5-28-13
1-29-2013
The Cleveland Indians and Clear Channel have a new agreement for WTAM-AM to remain the ?Flagship Home of the Cleveland Indians? through 2017. And, WMMS-FM will also carry the games, adding yet another FM signal for play-by-play sports. The format on WMMS-FM is rock. The agreement says WMMS-FM will air the majority of Indians games. A baseball season consists of 162 games. Are FM music fans tolerant enough to sit through what can be 5 to 7 evenings of 3-plus hour baseball games?
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10-24-2012
There was a certain expectation that 2012 would be a turnaround year for radio, following an anemic 2011. Even though political advertising is a once-every-four-year shot in the revenue arm, it was coming at the right time. The economy was stabilizing, automotive sales have been strong and a completed election would mean stability in the eye of the consumer. Well, so far political advertising doesn't seem to be coming to radio as much as anticipated and overall revenue growth so far in 2012 hasn't been anything to write home about. Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker says, "trends have been somewhat disappointing."
Ryvicker says she expects to hear a "muted tone" from radio CEO's when they report 3rd quarter earnings, starting with David Field's Entercom Friday at 10AM. "We do think a lot of the weakness is macro-related -- recall that radio has the shortest term contracts of all traditional media; therefore, top line growth tends to ebb and flow muchmoreso than what we see in both broadcast TV and outdoor. As a result of the cautious commentary we heard during our checks, we reduced our revenue growth assumption for ETM, to +2.4% from +5.4%, which suggests a ?core? of -1.5% (although if we were to include KBLX, our ?core? moves to +0.6%) and political of roughly $2MM."
She also believes the upcoming earnings calls will focus on the following points:
? Core ad trends for Q4 and potentially for 2013 (although it is still early, especially for radio);
? M&A ? especially post CBS? recent acquisition of 101.9 FM in New York from Merlin Media for $75MM
(SNL puts this sale at an $4.51 per pop) to simulcast its WFAN 660AM sports station;
? The state of the ?sports network? landscape post CBS and CMLS? decision to create and syndicate ?CBS
Sports Radio?, which is expected to launch on January 2, 2013.
? The potential for shareholder returns;
? Competition ? from new media as well as other local advertising categories;
? The impact of lower radio royalties (ASCAP and BMI) specifically on operating expense;
? The potential for groups to join Clear Channel and ETM in signing with Nashville label Big Machine for
both terrestrial and streaming performance royalties; and
? An update on the state of the iHeartRadio platform, now that it boasts over 1,500 live stations from 150
cities.
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8-20-2012
By Brian Holt
Political season is upon us, and News/Talk shows and stations are gearing up for one of the busiest news- and revenue-generating cycles for the format.
While it may seem obvious to some that wall-to-wall coverage after the conventions is the way to go, to others, that's the last thing you want to do. I fall in to the latter camp. The good news is you will have plenty of added content to choose from.
Whether it's today's storyline of the GOP's VEEP choice and what it means for the race, or great audio of the vice president telling a group of mostly African-Americans that Romney's plan will "put y?all back in chains," the stories, audio, and supporting video for your website are endless.
Your programming decisions during this time should be based on striking a balance between meeting the expectation to educate and inform while not forgetting to entertain and offer a hideaway from the endless political browbeating. As the national, state and local media begins to bombard your audience, think of your show as being no different from a campaign robo-call during dinner: Yes, you can be informative but you can also be overkill, annoying, and too one-sided.
Going into the election months, here are some tips:
1. Produce For The Segment Of Your Audience That Is Not Hyper-Political
One of the more important things to remember during the election months of September and October, especially in a presidential election year, is to produce or program for the segment of your audience (which may be larger than you think) that is NOT hyper-political. Even a News/Talk audience which is generally informed and interested in the political spin cycle does not want a 24/7 Fox News show shouting how the president can do no right. Nor are they seeking an overload of unfounded claims that the Tea Party Express "is coming to get you." What people are searching for -- if they are being honest -- is honesty in a just-the-right-amount dose.
2. Broaden Your Programming
You are likely to be sampled more during this time by new or occasional tune-ins. This a great opportunity to showcase your many talents and not just the political animal in you. Women who are more inclined to prefer music over news may also be inclined to stick around or come back if you remember to feature programming targeting broader issues that matter to them.
For example, take the recent news of U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.'s struggles with bipolar disorder and whether or not he is fit to serve. We decided to broaden the topic to better understand the disorder with a leading university psychiatrist. Then, we took it deeper by exploring the question: "How can you spot a teen in trouble who may or may not be bipolar?" This was targeted for the many parents - and women in particular - who may be struggling with the demons of teenage/college life. You need not look further than the Aurora, Colorado, massacre to know that some parents have had this issue on their minds recently.
3. Explore The Local Issues
If you are live and local, you have the advantage of being able to cover local political issues and candidates. They are more likely to immediately, and perhaps more directly, affect your audience than the national election. Tackle those ballot propositions. Book your local candidates running for office and have both sides on for a debate. A good debate moderated by an informed and entertaining host can make for good radio. Get at the truth. Take no prisoners. And deliver your audience what they are begging for: truth wrapped in informed entertainment. Just know where and when to ditch the politics for the fun, and the other news of the day.
4. Stay On Top Of The Day's Big Political Story
Another helpful reminder is not to shy away from returning to the big political story of the day. Take a breather and separate an hour or two with very different content. Just remember to tease and time stamp when you plan to return to it. This time a fresh angle may come to you, a new guest idea - or not. But if it's the story everyone is talking about you don't want to appear to be out of touch, so return to it and let the listeners tuning in just for that story know that you are on top of it.
5. Go Big
Land an interview with either the President, VP, or the GOP candidates. If your show is in a swing state (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin, Nevada, Colorado, etc.) the campaigns are saturating these markets with media and they ARE having the candidates do radio. It may be a long shot but don't let that stop you. Imagine the press you'll receive.
Below is contact information for both national campaign headquarters, but it's best to call your local campaign office and work your way through the back door. Those folks are likely more aware of your show and its value. They can then be an advocate for pitching the national communications office to get it on the calendar. Ask to speak with the media relations/communications representative and pitch 'em hard on why an appearance on your show would benefit the campaign. If the candidates are not available, then ask for a high-profile surrogate. Go for it!
- Romney Believe in America: 857-288-3500.
- Obama for America: 312-698-3670
Brian Holt works for The Randy Lane Company as a Talent Coach.
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This could be of interst to any station interested in making a little extra money this coming ski season. Mountain News Corporation is getting ready to "make tracks" on another record-breaking number of AM, FM, and new-media affiliates again this ski and snow season. Last year, the Mountain News Radio Network list nearly tripled in size from 2009; providing service for over 900 outlets, including ESPN, Yahoo, ABC News, and hundreds of radio affiliates nationwide in all market sizes. According to Mountain News's Global Director of Broadcast Operations, Mike Vincent (pictured) the secret ingredient to this massive growth has not necessarily been what's inside the report; rather, what ISN'T.
Vincent says "Unlike some other ski report providers, we don't put a sponsor or hidden commercial plug inside our reports, we let the stations sell the reports with THEIR sponsor and we include THAT sponsor inside the report. We'll customize the report with the station's call letters, their local ski areas, and their sponsor to make the reports something that a station or cluster can completely call their own. What's more, we don't charge for the reports, and there's no trade, barter, or rev-share either. This is something that we give away entirely FREE to any terrestrial radio station. Since we monetize from the ski industry and resorts, there's no reason to get anything from the stations-it's a totally free product".
Another widely used "secret weapon" in the Mountain News arsenal is the free ski web widget. Mountain News gives this widget free to any station or media outlet requiring an "on demand" source for ski information, and it easily attaches to any website. According to Vincent, "the widget is free, easy to use, and takes only a few minutes of programming time. This is a great solution to maximize traffic, and increase the opportunity to sell content to a sponsor".
For more information, contact Mike Vincent at Mountain News. (925) 895-1460, or email mvincent@mountainnews.com