Sunday, July 31, 2005

We All Live In Michigan

At least when it comes to the need for local radio, as seen in this study commissioned by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters:

If the battle for listeners’ loyalties comes down to “high-tech” versus “high-touch,” a major Michigan research project conducted by the Communication Research Institute (CRI) shows listeners strongly prefer the ability of local radio stations to keep them in touch with their communities.

The research results stand in stark contrast to recent media hype surrounding the emergence of competing audio services including satellite radio and personal audio players.

Click HERE for the entire news release.

The Medicine of Music

The Songs of Love Foundation creates free personalized songs for critically-ill children.

Call 800 960-SONG to find out more about a song for one of your listeners or get behind their efforts.

KLOS To Set World Record Blood Drive

This is a great example of how something once small has taken on a life of its own over the years. The very first KLOS Blood Drive was just a single-site, single-day event but has grown to a seventeen-site, three-day event and has collected more than 70,000 units of life saving blood since its inception.

95.5 KLOS-FM in Los Angeles is gearing up for their 24th Annual KLOS Blood Drive in partnership with the American Red Cross and the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and is on track to set a world record for most blood donated at a multi-site blood drive! More than 5,000 units have been pledged so far and the expectation is to surpass 6,000!

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Joel Whitburn Strikes (Country 1944-2005) Again

FYI: this invaluable resource is being updated this fall: Top Country Songs 1944-2005

And, while you are doing P-O's for approval, tell your GM that I said that Jeff Green's amazing compendium is also vitally-important to any creative producer.

It classifies 25000 popular songs by nearly 1400 themes; includes discographies - GREEN BOOK OF SONGS BY SUBJECT

My advice: ya gotta HAVE them both!

Is Your Boss A Psychopath?

If so, Fast Company has some important reading for you:

Is Your Boss a Psychopath?
Odds are you've run across one of these characters in your career. They're glib, charming, manipulative, deceitful, ruthless -- and very, very destructive.

Quiz: Is Your Boss a Psychopath?
The standard clinical test for psychopathy, Robert Hare's PCL-R, evaluates 20 personality traits.

Radio vet Kent Burkhart remembers a few...

A Very Good Idea - ICE (In Case of Emergency)

Thanks to Standard Radio of London Market Manager Braden Doerr for this simple yet important suggestion. See below then pass it on.

As long as everyone knows what ICE (In Case of Emergency) stands for, this is not a bad idea. It was thought up by an ambulance man/paramedic whofound that at the scenes of accidents there were always mobile phones onthe victims, but the emergency personnel didn't know which numbers to calland he thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name to file "next of kin" under.

Following the disaster in London, East Anglian Ambulance Services have launched a national "In Case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign with the support of Falklands war hero, Simon Weston. The idea is that you store the word " ICE " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency."

In an emergency situation, ambulance and/or hospital staff would then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and beable to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do. And also email this to everybody in your address book. It won't take too many "forwards" before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put aloved one's mind at rest. You can put more than one contact name in yourcellphone's address book. Just use ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Explaining Hip Hop's Appeal To Kids

Marie Tyler of the Midland Reporter Telegram on teen music culture as #5 in a six part series on radio in west Texas: (be sure your pop up blocker is on before clicking on it!)

* Don Cook, of "La Mera Mera" believes kids, whether they listen to Spanish or English music are alike, "They have their hip-hop," and beyond that "it has more to do with their mom and dad, the kind of music they like and the groups they like."

* "The format for today's generation is hip-hop," said Gloria Apolinario, the vice president and market manager from Clear Channel Radio.

Tim McGraw To "Ya Gotta Believe"

The Inaugural Tug McGraw Foundation event - - Ya Gotta Believe Gala - - November 14, 2005, will feature Tim McGraw and a host of celebrities as the Ya Gotta Believe spirit lives on in New York City.

Toby Keith To Salute Chris LeDoux In Cheyenne

The Denver Post reports that Keith has sold out his July 29 and 30 concerts at Cheyenne Frontier Days, which opens today and runs through July 31.

Keith promises a special surprise for one of his concerts: "It is being put together right now," he said. "I can promise them a really, really special treat on one of those nights. Some of the people will probably figure it out. But that's all I'm going to say, because I want it to be a great, great surprise."

One thing jumps to mind: a salute to the late country star and Frontier Days' favorite son, Chris LeDoux, who died in March. Keith was a long-time pal of the rodeo cowboy turned singer-songwriter.

Other Cheyenne Frontier Days headliners this year are Ted Nugent, today; Tim McGraw, Saturday and Sunday; Sara Evans, Wednesday; and Big & Rich, Thursday.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Fair, Balanced and Boring

Jim Walsh is a self-described libertarian Bismarck, ND, talk show host whose blog is laden with buzz and opinions.

His take on Sean Hannity's recent New Jersey FREEDOM CONCERT is worth thinking about before planning coverage of your next station scheduled event: does it pass the WHO CARES test?

LeAnn Rimes headed the bill for Hannity's event at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ.

Inspiring Teachers

In my book, every air personality should be identified with at the very least one 'good cause.'

Sure, it's great PR .. and sends a message that you care about your community and are working for good. But, as with any kind of volunteer work, the paybacks actually come from the opportunity to meet and be inspired personally by the kind of folks who give their time and money to make our world a better place.

If you need any more inspiration than those words, take a look at the work of Dyan Hershman and Emma McDonald at Texas-based "Inspiring Teachers Publishing."

Sure, it's a business .. and a book they are trying to sell, but, click around their website and see if - like me - it doesn't give you some good ideas of needs you could fill locally!

Contact: Lucy Casimir, Marketing Coordinator

Monday, July 25, 2005

A Sign Of Our Times

I received an email today from Dave Robbins, GM of what many folks would call 'two stations' in Chicago.

But, under his email signature, a different story entirely:

Dave Robbins
Vice President, General Manager
Infinity Radio Chicago
WJMK 104.3 HD1 JACK-FM

WJMK 104.3 HD2 Greatest Hits of the 60's and 70's
WJMK ONLINE www.wjmk.com
WUSN 99.5 HD1 America's Country Station

WUSN 99.5 HD2 Chicago's Future Country
180 N. Stetson

Chicago, IL 60601

What do you bet that the folks who USED to program those two stations are now creating the content for four or five of them? Talk about a great time to be in the content business. Opportunity is all around us these days!

Sales Tools And Tips From Taz

FYI - a great idea newsletter to subcribe to.

The WIXY-1260 Fan Site

I was one of those fans. This is a radio station that exists 'bigger than life' in memory. As WIXY and 10-12 year Chicago jock and music promotion exec Terry Stevens says: "...it makes you wonder, mmmmmmm, maybe this might work on radio today.."

Is your station so 'great' in the minds of your listeners today that they will flock to a fan site for it in three or four decades? Why not?

ARB Survey Reminders - Better Than String On Your Finger

Research Director reminder: Phase 2 of the Summer 2005 Arbitron survey begins on Thursday, 7/28/2005.

A tip from Charlie Sislen: Now is the time to review the effectiveness of your Phase 1 marketing. Make adjustments based on marketplace conditions, competitor actions or listener response.

Sign up for their email reminder service. tailored to your market at TRD's website.

Earl Scruggs At Wyoming Beartrap Festival 7/23/05

Bob Davis, PD at Clear Channel's KTWO, Casper, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to "hang out with a legend" over the weekend:

"..Got the chance to talk with Earl Scruggs for about an hour and a half all by myself. (My wife) and I drove him and the band (8 people) from the airport to the top of the mountain (in two Chevy Blazers) and had supper with them then drove them back to the airport after the show. We picked them up at the airport at 1:45 and got home about midnight.

"Scruggs is 81 years old. Earl's grandson graduated from ETSU Medical school. The drummer lives in Johnson City. He just bought a house across the street from the Girl Scout camp. He is originally from Elizabethton. The fiddle player is Stuart Duncan, one of the best fiddle players today. The gray haired guitar player is Albert Lee, one of the most famous guitar players in the world, he is from England and plays for all the big rock groups (look them up on Google.com). CLICK to see Tullydavis's Album: Beartrap 2005w Earl Scruggs

"We had more fun than anybody at the festival, It rained in the middle of Earl's show and everybody got all wet but it was fun."

Saturday, July 23, 2005

A collection of Bud Light Commericals

.. in the event you need a quick lesson in Gen X attitude and advertising.

How Hot IS It In Denver? Not TOO Hot To Get Married (And Wet)

Jon Wild from KYGO, Denver wrote yesterday: "It's so hot here we're breaking 100 yr. old records. Made Nat'l News this week when I married 6 couples on the water slide at Six Flags. I do it every year."

"Prairie Home" or "A Mighty Wind"?

The New York Times reports the movie version of "A Prairie Home Companion," directed by Robert Altman and written by Garrison Keillor, is a bit of "Nashville" with a side of Powdermilk Biscuits.

The last time Altman tackled Nashville in a flick it became a cult classic, but country radio fans were left scratching their heads wondering if they should be offended or flattered. Hopefully, this won't be the case this time, due to writer Keillor's reverence for traditional music.

Who knows? Maybe we'll be playing a 'hit' by Meryl Streep one year from now? The filming certainly has the Twin Cities chattering right now.

Mercury Delivers A Message On HD Radio

Mercury Radio Research's Mark Ramsey just penned an open letter to attendees of the Minneapolis Conclave. Be sure to read it and the Comments (1) beneath it from Rusty Hodge on Ramsey's blog.

Wikkipedia has a batch of links when you search on the word Mercury. My fav: Mercury (mythology) .. which may make Mark a "messenger (god) from Roman mythology?"

Multi-Million Dollar Settlement Due In Spitzer Radio Promo Investigations

Big news from the Wall Street Journal Friday night: a multi-million dollar settlement expected perhaps as early as Monday in Eliot Spitzer's investigation into the Radio promotion practices of the big Record companies: WSJ.com - Sony BMG, Spitzer Near Settlement*

*This article will be available to non-subscribers of the Online Wall Street Journal until 8/1.

Friday, July 22, 2005

New Media Growing, But Radio Is Still Very Strong

Don't just trust MY opinion (which that statement above definitely IS!), just ask Paragon Research's Mike Henry, by clicking here.

Documentary Advertising

If you've seen Mike or Jaye present our "Ultimate Talent Development" seminar and workshop, you already know about Obtainium.tv, a Boston-based start-up that is basically a side project for 34-year-old Owen Mack, who has a graphic design background and runs a family kitchenware store, and his 32-year-old cousin Jesse Buckley, who works for a TV postproduction house and makes documentary films.

If not, you need to check it out. It was better when it was a pure portal just for fans to post TV spots they created just because they were enthusiastic evangelists of their favorite brand than it is now that they have become an 'agency' and become overt salespeople for themselves (they should have had their customers promote their biz rather than overtly saying 'hire us'?), but it's still a great repository for creative ideas for using electronic media very differently and more effectively.

The HD Radio Playbook

Lots of great ideas for implementation of radio's imperative new technology. Worth taking time to sign up!

Willie Goes To Pot? Naw, He's Been There All Along

PHIL SWEETLAND sent the latest copy of his e-zine "Country Insider" today and he makes a thought-provoking point: What exactly were WILLIE NELSON and LOST HIGHWAY RECORDS thinking by putting a marijuana leaf on the cover of Willie’s new Reggae album, Countryman? That’s the album cover one sees at Tower on West End, but not at the family-oriented Wal-Mart: As the Associated Press reports, “Universal Music Group Nashville is substituting palm trees for the marijuana leaves on CDs sold at the retail chain Wal-Mart, a huge outlet for Country music that’s also sensitive about lyrics and packaging.”

All of us in Music and Radio who have lost friends to drug abuse and alcoholism should question why Nelson and his record company feel it’s necessary to emulate Cheech&Chong’s outdated humor by putting an illegal drug on the cover of his album in 2005, four years after 9/11. How many parents will be outraged when they see that album cover in their teen-age son’s or daughter’s backpack? Cheech&Chong aren’t exactly hip anymore, and Tommy Chong was recently busted for selling bongs over the Internet, an incident Variety perfectly captured with the headline WRONG BONG FOR CHONG. But Willie, a true American genius and one of Country’s greatest songwriters and artists ever, seems stuck to be stuck in a Seventies lifestyle in this respect. Too many people grin and wink about Willie’s tour bus, but Nelson should know better. He’s a hero to countless young musicians and fans (including this fan), and he should have cleaned up his Dope act long ago.

Do you really think the Metro Police, and especially Tennessee law enforcement in the rural areas where Meth labs are exploding every week and ruining countless lives, believe that Willie’s album cover is all that funny? I don’t see many cops grinning and winking about it.

Both Lost Highway and Nelson blew it on this one big-time, but they’re hardly alone among Record companies and artists on this score. Drugs, including dope, are serious business. They’re also illegal. How many sessions or gigs have we all been at when the artist or his band were virtually worthless because they’re high? How many idiots drive the streets of Nashville drunk or stoned? How many record companies or concert promoters have lost thousands of dollars, due to artists who became unreliable buffoons because of drugs or alcohol? How many friends in Music and Radio have we seen fall prey to drugs or booze when their careers struggle? How many friends have died too early? The Record and Radio businesses have never been as competitive as they are today. Artists with poor work habits and unreliable track records lose their deals. Willie Nelson, one of the most beloved musical figures in the entire world, has always had superior work habits and a fabulous track record. But we hope for his next album cover, he and his label think a little harder.


Sweetland has written 68 stories on music and Radio for The New York Times, including four in the last two weeks, and is a contributing editor at American Songwriter magazine. To receive 52 issues of the Country Insider E-newsletter, send $26 payable to: PHIL SWEETLAND, PO Box 291346, Nashville TN 37229-1346. For 104 issues, send $45 to the same address.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Get Your Morning Team Into "The Wedding Crashers" Movie Trailer

Steve "Scrubs" Stewart our PD at Gator 107.9/WGTR in Myrtle Beach passes this along - a way to get your morning team into the Wedding Crashers movie trailer. Goofy? Definitely! Fun and a talk about? Absolutely!

Scrubs says it's easy --- you just need to re-size a photo (two if you have a team) and send to New Line Cinema who'll do the rest. Here's a link to see Scrubs and his partner Korby Ray in the trailer.

Click on Trailer Crashers to watch Scrubbs and Korby Ray, then click on Crash the Trailer for instructions on uploading your images.

And here's one starring Hoppy Gilmore and Pete Moss at Froggy 99.9 in Fargo.

-- Mike O'Malley, 732 937-5757 - mike@radioconsult.com

KSON Loves Its Loyal Listeners

And, their database emails prove it.

Live Coverage From The Conclave

For full Conclave XXX coverage, click here. Thanks to Billboard/Airplay Monitor for what is starting off as a full court press of the convention, almost in real time.

A Faith Hill Fan Wins + Faith Hill = Apple's 500,000,000th download

FAITH HILL's Mississippi Girl was the 500 millionth download from Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store, the company said Monday. Amy Greer of Lafayette, Indiana, purchased the tune. The milestone download has won her 10 iPods, a gift card for 10,000 songs and an all-paid trip for four to a concert by Coldplay, which is on a world tour.

Hats off to Karen, Scott & Radar - The Moo Crew at WMIL, Milwaukee - who tracked her down and got a great interview.

Thanks to Tony Hess (Radar) for this info: "Amy is a typical teen, talkative, but you may have to prod her a little. Here's the number for Amy's contact...I think it's a school counselor. Sounds like she wants all interviews to go through her. Christan Henderson...(765) 772-4700 ext. 2015."

The People Meters Are Coming To Canada Too

In June 2005, VUE Magazine published an article on the Portable People Meter which was written by Pat Pellegrini, BBM Canada’s Vice President, Research.

The article argues that “passive measurement provides the cornerstone of a measurement philosophy that meets the changing needs of the media and marketing landscape in Canada”.
Click here to read the full text.

Positive Self-Talk

What you tell yourself in your own head has a lot to do with what happens to you, and how you perceive it, I firmly believe.

.. which is why I was impressed with Kevin Carter's R&R Street Talk quote from Elroy Smith at Clear Channel’s WGCI/Chicago in celebration of an amazing (5.4-6.3) spring 2005 ARB: "I have come to realize, after being at WGCI for over 13 years, that this is a giant radio station that delivers more than the biggest records in the world— it’s also reflective of the lifestyle of our listeners. We are the black CNN of radio with music and the stars! For instance, we can talk about the importance of education, political issues, violence, teenage pregnancy and fathers’ rights and still maintain the integrity of our format."

And, speaking of memorable quotes in celebration of great Chicago books, Infinity country WUSN had a lot to celebrate too.

PD Mike Peterson said it all in this memo to his staff: "We have and will continue to hold ourselves to higher standards in and out of the radio station--the results are and will continue to be "consistently" better ratings! Thank you for your hard work, passion for the station, and solid execution of the format!!"

Amen. Like Brooks & Dunn say, "That's What It's ALL About."

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Eat Your Way To Boston

What a fun way to marry a promotion for a rib restaurant and the Rolling Stones summer tour, at WKLH, Milwaukee:

Got a big appetite for The STONES? And a bigger one for RIBS?
If you can put away the racks ..we'll put you where it rocks with 'KLH's Sticky Fingers to the Stones!

Eat your way to Boston one rib at a time! We'll send you to legendary Fenway Park to see the Rolling Stones American tour opener, plus tickets to see 'em at the Bradley Center.


Click here to be in our Rock'n Rib eating contest at Q-BBQ, Real American Food . We'll choose 5 hungry listeners to square off on a mountain of meat with the winner going to Boston...all 5 win tickets to see the Stones at the Bradley Center. Start training and sign-up now!

RIP Canadian Radio Legend Tom Rivers

Broadcast Dialogue's Howard Christensen was there with a video camera as the applause of a large crowd on the dock near Rice Lake in Ontario, sounded and ashes of the late Tom Rivers’ were spread from the air over the waters at his cottage as two planes went by in formation.

Jack FM Toronto Newsman Larry Silver said,“Suddenly, there was a blossoming white cloud that burst beside one of the aircraft. An ethereal swirl of white that stood out against the bright blue sky. It hovered in silence as the planes flew on by, then slowly dissipated in the bright sunshine as a round of applause spontaneously erupted from the dock.”

A short video may be seen by clicking here.

PPM Study

Wow, Katy Bachman at Mediaweek was first in my inbox with the details (fast!): PPM Economic Study Released

Then, came Billboard, just a few minutes later: The PPM Reaction: 'Very Encouraging For Radio'

Here's the rub, of course: Michael Ewing, president of Multicultural Radio Broadcasting’s Network Asia division, said the key is whether or not the major radio companies embrace PPM.

“There were no surprises in the study,” Ewing said. “Anything we can do to move the ball down the field is positive.” But Ewing says local retailers outside the top 50 markets aren’t that concerned with ratings methodology. “They care about results. But this is very positive news for national [business].”

You Are So Radio, If....

I love what Inside Radio is planning for its NAB issue. (click for more info) YOU ARE SO RADIO IF...

Voice your experiences, frustrations, failures, successes, blunders, etc. from the past year in the radio biz...

Give the best reasons why "you are SO radio if..."

Results will be printed in the INSIDE RADIO NAB 2005 Special Edition with copies available at the NAB show.

I'll start:

... to you, a "safe list" is not an inventory of potential burglary targets.
... you think target listeners are born at the age of 12.
... you think that our two ears provide more vivid mental pictures than our two eyes do.


BUT, I like their example better: "You are so radio if... you know the radio executive who decided that "playing what we want" was a good slogan for the JACK... "

(More on) Is Jackfm An "AC" Format?

Chris Miller, Program Director of "106.7, K-Lite" (KLTH), Portland (503 497-2367) weighs in:

Coleman had an interesting presentation re: how the JACK stations are the new generation of "oldies" stations.

* The music was focused on the early-mid 80s, with different styles from the 80s ... and pop/rock titles from the 70s and 90s

* Fun -- the attitude of the sweepers needed to be more fun than just edgy

* People really liked the "trainwreck" segues ... to the point that Coleman recommended doing a smaller number of them, but making them REAL trainwrecks instead of just doing them small-scale all the time

* "Familiar music" was a major hallmark of the stations

So, the idea that they're AC stations is pretty valid -- like the 60s oldies stations that did mucho cume sharing with mainstream and soft ACs. Whether or not it's a real format, we in the AC world are seeing plenty of sharing with the JACK stations. Not so much here in PDX, where Enercom's Charlie ("kinda young, kinda wow") hasn't made any real impact -- but in some of the markets where JACK is doing well, it's a major TSL headache for AC's.

- C-ya, Chris

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Is Jackfm An "AC" Format?

It seems that AC Insider Mike Kinosian thinks so. At least, he's counting it on his 2005 mid-year format recap.

I have been telling A&O clients that I think Bobfm, Jackfm and their clones may ultimately be a stunt/holding pattern for use until either rhythmic AC gains critical mass 25-34 in a year or two or Pop CHR starts to produce more new music palatable to 28+ adults.

If I'm right, these "Play Anything" stations could ultimately reposition themselves as spectrum, oldies-based AC formats for 30-somethings. Otherwise, they will become the next destinational format, growing older along with their current target audience.

Mike knows a lot more about this than I do, so if that hypothesis intrigues you, you'll want to test it against the real world of the past six months as AC Insider Kinosian unveils his exclusive mid-year music analysis of AC's Top 50 titles, including the percentage shared with Hot AC and JACK. Click here.



Monday, July 18, 2005

JRN's Danny Wright Serves Up Pie At Midnight

DreamWorks Records country group Hot Apple Pie recently composed and recorded a theme song (click to hear it) for Jones Radio Networks' syndicated overnight host Danny Wright.

Wright calls the song a "kickin' jingle" and says he's trying to convince the band to use it as a cut on their next album. It's now being used as the show opener for "Danny Wright All Night, " which is on 100+ country affiliate stations across the U.S.

There HAS To Be a Stunt In This Story Somewhere..

If your listeners love NASCAR, they'll know all about this:

(AP) Tony Stewart climbed the fence in front of the grandstand in what has become his trademark victory celebration.

And a crowd of 100,000 at New Hampshire International Speedway roared its approval Sunday as he grabbed the checkered flag and pumped his fist in the air - just as he did two weeks earlier after a victory at Daytona. He called himself fat then, and this time heaped on more self-deprecating humor.

"Trust me, I'll be glad to be panting like a dog when I get up there," he said. "It's something they like and I'll keep doing it for them."

Stewart said he needs a personal trainer. "I'm probably going to fall and bust my butt before it's over," Tony Stewart said of his victory celebration after Sunday's race. "Yes, I'm still too old and too fat to be doing that stuff," the 34-year-old driver said. "I'm probably going to fall and bust my butt before it's over. I'm glad they let me go through the gate instead of climbing back down."

Stewart started 13th and wound up winning for the third time in four races, passing at will inside and outside in a dominant performance in the New England 300.

Gretchen & Cingular "All Jacked Up"

Cingular Wireless has announced the debut of Gretchen Wilson's latest single "All Jacked Up" through Cingular Sounds, an innovative music program that launches new singles as ringtones on wireless phones either before they are heard anywhere else, or simultaneous with their debut on radio.

This marks the first wireless content offering from Wilson and the first exclusive country music suite of content released through the program.

"I'm incredibly excited at this opportunity to share Gretchen Wilson's music with the Cingular world," John Grady, President, Sony Music Nashville told our buddy Neil Haislop. "The launch of leading country artist Gretchen Wilson solidifies our leadership within wireless entertainment and builds on the momentum and diversity of our past artists," said John Burbank, vice president of marketing, Cingular Wireless. "This announcement introduces our first exclusive country music artist into the Cingular Sounds family, helping expand our wireless music content."

Hmm. ..Wonder if this is being done because they worry that it may be too left of center for radio? Yet, that is being said before hearing it, (though I am a Cingular subscriber, so I have joined the crowd, signed up for the ringtone as soon as it's available).

Click here to sign up to get Gretchen Wilson news sent to your cell phone or pager!

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Hurricane Dennis = Another Chance For Radio To Shine

The Pensacola Sunday News-Journal has the story.

The 10 Biggest PD Mistakes

10. Forgets that the most important part of the job is to protect the station's license. (written rules for all contests, payola forms signed and policies policed, jocks understand content limits - FCC fines are no longer just a slap on the hand, getting sued wastes time and is bad PR at the very least)

9. Still thinks that it's a sales versus programming world and as long as (s)he gets ratings (s)he has done the job.

8. Doesn't worry about heavy radio-users or passionate fans of the kind of music the station plays. Targeting takes care of itself.

7. Does whatever it takes to win. Ethics and fair treatment of his/her employer and coworkers do not matter as long as the station is winning and profitable.

6. Has a 'not invented here' attitude about new ideas and approaches. Doesn't bother to network or seek objective opinions of knowledgeable counsel.

5. Under-estimates the competition.

4. Sees radio as a craft, not an art. You can get everything you need to know by copying winning radio stations in the same format in other markets.

3. Feels that people are replaceable. As long as everyone is working as hard as possible, everything is fine.

2. Thinks that business management is the GM's job and time management is a sales thing.

1. Doesn't need research. (S)he knows what listeners want.

Let’s work together not to make them!

Friday, July 15, 2005

Post-Hurricane Dennis Pride And Philosophy

JJ Waters, GSM at Cat Country 98.7 (WYCT-FM/WNRP-AM), Pensacola wrote this email of pride in the great work the entire staff did: "What a tremendous job everyone has done over the last week in the face of Hurricane Dennis. Everywhere I have been, I am mobbed by people who recognize the Cat Country logo and want to offer thanks for the job that Cat Country has done for our community. Everyone here did such a fabulous job and not without personal investment and sacrifice! Be proud of what you have accomplished together, because it was no small task. (Just ask anyone listening)

"Vesta Kelly said: Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together."

Summer - the season of events

A&O friends B-104.7, Syracuse always have a lot going on:

B-Jam pictures, a great day of music and family fun: View gallery

Curb recording artists, "Cowboy Crush" visit the B104.7 studios, and perform afterwards in the atrium of Bridgewater Place: View gallery

Tracy Lawrence plays another FREE B104.7 show: View gallery

Clear Channel resources and lots of local work too make the WBBS website an active and database-building portal.

"Houston, We Have A PPM"

Arbitron's first report, compiled jointly with the RAB, regarding the Portable People Meter's commercial viability was presented today in a web presentation and, according to ARB officials, the corruption of PPM data is "virtually impossible."

In a 57-page analysis, RAB's subcommittee and Arbitron say...

* Attempts to remove the signals embedded in station broadcasts for reception by the devices would destroy the content

* "Five or six" possible redesigns of the PPM are in the works. The goal: "a balance between functionality, style and confidentiality."

* A major question they hope to answer in the Houston tests - is one Arbitron PPM equivalent to two diaries? Or, 3:1. ) Those numbers seem small, but depending on which it is, the costs could go up or down 30%!)

* The question of whether Nielsen joins the venture is still up in the air, in spite of several years' work to sell the VNU company on ARB's approaches.

- Answers to 188 basic questions on ARB's PPM is online now at http://www.rab.com/.

- To access a full copy of the report, including an introduction from RAB President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Fries, a description of the Subcommittee’s mandate, and a list of Research Committee members, please click here.

- Also online:
Arbitron Reaches Goal of Recruiting 2,100 Consumers for Demonstration of Portable People Meter System in Houston

Thursday, July 14, 2005

CMT & The Warren Brothers - making the most of reality

THE WARREN BROTHERS SHOWCASE THEIR PSEUDO-CELEBRITY STATUS IN THE SECOND SEASON OF “BARELY FAMOUS: THE WARREN BROTHERS”
PREMIERING AUGUST 5 ON CMT

Famous Friends Keith Urban, John Schneider and Van Zant to Appear

Never a dull moment, never a major hit — singing duo the Warren Brothers get another shot at fame when BARELY FAMOUS: THE WARREN BROTHERS premieres on Friday, Aug. 5 at 8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT. They’ve rubbed elbows with superstars for years, scored multiple top 40 singles and toured the country with the hottest acts in country music; yet the Warren Brothers remain just on the verge of celebrity. CMT takes a comical look at their almost-famous lives and more-famous friends in BARELY FAMOUS: THE WARREN BROTHERS.

In the second season of BARELY FAMOUS: THE WARREN BROTHERS, CMT follows the duo’s quirky escapades as they ditch a recording session for CMT DukesFest where the guys challenge John Schneider (Bo Duke) to a race in their tricked-out General Lee. From flipping burgers in Minnesota with Keith Urban, to visiting their childhood home in Tampa, Fla., or writing songs with Van Zant ¯ find out what happens when CMT cameras go inside, really inside, Brad and Brett’s almost-famous life.

The Warren Brothers have penned hits for the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Red, White & Blue”), Van Zant (“I Can’t Help Myself”) Faith Hill (“The Lucky One”), Tim McGraw (“Blank Sheet Of Paper”) and countless others, yet the duo remain anonymous to almost everyone but their family. They’ve received six CMA nominations, nine ACM nominations and no wins, seven Top 40 singles, yet no Top 10 hits. Singers/songwriters/musicians Brad and Brett Warren debut their fourth album “Barely Famous Hits” on August 2, and they begin a major 35 city tour with Brooks & Dunn’s “Deuce’s Wild” tour in Dallas, Texas, on August 6.

PRESS CONTACTS:
Amanda Murphy, 615-335-8408, amanda.murphy@cmt.com
Wes Vause, 615-301-4373, wes.vause@sonybmg.com

BNA's relentless music huckster Tom Baldrica sent this release to us, with this sage quote: "Our greatness weakness lies in giving up. One sure way to succeed is to try one more time" -- Thomas Edison

Baldrica reminds us that the duo’s 4th album “Barely Famous Hits” is in stores August 2

Mark Cuban's Podcast Lessons For Us Lemmings

"...So in about 3 years, the Podcast phenomena will have run its course and will just be a normal part of the digital media landscape. Just like streaming."

Thanks to KMPS, Seattle, MD Tony Thomas for keeping watch on technology for us all (he sent the link to me)!

Paragon: Radio Still Strong Despite New Media's Growth

Only three percent of Americans never listen to broadcast radio, according to Paragon Research's latest national survey. Click here to see and download it.

What Are Your Best Weekend Features?

If you don't know, why not ask listeners?

That's what GM Dennis Bookey and Matt Valley, PD at K-Bear 104.1, Anchorage is doing, using web polling.

With 250 votes counted, "Retro Country" has 62% of the ballots, Crook & Chase's weekly countdown has only 16%. "Rise Up" had 14% and "Racing Country" has 8 %.

Every contest needs written rules (reminder #1,426,347..)

The kind of worldwide publicity you do not want.

Here's a good way to do it:

GM Paul Larche and PD Derm Carnduff at KICX 106.7, Kitchener, have the KICX 106 Official Contest Rules and Regulations for every contest they do posted right on the station's website.

Monday, July 11, 2005

When Mark Cuban Blogs, I Read..

Comparing the current podcasting craze to the webcasting boom, Dallas Mavericks owner and Broadcast.com founder Mark Cuban writes in his online blog that, in the mid-1990s, "Anyone and everyone could have their own live streaming radio show, and it seemed like just about everyone did."

Then, he notes, most of these webcasts, "like virtually all original content on the 'Net, failed."

Jeff Smulyan Optimistic About Radio

What to feel better about the future of our biz? Head to the http://emmis.com/ corporate website and read "Q&A with Emmis Communications CEO Jeff Smulyan:" Read More

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Little Things Matter

Congrats to KYGO, Denver, for being named R&R Country Station of the Year two weeks ago in Cleveland. Their great staff exhibits terrific attention to detail, as exemplified by their PD Joel Burke, who accepted the award and relayed this story to us:

In the off season, Lance Armstrong decided to be the first cycling team to utilize a wind tunnel to increase performance. Most industry insiders thought that this was "overkill" and scoffed at the idea.

In these tests, Lance and his team (dubbed the F1 team - meaning "Formula 1") discovered just how much little things (head placement, eyes looking straight ahead, not bouncing on the seat, etc) can dramatically slow down his team's overall performance. One surprising discovery was the surface construction of the actual cycling suit that the riders wear. This was completely taken for granted...until now. Lance discovered that the traditional suit was causing as much as two seconds of wind drag. No big deal...right? It's only 2 seconds. The Tour de France last for 26 days and covers over 2200 miles.

Nike then designed a racing suit that mimicked the golf ball in design...it had "dimples". "Dimples", on the surface of a golf ball, cause the ball to have significantly less wind drag and propel through the air faster. So...Lance's team was the only team on the tour to wear suites with "dimples".

Last week...in the team time trials...Lance's team, Team Discovery won the stage by...that's right, 2 seconds giving Lance the yellow jersey for the first time in the Tour De France.

Take Your "Ad-Blocker" Software To The Concert!

You'll need it: Ticket-buyer, beware

White River notices empty seats, offers $39 concert deal

Maybe they should give the tickets away and just make us sit through the ads?

The First Ad

Wouldn't you KNOW that genius Chuck Blore would have a stimulating web site? If you click to see his opener - that "First Ad" mentioned in the headline above - be sure to click around and see his interviews with George Wilson, Guy Zapoleon, and others.

I Only Wish I Had Said It

The Price of "Free" is Mark Ramsey's latest earth-shaker.

Kick It Up A Bunch Of Notches!

Ken Moultrie, Senior Director of Programming at Jones Radio Networks-Seattle (800.426.9082 Toll-Free - 206.508.8116 Direct - Web: www.jonesradio.com) is going around these days telling this story which hopefully motivates you to ask the time-honored A&O question next time you do some brainstorming ("that's great, but what ELSE could we do?"):

KM: My 8 year old daughter has a new thing. Radio Disney. It's on constantly around our house and in the car. If you have not spent time with Radio Disney, I recommend it. They totally get their target audience, and it's some of the most entertaining radio I've heard in a long time.

That said, a recent promotion on Radio Disney got me thinking about how important it is to put the 'sizzle' on every promotion we do. It's one of those things we all know, but often forget. So, Radio Disney is giving away a basic meet and greet with Jesse McCartney. Certainly a cool prize for a tween girl. But Disney isn't one to leave it at that. The meet and greet takes place at a mall, where the winner and Jesse get their photos taken inside a photo booth. But wait, theres more. After the meet and greet, Jesse signs the photo booth and it's delivered to the winners house!

No extra work on the part of the artist, no big million dollar expense, yet a simple meet and greet is taken to a whole new level.

So, what's the 'photo booth twist' on your next meet and greet or fly-away promotion?

101 Ways To Make Your Website Less Boring

Most radio station websites are very boring: pictures of the DJ's, maybe a list of contests and events.

Glenn Nobel found a very helpful checklist of things to do right now: "While these ideas are for newspaper sites, most of them can be applied to radio. With fresh, dynamic content, listeners will actually have reasons to visit your station's site more than once!"

Reach the talented Nobel at 503.767.3899.

Friday, July 08, 2005

Ralph Stanley Heart Surgery Successful

Dr. Ralph Stanley is recuperating nicely after coronary bypass surgery. He is scheduled to perform in Mineral, Virginia on July 14.

"We're All Londoners"

"London's sirens on Thursday sounded for everyone, wrenching hearts .. everywhere."
-- P-I Opinion, Seattle Post Intelligencer

Records? Tapes? What's THAT?

A great reminder that analog is so yesterday from the New York Times: 'Witness a recent MasterCard advertisement picturing two 45's, which ends with the tag line, ''Explaining to your grandkids what a record is: priceless.'''

I'm rooting for HDRadio. How about you?

Chrysler - what's old is new again?

Back to the future move with Iacocca is puzzling, bold

I agree with the Orlando Sentinel: Listen to Lee Iacocca .. the product means a lot more than the spokesperson.

To me, this is a little like changing your jingles and your stationality voice but leaving the music and the air personalities the same. I guess you could make a case for the fact that Chrysler has changed their products, but if that's the case and they are so hip and relevant, why do they need an 80 year old pitchman, albeit the best in automotive history, to sell them?

Thursday, July 07, 2005

When You Steal From Denis Prior At The Wolf..

You are stealing from a station that continues to grow in the face of the incredible WSIX and Gerry House. So, WSM-FM is worth a look, I'd say.

Cumulus/Nashville PD John Sebastian brags, after seeing the latest trend: "6-10 AM Denis Prior continues an amazing rise to prominence in the Nashville market up against the biggest morning legend in the nation for country radio, Gerry House. We shoot up again 4.9-5.4! Advertisers take note: that's good for 5th place folks and really close to 4th! House is down .3."

MP3 players/iPods stimulate renewed interest in what’s being played on radio

Inside Radio's Mike Kinosian has a fascinating interview with Bridge Ratings' Dave Van Dyke today and that's the bottom line, though teens remain a major concern in terms of radio usage.

Extra, extra, read all about it HERE

You Might Be A Floridian If...

Amazingly, the folks at Escambia County Emergency Preparedness have not lost their sense of humor, even as they prepare for another Gulf Coast hurricane hit right now.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Cool News

Do you already subscribe to Reveries Magazine? Are you already aware of the Association of National Advertisers? If the answers are "no" and "no," check these out:

1. http://reveries.com/coolnews/index.html
2. http://hubmagazine.com/

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Local Heroes

Country 107.1, Abbotsford, just east of Vancouver, does a classy sales promotion, gives listeners morning show cash and does good things for the community at the same time.

Meanwhile, the nearby "big city country station" JRfm is not taking the newcomer lightly, by saluting local communities on air, in their TV and outdoor and with listener wearables.

The Cost of Indecency

Big settlements lead to tamer airwaves, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

Charities Which Count On Country

Kirk Fitzgerald has a great country fan web site called Country Music Alive and he just upgraded it. Take a look at his list of charitable organizations he compliled: Click Here.

TIVO for radio?

Can a new website do for radio what TiVo and digital video recorders did for TV?

“It consolidates radio programming from all around the globe - music and talk - and makes it very easy to find, and then listen to it when you like and where you like,” says Bill Moore of RadioTime.com. RadioTime.com is, at the free level, very basically a worldwide radio listing similar to a TV guide. The $40 yearly fee, though, allows you to record webcasted shows and move them to a digital music player.

Sadly, they only have seven mainstream country stations thus far. But, since one of them is an A&O client (CHAT), the service caught my eye.

Not surprisingly, they have ten times as many alt.country and classic country ones (if a tree falls in the forest and no one is listening, is it making any sound?).

Bites of FISH

It was quite the rage in business several years ago after starting at a Seattle fish market. It's the Fish Philosophy from the Minneapolis-area's Charthouse and if your staff needs a morale boost, here's the blog to do it.

The Top 100 Country Songs of the 1990's

Thanks to Mark Patric for locating this list at www.about.com:

# 1 Don't Rock the Juke Box - Alan Jackson; Chattahoochie - Alan Jackson; The Dance - Garth Brooks; Carrying Your Love With Me - George Strait; Should've Been a Cowboy - Toby Keith; I Swear - John Michael Montgomery; There's Your Trouble - Dixie Chicks; Any Man of Mine - Shania Twain; Amazed - Lonestar; It's Your Love - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill; I Still Believe In You - Vince Gill; I Saw The Light - Wynonna; I'm Alright - Jo Dee Messina; My Maria - Brooks & Dunn; Is There Life Out There - Reba McEntire; I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw; Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus; The Thunder Rolls - Garth Brooks; Love Without End, Amen - George Strait; How Forever Feels - Kenny Chesney; Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks; Neon Moon - Brooks & Dunn; This Kiss - Faith Hill; Alibis - Tracy Lawrence; Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks; Just To See You Smile - Tim McGraw; Time Marches On - Tracy Lawrence; Better Class of Losers - Randy Travis; (This Ain't No) Thinkin' Thing - Trace Adkins; Down on the Farm - Tim McGraw; Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks & Dunn; Summertime Blues - Alan Jackson; I'm From The Country - Tracy Byrd; Please Remember Me - Tim McGraw; Little Rock - Collin Raye; Blue Clear Sky - George Strait; Love, Me - Collin Raye; Two of a Kind (Workin' on a Full House) - Garth Brooks; Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die) - Joe Diffie; Sold! The Grundy County Auction - John Michael Montgomery; No News - Lonestar; You Ain't Much Fun - Toby Keith; You Were Mine - Dixie Chicks; Everywhere - Tim McGraw; Down Home - Alabama; She Is His Only Need - Wynonna; Sticks and Stones - Tracy Lawrence; In This Life - Collin Raye; Daddy's Money - Ricochet; What She's Doin' Now - Garth Brooks; Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares) - Travis Tritt; What's It To You - Clay Walker; Something in Red - Lorrie Morgan; If You're Not In It For Love (I'm Outta Here) - Shania Twain; Whenever You Come Around - Vince Gill; I've Come to Expect It From You - George Strait; In a Different Light - Doug Stone; She Never Lets It Go To Her Heart - Tim McGraw; Easy Come, Easy Go - George Strait; Bye Bye - Jo Dee Messina; Bubba Shot the Jukebox - Mark Chesnutt; Love a Little Stronger - Diamond Rio; Daddy's Come Around - Paul Overstreet; I Feel Lucky - Mary Chapin Carpenter; Meet In The Middle - Diamond Rio; Independence Day - Martina McBride; One More Last Chance - Vince Gill; Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine On You - Toby Keith; Some Girls Do - Sawyer Brown; It Matters To Me - Faith Hill; Ain't That Lonely Yet - Dwight Yoakam; We Tell Ourselves - Clint Black; On The Verge - Collin Raye; Dreamin' With My Eyes Wide Open - Clay Walker; How Your Love Makes Me Feel - Diamond Rio; You Won't Ever Be Lonely - Andy Griggs; Blame It On Your Heart - Patty Loveless; She's in Love With the Boy - Trisha Yearwood; You Had Me From Hello - Kenny Chesney; I Love The Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery; No One Needs To Know - Shania Twain; Wink - Neal McCoy; Somewhere In My Broken Heart - Billy Dean; She's Got It All - Kenny Chesney; Single White Female - Chely Wright; Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart - Randy Travis; I Do (Cherish You) - Mark Wills; Church on Cumberland Road - Shenandoah; I Left Somethin' Turned On At Home - Trace Adkins; Not On Your Love - Jeff Carson; Not a Moment Too Soon - Tim McGraw; Wish I Didn't Know Now - Toby Keith; This Woman and This Man - Clay Walker; I'll Think of Something - Mark Chesnutt; Tell Me I Was Dreamin' - Travis Tritt; Wish You Were Here - Mark Wills; Love Of My Life - Sammy Kershaw; I Can Still Feel You - Collin Raye; Strawberry Wine - Deana Carter; #100 Walk on Faith - Mike Reid

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Live 8 - How They Did It

Twenty years ago Live Aid attracted 162,000 people to watch 52 acts perform at two venues before a global audience of 1.5 billion. At the time it seemed profoundly impressive. Even accounting for the gloss of nostalgia, today it feels old-world; dwarfed by this colossus two decades on.

We may never see its like again. Two thirds of the world's population, watching it live, on television, on the internet, listening on the radio - united for a few delirious hours in a great act of mass compassion.

The Manchester Guardian has this Inside story of the miracle show

Winnipeg's Country Fest - a big success

One of best years for Countryfest, reports the Winnipeg Sun.

Chesney trivia; The guy who named "country" country

Kenny sold out in Charlotte Saturday night, and that is more than enough reason to read Charlotte Observer columnist Mark Price, who always finds fascinating 'extra' facts to reveal.

Here's a direct link to his latest column: Chesney finds good stuff in music, not movie roles

Saturday, July 02, 2005

Radio Reborn

Weymouth, Mass., based educator and technologist Kevin Glennon predicts that broadcast radio CAN get teens back .. by interacting with video games. Click here to open his article, Radio Reborn, in a new window.

Friday, July 01, 2005

The Best July 4th Stunt (So Far)

.. comes from KVIL, Dallas, as the city swelters in near 100-degree heat!

They have now taken the snow flakes off their website, but, Click here to check out the photos of their stunt (looks like they may have a digital camera built into their cell phone..).

The Live 8 Blog

Thanks to FMQB for a great model of how to blog backstage details the next time a big concert comes to your town!

Toby Keith Joins Chattering Pundits

I keep reading the very clever but obtuse "The Note" from the political unit at ABC News in hopes that someday I will understand some of their inside the beltway references.

So, proving that if you read something repeatedly you will eventually find something you understand, look what they printed today:

"Saturday night, catch Live 8 on the ABC television network, and on Sunday morning, George Stephanopoulos interviews Toby Keith about it. "

Get that TIVO running. You'll need these clips for Tuesday's morning show.