. Joel Cash is living in South Florida and owns a business unrelated to radio...

J.J. Jeffrey is now living in Brunswick, Maine and owns a couple of radio stations in the Portland market. J.J. does on-air work occasionally. Arnie Ginsburg is retired and also lives in Maine. Chuck Knapp, who's been following our serialization of the WRKO launch, was in touch last week. Chuck is doing a morning show 5 days a week for a suburban Country station just outside Minneapolis. Chuck remarried two years ago and says "life is very good." We'll share more of Chuck's conversation in an upcoming chapter. Dick Burch, our one-night overnight wonder has relocated in California...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - part 17: The Strike)

Sorry to report that one of our WRKO alums, Harry Nelson is in intensive care at a Portland, Maine hospital with acute pneumonia. Harry became program director at WRKO in the 70s. The San Francisco Board of Radio-Info.com will issue updates on Harry's condition when warranted. In the meantime, I'm sure friends and colleagues of Harry will have him in their thoughts and prayers...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Reese Witherspoon (35), Bob Costas (59), Andrew Lloyd Webber (63), Wolf Blitzer (63), George Benson (68), Roger Whittaker (75), Orrin Hatch (77), William Shatner (80), Pat Robertson (81), Easy Ed Macauley (83) & USA Today's Allen Neuharth (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 9 days until MLB opening day, 28 days until Passover & 34 days until Easter...

Moving Radio Stations Online Is Not Working & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Moving terrestrial radio stations online is not the answer as evidenced by the failure of KUSF, the University of San Francisco station that yanked the station off the air and on to the internet. When the station was sold, KUSF told their listeners they weren't losing the cutting-edge rock signal, it was just relocating online. But things have not worked out and now the station is trying to kill the deal, with hopes of buying the signal. So, what went wrong? The audience dropped out once it moved online - that's what. According to the New York Times, Miranda Morris, fund-raising and marketing coordinator of KUSF, estimates that the station went from 30,000 weekly listeners at 90.3 FM, to about 20 people at a time listening online...

Ken Freedman, station manager at free-form radio station WFMU in New Jersey observed KUSF's failure, learning wisely in the process. Freedman says "It's not realistic for a terrestrial station to move online and maintain the same audience." Freedman, who's been helping KUSF, says a radio station needs both online and traditional broadcast components. WFMU has donated broadband to Save KUSF, a community volunteer group so they could begin streaming online as KUSF-in-Exile this past weekend. Irwin Swirnoff, leader of Save KUSF and a former music director calls their streaming "a temporary situation that will hopefully lead to us regaining a spot on the terrestrial dial." ...

KUSF's failure should provide a warning to any future radio property considering moving their signal online. Despite ongoing talk about terrestrial radio's demise, it's more than relevant - it's still a powerful force...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1857] Devastating Quake: An earthquake in Tokyo, Japan kills over 100,000. One hundred fifty one years later earthquakes can still be a destructive force in Japan...
2.1952] Cleveland rocks: A riot breaks out at the "Moondog Coronation Ball" in Cleveland as Alan Freed aka "King of the Moondogs" hosts what many consider the spark that ignited Rock 'n' Roll...
3.1963] The Rock Closes: Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay is emptied of its last inmates...
4.1963] Wedding Bells: Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould walk down the aisle. The marriage will last for 8 years...
5.1965] Marching On: More than 3,000 civil rights demonstrators led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., begin their march from Selma to Montgomery (AL)...
6.1970] Earth Day debuts: San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto proclaims the day - Earth Day...
7.1980] Nyet!: President Jimmy Carter announces a U.S. boycott of the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan...
8.1980] The shot heard 'round the world: On the season finale of Dallas, J.R. Ewing is shot by an unseen assailant, leading to the question, "Who shot J.R.?" ...
9.1989] The Gambler: Sports Illustrated reports allegations tying baseball player Pete Rose to baseball gambling. My nephew Jim Gray interviewed Rose in 1999...
10.2005] A plea from the president: George W. Bush signs a newly enacted law in an attempt to order brain-damaged Terri Schiavo's doctors to re-insert the woman's feeding tube. A judge will later refuse the order...

Music Memories:

1939] Recorded on this date: "God Bless America" - Kate Smith...
1964] Number One on this date: "She Loves You" - Beatles...
1970] Released on this date: "ABC" - Jackson Five (No other station in New York would introduce this song by plugging WABC at the time)...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 15) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

Chuck "Chuckles" Knapp (9pm-12Mid) was one of our most exciting disc jockies on-air and was well suited for nighttime, appealing to teens and 18-24's. Chuck would punctuate his shows with his famous "this is your leader" trademark shouts in between the music and maintain a frantic tempo throughout his 3 hours on the air, night-in and night-out. He was consistently fast and good at the same time...

Chuck, who hailed from Minnesota came to us from North Dakota where he hosted a daily radio show. He was one of those "baby D.J.'s" whose interest in radio started at the age of 14. At 17 he started his professional career and about 50 years later is still hosting a radio show in his native state. I heard from Chuck last week and I'll be sharing his thoughts with you when we get into our "Where Are They Now" segments. To hear an aircheck of Chuck, click here and go to "Talent Pages/Airchecks", "Chuck Knapp"...

Dick Burch (Overnights) had the shortest career of any of the original members of the Now Crowd - one night. No sooner had we launched WRKO, we were hit with a technician strike. AFTRA honored the picket lines and Dick Burch, who couldn't afford to wait out the strike, found a job elsewhere. More on Dick and the rest of the Now Crowd starting tomorrow...

The technician strike was unfortunate for both sides but it should be mentioned here that prior to and following the strike, we had some of the best technicians in radio. I'll single out a few who learned a new format quickly and formed a strong bond with our on-air staff. Since we had a union shop, none of our success could have been enjoyed without technicians who ran a tight board and maintained all of our equipment. Chief among them were: Harry Weinstein, Sid Gaynor, Chet Kelly, Tom Murphy, Jimmy Robinson and Gordon Brown. Thanks to George Capalbo for supplying us with a team of good, young technicians...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 16: Where Are They Now?)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Matthew Broderick (49), Rosie O'Donnell (49), Stylistic's lead singer Russell Thompkins Jr. (60), Eddie Money (62) & Timothy Dalton (65)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until MLB Opening Day, 29 days until Passover & 35 days until Easter Sunday...

New Agency Head Says Radio Needs A Higher Profile & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-18T06:40:00.002-04:00

(Weekend Edition)

Kantar Media may claim that radio's rate of recovery outpaced the rest of the media world in 2010 but new Katz Radio President Mark Gray says radio can do a lot better in selling itself. Marketing Pilgrim has posted a chart showing local radio growth year-to-year (2009/2010) at 4.9%, national spot radio jumping 18.6% and network, a more modest 2.2%. While Kantar's numbers would indicate a recovery to pre-recession is well under way, Gray doesn't think radio is doing enough to promote itself...

Gray told Radio Ink, "We can do a better job telling people about radio. There are a lot of good stories not being told. There are a lot of things that can be done regarding the success advertisers are having with radio. There's going to be a lot more research done regarding the impact radio really has. Why radio is so important to people." Katz Media Group has realigned "to develop innovative solutions for advertising partners and highlight radio's value as an an advertising medium." Gray adds "This new structure offers us an unprecedented opportunity to champion radio's extraordinary power, reach and flexibility to marketing decision-makers across the advertising spectrum. It's our mission to harness the power of all our assets to make sure the advertising community understands radio's enormous capabilities." ...

I'm not so sure that radio still has "enormous capabilities", compared to the new media, which can create a new buzz just by launching a new device, but it still has two valuable assets. Free and local will keep radio competitive enough to survive and that might be as good as it gets...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1953] The Braves leave Beantown: Boston loses the Braves as NL President Warren Giles and all the NL team owners approve the team’s decision to move to Milwaukee. They eventually wind up in Atlanta where they are now (3/18)...
2.1954] The Real Hoosiers: Milan beats Muncie Central for the Indiana state high school title in the game that the movie “Hoosiers” was based on. The final score of the game was 32-30. Obviously there was no clock in use yet (3/20)…
3.1959] Aloha: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Hawaii statehood bill, giving us “Hawaii Five-O” (3/18)…
4.1961] Premiered on this date: The Poppin’ Fresh “Pillsbury Dough Boy” is introduced (3/18)…1968] Mel Brooks’ film “The Producers” premieres, starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel. The movie wins an Oscar for “Best Screenplay” (3/18)…
5.1966] Glory Road: Number three ranked Texas Western upsets #1 Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament’s final game to win the championship of college basketball. The Miners, composed mostly of blacks beats the Wildcats 72-65 (3/19). The story was made into the movie, “Glory Road“…
6.1981] Guilty as charged: Jean Harris is sentenced to 15-to-life for the murder of lover Dr. Hyman Tarnower (3/20). Harris is released, her sentence commuted by New York Governor Mario Cuomo after 12 years served in 1992…
7.1991] City tragedies: Eric Clapton’s 4-year old son Conor dies when he falls out the window of a 53rd floor apartment in Manhattan (3/20). Clapton will win a Grammy for his song written about Conor, “Tears in Heaven.”…
8.1996] Double Guilt: Erik and Lyle Menendez are found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of their parents. Both are serving a life term in prison (3/20)…
9.2003] Shock and Awe: An American-led coalition launches a war against Iraq, beginning with the launch of U.S. Cruise missiles and precision-guided bombs aimed at Saddam Hussein near Baghdad (3/19)…
10.2004] Gotcha: The U.S. military charges 6 soldiers with abusing inmates at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq (3/20)...

Music Memories:

1961] Recorded on this date: "Hello Mary Lou" - Ricky Nelson. Ricky sings the song on the "Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet" (3/20)...
1962] Released on this date: Bob Dylan's self-titled debut LP is released (3/19)...1967] "The Happening" - Supremes (3/20) (who sing the song at a WRKO show at the Boston Arena shortly after it's release)...1972] "Back Off Boogaloo" - Ringo Starr (3/20)...
1963] Number One on this date: "Walk Like A Man" - Four Seasons (3/18)...1972] "A Horse With No Name" - America (3/20)...1973] "Killing Me Softly With His Song" - Roberta Flack (3/18)...1982] "I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett (3/20)...1983] "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson (3/18)...
1967] Debuted on this date: Brit supermodel Twiggy makes her U.S. debut and WRKO News Director Roger Allan interviews her. Roger and Twiggy are featured on the front of the NOW 30 (3/20). That photo can be accessed by clicking here and go to "Talent Pages/Airchecks" - Roger Allan..

R.I.P: Ferlin Husky has passed away at the age of 86...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 14) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

By the time Arnie ("Woo-Woo") Ginsburg arrived to do 6pm - 9pm he was already a radio star. Arnie started his career as a radio engineer at WORL and would become an iconic air personality while at WBOS and WMEX in his native Massachusetts. Arnie picked up the "Woo-Woo" handle when he hosted his "Night Train" show. It was on that show that Ginsburg used a train whistle, among other bells and whistles that he would entertain his audiences with, as he told WRKO.org webmaster Shel Swartz in this video clip a few years ago...

Arnie's on-air career at WRKO was short-lived, not long after he started it by a technician strike and a long-forgotten personal contract signed at WMEX stopped him from continuing his show following settlement of the strike. Arnie would continue to work as a salesman at WRKO. Airchecks and an additional profile of Arnie can be accessed by clicking here and going to "Talent Pages/Airchecks" - Arnie Ginsburg...

(Monday: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 15: We conclude our Now Crowd profiles with Chuck "Chuckles" Knapp, "the guy from Fergus Falls, Minnesota" as Arnie would introduce our 9pm to 12mid disc jockey. Also, a quick look at Dick Burch, our all-night guy for one day and the great technicians of WRKO)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (3/18) Zdeno Chara (34), Queen Latifah (41), Bonnie Blair (47), Vanessa Williams (48), Irene Cara (52), Michael Reagan (65), Charlie Pride (73) & John Kander (84)...(3/19) Bruce Willis (56), Glenn Close (64), Ruth Pointer (65), Joe Kapp (72), Clarence 'Frogman' Henry (74), Ursula Andress (75), Renee Taylor (78), Philip Roth (78) & Phyllis Newman (78)...(3/20) Kathy Ireland (48), Holly Hunter (53), Spike Lee (54), Mike Francesa (57), William Hurt (61), Bobby (#4) Orr (63), Pat Riley (66), Hal Linden (80), Carl Reiner (89) and Marian McPartland (93)...

Timeline Countdown: Spring arrives Sunday night,13 days until MLB Opening Day, 32 days until Passover & 38 days until Easter Sunday...

FCC Aids Earthquake Relief Effort & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-17T06:34:00.001-04:00

(St. Patrick's Day Edition)

FCC rules don't prohibit commercial stations from any sort of fund raising. Commercial stations could raise money for public broadcasting if they chose, although my guess is they probably wouldn't. Non-commercial stations can only raise funds for themselves, until now. The FCC is issuing temporary waivers of the existing rules to non-commercial stations that apply for permission. This will allow for funding the victims of Japan's horrific earthquake and tsunami as daily events seem to be getting worse with threats of a total meltdown at nuclear plants a real posibility...

According to Inside Radio, interested broadcasters must file a formal request with the FCC detailing their planned fundraiser, how long it will run, which relief groups will get the proceeds and whether it will be part of the regular station pledge drive. This move by the agency isn't unprecedented. The FCC made similar exemptions for 911, the 2005 tsunami in Southeast Asia, Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina and last year's Haitian earthquake...

Interested stations should contact the FCC directly by clicking here...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.461] ‘Happy Trails’: St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland dies from unknown causes, leading to the celebration of St. Patrick's Day…
2.1756] Happy Times: New York City’s first St. Patrick’s Day celebration is held at the Crown and Thistle Tavern. Here's a clip of a recent New York St. Patrick's Day Parade.…
3.1776] Redcoats don’t wear green: British forces evacuate the city of Boston during the Revolutionary War. On St. Patrick’s Day? Now they’re really asking for it…
4.1897] Falling: Bob Fitzsimmons, a 167-pound middleweight KOs Gentleman Jim Corbett in the 14th round to claim the world title. After the fight, Fitzsimmons says of the 183-pound Corbett: “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”…
5.1905] Wedding Bells: Franklin D. Roosevelt marries his distant cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City. President Theodore Roosevelt, FDR’s 5th cousin, gives his niece away. Quite conveniently Eleanor doesn’t have to change her last name but how distant a cousin was she???
6.1959] Get out of town: The Dalai Lama aka Lhama Dhondrub Tenzin Gyatso flees Tibet for India. The Chinese took over Tibet in 1950 and opposition to their regime by Tibet’s Monks is causing all hell to break loose in Tibet now…2003] President George W. Bush gives Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq. He rejects the ultimatum. Tick…tick…tick…
7.1969] This I swear: Golda Meir is sworn in as the 4th Premier of Israel…
8.2005] I smell a rat: Rafael Palmeiro, who rats out teammate Miguel Tejada, and Sammy Sosa (who forgets how to speak English) testify before Congress saying they never used steroids. Mark McGwire, also testifying, turns into a sphinx…
9.2008] Client #9 replaced: David Paterson is sworn in as the new Governor of New York after the Eliot Spitzer (aka ‘Client #9′) prostitution scandal…
10.2008] Heather scores: Paul McCartney’s divorce from Heather Mills is settled for $48.6 million…

Music Memories:

1958] Recorded on this date: "Yakety Yak" - Coasters...1967] "Come Back When You Grow Up" - Bobby Vee...
1962] Debuted on this date: Ray Charles starts his own (Tangerine) label...
1997] Gold Standard: The RIAA announces that the Eagles' "Greatest Hits" LP has tied Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as the all-time best-selling album...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 13) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England with a N/T format)...

J.J. Jeffrey (3pm - 6pm) wasn't the life of the party, he was the party. Still is. J.J. was made for afternoon drive. With a boundless supply of positive energy and a raspy delivery, J.J. made each show an adventure. J.J. was one of those disc jockeys that could turn a phrase into a trademark. From his imaginary "Villa in Dorchester" he would exhort his female companions to "shake their money maker" and "put their business in the street." It sounds sexist and gross but made perfect sense coming from "Triple J." J.J. knew how to make it work without somehow offending anyone...

J.J. was totally uninhibited on the air and everyone's friend off the air. J.J., a native of Massachusetts, was born in Newton, a western suburb of Boston but eventually would make his home in Maine after attending college in that state. J.J. was known as Melvin X. Melvin when he worked at WMEX in the early 60s. To hear airchecks of J.J. click here and then go to "Talent Pages/Airchecks", "J.J. Jeffrey". Publicity shots are available here and by going to "Publicity Photos", "J.J. Jeffrey"...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 14: A Profile of Arnie Ginsburg (6pm - 9pm)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Caroline Corr (38), Mia Hamm Garciaparra (39) (Nomah!!!), Rob Lowe (47), Danny Ainge (52), Gary Sinise (56), Lesley-Anne Down (57), Kurt Russell (60), John Sebastian (67), Patti Boyd (67), Paul Kantner (70), Gene Scurti (73) and Adam Wade (74)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the first day of spring, 14 days until MLB Opening Day, 33 days until Passover & 39 days until Easter Sunday...

HD Radio Loses The Zune & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-16T06:40:00.001-04:00

HD Radio just lost a device it counted on to gain respectability and acceptance in its fight to gain a foothold in the market. Microsoft has announced it's canning Zune HD. Zune HD was the last completely new hardware model and was released in 2009. A version that featured more storage went on sale one year later. Microsoft will continue to sell existing versions of the Zune, a company spokesman told Bloomberg News. Look for lots of sales on Zune HD at an electronic store near you. But not for you Canada. For some reason, Microsoft just started a new promotion campaign on the Zune HD up north...

Zune HD wasn't given much support from late night talk-show hosts, who panned the device shortly after its launch. Craig Ferguson and Conan O'Brien had fun with Zune. Bloomberg reports that Ferguson said the device was Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates's bid to "loosen iPod's stranglehold on the iPod market." He added that "Zune has all the features of the iPod except it's not as good. Plus it can only download recordings of Bill Gates singing." ...

Microsoft isn't killing the Zune entirely. The company will now put Zune software onto mobile phones with Windows. Zune software lets customers buy songs and movies, as well as pay a monthly fee to stream unlimited music. While that part of Zune will continue to be utilized, the loss of Zune HD is a blow to the HD Radio movement...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1802] The long gray line: Congress authorizes the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (NY)...
2.1881] The Circus is in town: The Barnum and Bailey Circus debuts…
3.1912] Cherry pie: Mrs. William Howard Taft plants the first cherry tree in Washington (DC). Skip and Flip sing the National Anthem followed by “Cherry Pie“…
4.1968] My-Lai, My-God: U.S. troops under the direction of Lt. William L. Calley Jr. destroy a Vietnam village consisting mostly of women and children, killing hundreds. The event is know as the “My-Lai Massacre.”…
5.1970] “Happy Trails“: Tammi Terrell dies from a malignant brain tumor just a month and a half away from her 25th birthday. She had collapsed on stage in October of 1967 while singing with Marvin Gaye…
6.1978] Kidnapped: Italian politician Aldo Moro is kidnapped by left-wing guerrillas. Moro is later found murdered by the group…
7.1988] Guilty as charged: Former National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter, former White House aide Oliver L. North and two others are indicted on charges relating to the Iran-Contra affair. The convictions of Poindexter and North are thrown out…1994] Tonya Harding pleads guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution for covering up the attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan and is fined $100,000…
8.1991] Country tragedy: Seven members of Reba McEntire’s band and her road manager are killed when their private plane goes down near the California border with Mexico. Luckily Reba was on another plane…
9.2002] Wedding Bells: Liza Minelli makes her fourth trip down the aisle when she marries her producer and boyfriend David Gest. It took more than five years to work out a divorce settlement…
10.2002] Fan tragedy: Thirteen-year old hockey fan Brittanie Cecil is hit by a puck during an NHL game between her hometown Columbus Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames. She dies 2 days later from her injuries…

Music Memories:

1964] Released on this date: "Can't Buy Me Love" - Beatles...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 12) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

Like John Rode, Joel Cash (12N-3pm) had a great radio voice. Joel must have gone to the same Resonance Broadcasting Academy Rode attended. Joel was also smooth. He didn't make many mistakes on the air and like Al Gates, Joel could really sell a live spot. Joel had so much confidence, he came off arrogant to some people at WRKO but I always chalked that up to his being so sure of himself and his ability rather than arrogance. Joel was good and he knew it...

Although big of voice, Joel was short in stature. We were about the same height - 5' 6" to 5' 7" on tip toes. Joel was always neatly dressed with his jet black hair shining and neatly combed. He also had a quick smile as opposed to Rode, who never smiled. Joel was the biggest sports fan of all of our disc jockeys. He knew the Boston teams, players and daily game results. He was also a good ballplayer. Joel's profile and airchecks are available by clicking here...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 13: A profile of J.J. Jeffrey (3pm - 6 pm)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Lauren Graham (44), Nancy (Heart) Wilson (57), Kate Nelligan (60), Erik Estrada (62), Chuck Woolery (70) and Jerry Lewis (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until the first day of spring, 15 days until MLB opening day, 34 days until Passover & 40 days until Easter Sunday...

Now's The Time For Radio To Act & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-15T06:50:00.000-04:00

Radio should act quickly when events warrant action. Case in point: offering help to the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The radio stations that jumped all over this quickly are the stations that are the leaders in their respective markets. Setting up a relief fund through the Red Cross or some other reputable charity is not only humanitarian, it will also earn you points from listeners. This is what radio can do better than any other medium but it has to act quickly. Be first to do it. Don't wait until TV, newspapers and the internet beats you to it. If you're starting now, you're already too late. Keep this in mind for a future event...

Radio stations thinking about a timely promotion, should find out what people need. What are they talking about? What are they worried about? What would they love to receive as a prize? The answer is money - it's always money. Money to help pay their rent or mortgage and to pay bills. How about money to help them buy gas for their cars? A new Pew Research study shows that 90% of the public say they are hearing mostly bad news about gas prices. According to Pew, "Reaching the 90% threshold is a rare occurrence in public opinion surveys. In part, this reflects the tendency of polling organizations to focus on current issues about which there are often considerable differences of opinion. Nonetheless, even on issues where one would expect to find near-total agreement, the public's views are far from unanimous." ...

That's how hot the subject of rising gas prices have become, but like setting up relief funds for earthquake and tsunami victims, this too has to be acted on quickly. Radio can't afford to wait and jump on the bandwagon. It needs to start the bandwagon...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.44BC] Beware the Ides of March: Roman dictator Julius Caesar is assassinated by a group of nobles that include Brutus and Cassius…
2.1919] An American in Paris: The American Legion is founded in Paris. Contrary to popular belief, the French Foreign Legion was not founded in America…
3.1954] Debuted on this date: CBS-TV debuts its “Morning Show” and any day now viewers will discover it. It's called "The Early Show" now...
4.1956] Another opening but not just another show: The Lerner and Loewe musical “My Fair Lady” opens on Broadway…
5.1964] Wedding Bells: Richard Burton becomes victim number five for Elizabeth Taylor. These two lovebirds are married for 10 years from 1964 to 1974 and then for an additional year in 1975 before finally calling it quits…
6.1965] The right to vote: Addressing a joint session of Congress, President Lyndon Johnson calls for new legislation guaranteeing every American’s right to vote. Johnson had just been sworn in just two months earlier...
7.1975] “Happy Trails“: Aristotle Onassis, husband of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, dies of bronchial pneumonia at 69…1998] Child care expert Dr. Benjamin Spock dies at 94 from natural causes…
8.2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart resigns from the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia 10 days after she is convicted in a stock scandal…
9.2005] Gotcha: Former WorldCom chief Bernard Ebbers is convicted in New York of engineering the largest corporate fraud in U.S. history. He is later sentenced to 25 years…
10.2008] Crane collapse: A construction crane falls on a residential building in Manhattan, killing 4 and injuring at least 17. The city has ruled that the cause of the collapse was faulty rigging. 2008 will go down as the year of the crashing construction crane in New York...

Music Memories:

1954] Recorded on this date: The record that many believe is the first Rock & Roll record: "Sh-boom" - The Chords...1955] "Ain't That A Shame" - Fats Domino...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 11) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

Bob Henabery asked for and received my input on all the prospective disc jockeys we hired for the launch, which I thought was generous of him. It would also help me when I replaced Bob as PD in just a few months. I didn't know Al Gates when I heard his aircheck but I thought he would be an entertaining morning man for us. John Rode (Road-ie), who would follow Al from 9am to Noon was another story. John is someone I knew and worked with...

John and I were both disc jockeys at Big WALT in Tampa in 1966, so I knew how good he was. John's looks belied his voice. His height was average but he was reed-thin. He wore Coke-bottle glasses for his bad myopia. John was never seen without his glasses because if he took them off he would never find them. If John were in a "Mr. Magoo" cartoon, he would be following Magoo. His voice was powerful and resonant. Rode had the kind of voice that everyone in the 60s didn't have but wished they did. John's profile and aircheck can be heard by clicking here and then going to "Talent Pages/Airchecks" & "John Rode"...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 12: A profile of Joel Cash 12pm-3pm)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Kevin Youkilis (32), Eva Longoria (36), will.i.am (36), Mark McGrath (43), Bret Michaels (48), Terence Trent D'Arby (49), Fabio (50), Sly Stone (67), Mike Love (70), Jimmy Swaggart (76), Judd Hirsch (76) and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (78)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until the first day of spring, 16 days until MLB Opening Day, 35 days until Passover & 41 days until Easter Sunday...

Internet Coverage Of Earthquake Was Second To None & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-14T07:05:00.002-04:00

The best coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan was offered by the new media. The internet cleaned radio and TV's clock when it came to instantaneous updates from Japan on the devastation created by one of the most horrific acts of nature on record. The social networks offered information directly from those on the scene quicker than any other medium. Internet video shots, supplied by Japanese news sources and average citizens were fed to U.S. TV, proving that non-professionals are becoming the new newsmakers. Cell phone video made TV coverage look like print media. Which begs the question, is the net becoming our number one source of news??? There are those that believe it is - like Doc Searls who writes a blog for Harvard Law...

Searls "This post is not a slam on the good work that broadcasters do. Nor am I declaring the death of TV and radio as we know it. I am using logic here, when I say that the Net is becoming the base medium. Broadcasters need to normalize to the Net. Broadcasters need to be streaming online and well as over the air and over cable." While this might be old news to those of us who've been advocating what the good doctor from Harvard suggests in his post, it is reassuring to see an institute of higher learning spread the message to its readers...

You would be lying if you didn't admit that you wanted developing information on the earthquake once you heard about it. You probably went to the internet first for the most accurate account of the devastation in Japan. You would be part of a minority if you turned on your radio first for updates, less of a minority if you turned on your TV. Despite the enormity of this major news story, I actually heard someone in radio say that his station is downplaying the story because it's not a local event. I can't even begin to comment on that moronic statement...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1743] The meeting is in order: The first town meeting in America is held at Faneuil Hall in Boston...
2.1794] Eli's coming: Eli Whitney receives a patent for his cotton gin...
3.1923] H&R Block's first customer: President Warren Harding becomes the first president to file an income tax report...
4.1961] Meet the Mets: Former Yankees GM, George Weiss becomes president of the New York Mets (who begin play April, 1962...
5.1964] Guilty as charged: A Dallas jury finds Jack Ruby guilty of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's assassin. About 50 million people witnessed the shooting on live TV...
6.2000] Vote for me: George W. Bush & Al Gore sweep their southern primaries and head for a showdown in November...2004] Vladimir Putin is re-elected Russian president with 70% of the vote. The 30% that didn't vote for him are sent to Siberia...
7.2003] Free as a bird: Robert Blake is released from jail on $1.5 million bail after being jailed for the murder of his wife, Bonny Lee...
8.2008] Monks go Sheen: Protests led by Buddhist monks in Tibet turn violent, leading to an extensive crackdown by China's military...
9.2010] Bend it but don't break it: David Beckham tears his Achilles tendon in a match for A.C. Milan. He is ruled out for the 2010 FIFA World Cup...
10.2010] Death of a star: Veteran actor Peter Graves, dies of a heart attack, four days before his 84th birthday...

Music Memories:

1958] Gold Standard: Perry Como gets the 1st official Gold Record for "Catch A Falling Star" from the RIAA. Gold records were awarded for sale of one million copies (singles) and 500,000 for albums (the cast album of "Oklahoma" was the 1st Gold Album)...
1958] #1 on this date: "Tequila" - The Champs (Glen Campbell, Jim Seals and Dash Crofts will all join the group after this release)...1979] "I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor (this was the 'B' side, the 'A' side was "Substitute")...
1965] Sullivan's "Pet": Petula Clark makes her American TV debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show"...
1972] Grammy Gold: Carole King wins a Grammy for "Record of The Year", "It's Too Late" and "Album of The Year": "Tapestry". Carly Simon is "Best New Artist".

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 10) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

Al Gates was our original morning man. Al was working at WIXY in Cleveland when he was hired. "Feathers" migrated from Lake Erie, where he nested. He found Boston Harbor more to his liking. One listen to Al, told you all you needed to know. He was the ultimate professional and personality. He filled his show with one-liners, self-made sound effects and delivered it all in a rapid tempo. News, weather & sports, was well handled with veteran newscaster Palmer Payne & Curt Gowdy. We had helicopter traffic reports too. If you ever had to fight Boston traffic, you know how valuable that was...

Of all of our disc jockeys, Gates read the best live commercials. He would make a career of doing voice work when his disc jockey days ended. WRKO had a promotion featuring fake dollar bills that we gave away by the thousands - why not? it didn't cost us anything. The bill had a picture of Al, Feathers, Palmer Payne & Curt Gowdy on it and was inscribed "For A Million Dollar Morning", 6-9am and signed by Al. A picture of the bill, profile of Al Gates and aircheck can be seen & heard by clicking here and then going to "Talent Pages/Airchecks" & "Al Gates"...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" - Part 11 Features: A profile of John Rode 9-12Noon)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Monaco's Prince Albert (53), Jerry (Ben & Jerry) Greenfield (60), Rick "Disco Duck" Dees (61), Billy Crystal (63), Michael Caine (78), Quincy Jones (78), Phil ("Sea of Love") Phillips (80) and former astronaut Frank Borman (83)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until spring, 17 days until MLB Opening Day, 36 days until Passover & 42 days until Easter...

Will Cumulus Now Divide And Conquer Clear Channel? & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-11T06:57:00.001-05:00

(Weekend Edition)

All that remains in the Cumulus Media Inc. purchase of Citadel Broadcasting Corp. is for Citadel shareholders and regulators to approve the $1.7 billion deal. It's expected to close by the end of the year, according to the AP & Boston Globe. To recap, Atlanta-based Cumulus would own 572 radio stations in about 120 U.S. markets once the deal closes. Cumulus would remain the number 2 radio station owner in the U.S. behind Clear Channel, owner of more than 800 stations. Although neither Cumulus nor Citadel is what you would call robust - both carry serious debt, the recent, although modest economic uptick has apparently convinced Cumulus to act now. Clear Channel has been nickle and diming it and continues to make personnel cutbacks. Now that Cumulus is gobbling up Citadel, will they decide to divide and conquer Clear Channel by acquiring some of their properties. Does a rolling stone carry no moss???

Not only will Cumulus kick Clear Channel's tires but so will Emmis. Both are likely to target CC properties especially in strategic large markets and medium to smaller size cities, according to Seeking Alpha. Clear Channel's shaky status could produce more downsizing, putting some of their valuable properties on the block. You can bet that Cumulus will be first to knock on their door with Emmis close behind. Both companies will be watching closely to see how that plays out...

Meanwhile, Citadel shareholders will decide whether to take a piece of the $1.7 billion pie being offered up by Cumulus or about 151 million Cumulus Class A shares. Citadel claims that a total value of $38.23 per share is forthcoming, based on Cumulus' closing stock price on Wednesday. If all Citadel shareholders choose to receive cash, then each Citadel share would be prorated to $30 in cash and 1.613 shares of Cumulus. There are worse decisions to make...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1912] Order your cookies: Juliette Gordon Low founds the “Girl Guides” which will become the ‘Girl Scouts of America’ (3/12)…
2.1942] Big Mac: With Japanese forces advancing in the Pacific during WWII, General Douglas MacArthur leaves the Philippines for Australia vowing “I Shall Return“. He does (3/11)…
3.1964] Screams? What screams?: Thirty-eight neighbors ignore the screams of 28-year old Kitty Genovese being stabbed to death in a Queens neighborhood (3/13)…
4.1967] WRKO is born: WNAC changes call letters to WRKO and switches format. Boston’s new top 40 giant replaces the Yankee Network Flagship personality/talk/news station (3/13)... "WRKO - The Launch" will continue to be available in daily segments throughout the month of March...
5.1980] Guilty as charged: A jury finds John Wayne Gacy Jr. guilty of murdering 33 men and boys. Gacy will be executed in May of 1994 (3/12)…1997] LAPD arrest Mikail Markhasev in the shooting death of 27-year old Ennis Cosby, Bill Cosby’s son. Markhasev is serving life with no parole (3/12)…
6.1991] Pretty slick: Exxon pays $1 billion in fines for the clean-up of the Alaskan oil spill they caused (3/13)…
7.2002] In living color: Homeland security chief Tom Ridge unveils a color-coded system for terror warnings. If you’re color-blind, you’re out of luck (3/12)…
8.2003] Getting Smart: Elizabeth Smart is reunited with her family 9 months after being abducted from her home. She was kidnapped in June of 2002 by a drifter who had previously done work at her family’s home (3/12)…
9.2008] Client #9: New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigns two days after reports surface that he was a client (#9) of a prostitution ring (3/12)…
10.2009] Scammer slammed: Former NASDAQ chairman Bernard Madoff pleads guilty to 11 felonies and admits operating what’s called the largest investor fraud ever committed by an individual. In June he’s sentenced to 150 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $170 billion (3/12)…

Music Memories:

1957] Recorded on this date: "Maybe Baby" - Crickets (with Buddy Holly)(3/12)...
1967] Number One on the day that WRKO debuted (3/13/67): "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone" - Supremes...
1968] Gold Standard: "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding (3/11...
1969] Grammy Gold: "Mrs. Robinson" ('Best Record of 1968') - Simon & Garfunkel (3/12)...
1970] Released on this date: "Deja Vu" LP - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (3/11)...
1997] A good knight: Paul McCartney is knighted by the Queen of England (3/11)...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 9) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

It was unseasonably warm in Boston on Monday, March 13, 1967. On Sunday it had reached 44 and was almost springlike. Monday was expected to be similar. But there was so much excitement in the air at 21 Brookline Avenue, that none of us knew or cared what the weather was. We were about to launch a new station out of a tired, upper-demo, middle-of-the road property that had an hourly news commitment of a quarter of an hour...

In the early morning hours of March 13, 1967, WNAC was replaced by WRKO, "Now Radio In Boston." The original on-air lineup featured Al Gates & his sidekick, "Feathers" (6am-9am). "Feathers" was the duck voiced by Al for funny two-voicers. Al was joined by the news/sports team of Palmer Payne & sports great, Curt Gowdy. Al was followed by John Rode from 9am-12noon. The noon day hour (12pm-3pm) featured Joel Cash and then it was time for afternoon drive heavy - J.J. Jeffrey. Six to 9pm was hosted by the iconic Boston disc jockey, Arnie "Woo-Woo" Ginsburg. Arnie had already become a legend for his pioneering work at cross-town rival WMEX. Chuck "Chuckles" Knapp handled 9pm to midnight. The all-night disc jockey was Dick Burch, who would have a short career lasting all of one day. The WRKO lineup featured on the marquee of the Kenmore Hotel didn't list Burch, but listed the other members of the "Now Crowd". All but J.J. Jeffrey and Arnie Ginsburg were newcomers to Boston...

The WRKO sales staff was now selling an entirely different format than they had before but they were ready to hit the streets with a new rate card...

(Monday: "WRKO...The Launch" (Part 10) will profile the on-air staff)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (3/11) Johnny Knoxville (40), Terrence Howard (42), Cheryl Lynn (54), Joey Buttafuocco (55), Nina Hagen (56), Bobby McFerrin (61), Sam Donaldson (77) and Rupert Murdoch (80)...(3/12) Steve Levy (46), Darryl Strawberry (49), Jon ("Timmy" from "Lassie") Provost (61), James Taylor (63), Liza Minnelli (65), Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano (66), Al Jarreau (71), Andrew Young (79), Barbara ("99") Feldon (79) & Edward Albee (83)...(3/13) Johan Santana (32), WRKO (44), Dana Delany (55), William H. Macy (61), Neil Sedaka (72) and songwriter Mike Stoller (78)...

Timeline Countdown: Daylight savings time starts at 2am Sunday (clocks advance one hour), 9 days until the first day of spring, 20 days until MLB Opening Day, 39 days until Passover & 44 days until Easter Sunday...

Will Radio Follow TV's Lead On Boomers? & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-10T06:41:00.001-05:00

TV finally gets it. Will radio follow? Since the average prime-time viewer is now 51 and many highly rated shows have viewers 55+ , TV is stretching the highly coveted 18-to-49-year old sales target. Makes sense since there are nearly 80 million baby boomers out there watching 170 hours of TV a month (5 to 6 hours a day), according to Nielsen Co. Baby boomers, defined as the 55 - 65 demographic, watch more TV than average viewers, who are not in that age group. The Wall Street Journal is calling this sales movement - Television's Senior Moment. Now, will radio be smart enough to acknowledge its aging audience???

There's one thing that TV is doing that I don't agree with and I hope radio doesn't follow. Networks want to charge advertisers more to reach the boomers. The theory being that these viewers watch a disproportionate amount of TV, and they control half of all U.S. consumer spending. There's no reason to raise your rates because you're stretching your demographic target. It may be good business but it's just wrong...

Jim Speros, chief marketing officer at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Investing, a unit of Fidelity Investments says the stretching of demographics to include baby boomers "Isn't a wave, it's a tsunami. Pharmaceuticals, luxury-car makers and financial firms are on board." Memo to music radio stations: Lots of teenagers watch "American Idol" but did you know that the average age of AI viewers is 51 and growing older each year???

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1876] Can you hear me now?: The first successful voice transmission over Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone takes place in Boston when his assistant hears, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.” Mr. Watson replies, “how exactly do you mean that?”…
2.1949] Guilty as charged: Nazi wartime broadcaster Mildred E. Gillars aka “Axis Sally” is convicted of treason and will serve 12 years in prison…1969] James Earl Ray pleads ‘guilty’ to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. but will later repudiate his plea and maintain his innocence until his death in 1998…2004] Teenage Washington (D.C.) sniper Lee Boyd Malvo is sentenced to life in prison in Virginia…
3.1965] The Odd Couple: The play opens on Broadway with Walter Matthau and Art Carney as Oscar and Felix. Jack Klugman will replace Matthau and Tony Randall replaces Carney when the TV series starts…
4.1966] ‘Happy Trails’: Five-time ‘Horse of the Year’, the mighty Kelso retires. The gelding lives a long life, passing away in October, 1983…1980] Scarsdale Diet guru, Dr. Hyman Tarnower is murdered by his lover, Jean Harris who will be pardoned in 1992 by Governor Mario Cuomo after serving time in a penitentiary…1988] Andy Gibb dies suddenly of heart inflammation at the age of 30…
5.1971] Vote for me: The Senate lowers the voting age to 18…
6.1980] Debuted on this date: Willard Scott debuts as weather man on “The Today Show”...
7.1983] Going to Hall: Walter Alston who began his career as manager of the Dodgers in Brooklyn is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame…
8.1993] Gunned down: Dr. David Gunn is shot to death outside a Pensacola (FL) abortion clinic…
9.2002] Yasser pinned: Israeli helicopters destroy Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s office in Gaza City, hours after 11 Israelis are killed in a suicide bombing in a cafe across the street from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s residence in Jerusalem…
10.2005] Wacko Jacko: Wearing pajamas and twirling an umbrella, Michael Jackson shows up one hour late to his trial. A back injury is given as MJ’s excuse, however there’s no excuse offered for his bizarre behavior. Charlie Sheen takes notes...

Music Memories:

1961] Number One on this date: "Pony Time" - Chubby Checker...1971] "One Bad Apple" - Osmonds...1981] "I Love a Rainy Night" - Eddie Rabbitt...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 8) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

The summer of 1967 was known as "The Summer Of Love." TSOL started with a Be-In, celebrated in San Francisco in the early part of the year and spread nationwide. Inflation was only 2.7% and the average cost of a new house would set you back $14,250. Average yearly income was $7,300. Gas was 33 cents a gallon for the average car that cost $2,750. The price of a movie ticket was a mere $1.75, even for the James Bond film, "Casino Royale", which WRKO would make famous. More on that later...

The first Super Bowl was played in 1967 but it wasn't even called the Super Bowl. Green Bay beat Kansas City, 35-10 in the NFL Championship Game. Music gave us the Doors, Aretha's "Respect" and The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu got married, Clint Eastwood gave us "A Fistful Of Dollars", Off-Broadway gave us "Hair" and NASA introduced the Apollo 7 crew. Monterrey produced a Pop Festival and TV gave us "The Monkees"...

Locally, The Summer of Love would end in The Impossible Dream as the Red Sox stole our hearts with thrilling victories, making it all the way to the World Series. But that wasn't the only big story in Boston. On March 13, 1967, a new radio station surfaced that would change listening habits with its rapid rise to the top of the ratings...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" (Part 9) (WRKO Is Launched)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Olivia Wilde (27), Carrie Underwood (28), John Hamm (40), Edie Brickell (45), Jasmine Guy (47), Rick Rubin (48), Sharon Stone (53), Tom Scholz (64), Dean Torrance (71) and Chuck Norris (71)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Daylight Savings Time, 10 days until the first day of spring, 21 days until MLB Opening Day, 40 days until Passover & 45 days until Easter...

FCC Chairman Genachowski May Leave & "WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-09T06:39:00.002-05:00

The possibility of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski leaving his post is not what either the old or new media had in mind. The Hill reports that the FCC chair is being considered by the White House as a potential successor to Gary Locke as Secretary of Commerce. Should Genachowski leave, look for net neutrality and anything else on the table to return to square one. Apparently Genachowski and his close law school bud - who happens to be the president of the United States - see this move as a way to get the FCC chair to leave the agency on a positive note. While some would welcome Genachowski's departure, this can not be considered a positive move for the media...

"It's been no secret that Genachowski may want to move on after a tenure characterized by nearly-constant acrimony and a few trips to Capitol Hill to take fire from House Republicans. Genachowski has tangled with Senate Democrats as well" - according to Sara Jerome of Hillicon Valley. Jessica Rosenworcel, a top telecom aide to Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va) is widely cited as a likely pick to replace outgoing FCC Commissioner Michael Copps and could be in the running for FCC chair should Genachowski leaves. I'm sure we'll all find out shortly what kind of Chair, Rosenworcel would be...

As one FCC Chairman might be leaving, another one resurfaces. Newton Minnow, FCC Chairman during the Kennedy Administration and author of the infamous "TV is a vast wasteland" quote is back to reminisce and give us his view of today's media. Given that the median age in the U.S. is 36.8, more than half of the population neither remembers the quote or Newton Minnow...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1862] What’s the tie-breaker?:During the Civil War, the ironclad Monitor and Virginia (formerly the Merrimac) fight to a draw in a 5-hour battle at Hampton Roads (VA)…
2.1954] TVs finest hour: On “See It Now” Edward R. Murrow takes a stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy and his communist witch hunt with a hard hitting interview of the Wisconsin Senator…
3.1954] Not TVs finest hour: WNBT (now WNBC) New York runs the first local color TV commercial for Castro Convertible as Bernadette Castro makes the couch into a bed for the first time. This is Dan Ingram doing the radio commercial...
4.1955] Debuted on this date: James Dean debuts in “East of Eden”. Dean will make two more movies: “Rebel Without A Cause” and “Giant” before his short life ends in an auto crash in September of ‘55…1959] Happy Birthday to the Barbie Doll, 52 years young today…1964] The first Ford Mustang rolls off the assembly line…
5.1975] Pipe down: Work begins on the Alaskan oil pipeline...
6.1976] Cadettes join the Cadets: The first female cadets are accepted at the West Point Military Academy…
7.1981] Rather: Dan Rather makes his debut as principal anchorman on The CBS Evening News replacing Walter Cronkite…2005] Not: Rather signs off for the last time as principal anchorman of The CBS Evening News…
8.1992] “Happy Trails”: Former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin who had a history of heart trouble, dies at 78 from natural causes…1996] Legendary comedian George Burns joins Gracie at age 100…2007] Boston lead singer Brad Delp is found dead in his New Hampshire home. Delp, 55, died from the smoke of two charcoal grills he lit inside his sealed bathroom. Found by his girlfriend, he had a suicide note pinned to his shirt…
9.2006] Dubai-out: Bowing to opposition in Congress, a Dubai-owned company relinquishes its quest to take over operations at U.S. ports...
10.2009] Stem Cells In: Barack Obama lifts limits on using federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research...

Music Memories:

1977] Number One On this date: "Evergreen" - Barbra Streisand...1987] "Livin' On A Prayer" - Bon Jovi...1997] "Wannabe" - Spice Girls...

"WRKO...The Launch": (Part 7) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

Our visit to Harris, Inc. in the summer of 1966 would yield dividends. Thanks to Eng. Dir. George Capalbo's expertise, we came back with state-of-the-art automation. We named him-she-it: "ARKO" after the first part of our corporate name, RKO-General. By clicking here and then clicking, "Miscellaneous" under "Gallery" you'll see the automation in the top right corner. Left to right in the photo are 3-10" reel-to-reel machines, which we put the music on. The third machine was used as a spare, the programming rack, which we used to program "ARKO" and then the "sandwich" machine. The latter was stacked with regulation size cartridges that were recorded in the production studio. They were the promos and spots we would run - although we were light on commercials in the beginning. The "sandwich" machine ran from top to bottom sucking in the programmed cart and then spitting it out once played. On occasion it would spit out a cart too far and the cart would be crushed when the machine searched for the next scheduled cart. This wasn't anyone's favorite machine. George wired the equipment for dead-air with a loud alarm that had technicians running down the hallway when "ARKO" became soundless...

Most of the time the equipment ran well and regular maintenance (head cleaning, re-cueing, etc.) saw to that. In addition to a new automation system, we had a great signal which covered 5 states. Taking a look at our coverage map, you can see that we reached the southern tip of Maine, half of New Hampshire, half of Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, all of Rhode Island and about half of Connecticut. WRKO-FM's reach was better than our AM...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" (Part 8) (The events that colored 1967, followed by the actual launch on Friday)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Brittany Snow (25), Emanuel Lewis (40), Jeffrey Osborne (63), Charlie Gibson (68), Mark Lindsay (69), Marty Ingels (75), Mickey Gilley (75), Lloyd Price (78) and Keely Smith (79)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until Daylight time, 11 days until the first day of spring, 22 days until MLB Opening Day, 41 days until Passover & 46 days until Easter...

Radio's Piece Of The Pie Is Shrinking/"WRKO...The Launch"...

2011-03-08T06:38:00.002-05:00

The recession masked radio's real problem - more technically advanced media sources are eating our original medium's lunch and revenue share. Estimates of radio's post-recession revenue share are somewhere in the single digits while new media and those that followed radio, share the rest. Magnaglobal's 2011 Advertising Forecast predicts that during 2011-2016, radio's compound annual growth rate will only be 4.1% vs. a core media average gain of 6.3% says sales guru Dave Gifford, writing in Radio Ink. Gifford says if that's correct, radio will lose more of its revenue share in 2011 - nationally, regionally and locally...

Gifford claims "With 46.5% of total media revenues unmeasured (direct mail included) and new media undermeasured, radio's true market share is probably 5%, if that. Obviously, there is something very wrong with radio's 'sales format.'" Gifford is self-serving, he sells his sales expertise but he's probably closer to reality than the ad experts who claim that radio sales are back. Back to what? The truth is - back to where it's never been before...

You can blame the recession all you want but the truth is there are better, bigger and faster sources of media than radio and while you're at it, blame radio for doing a lousy job of selling its product too. If the recession is finally over, radio has no more excuses...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1817] Stocking up: The New York Stock Exchange is founded…
2.1965] Semper Fi: The United States lands about 3,500 Marines in South Vietnam...
3.1971] A Sports trilogy begins: Muhammad Ali loses a decision to undefeated heavyweight champ Joe Frazier. This is the first of 3 fights between two of the best heavyweights ever. I saw this fight in a Boston movie theater with Sal Ingeme of Columbia Records, although it wouldn't help Sal get any airplay…
4.1979] A new kind of CD: Philips demonstrates the Compact Disc publicly for the first time…
5.1980] Soviet Woodstock: The first festival of rock music kicks off in the Soviet Union. Unless you’ve heard of Aquarium or Vladimir Rubashevsky, you wouldn’t recognize any of the acts on the bill…
6.1983] The Evil Empire: It’s neither the Yankees or Red Sox, it’s the Soviet Union. President Ronald Reagan calls the USSR an “Evil Empire”…
7.1999] “Happy Trails“: Baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, the ‘Yankee Clipper’ dies at 84 after never fully recovering from lung cancer surgery in the fall of 1998…
8.1999] Supes uphold convictions: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the murder convictions of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City bombing…
9.2004] Justice for all: Abu Abbas, the Palestinian guerrilla leader who planned the hijacking of the Achille Lauro, dies while in custody…
10.2008] W vetoes bill: George W. Bush vetoes a bill that would have banned the CIA from using waterboarding and other coercive interrogation methods to gain information from suspected terrorists…

Music Memories:

1965] DC 5 debut: The Dave Clark Five make their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show". They returned for a November visit...
1968] Go East young man: Bill Graham opens the Fillmore East on Second avenue in the East Village. Here's a clip from December, 1968...
1970] O Solo Mio: Diana Ross appears solo for the first time in Framingham (MA). This is Miss Ross's 1st solo hit...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 6) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

We called the WRKO-FM music list the "Certified 35." The C-35 was determined each week using as our disclaimer said, "An accurate compilation of actual local record sales, national record sales and telephone requests." It was about as accurate as you could get back in 1967. We printed up copies and stacked the retail outlets with them...

On the survey, we used a sell line of "WRKO-FM 98.5 Your Automated All Music Station 9AM - 12Midnight." Those were our original operating hours. On-air we had sonovox voicers which were used as the voice of "R-KO, Your Friendly Robot." "Ahko" became so popular, New Englanders would claim him, her or-it as their own. The voicers would proclaim "Only R-KO plays 4 in a row" and other sell lines. We had several voicers that we would pepper each hour with. My favorite was "Arkomatic", which meant nothing and was probably invented at one of the brainstorming sessions between Bob Henabery and I, which would often be enhanced with a brew or glass of wine at "Mother's", housed in the Kenmore Hotel, the original site of the station. At one point the hotel went through a management change to the St. George Hotel, before it changed back to its original name...

George Capalbo, our Engineering chief, provided state-of-the-art automation for "R-KO" and we had a signal that reached parts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard and all of Rhode Island. Next, we'll take a look at the reach of WRKO-FM and the automation we used. Meanwhile, the countdown to the launch of WRKO-AM was 5 days away...

(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" (Part 7) (WRKO-FM Automation & Reach)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Freddie Prinze Jr. (35), Camryn Manheim (50), Jim Rice (58), Peggy March (63), Carole Bayer Sager (64), Randy Meisner (65), Mickey Dolenz (66), Jim Bouton (72) & Pete Dawkins (73)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Daylight time, 12 days until the first day of spring, 23 days until MLB Opening Day, 42 days until Passover & 47 days until Easter...

Radio Is Losing Digital Ad Revenue Race/"WRKO...The Launch"

2011-03-07T06:50:00.003-05:00

By 2015, 26% of all local advertising dollars will be spent online. That means for the first time ever, digital will earn more local ad revenue than traditional radio. The late Johnnie Cochran would've called this "a bombshell" and "a blockbuster." The bad news for radio, comes courtesy of Borrell Associates VP Kip Cassino. Cassino says "There is no question now about the question of online." While advertisers spent about $13.5 billion on local online ads in 2010, that number is expected to increase to $24 billion by 2015 - growth that will be accompanied by a shifting focus on digital versus traditional media advertising. And there's a shift in the direction of where those digital dollars are going too...

Diana Marszalek of Net News Check reports that digital dollars spent online will be targeted on mobile versus the "old" new media of the internet. Cassino predicts that the surge in mobile advertising expected over the next five years will push the percentage of local online ad dollars being spent specifically on mobile from 15% today to 64% by 2015. "The purchase of mobile devices will have replaced the desktop devices that we now have", says Cassino. And the devices are changing. According to Cassino, by 2015, the purchase of tablets will own a major share of devices sold. With the focus on digital advertising, what share of local advertising will radio own???

Cassino predicts nearly 23% of traditional media advertising will go to newspapers - which usually get the most ad dollars. About 16% will head to TV stations in 2015 and radio will fight it out with every other form of remaining media for the rest. Even if these predictions are half-right, radio will have to fight harder than ever for local ad dollars...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1774] Banned - Boston: The British close the port of Boston to all commerce. Revenge is just two years away. This is what Boston Harbor must have looked like...
2.1876] Can you hear me now?: Alexander Graham Bell receives U.S. Patent no. 174,465 for something called the telephone... 1926] 50 years later the first successful trans-Atlantic radio-telephone conversation takes place between New York City and London...
3.1965] March to Selma: State Troopers and a sheriff's posse breaks up a civil rights march in Selma (AL)...
4.1967] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Sandra Dee receives a divorce from Bobby Darin. America's favorite couple were married in 1960...
5.1986] Challenger crew found: Divers locate the crew cabin of Challenger on the ocean floor...
6.1987] So Young: 20-year old Mike Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight champion after decisioning James "Bonecrusher" Smith in a 12-round bout in Las Vegas. Here's Tyson at 17...
7.1994] Supes Rule: The Supreme Court rules that parodies that poke fun at an original work can be considered "fair use" that doesn't require permission from the copyright holder. SNL was waiting for this ruling almost 20 years...
8.1996] Abuse of power: Three U.S. servicemen are convicted in the rape of a 12-year old Okinawa girl and sentenced by a Japanese court to up to seven years in prison...
9.2003] Cue the band-uh, where's the band?: A four-day walkout by Broadway musicians begins...
10.2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart is convicted of obstructing justice and lying to the government about why she unloaded Imclone stocks just as the price dropped. Bernie Madoff takes notes...

Music Memories:

1966] Recorded on this date: The Beach Boys begin recording "God Only Knows" ...
1985] Released on this date: "We Are The World" has its international release...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 5) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

Bob Henabery's critique of KHJ and Perry Ury's follow up with RKO General Corporate clinched the Top 40 format change for WRKO-AM, now just 6 days away. But without the successful launch of WRKO-FM in October 1966, it's possible that KHJ notwithstanding, corporate wouldn't have approved the format change for AM. In terms of importance of the two, I would give a majority of the share to the success of WRKO-FM...

The AM was about to follow in the footsteps of our FM. The music would be similar and the only major difference between the two would be, WRKO-AM would not be automated...

WRKO-FM's music was pure Top 40, if it was a hit, we played it, in many cases before WBZ & WMEX. A look at the "Certified 35" for the week ending January 5, 1967 - (a) seen here, shows a top 5 of "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron", "Standing In The Shadows Of Love", "Bend It", "Nashville Cats" & "I'm A Believer." All hits of the day - but we weren't afraid to play local acts and questionable (at the time) songs like "Let's Spend The Night Together" either...(Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" (Part 6) (More on WRKO-FM's Success)...

(a) (Under "WRKO-FM" - "WRKO-FM Music Survey")

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rachel Weisz (40), Wanda Sykes (47), Taylor Dayne (49), Ernie (the youngest Isley Brother) Isley (59), Steeler teammates Lynn Swann (59) and Franco Harris (61), Peter Wolf (65), Michael Eisner (69), Daniel Travanti (71) & Williard Scott (77)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Daylight time, 13 days until the first day of spring, 24 days until MLB Opener, 43 days until Passover & 48 days until Easter...

Does Anyone Realize That Radio Spectrum Is Neither Owned Or Licensed & "WRKO...The Launch"

2011-03-04T06:58:00.004-05:00

(Weekend Edition)

What started out as "White Space" is now referred to as "Spectrum" but whether you sell, auction or even slice and dice it, it's neither owned or licensed - by anyone. Radio spectrum is government regulated in some countries, none of which are named the United States of America. Thanks to former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, there's a war over the use of spectrum for additional radio signals which would then be used for broadband and all kinds of electronic technologies. Back in October of 2008, it was Martin who announced his support for the use of white spaces within the radio frequency spectrum. White spaces are airwaves that go unused after the federally mandated transformation of analog TV signal to digital. Martin told us that he was "hoping to take advantage of utilizing these airwaves for broadband services to allow for unlicensed technologies and new innovations in that space." I hope you know he had no right to do that since the FCC neither owns or regulates that space. It didn't matter - it was done. Three years later the fight rages over ownership of that space...

Larry Downes of Forbes raises several good points in his assessment of the spectrum mess, in addition to the white space being unlicensed and unowned. "Usable spectrum is limited. Technological improvements have made it possible to increase the range, and to make more effective use of both the licensed and unlicensed components. As new demands for spectrum - especially for mobile broadband - force us to recognize very real limits to the finite spectrum it has, calls are getting louder to revisit current licensed uses to ensure the public's best interests are being served, now and in the near and midterm future." And where is this unused spectrum coming from? "At this point, the only way to allocate spectrum for new uses and users is to deallocate it from someone who already has it, whether a commercial or government user." ...

If the FCC turns "voluntary" auctions for spectrum, to "involuntary" auctions, should not enough sellers volunteer the space, I hope they have the ability to manage what would follow - chaos at a level they've never before experienced...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1930] TV to follow: Clarence Birdseye develops a method for quick-freezing food. It will be known as the TV dinner (3/6)…
2.1952] Wedding Bells: Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis tie the knot (3/4). They will be married until Reagan's death in June, 2004...
3.1963] ‘Happy Trails’: Legendary Country artist Patsy Cline dies in a small plane crash in Camden (TN) returning from a Kansas City benefit for the widow of a local disc jockey. Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy’s pilot/manager were also killed (3/5)…
4.1973] Wife swap: Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich arrive at spring training and announce that they have swapped wives, children and dogs. Within two years both players are gone from baseball. Had Fox been around, this would have been the first reality series (3/5)…
5.1978] Gunned down: Hustler publisher Larry Flynt is shot and paralyzed permanently by a sniper in Georgia who objected to an interracial couple appearing in the magazine (3/6)...
6.1981] ‘And that’s the way it is’: The words of Walter Cronkite who does his final “CBS Evening News” report which started on April 16, 1962 (3/6)…
7.1982] SNL death: John Belushi dies of a drug overdose in a Hollywood hotel room. Belushi was just 33 (3/5)…
8.1990] Gathers is gone: One of the leading scorers in NCAA history, Hank Gathers of Loyola Marymount suddenly collapses and dies during a game against Portland at 23. Gathers who was projected as a 1st round pick suffered from a heart muscle disorder (3/4)…
9.1993] Neighborhood crime: A woman is gang-raped on a pool table in a New Bedford (MA) tavern. Four men are later convicted in a case that rocks the nation (3/6). Jodie Foster starred in “The Accused” which was based on this case…
10.2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart is convicted of obstructing justice and lying to the government about why she unloaded Imclone stocks just before the price dropped. Bernie Madoff takes notes (3/5)…

Music Memories:

1955] Elvis (sigh)ting: Elvis Presley makes his first TV appearance on "Louisiana Hayride." This clip is from January 1955. On the same date Elvis is honorably discharged from the Army (3/5)...
1959] Recorded on this date: "There Goes My Baby" - Drifters (3/6)...1976] "Rich Girl" - Hall & Oates (3/4)...
1966] Number One on this date: "Ballad of the Green Berets" - S/Sgt. Barry Sadler (3/6)...
1976] Released on this date: "Rhiannon" - Fleetwood Mac (3/6)...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 4) (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay with a N/T format in New England)...

By March 6, 1967, The press let the world in on what was no longer a secret. Boston was getting a new Top 40 station. WRKO was about to launch the following week. Eleanor Roberts, music and radio/TV critic of the Boston Traveler (which will soon be absorbed into the Boston Herald) mentions that the Now Crowd will debut on March 13. The new WRKO jock lineup is now listed in all local newspapers. Billboard magazine's "Vox Jox" reports that (a) Arnie Ginsburg has joined WRKO to do 6pm to 9pm. They also mention that (b) Al Gates is already at the station. As the disc jockeys rehearse their shows, the management team is ready for the launch...

In addition to Henabery and Ury, the staff consisted of Promotion Director (c)Harvey Mednick, News Director (d) Roger Allan and Director of Engineering, (e)George Capalbo. Harvey, who would become a brilliant promotion guy would eventually leave us for flagship station KHJ and then RKO corporate. George and I started on the same day in August 1966 and met on a plane headed for Harris Electronics to order the automation for WRKO. George would work his way up to corporate, like Harvey. Roger was already an award winning News Director and a carry-over from WNAC. Sales was headed by Bud Simen who had a strong staff that had to learn how to sell a new format. Bill Wayland and Dick Woodies would become two of the sales stars who would make the grade and survive. And I programmed WRKO-FM and was defacto Music & Production Director for both the FM & AM until (f) Paul Power was hired. After 8 years of disc jockeying, I was now a programmer - or so I thought. I did not expect to be doing morning drive shortly after WRKO was launched but I was in for a big surprise...

(a) Under "Photo Collections-Arnie Ginsburg") (b) "Publicity Photos-Al Gates") (c) "Now Happenings") (d) "WRKO People-Roger Allan" (e) "Miscellaneous" (f) "WRKO People" -Paul Power")...

(Monday: "WRKO...The Launch") (Part 5) (The Count Down Begins)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (3/4) Chaz Bono (42), Steven Weber (50), Patricia Heaton (53), Catherine O'Hara (57), Bobby Womack (67), Paula Prentiss (73) & disc jockey jokebook writer Bob Orben (84)...(3/5) Niki Taylor (36), Eva Mendes (37), Penn Jillette (56), Marsha Warfield (57), Eddy Grant (63), Murray Head (65), Fred Williamson (73) and Dean Stockwell (75)...(3/6) Shaquille O'Neal (39), Cathie Brady (51), Tom Arnold (52), Kiki Dee (64), Rob Reiner (64), Mary Wilson (67), Ivan Boesky (74), Sylvia Robinson (75), Ivan Boesky (74 ) & Alan Greenspan (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 9 days until Daylight time, 16 days until spring, 27 days until MLB Opening Day, 46 days until Passover & 51 days until Easter...

Public Broadcaster WGBH Faces Double Doom & "WRKO...The Launch"

2011-03-03T06:54:00.003-05:00

WGBH-TV is the most influential public broadcasting operation in America, producing one-third of all Public Broadcasting Service programming, including national documentary series such as "Frontline" and "Nova." They've been producing great specials as long as they've been in existence - 1955, radio came first in 1951. WGBH, also holds licenses for WGBH-FM & WGBX-TV, a separately-programmed service for Cape Cod and the Islands (Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard) and several other radio stations including WCRB, a classical music station. They also broadcast some of their properties on HD Radio sidechannels. All of these stations are in jeopardy should Congress go through with their threat of federal funding cuts. On top of the federal cuts, WGBH faces more bad news. According to the Boston Globe, WGBH has presented its last proposal for a new agreement with its largest union and has stopped contract talks that began in August...

The union is the Association of Employees of the Educational Foundation, Communications Workers of America, Local 1300 and they've been looking for a new three-year contract to replace an agreement that expired at the end of October. Management wants concessions that include cutting in half the company's match for employee retirement plans and is demanding control over redefining job descriptions. With that, WGBH would be able to assign employees to work at TV, radio, and on the Web. The union is not so crazy about that idea but says it would make some concessions to preserve jobs and WGBH's financial health. Union workers will vote on March 12 on the management offer. If they reject the proposed contract, both sides will reach an impasse and WGBH then can implement the terms of its final offer, beginning March 15...

At stake in the result of the contract negotiations are lots of jobs. WGBH employs 850 people. The local union represents 280 writers, editors, production workers, and marketing employees. Then there's the trickle-down effect on all the other WGBH properties...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1887] Signing In: Anne Sullivan arrives at the Alabama home of Capt. and Mrs. Arthur H. Keller to become the teacher of Helen, their blind and deaf 6-year-old daughter…
2.1931] Star spangled: President Herbert Hoover signs into law our first national anthem, Francis Scott Key’s “Defense of Fort McHenry” aka “The Star Spangled Banner”…
3.1959] ‘Happy Trails’: Lou Costello of the legendary Abbott and Costello comedy duo, suffers a fatal heart attack 3 days shy of his 53rd birthday…
4.1969] This is a test: Apollo 9 is launched on a mission to test the lunar module that will be used in the moon landings…
5.1984] The new commish: Peter Ueberroth, president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee is elected as the 6th commissioner of baseball effective October 1. Well, he looked good, anyway…
6.1985] Premiered on this date: “Moonlighting” starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis on ABC-TV. This terrific series ran until May of 1989…
7.1991] Hell breaks loose in L.A.: Motorist Rodney King is severely beaten by LAPD officers in a scene captured on amateur video tape…
8.1992] Hang him high: Islanders’ great Mike Bossy becomes the second Islander to have his uniform (#22) hoisted to the rafters at Nassau Coliseum. Dennis Potvin’s #5 was the first one…
9.1995] Stalking softly: A stalker is arrested while trying to break into Roberta Flack’s Manhattan apartment but the singer starts playing “Killing Me Softly” on the piano and the stalker falls into a coma…
10.2005] Up, up and away: Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly around the world without stopping or refueling, touching down in central Kansas after a 67-hour, 23,000 mile journey. In September, 2007 Fossett vanished while flying. He was legally declared dead in 2008. Eventually Fossett's remains were found...

Music Memories:

1965] Number One on this date: "My Girl" - Temptations...
1966] Formed on this date: Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay form Buffalo Springfield...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 3): (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England)...

On June 21, 1966, WNAC Program Director, Bob Henabery, sent an *internal memo to Jerry Bess of RKO Corporate following a critique of KHJ Los Angeles. Bob highly praised the station and copied GM Perry S. Ury on the memo. Perry sent Bob to Los Angeles to tape the station and critique it so he could convince Bess that we should follow in KHJ's footsteps. In September 1966, Billboard Magazine published **Radio Response Ratings for Boston, showing there was room for another Top 40 radio station in the market. I was **hired in late August to produce that station - WRKO-FM. The automated station was so successful that word had leaked that WNAC was about to change format as early as January 25, 1967, following a **Boston Globe story about WRKO-FM. Paul Kelley Jr. sent an internal memo to the Blair Radio sales team mentioning a conversation he had with a salesman from WNAC indicating a format change to contemporary music taking place no later than April 1. On January 31, the **Bennington Vermont Banner writes an article titled "End of the Yankee Network." On February 7, **Eleanor Roberts of the Boston Traveler chronicles the demise of WNAC and mentions the rumor of a new "rock 'n' roll" format for the newly assigned WRKO call letters. In a Billboard magazine interview on February 25 , GM Perry S. Ury states that a format change to "Hot 100" (Billboard terminology) will take place in mid-March and announces the new call letters as WRKO. Perry adds: "FM and AM will simulcast from 6am to 6pm with separate programming from 6pm to 6am." He also indicates that oldies will be played on FM...*Click Staff Memos: Bob Henabery's KHJ Critique, **All other items under "News Clippings." Tomorrow: "WRKO...The Launch" (Part 4) (The Programming Staff Is Ready)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Jessica Biel (29), Brian Leech (43), Tone Loc (45), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (49), Herschel Walker (49), Tim Kazurinsky (61), Jennifer Warnes (64) and Lee Radziwill (78)...

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until Daylight time, 17 days until the first day of spring, 28 days until MLB opening day, 47 days until Passover & 52 days until Easter...

House Speaker Fears Return Of Fairness Doctrine & "WRKO...The Launch" (Part 2)

2011-03-02T06:43:00.003-05:00

Stop me if you've heard this before, but another key member of Congress has warned that the reinstatement of the dreaded "F" word could happen . This time it's House Speaker John Boehner, who believes the Fairness Doctrine is disguised as Net Neutrality. According to Tim Nichols of Examiner.com The Speaker told the NARB (National Association of Religious Broadcasters) over the weekend "Some members of Congress and the federal bureaucracy are still trying to reinstate - and even expand - the Fairness Doctrine. To them, it's fair to silence ideas and voices they don't agree with, and use the tools of government to do it." Since Ronald Reagan overturned the policy by executive order in 1987, naysayers fear its return...

The Fairness Doctrine, introduced in 1949, was a policy that required that broadcasters present "honest, equitable and balanced" views of "controversial issues of public importance." Like most members of the GOP, Boehner believes that the Fairness Doctrine is right around the corner, despite Barack Obama's insistance that it's not. Is the FD hidden in Net Neutrality? The answer is no! Net Neutrality simply guarantees that the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) all have an equal shot with their content access...

As someone who programmed radio stations when the Fairness Doctrine was the law of the land, I too, am opposed to its return. It was a cumbersome balancing act to present equal views from everyone, including some person who would get about 8 votes in an upcoming election. But I don't agree with Boehner and others that Net Neutrality is the second coming of the Fairness Doctrine...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1776] Musket rumble: Americans begin shelling British troops in Boston. Hand me my musket. From the movie "1776", Congress votes on Independence.…
2.1877] Heads it’s Hayes, tails it’s Tilden: Rutherford B. Hayes is declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election by Congress despite Samuel Tilden winning the popular vote…
3.1903] Martha Washington slept here: The Martha Washington Hotel opens for business in New York City becoming the first hotel exclusively for women…
4.1917] Viva Puerto Rico: Citizens of Puerto Rico are granted U.S. citizenship with the enactment of the Jones Act…
5.1923] Time after time: TIME hits the newsstands for the first time…
6.1933] Fay Wray sighting: The original “King Kong” world premieres at the Roxy and Radio City Music Hall theaters in Manhattan…
7.1939] Take your time Bay State: The Massachusetts legislature votes to ratify the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. These 10 amendments had gone into effect 148 years earlier but why rush???
8.1951] B-ball All-Stars: The first NBA All-Star game is played at Boston Garden as Easy Ed McCauley of the Celtics leads the East to a 111-94 victory over the West. A crowd of 10,094 were on hand to witness the game created by league publicity man Haskell Cohen and Celtic founder Walter Brown…1962] Wilt Chamberlain drops 100 points on (who else?) the Knicks…
9.1969] Espo ‘69: Boston Bruins center Phil Esposito becomes the first NHL player to score 100 or more points in a season…
10.2005] The toll rises: The number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq reach 1,500. Sad to say that today that toll is in the hundreds of thousands, counting all casualties, according to various sources...

Music Memories:

1964] Released on this date: "Twist & Shout" - Beatles...And on the same day, they start filming "A Hard Day's Night"...

"WRKO...The Launch" (Part 2): (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long, I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a mainstay in New England)...
It was March 2nd and the launch of WRKO as a Top 40 station was just 11 days away. Bob Henabery & Perry Ury were in the process of putting an on-air staff together with some input from not only me, but even sales people. Bill Wayland even recommended J.J. Jeffrey who he knew from his previous work as Melvin X. Melvin at WMEX. J.J. was working in the Florida panhandle and would become our afternoon drive disc jockey - one of the best in the history of WRKO. Some of the rest of the on-air staff was either hired or about to be. There was *Al Gates in Cleveland, *Dick Burch, who would only make it for one overnight show before WRKO went on strike, *John Rode (who I worked with in Tampa), *Joel Cash was on the air in Connecticut, *Arnie Ginsburg, who would come over from WMEX and *Chuck "Chuckles" Knapp, who was working in Fargo, ND. That was the nucleus of our first on-air staff. The biggest job was still ahead - promoting what we were about to do on March 13. **Harvey Mednick (promotion director) had his work cut out for him. Tomorrow: Part 3 of "WRKO...The Launch" (Pre-Launch Press)...*Click "Talent Pages/Airchecks/**Click "Now Happenings"...

Robert Iler (26), Bryce Dallas Howard (30), Chris (Coldplay) Martin (34), Jon Bon Jovi (49), John Cowsill (55), Laraine Newman (59), Lou Reed (69), Mikhail ("Tear down this wall") Gorbachev (80), Tom Wolfe (80) & John Cullum (81)...

Timeline Countdown: 11 days until Daylight time, 18 days until the first day of spring, 29 days until MLB opening day, 48 days until Passover & 53 days until Easter...

Are Internet Ad Clicks On The Way Out???

2011-03-01T06:52:00.002-05:00

Radio should keep an eye out for a new movement that could make internet ad clicks or impressions a thing of the past. Three advertising industry trade associations are doing a media study called "Make Measurement Make Sense." According to Broadcasting Cable, the initiative will try to create a new currency for online media platform marketing programs. The groups conducting the study are the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), American Association Of Advertising Agencies (4A's) and the Association Of National Advertisers (ANA). The trade groups have hired Bain & Company and MediaLink to support the initiative...

"The goals of the program are to define metrics and measurement systems to simplify planning, buying and evaluating digital media and come up with a common currency for measuring online exposures and developing a methodology for cross media measurement." Translation: let's get rid of the clicks and convince advertisers how smart it is to buy internet ads. Of course, now they have to find a reason for buying those internet ads. Nancy Hill, president of the 4A's describes the problem: "The confusion in this area has added costs to advertising agencies, which have been forced to use, subsidize and staff around increasing numbers of metrics and data in order to plan, purchase and post-analyze their media buys. This initiative will streamline and simplify those processes." ...

Apparently the number of clicks per ad is not working that well, otherwise these three advertising industry trade associations wouldn't be looking for an acceptable currency or consistent measurements which can be used as a selling point for online ads. That common standard is needed and we should all wish them well in their efforts...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1932] Kidnapped: The 22-month old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh is kidnapped from the family house near Hopewell (NJ). The baby’s lifeless body will be found in May…
2.1953] What should we call it?: WJZ-AM becomes WABC in New York City, which led to this legendary station…
3.1954] Shoot-out in the gallery: Puerto Rican nationalists open fire from the gallery of the U.S. House of Representives, wounding 5 congressmen…
4.1961] Spreading peace: President John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps…
5.1962] Flight 1 is down: American Airlines Flight 1 scheduled for Los Angeles, goes down in Jamaica Bay after take-off from New York’s Idlewild Airport (pre-JFK). 87 passengers and a crew of 8 are all lost…
6.1968] Hotter than a pepper sprout: Johnny Cash and June Carter are married…
7.1969] Curtains: Mickey Mantle tells the Yankees: “I can’t hit anymore” and with that, retires. Number 7 will return in June for “Mickey Mantle Day” at Yankee Stadium. The Mick will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974 with 88% of the votes…
8.1974] Watergate busts: Former Nixon White House aides H.R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman and former Attorney General John Mitchell are indicted on obstruction of justice charges related to the Watergate break-in…
9.1981] Fatal hunger strike: Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands begins a hunger strike in a Northern Ireland prison. He dies 65 days later…
10.2003] Gotcha: Suspected September 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is captured by CIA and Pakistani agents…

Music Memories:

1957] Recorded on this date: The Everly Brothers sign with Archie Bleyer's Cadence Records and wasting little time, record "Bye Bye Love"...
1957] Released on this date: "School Days" - Chuck Berry...
1975] Number One on this date: "Best of My Love" - Eagles...

"Happy Trails": Jane Russell (1921 -2011)...

WRKO...The Launch (Part 1): (March marks the 44th anniversary of WRKO Boston. All month long I will be serializing the story behind the actual launch of what would become one of the country's legendary Top 40 radio stations and today continues to be a radio mainstay in New England)...

On March 13, 1967, WNAC , the flagship station of the Yankee Network gave way to one of the most exciting contemporary radio stations ever heard in New England and there are those that would argue, the entire United States. The genesis of WRKO began when General Manager Perry S. Ury dispatched Program Director Bob Henabery** to research the feasibility of following in the footsteps of RKO General's successful sister stations in Los Angeles (KHJ) and San Francisco (KFRC). The results of that study indicated that we could be successful if we positioned the station correctly . There was room in Boston for such a station if it was positioned somewhere between WBZ's variety of contemporary music, heavy news and public affairs commitment and WMEX's more frenetic approach to Top 40. We pledged to be the exciting, new top 40 station that would turn Boston radio on its ear with exclusive releases, great disc jockeys, promotions and presentation and we delivered on that pledge. I was fortunate enough to play a part in the success of WRKO-FM *( click "WRKO-FM" in left column) ("ARKO, your friendly robot"), the first Boston rocker in the fall of 1966. In March we moved the format over to AM and in the summer of 1967, I was named Program Director of WRKO-AM**. (Tomorrow: Part 2: The Road To Success)...(Many photos, memos & airchecks are available from WRKO.org by clicking here). * (Click "WRKO-FM" on left side of page). **(Click "WRKO People - Program Directors" on left side of page)...

Commentary:
Those born on February 29th are known as "leaplings". In non-leap years most people celebrate on either February 28th or March 1. Here's a special "Happy Birthday" to all you leaplings. These are some you might know:

Ja Rule (35), motivational speaker Tony Robbins (51), Dennis Farina (67), Henri Richard (75), Tempest Storm (83) and Al Rosen (87)...

(3/1) Justin Bieber (17), Dave Coveney (39?), Javier Bardem (42), CSI's George Eads (44), Tim Daly (55), Ron Howard (57), Catherine Bach (57), Alan Thicke (64), Roger Daltrey (67), Robert Conrad (76), Dick Asher (79), Harry Belafonte (84) and Robert Clary (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 12 days until Daylight time, 19 days until the first day of spring, 19 days until MLB opening day, 49 days until Passover & 54 days until Easter...

A Warning For Radio Stations That Overpost...

2011-02-28T06:35:00.002-05:00

Just about every radio station has a Facebook page, as they should. In my own unscientific survey, I found that not that many stations use Twitter. I would use both, although Facebook is the most social of all networks in the universe. But there's a danger of overposting, according to a new report from Exact Target and CoTweet. Marketing Charts posts the warning that indicates 44% of Facebook users list this as a top reason for unliking a brand they once liked on Facebook. Close behind as a reason for unliking a brand is having an overcrowded wall. Forty-three percent mentioned that. Other leading reasons include content becoming boring and/or repetitive (38%) and only liking a company to take advantage of a one-time offer scored with 26%. For radio that would include "This is your last chance", "Only 5 copies remain", "You won't find this anywhere else" and the like, unless those claims are true. So how damaging is being unliked by Facebook users???

For one thing, it's not the end of the world. Report data show that a consumer's decision to "unlike" a company has surprisingly little impact on the perceived likelihood that they will buy or go back to that company in the future. Marketing Charts claims that 63% of consumers said they were likely or more likely to purchase or use something from a company after ending their Facebook relationship. Another 18% said they would only "unlike" a company if they never bought or went back to anything in the first place...

For radio, "unliking" is today's equivalent of "tuning out" and should be avoided. Why? Almost three in four (73%) online consumers have opened a Facebook account. Sixty-five percent are active Facebook users and 42% are fans. The fan percentage rises to 64% among Facebook users. That's why. Want more? Facebook represents the largest share of time spent by U.S. internet users of the top five most-visited websites, according to a new white paper from comScore. That's why...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1854] Having a grand old time: The Republican Party is organized in Ripon (WI) when fifty opponents of slavery start the new political party…
2.1960] Olympic gold: The U.S. wins its first Olympic gold medal in hockey with a 9-4win over Czechoslovakia at the Squaw Valley (CA) games...2010] Fifty-one years later the U.S. wins a record total of 37 medals as the Vancouver Olympics ends...
3.1962] What should we call it?: WMGM in New York changes calls to WHN…
4.1968] 'Happy Trails': Frankie Lymon, lead singer of the Teenagers overdoses on heroin at 25. What a tremendous loss this was. Had Frankie lived he would be headlining today...
5.1983] M*A*S*Hing the competition: The final episode of “M*A*S*H” draws a household rating of 60.2%. Seen in over 50 million homes it was the highest rated show of all-time for nearly 27 years until Super Bowl XLIV drew a TV audience of 106.5 million on February 7, 2010. ”M*A*S*H” started in September, 1972…
6.1986] Busted: Twenty-one major league players are fined or suspended including Keith Hernandez and Dave Parker in the largest drug scandal in baseball history. As you know, there's much more to come...
7.1993] Wacko in Waco: U.S. Federal agents raid the compound of the Branch Davidians, lead by David Koresh in Waco (TX). The fifty-one day standoff will result in the killing of 4 agents and 6 Davidians, including Koresh in April…
8.1994] Brady bill: The Brady Law, imposing a waiting period for hand-gun purchases goes into effect...
9.2008] DC5 loses its heart and soul: Mike Smith, lead singer of the Dave Clark Five dies at 64 from pneumonia, a complication from an earlier fall…
10.2009] The rest of the story: Paul Harvey, one of the greatest communicators and commentators in radio history, passed away at 90 of natural causes…

Music Memories:

1967] Number One on this date: "Ruby Tuesday" - Rolling Stones. The "B" side was the controversial "Let's Spend The Night Together", banned by most stations except WRKO-FM in Boston. Our AM wouldn't sign on until March 13th... 1974] "Seasons in the Sun" - Terry Jacks...
1984] Grammy Gold: Michael Jackson wins a record 8 Grammy's for the LP "Thriller"...

Happy Trails: He'll forever be remembered to Brooklynites as "The Dook Of Flatbush." Baseball Hall Of Famer, Duke Snider, died yesterday following an undisclosed illness at the age of 84. Snider played for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles for 16 years. He played his final two seasons for the Mets & San Francisco Giants, ending with a career batting average of .295 with 407 home runs and 1,333 RBI. Fans in New York during the '50s always compared Snider to Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. All three would become members of the Hall of Fame...

Events: The Audio Engineering Society New York Section presents "Lies, Damned Lies & Specifications." The interactive presentation will be held Tuesday, March 8 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the New School for Jazz Performance, 55 West 13th Street in Manhattan. For more information, click on Facebook and do a search for the AES...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Ali Larter (35), Robert Sean Leonard (42), Gilbert Gottfried (56), Bernadette Peters (63), Joe South (71), Mario Andretti (71), Tommy Tune (72), Dean Smith (80), Gavin MacLeod (81) and Charles Durning (88)...

Timeline Countdown: 13 days until Daylight time, 20 days until the first day of spring and 31 days until MLB opening day...

Media Ownership Dilemma Placed In Court's Hands...

2011-02-25T07:18:00.001-05:00

(Weekend Edition)

A three-judge panel hearing arguments in challenges to the FCC's media ownership rules in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia will either offer a ruling or decide to throw the whole thing back to the FCC. According to Media Access Project attorney Andrew Schwartzman and Broadcasting Cable, "they were clearly troubled by the arguments that we made about what the commission did wrong. We were coming at it from kind of opposite directions. It seems open to the possibility that they will just kind of throw up their hands." Schwartzman was arguing the case yesterday on behalf of those who say the move was too deregulatory...

The FCC had previously asked the court to remand the rules back to them given that there are three new commissioners - a majority - since the most recent 2007 rule rewrite. Judge Ambro wanted to know where the FCC stood on its quadrennial review of those rules, and asked whether the agency would continue that with the remand. Schwartzman says "So, it is really unclear whether they are going to do nothing or something, and if so, what." Just what we need, another body afraid to make a decision!!!

The judge should just bite the bullet and make a decision. Judge Ambro pointed out that when he wrote the original opinion back in 2004, he didn't expect it to come back to him seven years later. That opinion had remanded the rules back to the commission to better justify its deregulation. This triggered a series of hearings and studies, decisions, congressional confabs, and more legal challenges, leading to yesterday's latest chapter in a case with no ending. This is where our tax money is going???

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1930] Go at the green - not in between: New York City installs traffic lights. Prior to that New Yorkers start what’s commonly known as ‘flipping the bird’ (2/26)…
2.1950] Debuted on this date: “Your Show of Shows” debuts on NBC-TV. Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris become household names. Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and Neil Simon were writers on the show (2/25)…
3.1955] The ‘45′ rules: Billboard Magazine reports that the 45 rpm single is outselling 78’s for the first time (2/26)…
4.1964] Eat your words: That’s what Cassius Clay told Sonny Liston after upsetting Liston to win the heavyweight crown. Liston couldn’t answer the bell for round 7 (2/25)…
5.1982] Guilty as charged: Wayne B. Williams is found guilty of murdering 2 of the 28 bodies found in the Atlanta area in a two-year period (2/27)…1990] The Exxon Corp. and Exxon Shipping are indicted on 5 criminal counts in reference to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (2/27)…
6.1989] This Cowboy gets roped: After 29 seasons and 2 Super Bowl Championships as Dallas coach, Tom Landry is dumped by new Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jimmy Johnson replaces Landry (2/25)…
7.1991] Saddam backs down: Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein orders his troops to withdraw from Kuwait (2/26)…
8.1993] The first WTC bombing: Six are killed and more than one thousand injured when a van explodes in the World Trade Center parking garage. An act of terrorism by Islamic extremists and a precursor to something far worse in 2001 (2/26)…
9.1997] Guilty as charged: A jury in Media (PA) convicts multimillionaire John E. DuPont of third-degree murder but decides he was mentally ill when killing world-class wrestler and neighbor, David Schultz (2/25)…2005] Municipal employee and church leader Dennis Rader is arrested for the BTK serial killings that terrorized Wichita, Kansas. Rader is now serving 10 years to life (2/25)…
10.2008] “Happy Trails“: “Voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers” Myron Cope passes away from respiratory failure at 79 (2/27)…2008] Conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley Jr. is found slumped at his desk. His death at 82 is attributed to the results of emphysema and diabetes (2/27)…

Music Memories:

1956] Released on this date: "Slippin' and Slidin" - Little Richard (2/27)...1966] "19th Nervous Breakdown" - Rolling Stones (2/26)...1977] "Hotel California" - Eagles (2/26)...
1980] Grammy Gold: "What A Fool Believes" - Doobie Brothers (2/27)...2002] Alicia Keys wins 5 Grammy's for her debut LP, "Songs in A Minor" (2/27)...
1985] Grammy Achievement: Chuck Berry receives a 'Lifetime Achievement" Grammy (2/26)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (2/25) Rashida Jones (35), Sean Astin (40), Nancy O'Dell (45), Tea Leoni (45), Carrot Top (Scott Thompson) (46), Sportscaster James Brown (60), Sally Jessy Raphael (69), Diane Baker (73), Bob Schieffer (74) & Baseball Hall of Famer Monte Irvin (92)...(2/26) James Brady (27), Corinne Bailey Rae (32), Michael Vettor (53), Michael Bolton (58), Mitch Ryder (66) & Fats Domino (83)...(2/27) Josh Groban (30), Chelsea Clinton (31), Howard Hesseman (71), Ralph Nader (77), Elizabeth Taylor (79), Joanne Woodward (81) & Ariel Sharon (83)...

Timeline Countdown: 16 days until Daylight time, 23 days until the first day of spring and 34 days until MLB opening day...

BIA/Kelsey Starts A Social Media Service...

2011-02-24T07:08:00.001-05:00

Social media's influence on local radio sales has become important enough for one of the leading research and advisory firms to launch a social media practice. BIA/Kelsey is launching Social Local Media (SLM), "a new advisory service dedicated to covering the growing and dynamic social media ecosystem and the best opportunities for driving revenues with social platforms," according to TV News Check. Recent research by the firm, in partnership with ConStat, shows 48% of small and medium-sized businesses use Facebook to advertise or promote their business, edging out email at 43%. One-quarter use other social networks, 22% have a blog, and 19% use Twitter to promote their company, according to Media Post...

A separate study last week from Merchant Circle estimated the proportion of small businesses using Facebook even higher - at 70% - up from 50% a year ago and topping the two-thirds that use Google search advertising. Facebook clearly has become the place for radio to advertise socially, with Google and Twitter as alternatives...

BIA/Kelsey may be the first but won't be the last to school radio in social media. It's all about growing local revenue from social media sources. BIA/Kelsey says "SLM was created to address the rapidly developing social segment." The firm estimates that social media will be a $23 billion digital advertising market in 2011. Radio stations not tapping into that revenue source will be left behind those smart enough to take advantage of the fastest growing segment of the advertising universe...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1868] Phat Tuesday: The first parade to use floats? The New Orleans Mardi Gras on this date…
2.1903] Guantanamo-ra: An area in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased to the U.S. for use as a naval base. The clock is ticking on GB under the Obama administration…
3.1980] Winter Gold: The U.S. hockey team wins a gold medal after beating Finland 4-2 at the Lake Placid Winter Games…1994] Figure skater Oksana Baiul of the Ukraine injures her back in practice but two days later beats Nancy Kerrigan to win a gold medal at Lillehammer, Norway
4.1981] Murder she wrote: Jean Harris is convicted of murdering Scarsdale Diet Doctor (Tarnower). HBO makes a movie out of it in 2006…
5.1987] The King and I: Larry King suffers a heart attack requiring quintuple bypass surgery...
6.1989] Is that plant moving?: Stalker Margaret Ray is found in David Letterman’s home in Connecticut claiming to be his wife. Letterman is not amused…
7.1992] Wayne’s World: The movie starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey opens in U.S. theaters. Schhhwiiiing!!!
8.1994] Saturday Night Alive: Garrett Morris is shot during a robbery but eventually recovers from his wounds...
9.1998] “Happy Trails“: Legendary comedian Henny Youngman dies from pneumonia at 91...
10.2009] Joint Session of Congress: President Barack Obama discusses the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Troubled Assets Relief Program, the state of the economy and the future of the country…

Music Memories:

1965] Recorded on this date: "Help Me Rhonda" - Beach Boys...
1979] Released on this date: "Roxanne" - The Police...

Book It: Veteran radio programmer Bill Young has written a radio book that everyone is talking about. It's called "Dead Air -- The Rise & Demise Of Music Radio." 'Dead Air' re-introduces the brilliant, and at times, outrageous personalities who changed both an industry - and a generation. To order your copy, click here...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Amy Miranda Phillips (2), Mike Lowell (37), Bob Sherwood (39?), Paula Zahn (55), Rupert Holmes (64), Barry Bostwick (66), Sen. Joseph Lieberman (69), Dominic Chianese (80) & Abe Vigoda (90)...

Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Daylight time, 24 days until the beginning of spring and 35 days until MLB opening day...

Brokers Love Cumulus/Citadel Deal...

2011-02-23T07:08:00.003-05:00

Not everyone thinks Cumulus Media is crazy to take on about $770 million in outstanding Citadel debt by paying $1.8 billion for the privilege. You know the people that love this deal? Brokers, that's who. Moody's, the investor service that owns a 40% share in the world credit rating market can't issue press releases fast enough over this pending deal. Moody's main competitor, Standard & Poor's is the color of money envious. To recap - terms of this blockbuster acquisition includes, according to Radio Ink, "Cumulus acquiring Citadel's 225 radio stations in over 50 markets and also the Citadel Media business, which is among the largest radio networks in the U.S. After giving effect to the proposed acquisition, Cumulus would operate about 570 radio stations and would be well-diversified given the combination of Cumulus, CMP Susquehanna and Citadel stations across 120 markets nationally." All for the bargain-basement price of $1.8 billion...

"The $1.8 billion price will be financed by a combination of $500 million in equity financing from Crestview Partners and Macquarie Capital, and the assumption of about $770 million in outstanding Citadel debt, which is expected to be repaid." Moody's placed Cumulus Media ratings on review for a possible upgrade over the deal. "Moody's believes that the potential for lower leverage, synergies and favorable diversification from the proposed acquisition improves the financial profile of the company." ...

What this proposed deal proves is that the financial world loves companies that assume $770 million in debt for a mere $1.8 billion. Is this a great country or what???

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1822] Please come to Boston: The city of Boston is incorporated…
2.1836] Remember the Alamo: The siege of the Alamo begins in San Antonio (TX)…
3.1896] Rockin’ the Tootsie Roll: The Tootsie Roll is introduced by transplanted European Leo Hirshfield. The Tootsie Pop came along in 1931. Tell me there’s anything better than cherry TPs. Then there's this Tootsie Roll...
4.1927] Let the fun begin: President Calvin Coolidge signs a bill creating the Federal Radio Commission. On July 1, 1934 the name will be changed to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)…
5.1945] Raising the flag: U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima capture Mount Suribachi and raise the American Flag…
6.1954] Salkin’ it to ya: The first mass inoculation of children against polio using the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh…
7.1983] Big Bucks for a Bulldog: Junior running back Herschel Walker of Georgia becomes the highest paid player in football history when he signs a $1.5 million a year contract with Donald Trump’s New Jersey Generals of the USFL…
8.1997] Madman goes berserk: A Palestinian madman opens fire on the observation deck of the Empire State Building, killing one person and wounding six before taking his own life. A classmate of my son Robert, Matt Gross was shot in the head and suffered permanent brain damage. Matt’s brother Daniel started a successful anti-violence group…
9.1999] Guilty as charged: A jury in Jasper (TX) convicts white supremacist John William King of murder in the dragging death of a black man - James Byrd Jr…
10.2003] Grammy Gold: Norah Jones wins 5 Grammy Awards for the LP "Come Away With Me."...

Music Memories:

1959] Number One on this date: "Stagger Lee" - Lloyd Price...1969] "Everyday People" - Sly & Family Stone...
1963] Released on this date: "He's So Fine" - Chiffons...1974] "Piano Man" - Billy Joel...

Events: The Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar/Retreat will be held March 18 - 20, 2011 at Jim Oliver's Smoke House, 850 West Main Street, Monteagle, TN. Festivities begin at 6:30pm on Friday, March 18. Registration is $150. For additional information, go to Facebook and do a search for the seminar...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Dakota Fanning (17), Jerod Mayo (25), Kristin Davis (46), Bobby Bonilla (48), Tom Bodett (56), Ed 'Too Tall' Jones (60), Johnny Winter (67), Ron Hunt (70) and Peter Fonda (71)...

Timeline Countdown: 18 days until Daylight time, 25 days until the beginning of spring and 36 days until MLB opening day...

Pandora Faces Challenges They Didn't Expect...

2011-02-22T07:13:00.002-05:00

Pandora, the giant online music service with 80 million registered users has some sources nipping at its heels. No sooner had Pandora announced that they were about to issue an IPO seeking $100 million to expand, comes word that Apple is taking a 30% bite out of Pandora and others whose consumers download music from iTunes. It looks like Pandora has to worry more now about fees than it does satellite, internet or terrestrial competitors. While government regulators may come to Pandora's rescue by investigating Apple's exorbitant 30% tariff, the online music service has other obstacles facing it...

According to UK's SkyNews and Inside Radio, Spotify is about to launch its subscription based, on-demand online music service in the United States. While Pandora executives don't consider Spotify much of a threat, it's still competition. Spotify will create a challenge to pureplay webcasters like Pandora and Slacker. It's been reported that London-based Spotify has already raised $100 million to take on America. Spotify has already signed with Sony and EMI and is currently in negotiations with the other two major labels to begin streaming in the U.S...

They may not take Spotify as a serious threat but Pandora has plenty to worry about. A company representative was recently quoted in arsstechnia.com about the threats they face: "In particular, if known incumbents in the digital media space such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook or Google choose to offer competing services, they may devote greater resources than we have available. They may enjoy a more accelerated time frame for deployment and leverage their existing user base and proprietary technologies to provide products and services that our listeners and advertisers may view as superior." ...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1856] Cue the elephant: The Republican Party opens its first national meeting in Pittsburgh…
2.1879] Five and dime: Frank W. Woolworth opens his first ‘5 and 10 cent’ store in Utica (NY)…
3.1959] Start your engines: The inaugural Daytona 500 race is won by Lee Petty, father of Richard Petty…
4.1976] “Happy Trails“: Original Supreme, Florence Ballard is the victim of a fatal heart attack. At 32, she was living on welfare after being fired from the Supremes 9 years earlier. Ballard leaves 3 children…1987] Pop Art guru Andy Warhol dies from a heart attack in his sleep following gall bladder surgery. Warhol was 58…
5.1980] Olympic Gold: Al Michaels makes the call: “Do you believe in miracles?” as the U.S. Hockey team beats the Russians in a semi-final game. Two nights later they beat Finland for the gold…
6.1994] Gotcha: The Justice Department charges 31-year CIA veteran Aldrich Ames and his wife, Rosario, with selling national security secrets to the Soviet Union…
7.1997] Hello Dolly: Scottish scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned. Dolly dies in 2003...
8.2005] Plotted: A Virginia man was charged with plotting with al-Qaeda to kill President George W. Bush. Ahmed Omar Abu Ali is later convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison…
9.2006] Record heist: Thieves steal $96 million from a Bank of England cash depot near London in Britain’s largest cash robbery…
10.2009] Slumdog gold: Slumdog Millionaire wins 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Director (Danny Boyle). Sean Penn wins Best Actor for Milk and Kate Winslet wins Best Actress for The Reader…

Music Memories:

1956] First and Ten: Elvis Presley has his first Pop Top 10 hit, "Heartbreak Hotel"...
1967] Number One on this date: "Kind Of A Drag" - Buckinghams...1971] "One Bad Apple" - Osmonds...

Events:
The Audio Engineering Society New York Section presents "Lies & Specifications" An Interactive Presentation on Tuesday, March 8. The presentation will be held from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the New School for Jazz Performance, 55 West 13th Street in Manhattan. For addition information, do a Facebook search for Audio Engineering Society New York Section...

Book It: Donna Halper has written the definitive history of Boston radio. The book is called 'Boston Radio: 1920 - 2010' and it went on sale officially yesterday. Donna, noted radio historian and consultant uses rare photos from some of Boston's best-known air personalities to frame the story of the stations and announcers Bostonians have loved for decades. My copy is on the way and I can't wait to read it. To order your copy of 'Boston Radio: 1920 - 2010', click here...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Rajon Rondo (25), Drew Barrymore (36), James Blunt (37), Julius 'Dr. J' Erving (61), Paul Dooley (83) & Don Pardo (93)...

Timeline Countdown: 19 days until Daylight time, 26 days until the beginning of spring & 37 days until MLB opening day...

Welcome To Radio's Silly Season...

2011-02-18T12:30:00.000-05:00

(Presidents' Weekend Edition)

So when does it make sense for one debt-ridden radio company to inherit more debt by merging with another debt-ridden radio company? All together now - NEVER! Donald Trump makes mistakes like many other investors but even The Donald wouldn't touch this one. If you haven't heard yet, Citadel Broadcasting has entered into an agreement for exclusive negotiations for a potential merger with Cumulus Media, Inc. which is bleeding cash like Citadel. Under the terms of a non-binding proposal, Cumulus would pay $37 in cash and stock for each Citadel share and warrant, according to Business Wire. The $37 per share consideration would on average be capped at $30 in cash and $14 in Cumulus stock...

As part of the proposal, Cumulus says that Crestview Partners and Macquarie Capital are expected to provide up to $500 million in equity financing. Cumulus expects to obtain the remainder of the cash necessary to fund the transaction through debt financing to be led by UBS Investment Bank, together with Macquarie Capital. You know who's happy about this proposed merger? The Banks!!!

So lets say both sides don't come to their senses and suffer their own debt alone, Cumulus with 347 stations in 67 U.S. media markets and Citadel with 225 stations in more than 50 markets would be one. A total of 572 stations but no growth, which is why you invest in a company to begin with. Why no growth? Because those 572 stations would be whittled down by a couple of hundred stations once the knife comes out. Both sides have announced that a definitive agreement is pending completion of due diligence and financing arrangements. I'll offer my own due diligence, free of charge. Don't do it!!!

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1885] Never the Twain until today: Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is published in the U.S. for the first time (2/18)…
2.1878] Something to play your records on: Thomas Alva Edison patents a music player - the phonograph is born (2/19)…
3.1931] Debuted on this date: Alka Seltzer is introduced with a “plop, plop, fizz, fizz” (2/21)…1947] Edwin Land demonstrates the Polaroid Land Camera to the Optical Society of America in New York City (2/21). It’s the first camera to take, develop and print a black and white print in 60 seconds. The camera will go on sale in 1948...
4.1953] Splendid indeed: Ted Williams, a Marine pilot since 1951, escapes after crash-landing his F-9 Panther after being hit in Korea. He climbs down from the cockpit just before the plane explodes (2/19)…
5.1962] Going in circles: John Glenn makes space history, orbiting the earth 3 times to become the first American to orbit the earth aboard ‘Friendship 7′ (2/20)…
6.1965] In cold blood: Malcolm X is assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan at the age of 39 (2/21). Three Black Muslims are charged and jailed for the murder…2002] The State Department declares Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl dead, one month after he had been abducted by Islamic extremists in Pakistan (2/21)…2006] Curt Gowdy loses his long battle with leukemia at 86 (2/20). Curt's funeral procession circles Fenway Park before he's interred...
7.1970] Guilty as charged: Five of the “Chicago 7″ are found guilty of intent to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The convictions are later overturned. Abbie Hoffman was the poster child for the Chicago 7 (2/18)…
8.1972] China bound: President Richard M. Nixon begins his historic visit to China (2/21)...
9.2001] “Happy Trails“: Dale Earnhardt dies from injuries suffered in a crash at the Daytona 500. Earnhardt was 49 (2/18)…
10.2008] Adios Fidel: Fidel Castro announces his resignation as president of Cuba. Brother Raul succeeds him (2/19)...

Music Memories:

1956] Recorded on this date: "The Magic Touch" - The Platters (2/19)...1959] "What'd I Say" - Ray Charles (2/18)...1964] "Don't Worry Baby" - Beach Boys (2/20)...
1965] Number One on this date: "This Diamond Ring" - Gary Lewis & Playboys (2/21)...1975] "Pick Up The Pieces" - Average White Band (2/21)...
1970] Released on this date: "Instant Karma" - John Lennon (2/20)...
1974] TV debuts: Kiss make their TV debut on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" (2/19). This appearance is from "Midnight Special"..1974] Dick Clark's "American Music Awards" (2/19)...
1981] Sound familiar?: George Harrison is ordered to pay ABKCO Music $587,000 for "subconscious plagiarism" which surpasses "temporary insanity" as a defense, between his song, "My Sweet Lord" & "He's So Fine" (2/19)...
2000] Tutti Frutti, oh Rootie: ABC-TV airs the "Little Richard" movie (2/20). This clip is from Alan Freed's "Don't Knock The Rock" movie...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (2/18) Jillian Michaels (37), Molly Ringwald (43), Matt Dillon (47), Vanna White (54), John Travolta (57), Cybil Shepherd (61), Yoko Ono (78), Toni Morrison (80), Luis Arroyo (84) & Helen Gurley Brown (89)...(2/19) Haylie Duff (26), Justine Bateman (45), Seal (48), Prince Andrew (51), Jeff Daniels (56), Lou Christie (68), Bobby Rogers and Smokey Robinson of The Miracles are 71 ...(2/20) Rihanna (23), Cindy Crawford (45), Patricia Hearst (57), Walter (Steely Dan) Becker (61), J. Geils (65), Sandy Duncan (65), Buffy Sainte-Marie (70), Nancy Wilson (74), Sidney Poitier (84) & Gloria Vanderbilt (87)...(2/21) Ellen ('Juno') Page (24), Charlotte Church (25), Jennifer Love Hewitt (32), William Baldwin (48), Kelsey Grammer (56), William (CSI) Petersen (58), Tricia Nixon Cox (65), Tyne Daly (65) & David Geffen (68)...

Timeline Countdown: This is Presidents' Day Weekend, 23 days until Daylight time, 30 days until the beginning of spring & 41 days until MLB opening day...

Loyalty Of Website Users Questioned...

2011-02-17T06:35:00.003-05:00

When it comes to loyalty, website users aren't very - according to a new Borrell Associates study. On average, 55% of the visitors to locally oriented news and information websites are neither local nor loyal but instead are readers from outside of the market and "fly-bys" unlikely to return frequently, says Harry A. Jessell of NetNewsCheck. While this was a study of news and information website loyalty, it doesn't bode well for radio station websites either. On average, about 30% of the visitors don't live in the market and about 25% of the page views are by "fly bys" who may not return for another year, if ever, according to the study, which is based on surveys of site visitors conducted over the past two years and some "complicated math." Let's hope it's not as complicated as NFL quarterback ratings...

The study concludes that "a site that tells local advertisers it has 500,000 monthly unique visitors should probably be forthright and start saying it reaches about 100,000 local people." That's because the study found the average local website unique visitor count overstates the number of actual local people coming to the site by a factor of five. The study also says that as long as websites sell advertisers on the basis of page views, there's little concern about not knowing the true size, composition and behaviors of users. Overcounts of unique visitors is a fact of life on the web, according to the study...

The challenge for all radio websites is exactly the same as it is for the stations posting them. You always want consumers to keep them coming back for more. Not only is it necessary to have a great sounding radio station, but your website better be just as great and packed with social and interactive data that consumers will keep coming back for...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1801] Heads it’s Jefferson, tails, it’s Burr: The U.S. House of Representatives breaks an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr by picking Jefferson as President and Burr as his VP…
2.1913] Art replaces war: The Armory Show opens at the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan with paintings and sculpture on display. This show continues to be held yearly at the same Armory…
3.1933] TIME is not on their side: Newsweek is published for the 1st time…
4.1947] VOA is born: The Voice of America begins its broadcasts to the Soviet Union…
5.1968] Hooping it up: The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opens to the public for the first time in Springfield (MA)…
6.1986] Oh Howard: Howard Stern takes over the morning show on K-Rock in New York…
7.1992] Murder Inc: In Milwaukee, mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer is sentenced to life in prison. In November of 1994 he is beaten to death in prison…1995] LIRR killer Colin Ferguson is convicted on six counts of murder in the December, 1993 shootings. Ferguson will later be sentenced to a minimum of 200 years in prison. No tears are shed over either of these two sentences…
8.1996] Deeply blue: World chess champion Garry Kasparov beats Deep Blue, the IBM supercomputer in Philadelphia on what would have been IBM founder Thomas Watson’s 122nd birthday. Deep Blue gets revenge when it beats Kasparov in 1997. IBM computer, Watson just finished beating the pants of all former Jeopardy champs Ken Jennings & Brad Rutter...
9.2008] Kosovo Nation: Kosovo declares itself a nation in defiance of Serbia and Russia...
10.2009] The first of many: President Barack Obama signs a $757 billion economic stimulus package into law...

Music Memories:

1966] Recorded on this date: Brian Wilson begins recording "Good Vibrations"...
1955] Resume to follow: Little Richard sends his first audition tape to Specialty Records. It worked. He's signed by the label...
1976] Released on this date: "Greatest Hits" LP - Eagles. And it's still selling...

Events: Make plans now to attend the Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar/Retreat March 18 -20, 2011. The seminar will be held at Jim Oliver's Smoke House, 850 West Main Street in Monteagle (TN). Admission is $150. For additional information go to Facebook and search for "Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar"...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Paris Hilton (30), Jason Ritter (31), Denise Richards (40), Buster Olney (47), Michael Jordan (48), Lou Diamond Phillips (49), Rene Russo (57), Dodie Stevens (65), Mary Ann Mobley (72), Jim Brown (75), Bobby Lewis (78), Baseball's Roger Craig (81) and Hal Holbrook (86)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until Presidents' Day, 24 days until Daylight time, 31 days until spring begins and 42 days until MLB opening day...

Radio Apps - Fad Or Savior?

2011-02-16T07:05:00.002-05:00

There are arguments for radio apps being just another add-on that will draw some interest but just be another selling point for smartphones. Then there are those who think that radio apps can help save radio. Steven Ludwig, president of Verge Radio Network, a syndicator of radio content, who has some self-interest involved, is pro-app. Ludwig tells Mike Stern of Media Life that "Smartphones could do for radio what the Sony Walkman did in the '80s. Radio became portable and we saw growth in AQH (Average Quarter Hour) and cume (cumulative audience)." Then there's Jeff McPherson, co-editor of ThinkMobile.com, a website focused on mobile devices and applications who is of the opinion that apps are just a craze - nothing more than that...

McPherson argues that "People are not tuning out of terrestrial radio because they can't get radio on their phones. They are tuning out because the programming on radio is not as appealing as what is available to listeners in other ways. If terrestrial radio stations simply stream what they broadcast, most people will not be attracted because that has the same limitations that currently exist with over-the-air radio." If they're not listening to you on a regular radio, why would listening on a smartphone make it any better. No argument there...

Ludwig, who is pro-app, offers this warning - "What we have found is that the ability to listen is only a small fraction of why somebody would download a mobile app and keep using it. Listeners love the ability to engage with the hosts and with each other through a mobile app." On the other hand, radio in combination with the internet makes a very strong one-two punch. Mobile apps can act like a mini-website that is way easier to maintain." It should be noted that a recent study by Localytics revealed that more than 25% of the apps downloaded in 2010 were used only once. Radio had better give listeners a reason to stay longer than that...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1868] Benevolent and Protective: ‘The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks’ is formed in New York City (what the devil does the BPOE do besides being benevolent and protective???)…
2.1883] Ladies Day: The Ladies Home Journal begins publication. Their first issue is a shocker: ‘Are hems on bathing suits being raised to above the ankles?’ Say it isn’t so…
3.1948] A new career for Ed Herlihy: NBC-TV begins airing its first nightly newscast featuring Fox and Movietone newsreels…
4.1959] Have a cigar: Fidel Castro seizes power in Cuba after the overthrow of President Fulgencio Batista…
5.1968] My old stomping grounds gets famous: The first 911 emergency telephone system is inaugurated in Haleyville (AL) where I started my radio career at WJBB at 18…
6.1970] The winner and new champ: Joe Frazier begins his reign as undefeated heavyweight champ by knocking out Jimmy Ellis in 5 rounds. Frazier keeps his title until losing it to George Foreman in January, 1973. It will be Frazier’s first professional defeat…
7.1982] “D-I-V-O-R-C-E“: Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett say “I don’t”, divorcing after separating in 1979. The marriage lasted almost 9 years…1989] Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden split up after 16 years of marriage…
8.1984] Winter gold: 23-year old Bill Johnson becomes the first American to win Olympic downhill skiing gold at Sarajevo…
9.2005] Hockeys gone, eh?: The NHL cancels the remainder of its season after a round of last-gasp negotiations fail to resolve differences over a salary cap - the issue that led to a lockout...
10.2009] Mauling: A 200-lb. chimpanzee severely mauls its owner's friend before being shot dead by Stamford (CT) police...

Music Memories:

1964] Beatles Return: The Beatles return for their second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." They made their first appearance one week earlier. For their second appearance the Fab Four sing 6 songs ("She Loves You", "This Boy", "All My Lovin", "I Saw Her Standing There", "From Me To You" and their number one hit, "I Want To Hold Your Hand"). Part 2 Beatles...Part 3 Beatles...Part 4 Beatles...Part 5 Beatles...Part 6 Beatles...

Events:
The New York Section of the Audio Engineering Society presents "Lies, Damned Lies & Specifications", an interactive presentation on Tuesday, March 8 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. The presentation will be held at the New School For Jazz Performance, 55 West 13th Street in Manhattan. For additional information, search for "Audio Engineering Society New York Section" on Facebook...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
John McEnroe (52), Ice-T (Tracy Marrow) (53), LeVar Burton (54), James Ingram (55), William Katt (60) and Patty Andrews (Andrews Sisters) (93)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Presidents' Day, 25 days until Daylight time, 32 days until spring and 43 days until MLB opening day...

NPR Comes Out Swinging...

2011-02-15T06:50:00.002-05:00

NPR may lose federal funding but NPR CEO/President Vivian Schiller won't go down without a fight. Schiller warned House Republicans that cutting off the annual subsidy could result in the shut down of some or all of the 900 public radio stations, according to Fox News. A new budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, which ends September 30, includes nothing for NPR. Republicans say the network's liberal agenda silences any other points of view. Opponents of that view cite the removal of Fox News Channel contributor Juan Williams last fall as an example of its intolerance. Williams, you might recall told Bill O'Reilly that he "gets worried and nervous" when he sees someone in Muslim garb when he's flying. Juan Williams is no longer welcome at NPR, thanks to that quote...

Schiller warned that radio stations in rural and underserved areas offer "more than 38 million Americans with free over-the-air programming they can't find anywhere else" but she wasn't through in her attempt to save NPR federal funding. "The public values and increasingly relies of the trustworthy news and information that public radio provides. The growing number of public radio listeners speaks to the hunger for independent local media sources that help make sense of what's going on in their own community and around the world." ...

Schiller raised some sensible issues - some legitimate, others self-serving. Although zero funding would hurt NPR, it wouldn't bury it. NPR has a ton of listeners who love the network enough to support it, especially in major markets. Where it would hurt the most is in smaller markets. House Republicans should take that into consideration when they take their razor out...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1903] Oh won’t you be my teddy bear: Russian immigrants Morris and Rose Michtom introduce the first teddy bear to America. Vermont Teddy Bear took over from there...
2.1933] Dodging a bullet: President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt escapes an assassination attempt in Miami that claims the life of Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak...
3.1936] Olympic Gold: Sonja Henie of Norway wins her 3rd straight gold medal at the German Winter games...
4.1965] “Happy Trails“: Nat “King” Cole passes away from lung cancer at 46. Cole was a heavy smoker…
5.1965] Oh Canada: Canada's new maple leaf flag was unfurled in ceremonies in Ottawa...
6.1989] Last one out - turn out the lights: The Soviet Union announces that the last of its troops has left Afghanistan after more than 9 years of military intervention...
7.2002] Justice served: Canadian pairs figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier are awarded a gold medal to resolve a judging controversy at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City...
8.2005] Slam the door: Defrocked priest Paul Shanley is sentenced in Boston to 12 to 15 years in prison on child rape charges...
9.2005] YouTube sees the light: YouTube is launched in the U.S. 6 years later YT is bigger than ever...
10.2008] Declared dead: American businessman, aviator and adventurer Steve Fossett is declared legally dead after missing since September 3, 2007. Fossett was 63…

Music Memories:

1954] Recorded on this date: Big Joe Turner records the original version of "Shake, Rattle & Roll". Bill Haley & the Comets have the pop hit...1961] "Blue Moon" - Marcels...
1979] Grammy Gold: Billy Joel ("Just The Way You Are") and Donna Summer ("Last Dance") are the big winners with 2 Grammy's a piece...

Events:
The Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar/Retreat will be held March 18 - 20, 2011 at Jim Oliver's Smoke House, 850 West Main Street, Monteagle (TN). Registration is $150. For additional information, go to Facebook and do a search for "Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar"...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Janice Dickinson (56), Matt ('Simpsons') Groening (57), Jane Seymour (60), Melissa Manchester (60), Motown's Brian Holland (70), Claire Bloom (80) & Alan ('M*A*S*H' Maj. Sidney Freedman) Arbus (93)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Presidents' Day, 26 days until Daylight time, 33 days until spring & 44 days until MLB opening day...

Westergren Takes On Terrestrial Radio...

2011-02-14T06:45:00.003-05:00

As Pandora files its Initial Public Offering, hoping to raise $100 million, founder Tim Westergren declares war on terrestrial radio. "Traditional radio stations broadcast the same content at the same time to all of their listeners." That's Westergren's opening shot, according to Radio Ink. And Westergren didn't stop there. "We enable each of our listeners to create up to 100 personalized stations. Traditional radio programmers have always shied away from even letting an in-studio DJ vary from the format. Can you imagine what they would say if callers wanted to program songs? How many times has the PD said this during a 'request hour?'. They only play the songs in the format. And here is Pandora making a life out of such consumer-driven lunacy. It's a dilemma." ...

Westergren's plan of attack is to outline the differences between Pandora and terrestrial radio. The plan includes a boast of redefining radio and personalizing it to a one-to-one radio listening experience." Westergren, a great salesman, hopes to show Pandora's competitive strengths will help his company "realize the potential of our opportunity." Those are the things you say when you're trying to raise $100 million in public shares. What Westergren won't tell you is that the company has lost $83.9 million since its inception and remains unprofitable, according to Friday's IPO filing. In the first nine months of its last fiscal year. Pandora suffered a $328,000 loss on revenue of $90.1 million, according to Huffington Post...

Another thing Westergren can't tell you is that Pandora can ever be local or free. Pandora is an excellent music service but it's not a local radio station and never will be. Advantage: Terrestrial Radio...

10 Valentine's Day Timeline Memories:
1.1918] Me Tarzan...you Jane: "Tarzan of the Apes" is released...
2.1919] What can brown do for you?: United Parcel Service is formed...
3.1924] The real Big Blue: IBM is founded by Thomas Watson...
4.1929] Happy Valentine's Day: The 'St. Valentine's Day Massacre' in Chicago takes 7 lives. All of the mobsters were rivals of Al Capone...
5.1932] Winter Gold: The U.S. wins the first bobsled competition at Lake Placid...
6.1984] Winter Gold Too: Jayne Torvil and Christopher Dean of Britain win a gold medal in pairs figure skating at Sarajevo...
7.1952] Valentine Wedding Bells: Comedian Joey Adams marries gossip columnist Cindy Heller. They were married until Adams died in 1999 (47 years)...1984] Elton John and Renata Blauel crawl down the aisle. This marriage lasts 4 years incredulously...1994] The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia marries Deborah Koons. They stay married until Jerry's death in 1995...1995] Roseanne Barr marries bodyguard Ben Thomas. They divorce in 2002...1996] Prince and Mayte Garcia exchange vows. The marriage is annulled in 1999 but they partied like it was '1999' from '96 through '98...
8.1962] Hi, I'm Jackie your tour guide: First lady Jacqueline Kennedy gives us a televised tour of the White House...
9.1989] No green bananas for you: Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini advises Salman Rushdie not to buy any green bananas as he calls on Muslims to kill the author of "The Satanic Verses". Salman Rushdie lives despite the death warrant...
10.2007] Nor'easter: It will be called "The Valentine's Day Blizzard". It starts on February 12th and won't end until February 20th. It peaks on Valentine's Day, killing 37 and dumping 48" of snow in Stowe, Vermont. The storm affects the east coast from Philadelphia to New England and midwest from Nebraska to Ohio...

Music Memories:

1967] Recorded on this date: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin...
1977] Valent-Ian Day: Janis Ian receives hundreds of Valentine's Day cards after she reveals that she never received any in her teens, in the song, "At Seventeen"...
1983] Number One on this date: "Baby Come To Me" - Patti Austin and James Ingram. The song became a hit when it was featured on "General Hospital"...

Events:
The New Music Seminar is in Los Angeles tonight through Wednesday. Opening events start at 6:00pm. The Seminar is being held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel on Hollywood Drive in Universal City. For additional information, go to Facebook and "search" for New Music Seminar...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Drew Bledsoe (39), Rob Thomas (39), Meg Tilly (51), Jo Jo Starbuck (60), (Raymond Joseph) Teller (63), Pat O'Brien (63), Donna Halper (64), Carl Bernstein (67), Mike Bloomberg (69), Florence Henderson (77), Phyllis McGuire (80) and Hugh Downs (90)...

Timeline Countdown: Today is Valentines Day, 7 days until Presidents' Day, 27 days until Daylight Savings Time, 34 days until spring & 45 days until MLB opening day...

Listeners Are Tired Of Political Talk Radio...

2011-02-11T06:56:00.003-05:00

(Weekend Edition)

Not only is right-wing talk dying as mentioned by John Avlon in his insightful post in The Daily Beast but all political talk is on life support. When Inside Radio conducted an online survey on the subject, 49% said they believe listeners are tiring of non-stop political talk. "One reader says, Not only are listeners tiring of non-stop political bashing, left and right, it's no longer relevant and entertaining - it's like hearing the same seven 'A' rotation hits replayed over and over for five years." Another respondent replies "Enough of the right versus left - conservative vs. liberal - we need more local content giving local listeners a chance to interact and aid their community." "Revenue isn't always commensurate with ratings either - one poll particpant suggests: We are always asked to keep ads away from national talk shows." ...

There are those that believe it's not the message that's getting old, it's the messenger. "It really comes down to talent, no matter what topic they are talking about. If on-air talent is top shelf, people will listen", according to one respondent. But even "top shelf" talent is showing burnout. Rush Limbaugh's ratings dipped from 5.4 to 5.0 on WABC. Sean Hannity and Mark Levin, who follow rush on WABC narrowly declined and flat-lined, respectively. Philadelphia dropped Hannity and Beck last month. Beck also lost Salt Lake City. If you're thinking that liberal or progressive talk has won - think again...

There are fewer than 100 liberal/progressive formated radio stations following Air America's demise a year ago. Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh combined have more affiliates than that. So, how many listeners would radio lose if political talk left the airwaves? Pew researchers have found that only 17% of the public regularly listens to talk radio, which means that 83% don't...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1635] School bells ring and children sing: Boston Public Latin is founded. It is our nation's first public school. The school will open on April 23, 1635 (2/13)...
2.1968] Adding MSG: The new Madison Square Garden officially opens. The 4th Garden holds nearly 20,000 and celebrates its 43rd anniversary today (2/11)…
3.1976] Murder in Hollywood: 37-year old actor Sal Mineo is found murdered in his driveway, the victim of a botched robbery attempt(2/12)…
4.1976] Gold Standard: Dorothy Hamill wins a gold medal at the Winter Olympics and captures the hearts of Americans with her youthful innocence, good looks and flawless style (2/13)…
5.1979] Ayatollyahso: Followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seize power in Iran 9 days after the religious leader returns after 15 years of exile (2/11)…
6.1982] It’s blowin’ in the Winds: ABC-TVs presentation of “The Winds of War” concludes. The 18-hour miniseries cost $40 million to produce but is the most watched TV program in history at the time (2/11)…
7.1990] Free at last: South African activist Nelson Mandela is freed after 27 years in prison (2/11)…
8.2006] Did you forget to duck?: VP Dick Cheney accidentally shoots and wounds a companion during a weekend quail-hunting trip to Texas (2/11)…
9.2006] Nor’easter: A powerful Nor’easter blankets the Northeast dumping 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington, D.C. to New England. We got an exaggerated 26.9″ of snow, an all-time record in New York (2/12)…
10.2009] Plane goes down: Cogan Air Flight 3407 crashes in Clarence Center, New York, killing 50 (2/12)...

Music Memories:

1956] Recorded on this date: "I Put A Spell On You" - Screamin' Jay Hawkins (2/12)...1966] "Bang Bang" - Cher (2/11)...
1961] Gold Standard: "Shop Around" - The Miracles becomes Motown's first million selling gold record (2/12)...
1964] A Fab Four-um: The Beatles play their 1st U.S. concert at the Washington (DC) Coliseum. Opening are The Chiffons and Tommy Roe with 8,600 screaming their brains out (2/11)...
1967] Released on this date: "Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever" - Beatles (bringing back some fond memories of the WRKO startup) (2/13)...
2005] Grammy Gold: Ray Charles' final album, "Genius Loves Company" wins 8 Grammy Awards (2/13)...Here are 3 tracks from the LP: Ray w/Norah Jones, Ray with Elton John, Ray with Willie Nelson...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (2/11) Kelly Rowland (30), Brandy (Norwood) (32), Jennifer Aniston (42), Sarah Palin (47), Sheryl Crow (49), Jeb Bush (58), Gerry Goffin (72), Burt Reynolds (75), Tina Louise (77) & Larry Merchant (80)...(2/12) Christina Ricci (31), Josh Brolin (43), Chynna Phillips (43), Arsenio Hall (55), Michael McDonald (59), Ray Manzarek (72), Gene McDaniels (76), Bill Russell (#6) (77), Joe Garagiola (85) & Charles Van Doren (85)...(2/13) Taylor Lautner (19), Harvey Mednick (39?), Peter Gabriel (61), Mike (Coach K) Krzysewski (64), Jerry Springer (67), Stockard Channing (67), Peter Tork (69), Carol Lynley (69), George Segal (77), Kim Novak (78), Dorothy (McGuire Sisters) McGuire (83) and Chuck Yeager (88)...

Timeline Countdown: Pitchers & catchers report this weekend, 3 days until Valentines Day, 10 days until President's Day, 30 days until Daylight Savings Time & 37 days until spring...

Radio And Social Media - A Two-Way Street...

2011-02-10T07:04:00.002-05:00

Now that social media has radio's undivided attention and support, there is some concern over who benefits more - radio or Facebook? Why it should matter is beyond me but the headlines pose the question, nevertheless. What the advent of social media has done in just a short period of time is give everyone a voice - an opinion. "The advent of social media (and online publishing) has dramatically highlighted the importance of understanding the mechanics of the two-way conversation between a brand and the consumer," Chris Moerdyk, head of strategic planning and public affairs for BMW South Africa tells Biz Community. Moerdyk adds "because virtually every marketing communications medium, consisted of a one-way conversation, not many strategists and copywriters worried too much about consumer response - simply because there wasn't any." Whether it's an ad or just ordinary radio content, that one-way conversation has been "socialized" into a two-way conversation...

"It doesn't matter whether it is Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Radio, TV or print advertisements. Quite simply, consumers have now got so used to responding to messages that no longer do they simply accept an advertising message, commercial SMS (short message service), or tweet, for example, but subconsciously reply without possibly even realising that they are replying. Talking back has become a consumer imperative. What happens, in effect, is that the basics of human communication are now major influencing factors in marketing" says Moerdyk. He adds, "In every conversation there are keywords that act as triggers. And when these triggers are activated in the mind of the consumer, the conversation stops right there and a reaction takes place." ...

To put it in simple terms, the influence of social media has changed the ground rules. To paraphrase Marshall McLuhan, the medium is now a two-way message. Get used to it...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1870] Not celebrated in song: The YWCA is founded in New York City. I always thought there should’ve been an answer hit to the Village People’s “YMCA” by a group called the Village Girls and titled “YWCA“…
2.1897] The Gray Lady: The New York Times begins printing the slogan, “All the News That’s Fit to Print”, upper-left, front page. 114-years later it’s still there…
3.1933] Hmmmmmm: The singing telegram is introduced by the Postal Telegram Company of New York City. Roughly 53 trillion terrible birthday songs will follow...
4.1942] That sinking feeling: The Normandie, the former French liner capsizes in New York Harbor after catching fire while being fitted for the U.S. Navy the day before…
5.1968] Ice queens: Peggy Fleming wins a gold medal in women’s figure skating at the Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France…1992] Bonnie Blair wins gold in 500-meter speed skating at Albertville, France becoming the first woman to win gold medals in consecutive Winter Olympics…
6.1981] Death in the casino: Fire breaks out at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino, killing 8 and injuring 198…
7.1992] “Happy Trails“: “Roots” author Alex Haley dies of a heart attack at 70…2005] Playwright Arthur Miller succumbs to heart failure at 89…2008] Veteran actor Roy (”Jaws”) Scheider dies from a staph infection at 75. Scheider had previously been treated for multiple myeloma…
8.1992] Guilty as charged: Mike Tyson is convicted in Indianapolis of raping a Miss Black America contestant...
9.2005] The arms race: North Korea publicly announces for the first time that it has nuclear arms…
10.2007] Vote for me: Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill) announces his bid for president…

Music Memories:

1971] Released on this date: "Tapestry" LP - Carole King...Songs featured include "It's Too Late", "So Far Away" & "You've Got A Friend"...

Events: The Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar/Retreat will take place March 18 - 20, 2011 at Jim Oliver's Smoke House, 850 West Main Street, Monteagle (TN). Registration is $150 per person. Additional information is available on Facebook. You can search "Smokin' Hit Songwriters Seminar"...

Book It: Bill Young, Director of Programming for the legendary KILT AM/FM Houston, has written a new book titled "Dead Air - The Rise & Demise of Music Radio." In it, Bill takes us on a "deeply personal tour through back rooms, control rooms and memories long remembered." For more information on the book and to learn get a copy, click here. Bill was one of the most respected program directors of all-time and has been a radio bud of mine since the 60s...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Emma Roberts (20), Laura Dern (44), Glenn Beck (47), Lenny Dykstra (48), George Stephanopoulos (50), Greg Norman (56), Jim Cramer (56), Mark Spitz (61), Jimmy (Teenagers) Merchant (71), Roberta Flack (74), Robert Wagner (81) and Leontyne Price (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until pitchers & catchers report, 4 days until Valentines Day, 11 days until Presidents' Day, 31 days until Daylight Savings Time (forward one hour) & 38 days until the beginning of spring...