January Auto Sales Expected To be Strong

2-2-15

It's typically the slowest month of the year for radio's biggest ad category, however forecasters say auto sales have begun 2015 much stronger than 2014, when extremely cold weather kept car buyers away from many dealerships. GM is expected to post a 20 percent increase, with the other Detroit 3 automakers also on track for double-digit gains, according to Automotive News. January light-vehicle sales should be about 13 percent higher than a year ago, according to TrueCar.com and Kelley Blue Book. Automakers are scheduled to report January sales tomorrow.

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CBS, Beasley Deal Expected to Close Today

12-1-14

The deal between CBS Radio and Beasley Broadcasting announced in early October is expected to close today. Beasley has already announced who will run the Tampa market when the FCC sign-off  makes this deal official (See Kent Dunn story below). Beasley is trading fives major market stations, two in Philadelphia and three in Miami for 14 CBS stations. Beasley will be picking up six in Tampa, just up the road from the company's home base in Naples, seven in Charlotte, and Sports Radio WIP-AM in Philadelphia.

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No Staff Changes Expected From The Omni Sale

11-13-14

Through the acquisition, Hubbard says it will add 100 employees. "The company expects no programming or personnel changes for any of the acquired stations. Omni Broadcasting President Lou Buron said, ?Hubbard Broadcasting is a leader in our industry, and we believe that our stations could not be in better hands. Hubbard Broadcasting will be able to provide significant scale and growth potential to these stations, which well-positions our customers, employees, and listeners for the future.? With the sale, Omin exits the radio business. Patrick Communications was the seller?s exclusive broker for this transaction. The sale price was not disclosed and the FCC still needs to approve the deal.

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As Expected Reba Joins Nash Icon Label

As Radio Ink reported back on May 14, Reba is the first artist to be signed to the new joint venture label between Big Machine and Cumulus. Tuesday morning the announcement was made on America?s Morning Show with Blair Garner.

Big Machine Label Group President Scott Borchetta said, ?As Reba and I get to enter into another phase of our business relationship that dates back to 1991, I am again reminded of the power of all things Reba. Her presence, her vocal prowess, her song selection, her passion? it?s unequaled in her multi-decade career and we will again blaze new trails together. I can?t think of a more important artist or voice to crown as our first Icon artist as there are none truer to the definition.? 

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U.S. Ad Spending Expected to Increase 3.4% This Year

8-15-14

That's the word from GroupM which just released its global ad spending forecast. The company says global ad spending will reach $534 billion in 2014 -- a 4.5% increase over 2013. The 3.4% forecast for U.S. spending would result in a total spend of $162 Billion. In 2015, the company projects the U.S. market to grow another 4.2% to $168.3 billion. GroupM's North America Chief Investment Officer Rino Scanzoni says, ?The U.S market should experience moderate Ad growth in 2015 consistent with nominal GDP. We expect 2015 overall Ad volume to exceed the 2006 high water mark of $161.9B by 4% on a nominal basis. TV share should remain consistent. Digital share of Ad revenue is expected to grow by 1% driven by search and on-line video." There was no mention of radio in the company press release.

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No Changes Expected at Sandusky Stations

7-16-13

Hubbard will pick up 10 stations from privately held Sandusky Radio. The acquisition expands Hubbard Radio by adding five radio stations in Seattle and five in Phoenix. Hubbard Radio Board Chair Ginny Morris says, ?This is an exciting opportunity to expand Hubbard Radio into two Top 20 markets. We have known and respected the Rau/White family, Sandusky?s owners, for many years. We admire what they have accomplished and we are honored that they would agree to sell us these established stations. We are committed to maintaining the dedication to excellence and to community that Sandusky has made such an important part of their radio operations.?

The five Seattle stations involved in the transaction are: KIXI-AM 880; 92.5 KQMV-FM; 1150 KKNW-AM; 106.9 KRWM-FM; and 98.9 KLCK-FM. The five Phoenix stations are: 100.7 KSLX-FM; 97.9 KUPD-FM; 93.3 KDKB-FM; 1440 KAZG-AM; and 1060 KDUS-AM.

Bruce Reese, president and chief executive officer of Hubbard Radio, stated: ?Hubbard is excited about the chance to add these great stations to our existing operations in Chicago, Washington, DC, Minneapolis/St. Paul, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. Sandusky runs very successful radio stations, and we plan on continuing that precedent. We look forward to working with our new colleagues.?

Through the acquisition, Hubbard Radio will add 65 to 70 full time employees in each of the two markets. Reese said he expects no programming or personnel changes for any of the acquired stations. Hubbard Radio currently employs approximately 600 full-time employees.

Norman D. Rau, president of Sandusky Radio says: ?Hubbard Radio, a private family-owned business, holds very similar values as our business. Hubbard has nine family members directly involved in the Hubbard companies. We believe the future of our listeners, employees, and our customers could not be in better hands. As a significantly larger broadcasting company, Hubbard can give the Sandusky stations a potential for growth and scale that Sandusky on its own just could not give them.?

The sale will end Sandusky?s 36-year history as a radio broadcaster and allow it to concentrate on the continuing digital transformation of its local print and online newspaper and marketing franchises.

(7/16/2013 1:21:17 PM)
Not sure it is significant, but after Hubbard aquired the Bonneville properties, this transaction will have them competing with Bonneville in two of the four markets where Bonneville still operates stations.

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BIA/Kelsey: Newspaper Worse Than Expected.

10-4-2012

BIA/Kelsey is revising its forecast for newspaper revenue down as newspapers continue to struggle to make the transition to a digital world. Where BIA/Kelsey initially expected a total decrease of -5% for the newspaper industry (print decrease of -6.6% and online increase of 6.0%), results in the newspaper industry so far this year has been more disappointing. It now expects a total decrease of -8.1% (print decrease of -10% and online increase of only 5.0%).

The update from BIA/Kelsey says, "With some high-profile newspapers cutting back on the number of days being published and the continued erosion of readership, the outlook for newspapers is proving exceptionally more challenging than expected. For the entire period of 2011 through 2016, BIA/Kelsey expects the compounded annual growth rate of all newspaper advertising to end up being -5.4% (-7.3% for print advertising and 4.6% for online advertising).

For 2013, BIA/Kelsey expects a -6.6 percent for print and an online increase of 5 percent. Collectively, print and online revenue will go down 4.9 percent.

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August Auto Sales Numbers Expected to be Strong

9-3-2012

Automakers will report August sales numbers today, delayed a few days due to the Labor Day Holiday weekend. Analysts predicting sales of about 1.2 million vehicles for August. If those numbers come in, that would result in a 20 percent increase over August 2011. Honda and Toyota should report strong numbers. It's been a year since an earthquake in Japan resulted in lower inventory for the two companies. Both companies now have a full supply of vehicles and are working off lower comps.

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Mobile Advertising Expected to Jump to $11 Billion

8-30-2012

As Radio debates over what to do with its online stream, consumers are giving clear signals that their lives revolve around the tiny device they carry around in their hand, or their pocket, or use when they should be focusing on the other vehicles around them. The smartphone is changing the way people communicate, listen to music, punch up directions, browse Facebook. It's almost an extension of the human body that nobody wants to leave home without. Marketers are also realizing the Return On Investment they see using mobile ads is pushing them more and more toward that platform.

Pandora reported its Q2 mobile revenue was $59 Million. We wondered if the entire radio industry comes anywhere near that number in a year. A recent white paper (link below) shows that Mobile advertising now accounts for less than one percent of marketing budgets. "However, based on sophisticated return on investment (ROI) analysis of Mobile, the optimized level of spend in Mobile advertising for U.S. marketers is seven percent, on average. Over the next 4 years, Mobile?s share of the media mix is projected to increase to over 10 percent based on growth in adoption of smartphones only," according to the study.

The study points out that the only reason spending isn't higher now is because marketers are slower to adopt to the new technology than the consumer. "Consumer media habits are rapidly changing ? the penetration of mobile smartphones has skyrocketed and it is clear that Mobile has proven to be effective in successfully achieving a variety of marketing goals. Even though these facts are indisputable, marketers have been slow to adjust and rebalance their media mix to reflect consumers? mobile-centric world. In fact, it is appropriate to assert at this time that most marketers should significantly increase their investment in Mobile advertising. While this may be a bold statement, it is a statement based on science and mathematics; it is rooted in what we quantitatively know about all media?s impact as well as Mobile?s impact and penetration to date. Based on this information, Mobile advertising (display, video, audio) should be at least an $11 billion dollar market in the U.S. and higher globally assuming similar dynamics exist worldwide."

Read the White Paper HERE

(9/1/2012 8:01:58 PM)
Just wait until car radios include online streaming and you will see the popularity of terrestrial radio start to tank.

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As Expected Rush Joins Merlin in Philly

Philadelphia -- 6-25-2012

In typical Randy Michaels fashion, the press release announcing the addition of Rush Limbaugh to his station in Philly takes a friendly jab at the station Rush leaves behind. "The Delaware Valley now gets to enjoy Rush Limbaugh without the fading and static that comes with AM. Also, no longer will Philadelphia residents hear Rush Limbaugh pre-empted by baseball." Merlin's IQ 106.9-FM also carries  Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Al Gardner and Larry Mendte. 

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Smith Goes Off The Air Sooner Than Expected

Smith had been syndicated by American Urban Radio Networks. Now she's a talker looking for a new network. AURN pulled the plug on her show and is now running best of Bev because, she says, they can't control what she's saying (it was originally planned that Smith would stay on the air until October 28th). AURN told a Pittsburgh newspaper it was economics and an aging demo. Smith says she asked for proof the numbers showed her listeners were too old and never received them. She believes she was let go because of her age, her gender and, perhaps her race. Smith is hoping another network will pick up her show and plans to be up and running on her website, at least, by mid-October. We spoke to Smith this morning and have posted a link to that interview. 

Radio Ink Editor Ed Ryan talks to Bev Smith

Watch the Bev Smith YouTube Statement

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