Dick Broadcasting Switches To Eastlan

5-26-15

Eastlan CEO Mike Gould says Dick Broadcasting is the first broadcaster in a PPM market to move from Nielsen to Eastlan. Eastlan Ratings will field its initial audience measurement study in the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem market in Summer 2015. Dick Broadcasting?s VP/GM Dick Harlow said the move to Eastlan was common sense. ?I was surprised to learn that we are the first to make this switch in a PPM market. The meter was supposed to be the savior and all it?s done is increase our annual payments to Nielsen. And now we find out to win in the PPM game you need a magic black box to job the system. At some point, enough is enough. We look forward to working with Eastlan Ratings to see who people in the Triad choose to listen to rather than who they are exposed to. Plus the sample size will be about triple the number of meters now in the market.?

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Capital Broadcasting Owner Dies At Age 67

6-29-14

After a short battle with cancer, Capital Broadcasting's John Webb has died. Webb was owner and GM of KLO, KBZN, and KSQN in Salt lake City. A release from the company said, "John?s vision and dream of a family-run business that engaged its employees in a manner and style that was consistent with his personality, made the Capital Broadcasting group of stations a desirable place at which to work and excel. In a post-consolidation era, there are few remaining family-run radio stations. Capital Broadcasting is committed to retaining the independence that John Webb championed."

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Nebraska Broadcasting Pioneer John Mitchell Dies

3-3-14

The former owner of Mitchell Broadcasting died at the age of 89 on Friday while dining with family and friends. While attending college in 1924, Mitchell worked as an announcer for KGFW and would up purchasing the station in 1953. He moved to Omaha in 1968 and later purchased KRCB in Council Bluffs and other stations through the years. Mitchell was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1996 and in 2013 was honored with the Broadcast Pioneer Award from the University of Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass Communications and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association. Read more HERE. (Picture courtesy Nebraska Broadcasters Association.)

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Backyard Broadcasting Deal Closes

1-2-13

Barry Drake closes his deal with Dan Farr in Pennsylvania. It's Farr's first acquisition, however he's been running the Williamsport cluster of radio stations for Drake and, before Backyard, for Sabre Communications. The deal is the final sale for Drake getting him out of the radio business. KALIL & CO. was the exclusive broker for this transaction. This stations in the deal are: WILQ(FM); WLMY(FM); WWPA(AM); W267BJ, Williamsport; WBZD(FM), Muncie; WZXR(FM), South Williamsport; WCXR(FM), Lewisburg. 

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Steve Harvey To Join NAB Broadcasting Hall Of Fame

12-9-13

Steve Harvey will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame at the NAB Show Radio Luncheon, set for April 8 in Las Vegas and sponsored by ASCAP. Harvey, who began his career in the '80s as a standup comedian, hosts the Premiere-syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, as well as TV's Family Feud and the Steve Harvey talk show. He's also a best-selling author whose books include Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man and was the longtime host of Showtime at the Apollo. Harvey has been an actor, host, writer, and producer for a number of TV and film projects.

"Steve Harvey entertains people of all ages with his unique and humorous perspective on life," NAB EVP/Radio John David said. "Mr. Harvey's dedication and talent have earned him great success, and we are thrilled to induct him into NAB's Broadcasting Hall of Fame."

The Steve Harvey Morning Show debuted in 2000 and has been syndicated by Premiere since 2005; it's now heard on more than 70 stations and on iHeartRadio. With his induction into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Harvey will join such broadcasting legends as Dave Ramsey, Gerry House, Vin Scully, Rick Dees, and Ron Chapman.

(12/9/2013 6:54:50 PM)
He sure did a lousy & inappropriate job on his show today, trying to be so funny toward the last when that auto mech. lady was on.
People were trying to LEARN something!
Could tell by audience's expression that they were irritated.
Timing was very wrong, in our estimation.

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(SALES) Young Seller, Old-School Broadcasting

10-11-2013

I have been approached several times in the past couple of years by younger broadcast sellers who feel uncomfortable because they don?t personally use all of the products they are selling. In other words, they (and their friends) don?t listen to traditional radio. They (and many of their friends) find traditional television so old-school they don?t even HAVE one in their living rooms. Their moral dilemma seems to be, ?How can I sell something I secretly don?t really use or even like??

A few years ago, I went into radio because I loved rock music. I wound up working at a Country station and a Beautiful Music station. My dilemma then was, ?What a shame. I like rock but I have to sell Beautiful Music and Country Music formats (sigh).? Frankly, that attitude lasted about two months, when I realized how easy our formats were to sell and HOW MUCH we could charge to play our clients' commercials on our stations.

I have a male friend who made a fortune opening stores that sold women?s clothing. As far as I know, he never wore the clothes he sold (?) but he knew what women wanted and he catered to them and made a lot of money.
There is no question that we are rapidly moving into a new digital world. New technologies are, and will continue to have, an incredible impact on how people watch us and listen to us. But the bottom line is that right now, at this point in time, 90 percent of the U.S. population still listens to broadcast radio and watches traditional television each and every week. What?s not to like about that? You can?t sell that? Sure you can. Package it up with mobile texting, streaming, social media, and whatever new digital opportunities come your way and will continue to land on your plate. But remember, right now traditional broadcast is still the entr?e.

With this fact in mind, when you hear from clients, ?Boy, I?ll bet (satellite radio, Pandora, Google, Hulu, iRadio, DVR, Roku, whatever?) is kicking your a**!? do your job and remind them about the 90 percent thing. It?s your job to dispel myths. As Daniel Moynihan famously said, ?Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own set of facts.? And again, the fact is that an overwhelming percentage of Americans still enjoy traditional radio and television.

Did you know that the average age of a car on the road right now is 12 years? Never before in history have Americans hung onto their cars for that period of time. And the driver?s dash still has a radio in it. Television viewing increases with the brilliant new HD and 3-D products that are now affordably available to us. DVRs actually cause MORE people to watch television than ever before. Engineers are developing very nice new interactive products to ensure radio?s place in the dashboard of the future.

Now is a great time to be in the broadcasting business. Additionally, for the first time, traditional Yellow Page customers are up for grabs. Direct mail devotees are looking at alternative ways to advertise. The formerly most-adamant newspaper advertiser is now looking for new media venues.

You?re in the catbird seat. Sell the new technology as it becomes available to your stations. But don?t ignore the elephant in the room. Traditional broadcast stations still have 90 percent population penetration. And that is really better than a slap across the belly with a sack full of wet mice.

Paul Weyland is a broadcast sales trainer, author, and speaker. You can reach him at paul@paulweyland.com  or by phone at (512) 236 1222. Find Paul?s books, CDs and software at www.paulweyland.com or on www.amazon.com.

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Wes Adams Joins URBan Radio Broadcasting

Wes Adams Joins URBan Radio Broadcasting

URBan Radio Broadcasting and The Shoals' Radio Group have announced the addition of Wes Adams to the company's programming staff. Adams joins the company next week as PD/Afternoon Driver for Country WLAY-FM in the Florence/Muscle Shoals. Previous programming stops for Adams include WCRX-FM/Chicago, WXQR-FM/Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC, WZVN-FM, WLJE-FM and WAKE-FM/Valporaiso, IN  and WZNX/Decatur, IL. Adams replaces the late Kevin Whorton, who passed away suddenly from heart failure in August.

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Smulyan A Giant Of Broadcasting

7-22-13

The Emmis Founder and CEO will be honored at the 11th annual Giants of Broadcasting event sponsored by the Library of American Broadcasting which celebrates "distinguished leadership or performance in television and radio." The event will be held October 16 in New York?s Gotham Hall. Additional 2013 honorees include Anne Sweeney, Alex Trebek, Barry Diller, Morley Safer, Dick Cavett, Robert L. Johnson, David E. Kelley, Richard E. Wiley, Richard Leibner, and Carole Cooper.

Tickets, reservations for tables, and individual tickets, may be arranged through Jessica Wolin, 212-685-4233, jessicawolin@gmail.com. For press, contact Ellyn Fisher, 212-984-1964, efisher@adcouncil.org

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Dial Global Broadcasting Benefit Concert

5-29-13

In cooperation with NBC-TV, Dial Global will provide a radio simulcast of tonight's ?Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert? airing live from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City (9pm ET). The concert and telethon, which sold out in :30 seconds, was organized by Country star and Oklahoma native Blake Shelton, who will headline the event. Miranda Lambert, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Usher, and Ryan Tedder from One Republic are also performing.

Dial Global is offering the simulcast to all of its Country radio affiliates and to every country radio station in the US, in addition to radio stations of all formats in Tornado Alley. ?Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert? is set to raise money to aid victims of the deadly tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma on Monday, May 20.  The tornado killed at least 24 people, injured hundreds, and damaged houses, hospitals, and schools in both Moore and Oklahoma City.  Funds will go to the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund.

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Alpha Broadcasting Loves The Ducks

4-25-13

It's not only pro sports finding a home on radio, college sports score big for the medium as well. Alpha Broadcasting's 750 The Game (KXTG-AM) in Portland, Oregon, and the University of Oregon Ducks have announced a multi-year partnership that includes play-by-play coverage of Oregon football and basketball. Alpha Broadcasting COO Bob Proffitt said, ?With the truly national brand of Oregon football, and emerging basketball, baseball, and really the entire sports programs in such an elite position, we could not be happier as the Portland flagship station of the Ducks and we look forward to many more years to come.?

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Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting Hit With $60K In Fines

2-28-2013

The FCC comes down hard on four FMs in Casper, Wyoming, for not having a complete public file. The commission inspected the stations in August of 2011 and alleges that KASS-FM, KHOC-FM, KMLD-FM, and KQLT-FM were missing 23 consecutive quarters of issues/programs lists. Every quarter was missing since the commission granted the renewals back in 2005. Each station was issued an NAL of $15,000 and has 30 days to get into compliance. This is not the first time Mt. Rushmore has felt the wrath of the FCC.

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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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Erica Farber, George Beasley Named Giants of Broadcasting

7/17/2012

Two of Radio's 40 Most Powerful have been named Giants of Broadcasting by Library of American Broadcasting. The award celebrates "distinguished leadership or performance in television and radio."  An event to hone this years recipients will be held October 18th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. 140 others have been honored by the Library since 2003.

Additional winners of the award this year are Norman Lear, Ted Turner, Andy Rooney, Sir Howard Stringer, Don Cornelius, Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer. This is the 10th year for the awards.

Read our recent cover story
with Eric Farber HERE

Read our cover story with
George Beasley
celebrating 50 years in radio HERE

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Woodbury Retires From Northern Lights Broadcasting

5-30-2012

Northern Lights Broadcasting President and CEO Steve Woodbury is retiring as of September 1st. In Woodbury?s 40-year radio career, he has been an on-air announcer, program director, sales manager and general manager at multiple radio stations. He is also a member of the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Since 2007, he has headed up Northern Lights Broadcasting for The Pohlad Companies, overseeing the acquisition and development of new radio stations and formats. Woodbury said, ?Working with The Pohlad Companies has been a fantastic end to my career. I?ve loved the association and the friendships.? Woodbury said.

As of tomorrow Sam Gagliardi will assume the title of senior vice president and general manager for Northern Lights Broadcasting. Gagliardi has been with Northern Lights Broadcasting since 2004, most recently as vice president and station manager, and has been in radio broadcasting for more than 20 years.

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Marc Guralnick New CEO at Main Line Broadcasting

5-7-2012

Main Line Broadcasting has appointed Marc Guralnick as CEO and Lee Simonson as Executive Chairman. Guralnick has over 20 years of experience in the radio industry and has been Main Line?s Executive Vice President of Sales since 2005. Prior to Main Line, Guralnick held senior leadership positions at Clear Channel, Root Communications, and Chancellor.

Lee Simonson has over 40 years of experience in the radio industry as both an operator and an advisor. Currently, Mr. Simonson is the President of Simonson Associates, an advisory firm. Main Line has 19 stations in four mid-sized markets: Louisville, KY, Dayton, OH, Richmond, VA, and Hagerstown, MD. The Company is based in West Conshohocken, PA.

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Regional Reps Adds Forum Broadcasting

4-30-2012

Independent sales rep firm Regional Reps has signed a deal with Forum Broadcasting in Del Rio, Texas. Regional Reps will handle national sales for KDLK-FM and KTJK-AM. Owner Larry Mariner said, ?After years of being familiar with the well earned reputation of Regional Reps, Forum Broadcasting is proud to announce our partnership with their dedicated staff to represent KDLK and KTJK. We look forward to our coordinated work with their talented team and we intend to demonstrate our market can be a unique force among the excellent radio broadcasters represented by Regional Reps.?

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Sunrise Broadcasting Shines For Children's Hospital

12-16-2011

Here's another example of the close relationship radio has with its listeners. Sunrise Broadcasting's Sunny 104.5 in Wilmington, NC recently teamed with the Betty H. Cameron Women?s and Children?s Hospital. Market Manager Brian Schimmel tells Radio Ink a radiothon was held with the goal of purchasing much needed new equipment. "In 2011 the goal was to purchase two pediatric ambulatory EEG units that allow for a 48 to 72 hours of continuous EEG on a youngster to help in the diagnosis of seizure disorders."

The radiothon is two days broadcast from the lobby of the women?s and children?s hospital. The story of the hospital is told with interviews from hospital staff. The interviews are lengthy with parents of patients telling their stories about the outstanding and sometimes miraculous care their kids received.  The interviews are edited and worked into appropriate contemporary songs and in 5-6 minutes most of them will tug at the heartstrings and help bring out the dollars. 

The radiothon is two days broadcast from the lobby of the women?s and children?s hospital. The story of the hospital is told with interviews from hospital staff. The interviews are lengthy with parents of patients telling their stories about the outstanding and sometimes miraculous care their kids received.  The interviews are edited and worked into appropriate contemporary songs and in 5-6 minutes most of them will tug at the heartstrings and help bring out the dollars. Schimmel says, "We reached our goal to buy two of the EEG units by encouraging our audience and sponsors to donate. Over $33,000 was brought in, a 20% increase over 2010. 

Send Brian a written pat on the back for his teams efforts here: bschimmel@cbc-sunrise.com

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Our Special Beasley Broadcasting Birthday Issue

It was 50 years ago that George Beasley went on the air with his first radio station in Benson, NC. Today the company has 42 stations in 11 markets and nearly 650 employees. In the current issue of Radio Ink we give readers a complete timeline of events celebrating the Beasley success story. Along the way, many exciting events took place in the life of this successful broadcast family and we've spoken to many people involved in those events. In fact, we had too many interviews to fit between the printed pages.

An additional 6 pages of content can be found in our digital edition of this special Basley Broadcasting issue. Those 6 pages include an audio interview with Rick Dees about his long friendship with the Beasley family, audio interviews with Tommy Edward, Randy Kabrich, David Van Dyke. All three men were involved in the CBS/Beasley Oldies battle in Los Angeles. They tell some great stories. Our expanded digital edition also includes video from Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan, NAB EVP/Radio John David and Commonwealth Broadcasting CEO Steve Newberry.

In addition to our expanded Beasley coverage we also feature radio's Best Managers for 2011. In our expanded digital issue we have expanded interviews with 7 of the managers who made it on our list. In those extra pages these managers go into greater details about how they succeed in their markets, the challenges they expect to face in 2012 and what makes them a great manager. In all, the November 21st issue of Radio Ink has 14 extra pages of content to help you succeed at your job every day. Radio Ink, in digital format, is delivered directly to your inbox as soon as it is published. it's easy to read, easy to print pages and easy to go back to and revisit whenever you need it.

To order your digital for only $49.00 FOR THE YEAR Click HERE

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Happy 50th Birthday Beasley Broadcasting

2011 marks the 50th year Beasley broadcasting has been in existence. The company was started by President and CEO George Beasley, who will turn 80 in April, in Benson, NC back in 1961 when he paid his uncle about $1,000 to put in an application to the FCC that led to the original Beasley station, a 500-watt daytimer, WPYB-AM (pictured). The November 21st issue of Radio Ink features George Beasley and we discuss with him the key business decisions he made along the way that have led to the Beasley Broadcasting success. The company is public, employs 646 people at 42 stations in 11 markets. One of those decisions along the way could have bankrupt the company at the hands of CBS.

When George Beasley purchased KRTH in Los Angeles in the 1980's for $86 million, he understates the risk. "It was a roll of the dice." In fact it was one of the largest deals of its time. And, lurking in the weeds was CBS. CBS was known for putting out great oldies products and was poised to take on Beasley's new toy in L.A. David Van Dyke was the General Manager of CBS's KODJ at the time. Here is asnippet of the audio you will hear in the November 21st issue about the great battle between KRTH and KODJ.

To order your issue of Radio Ink go HERE
In the November 21st issue we have produced a lot of extra digital only content, both in the Beasley broadcasting feature and in our special report, "The Best Manager's in Radio."
To order an annual digital subscription of Radio Ink for $49.00 go HERE

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Public Broadcasting Without Government Funding

by Gordon Hastings

Anticipating the reduction or removal of government funding and the immediate need to find sources of replacement revenue, NPR and public broadcasting stations must petition the Federal Communications Commission to remove its current restrictions on underwriting and sponsorship announcements for public stations.
The FCC rules regarding non-commercial and educational stations state,
?Noncommercial and educational stations may acknowledge contributions over the air, but they may not broadcast commercials or otherwise promote the goods and services of for-profit donors or underwriters.? The elimination of this regulation will give public broadcasters greater latitude with which to replace the lost government income.
National and local public radio management can enhance income streams independent of government funding by maximizing the value of their audiences through increased unrestricted sponsorships.  Because programming content is so compelling, audiences will continue to demand its availability and accept a transition to a greater presence of on-air sponsors if creatively presented in moderation and good taste. A strong argument can be made that sponsorships would be a better alternative for the audience than increasing listener on air fund raising campaigns.
Commercial radio broadcasters have created a large programming void that is being satisfied by public stations. As an example, according to the latest State of the Media report NPR weekly audience has grown more than 58% since 2000.
Consolidation during the past decade has changed the business model for commercial broadcasters. Many stations are no longer programmed locally and have reduced or eliminated their local news operations. In many cities and towns, local public stations now have larger staff commitments to local news reporting and feature programming than commercial stations.
Public radio broadcasting at both the national and local level has reacted to market changes with a wellspring of programming creativity, which is being embraced by listeners in growing numbers. Arbitron, the national research company that quantifies radio listening, reports that weekly listening to NPR programming exceeds 28 million individuals. This number does not include listeners to local public stations. Commercial radio, which built its success upon localism, is clearly being challenged in information and non-music entertainment programming.
Stations will continue to gain in audience primarily because there is substantially less news and long form programming competition from music dominated commercial radio. While there is abundant talk programming in the commercial sector, most successful national programs including Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck are ideology driven. Ironically, ?ideology? has been a criticism of NPR in the debate over public funding.
Public broadcastings stations should be forewarned however, that commercial radio broadcasters are very nimble. If commercial radio stations witness a substantial continued migration of their music listeners to new electronic devices, those stations would view the success of the news, information and long form programming on public stations as an opportunity for themselves and make frequency space available as direct competitors.
Currently, NPR programs including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air and local public radio programs like The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC in New York City or the Faith Middleton Show on Connecticut Public Broadcasting are unique to their respective markets. NPR and local public radio stations can monetize these valuable audiences individually and as an ad-hoc network of stations by creating a national marketing organization.   According to the January 2011 Arbitron, WNYC AM-FM in New York City alone reaches 1,027,000 individuals weekly.
Today, the public radio-programming environment offers exclusive program branding opportunities for sponsors. Public radio is already allowing more enhanced underwriting sponsorships and a transition to greater commercial support is inevitable. Good management policy can prevent over commercialization and any encroachment upon good taste and editorial independence.
Technological advancements for public radio content including podcasts, websites and programming for mobile devices (Apps) can provide public broadcasting stations additional sponsor revenue potential without impacting on-air programming.
The future bodes well for NPR and local public radio operating under an independent, sustainable and predictable business model that supports and encourages monetizing the value of its audience. There is a strong marketing opportunity to communicate with national, regional and local businesses seeking brand association with excellent content. NPR and local stations need to place greater resources behind this effort. With good management, it can be accomplished in harmony with the mission of NPR, public stations and their audiences. 
In the final analysis, public broadcasters may find sponsors easier and more reliable to work with than the government. 
Gordon Hastings is President of  ghhManagement and can be reached via e-mail HERE

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