(SALES) The Black Belt Formula

1-28-2013

If you invested approximately 1,820 hours over five years to earn a black belt just to break into sales management, would you have been a better sales manager when you took over your first sales department? Most probably we all would have. That?s what it took me to achieve one black belt in martial arts. This short black belt course will give you some techniques as a sales manager for you to strive to achieve your business black belt.

1. White Belt: This is where everyone starts in martial arts -- plain and simple. Do you have a vision, that combination of self-knowledge, knowledge of your company, and your short- and long- term goals? If you don?t, then maybe you?ll still stumble to some success, but don?t fool yourself. Ask your top three sales reps what your department's vision, and what your sales department's standards, are. If they don?t know, it?s time they do. More importantly, as their leader, do you have a vision and do you know where you want to take your sales department?

2. Hire: It?s human nature to root for the underdog. Going into Super Bowl week, it?s easy to root for the Baltimore Ravens. However, underdogs usually get their tails kicked. The surest way to win every time is to hire people better than yourself who will out-perform your competitors.

3. Create Balance and Harmony: Do you use antiquated daily call reports (DCRs) or weekly planners? Seventy-six percent of DCRs are fictitious. If you do use daily call reports, make sure you look at them and provide feedback -- especially positive feedback where you see your reps succeed. On the other hand, weekly planners allow you to monitor productivity before it happens versus legislate it. If executed properly, a good account management system gives you a screening system to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. True balance and harmony in the sales department comes from an effective intelligence network that you execute as opposed to just paying lip service to it.

4. Building a Winning Team: TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More! I have never had one sales budget achieved by one single individual who billed what the total sales goal was for the entire sales department for the month -- or year for that matter. Whether it?s a sales contest, a phone blitz to set up appointments, or carrying the weight of the sales department, it ultimately comes down to a team effort. Listen, everyone is dispensable. I have used the analogy of pulling your finger out of a cup of water to see what kind of a hole it leaves. I have tried it; there is no hole left. Keeping up morale and attitude is vital to building and keeping a winning team on top of their game!

5. Empower Your Employees with Weapons: What kind of weapons (tools) are we giving our reps in the field? With technology getting better and better, are you giving your reps the most cutting-edge tools? We have a property that has each sales rep with their own one page on their website that shows testimonials and creative from their successful clients. There is nothing more powerful than other clients telling your prospective prospects the success they will have by using your media company to sell their products. It?s also a great way to promote your reps and it also gets prospective new reps in the market wanting to work for you because they know you care about your people.

6. Rewards and Recognition: Twenty-five percent of good sales people leave organizations every year because of a lack of recognition! Your first priority is to take care of your employees, which in effect will keep your customers coming back. Put your customers second? Absolutely. It?s never the other way around.

7. Follow Your Bushido. The Japanese refer to it as Kaizen, the basic foundations on which all business in Japan is built. At the end of your next sales meeting, have everyone stand up, hold hands and repeat, ?In every day, in every way, never ceasing, never ending, always getting better one day at a time.? It may seem weird to do this, but it?s a great way to build team unity.

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

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Despite Complaints About Streaming Costs, Artists Still Getting Very Little

1-28-2013

The New York Times is reporting that much like the CD when it first came out, Streaming music to consumers, is not very lucrative for artists. For example, on a 99-cent download, a typical artist earn about 7 to 10 cents after cuts are doled out to retailers, the record company and the songwriter. "One industry joke calls the flow of these royalties a ?river of nickels.? In the CRS issue of Radio Ink, Big Machine Label CEO Scott Borchetta says it's also time for radio to give a little more back to artists. And, he has very little sympathy for Pandora's complaints about paying too much to operate its business.

Borchetta says over the last couple of years radio received a price break from BMI and ASCAP. "They gave radio a couple of points back. It's time to give those points to the artists, to the labels. They are no more important partners than we are. We are not even asking for more. We are saying, "What you have got on the table, share it. Bring it back." As far as Pandora, I didn't ask them to take my content and build a new business model with it. They chose that route, not me. If Pandora went away tomorrow, if they went out of business, it's not my fault. They chose that route." Borchetta's label is home to Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and The Band Perry and other big name Country stars. 

The Times piece highlights Spotify, Pandora and other Internet music companies that "pay fractions of a cent to record companies and publishers each time a song is played, some portion of which goes to performers and songwriters as royalties. Unlike the royalties from a sale, these payments accrue every time a listener clicks on a song, year after year. Complicating the issue, each type of service pays different rates. Pandora?s are set by law. According to a number of music executives who have negotiated with Spotify, it generally pays 0.5 to 0.7 cent a stream (or $5,000 to $8,000 per million plays) for its paid tier, and as much as 90 percent less for its free tier."

The companies behind streaming are ballooning quickly, The Times writes. "Pandora, with 67 million regular users, is publicly traded, with a market capitalization of nearly $2 billion, and Spotify?s investors have reportedly valued the company at $3 billion. Yet so far they have contributed relatively little to the American recording industry?s $7 billion bottom line. In its last four reported quarters, Pandora paid $202 million in ?content acquisition costs,? including licensing fees, and Spotify recently announced that it has paid $500 million in royalties since its inception. Downloads, by comparison, had $2.6 billion in sales in 2011, according to the Recording Industry Association of America."

Read the entire Times piece HERE
Subscribe to Radio Ink in time to receive our Country Radio Seminar issue highlighting the 25 Best Country PD's in America and our interview with Scott Borchetta.

(1/29/2013 7:39:50 PM)
Having read some of the comments, it seems some readers do not understand the difference between market capitalization and profit and loss. What is Pandora's market cap - somewhere around $2 billion. On the other hand annual revenues of around $300 million carry a performance fee of close to 60%. Add to that administrative fees, engineering expenses, etc. and there is no manner in which the company can make a profit. And some of readers think that Pandora should pay higher fees. Study accounting
(1/29/2013 10:16:12 AM)
@Robbie is correct i can tell you for a fact small market radio jobs WILL be lost. people like lanny simply don't care. just how much more money do artists need at the expense of working folks while they fly around on private airplanes doing cocaine lanny?
(1/29/2013 10:02:21 AM)
It's time for a tough negotiator to step up for radio. It's the radio stations that should be receiving money for the advertising and promotion of the music. Yes, it's radio that made those artists and songwriters. Believe in radio or get another career.
(1/29/2013 9:21:29 AM)
I laugh that this article says ZERO about Google/YouTube's catastrophic copyright infringement with the use of Mozilla Firefox'x VideoDownloadHelper to download every YouTube, Veoh, Vimeo, DailyMotion, ETC. files of both video and audio (with a background of a picture) from these sites behind all artists' and record company's backs (along with a Terms of Use that state it can be done), and then Google/YouTube lie in the Viacom case asserting no downloads take place.

Any complaints now artists?

(1/29/2013 7:53:39 AM)
Really Lanny? You also have starving midday jocks in smaller markets, and I guarantee they'll get cut before any increased royalties radio is forced to pay hit the bottom line.

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Robert Little New NPR Senior Editor

1-30-2013
NPR News has hired longtime Baltimore Sun investigative reporter and editor Robert Little to lead its investigative team, beginning March 4th. As senior editor for investigations, Little will work with reporters, producers and editors to develop investigative stories, and will oversee NPR?s partnerships with other non-profit news organizations doing high-level investigative work.

Little spent 15 years at The Baltimore Sun; since 2010, he's been the paper?s Investigative and Enterprise Editor. Under Little?s leadership, The Sun recently published a series of articles uncovering widespread flaws in Baltimore?s speed camera network, which has since been shut down. Before that, his team created a unique database of tax records that exposed millions of dollars in improper discounts. Little also designed and launched the watchdog blog Sun Investigates, and oversaw the newsroom?s training program for computer-assisted reporting, and ethics and libel law. As one of The Sun?s senior editors, he managed the organization?s main newsgathering departments and played a leading role in guiding all of its coverage and in planning the daily newspaper.

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Northwestern College Acquires KLJC In Kansas City

1-30-2013

Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, Missouri, have entered into a purchase agreement for Northwestern to acquire KLJC-FM from Calvary. KLJC is a 100,000-watt non-commercial station that has had a Christian format since it signed on in 1970. Brokered by Greg Guy of Patrick Communications, the transaction requires FCC approval which is expected later this spring.

Dr. Clark, President of Calvary Bible College, states: ?Music and biblical teaching have been the trademark of KLJC, which has ministered to the Kansas City metropolitan area for 43 years. Over the years, the college has also trained more than 200 men and women, who are in Christian radio today, through a major degree program in Christian Broadcasting. Our desire is to see that same commitment for Christian radio to continue in the future. We feel confident that Northwestern College will serve as the right vehicle to proclaim the good news to Kansas City in message and song for years ahead.?

?Our Northwestern Media ministry exists to lead people to Christ and nurture believers in their spiritual growth,? says Northwestern President Alan S. Cureton. ?The model of ?high touch? listener and community engagement has effectively served our listeners in five states, and the addition of Kansas and Missouri to our roster is a responsibility and a privilege.?

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SOCIAL)Hiring The Right Social Media Person

1-30-2013

If you?ve ever thought about putting more investment in your social media, this may be the thing for you. It may be time for you to hire a social media person. However, you should put a lot of thought into the person you hire.

Your social media person should be:

1. Someone who understands the audience you are trying to attract. This might be one of the most important traits of the person you are looking for. They need to really know what the locals within your age-cell target want and make sure they get it in your social media.

2. Someone who knows what TV shows your audience is watching. This would be someone who enjoys a reality TV show when it is hot with your core life group or someone who knows the latest gossip and understands teasing and ?drawing fire? to your website for the juicy details after listeners read and see a visual tease on Facebook and Twitter.

3. Someone who understands your format and your individual radio station brand. This is especially tough because you don?t want an expert in social media who just does not understand your format or doesn?t get the reason for the name of your radio station. At this point, you have to start thinking that this new social media person should be local. Very local. And close.

4. Someone who knows your market inside and out. This is clearly not a person who ?phones it in.?  They should know the breakfast places or the lunch places that are hot, the winning (and losing) high school football teams, what is happening at work in your market within the big and little companies. Does this sound like someone you already know? Maybe it should. Think very local.

5. Someone who is "in the now? and can explain what is important to listeners briefly and with rich color. This reminds one of good morning shows or afternoon shows on radio, doesn?t it?

6. Finally, they should be someone who understands teasing, interacting, and validation. In other words, they should be someone who understands how important it is for people to belong and feel valued.

Why is Mr./Ms. X the perfect candidate to be your new official social media person? He or she is already in the building on the morning show or afternoon show at your radio station. They are talented. They understand the abovementioned six things and, given some responsibility, they may grow your ratings and revenue by doing that ?social media thing.? Maybe they are even doing some social media for the station now, but you could make it so much more effective if you pick one person on your staff, give them the responsibility to develop an actual strategic plan, and then allow them to soldier the plan throughout the building with staff and be the cheerleader. If you really want to crank up your actual results, bonus them on the correct development of their social media plan and for hitting content and interaction goals each month. You might be amazed at the results.

Social media is not new. Radio has been the ?water cooler? for decades and decades. We have easy access to listeners, we provide them with music, local flavor, gossip (about Hollywood celebrities and format celebrities) and more. These are not the old days, but social media isn?t really about technology. Or, better said, the technology is new, but you?ve been doing social media for years. Radio should be thinking about how to use social media to engage listeners at an even higher level than they already do on the radio. This is your community. Now you have the opportunity to truly interact with them on Facebook, Twitter and more. Do it!

But make sure the person you select as your ?social media person? develops the strategic plan first, regarding what types of content you want on your social media sites daily and what kind of interaction you want with listeners on a consistent basis on your station website, Facebook page, Twitter account and more. And make sure your plan has keys to consistent behavior on these social media sites.

So much is possible if we go back to the basics about what radio already knows about connecting with the important people in our local markets. If we focus on what is important to them, social media will blossom all across the country and intensify actual results that can turn into ratings and revenue for individual radio stations. Isn?t that worth doing?

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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Jock Mocks Caller With Down's Syndrome

1-30-2013

No mention as to whether "Mo," host of the "Mo Radio Show," on WDJQ (Ohio) alerted 30 year old Kellie Baker she was being recorded before he made fun of her and played the tape over the year. Baker called the station by accident and thought she was talking to her friend's father. Baker has Down's Syndrome and her parents are calling what the host did bullying. The Times Reporter Newspaper in Dover-New Philadelphia Ohio says the station has issued an apology, sort of. There was no mention of any action taken against Mo (pictured here).

?Q92 and ?The Mo Show? would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm its support of efforts to raise awareness regarding the challenges faced by those with developmental disabilities. Specifically, the station wishes to sincerely apologize again for any actions or comments that could be construed as making light of the challenges faced by persons that are developmentally disabled or casting those persons in any humorous light. The station?s policy is to treat our callers and listeners with the utmost respect, professionalism, and sensitivity.?

Read the full story from The Times Reporter HERE

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The Jury Gets Bubba Case Today

1-30-2013

Bubba's attorneys rested their case Tuesday, which was followed by the judge denying a motion to throw out the case. On Wednesday, closing statements will be followed by instructions from the judge and jury deliberation. Todd Schnitt has accused Bubba The Love Sponge Clem of making "false, highly offensive and defamatory statements" about him and his wife.

Some in the radio industry believe a Schnitt win could be devastating for free speech in general and what jocks are allowed to say on the radio. Others believe, as we have seen by comments on our page, that jocks like Bubba cross the line and deserve to be shut down.

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Dave Ramsey Added To WREC In Memphis

1-29-2013

Beginning Friday, April 19, ?The Dave Ramsey Show? will join the line-up on NewsRadio 600 WREC in Memphis, weekdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., replacing ?The Wall Street Journal?s The Daily Wrap with Michael Castner? in that timeslot. WREC PD Forrest Goodman says, ?Dave has a powerful track record on radio. I am excited to add him to the station where we feature the strongest names in talk, like Rush, Hannity and Beck.?

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Duncan Returns Following Brain Tumor Treatment

1-30-2013
On Monday, former St. Louis Cardinal Chris Duncan will return to work at Hubbard's WXOS (ESPN) in St. Louis. Duncan has been dealing with intensive surgeries, treatments, and physical/occupational therapy for a brain tumor that was diagnosed in 2012. He has been absent from his full-time co-host seat since October 8, 2012 but recently has been appearing on ?The Fast Lane? for brief interviews during his treatment.

Hubbard St. Louis Market Manager John Kijowski said, ?Chris Duncan is a key member of our successful on-air team, and his presence has truly been missed on the 101 ESPN airwaves. We?re relieved that he has recovered, and we?re thankful to have him back and healthy.? Duncan said, ?I?m really excited and grateful to be back on ?The Fast Lane? with Randy and D?Marco. I?m blessed to work at a great place like 101 ESPN with such outstanding people, and the timing couldn?t have been better with spring training a couple of weeks away.?

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Schnitt Has Sued A Rival Before...And Won

1-30-2013

Back in 1990, it was reported in the Daily Press of Virginia that Schnitt, working for WNVZ-FM, sued Roy Jaynes (known on the air as D.B. Cooper) of WGH-FM for slander and asked for $3 million. According to the paper, Jaynes called Schnitt a little homosexual Jew boy, and made frequent insinuations about his sexual leanings and invited listeners to testify on the air that Schnitt was a homosexual. The trial lasted eight days and Schnitt was awarded $310,000.

Read the entir article from the paper HERE

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Smooth Jazz Network Adds Dave Koz

1-24-2013

The Smooth Jazz network will begin broadcasting the Dav Koz Radio Show this Sunday. Koz said, "I'm very proud to have the Dave Koz show joining the Smooth Jazz Network lineup of wonderful radio stations. We've been able to have this show on the air for over 18 years for one main reason, the great support of radio stations across the country. For more information on the show contact Allen@SmoothJazzNetwork.com.

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How Gary Rozynek Got Into Radio

1-25-2013

Sometimes you?re lucky enough to meet someone you wish you had met sooner. I think this is the result of their personality, spirit, intelligence and demeanor. It happened by accident when I called Gary Rozynek to solicit an opportunity for my client. I was covering the Mideast region for The Dave & Jimmy Show when I canvassed the state of Ohio and worked my way down to market 226. I had contacted a competing station and after asking the AMD/PD if he wanted to replace himself with my client, (I?ve never been shy), I contacted the owner of the second CHR station in the market which turned out to be one of Gary?s stations.

Gary was kind enough to return my call and we began chatting as if we had known each other forever. He was very knowledgeable about the business and had stations in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, and Ohio. After talking for a short hour, we agreed to stay in touch and learn more about each other?s business. Soon we found ourselves calling each other to learn what each of us knew about a myriad of situations, markets, revenues, ratings, and all that is radio. And, that?s the way it began: I met Gary Rozynek, found a friend, and developed a business relationship that I cherish. Learning about Gary?s entry into radio was one that I respected because he does what many wish they could: he works honestly and judiciously at our business to make it better. Gary is a model of what is great about radio and the people in it.

These days Gary is the President and CEO of Maverick Media.
Now, here's Gary's story in his own words?

It was May of 1978. I had just finished tossing my mortar board high into the air and shouting in glee, reveling in joy with 10,000 of my peers at Indiana University's Assembly Hall, with diplomas in hand, a proud member of the Class of ?78. My plan was to put my BS in Real Estate to use as soon as I got my license and set out to make my fortune as the next real estate mogul of Indianapolis.

First things first, though. I accepted a ?short term? job as a waiter at a very trendy restaurant in a fashion mall. The tips would cover my bills at the three-bedroom ranch I rented with four of my college buddies. I settled into my new career and began building my network. A successful realtor had to have a vast network of contacts to tap into to do the deals, right?

I always participated in sports: cross country, basketball, and baseball. A college buddy called and said his brother ran a local radio station and they were in need of players to fill out their softball team roster. I said great and soon met Jeff Smulyan, the General Manger of WNTS, a religious outlet.

I quickly took notice of Jeff?s leadership skills and his ability to set the tone for the squad. He insisted on filling out the lineup card and neatly inserted himself in the cleanup spot and playing first base. He was a solid field general and I could see he had talent. I looked forward to each summer playing with this merry band of warriors.
Fast forward to June, 1981. The country was heading towards a recession. Business bankruptcies were accelerating. Interest rates were pushing 18-19 percent; this all under the Carter administration.

My real estate career wasn?t exactly flourishing. I posted three consecutive years of earning $12,000 per year. Still waiting tables at the restaurant, I was paying my bills with ?tip? money. My ?big break? was imminent. After one of the softball games, Jeff shared with me he was launching a brand new FM radio station in Indianapolis on the 4th of July. It would be a contemporary station called WENS and located at 97.1 on the dial. He was clearly impressed with my track record selling houses. I was flattered, but politely told him I knew nothing about media sales. I did say I enjoyed listening to the radio though.

Jeff was moved by my passion for radio. He offered me a job in sales and told me I could still wait tables if I needed additional income. He said nobody he hired knew anything about radio except his Program Director, Rick Cummings. He told me, ?Rozzy, you are going to have more fun selling commercial time than showing a three-bedroom colonial with a leaky toilet.? He added, ?You will love the playlist. We are going to play a lot of Beatles!?
I immediately accepted the position. I was energized. I was now in the entertainment industry. Wow!

On July 5th I reported for duty and found myself going on my first sales call with Jeff?s partner and lifelong friend, Steve Crane. He had left a prestigious law firm in Chicago to also join our team in broadcasting. His favorite artist was James Taylor.

Driving on I-65 North to our first appointment in Steve?s 1975 Toyota with no air conditioning on a steamy summer day, we discussed how we would manage the call with the Senior V.P. of Advertising at American United Life, a huge insurance conglomerate. Steve said, ?Don?t worry. Jeff gave me a list of questions to ask about their needs. He said to listen twice as much as we speak." Words of wisdom that have stuck with me forever! I also felt lucky to get that level of training and support from day one -- another strategy I carry with me in my company today.
When the fall ratings were released, WENS debuted with a 7.0 share 12+. We were now the ?fastest-growing radio station in America.? As Jerry Maguire would say, ?Show me the money!?

I soon relinquished my waiter duties and dedicated my career to helping advertisers build and grow their businesses through our wonderful medium. Sales management was up next, and I embraced the challenge of leading, developing, and teaching future sales superstars to leave their mark on our industry.

To this day, I enjoy telling my story of how I was the first salesperson ever hired at Emmis Broadcasting. I have loved my 31 years in radio doing many different things and I am still learning and growing every day!

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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(UPDATE) How Did MERLE-FM Get on Reality Show

Yesterday we told you about the story of how a small radio station in Tennessee became the subject of a TV reality show. Today we hear from the President of Merle-FM (WMYL) about how the whole thing came about. In this short interview with Radio Ink Ron Meredith explains how he got the call, what Hollywood has in store for the station and how he is loving life as a small town radio operator.

(1/25/2013 3:19:46 PM)
Aren't we lucky to have a "local" broadcaster of Ron's caliber in the Knoxville, Tn market. Gosh, without Ron the market would be overrun by us city slickers who make a living by lying to our clients.
(1/24/2013 5:47:45 PM)
Love the old school look of the facility. Transmitter site-studios that used to dot the landscape. Not some cluster of brands inside a business park.

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Radio One Back in Compliance

1-24-2013

Radio One has filed a document with the SEC that the company has received a letter from The NASDAQ advising it that the Company?s Class D shares traded under the symbol ROIAK, had regained compliance with NASDAQ's minimum bid price listing requirements and were in good standing on The NASDAQ National Market. The letter received from NASDAQ on January 24, 2013 stated that because the Class D shares closed above the $1.00 minimum bid price for the 10 consecutive trading days ended January 23, 2013.

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(SALES) The Math Of Making Budget

1-25-2013

I never put much credence in closing ratios. Whenever I hear someone say, ?I have a 50 percent closing ratio? I never believed they really knew. After four decades of managing sellers and being a radio seller, I can tell you that I have no idea what my closing ratio is nor can I tell you the actual closing ratio of any seller that has ever worked for me.

I did, however learn the true mathematics of making budget. This formula served me well over the years and never proved wrong. My entire career, probably like yours, has been the assignment of delivering ?the number.? As a salesperson, a GM, a regional VP and a COO, every day was the task of delivering the number. As a seller and a sales manager, the number was my budget that given month, then the quarter, and finally the year?s number. As a GM, and positions higher up the radio ladder, it became a top line and a bottom line number every month, quarter, and for the year. I wasn?t in radio very long before I realized there were few business problems that couldn?t be repaired by more revenue. I could control expenses, but driving that top line number was the key to virtually everything. I never spent energy on increasing closing ratios. I spent all my energy on asking for enough business to insure ?the number.?

Any time I could simplify something, I did. With that in mind, here?s the math to making budget; to delivering ?the number? time after time?.. ANNUAL BUDGET TIMES 10, DIVIDED BY 52 EQUALS THE WEEKLY DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT MUST BE PRESENTED. Let?s say you?re a seller with an assigned budget for 2013 of $500,000. Your budget times 10 = $5 million, divided by 52 weeks = $96,154. You must ask for a minimum of $96,154 in business every week. This will always come in a variety of presentations, from a 30-day campaign for $5,000 to an annual campaign for $60,000. It doesn?t matter when it airs, just never ask for less in any week. They key is honoring the math. The same formula is true for a radio station, a market or, indeed, an entire company. Every week we ask for the right amount, we?ll end up delivering ?the number.?
For years we?ve been told selling is a game of numbers. We just didn?t know the math. Now we do.

Rob Adair is the President of Pinnacle Solving. His company provides revenue growth solutions, branding and differentiation strategies to radio and other industries. Adair is a former radio industry COO and Sr. VP overseeing 25+ stations and multiple major markets. He can be reached at 405-641-0458 or by e-mail rob@pinnaclesolving.com

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Big Turnout for Dave Hull Book Signing

Gary Lycan of the Orange County Register writes that over 125 people turned out for former KRLA jock Dave Hull's book signing at a reunion of KRLA-AM's Eleven-Ten Men. Lycan writers Hull's book "captures a time in our lives in Top 40 local radio that will never be heard again. He signed off on his radio career in Palm Springs in 2010 and decided it was time to write the autobiography. His book, CD and DVD are available at http://www.davehullthehullabalooer.com/."

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Connoisseur And Janoff Join NJBA Board

1-24-2013

The New Jersey Broadcasters Association announced that Connoisseur Media is joining the organization and Townsquare's Regional VP Greg Janoff will fill the seat of the recently departed Zoe Burdine-Fly. NJBA President Paul Rotella said, ?This is a significant moment of real growth for our association. I'm delighted to have Connoisseur and their CEO Jeff Warshaw join our association. We are also very fortunate to have new board members like Greg who share the NJBA Board?s enthusiasm for local radio and all things NJBA!?

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Google Asks FCC For "Experimental Radio Network."

1-24-2013

Google has sent a to request to the FCC to build an ?experimental radio network.? Digital Trends reports that Google wants the spectrum for a 2-mile radius surrounding its HQ in Mountain View, CA. The test network will run somewhere in the 2524MHz and 2625MHz spectrum and Google wants to use it to experiment. The spectrum being tested is inaccessible by almost all current consumer electronics, including iPhones and Android devices, meaning it will be years before you see gadgets use this. Read more HERE

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Pam McKay Named Corporate Exec of Year

1-25-2013

Clear Channel's Austin Market President, Pamela McKay, will be presented with the African American Corporate Executive of the Year Award by the Capitol City African American Chamber of Commerce. The award is presented to an individual who holds a senior level management position with a company headquartered or with corporate presence in Austin. McKay will receive the award at a gala in Austin February 22nd.

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(AUDIO) Farley Retiring At The End Of 2013

1-22-13

Jim Farley has been hinting for awhile that he'd like to retire and now he's made it official. The WTOP VP of News & Programming told GM Joel Oxley that 2013 will be his final year working a full schedule. He wants to spend more time with his wife and grandchildren. We spoke to Farley about his time at WTOP, how the radio industry looks at news and how digital has transformed WTOP's newsroom. As always, he spoke candidly, saying radio should be "horribly embarrassed" about the way it now covers news. LISTEN HERE

Farley says he bleeds WTOP blood and he's deeply invested in its continued success. "I plan to stay involved until I start to drool conspicuously. I?ll be a proactive resource for Joel (Oxley), Laurie (Cantillo), WTOP and Hubbard, and I will visit often. I have so many good friends in this building and spent the best part of my long career here. On to the next chapter, but not until 2014."

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If You Host A Morning Show, Are You Worried?

1-23-2013

So far, watching the trial, it's been hard to determine exactly what Todd M.J. Schnitt is looking for from Bubba The Love Sponge (Todd Clem) in his defamation lawsuit. It's also been hard to conclude exactly what damage was done, other than the described unpleasentness of being verbally harassed by the Bubba Army. A jury will have to decide if this all falls under the "you decided to put yourself out there" argument. We reached out to attorneys John Garziglia, Francisco Montero, and Kevin Goldberg for an opinion on what might happen to radio shock jocks if Bubba has to pony up for being too nasty to Schnitt.

John Garziglia is a Communications Attorney with Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice in Washington, D.C.
"I do not see any new ?rules? if Schnitt wins. And even if the jury brings back a verdict for Schnitt, I have to wonder about the prospects of such a verdict being upheld on appeal. In a lawsuit such as this one, unless this is a ratings stunt, there are no winners and losers. Rather, both sides will have spent tens of thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees, and both sides will have invested humongous amounts of time that could have been better spent doing something productive. I hope that Bubba has insurance that covers his defense costs here."

Francisco Montero is with Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth in Arlington, VA
"It seems that Schnitt may be considered a "public figure" which would give him a higher burden in proving defamation since he is putting himself into the public spotlight like a politician. In the days of the personal attack rule, he could have made a demand for equal time at the FCC but the Commission repealed that vestige of the fairness doctrine over a decade ago."

Kevin Goldberg is also with Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth in Arlington, VA
"At the outset, I agree with Frank?s assessment that it could be difficult for Schnitt to win the case. Public figures lose the majority of defamation lawsuits and he has a number of difficult issues to overcome. As noted in your article, it may be difficult for Schnitt to prove any real damage to his reputation from the statements. Yes, he?s been harassed, embarrassed to some extent, and even threatened. There?s been some pain and suffering. But many courts won?t grant those 'special' damages until quantifiable 'actual' damages are proven first.

"But I think the lasting issue from a Schnitt win would be that morning DJs, and others who are entertainers, especially comedic entertainers, will certainly have to watch what they say. This goes to what we?d generally refer to as the 'assertion of fact' element of a defamation case. 

"Many people refer to this as the 'fact/opinion' distinction (the idea being that one can?t be held liable for defamation if he or she is stating an opinion). But the Supreme Court did away with that formulation and has instead said that defamation can only occur when the speaker or writer makes a false and defamatory assertion of fact (among other elements). But in looking at whether the speaker or writer was asserting a fact, a court has to look at the context of the statement: would a reasonable person believe that the speaker or writer was really attempting to state a fact, given the wording used, the type of publication or broadcast, or even the specific location within a program or publication. So a news story on page one is more likely to be an assertion of fact than an editorial piece; at the same time, a statement in an editorial piece in the New York Times might be closer to an assertion of fact than a story in the National Enquirier. 

"Looking at morning DJs, the listening audience understands, for the most part, that it?s all schtick, all an act. Even these 'radio wars' are concocted largely to garner ratings. Nobody really believes any of the allegations that are made ? they?re closer to a rhetorical hyperbole than unvarnished truth. For Schnitt to win, he has to show that Bubba wasn?t simply going over the top. If that happens, it could chill other 'shock jocks' as well."

(1/26/2013 12:32:17 PM)
I hope the shades of Robert W Morgan and San Francisco's legendary Don Sherwood haunt the nightmares of these silly yahoos for the rest of their ugly little lives.
(1/25/2013 12:28:09 PM)
Shock jocks are beyond dinosaurs, they're fossils. What a waste of air time and lack of true creativity in programming.
(1/25/2013 11:13:06 AM)
there is something kinda sad about this whole turn of event. Radio struggles on a daily basis to be "relevant" in people's lives..we compete with facebook, and twitter and everything online , and this story feels like something from 15 year sgo. People consume entertainment differently these days, and this makes radio look like an assisted living home. Maybe the only ones getting enjoyment are us old radio vets remembering "what radio used to be like" back in the day.
(1/25/2013 10:21:38 AM)
Even for radio, those are some ugly faces. Bubba is a POS always has been.
(1/25/2013 10:04:51 AM)
They're both rotten, horrible people and this is clearly a horrible publicity stunt from MJ who's morning show was the most awful, annoying thing on the air. To hear is arrogant rants and raves day after day was awful and I'm so glad it's not on the air. This whole thing is nothing more than a stunt, and a pathetic one at that. I don't like Bubba either, his show spews anger and hate but this is one time I'm on his side. I hope the jury rules in his favor to shut that little weasel up.

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(HIRING) The Radio Times Are A-Changin'

1-25-2013

This is a significant year for us as it marks our 20th anniversary! Through two recessions, consolidation and many other changes, we are happy to still be serving the advertising industry.

As I reflect on changes I have seen since 1993, here is what the radio industry was like then:

o   Consolidation was creating cluster selling. There were lots of bumps in the road for managers trying to figure out how to put together teams from sellers who used to compete and came from different cultures.

o   There is still a line out the door of people wanting to go into radio sales.

o   Hiring was much more "gut" oriented; we didn?t have the tools to profile or know about effective interviewing, needless to say, turnover was high but that was ok as there were more where that came from!

o   Cell phones were scarce, the size of a shoe box and primarily in cars.

o   The Internet was for geeks and you needed codes and patience to connect.

o   Messages were on pink slips.

o   "New Media" was Cable.

o   "Out of Home" meant tabletops at bars and restaurants.o   There were numerous rep firms.

o   "NTR" was either co-op or vendor money and, by the way, we were being trained in how to go after those dollars.

o   There were multiple "sales assistants" on staff to type presentations.

o   Information was faxed or delivered in person! Sellers picked up creative!

o   People accepted that they would relocate at least once to further their career so relocation was not an issue.

o   Media companies only wanted to hire "one of their own"; it was very difficult to move from one platform* to another (* we didn?t call them platforms either!)

o   There was lots more travel and airline tickets were in carbon and on paper!

o   Suits were a given! Casual was a bonus for some on Fridays and meant an open-necked shirt without a tie.
Lots of changes. But through it all, radio remains a strong, viable "platform" in which to work, to educate and to offer community assistance. There can still be rewarding careers and room to grow. But as with everything, change will continue and we all have to be on top of it to survive.

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.

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Dial Global Announces Team For Super Bowl

1-24-2013
Dial Global Sports has announced the broadcast team for Super Bowl XLVII. Play-by-play will be covered by Kevin Harlan and he'll be joined in the booth by Boomer Esiason. Additional analysis will be provided by James Lofton, Mark Malone, Jim Gray, and Scott Graham. The game between the 49ers and Ravens will be played Sunday, February 3, in New Orleans and heard on more than 700 radio stations.

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Clear Channel and Stardome Roll Out Carmen Jara

1-24-2013

Clear Channel has joined forces with Stardome Radio Networks to welcome The Carmen Jara Show to Clear Channel?s Spanish programming stations KTZR-AM 1450, Tucson, Arizona; KBFP-FM 105.3, Bakersfield, California; KFSO-FM 92.9, Fresno, California; KPRC-FM 100.7/100.9, Salinas, Monterey and Santa Cruz, California; KIZS-FM 101.5, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and KUNO-AM 1400 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

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Cheryl Park Returns To Cape Cod Broadcasting

1-24-2013

Park is back on WQRC-FM as afternoon host. Park, who stepped down after seven years as morning host in November of 2012, said, ?I?m thrilled to make this timeslot change, equally thrilled to set my alarm for a time later than 4 a.m. each day, and truly grateful to continue as part of the team here at Cape Cod Broadcasting.? Cape Cod Broadcasting owns and operates WQRC-FM, WOCN-FM, WKPE-FM, WFCC-FM, CapeCod.com, and The World Classical Network.

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Harris Helping Radio Target REGULAR Ads

1-24-2013

Advertising is clearly heading in the direction of targeted ads. It's certainly a strong selling point for digital content providers. What if you were able to deliver targeted ads from your terrestrial signal? Harris and GBS say they have the technology. They call it MaxxCasting, which allows stations to maximize market reach and capitalize on revenue opportunities while paving the way for targeted content insertion. Harris and Geo-Broadcast Solutions are touting the product, which is based on GBS? ZoneCasting strategy.

The MaxxCasting solution uses a network topology similar to the ZoneCasting architecture for targeted, over-the-air radio broadcasting, but instead focuses on simulcasting content to improve coverage. It can be deployed today under existing regulations, expanding market coverage in a more sensible and effective way than traditional signal booster technologies.

Geo-Broadcast Systems CEO Peter Handy says, ?We often hear from broadcasters looking to take advantage of this network topology as our ZoneCasting petition to deliver targeted content moves through FCC approval. The FCC rules currently allow FM stations to deploy boosters to fill in signal coverage gaps, broadcasting identical content on every booster. We have discovered that adding boosters to simulcast across the typical ZoneCasting topology can help broadcasters improve coverage. And the ability to reach more listeners opens new revenue opportunities through advertising.?

Vice President of Product Management and Strategy, Transmission Systems for Harris Broadcast Richard Redmond says, ?ZoneCasting was created to bring hyper-localization to over-the-air radio, bringing new advertising opportunities to local businesses and to allow stations of any size to better compete in a challenging landscape. But a high percentage of radio stations today would like to improve their reach. MaxxCasting allows them to fill out the signal area that they originally purchased, to the maximum of what the FCC allows through their broadcast licenses.?

Harris has an exclusive license to use and incorporate the GBS ZoneCasting software and hardware design into its Flexiva? transmitters and Intraplex? SynchroCast? systems for deployment in ZoneCasting systems. Broadcasters would use these same technologies for MaxxCasting systems.

(1/26/2013 8:25:10 PM)
"Welcome change" my fat fanny.

I am tired of marketers using my personal information to attempt manipulate me into buying their junk.

And that goes double for my radio.

(1/25/2013 9:57:18 PM)
This is obviously a natural progression for all broadcast media. From the consumer side I can see a sense of invasion of privacy turning into a welcome change.

Advertising that meets the needs of the consumer directly. You do a gps search for Mexican restaurants and a few minutes later an ad for "Tony's Taco Tavern" appears in your speakers.

This makes advertising more attractive for business and the need for original content should increase.

Put me in on the ground floor!

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Actor J.R. Martinez Takes The Mike At KFI

1-23-2013

Actor, New York Times bestselling author, Dancing with the Stars champ, motivational speaker, and retired U.S. Army soldier, J.R. Martinez is getting his own weekend show at KFI in Los Angeles. Martinez takes over Sunday evenings 6-8 beginning January 27.

KFI Program Director Robin Bertolucci said, ?He?s so inspirational and dynamic; he filled in for Bill Carroll during the holidays and I just had to have him join our line up! I?m thrilled he jumped at the opportunity and I?m excited to see what he will do with his own show."

In March of 2003, J.R. was deployed to Iraq, and on April 5, less than a month into his deployment, he was serving as a driver of a Humvee in Karbala when his left front tire hit a roadside bomb. Three other soldiers with J.R. were ejected from the burning vehicle, but he was trapped inside and suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns to 34 percent of his body. He spent 34 months at Brooke Army Medical Center and had 33 surgeries.

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Top Advertisers For Week Of January 14

1-21-2013

Media Monitors reports that GEICO stayed on top of the radio advertising charts, airing over 54,800 spots for the week of January 14 to the 20. H&R Block moved from number three to number two with 40,902 spots aired. AutoZone jumped from nine to three, airing 29,388 commercials. Turbo Tax cracked the top five with nearly 27,000 spots and McDonalds held at number five with 26,000 spots.

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Cox Says Tampa Station Flip Going Well

1-21-2013

In response to our story that picked out three negative listener Facebook comments about Cox's WUSN flipping formats in Tampa, we received a list of highlights from the station pointing out the positives of how the change to Listener Drive Radio is going. The station says "WSUN is a concept that will take some time to educate listeners and advertisers. It's different and radio needs to try these kinds of things to increase the depth of our listener relationship." Here are some stats from WUSN after day one

- In the first 7 hours we didn't play one song. We allowed the listeners time to download the new App and vote on the first song. In those seven hours, we had nearly 70,000 song votes. An average of 3 votes per second. As of this morning, we had just over 1,000,000 song votes.
- We didn't know what to expect as far as App downloads in the first weekend. We set a goal of 1000 downloads by this morning. We had nearly 12,000 App downloads.
- In light of the negative posts, 97X grew their FB likes this weekend.
- Over 88,600 Mobile App Sessions and over 196,000 Desktop Website User Sessions. Our listeners are engaging at a level we didn't anticipate.
- The "Open Mic" function is something that I don't believe is being done anywhere and clearly creates a deeper relationship with the listener. We have received 2 Open Mic requests per minute, on average thus far.

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(DIGITAL) Broadcasters' Guide To The Car Dashboard

1-23-2013

One of the bigger announcements coming out of CES last week was from the Ford Motor Company saying that they have opened up their dashboard to app developers everywhere who want to enable their apps for in-vehicle use. Not just news for radio broadcasters, the newly announced Ford Developer Program was named CES? ?Best in Automotive? by Engadget. Now, Ford?s Developer Program opens up their dashboard for any broadcaster or app developer to achieve in-vehicle connectivity. Broadcasters can apply at developer.ford.com.
Over 1,000 developers have signed up in the first three days the Ford link was open. In addition to your ability to interface directly with Ford via the link above, the very first authorized development partner on the developer site is JacApps, so Ford is also giving you this resource if you?d rather go that route.
Ford?s Scott Burnell, Global Lead for Business Development & Partner Management had this advice for radio broadcasters: ?Go to the link and create a profile for yourself. You?ll see the program overview, what we?re looking for, what it requires to work with us, and what is appropriate content. In addition to your current radio app, Ford invites innovation. Broadcasters can now create new applications for the vehicle based on these new resources that allow for innovation.?
Burnell also clarifies how your radio app appears on the car dashboard. ?We don?t actually put the apps in the car dashboard. Your station app is still running on the user?s smart phone device. Ford simply locks out the user?s device screen and then we extend command and control from the application running on the mobile device to the vehicle controls such as voice command, steering wheel buttons, and radio buttons. This takes the device out of the hand of the driver in the vehicle, keeping drivers? eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.? 
The message from Ford is loud and clear. They hope broadcasters will embrace technology and own their listeners on this new platform. Listeners and car drivers both use technology and radio, so this is a beautiful marriage of radio and vehicle that is very natural. Broadcasters need to first embrace the shift in radio listening via streaming and mobile apps, but then this is a way to keep listeners listening in a responsible way in the vehicle.
Also, through a station?s mobile app, time shifting of content via podcasts or other archived contact becomes a real opportunity. As Burnell said, the driver might say ?mobile apps/WRIF/Drew and Mike? and the next thing you hear are podcasts from Drew and Mike on WRIF. Radio time shifting in the car is here.
One tidbit that was lost in the excitement is that Ford has also opened their dashboard API to all other automobile manufacturers, which has received tremendous early response from other OEMs. Therefore, an industry-wide solution is now possible if Ford?s AppLink is embraced by the other automakers.
Given Ford?s leadership position in telematics, that was only advanced even more by their new AppLink program, broadcasters would be wise to understand Ford?s AppLink and work with the market leader. Ford?s latest slogan, ?Go Further,? couldn?t be better named for broadcasters.

Mike Henry is the CEO of Paragon Media Strategies and can be reached at mhenry@paragonmediastrategies.com

(1/23/2013 4:47:39 AM)
What about Bob Struble's shit technology?

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With Liberty in Control, Board Members Resign

1-22-2013

Leon Black, Lawrence Gilberti and Jack Shaw resigned from the Sirius XM board of directors after it became official that John Malone's Liberty Media was now in control. Mark Carleton, Robin Pringle and Charles Tanabe fill the vacancies. Interim CEO James Meyer, who took over after the resignation of Mel Karmazin, also joined the board. Liberty gained majority control of Sirius last week after purchasing 50 million shares of Sirius XM pushing it to 50.2 percent. Liberty plans to spin off its stake in Sirius.

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US 99.5 in Chcago Wins Our Poll

1-21-2013

US 99.5 has been serving Chicago Country for 31 years now and Program Director Jeff Kapugi tells Radio Ink, "It?s very special when you have such a loyal audience that they rally around you to show you their support. We have live and local talent on the air that really engage the audience where the audience really knows them.  The good things that we do year after year in the community and we are out on the streets and very visible. The votes have all been tabulated and here is how the top ten country radio stations in America finished in the rankings.

The Final Vote
#1) US 99.5 Chicago (CBS)
#2) KSD St. Louis (Clear Channel)
#3) Thunder 106 New Jersey (Press Communications)
#4) WYCD Detroit (CBS)
#5) WQYK Tampa (CBS)
#6) WKLB Boston (Greater Media)
#7) WIL St. Louis (Hubbard)
#8) KCYE Las Vegas (Beasley)
#9) WFUS Tampa (Clear Channel)
#10) KKBQ Houston (Cox)

(1/21/2013 8:18:04 PM)
KCYE, in Las Vegas, NV ROCKS - in the very best kind of country way, of course and Cadillac Jack is the best.

Congrats to 99.5! God bless all the true country radio stations.

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(SALES) "Take Me To The Next Level, Boss!"

1-21-2013

A few years ago, a top seller in a market I oversaw came into my office and said the following words, ?I want to go to a whole new level. I?ll do exactly what you tell me to do. Will you give me the road map to get there?? I don?t care how busy you are, how many radio stations you manage, or how big your job is, how could you not dedicate the time to fulfill this request? This seller was one of the top three billers out of 20 in this market. She rarely ever missed a monthly budget and she was a six-figure earner. Yet, she wasn?t satisfied and she wanted help. The new plan was more than successful and it took about 90 days to bring her truckloads of new fruit! Here?s what we did:

10 STEPS TO THE NEXT PLATEAU!

1. NEW BUSINESS: Devote 20 percent of every work week to new business development. She carved out Fridays to do nothing but plow new fields.

2. CHANGE YOUR THINKING: Get out of the mentality of selling radio advertising and get into the mentality of meeting as many business-owners as possible and learn all you can about their specific challenges. Then use your radio stations as the tool to address the challenges.

3. ASK FOR MORE: Increase every presentation by at least 25 percent and propose a campaign that spans at least 25 percent longer on the calendar.

4. GET SERIOUS ABOUT SPECS: Double your use of spec commercials. I said double it.

5. TIME-ACTIVATE EVERYTHING: Every task, every assignment must have a deadline date. Whatever it is, if it isn?t dated, it?s not worth doing.

6. GET REFFERALS: Increase your networking and your referrals. Ask every happy client for the name of someone they know you might be able to help.

7. NO FLUFF: Under promise and over deliver. Always!

8. RE-THINK THE EXTRAS: Hold back on the added-value, promotions, and extras, even though they might be management-allowed. You?ll help de-clutter your stations and you?ll have a few bullets in your ammo box in case you need them.

9. TWO GIANTS: Work two giants all the time. Be sure you have two potential monster clients you?re constantly working. These are those large market advertisers that no one can get to use radio. They might be giant television accounts. It may take a year or more, but when a giant says yes, it will be life-changing -- and none of your competitors are doing it.

10. BE A COMPANY SOLDIER: Lead all initiatives. Regularly, your management is saying, ?These sponsorships must be sold. We need this much more revenue to get to this goal.? Lead every company initiative, personally. Be the one who always comes through and gets the job done.

?Take me to the next level, Boss!???.?Here we go!?

Rob Adair is the President of Pinnacle Solving. His company provides revenue growth solutions, branding and differentiation strategies to radio and other industries. Adair is a former radio industry COO and Sr. VP overseeing 25+ stations and multiple major markets. He can be reached at 405-641-0458 or by e-mail rob@pinnaclesolving.com

(1/21/2013 10:53:36 AM)
This is very helpful it's good to be refreshed.

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Comedey Central Radio Launching On SiriusXM

1-21-2013

This Spring, Comedy Central will launch a 24/7 channel on SiriusXM consisting of new stand-up and exclusive performances from its library. Comedy Central Radio will offer hundreds of hours of stand-up comedy performances from the library including stand-up series such as Comedy Central Presents, Premium Blend, and select performances from Comedy Central Roasts and its roster of one-hour stand-up specials.

The channel will also feature new performances, behind-the-scenes and backstage broadcasts from events, broadcasts from clubs, and exclusive shows from comedians.

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Dickey Explains Why Country Will Work in NY

1-22-13

Tuesday morning Cumulus gave more detail about its plan for "NASH," after the Monday flip to Country on 94.7 in New York City. The company plans to build new studios in Nashville for what will eventually become a big national brand over time, according to CEO Lew Dickey. "The plan is to make this a multi-media entertainment brand targeting the country lifestyle." The brand will be offered on a syndicated basis to all Cumulus Media network affiliates. Dickey also says the search is on for the best talent in the business to put on the station. Following the launch, the station is all music.

Lew Dickey: They've been very constructive and helpful. Cumulus is the largest company broadcaster: 85 stations and about 15 million listeners. It is a large platform. This New York station - I don't know if people quite realize this, but it is the number one market for country music sales in the country. 20% more country music is sold in New York than in Nashville.

About launching Country in New York City, Dickey says it is an underserved segment. "Research showed that when Kenny Chesney shows up for a concert at Giants Stadium, he sells it out in 5 minutes. You've got Blake Shelton on The Voice. You've got Keith Urban on American Idol. You've got Faith Hill doing the opener for Sunday Night Football. Country has become mainstream now. There are over 80 million country music fans in the United States. The other thing people don't realize is that Country is the second highest listening segment for teens behind Top 40. Not Rap or Alternative, but Country. It is multi-generational format appeal. It is a lifestyle. Having the country's largest media market, New York City, to have the flagship brand is pretty exciting."

Dickey says listeners in New York City can expect a great radio experience, terrific talent, their favorite country music, great promotions, concerts and exciting production. It will be a great on-air experience for people, as well as what we can do off-air and online with events to actively engage this great segment here in New York City. 

President and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group Scott Borchetta told Radio Ink yesterday that  "It is with great enthusiasm we welcome Cumulus to the Country fold in NYC with NASH-FM!  Not having a Country presence in the world's media center has been a hole in our hearts for too long. Not anymore!  I think the format is much more aligned with a wider sonic landscape that is much better suited to New York than past eras.  Whether it's music's biggest stars such as Taylor, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts or the new guard of The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert and Florida Georgia Line, I think we're more ready than ever to take on the Big Apple." Borscetta is on the February 18th cover of Radio Ink Magazine.

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Finebaum's Time With Cumulus Is Done

1-21-2013

Cumulus has confirmed to Radio Ink that its relationship with sports talker Paul Finebaum is over. Finebaum's contract with Cumulus (which started with Citadel) has come to an end and he has been scrubbed from the WJOX Birmingham website. Cox has been openly courting Finebaum for WZNN (97.3 The Zone), and although everyone was tight-lipped yesterday, that's where Finebaum may wind up when his short non-compete ends.

There's also a possibility that Finebaum does his own thing and avoids working for any radio company directly. He may decide to syndicate his show himself and offer it out to affiliates willing to pay top dollar. There are few other sports talkers in that region that know college football as well as Finebaum does.

If Finebaum lands with Cox, those headline-making comments from Cumulus co-COO John Dickey will fall by the wayside. Back in June, Dickey told Talkers that Finebam "will never work for Cox in Birmingham." However, technically, Dickey may turn out to be correct. If the Cox deal to sell its Birmingham cluster happens before Finebaum goes back on the air, Dickey would have predicted correctly. Cox has been shopping around several of its markets, including Birmingham. The corporate office is not saying where that situation stands even though Cox was hopeful to get a deal done in late 2012. A few people close to the situation are saying something might make news in February.

Finebaum quietly settled litigation with Cumulus in 2012 after alleging Citadel coerced him into signing an unfavorable contract.

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KGED Sees Opening, Drives Conservative Truck Through It

1-21-2013

KGED 1680AM, in Fresno, announced a new lineup Tuesday that will feature Bill Bennett, Laura Ingraham, Mike Huckabee, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Clark Howard, and Dennis Prager. Former Mayor, and also co-owner of the station, Jim Patterson, is on the air Saturday and Sunday 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jim and Cyndi Franklin, also co-owners, will provide a daily commentary called ?Something to Talk About.? Before the flip, the station was Christian Talk.

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(TALENT) The Next Necessary Step

1-23-2013

Although not unique to radio, but pervasive anyway, many managers will read the following and, with a distinct hubris, declare they are the words of an arrogant (fill in the blank). However, I also offer the following observation: If I were a master mechanic, a dentist, a carpenter, or maybe a plumber who declared I could fix their leaks, these same managers might respond with, ?Okay. How much??

Most of us enjoy being recognized for providing something that others appreciate or enjoy. And so it was when I received a glowing, emailed response to the blogs I have been offering here. An indie operator with a number of stations in his portfolio praised me for stating explicitly, in a somewhat entertaining fashion, what so many other broadcast professionals have been thinking for years.

While I do appreciate the accolade, there is nothing I have written here by way of general criticisms that are particularly new. What is new is the Rx ? the alternative therapies ? I have been offering to generate a healing and a rebuilding of our unique medium.

My new friend was also quite candid and seemed to be implying that he wasn?t really quite sure what his next steps ? if any ? would be to enhance his position in his markets.

The known and available strategies are not particularly satisfying either. Management and ownership have been trained to be phobic of anything that looks, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels like an ?expense.? Their response has been to search out any factor that smacks of an expense?and to destroy it.

Talent and programming insist that a return to talent staffing levels similar to those of a distant, romanticized past is the way to go. Even I, as a fully paid-up member of the radio talent corps, am aware enough to realize that both of these strategies are recipes for disaster. Wiping out the talent base in the on-air and creative departments has decimated any potential for radio to struggle back to a fighting stance. Arbitrarily bringing talent back into the mix, however, would be a dangerous and expensive precedent, as well, especially when the talent would be, for the most part, no more effective or skilled than at any other time in our checkered past.

Those who pine for staffing levels of days gone by might be served by considering the following: Even back in the day, the vast majority of contemporary, music-radio, on-air talent was comprised of robo-jocks ? those individuals who had been weaned on format radio. These performers operated under severe limitations provided by programmers who had already distorted the essence of the Drake Format and had chiseled the jocks down to, in some cases, reading from 3x5 liner cards. Strong, unique and compelling talents were only slightly more prevalent than they are today. The situation was one of a hermetically sealed, internally competitive radio environment with no outside media screaming for and getting attention. Radio made up and played by its own rules. Those rules, in fact, haven?t applied for over 15 years.

In response to my new indie-friend, I made a number of suggestions:

?Until guys like yourself are willing to take on the task of re-training their staffs -- both on-air and creative -- they will be moseying into a gunfight, with moldy dinner rolls. Good and sincere intentions recognized, significant improvements to dominate a market that has been watered down by the biggies and, to be candid, equally diluted by shoddy broadcasting from most of the indies, will have to be undertaken.

"My model-of-training includes four full weekends of intensive, "live" group training on the techniques and strategies of a ?broadcast communicator? with constant monitoring and mentoring in the three weeks between each training. This is in order to allow for practice, experimentation, and attaining some competence before new material is addressed. (Compliance and application would be a condition of continued employment.)

"A represented sales staff would be included as they would need an appreciation of how this medium actually works and a confidence that their colleagues in programming and creative are in a position to deliver appealing and influential products and services that can be assertively taken to the street.

"I acknowledge that the managers with whom I have been having contact have yet to arrive at certain positions. It's not the one where they aren't already aware that significant changes are necessary. They are the ones where they wonder if or have a suspicion that those specific changes exist -- or if they are actually available. They do and they are.?

Meanwhile, radio now has no other avenue available. Until we begin applying the techniques of a ?broadcast communicator? in our on-air and commercial presentations, we are well and truly hooped. Perhaps the consolidated mega-corps will continue to dumb-down their properties to the point where vanilla syndications and voicetracks are pervasive -- a weak and pathetic example of ?McRadio.? Indies, sensing the tremendous pressure, may be likely to clone the strategy. If so, there goes ?The Radio Story.? Actually, the book on music radio?s story has been closed for some time.

While cobbling this article together, I snapped on one of the contemporary music stations here in Toronto -- North America?s fifth-largest market -- just in time to hear a 60-second break from a major market talent. A break in which I heard ?uhh? 10 times, ?you know? six times, jumbled, rambling syntax, vacuous content, and a ditzy tonality from an unknown (to me) individual who was also literally telling me what to do! That was so disheartening.

Meanwhile, how the telling of this story could be discounted as the ranting of an arrogant (fill in the blank) still strikes me as a sadly destructive and twisted exercise. It is here that I am reminded of a pertinent lyric: ?At the end, we all die crazy.?

Ronald T. Robinson has been involved in Canadian Radio since the '60s as a performer, writer and coach and has trained and certified as a personal counsellor. Ron makes the assertion that the most important communicative aspects of broadcasting, as they relate to Talent and Creative, have yet to be addressed. Visit Ron's website www.voicetalentguy.com

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TagStation Partners With Arctic Palm And ENCO

1-21-2013

Emmis has announced that TagStation is expanding support for on-air system integration from Arctic Palm's CSRDS and ENCO's PADapult datacasting systems. Although BE TRE remains the flagship middleware partnership, more options for stations that want to quickly launch TagStation with the services they currently use, can help with more rapid industry-wide adoption. Emmis is working on technology called NextRadio which will be incorporated into new Sprint smartphones. The technology will allow local radio stations to be played without using data.

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(SALES) Less Stress + Less Pressure = More Success

1-21-2013

The media industry has always been rife with stress for sales reps and their managers. The highs and lows of selling media can be as fast and furious as a roller coaster. I remember many a day in sales being on top of the world one minute only to be picking myself up off the floor in the next minute.

I am always perplexed when a sales rep talks about pressure. The first excuse I hear when things are not going well is, ?Sean, you?re putting too much pressure on me.? Really? I thought I was just asking Mr. or Ms. Sales Rep to do what they were being paid to do. What happens in pressure-cooker situations? Do we ?choke? as they say in sports, or do we find the best performance deep down in our gut?

With the Super Bowl approaching, I am reminded of something a former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, Jay Novacek, said about pressure. (Jay also happens to be my cousin.) Jay was a favorite target for quarterback Troy Aikman. When the Cowboys went to the Super Bowl in 1992 under Jimmy Johnson, this exchange between reporters was printed in the Houston Chronicle leading up to the game:

Reporter: Being the son of a coach and having brothers who were such great athletes, did that put more pressure on you to succeed?

Novacek: What is pressure? You can?t see pressure. You show me pressure.

Reporter: Aw, come on. You feel it in your stomach.

Novacek: Show me pressure.

Reporter: I?ll show you some guy?s EKG or something.

Novacek: Now, that?s stress. Pressure does not exist. There are a lot of things you feel, but pressure does not exist.
Reporter: All right, Sunday, the first play, you?re out there and there are going to be butterflies, right?

Novacek: Right!

Reporter: What is that?

Novacek: Butterflies. It?s like saying there are no problems in the world, there are only challenges.

Reporter: Have you always felt like this?

Novacek: Look, pressure is an excuse. They say, ?Well, you?re going to have a lot of pressure out there.? Well, it?s an excuse. Now you say, ?OK, there is pressure out there. If I do something wrong, it?s because of pressure.? It?s an excuse. Pressure doesn?t exist.

Reporter: You?re in the end zone. The ball comes to you. You catch it; it?s a touchdown. That?s not pressure?

Novacek: No, that?s a touchdown.

Jay went on to catch the first touchdown in that year?s Super Bowl against the Buffalo Bills, and I am sure he was feeling no pressure. The Denver Broncos might have benefitted last week from a defensive motivational speech from Jay. Instead, the Broncos lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs. The key play of the game for the Ravens was scoring a 70-yard touchdown strike with 31 seconds left in the 4th quarter to tie the game. The Ravens went on to win in double overtime. There were no excuses in that game!

Stress and pressure accompany burnout. Here are a few ways to avoid burnout and mind gaffes throughout the day:

1. Close the door, stop the calls, and get off the email. Filter out the excess noise, and focus only on what is really important. Shutting out the world is a tough thing to do when 30 people, including clients, are pulling in the same direction. Relaxing is recharging.

2. Learn to say ?no?! Otherwise, there might not be enough time to do the job. One of the great sources of stress is not being able to complete anything. Set clear boundaries with people who work around you.

3. Track non-performance time. Most companies measure performance. In addition, measure rest/recovery time. Some people will spend 50 to 60 hours a week on the job. Also calculate how much time is devoted to family. Set weekly goals for the number of dinners to have with family as well as the activities outside of work to accomplish.

4. Practice deep breathing. Many people will feel tired and lethargic when not getting enough oxygen to the brain. Take five minutes twice per day and practice some deep breathing. There is a Chinese adage that says, ?If you learn how to breathe properly, you will have the courage and strength of 10 tigers.?

5. Exercise. As legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi, once said, ?Fatigue makes cowards of us all.? Committing to an exercise program can change a person?s life forever. Find an exercise program that is enjoyable and do it!

6. Use humor. Humor is the greatest weapon humans possess. According to humorist Mark Twain, it is also the weapon that we use the least. Use humor in voicemail messages, emails with cartoons, and funny lines (keep it clean), or memos to the staff. Nothing so disturbs the center of gravity and relieves stress as a good laugh.

7. Take a nap. That is correct. Take a nap! Some of the top CEOs in Fortune 500 companies attribute 10 to 15 minutes of sleep as the best tool for recharging their bodies during the day.

Time is a finite resource, and we place infinite demands on it. However, everyone has a choice on how to use that time. Prioritize that time to make life less stressful and more enjoyable. No excuses!

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

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They Flipped To Country Because Of Us

1-21-2013

As to yesterday's news about the new Country station in NYC (NASH FM), we feel here at Thunder 106, that the real story behind the story is "how and why" this happened. I assure you EVERY media outlet writing this story will overlook the real reason. That sole reason has to do with the tremendous success that Thunder 106 has enjoyed in New Jersey, Staten Island, Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of Manhattan for many years. Had Thunder 106 failed to do what it has done, there still would be no Country outlet in NYC.

The fact that, for over 18 months, Thunder 106 has been #1 or #2 in almost every major Arbitron Demo in the Monmouth-Ocean Market (plus the Middlesex - Somerset - Union multi-county CSAR) speaks to "WHY" Cumulus decided to try Country in NYC. I have been told that "imitation is the greatest form of flattery" and we are flattered and proud that we helped bring Country music to additional listeners in NYC and north Jersey where our signals physically did not allow us to fully penetrate as a Class A radio station. We are proud of everything that Thunder 106 has accomplished and will accomplish moving forward. We have a brand that we feel is unparalleled in the industry as evidenced by Radio Ink's #3 ranking as America's most favored Country radio station, as voted on by "listeners." WOW! That is really something to be proud of and we ARE humbled and proud.

I know that no matter who comes to compete against us, we have a formula that is not replicatable. Our dedication and focus on breaking new "rocking" Country artists is something that very few stations will take the chance to emulate. We know that most radio stations fail to want to break artists before they reach Top 30 "status" on any of the Billboard charts or Media Base charts, thereby (in our opinion) creating "homogenized" radio. Other stations are mono-focused on "Mscores" and how music is treated by listeners in the PPM world. While we pay attention to those types of metrics, we also believe in doing an exhaustive amount of homework in other areas, and we pride ourselves on "knowing" our listeners and delivering what we know works.

WE WILL NEVER BE A FOLLOWER AND WE WILL LEAD AND BRING RELEVANT COUNTRY MUSIC TO OUR AUDIENCES! We also know that we have developed a brand affinity with listeners and we don's state this lightly, but Thunder 106 is our listeners' radio station. I cannot emphasize this enough. That is not some tag line that sounds good for marketing materials, but rather we feel our station does belong to our listeners and we will deliver what they want 24/7 365 days a year. We pay attention to everything that our audiences ask for and then deliver it for them. With this in mind, we will never fail them and we know they will never lose their affinity for what we do.

We are equally proud of the other extremely creative things we have done in the broadcasting business. Our company has a 122-year history in NJ. We were at one time an independent newspaper group, Internet company, direct mail service, TV station owner, and radio group owner (and first FM licensee in the state of NJ back in 1946 with WJLK, which stood for the company's newspaper founder J. Lyle Kinmouth). In fact, in radio we were one of, if not the very first station in America, to bring talk to the FM dial when we created NJ 101.5 FM -- "Not NY, Not Philadelphia, but proud to be NJ" in 1989. In keeping with that heritage, we were also the only radio station that also featured the "Home of the No Repeat Work Week" that was done on our AC station called The Breeze (107.1FM/99.7FM). Again, everyone said that there was no way to program a station without repeats all week long and yet we did and grew a heritage station in NJ in the process.
So with all that said, we will expand in making a real difference for listeners and we will look to other avenues through our recently added affiliation with PMCM TV LLC (partners of PMCM TV are also partners of Press Communications, LLC, the parent company of all our radio properties in NJ) which will be bringing long-awaited truly local TV coverage to NJ.

Rich Moreno is part owner and General Manager of Thunder Country in New Jersey and can be reached by e-mail at r35morena@aol.com

(1/22/2013 10:38:23 PM)
I first have to admit that I have been a fan of Press for a long time - My first big goal in radio was to work for them at the old WJLK when it was in downtown Asbury Park. So that may color my opinion some, however...

Having been in their shoes elsewhere in NJ I know EXACTLY what Rich is talking about and in fact had the same thought before this article was even published. Back in the 70's WCRV in rural Northwestern NJ broke new ground by bringing the country format to that part of the state and the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. (Our GM was Nick DiRienzo who probably everybody who ever worked in NJ worked for or knew at one time or another - yes, he let the inmates run the asylum but it was one of the better programmed stations in the state.)

It took a couple three years but our success was apparently well noted across the river in Allentown when WAEB's FM (then-WXKW) took on the format with their 50kw @ 500' Class B.

Instant #1 ratings for them (and me...I joined them a few months after they switched). Yes, a different market and very different from NYC but their AM station WAEB ruled the market for a long time with a format very similar to WABC's, so is it so different really?

I wish Cumulus success with the new format and congratulate Press for their success and hope that it continues even with the big boys next door galloping their way. Thunder does have some coverage of their home market that Nash 94.7 doesn't so with that, and their commitment to the format and their market I think they'll be just fine.

(1/22/2013 9:58:27 PM)
So how long until Nash forces you to shuffle deck yet again and bring back G-Rock?
(1/22/2013 8:47:50 PM)
Humble? Really?

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(SOCIAL) Is Your Social Media Off Track?

1-23-2013

Of course, you are doing social media. Isn?t every radio station in America? You call them up and they say, ?Oh, yes. We are on both Facebook and Twitter. We are really active. We have a bunch of likes on Facebook, too.?  But here are five important ways you can tell if your social media is off track and you may be wasting your time, effort, and money -- or you might even be doing yourself some harm. So, let?s look at the five:

1. You don?t have a strategic and well thought out plan for your activities in social media and you don?t have any goals. You should consider what your official social media strategic plan is; and what elements should constitute ongoing daily execution to engage the audience you most want to attract and provide the highest quality content that will begin the real conversations between your personalities and listeners. That has real value that can lead to multiple new tune-in opportunities, loyalty. and spreading.

2. Your Facebook page is all about ?listen to me? or contesting. Well-balanced Facebook pages have content serving a variety of interests of your target listeners. Think of it as being almost like running a political campaign. Different people identify with your brand for different reasons and new people will be attracted by different kinds of content on social media. If you are careful to make contesting 20 percent or less of the regular and consistent content and mix in a variety of highly targeted local based creative content, you can truly engage the most important social media ?actives? in your market within your target demo and life group.

3. There is no real interaction between your on-air personalities and listeners. Social media is really all about validation. People want to belong; they want to be validated for who they are and social media is a place where they seek this validation with high passion and resolve. If you make local listener validation a big focus of what you are doing on social media, you are sure to win real results for your efforts. Social media is not a broadcast of only your ideas. In fact, your validation of listener ideas and feedback, along with engaging them on their own Facebook and Twitter, can have the most powerful impact for your brands. And here is a tip: You should consider doing this validation at the ?personality level? (and not the brand) so that your morning show talent may be commenting on a listener's Facebook page.

4. Your social media content does not look, feel, or resonate local, local, local. We all know that local is the greatest, and really only, opportunity (even though several large broadcast companies are doing so much to be national-focused). Serve the local community in your social media engagement and your opportunities and loyal listener ?social media following? will grow.

5. Your social media plan does not have an element of strategy to generate non-traditional dollars while focusing on real needs and wants of your target listeners. Essentially, radio stations have to develop more dollars and social media can be a big player in this. However, you should be careful to focus on listener benefits. Posting a deal on tires isn?t a cool idea. Solve problems for listeners and talk about experiences, but some of those can be paid and associated with radio buys. Money is money. Even social media money.

In the 1950s, radio stations all across the country had ?DJs? that just ?came in for their shift carrying the records they wanted to play.? You wouldn?t do that today, but many radio stations allow the images and content displayed on social media to ?often just happen.? This is a mistake. It is time to take control of these reasonably important tools and make sure your team is pulling in the same direction and following a plan you design.

If you don?t have a plan for your social media, that is a good place to start. Engage in focusing on the listeners you most want to attract in your market and then think about the important human aspects of what is important in social media: validation, appreciation, back and forth engagement, and giving listeners benefits that draw them back to your actual broadcast brand on a regular basis. And please remember that content, variety, high content value (to the listener), and creativity are the keys to keeping people interested and engaged. Not just contesting elements designed to hype listeners back to your page.

Really! If you don?t have a plan for this stuff, stop and get one. It could mean a big difference in your future.
You can create new opportunities for yourself and your brand in 2013 if you spend just a little bit of time focused on listeners and the real content opportunities to get sticky with existing and a new, potential audience.

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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CBS Will Have Two Sports Stations In D.C.

1-21-2013

Gov.Biz Radio will no longer exist in Washington D.C. as of January 28. CBS will take that dial position for its new 24-hour sports network, giving the company two sports stations in the number seven market. CBS also owns 106.7 The Fan in D.C. which is the home of the very popular Sports Junkies morning show. They'll now compete with Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney, and Dana Jacobson in the morning slot, in addition to both stations having a full roster of sports talkers.

CBS Sports Radio 1580?s launch coincides with the Super Bowl, as the network provides nearly 75 hours of unprecedented access, live from New Orleans, in anticipation of the CBS Television Network?s exclusive broadcast of Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, February 3. Listeners can hear the station at 1580AM, www.cbsdc.com, or via the Radio.com app for a variety of mobile devices.
Steve Swenson, Senior Vice President/Market Manager, CBS Radio Washington, D.C. says, ?We are proud to offer area sports fans an All-Star lineup that caters to their local and national sports interests. 106.7 THE FAN knows D.C. sports like no one else, and CBS Sports is a clear leader when it comes to breaking down the day?s headlines and stories breaking across the country. As a result of this impressive combination of stations, there?s no argument we will be the dominant sports voice in the city.?

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Melissa Joins Boston's New Hot 96.9

1-16-13

Melissa joins Greater Media's New Hot 96.9 FM for on-air duties. She most recently served as a producer and personality on the JAM'N 94.5 morning show with Ramiro Torres. Greater Media Boston Director of Programming Cadillac Jack said, "Melissa is a talent who I've had the pleasure of knowing, having watched her development and growth over many years. The Boston audience loves her contagious energy and enthusiasm. Melissa will be perfect for the all-new Hot 96.9 and I'm looking forward to many more great times with her in the years to come."

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Triton Unveils Automated Buying Platform

1-17-2013

Triton Digital has introduced a product called "a2x," an advertising exchange that allows advertisers to programmatically buy targeted online and mobile audio inventory in real time. The platform provides a system for managing, buying, and selling third-party advertising campaigns. Triton will use consumer data from eXelate to help deliver highly targeted ads.

Triton Digital Chief Operating Officer Mike Agovino said, ?Marketers are increasingly relying on ad exchanges and real-time bidding to reach their target audiences in an effective manner. Streaming audio?s exponential growth has created an exciting new digital advertising channel, and a2x is exactly what the market needs to streamline the buying process, making the ads more accessible, and enabling publishers to better monetize their content."

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How Dave Kaelin Got Into Radio

1-18-2013

Back in the 80s my husband did nights at WLS AM/FM in Chicago. It was a rock radio war and his competitor was Dave Robbins. Although neither of these talented individuals considered themselves competitors, they followed each other?s careers and with time became friends. Soon there were children and Dave moved to Columbus. From his on-air success he moved over to the management side and became the general manager of the juggernaut known as WNCI. Dave worked with a morning show that was, in his words, ?the best I?ve ever heard.? When Dave left Columbus and moved back to Chicago, he asked me to take very good care of his boys, Dave and Jimmy.

The Dave & Jimmy Show was an outstanding morning show that had taken Columbus by storm and kept WNCI in the #1 position in every key demo. There was the dulcet toned Dave Kaelin and the energy ridden Jimmy Jam; two guys who couldn?t be more the polar opposites. Dave was married with kids, Jimmy was single and dating every young lady in the state of Ohio. It was an honor for me to work with two such talented pro?s; but better was the opportunity to become friends with my clients. Dave is 24/7; he lives his job every minute of every day. Radio comes first, second, and third; and his family supports his love for the craft and gives him the freedom to deliver one of the best shows in radio. If you haven?t heard The Dave & Jimmy Show, you haven?t experienced radio?s best.

But let's hear from the man himself. Dave, how did you get into radio?....

Drawing, of course!

I drew all my life, was an editorial cartoonist for a couple newspapers, won some awards for animation, and just assumed I would study graphic arts in college. But my "arts" college, Edinboro University, also had a fantastic college station. It didn't take long for a friend of mine to invite me to watch him on his shift and, immediately, I wanted to give radio a try. Several months later, I switched majors and never looked back.

My first paid job was babysitting the overnight Larry King radio show; and by babysitting, I mean pressing an ID twice an hour. I made $60 a week. Eventually I was promoted to a shift at WSEG in Erie, which ran Top 40 music off four giant reel-to-reel machines (that was like trying to drive a car with three wheels). Even with the low pay and lower tech, I absolutely loved the job!

My father was a steelworker, and he thought eventually I'd get this ?radio thing? out of my system and come back to Pittsburgh to learn "the craft." What was the craft you ask? Welding at 1200 feet in the air. Pass!

WSEG was eventually sold and we were all let go. I wasn't bummed because I had a job waiting for me in Central PA., on the top of a mountain with 97KYN. This new drop-in station couldn't afford a studio away from the transmitter, so our studio was in the trailer beneath the transmitter. 97KYN had the highest transmitter site in all of PA. Getting up and down the mountain was done on dirt roads which were covered in heavy snow in winter; and there were no living opportunities besides hunting cabins. My "neighbors" were deer and bears, and my ?off-road vehicle? was a Chevette. I lived in this cabin where the only heat was the fire and if it went out, you froze. I learned the foibles of green wood and morning drive. Even with the mountain living and mountain audience, I absolutely loved the job!

Shortly after my time on WSEG, I was called back up to the "majors" of Erie and WJET. I said it then and I'll say it now: JET-FM was fantastic, 100 percent personality radio. They wanted it, they nurtured it, and they paid great salaries to back it up. This industry could still learn a lesson from owner Myron Jones and Program Director Jim Cook; any signal can carry music, but the real relationships are made by talented people and the management that supports them. I absolutely loved the job!

In 1990, I lucked into WNCI (I say "lucked" because Columbus and Nationwide Broadcasting was much better than I even realized when I took the job). I met a wide-eyed intern about my age named Jimmy Jam, and we're still at it to this day and fortunate to have an amazing streak at #1. WNCI offers us all the big boy toys and creative space, and Columbus has been VERY good to us; it?s an amazing city. Personally, having all of my kids go through just one school district K-12 means a lot to me, considering the suitcase nature of radio. By syndicating the show we have had the opportunity to ?explore? the country and the great radio stations which serve its people. It has given us a broader perspective, without the need to weld at 1200 feet. I?ll never get this ?radio thing? out of my system.

I absolutely love my job!

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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