Another Name Change For Radio's Biggest Player

9-16-14
Another name change for Clear Channel. It was about two years ago when the company dumped "Radio" for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. On Tuesday, just a few days before the 4th annual iHeartRadio Music Festival in Vegas, the company will now be known as the much shorter iHeartMedia. In announcing the new name, CEO Bob Pittman said, "iHeartMedia reflects our commitment to being the media company that provides the most entertainment to the most engaged audiences wherever they go, with more content and more events in more places on more devices." The New York Times chimes in on the change. AdAge does the same.

From the company press release: "The newly named company includes a wide range of advertising-supported, consumer-focused media businesses, including 859 radio stations in over 150 markets, with more than 245 million listeners a month -- the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America; iHeartMedia Digital, with its more than 90 million digital monthly uniques; Premiere Networks, which syndicates 90 radio programs and services to more than 5,500 radio affiliates; the Total Traffic and Weather Network, reaching almost all U.S. commuters; 20,000 live music events, all of which generate massive consumer engagement on social media platforms and the largest of which are even televised; its related companies, including Katz Media Group; as well as Clear Channel Outdoor, one of the world's largest outdoor advertising companies.

Pittman went on to say, "We have massive consumer reach and influence across our platforms because we know how to program the live content people want to hear, see and share right now, we are the largest mobile media company in existence -- more than 60 percent of our broadcast usage is out of home, compared to just 30 percent for other mobile devices, and we deliver more live programming than any other media company today, built on the national and local on-air personalities who are the heart of our powerful broadcast radio franchises. Combined with Clear Channel Outdoor's reach of over half a billion people worldwide across 30 countries and five continents, it's clear that no other company can match our reach or broad spectrum of media platforms."

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings will retain the Clear Channel brand.

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Atlanta Hosts Fired For Mocking Former NFL Player Gleason

6-17-13

Radio received national attention Monday for all the wrong reasons. But, the punishment was quick and severe. Lincoln Financial Media Atlanta Senior Vice President and General Manager Rick Mack says Nick Cellini, Chris Dimino, and Steak Shapiro, formerly known as "Mayhem in the AM," on 790-AM The Zone in Atlanta have been fired. The three were let go after making fun of former new Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. Gleason is suffering from ALS, is in a wheelchair, and has lost most of his motor skills.

The hosts did a bit pretending Gleason called in to their show so they could ask him questions. Most of the responses in the bit were knock-knock jokes, and at one point the caller says he doesn?t know if he will be alive next Thursday. Mack and Lincoln are now left to deal with the fallout of the show's cruel prank which was quickly criticized on social media. Here's the statement from Rick Mack.
"We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on 'Mayhem In The AM' on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors, and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family, and all those touched by ALS."

More Coverage HERE at USA Today, NFL.com and CBSSports.com.

(6/18/2013 6:27:23 AM)
Management's reponse was quick and decisive. 3 people lost their jobs. Would you have the managers quit and shut down the station, too?
(6/18/2013 5:13:16 AM)
Oh look, ANOTHER comment from Ronald T. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(6/18/2013 1:06:31 AM)
Management sure knows how to get distance in a hurry. Even as disagreeable as the comments might have been, these guys were not hired to be creamy butter tarts-of-the-air. So, they crossed an unspecified but still expertly camouflaged line. So, what. It's part of the turf.

Delivering superficial and even (possibly) insincere apologies for a crew that was making the station money five minutes before contains another brand of hypocrisy.

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(PROGRAMMING) Replacing A Show Player

 8-5-2012

 Right now, "American Idol" is scrambling to fill the judges' chairs. "X Factor" went through the process last year, as did "America?s Got Talent." And there will come a time when a key player of your show leaves and you have to replace them.

We have worked with managers who tried the copycat approach. One PD replaced a successful talent with a talent that sounded exactly like him vocally (but with a significantly less-interesting personality). He added two more songs an hour and hoped no one would notice. Another manager hired a carbon copy of the co-host ? young, single, party guy ? that couldn?t help but be compared (negatively) to the original, more well-known, well-liked personality.

These managers were trying to maintain the station?s momentum by attempting to keep the show as consistent as possible to minimize the shock for the audience.

Keep in mind that when you are replacing a player, it?s like casting a sitcom. If you are replacing a player, look for a different type of character altogether.

"Idol" replaced Simon Cowell (the judge people loved to hate) with Steven Tyler (the nutty and compassionate rock star). "AGT" replaced the rigid Piers Morgan with Howard Stern. Less successfully, but to the same point, "Two and a Half Men" didn?t cast another free-wheeling hedonist like Charlie. They created a hopeless romantic billionaire.

When you are adding a player, consider what void might exist on the show currently.

Kidd Kraddick added players to fill the void on the show, which was the young/single/dating perspective. Often rock shows add a ?fantasy girl? that tickles their listeners? imagination.

And this may go against the previous few paragraphs, but as a general rule, ?funny? trumps everything. Throw casting out the window if you find a genuine character that is funny and entertaining, even if on paper it doesn?t make sense.
Just don't expect them to be able to anchor a feature or information segment if they have limited radio experience. Regardless, listeners look for an escape in the morning and if you can make them laugh, you have done your job.

Angela Perelli is a SVP at the The Randy Lane Company (www.randylane.net). She can be reached at angela@randylane.net  www.facebook.com/TheRandyLaneCompany  www.twitter.com/TheRandyLaneCo

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