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Sunday, June 30, 2013

WEEI, Red Sox Donate Tickets To Bombing Victims

6-27-13

Entercom/Boston and Sports WEEI, the Boston Red Sox, and Major League Baseball are donating 1,000 tickets to tonight's Red Sox-Blue Jays game to some of the people  most affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. Tickets are going to first responders; the Boston Athletic Association; the communities of Dorchester, Arlington, and Medford; the Massachusetts State Police and National Guard; and Boston-area hospitals.

Entercom/Boston VP/Market Manager Jeff Brown said, "On behalf of Entercom and WEEI, we send our deepest appreciation for the bravery and service of these responders during our city's time of need. We are forever grateful for their heroism and hope this small gesture brings a smile to some faces across Boston on a Thursday evening."

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CRTC Approves BCE's Astral TV And Radio Acquisition

6-27-2013

Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved an application by Astral Media Inc. to sell its pay and specialty television channels, conventional television stations, and radio stations to BCE Inc. The CRTC?s approval comes with a number of conditions that are necessary to uphold the public interest.

?Astral?s application put forward a different approach and responded to many of our concerns,? said Jean-Pierre Blais, chairman of the CRTC. ?Yet there remained a significant risk that BCE could exert its market power to limit choice and competition. To ensure the public interest is served, we are requiring BCE to invest in new Canadian programming and sell more than a dozen services, and we are putting in place a number of competitive safeguards.?

BCE will be required to invest $246.9 million in tangible benefits over the next seven years, which is $72 million more than it had proposed. This amount reflects the CRTC?s revised value of the transaction, as well as the size and exceptional nature of the transaction.

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Our Friday Flashback Photo

6-28-2013

Our latest "Blast From the Past" is Quentin Johnson at the mic at WGSU 89.3 FM back in 1977. Look at all those reel-to-reel players. Thanks to Brian Bennett of SUNY Geneseo for finding this picture and to Mike Saffran for sending it in. WGSU Radio is celebrating 50 Years: 1963-2013. Send your Flashback photos to edryantheeditor@gmail.com



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WJBE Back In Knoxville

6-27-13


WJBE Back In Knoxville
WJBE returns to the air in Knoxville, on the 1040 AM frequency and simulcasting at 99.7. The station brands itself as "Today's R&B and Classic Soul,? with Tom Joyner in mornings.

WJBE personality Ronnie Love says the music runs "from classic soul to classy urban contemporary"; core artists include Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, NeYo, Beyonc?, and Miguel.

The station website is up and running at www.wjbe.am.

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(SOCIAL) Get Attention For Local Radio In Social Media

6-28-2013

Radio talents always want to know: How can I show that social media has real value? How can I really get attention in social media?

1. Think creatively about your content before you post on any social media. Don?t just think about the message you most want to communicate. Social media is about engaging people.That means back and forth. To do that, you have to have a listener-first focus and you always have to think about how to get listeners to take actions to engage you on their chosen social media platform and on your assets, including your on-air show. And you should always try to be the fun one at the party (when appropriate).

2. Put yourself in the shoes (or eyes and ears) of your listeners (or the listeners in social media that you most want to attract). Do you know your local listeners? Do you know who they are? Where they work? What is happening in the average listeners? life in your market? The best way to do this is to have a ?listen first? policy about your social media activities. That means, see what is happening and fit into it. Don?t always think: What can I say? Think: How can I be helpful?

3. Build your engagement around emotion and include fun twists about the fun job listeners all think you have today. Most listeners do not have jobs they think of as fun. In fact, if they are adult listeners, they are operating on everyone else?s schedule. Their kids, their boss, their wife or husband, their parents (sometimes), their extended family, co-workers, bills, chores around the house, problems. Give these people someone who cares about them and focus your content on emotion because that drives attachment. By the way, if you don?t think problems can be fun, you?ve missed the point of why historic television shows such as Seinfeld, M*A*S*H, Friends, the Brady Bunch, the Cosby Show and more have been big hits. They twist problems into fun. That?s because they are in the entertainment business?like you.

4. Give them a taste and tease them to find the rest on assets that your company owns, including both your website and on-air whenever possible. You don?t have to give them ?the whole baby? (many times you will want to deliver all). Sometimes you just want to give them a tease. This is all part of having an overall social media content strategy. Do you have one? If not, you should get busy building one and make sure you include a wide variety of rich content so you can be helpful, fun, interesting and engaging and not just be ?on Facebook and Twitter.?

5. Use pictures and video to include listeners. Please. Just force yourself and your team to begin using pictures and video in a wide variety of content. Why? Because people are much more likely to engage those ?attractors? than just simply words. You want participation. You want people to engage your PEOPLE and then your brand. Light them up with entertaining video and photos (focused on them and content that would be interesting to them, please). As I leave you with a final thought, we will let that be video. This is about sports and you will notice that there are no plays, no analysis, no boring insider information that viewers don?t care about.  These are promos about ESPN that don?t involve taking themselves too seriously. People have even collected a bunch of them and reposted (fans doing the work).  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgjg5XszAiM

Wildly popular. Why? Because they are fun. And your social media should be fun, too. Do that and you will discover for yourself ways to get attention in social media that counts for your brand.  Now go have some fun with local listeners and make it count!

Loyd Ford is the direct marketing, ratings and social media strategist for Americalist and programmed very successful radio brands in markets of all sizes for years, including KRMD AM & FM in Shreveport, WSSL and WMYI in Greenville, WKKT in Charlotte and WBEE in Rochester, NY.  Learn more about Loyd here:  http://about.me/loydford.  Reach out to Loyd via e-mail HERE.  Visit his Facebook radio social media page HERE

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(SPORTS TALK) Callers Are Horrible for Radio

6-26-2013

I was taught one of the best lessons in radio years ago by Rush Limbaugh. After hearing my morning sports radio show, Rush asked me why I take so many phone calls. I said, "My show is about the listener and their responses to my topics." He actually started laughing at me. I have to tell you I was very upset, to say the least, that my approach to radio, in Rush's eyes, was flawed. He asked me, "Would you ever let an amateur run your radio show?" I said of course not. He said, "Then why let a caller?" I've never forgotten that lesson. I was one of those fools who believed the response of the caller was more important than the response of the listener. I used to actually count callers when I first started in radio some 20-plus years ago.
Any host who turns his show over to callers or a guest host cannot carry a radio show to save his life. I love the approach Rush has to his show. It's a privilege to come on his show. Most sports talk hosts in America today will open up the lines and invite the most hated person in radio to his show...MIKE IN MIAMI...The guy who calls a host's show every day and every other show on the station.
Chronic callers are brutal, especially in sports talk. They drive other listeners away from a station. Caller-driven radio is bad radio. Stop doing it. Here's an example of bringing chronic callers to your station. "What is your favorite Miami drink?" Really? All you're doing is hiding the fact you have very little content and you're not prepared to deliever what PPM wants, compelling content to your listeners. I love to drink but I would never offer that up as a talking point on my show. It only leads to chronic callers and that's bad radio.
Are callers good for a radio station? Yes, but to a point. Trades, deaths, championships. Absolutely. You want listener reaction to those topics. Give the listener the feeling they are part of that title run. But doing every day is how you invite chronic callers. They are like bums you see panhandling for cash on street corners in every city. If your host has great content and can carry segment to segment, you will not need a host who trolls for calls or asks, "What is your favorite sports movie?"

We have come so far in sports talk radio. I used to do those weak topics to generate callers when all I had to do was talk and people have always been attracted to my views. If you are a PD today and you ever hear a host throw topics out to generate calls, you need to ask yourself if that's the type of station you're looking to program. 
Dan Sileo, also known as "The Bonecrusher," is a sports talk show host who has worked at KGO & KNBR-WDAE and WQAM. He can be reached at Umiam93@yahoo.com and on Twitter at @dansileoshow

(6/28/2013 6:10:26 AM)
John...Thats what MAKES RUSH AWESOME..He is Original!!...Ur right...If U can't deliever content and lean on ur callers than u sound just like the 98% of the host in America!!..UR not Original..U HAVE NOTHING!!
(6/27/2013 8:39:18 AM)
This isn't brilliant commentary at all! First, Rush is the exception. Not the rule. Comparing yourself to Rush is ridiculous. Secondly, callers are like spice. Your radio show is just a bland talking head uttering the same opinion over and over and the trying to validate that opinion over and over. Callers add the flavor that make the show listenable.
Now, you do have a point about the same callers dragging a show down, but that is where you need a strong call screen.
(6/26/2013 9:03:46 AM)
I couldn't agree with you more. WQAM in Miami has this ex-con CutlerRidge Laz call in all day from his warehouse job throwing out his felonious opinions. Makes for LAME radio.
(6/26/2013 8:57:02 AM)
Some talk shows just have callers on agreeing and venting on a certain topic. When they get a caller that disagrees, then the radio wrestling match starts with yelling back and forth till the host hangs up. These hosts are the liberal baiters. I am not a liberal but disagreed with a host recently. I wrote an email, he read it,then called me an angry liberal with no sense of humor. I wrote back, told him he was wrong and I am a comedy writer. No response. I stopped listening to that show.
(6/26/2013 12:15:03 AM)
This is brilliant commentary.
Throwing callers on the air is a form of pandering. It also demonstrates that the host is unprepared with content and/or has no formidable guests lined-up who can carry the topic. Callers may get the impression they are participating. Listeners are just tolerating it - barely.

Even when listeners/callers-in are pre-screened, the likelihood the calls will go sideways are very high indeed. Too high.


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Saturday, June 29, 2013

B101.5 And AM1230 WFVA Win 5 Awards

6-28-2013

Centennial Broadcasting II, LLC Fredericksburg, Virginia, Hot AC WBQB (B101.5) and NewsTalk 1230 WFVA (formerly adult standards AM 1230 WFVA, during the contest period), won five 1st Place awards at the 76th Annual Virginia Association of Broadcasters Awards Banquet, June 21, at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel.

WBQB won the following awards in the Medium Market category:
? 1st Place ? Outstanding Website ? www.b1015.com
? 1st Place ? Best Commercial ? Steamers Seafood Grill and Bar Star Search

WFVA won the following awards in the Medium Market category:
? 1st Place ? Outstanding News Series: Battle of Fredericksburg
? 1st Place ? Best Human Interest Series: Teen Violence Turns Personal
? 1st Place ? Best Documentary or Public Affairs Program: Sniper: 10 Years Later

?I am so proud of the sensational, award-winning talent at B101.5 and NewsTalk 1230 WFVA,? said Tom Hamilton, WBQB/WFVA market manager. ?This is certainly a reflection of their passion for creating great radio and their dedication to the Fredericksburg community.?

?There is one word that comes to mind when I think of the individuals involved in the creation of these award-winning pieces and that?s ?passion?,? said Chuck Archer, WBQB/WFVA operations manager. ?They eat, drink, breathe, and sleep great radio and constantly find ways of making it better.? 

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KMFC/Missouri Sells For Half Million

6-27-2013

KMFC-FM Centralia, Missouri, has been sold by the Clair Group for $515,000. The buyer is the Educational Media Foundation. The deal was brokered by Greg Guy and Jason James of Patrick Communications. KMFC operates at 16,000 watts in the Columbia, MO, market.



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(SALES) Jumping Off The Bridge

6-28-2013

Roy Williams says, ?The risk of insult is the price of clarity." 

To be clear, I don?t have a lot of sympathy for stations that have not grown their revenues significantly in the new media environment.

Are you insulted yet?

Radio sales suffer from the "I?m okay-you?re okay syndrome." In other words, because our industry as a whole is experiencing flat or limited growth, it?s somehow become acceptable to not generate extraordinary revenue growth.

Remember when you were a kid and you did something you shouldn?t have and tried to justify your mistake by saying ?everyone else did it?? Your mother probably said something like, ?If everyone jumped off the bridge would you do that too??

I see radio stations and account executives leaving money on the table in virtually every market  I?ve visited across North America.

If you don?t believe me, ask any sales manager worth her salt, ?If you could invest two full days a week on the street yourself, would you be able to generate some new business??

The answer would be a resounding ?Yes!?

Why can?t we invest in salespeople to make them as good as, or better than, those sales managers?

By any measure, (reach, time-spent, influence, cost effectiveness, and others) radio does not receive its fair share of ad budgets, let alone capture a superior share that a top-notch sales effort could produce.

The opportunity we have in radio has never been greater. Even the most aggressive new media forecasters predict the lion?s share of local ad budgets, approximately 75 percent, will still go to traditional media for the foreseeable future.

And currently, print (including newspapers), direct mail, yellow pages, flyers, catalogues, brochures, and more, capture the lion?s share of that lion?s share?.and they are totally vulnerable!

The Internet is electronic print. It has replaced expensive print production and delivery costs with much less expensive and instantly updateable and deliverable alternatives, leaving more money on the table for radio in an electronic media mix.

When we delivered the "Electronic Age" message to the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, Dick Lewis, regional vice president of Clear Channel Baton Rouge, said, ?I was very impressed with Wayne?s message, particularly in light of the new digital media we face. It is a presentation on radio that inspires and positions us correctly against the newspaper, yellow pages, social media, and search media. It is information and positioning that every seller and advertiser should be aware of.?

Yet only a few have invested the time to hear and use the message to capture money from outdated print media.

Focusing on reducing "the cost of sale" has blinded many organizations to "the cost of no sale"!

Most would agree that the image of the typical car salesperson is not exemplary professional selling. Yet, in most markets, the top car salesperson earns more than the top radio salesperson.

Most stations? compensation plans do not attract the cream-of-the-crop-sales talent, and only a few stations invest in training their account executives how to sell radio as part of an integrated media package in the Electronic Age.

I?m appalled at the way some stations commoditize our business with "inventory clearance sales," creating the impression we have a pile of something no one wants, so we?re discounting it.

Jon Pole, president of My Broadcasting Corporation, said, ?If you have 10 problems, and one of them is a sales problem, you really only have one problem.?

Generating extraordinary revenues will solve all of your other problems.

At ENS Media Inc. we say, ?Generating extraordinary revenues requires extraordinary creativity, extraordinary effort, and extraordinary investment.?

Most stations don?t launch extraordinary initiatives, they just keep on doing what they?ve been doing, or less. And you know Einstein?s definition of insanity is ?Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.?

Some are looking to HD radio, streaming, or in-house digital products to bail them out of their downward spiral. And while these ventures can add to radio?s viability, our strongest U.S.P. (unique selling proposition) still remains to be the intrusive and emotional power of sound in the electronic media mix. 

If you?re not offended yet, congratulations. You?re probably one of the few who won?t jump off of the bridge with the rest and you will capture revenue increases above the industry norm with extraordinary revenue initiatives!

Wayne Ens is president of ENS Media Inc, www.wensmedia.com  producer of the SoundADvice radio e-marketing system and the Winning in the New Media Economy revenue development system. He can be reached at wayne@wensmedia.com

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Charlotte's WBT AM/FM Named Station Of The Year

6-27-2013

Greater Media Charlotte's News/Talk WBT AM/FM has been named 2013 Radio Station of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters (NCAB) in the large market category. The award was presented last week at the NCAB's annual convention in Greensboro, NC.

The Station of the Year Award is given to radio stations that highlight innovative programming, with an emphasis on audience involvement and promotion, and a commitment to their local community.

"It is fitting that North Carolina's first and most legendary radio station, WBT, would win the inaugural NCAB Station of the Year award,? said Greater Media Charlotte Vice President and Station Manager Trip Savery. ?We are very proud to receive this honor from NCAB."

In 2012 WBT celebrated its 90th anniversary, making it the country's second-oldest radio station.

(6/28/2013 12:17:28 AM)
What a long way WBT has come from watch Buick,s Travel to what the are today.Here in Metro Charlotte WBT has set the standard that in a world of FM they help us all better ourselves on the AM dial.As I personally celebrate my 51st year in radio as a true radio junkie I must say thanks to WBT for keeping AM radio alive and Vibrant here in Charlotte.Now in my 51st year of Broadcasting that I began at 13.WBT has changed with generation after generation CBS to Jefferson Pilot to today Congrats WBT!

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Sotelo, Garner, Dahl, Meier Among NRHOF Class Of 2013

6-27-13

The National Radio Hall of Fame announces its 2013 inductees:  KSCA/Los Angeles-based personality Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo (pictured), Chicago radio legends Steve Dahl and Garry Meier, After MidNite host Blair Garner, John Lanigan of WJMI/Cleveland's Lanigan & Malone, WJR/Detroit talk host Paul W. Smith, and Dodgers broadcaster Charlie Steiner. There will be a posthumous induction for Powel Crosley Jr. of Crosley Radio Corp.

Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo, heard in mornings on Spanish-language KSCA/Los Angeles and syndicated nationally by Univision Radio, has one of the most popular shows on L.A. radio. Steve Dahl and Garry Meier teamed up in 1979 on WLUP/Chicago, where Dahl was doing mornings and Meier overnights. They were heard on crosstown WLS-AM & FM for a few years, and later returned to WLUP.

Blair Garner has hosted the Premiere-syndicated AfterMidnite from Nashville for more than 20 years, and recently added the morning show at Cumulus' WNSH (NASH FM) in New York. AfterMidnite airs six hours nightly and is heard on about 230 affiliates. John Lanigan is the longtime co-host of the Lanigan & Malone Show on WJMI/Cleveland, while Paul W. Smith has been heard on WJR since 1996. He's also been heard filling in for Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and has hosted shows on ABC Radio Network and the Financial News Network.  Charlie Steiner, now doing play-by-play for the L.A. Dodgers, before that spent three years with the Yankees. He earlier spent 14 years at ESPN, anchoring SportsCenter and doing Major League Baseball play-by-play on ESPN Radio and TV.

Powel Crosley Jr., who with his father founded Crosley Radio Corp., will be inducted posthumously. Crosley Radio launched WLW/Cincinnati in 1922.

Tickets to the black tie induction ceremony, set for November 9 at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, are available at www.radiohof.org, or call 312.245.8200. The ceremony will be hosted by broadcast legend Larry King.

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Westergren: RIAA Orchestrating Lies Against Pandora. Hammers Radio.

6-27-13

As a result of the recent bickering over fees Pandora does and should pay to play music, Pandora founder Tim Westergren has written a blog in defense of his company. The first point Westergren addresses is Pink Floyd's claim that he is trying to cut their pay by 85%. "That is a lie manufactured by the RIAA and promoted by their hired guns to mislead and agitate the artist community. We have never, nor would we ever advocate such a thing. I challenge the RIAA to identify a statement from Pandora that says we seek to reduce royalties by 85%. On the contrary, all of the key principals including Cary Sherman (the head of the RIAA) and Mike Huppe (the head of SoundExchange) know that we have been advocating for solutions that would grow total payments to artists. The 85% sound bite preys upon the natural suspicions of the artist community, but it is simply untrue. And although we compete directly with AM/FM radio, which pays zero performance royalties, we have always supported fair compensation to artists."

Westergren also takes issue with the amount of money paid for each song spin on Pandora. "There is a tremendous amount of misinformation being spread on this topic as well.  First we need to clarify what a ?spin? on Pandora means. Each spin on Pandora reaches a single person, compared to a ?play? on FM radio that reaches potentially millions of people. In other words, a million spins on Pandora might be equivalent to a single play on a large FM station. How much would we pay in royalties for a million spins? About $1,370. (If you?re interested in the detail, an independent blogger posted today some very accurate calculations on this exact topic.) If major market FM stations paid the same rates as Pandora, based on audience, some would be paying thousands of dollars for every song they played.  How much do they pay performers right now? Zero. As Richard Conlon, SVP at BMI recently said: ?One play on commercial radio is not the same thing as one play on Pandora.? He isright."
And, Westergren says, the total dollars coming from Internet spins are growing. "Regardless of the math, the truth remains that any way you cut it, when it comes to Internet radio ?x spins pays y dollars in performance fees? is always going to sound like a small number. Which leads me to the next, and perhaps more important point. The value of a spin on Pandora is about much more than royalties. Over 350 labels actively service Pandora with new releases. And we get thousands of unsolicited submissions from artists. Why? Because radio has, and will always be THE primary means of promotion for artists. Spins means audience, and developing an audience of patrons is THE key to long-term sustainability for artists. Furthermore, in an Internet-connected world, the ability of a service like Pandora to activate fans is extraordinary ? far beyond anything broadcast radio has ever been able to offer. We have already begun developing and testing those capabilities, and the artists who have participated in these programs have been blown away by the results."

Westergren says Pandora is a company founded by artists to help artists. " The RIAA has attempted to create a firestorm about an email from me asking artists if they would show their support for Internet radio by signing a letter. We were overwhelmed by the response. Over 500 independent artists stepped forward and agreed to sign. It is at the core of who we are and how we make decisions about our business and that will never change. We will not be intimidated. We will continue to try our best to stay above the fray and concentrate on our mission to create great Internet radio for our listeners and our artists.  We are undaunted, and we are passionate about the future of music, and an ecosystem that allows those who create it to thrive."

Read the full Westergren blog HERE

(6/28/2013 12:16:44 AM)
Westergren is cracking at the seams, just like his fake radio company.
(6/27/2013 5:44:29 PM)
Westergren says: "And although we compete directly with AM/FM radio, which pays zero performance royalties".

Really? Odd because our company has been paying out royalties to SoundExchange for many years now for our streams as has every other radio group in America. The RIAA is lying about you but you are the bastion of truth...


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Friday, June 28, 2013

(SALES) Toothless Commercials Don't Work

6-26-2013 

Many times, local direct decision-makers turn down perfectly good creative ideas, opting instead for bland, clich?-infested spots that are all about the advertiser and not about the consumer. The easiest thing to do, of course, is capitulate to the client and just run the client?s spots the way they want. Many broadcast salespeople take this approach, wrongly believing that the client is always right. Not in this case. By just blindly accepting what the client wants you to run, you may be committing the broadcast version of medical malpractice. And, by allowing the client to run ineffective ads, you?re simply delaying the inevitable ?It?s not working? or ?It?s not working as well as it used to.? And when the client cancels, he usually blames the station or the medium, not the message itself.
Here are some examples of client objections to good commercials:
?      ?We don?t want to appear controversial. We just want to run regular commercials the way we?ve always done it.?
?      ?We don?t want to slam our competitors.?
?      ?I?m just not comfortable without my scripts.?
?      ?Nobody will come in unless we advertise the sale.?
?      ?People always comment that they LOVE seeing/hearing my 6-year-old in my commercials.?
The onus to coach the client on the benefits of running commercials with ?teeth? in them is the responsibility of the local direct salesperson. Here is how I have dealt with namby-pamby clients on creative.
?Really, the last thing you want to do is run a commercial that looks/sounds like the other commercials on the station, because instead of standing out, your spots just blend in until they become wallpaper. And, listeners/viewers have been trained to ignore wallpaper ads.
Instead, focus on the elephant in the room?that very touchy issue that is on the minds of many of your potential customers but NOBODY is talking about. Bring that issue up right away and show consumers how your business best deals with that.

Use your commercial to show consumers how you can best solve their problems. Make the commercial about them, not about you. Talk about the benefits you can bring to consumers that the national box store competitors just can?t deliver. Show consumers how it?s in their best interest to shop locally. For example, "We are aware that we have a high unemployment rate in (your state). That?s why we try to only buy from suppliers who make their goods right here in (your state). We think people who live here deserve the jobs."
You want locals to know that because you are local, you can do things that your national competitor can?t do. And don?t tell me that you don?t want to say anything that might offend them, because they really don?t care about you at all. In fact, they are in business to put you out of business.
Stop beating your head against the wall trying to beat them at their best game, price. Instead, sell value. How, specifically, do customers benefit when they opt to do business with you, instead of the national chain? Talk about that. Value always trumps price, except for the lowest three percent of bottom-feeders that would only shop you because you have the lowest price. Stop focusing all of your attention on the disloyal bottom-feeders and focus on building your brand with people that will stay loyal to you, even when they know they could get it cheaper elsewhere.?
Why not have this conversation with your clients? It really is our ?elephant in the room.? If you don?t educate them, who will? Your competitor? An advertising agency?
Local clients are seldom creative experts. That's our job. Especially in a rough economy, good creative could be the difference between success and a final ?Going Out of Business Sales Event.?
Paul Weyland helps radio and television stations sell more long-term local direct business at rate-card. Contact Paul at www.paulweyland.com . His new book ?Think like an Adman, Sell like a Madman? is available now at amazon.com.

(6/26/2013 9:13:14 AM)
I've always thought that any copy writer who uses the phrase "For all your ___ needs" in a spot ought to be fired; any advertiser who wants that phrase in a spot needs to be educated about the difference between radio and the yellow pages.

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CBS Sports Radio Signs 300th Affiliate

6-24-13

CBS Sports Radio announced it has partnered with its 300th affiliate. CBS Sports Radio, in conjunction with Cumulus, first launched sports content nationwide on September 4, 2012. The 24-hour network began operations on January 2, 2013. Senior VP of Programming for CBS Radio Chris Oliviero said, "Hitting the 300 affiliate mark in less than a year is a significant milestone and testament to the overwhelming love of, and support for, sports radio in this country. We?ve always been of the mind that if you provide listeners with superior content from knowledgeable talent, adoption will surely follow, and with CBS Sports Radio we have that perfect combination of well-known and respected sports enthusiasts, superstars, and analysts. Sports Talk is truly the new national pastime that continues to engage with a broad spectrum of involved fans across a myriad of platforms, and we are proud, along with our terrific and supportive affiliate base, to be an active part of this daily conversation across the nation.?



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Harris Sales Manager Wins Unique Award

6-24-13

Congratulations to Harris Broadcast?s longtime Northeast Regional Sales Manager Brian Szewczyk. Szewczyk was given an award from Chapter 14 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. Senior SBE Member (and SCMS Regional Sales Manager) Jim Peck says that the one-time award is ?in appreciation for outstanding dedication and service above and beyond the call of duty to our region's broadcast stations.? Pictured from L to R: Chapter Chairman Ryan Krupa, also of WQUN-AM in Hamden, CT; Chapter Vice Chairman Fred Krampits, also of WTCC-FM in Springfield, Mass; and Szewczyk.



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Pink Floyd: Pandora Asking us to Take 85% pay Cut.

6-24-13

The battle of how much should be paid for music to air over the Internet and on mobile devices continues to heat up. In a USA Today op-ed piece members of the band Pink Floyd say Pandora is trying to trick artists into supporting their own pay cut. And that Pandora is pushing the growth of their own business at the expense of artists. Pandora is asking Congress to Intervene and even out the rates for music played over the web.

The group writes, "We've heard Pandora complain it pays too much in royalties to make a profit. (Of course, we also watched Pandora raise $235 million in its IPO and double its listeners in the last two years.) But a business that exists to deliver music can't really complain that its biggest cost is music. You don't hear grocery stores complain they have to pay for the food they sell. Netflix pays more for movies than Pandora pays for music, but they aren't running to Congress for a bailout. Everyone deserves the right to be paid a fair market rate for their work, regardless of what their work entails."

The band writes, musicians are getting emails from Pandora ? even directly from the company's charismatic founder Tim Westergren ? asking them to "be part of a conversation" about the music business and sign a simple "letter of support" for Internet radio. "Of course, this letter doesn't say anything about an 85% artist pay cut. That would probably turn off most musicians who might consider signing on. All it says about royalties is "We are all fervent advocates for the fair treatment of artists." And the only hint of Pandora's real agenda is the innocent sounding line "We are also fervent supporters of internet radio and want more than anything for it to grow." The petition doesn't mention that Pandora is pushing the growth of its business directly at the expense of artists' paychecks."

Read the USA today piece HERE

(6/24/2013 6:28:47 PM)
Pink Floyd and other artists should demand money from broadcast radio stations or stop them from playing their songs. Do FM radio stations really sell a lot of albums for Pink Floyd these days? Pink Floyd does not need FM radio, but classic rock stations need Pink Floyd.
(6/24/2013 11:36:50 AM)
Fred, you are dead on! How ironic. Here's a big-name, big-money band complaining about "only" a 15% royalty from a service that didn't even exist in their heydey. What do they care about giving a leg up to bands with smaller followings that never meet the industry-set payout threshold? Never mind radio stations forced to contribute to the coffers of artists they don't even play. Can anyone say "status-quo maintainers"? Or maybe,"payola payback"?
(6/24/2013 11:15:52 AM)
The whole concept of stations paying to air music is wrong. Radio airtime is a gift to recording artists. Airtime cost money. The cost to produce and distribute a recording is small compared to the endless time that radio stations spend promoting groups and recordings without compensation. When I leased a station in Texas, I was billed for hundreds of dollars each month because I aired a Polka show while the bands said they got none of the money. Guess who really got their royalty!

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Boland And Williams Expand Roles At BIA/Kelsey

6-24-13

BIA/Kelsey says analyst Michael Boland is being promoted to Vice President, Content, and analyst Jed Williams is elevated to Vice President, Consulting. BIA/Kelsey Managing Director Rick Ducey said, "Mike and Jed have been valuable assets to BIA/Kelsey, our clients, and the industry at large, through their analysis and coverage of the trends, technology, and business models shaping the local media landscape. I look forward to working closely with each of them in their expanded roles as they contribute in new ways to the growth of our business."

Veteran digital media executive Warren Kay has joined the firm as executive-in-residence. Kay will provide counsel to clients of BIA/Kelsey's Custom Advisory Services and lend his expertise to the firm's coverage of digital media sales transformation.



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Kantar: Radio Down 1.7% in Q1

6-25-13

More confirmation that radio had a week quarter to start the year. Kantar Media, which is a strong indicator for how national revenue came in for all media, says radio declined 1.7% in the first quarter of 2013. Overall Ad Spending was down 0.1% in the first quarter of 2013, compared to 2012, according to Kantar. Marketers spent $30.2 billion on ads in the U.S. during the first quarter. That follows a 4th quarter of 2012 that was up 3% thanks to political and Olympic spending. TV experienced a 0.3% increase while Spanish language TV was up 13.5%. That's seven consecutive quarters of double-digit growth for Hispanic Television. Newspaper was down 4% with national newspapers dropping 9%. Automotive, the largest ad category, dropped 5% in the quarter, spending $3.4 billion in advertising.

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

(WIZARD) Ad Strategy Vs. Ad Writing

6-24-2013

Ad strategy is more difficult to teach than ad writing. Ad writing, essentially, is to choose:
1. An intriguing angle of approach into
the subject matter and
2. The sharpest words and phrases to
make your point.

Ad strategy, essentially, is to choose:
1. The point you need to make.

Bad strategy happens when you:
1. Listen to an advertiser?s wishful thinking and then
2. Assume that a radio schedule that
3. Delivers great frequency and
4. Reaches the perfect audience
5. With really good copy will
6. Make that advertiser?s dream come true.

If you?ve been selling radio long enough, you already know that a client?s wishful thinking will help you sell that client a radio schedule, but it takes a lot more than wishful thinking to motivate the client?s customer.

CLIENT: ?I wish I could sell these items.?
ACCOUNT EXEC: ?Let me help you.?
CLIENT: ?How can you help me??
ACCOUNT EXEC: ?We have a loyal audience.? (Insert success story here.) ?Advertising is an investment in your future.? (Insert schedule and contract here.) ?Now tell me exactly what makes these items different and special and better than the ones your competitor sells.? (You start taking notes like crazy. The client is animated. Sincere. Hopeful. Excited.)

You return to the station with a contract and a run order. Now all you need is great copy, right?

Let me pause here to say that it?s not my goal to discourage you. My goal is only to open your eyes. I want you to see the problem clearly so that you no longer walk into a trap from which there is no escape. We will now continue.

You work really hard and write a great piece of copy. Excellent copy. Miraculous copy. The greatest copy ever written. Your co-workers love the ad. The client loves the ad. High-fives all around and champagne for everyone.

The schedule runs. The ad airs. Everyone is commenting on it. Very little of the product is sold. Beyond generating those comments, the ad has minimal impact on the business.

What the hell?

Your copy, indeed, was fabulous. You employed an excellent angle of approach, held the listeners? attention, and made a powerful point in a clever way. Well done! But your fundamental strategy was flawed. Your ad answered a question that no one was asking.

You walked into the trap when you failed to question why the client was overstocked on the item he wanted you to advertise. The real problem is that no one wants the item. Your client assumed ? and you assumed with him ? that if people ?only knew and understood,? they?d rush in to buy the product. So you told the people, you made them understand. And they still didn?t want the product.

Advertising will only accelerate what was going to happen anyway.

Convince your client to let you offer the public what the public already wants. This is what drives traffic into a store. And many of those people will find other things to buy from your client. In other words, fish with bait that you already know the fish love. Don?t try to convince the fish to swallow bait they don?t really like.

The inexperienced account executive allows the patient to diagnose his own disease, then prescribes treatment under the illusion that the patient?s diagnosis can be trusted. If medical doctors did this, they would go to jail.

The treatment, the copy and the schedule, is the easy part. The diagnosis, the strategy, is the tricky part. A quick glance at the symptoms does not prescribe the cure. Identical symptoms can arise from many different causes.

The successful diagnostician knows the truth of a statement is not determined by the sincerity of the speaker. In other words, a deeply sincere, passionate client can easily be wrong in all of his assumptions. If you allow your client to frame the fundamental strategy and decide the principal point that your ad will make, you are at the mercy of your patient?s self-diagnosis. You and your station will be blamed when that patient fails to recover.

The solution is simple. You must separate the selling of the schedule from the creation of the strategy. Selling requires you to be warm, receptive, and empathetic. Strategy requires you to be cold, objective, and suspicious of the client?s self-diagnosis.

Ask yourself this question: ?Are customers not coming because they don?t know about this client, or are customers not coming because they do know??

Diagnose the real problem. Offer the client?s customers what you know for certain they want. Are you beginning to understand why it takes a few years to become a doctor? But stick with it. Don?t give up. Have courage. You?ll get there.

Roy H. Williams is president of Wizard of Ads Inc. E-mail: roy@wizardofads.com.

(6/24/2013 9:56:37 PM)
Phil, take the time to find and hire better reps.
(6/24/2013 9:56:36 PM)
Phil, take the time to find and hire better reps.
(6/24/2013 9:59:52 AM)
Roy,
No one knows his business like the client. His opinion that too few people know about him is probably correct and should be acted upon by the radio rep.
I like your analysis of the problem, but to ask the typical radio salesperson, age 23, 4 months into the business, previous career; bartender, drives an old car, to do a study of what this client needs competitively speaking, is dreaming.

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(SALES) Live Your Dream

6-24-2013

Life is too short to let it pass you by. Live your dreams. This one goes out to Vince Flynn. We lost not only a best-selling author this past week, but a fine individual. Vince passed away after two years battling prostate cancer. Vince Flynn was the best-selling, and I mean best-selling, author who wrote the Mitch Rapp counterterrorism thriller series. He sold more than 15 million books in the United States alone.

What made Vince special in addition to his keen writing ability was the fact that he was following his dreams in his chosen vocation. I had the opportunity to meet Vince at Rush Limbaugh?s wedding three years ago, which was only a few months before his diagnosis. Vince and Lysa, his wife, allowed me to join their group at the wedding. I still remember his infectious smile and attitude in the courtyard of the Breakers Hotel during an after party the night before the wedding.

When I heard that Vince had died at age 47, I went back to that evening three years ago in the courtyard. I was intrigued with Vince since I knew of his writings and best-selling series. Talking to him made me realize that he was fulfilling his dream to be a best-selling author. Have no regrets in this life. Play it to the fullest. When I ran across this saying the other day, I thought of Vince.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling. But in rising every time we fall.
--Confucius

I also thought of someone who started making their dreams happen at an early age. Lou Vito asked me to train the sales team at his radio stations in Bellefontaine, Ohio, back in the late 90s. When I stayed at his house, I noticed his son Louie only wanted to go snowboarding. I wondered, ?Who snowboards in Ohio?? His son did. Louis is now the X Games World Champion in snowboarding. Good work Lou and Louie! I am sure Louie fell down, literally and figuratively, a few times on his way to fulfilling his dreams of being a championship snowboarder. There is no doubt that Lou instilled in his son that passion of always rising each time after a fall while pursuing your dreams.

Sometimes, we meet people who missed the chance to live their dreams. On a plane ride about a month ago, I sat next to an 86-year-old woman who was quite incredible. What a great attitude! As we talked, she shared with me that her husband died one day before he was to retire at 65. His lifelong dream was to retire at age 65. He had just one day to go. He never saw that day. Life is too short.

The moral is to live your dreams in the here and now. Wouldn?t it be great if we could play first then work? Unfortunately, life is not set up that way. We need to learn to enjoy our dreams through our work, too. Have fun and love life while you are in your prime years! If life is not fun, and that includes work, then it might be time to find something else to do.

Here?s to you the infectious spirit of Vince Flynn! Thank you for the memories. You lived your dream!

Sean Luce is the Head International Instructor for the Luce Performance Group and can be reached at sean@luceperformancegroup.com or www.luceperformancegroup.com.

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Morning Team Makes Dream Come True

6-24-13

Now for an update on a story we told you about back in March. As part of their Bucket List, Magic 92.5 San Diego mornings duo Jagger & Kristi helped make a little girl?s dream come true by awarding 10-year-old Marisa Cox, who has Down Syndrome, VIP tickets to see Justin Beiber in concert. This past Saturday, Marisa, who also suffers from a life-threatening kidney disease, got to meet Bieber backstage. Marissa is a huge Justin Bieber fan. 

All Marisa wanted to do was meet Justin Bieber. With Jagger & Kristi's Bucket List, they made that happen. And nobody expected Justin to tweet this: "one of the best parts of the job. nice meeting you Marisa. stay strong for me!"

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(DIGITAL) Never Cold Call Strangers Again

6-24-2013

Did you know prospecting has been forever changed by social media?

You no longer have to cold call perfect strangers. Performing a client needs analysis during your first meeting with a prospect actually makes you looked unprepared. You should be using that valuable time to fill in gaps in your research. Calling a prospect after you heard or saw them advertise elsewhere demonstrates your lack of insight.

The old prospecting methods have lost much of their effectiveness. Today?s radio AEs need to start practicing social prospecting. Search, monitoring, and social media tools can now help AEs accelerate the sales process by gaining insights about the marketing needs of a prospect in a way they couldn?t even just a few years ago.

If you want to be the first one to get a prospect to buy advertising in your market, here?s how social prospecting can help you do it.

1. Find a Personal Connection

Social media has made it so much easier to find a personal connection inside any local company. Think about how much easier you?ll be able to pitch a company by having someone on the inside acting as your sales advocate. They can help you quickly identify the key marketing needs and decision makers.

Before contacting any local advertiser, get in the habit of scanning your social networks first for personal connections, especially LinkedIn. You?ll be surprised to find how many personal connections you already have within local businesses in your market.

2. Create Instant Personal Rapport

Forget small talk when you talk to a prospect for the first time. Creating instant personal rapport will both show the prospect you really understand their business, and that you are a person they'll like and trust. Search for information about them on Google, LinkedIn, Manta, and Yelp.

Gain insights by looking for recent quotes or interviews by someone inside the company in local publications or blogs. Scan reviews by their customers on Yelp.com to identify the primary reason people patronize them. Analyze the content they are sharing with their customers on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Visit their website to see what they are promoting.

Before you meet with an individual prospect, Google them or connect with them on LinkedIn. See if you have anything in common so you can quickly create a personal connection with them instead of talking about the weather.

3. Identify Sales Cycle of Prospect

Each year LifeHacker.com reports on ?The Best Time to Buy Anything During the Year.? This one report can help you understand the sales cycle for almost any advertising category.

If the best time to buy furniture for a consumer is July and January, then the best time for you to call on furniture retailers is four months in advance of those ?best times to buy? to help them maximize their marketing dollars. In this case, March and September.

Use search and social media to identify the slowest and busiest times of the year for each advertising category. Find out when they introduce new products and when they have to get rid of excess inventory. These insights will help you identify when to call on prospects well in advance of your competitors. Let them be the ones to call the prospect once their ad hits your air!

If you can get in the habits of finding personal connections, building personal rapport, and identifying optimum moments in sales cycles, you definitely close more sales than cold calling strangers ?asking? them to buy radio advertising.

Stephen Warley is the founder of inboundarts.com, a research and training firm dedicated to helping radio broadcasters use digital tools to generate more qualified sales leads. He is also the founded of LocalBroadcastSales.com in 2008. Email him at stephen@inboundarts.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

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Morgan Elected President At CRB

6-24-13

Sr. VP and Market Manager for Emmis Indianapolis Charlie Morgan has been elected President of the Country Radio Broadcasters. Morgan said, ?The Country Radio Seminar has played such a significant role in my own personal growth and success that it is a privilege and a bit humbling to have the chance to serve the organization. The leadership team, both board leadership and staff, is incredible and the Seminar will continue to be a catalyst for growth and learning for years to come.?
Additional appointments were announced, including officers:
-- R.J. Curtis (All Access Music Group) as Vice President
-- Carole Bowen (WKIS-FM) as Secretary
-- Jeff Walker (The AristoMedia Group) as Treasurer.
Seven newly elected members to the Board are: Chuck Aly (Country Aircheck), Beverlee Brannigan (Journal Broadcast Group), Jeff Kapugi (CBS Radio/Chicago), Jon Loba (BBR Music Group), Nick Martin (Curb Records), CRS 2014 Agenda Chair Annie Sandor (Curb Records), and Todd Schumacher (Summit Media Group).
Re-elected to the Board are: Becky Brenner (Albright & O'Malley & Brenner Consulting), Mike Dungan (UMG Nashville), Mike McVay (Cumulus Media), Charlie Morgan (Emmis Communications), Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville), Joel Raab (Joel Raab Associates), Jennie Smythe (Girilla Marketing), and John Zarling (Big Machine Label Group).
Board members with continued terms are: Tom Baldrica (Show Dog ? Universal), Carole Bowen (WKIS-FM), Johnny Chaing (KKBQ), John Crenshaw, Mike Culotta (Streamsound Records), R.J. Curtis (All Access Music Group), John Esposito (Warner Music Nashville), Clay Hunnicutt (Clear Channel), Keith Kaufman (Center Stage Tour Promotions), CRS Director Emeritus Charlie Monk (Monk Family Music), Royce Risser (UMG Nashville), Denise Roberts (Lytle Management Group), Tim Roberts (WYCD), John Shomby (Max Media of Hampton Roads), and Jeff Walker (The AristoMedia Group).
CRS 2014 will be held Feb. 19 - 21, 2014, in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Visit www.CountryRadioSeminar.com for more information. Like CRS on Facebook and follow CRS on Twitter (Hashtag #CRS2014).



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Arbitron Went Overboard With Renda

6-25-13

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Howard in Florida has called the Aribitron filing against Renda Broadcasting in Jacksonville an "impermissible shotgun pleading." Arbitron has until July 26th to file an amendment to the lawsuit or the suit may be dismissed.

Arbitron claims Renda GM Bill Reese has been getting Arbitron numbers from a local client and passing them out to his staff. The judge says the first filing contains "irrelevant factual allegations and legal conclusions," according to the paper. Renda has not been an Arbitron subscriber since 2010.

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Arbitron Continues to Crack Down

6-24-13

Despite harsh financial penalties, broadcasters continue to allegedly break the strict rules Arbitron has in place to protect its paying customers. Ratings have a lot to do with how much a station or cluster receives in revenue and, like them or not, the Arbitron ratings play a vital role in how GM's program the content on their station. In the dog house now for allegedly using numbers without being a paid Arbitron subscriber is Renda Broadcasting. The Jacksonville cluster may have gotten caught with their hands in the cookie jar and Arbitron is asking Tony Renda to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In the complaint, Arbitron alleges Renda Jacksonville GM Bill Reese illegally obtained copies of the Arbitron numbers from an advertising agency in Jacksonville in 2011 and 2012. Arbitron alleges Reese received the numbers through his station e-mail account and forwarded them to Sales Manager Charlie Jennings and PD Chuck Beck. Reese then said he would shred the numbers to conceal his "nefarious acts," according to the Arbitron complaint. Arbitron also says it notified company CEO Tony Renda about the Jacksonville situation.

Renda has not been a subscriber to Arbitron since 2010.

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Beasley's Shaffer New President Of APTRA

6-24-13

Beasley's KDWN-AM (Las Vegas) PD John Shaffer has been elected the 2013-2014 President of the Associated Press Television and Radio Association (APTRA) representing 13 Western states. Shaffer has served as Vice President of the APTRA Board of Directors for the last two years and as the Nevada Radio representative on the board for the past four years.

Beasley Las Vegas Market Manager Tom Humm said, ?John serves as Program Director and News Director for KDWN and is perfect for this position. He is a perfectionist, and believes in the importance of both maintaining integrity and getting information out to our communities in a timely manner. These skills will serve him well as president of APTRA.?



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Clear Channel Seattle Names Perez VP/Sales

6-24-13

Katerina  Perez has been with Clear Channel for seven years. Most recently as Market President for Clear Channel Norfolk. She's also held leadership and sales positions throughout Florida's markets, including Miami, West Palm Beach, and the Florida Keys, as well as in Norfolk, VA. She'll take over as VP of Sales for Clear Channel's seven stations in the Seattle market starting August 1.



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Where Are They Listening to You?

6-25-13

A new study of 1,000 audio listeners provides some very interesting details about exactly who the audio listener is today and where audio listening is headed. The study called, "The Internet Radio Marketplace: Who Listens, Where They Listen and Why You Should Care," was conducted by GroupM Next. GroupM Next is  a unit of GroupM, the world?s largest global media investment management operation that serves as the parent company to WPP media agencies including Maxus, MEC, MediaCom, Mindshare, as well as Catalyst Online and Xaxis. The first conclusion the study comes to is that the average age of the Internet listener is 34. And yours is 47.

The authors of the study say the findings on age were surprising to them. "The average age of the High Internet segment is 34, where as the average age of the High Broadcast Listener segment is 47. The High Internet segment achieves the same average income 13 years earlier than the High Broadcast segment."

Something broadcasters have heard from other broadcasters as they set goals for the future is they need to be everywhere. That's a smart move as the study points out because those who listen to Internet radio listen to it everywhere. "High Internet Radio Listeners said that they primarily listen at home (91%), but more than 40% of respondents say they listen to Internet radio at every location listed in the study (home, work, car, gym and/or while running errands). Our research reveals when it comes to smartphones and smart TVs, desktops and laptops, tablets and other connected electronics, all devices are used to access Internet radio."

And now a little news about your 8 to 10 minute stopsets. The study says Internet radio listeners are more engaged with their services and more receptive to advertising, making the platforms much more valuable to marketers. "Not only are Internet radio listeners more open to receiving advertising, they are also less likely to take steps to avoid advertising. Seventeen percent of Internet radio listeners are less likely to try to avoid an advertisement on Internet radio than on broadcast radio. Our research also shows that Internet radio listeners are more responsive toads. High Internet Radio Listeners are twice as likely to have purchased a product they heard advertised on the radio in the past 30 days compared to High Broadcast Radio Listeners. Adding it all together, an ad on Internet radio is likely to be heard by a young, affluent consumer with little desire to avoid the ad, who has a high likelihood to purchase the product in the ad. This combination is a perfect scenario for audio advertisers."

And finally to the car, which has been a very big topic for discussion in the radio industry. Where will radio be when all automobiles have access to the Internet and access to as many Internet audio selections as the consumer wants? The GroupM Next study included an experiment. "We gave respondents a description of a car and asked if they were interested in purchasing the vehicle. Half of the respondents were given a description of an average car, with four doors, power windows and locks, and other average features The other half received the exact same description, with the addition of an in-dash Internet radio.Those who saw the in-dash Internet radio are 14% more likely to be interested in purchasing the vehicle. With that degree of lift for a change in the on-board interface, it's not surprising how quickly automakers are adopting Internet radio."

(6/25/2013 6:19:46 AM)
Uh-oh.

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iHeartRadio Getting Massive Promotion

6-24-13

Across the country, radio stations are pumping out spots promoting Clear Channel's iHeartRadio. In the weekly Media Monitors report of spots played on radio, iHeart moved into the number two slot, behind Home Depot (59,831). Week after week, The Home Depot continues to be radio's number one advertiser according to Media Monitors. Rounding out the top five last week were GEICO (33,695), McDonalds (30,012), and Midas (26,296).



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SOCIAL)Take Loyal Listener Email Back

6-19-2013

My sister-in-law and I were at a family event recently and she asked me, ?Why are radio station websites so crappy?? But she could have asked the same about loyal listener email. Do you get those exciting emails that have no logo and only an ad from Ticketmaster? What about the generic no-value emails that scream, ?We don?t care about you ? take our crap??   

Suppose you send a loyal listener email once a month. Maybe instead of the generic stuff, we could reform our love for listeners and give our most loyal listeners content that is of interest and value to them. You can do this as ?brief or bullet-point content? with some design to it. How about some content examples:
1. Listeners love people (believe it or not). They don?t warm up to brands first. So, if you still have a morning show or high-profile personality, use them. Let them have a few words of welcome at the center of the page on your loyal listener email. Big festival this month? Something high-profile happening (that will involve a ton of people and probably many of your listeners)? Put it in the greeting! Post a picture of the personality and include their signature.

2. Publish a quick reference concert calendar for the upcoming month. If you are a music-based station, fans love concerts. This can be shows in your market or in the region (remember:  fans will travel). If you want to do so, take an extra step and see if you can secure an extra pair or pairs of tickets to give away. Tell these ?loyal listeners? you are going to draw names only from those who receive this email and hit you back at a special email address you include in the email below the concert info!

3. Each month you have ways listeners can ?escape? in the coming month. Most people don?t love their jobs. Most people are stressed. Given even a moment of silence, most people begin immediately to think about these questions: What can I do after work? Where can I go or what can I do this weekend? You know, me time or family time. Time when you don?t have to be bound to work and responsibilities. So, give them ?options? in your loyal listener email.

4. Focus on what you own. If you know me at all, you know I encourage that in everything you do you must point people back to the on-air product and the digital products that you own. If you have a loyal listener email with this much content, include an on-air feature with great value and where listeners can find it on your station.

5. Include a community engagement calendar featuring about three charity events and/or activities where you know the cause is excellent and the community or charity action matches up well with your target audience. This should be a very brief feature, but it is a ?plug in? for active and caring listeners of your station.

6. Publish a link where listeners can find a feature (like Ten Questions) focused on one of your personalities and where they like to eat, relax, spend family time, and what they enjoy doing on the weekends. Remember: People connect with people. If your personalities are engaging and fun, use them to draw listeners closer to your brand.

7. Include an opportunity to receive a reward just because you emailed these listeners. That?s right. Tell them that you know they are busy and stressed and you know that you are not the most important thing in the world. Tell them just for pushing this email into their busy day, you are going to select several loyal listeners to receive tickets to a concert/movie tickets/dinner for two/some other ?reward.? Tell them this is not a contest; only someone receiving this loyal listener email will even know about it. Ask them to email you back at a special email address if they want to be considered for the ?drawing.? Not sexy, right? Well, that?s the point. You are just saying you value them and you want to reward them just because you intruded into their day.

It should go without saying that you should include every possible way for listeners to connect, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, website, e-mail, on-air studio line, and text. We are in the connection business.

Of course, you can include ads from the sales department. I think all parts of the radio business, including loyal listener email and all digital assets, should have a proper business plan that includes generating consistent advertising, sponsor or placement revenue. That is the point of this business. At our best, radio personalities are the local connectivity experts with their fingers on the pulse of what is important to listeners (this is you, right?). 

If Ticketmaster comes calling for a ?blast? to loyal listeners, make something special for that ?blast? that includes a variety of value and your own branding. Don?t just "do the easy.? Don?t simply blast out a piece of content for Ticketmaster only with no soul, connection to your brand, or extra benefits to people who might not like whatever act they are selling. Take that extra step or two.

It may be difficult to see how working smarter will always pay off in an environment that rewards cutbacks, but smart work always pays off. Do these things and you will stand out to listeners, maybe management, and perhaps an even better employer when your career goes ?next level.?  

Loyd Ford is the direct marketing, ratings and social media strategist for Americalist and has programmed very successful radio brands in markets of all sizes, including KRMD AM & FM in Shreveport, WSSL and WMYI in Greenville, WKKT in Charlotte, and WBEE in Rochester, NY. Learn more about Loyd here:  http://about.me/loydford. Get his radio-social media content sent directly to your smart phone or email for free here:  www.rainmakerpathway.wordpress.com. Reach out to Loyd via e-mail HERE.  Visit his Facebook radio social media page HERE.

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Senior VP CBS Radio New York Don Bouloukos

6-21-2013

Upon my return to Chicago in 1977, one of the first people I met was a sales manager from WLS Radio, Don Bouloukos. He was a tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious man who quietly led the WLS sales team. The sales staff at WLS was the best in the city -- all young guys who knew everyone and lunched every day. But Don was different. He was quiet and spoke only when it was necessary; yet when he had something to say, everyone listened. He was ?The Most Interesting Man in the World? back in the late 70s. Every young lady chased him and every guy wanted to be like him. Very few of us knew he was secretly dating the beautiful Nancy Shannon, whom he later married, breaking the hearts of women all over the Chicago area. Still stealthy and handsome, Don has had a career most of us envy. But, he has earned it and we are lucky to have him in the radio industry.

Now, in his own words, here is how Senior VP Market Manager CBS Radio New York Don Bouloukos got into radio?

I was tending bar on Rush Street in Chicago after I graduated from DePaul University. Every afternoon, several well-dressed gentlemen in the ?agency and media business? came in for lunch, always accompanied by attractive women. The lunches went well past 2 p.m. on a fairly regular basis and they always had money and tipped well. After about a month of watching this on an almost daily basis, I said to myself, "This is a business that I think I would like be involved with."

Jim Haviland, a friend of mine, was an AE at a small suburban station in Oak Park, Illinois. Jim told me that RKO had just purchased a Beautiful Music Station (a format that has disappeared from our industry) and they were interviewing for sales positions.

I pitched a sales job at RKO-owned WKFM in February of 1973 and I accepted a commission-only, ?sell or starve? position as an account executive  for the Drake Chenault Solid Gold Format. It was going to be launched on  April 1 with the new call letters WFYR (named after the Great Chicago Fire). I started selling the station ?on the come,? playing cassettes of air checks from KRTH in LA which was also owned by RKO and programmed the Drake Chenault Solid Gold Format. I made door-to-door cold calls from 7 a.m. (restaurants) to 12 midnight (bars and clubs) talking about a radio station that wasn?t even on the air in Chicago. After a couple of months of learning to sell radio by ?trial and error,? I started closing a high percentage of my calls and, fortunately, I didn?t starve!

About a year later, I found myself in a Liars Poker game at the Corona Caf?, a restaurant and bar frequented by agency buyers and radio and TV  AEs and managers. There were about six of us in the game  and after about five or six calls, I called 11 sevens  and I was challenged by Larry Divney,  whom I didn?t know but quickly learned that he was the sales manager of ABC-owned WLS. Earlier in the evening, I found out that he had an open sales position that he was interviewing for and that he was looking for an experienced agency seller. When I won the hand, I told him to keep his money in return for an interview. He told me not to bother because I did not have enough agency experience (I didn?t have any)  but he eventually let me pitch the job.

I met with Larry and Nick Trigony the GSM several times over a two-week period and they eventually offered me a job. I didn't know at the time, but soon found out, that I was just hired at one of the best, if not THE best, Top 40 stations in the country. I was born and raised in Chicago listening to WLS but I had no idea of the significance of those call letters and what they represented to millions of listeners in Chicago, the Midwest, and to the radio and music industry in general.

WLS was a GREAT place to work! It was a Hall of Fame and legendary radio station with Hall of Fame and legendary radio personalities like Larry Lujack, Fred Winston, JJ Jeffreys, Tommy Edwards, Bob Sirott, Brant Miller, and John Records Landecker.

I went on to become General Manager of WLS in 1979 and, as they say, the rest is history.

Email Don at Don.Bouloukos@cbsradio.com

Lisa Miller is the President of Miller Broadcast Management in Chicago. She's also one of Radio Ink's Most Influential Women in Radio. Miller can be reached at Lisa@millerbroadcast.com or 312-454-1111.
So, how did you get into radio? We'd love to hear the story about why you're passionate about radio.

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RTDNA Says FCC Indecency Policy Too Vague

6-21-13

On the heels of comments made public by the NAB, the Radio Television Digital News Association has also filed comments with the commission as the FCC begins to review its indecency policy. The RTDNA calls the current rule, "unconstitutionally vague,"  adding it creates "an impermissible chilling effect on protected speech." Read more about the RTDNA comments HERE



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Congratulations To Beasley's Darlene Evans

6-21-13

The town of Davie proclaimed today Darlene Evans Day. Evans has been with Beasley's 99.9 KISS Country (WKIS-FM) for 25 years. She joined the station in 1988 and is currently the midday host at the station. Here she celebrates with Susan Starkey, Councilwoman of the Town of Davie, Beasley Broadcast Miami Vice President and Market Manager Joe Bell (left), and WKIS-FM Program Director Ken Boesen. Congratulations can be sent to Darlene Evans at Dar@wkis.com

Councilwoman Starkey surprised Evans at the WKIS-FM radio studies this morning and presented her with a ?Darlene Evans Day? proclamation signed by Town of Davie Mayor Judy Paul. The entire Beasley Miami staff shared in the spontaneous celebration.



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(Friday Conversation) Dave Graveline

6-21-13

Dave Graveline has been broadcasting a tech radio show for 18 years now. The former Miami police officer was talking about technology on the radio way before society decided it couldn't live with a smartphone super-glued to a body part. Today, Graveline's weekend technology show is heard on over 190 stations and he travels around the world doing remote broadcasts. The show launched in 1996 on WIOD in Miami and Graveline says the PD at the time made him call the program "Toys for Boys," alienating half the audience. Graveline changed the name to, "Into Tomorrow," which is what it's still called today. Radio Ink Editor Ed Ryan caught up with Graveline to discuss his show, his nearly 20 years of success, self syndicating and much more. Here's our Friday conversation with Dave Graveline.

Congratulate Dave on his 18-year run dave@graveline.com
Check out his website at www.IntoTomorrow.com
Follow him on Twitter @davegraveline
Facebook

(6/22/2013 11:27:07 AM)
The anonymous "Whitworth" reminds me of yet another bonehead PD that once told me "your show sounds like a plug fest because you talk about so many products" DUH! How else do you cover products, without talking about them??? How do these people even become "management" in radio?

As for the second comment... Small mind.

Oh well, we've had to deal with the jealousy of success all these years. :-)

(6/21/2013 4:38:35 PM)
The issue with this show has always been his cozy relationship with the tech industry vendors-manufactuers. Why else would Graveline attend all these shows on his own buck? I'm not talking about Vegas, dude goes to Berlin etc.
(6/21/2013 2:09:48 PM)
Dave and Eric definately have one interest in common - suck Bob Struble's cock!

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(HIRING) What Goes Around Comes Around

6-21-2013 

I recently wrote a blog about the way many managers treat potential hires. I have had some strong feedback on this topic. With the challenge today of hiring quality employees, half the battle is not just locating them, but actually getting them to join your team.
One of the most common issues that are facing radio stations is the problem of finding and hiring good people. A big part of helping your rate of success with hiring is to build a reputation of being a good company to join and a big part of that is practicing common courtesies when dealing with people.
Starting conversations with a potential hire and then never returning calls or emails when they are inquiring about the status is plain unacceptable. If the tables were turned, is that how you would want to be treated?
It is always best to be honest with job seekers. Let them know where they stand, what your process is and what your timeline is; if you are still talking to more candidates, be upfront about it. Looking for a job can be a very stressful situation so consider where they are coming from. If you have no interest in them, let them loose to pursue other positions.
If you have been approached by, or reached out to people, with experience that matches what you are looking for, don?t blow them off. Maybe they can fit somewhere else in your company; maybe one day they will be in a position where you need to ask them for a job. Maybe they will get hired somewhere else and become a stronger candidate you'll want to hire down the road.

Treating people poorly can hurt the reputation of the whole company in a competitive industry; it is advisable to take a few minutes to follow up either by a voicemail or e-mail. A few seconds of honesty can go a long way.

Laurie Kahn is Founder and President of Media Staffing Network and can be reached at 480-306-8930 or via e-mail at laurie@mediastaffingnetwork.com. Visit the Media Staffing Website http://www.mediastaffingnetwork.com/

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Monday, June 24, 2013

NAB Calls For Indecency Clarity

6-20-13

What is and what isn't an indecent broadcast these days? The FCC has demonstrated it's not clear on how to enforce the indecency rules which leads to the question of how the government can expect broadcasters to know. For sure, for now, broadcasters are airing on the side of caution. Who needs a big fine at a time when revenues are flat? On behalf of broadcasters, the NAB has submitted comments regarding the FCC's review of indecency policy. In the 42-page document, the NAB asks the commission to put an end to the vagueness of the indecency rule and act in a more timely and transparent manner when dealing with indecency complaints. The NAB also says technology should be a factor regarding a rule that has, "crumbled under the weight of changes in technology and media consumption." And the NAB wants the commission to clearly state that it will no longer treat fleeting or isolated expletives and images as actionably indecent.

The NAB says broadcasters cannot be the only group held accountable to protect children when they are getting content from so many different devices these days. "Specifically, with regard to the government?s concern that children may be exposed to adult-oriented or otherwise inappropriate material, there is no principled way to focus solely on broadcast content. Children in particular enjoy unfettered access to content via devices that they carry in their pockets and backpacks?access that usually involves no subscription or special parental involvement. In this environment, the constitutionality of a broadcast-only prohibition on indecent material is increasingly in doubt. Parents in the 21st century are clearly concerned about their children?s access to online content, not just broadcast material. Many parents of young children even fear that their children may become 'addicted' to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets."

On the vague regulations, the NAB says the Commission must draw a clear line in the sand. "In revising its indecency standards, the Commission must use language that is as precise as possible and provide relevant examples and context in its policies and decisions. If the Commission cannot establish sufficiently clear indecency regulations so that broadcasters know what is expected of them, then broadcasters cannot be subject to liability for alleged violations of those standards."

And, the NAB believes when the Commission decides on editorial content it's an attack on free speech. "In an environment of inconsistent and arbitrary regulation, where the Commission repeatedly substitutes its own editorial judgment for that of program producers and broadcasters, the inevitable impact is chilled speech. This is not just a hypothetical concern. Broadcasters and the courts have cited multiple examples of broadcasters choosing to abandon certain material over uncertainty about application of the indecency rules. Rather than impose penalties based on its fluctuating disagreements with broadcasters?/programmers? artistic and editorial judgments, the FCC should decline to act absent a significant abuse of licensee discretion."

Read the NAB document HERE and, of course, the infamous Pacifica desision HERE

(6/20/2013 2:04:23 PM)
I have to wonder why the NAB even makes an attempt by going through the motions to ask for clarity, especially since none is available. With the exception of those calling to incite, it seems to me the only people sweating "indecency" anywhere, including on-the-air have suspicious, arbitrary motives and a questionable agenda.

Besides, what, I also wonder, would be the point of picking on radio while other media are running roughshod over any guidelines that some organization might supply or attempt to adjudicate and police.

Such an organization would be erring by making arbitrary judgments about what is airing, so to speak & spell. :)

(6/20/2013 11:39:55 AM)
Writers seem to be erring by skipping high school English class.

"broadcasters are airing on the side of caution"


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(SPORTS TALK) Ratings Domination

6-18-13

There's a new revolution in radio today. It's the invasion of Sports Talk Radio. We're starting to see Sports Talk like KNBR in San Francisco and the HUB in Boston dominate in the ratings, especially with men 25-54. I recently spoke to several of the Sports PDs making this format score big. As you read some of their comments take note of a common thread on why they are #1 in their markets.
Here are the SILEO "FAB 5" SportsTalk Stations:
1. KNBR - PD Lee Hammer
"There?s no doubt the San Francisco Giants have really helped KNBR. At the same time, however, there are no games in morning drive or 9 a.m.-noon, and we?re number one in those dayparts as well. I believe our ratings and sales success is a combination of the talent, the on-air imaging, the production, our marketing and promotion, and our ability to connect with the audience. As you know, our on-air moniker is ?The Sports Leader? and I think people in the Bay Area have come to know that if you want to talk Giants, (or Warriors or 49ers) or anything else for that matter dealing with sports, KNBR is the destination. I like to use the analogy that when people think TV sports networks, they think ESPN. When people think search engines, people think Google. And in the San Francisco Bay Area, when people think sports radio, they think KNBR. We?re not just a radio station, we?re a brand." 
 
2. The Ticket Dallas - PD Jeff Catlin

"As you can imagine, its not one answer or one simple thing, or everyone would do it. But the short answer is that it's the talk show hosts/talent, the stability they have had at the station and the relationship each show has been able to build with their audience. There's no barrier between the station's hosts and the listeners--we just happen to have the transmitter. That bond is very strong. One could say that the relationship with the audience is so strong that it leads to lineup stability, or the flip side is that the lineup has been so stable which allows time for that relationship to build. The other thing is that all the shows and show hosts like each other, get along with other, and root for each other for the betterment of the station and to the benefit and entertainment of the audience audience."
3. The "Sports Hub" Boston - PD Mike Thomas
"Here are some of my brief thoughts:
*We were the first FM sports station in Boston.
*We have exceptional talent that have gained the loyal following of Boston sports fans.
*We targeted the younger sports radio fans and they were the early adopters.
*The Bruins and the Patriots are the two hottest teams in town and we are the flagship for both."
4. The Ticket Detroit - PD Jimmy Powers
"There are many variables that I feel make us successful. I think local content that is relevant to the masses is vital.  Not only sports topics, but topics that listeners can relate to or have an opinion on. The topics need to be set up and delivered in a compelling fashion by knowledgeable hosts who are well versed in many areas."
 5. WIP-Philadelphia - PD Andy Bloom
 Andy was on vacation but I know him and he has done such a great job at not only making the transition from AM to FM in Philly, but because of the FM signal now, WIP is able to attract the younger listener because of being on the FM band...but also it doesn't hurt that they are in one of the best Sports Talk radio markets in the country and they are the Sports Radio brand for Philly.
As you can see, there are many reasons that these Sports Talk radio stations have great success. It all begins with great PDs and, of course, the awesome talent these stations have. Together they've made these stations some of the biggest brands in radio today.

They are the Gold Standard of SportsTalk radio, in my humble opinion.



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Craig Named APD At WSRV-FM Atlanta

6-20-13

Cox Media Group Atlanta radio has named 20-year market veteran and midday personality Steve Craig as Assistant Program Director/Music Director at Atlanta?s Classic Hits Station WSRV 97.1 The River. Craig returned to Atlanta after a run as APD and Midday Host at New York City?s WRXP. Prior to that, he was APD/Middays for the entire 17-year history of Atlanta?s legendary Alternative Rock 99X.

?It?s like hitting the lottery, getting someone of Steve?s caliber to join the River,? said WSRV Program Director Dave Clapper. ?His knowledge for music, enthusiasm for the business, and his reputation in Atlanta, makes it a no-brainer for The River. We are so excited to have him as part of our team and look forward to continuing the success of the River with him on board!?

?I?m proud and grateful to be surrounded by the amazing management and talent at Cox Media Group,? said Craig. ?The company culture and programming philosophies are second to none. I?m incredibly excited about working with Clapper and The River team and looking forward to helping exceed the standard we?ve set for engaging rock radio in Atlanta.?



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More Comments on Indecency Filed

6-21-13

Broadcasters are getting their comments on file with the FCC as the Commission prepares to consider possible changes to indecency law. Yesterday, the NAB submitted documents asking the commission to redefine the ancient rules on the books. Today, two more filings include overhauling the rules completely, prompt processing and chilled speech. Greater Media, Journal, Lincoln, Beasley, Entercom and Galaxy join together in a filing HERE. Emmis and Radio One join others in a filing HERE



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Robertson Launches UberStations

6-20-13

Michael Robertson has launched a new online service called UberStations that is similar to the TuneIn business model. Robertson says it's a better way to listen to radio. "Radio is an amazing library of audio, but without a guide it has been a black box with only a tiny peephole for listeners to peer into. UberStations is a new way to listen to Net radio stations and, since most AM/FM stations now broadcast online, it's a new way to experience AM/FM."

One cool feature allows users to select a song or show to listen to, then a "recommendation engine" searches music and shows playing on other AM/FM stations. Up to 20 other stations which may be of interest are displayed along with what is current on those stations. Music listeners can request an unlimited number of recommendations until they find something of interest to listen to. Those selecting a sports, politics, or public radio show will see other related talk shows on at that time they can listen to. Robertson says, "There's a comprehensive guide to radio showing listeners what's playing across the entire radio spectrum. An intuitive player displays and plays every station with a single click. Finally a recommendation engine steers people to music or shows of interest."

Robertson says his product has three industry innovations:
1) See in real-time what's playing on thousands of stations to identify what's of most interest.
2) Jump between thousands of stations in one uniform Web browser experience.
3) Recommendation engine scans 1000s of AM/FM stations directing listeners to interesting music and talk.

The current Web-based service is good for desktop and tablets. A phone app is in the works.

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Clear Channel Execs Pitch Advertisers In France

6-20-13

This week, during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France, Clear Channel executives held a special VIP dinner with advertisers as the company continues to pitch advertisers on the unique capabilities of radio. Telling advertisers the story of radio has been a theme of Bob Pittman's ever since he became part of the company. The gathering in France was more than a party as the Clear Channel sales and marketing team held advertiser meetings throughout the week to continue to tell radio's story.

Clear Channel's Bob Pittman, John Hogan, and MediaLink CEO Michael Kassan hosted a party at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. fun. and Michael Bubl? ended the evening with a first-time collaboration performance of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman told USA Today, "It was a big, expensive event but it's worth the money. An affair like this allows Clear Channel employees to mingle with clients and potential clients, and gives them the ability to show off our capabilities to do good events."

Guests included Sean "Diddy" Combs; Nas; Ariana Huffington; Kim Armstrong; Desiree Gruber; Ira Barkoff, Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP; Michael Roth, CEO of IPG; and an array of other business leaders and advertising partners.

Pictured here are Peter Gray from Warner Bros Records; Tim Castelli, President of National Sales, Marketing and Partnerships, Clear Channel; John Hogan, CEO of Clear Channel; Tom Poleman, President of National Programming Platforms, Clear Channel; artist Michael Bubl?; Bob Pittman, CEO, Clear Channel; John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises, Clear Channel.

(6/21/2013 11:31:25 AM)
Think big and act big and advertisers will look at you the same way. Radio is a big league player! Good for Clear Channel! The entire industry needs to follow this leadership example. It is long overdue.
(6/21/2013 11:31:02 AM)
Think big and act big and advertisers will look at you the same way. Radio is a big league player! Good for Clear Channel! The entire industry needs to follow this leadership example. It is long overdue.
(6/20/2013 9:56:00 AM)
While Clear Channel drowns in $20 Billion of debt, loses $200+ every fiscal quarter, chops employees commissions & salaries and layoffs great people, these Bozos insist on hob-nobbing on the French Riviera - sipping wine and eating cheese - on the company dime. What is wrong with this picture? It seems criminal to me! What a boondoggle: The rest of the company can't even order promotional items because of lack of budget and these guys are flying in Michael Buble to entertain themselves. What a bunch of bullsh#t!!

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Sunday, June 23, 2013

WGN Wins Big In Illinois

6-20-13

WGN Radio took top honors at the 2013 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Awards. For the 6th year in a row, the IBA recognized WGN Radio as the Chicago Market Station of the Year at its annual best-in-state awards ceremony. In addition to being named Chicago Market Station of the Year, WGN Radio also earned first-place honors in five categories:  major market personality for Mike McConnell, best newscast for Judy Pielach, best station website for wgnradio.com, best play-by-play team for Chicago Cubs broadcasters Pat Hughes and Keith Moreland, and best humorous commercial for ?Chicago Food and Wine,? produced by Jason Skaggs.

?It is a great honor to receive the award for Chicago Market Station of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Association,? said Jimmy de Castro, President/General Manager of WGN Radio. ?To be recognized by our industry peers is a reflection of the tremendous talent and dedication from our staff to continue to provide the quality of programming our community expects from WGN Radio.?



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Stress Management Expert Kelly Orchard

6-19-2013

Kelly Orchard thinks the stress of our biz has made us crazy...the wrong type of crazy.

We've all joked from time to time about the mental state of the radio workforce, yet Kelly feels it's for real. She's currently creating and refining a series of presentations, webinars, and consultations on the issue of stress management, anxiety, and productivity, all in the hope of giving positivity to a mental health perspective.

Kelly Orchard is a second-generation broadcaster who has worked not only with her family's radio stations but also (with her dad) operated an FCC compliance consultancy.

From there came a turn in the road for Kelly. "A few years ago I began a journey to pursue a Master's Degree in Psychology and have been working as a therapist, maintaining Orchard Media Services from the sidelines hoping that the economy will turn around or radio would figure out what it's going to do and so on. I followed the trades, maintained relationships within the industry, even graduated from the NABEF's Broadcast Leadership training program.

"As I continued to consult with stations about their FCC compliance plans, I couldn't help but become extremely aware of the stress, anxiety, and general frustration and discouragement at the state of the industry. I'm on a mission to provide peace of mind, mental wellness tips, and help my friends in the industry because I see it all of the time. I'm a media and mental health advocate."

Kelly not only feels our relationships in the building need work but also our relationship with our audience. She feels that the "take a walk in their shoes" approach is an important process to take a staff through. She equates it to Marriage Counseling 101 and has some questions that a  therapist would tell radio to think about when considering counseling with
the audience:

1) "How much does radio know about an audience on a personal level? Aside from the raw research what do they really want?"

2) "How much does radio identify with the audience? Are you, as in a relationship, compatible?"

3) "What worked in the past? How did the audience first fall in love with radio and what has changed?"

Kelly feels that radio needs to stop chasing audience and that the real work should start within the walls of each and every radio station. She believes there are evidenced-based practices in the mental health therapy  industry that can help and it all starts with positive thinking. "Consider the laws of physics, broadcast engineers love this as do sales managers. Whatever you put out will come back to you. For every action there is an equal reaction."

For Kelly, it's about reconsidering your mindset as you go to work. "If you are thinking negatively and you hate your job and you hate the business, your audience will detect it. Radio won't be able to change the audience perception unless it changes from within."

Buzz Knight is the Vice President of Program Development for Greater Media and he can be reached at bknight@greatermediaboston.com. Knight was named among ?Best Programmers? by Radio Ink Magazine in 2007 and 2010. He has served on the programming subcommittee of the National Association of Broadcasters(NAB) and is currently a member of the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) COLRAM Committee.

If you want to recommend an "Expert in the Wings" reach me at bknight@greatermediaboston.com

(6/19/2013 2:38:42 PM)
An honor to be featured here with some other great "experts"! Would love calls or emails from readers. I can be reached at kelly@orchardmediaservices.com or 760-887-4444

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