CRS 2010: Who Was There?

Jeff Walker and his AristoMedia/Marco Promotions crew have created a Flickr album of CRS photos, not just of this year but also for the last few years. If you were there, you'll want to browse and see who else was too!

“Do Cell Phone Only people listen differently?”

Radio-Info's Tom Taylor was in the room at CRS to cover the debate Friday morning:

1. "NO."

Arbitron research guru Dr. Ed Cohen says at a “Gloves are off” session with Nielsen’s Lorraine Hadfield that they’re not seeing any big differences in the overall scheme of things. And that the hallowed “regression to the mean” principle suggests that ass more and more Americans take to depending on their cell phones, “they look more like” landline-only households. (Though one CRS convention-goer points out that means that there might have more differences in the past, as those cellphone-hugging 18-34s remained hard for Arbitron to reach.)

OR..

2. "YES."

“Cell Phone Only shows significant difference by format.” Nielsen’s Lorraine Hadfield holds a very different viewpoint from Arbitron on the subject. She’s there to talk about Nielsen’s “large, reliable samples” and its emphasis on what researchers call “address-based sampling.” “ABS” is a major point of difference between how Nielsen and Arbitron create their samples. Hadfield says the Nielsen approach produces “98% market coverage.” Cohen says “Our coverage, at worst, is about 93%, and Nielsen’s probably about 95%.” Hadfield prefers eight-week surveys with very large samples, mostly once a year in current practice. While in its own diary markets, Arbitron does two 12-week surveys.


Hadfield notes that country radio did very well in the 51 markets they surveyed last spring:


Dr. Ed also showed how national diary intab looked in the Fall ARB survey.

If your local market didn't look that nifty, you may want to ask your ARB rep what the difference might mean for the accuracy of your book.

Cohen outlined the diary survey changes being made this spring:

Why CRS Is Worth It

"The greatest strength of the Country Radio Broadcasters and CRS is our ability to bring together the most creative, intelligent, passionate, driven individuals in country music.

"It is cliché to say that 'we are greater than the sum of our parts,' but that is exactly what happens.

"Together, magic moments are shared and the enthusiasm is taken back to our respective companies and shared with those on the front line.

"Success happens when great minds get together." -- KMPS/Seattle, PD Becky Brenner to Billboard Country Update's Ken Tucker

A&O Country Roadmap 2010: 21.3% Of Country Listener Homes Have Only Cell Phones

A&O's annual "Country Roadmap 2010" tech and perceptual survey, tracking usage and content preference trends among listeners to Albright & O'Malley client stations, went into the field on January 26 and will continue through February 14. Already, more than 7,000 respondents from almost 100 radio stations all over the U.S. and Canada have completed the survey.

“Based on this partial sample, it appears that the format has positive momentum with 42% of our respondents saying they are listening more to their local country stations and only 7.9% thus far, saying they are listening less,” according to Michael O’Malley, who will report on the research at A&O's Pre-CRS client seminar in Nashville on Tuesday, February 23.

Last year more than 14,000 listeners in the US and Canada took part in our online poll with each participating station receiving breakouts from their listeners as well as listeners nationwide.

It appears that this year’s final sample will be even larger.

Albright & O'Malley Pre-CRS Client Seminar
Tuesday, February 23, 1-5pm
Nashville Downtown Library Auditorium, 615 Church Street, Downtown Nashville (a walkway to the library goes through the Bridge Bar and parking garage)
Open to non-clients in non-competitive situations by invitation only.
Sponsored by Lyric Street Records

"Like The Amazing Kreskin And Seth Godin Morphed Into One Guy!"

Yes, I did say that and I mean it.

If you come to A&O's Pre-CRS Seminar on Tuesday, February 23, you'll want to be in your seat right from the start.

Mentalist/former radio programmer Eric Samuels has been a high-profile player in Canadian radio for more than twenty-five years, recognized as one of the country's top broadcasters. He helped fashion the sound and focus of contemporary Canadian radio through his position as Senior Vice President of Programming for one of Canada’s largest national broadcast chains.

His presentation on how we and our listeners acquire our perceptions and make decisions will be the talk of CRS. Don’t miss it. He will also be opening the ‘Hot Topic’ panel on Friday at the CRS as well, so while everyone at CRS is gasping in amazement, you can say you saw him first!

Albright & O'Malley Pre-CRS Client Seminar
Tuesday, February 23, 1-5pm
Nashville Downtown Library Auditorium, 615 Church Street, Downtown Nashville (a walkway to the library goes through the Bridge Bar and parking garage)
Sponsored by Lyric Street Records

Agenda:

1-1:20 - Tyler Dickerson Lyric Street Records artist
1:25 - 2:40 - Mentalist/former radio programmer Eric Samuels - Keynote on decision-making and perceptions
2:40-3;10 - Mike O'Malley - AO Country Roadmap national perceptual
3:15-3:55 - Daniel Anstandig - Interactive Media Action Plan
4:00-4:25 - Tripp Eldridge - Moments of Truth which grow or lose your listeners
4:30-5 pm - Jaye Albright/Phillip Beswick: Meet the Family 2010 Media Audit Country Qualitative

It's going to be well worth your time and attention! RSVP to Michael O'Malley or me, now.

It's Time To RSVP

AGENDA COMPLETE FOR ALBRIGHT & O’MALLEY’S 2010 PRE-CRS CLIENT SEMINAR
The event is cosponsored with Lyric Street Records, debuting Tyler Dickerson Tuesday, February 23, 1-5pm Nashville Downtown Library Auditorium, 615 Church Street, Downtown Nashville (a walkway to the library goes through the Bridge Bar and parking garage)

Agenda:
1-1:20 - Tyler Dickerson Lyric Street Records artist
1:25 - 2:40 - Mentalist/former radio programmer Eric Samuels - Keynote on decision-making and perceptions
2:40-3;10 - Mike O'Malley - AO Country Roadmap national perceptual
3:15-3:55 - Daniel Anstandig - Interactive Media Action Plan
4:00-4:25 - Tripp Eldridge - Moments of Truth which grow or lose your listeners
4:30-5 pm - Jaye Albright/Phillip Beswick: Meet the Family 2010 Media Audit Country Qualitat

Country radio specialists Jaye Albright and Michael O’Malley (click on either name to RSVP) are presenting yet another reason to attend this year’s Country Radio Seminar and arrive a day early. The consultants have lined up a four-hour slate of presentations, speakers and special events for their clients who are attending CRS, and now they are opening their Tuesday, February 23 meeting to the public by invitation only at the downtown Nashville Library Auditorium.

Anyone who works for an A&O client station has received their invitations now, and if you don't compete with an Albright & O'Malley client, you're also invited (free). But, you do need an invitation.

A&O's Annual Pre-CRS Client Seminar

What a DAY to have chosen to send out the first press releases about Albright & O'Malley's February 23 (1 to 5 pm, just prior to the DJ Hall Of Fame banquet) annual client meetings!

Also in reporters' email boxes yesterday: news of the demise of ARB's Michael Skarzynski, 18 markets fail to get PPM MRC accreditation, Sarah Palin's announcement that she's contributing to Fox News. Whew!

When you send out news of a meeting that has been going on for as long as the A&O Pre-CRS Client Seminar, you pray for a slow news day as your only hope for ending up on page one of a trade magazine or two in spite of having "the best agenda ever."

Heck, "what could possibly happen?," I asked myself yesterday as I hit "send" on my release to the trade media.

Dixie Chicks are back in the studio? They chose yesterday to make the announcement?

So, it's just possible that you may have missed the first press on our client seminar. In the event you'd like to read a little "slow news," click here (pdf).

Need A Job? Network! (The Unemployment Rates Are 10%, $99, and $199)

In an unprecedented effort to assist those unemployed in the Country radio industry, the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors has approved its first ever $99 Unemployment Rate for CRS 2010, held Feb. 24-26, 2010.

“Our deeply discounted Unemployment Rate serves two purposes,” says CRB President Becky Brenner. “First, it gives those without work a financial break so that they can still afford to attend CRS 2010, and second, it provides them with the tools and networking opportunities to help them in their job search.”

The Unemployment Rate provides attendees access to educational events only, including more than 20 seminars, panels and exhibits. Notable agenda item highlights included in the discounted rate are the CMA Research Presentation, Dave Ramsey’s Keynote Address, Bob Rosner’s Workplace 911 panel and the current-events Hot Topic panel. Tickets to the Music City Jam™, New Faces of Country Music Show® and daily luncheons must be purchased separately.

The Unemployment Rate is currently available through Jan. 31, 2010. Contact Kristen McCrary at 615-327-4487 or Kristen@CRB.org for registration materials. Proof of unemployment will be subject to verification by CRB, Inc.

The Regular Rate of $599 is now in effect through Jan. 31, 2010, for all others planning to attend CRS 2010.

The 35th Annual Conclave Learning Conference July 15-17, 2010!

Meanwhile, The Conclave is also offering a break for folks who plan ahead: earlybird tuition, just $199. Use the GANG OF 10 IN 2010 discount to save even more. Reserve a Doubletree Park Place Hotel room for just $99!