Argentine Media Giant Plans Breakup

Argentina's largest media company offered on Monday to break itself up into six separate business units, the latest effort by Grupo Clarín to prevent the government from dismantling it under a media law the country's top court upheld last week, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In documents filed to the Supreme Court and the government's media regulator, Clarín said it would voluntarily divide its profitable cable-television business into three companies, two of which would contain TV and radio stations.

The other three companies would offer a mix of broadcast, cable-TV and radio stations around the country.

There was no immediate response from the government to Clarín's proposal.

The move comes a week after the top court declared the country's 2009 media law constitutional, ending a three-year legal battle. President Cristina Kirchner and proponents of the law say it is aimed at breaking up media monopolies by limiting the number of cable-TV and broadcast licenses one company can hold. But Clarín and government critics say it is aimed at muzzling a free press.

Clarín said breaking the company up was the "least desirable" outcome, but said it was being "steamrolled under the threat of confiscation" by the government.

Read More Now

R.I.P.: Baltimore R/TV Personality Jim English

Jim English 1969

Veteran Baltimore radio and television broadcaster, and broadcasting teacher Jim English died Sunday.

He was 79, according to a posting on the WBAL website.

English had worked as a disc jockey, news reporter, announcer and weatherman on radio and television, in a career that spanned from the 1950's through the 80's.

The Shamokin, Pennsylvania native started his career in Harrisburg, where he worked for ten years, first as a jazz disc jockey, then as a news reporter finally serving as the "Atlantic Weatherman" on WHP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Harrisburg.

While in Harrisburg, he also hosted "The Bear's Den," a radio postgame show for the Hershey Bears hockey team.

English came to Baltimore in 1966, to take a job as a weatherman at WBAL-TV. He held that job for three years, then he became a staff announcer at the station, reading live station ID's, commercials and news bulletins during the broadcast day.

After the station eliminated the live announcer positions in 1973, English worked at a number of radio stations in Baltimore and briefly served as the weekend weatherman at WJZ-TV.

He later hosted Maryland Public Television's Aviation Weather.

From 1980 until 1995, English taught broadcasting at Towson University, where he was also station manager of the university's radio station.

R.I.P.: Stacy Binn From The Jack Diamond Radio Show

Stacy Binn

Current Miami radio morning host Jack Diamond has announced the passing of former cast member Stacy Binn.

Binn was huge part of The Jack Diamond Morning Show on WRQX in Washington, DC for about 1/2 of the show’s 24 year run. According to Diamond, “her wit, wisdom and ‘odes’ always informed, educated and entertained”.

She disappeared from the Jack Diamond Show years ago due to medical reasons, and never returned

Diamond added, “Our friendship transcended a medium that is known for hit and run friendships. I am so thankful our friendship lived on till her passing.”

FCC: New Chairman Makes Appointments

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler today announced staff appointments to the Office of the Chairman and additional senior appointments in the Office of General Counsel, the Office of the Managing Director, and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

Chairman Wheeler said: “This team will hit the ground running. With critical work to be accomplished for the American people and the Internet becoming ever more important in the lives of consumers and  businesses across the nation, this team provides an excellent mix of governmental, private-sector and  public-interest expertise. They will join the many talented and dedicated professionals of the FCC, as we work to continue serving the public interest during an era of great technological change.”

Chairman Wheeler announced the following appointments to the Office of the Chairman:

• Ruth Milkman, Chief of Staff
• Philip Verveer, Senior Counselor to the Chairman
• Gigi B. Sohn, Special Counsel for External Affairs
• Diane Cornell, Special Counsel
• Daniel Alvarez will serve as a legal advisor to the Chairman
• Renee Gregory will serve as a legal advisor to the Chairman
• Maria Kirby will serve as a legal advisor to the Chairman
• Deborah Ridley, Confidential Assistant to the Chairman
• Sagar Doshi, Special Assistant to the Chairman

Katy Perry Ranks Most Popular On Twitter

Katy Perry

Katy Perry has become the most popular Twitter user in the world, deposing Justin Bieber as the top account on the social network, according to The Guardian.

Perry now has just over 46.5 million followers on Twitter to Bieber's 46.49 million, ending his nine-month reign as the most-followed user on the service. The buzz around her new album Prism is the main reason for Perry's current social surge.

Musicians remain some of the most popular users on Twitter, accounting for four of the five most-followed accounts. Lady Gaga's 40.4 million followers puts her third, having spent three years as the biggest Twitter star before being overtaken by Bieber in January this year.

Taylor Swift's 36.25 million followers puts her fifth on the chart, with only US president Barack Obama breaking up the top five with his 39.27 million followers.

It's a far cry from the days in 2009 when Britney Spears, actor Ashton Kutcher and CNN were battling to become the first Twitter account with more than 1 million followers – a race won by Kutcher.

Read More Now

R.I.P.: Pete Haycock, Guitartist For Climax Blues Band

Pete Haycock

Pete Haycock, founding guitarist of the Climax Blues Band, died last week from a suspected heart attack.

He was 62, according Classic Rock Magazine.

Haycock formed the Climax Blues Band in 1967 along with vocalist Colin Cooper. They’d previously worked together in The Gospel Truth. Cooper died in 2008.

The Climax Chicago Blues Band’s original line-up was Stafford-born Haycock (lead guitar), Derek Holt (piano/guitar), Cooper (vocals/harmonica), Richard Jones (bass) and George Newsome (drums).

They went on to score a Top 10 hit in 1976 with Couldn’t Get it Right.

The band split in 1988, although a new incarnation continues operating today, with no founding members on board.

Read More Now

NYC Radio: WOR Chants "Let's Go Mets!"

As expected the ink has dried on a new five year contract between the New york Mets and Clear Channel Media+Entertainment.  The deal makes WOR 710 AM the new radio home of the Mets starting in 2014.  The company is expected to use its other stations in the cluster to market the Mets and other events at Citifield in Queens borough.  Other terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said in a statement:"This breakthrough partnership provides us with the ability to serve our loyal fans and attract a new generation of fans through Clear Channel’s massive reach and ability to target key demographics across the New York market. Our agreement delivers more promotion of the club to a broader audience than this franchise ever has had before with additional opportunities to advance our efforts to make Citifield one of the leading sports and entertainment destinations in the country."

CCM+E Chairman and CEO John Hogan added, "WOR is a powerful, high potential complement to our existing New York brands, and it's an incredible opportunity for us to be able to bring the Mets programming to WOR's lineup and the rest of our New York cluster,  We look at this investment not only as an opportunity to establish WOR as a destination to a broader audience, but to also to drive further awareness and growth of the Mets through our unique multiplatform capabilities and programming -- radio, digital, outdoor and live events."

The Mets needed to find a new home after the team lost WFAN 660 AM /101.9 as its longtime outlet.   The CBS Radio station dropped the Mets when it signed a new deal with The New York Yankees staring in 2014.

Following are the other key elements of the landmark five-year agreement between the Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment:

• Radio:  The Mets will be marketed across all six top-rated Clear Channel New York radio stations and will work with each station on custom promotional opportunities on air and during Mets home games at Citi Field. Clear Channel and affiliate stations reach 93% of the New York DMA population of 12+ each month. Clear Channel New York radio stations include Z100 (100.3 WHTZ-FM), KTU (103.5 WKTU-FM), LITE FM (106.7 WLTW-FM), Q104.3 (104.3 WAXQ-FM), Power 105.1 (105.1 WWPR-FM) and WOR 710 AM.

• Digital:  In addition to promotion on the stations, each station website and iHeartRadio, Clear Channel's industry-leading, all-in-one digital service, will promote the Mets and Mets-related programming.

• Outdoor:  Clear Channel Outdoor's strategically located media inventory will also market the Mets and WOR relationship throughout the New York Metropolitan Area.

• Music and Entertainment:  The Mets and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment will work together to enhance in-game entertainment at Citi Field and jointly explore the production and promotion of top name concerts, festivals and large-scale entertainment events at Citi Field.

Miami Radio: Sportstalker Dan Sileo Tweets A Player Bounty

UPDATE 4PM 11/04/2013:  Sports talk radio host Dan Sileo has been fired by WMEN 640-AM Monday after the former Miami Hurricane tweeted over the weekend that he was placing a $1,000 bounty on Florida State defensive lineman Timmy Jernigan, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Sileo tweeted that he would pay $1,000 to any Miami player that "TAKES THIS KID OUT" while attaching a photo of Jernigan using his hands to create "The U".

Sileo deleted the tweet, and claimed that he was only joking, but WMEN terminated his contract with the station Monday.

The firing is Sileo's second this year and third in the past 20 months.

Dan Sileo

Sportstalker Dan Sileo, who has a history of making controversial statements, stepped into it again this past weekend.

Sileo, who hosts10a-1p on WMEN 640 AM in Miami, sent out a shocking message to the on his personal Twitter account Sunday, posting a picture of Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan holding up the “U” symbol and stating he would pay $1,000 to any Miami “PLAYER to TAKES THIS KID OUT.”

The original Tweet has been taken down and Sileo has since posted he was joking.

PEOPLE Im KIDDING about the 1000 ....GET A LIFE............I dont make a 1000 a week......I HATE WHAT THIS KID DID pic.twitter.com/yqWeyl9jDq
— Dan Sileo (@DanSileoShow) November 3, 2013

The station responded to Sileo’s bounty by saying it was “just as shocked and stunned as everyone else by this tweet,” according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. The station’s executive producer, Marc Eisenberg, said the station is "still looking into the situation."

Raleigh Radio: CCM+E Flips WKSL From Top40 To Country

WKSL 93.9 FM 60dBu Coverage

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Raleigh announced Friday the debut of Carolina's New Country WKSL B93.9, effective immediately. New Country B93.9 will play today's hottest Country hits including the newest tracks from artists such as Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Jake Owen and Miranda Lambert.

New Country B93.9 will broadcast The Bobby Bones Show weekday mornings from 6-10:00 a.m. EST, beginning December 2, 2013. The morning show will feature on-air personalities Bobby Bones, Lunchbox and Amy, with special guest appearances from the biggest names in Country music straight from Nashville.

Chris Edge

"America’s hottest format is New Country and B93.9 will feature the biggest stars – more than any other station in Raleigh," said Chris Edge, Operations Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Raleigh. "Carolina’s New Country station is B93.9 – this station is made for Country fans, both young and old."

"We are extremely excited to bring New Country B93.9 to Raleigh," said George Allen, Market Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Raleigh. “We have a robust portfolio of stations, and are pleased to present this option not only to country music fans, but also to local businesses as an additional way to engage and connect with the community."

Former KISS 93.9 fm PD ZAC DAVIS will focus on sister Top 40 WDCG (G105).

Country Will Be Huge In 20-Years, BUT....

Country consultant Jaye Albright asks are we going to be moving slowly downward 25-54 and 18-49 year after year between now and then, as leading edge boomers age out of 25-54 and Gen X moves into the middle of it?

It's worth studying both Census Bureau population projections as well as Nielsen's annual Radio Today historical trends to stay ahead of the curve.

 More than half of the country radio audience today is over 45.  The country radio format's 35-44 composition percentage has been slipping for the last decade as Gen X has aged into that demo cell right in the center of our target.  (click the link to see Westwood One/Denver VP/Programming John Paul's prescient post and stats on this)  "It could get real ugly" between now and then, he says.

Fortunately, country still ranks #1 18-24. 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 in 2013:

So, what's the big deal?

Jaye Albright

According to Albright, to overcome the smaller proportion of 35-44 in both the general population and country's audience comp, the format must increase it's share of both Generation X and Generation Y listening above current levels.

The national country format average share 35-44 was up from 2011 to 2012 from a 12.2 to a 12.8, but then slipped to a 12.6 this year. 

The majority of country stations tracked by Nielsen this year cut a smaller slice of a shrinking pie. 

Turning that slight dip around by the time the next annual format report emerges in 2014 will lay the necessary groundwork for both a solid medium- and long-term future. 

Failing to do so will mean we'll need to wait for the average age of 18-49 and 25-54 to come down, which census data forecasts won't happen for a decade. 

Getting it "right" between now and then requires targeting more discretely than the standard ten year demo cells, growing new coalitions based on more than the mix of age or gender that worked for the format in the past.

Read More Now

Report: Nielsen Says Seasons Do Impact Radio

There’s no mistaking the impact that a change in seasons has on consumer behavior. It affects the clothes we shop for, the décor in our houses and the music we listen to. And in looking at Nielsen’s portable people meter (PPM) ratings each month, it’s clear that seasonality affects what audiences are listening to on the radio as well.

This past July Arbnitron highlighted record-breaking growth in Country, enough so to declare the warmer months of 2013 as the “Summer of Country.” Arb itron/Nielsen also saw Rock, Hot Adult Contemporary and Urban Contemporary make headlines as well. Now, as we move into the heart of the fall, Nielsen is seeing spoken word audiences are reacting, too.

Below are some highlights from Nielsen’s October PPM data across 45 markets* using the full-week (Mon.-Sun. 6 am.-midnight) daypart and audience shares for the 6+, 18-34 and 25-54 demographics.

• Sports Radio Records: After Sports stations came out of the dead of summer (a historically low point for sports programming) with a positive turn-around last month, they recorded significant increases in listener shares again in October. In fact, the format set an all-time high this month for audience shares in PPM markets in both the 6+ (5.1 share) and 25-54 (5.8) demos. Sports also saw its shares grow by double-digit percentages across all three age ranges. Fueled by fall football and the Major League Baseball playoffs, interest in sports on the radio dial has never been higher.
• News Remains Open: The news arena is also having a big fall, after slumping a bit during the summer, and is now rebounding as vacations end and newsmakers and consumers settle back into more regular work patterns. Last year, Hurricane Sandy and the election season moved the needle on news radio. This year, the lead-up to the two-week government shutdown drove up the shares for News/Talk by 6 percent across all three of the demos we examined in October.
• Hot Adult Contemporary’s Run of Success: If it seems that Hot Adult Contemporary (Hot AC) has been trending hot for some time, it’s because it has. Through October, Hot AC has achieved the best five-month stretch of 6+ shares (5.7) since we began tracking format trends in PPM markets in 2011; posted the best three-month performance in the 18-34 demo (6.4 share) over that same time period; and garnered the best five-month stretch for 25-54 audience shares (6.3) since these trends began.

Read More Now

Report: FCC Wants To End Sports Blackouts

Mignon Clyburn

FCC Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn has introduced a proposal to end the agency’s nearly 40-year-old sports blackout rule, saying that changes in the marketplace have “raised questions” about whether they are still in the public interest, according to Variety.

Clyburn said that she circulated her proposal to other commissioners about eliminating the rules. Those rules vary widely according to the various professional sports leagues.

For the NFL, the blackout rule prevents local TV station owners from carrying home games for NFL teams unless all tickets to the game were sold out, under the rationale that the prospect of being able to watch the game on TV would dampen ticket sales. For Major League Baseball and the NHL, the focus is on protecting local stations with home-team rights, resulting in market-specific blackouts at times for national outlets such as ESPN and Fox. If a broadcast game is blacked out, cable and satellite companies are prevented from airing the game.

“Changes in the marketplace have raised questions about whether these rules are still in the public interest, particularly at a time when high ticket prices and the economy make it difficult for many sports fans to attend games. Elimination of our sports blackout rules will not prevent sports leagues, broadcasters and cable and satellite providers from privately negotiating agreements to black out certain sports events.”

Read More Now

Report: 111M Americans Go Online For Daily News

Whether browsing the news headlines about international news, U.S. politics, or the latest tech gadgets, 111 million Americans visited news websites in September 2013. That’s more than half of the Americans (54%) who were active on the Web, and each visitor to news sites spent an average of 1 hour 32 minutes on those sites during the month, according to Nielsen.

So which websites do Americans browse most when they’re looking for the latest news headlines? Yahoo-ABC News Websites topped the list of news brands with 47 million unique U.S. visitors in September 2013. CNN’s websites followed closely with 41 million visitors, but was tops in engagement, as visitors spent 50 minutes each, on average, during the month.

Websites of popular newspaper brands like NYTimes.com and WashingtonPost.com also made the list, alongside online news properties like the Huffington Post. Overall, visitors to news websites checked the news often, averaging 19 sessions on news websites and 100 page views per person.

Read More Now

Toronto Radio: CFMJ Claims Mayor Called-In Using Fake Name

CFMJ 640 AM host Bill Carroll is convinced embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Called-in last week to defend himself using a fake name

The mayor, who allegedly was videotaped smoking crack in a video now in police possession, reportedly called the radio show as “Ian.”

CFMJ Coverage (RadioLocator)

“Ian’s” defense was basically that he didn’t know he was being videotaped and he wasn’t smoking crack cocaine but he said the mayor can’t be fired for this transgression.

“He has personal problems,” he said. “By the way, if you think you can fire somebody because they had a personal problem with something like this, substance abuse — in a union, you can’t.”

Then the Carroll was on to him.

“Rob. Mayor Ford, I know your voice, this is you isn’t it, Mayor Ford?”

Then “Ian” hung up.

Meanwhile on his own radio show Sundayon CFRB 1010 AM, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford apologized to the people of Toronto, saying he’s “made mistakes” but that he will continue to do “the job I was elected to do three years ago.”

“Unfortunately, I cannot change the past,” Ford said at the start of his weekly radio show on Newstalk 1010. “I can just move forward and learn from the past which I’ll assure I am doing.”

“There’s no one to blame but myself and I take full responsibility for it,” he said, without immediately specifying why he was apologizing.

Chicago Radio: Group Aims to Stop Violent, Explicit Lyrics

Calling it the “Clear the Airwaves Project,” protesters are trying to stop two Chicago radio stations from playing music with violent, misogynist and explicitly sexual lyrics, according to writer Mary Mitchell at The Sun-Times.

For the past several months, protesters have gathered outside a black-owned McDonald’s on the South Side with protest signs warning patrons that their children are being poisoned by a steady diet of soft porn and violence.

“We feel that the music being played on the radio is influencing our children and is detrimental and should be for adults only,” said Kwabena Rasuli, founder of the campaign.

“This is music that encourages girls to be strippers and young men to kill each other, to pop mollies or Ecstasy pills, and to be unrealistically materialistic,” Rasuli said.

“In about 90 percent of the songs, they drop the n-bombs and in about 80 percent, they are calling our sisters the b-word.”

He began his crusade outside of WPWX-92.3 FM in Hammond, Ind., five years ago. Rasuli accused the Hammond station, along with Clear Channel’s WGCI-107.5 FM, of playing music so “vile” it should not be on the radio.

In a written statement, Angela Ingram, vice president of communications for Clear Channel, said WGCI “is always open to having dialogue with members of the community and listening to their concerns.”

No study has found a cause-and-effect link between violent rap videos and the increased homicides and violence among youth.

But common sense should tell us that it is not healthy emotionally for young people to be rocking out to songs about shooting people.

Read More Now