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Thursday, October 14, 2010

THR: Talk Radio Scrambles For New Talent

Booming biz is at a crossroads as its icons fade

In the world of spoken-word radio, there are just a handful of superstars, the big dog being Rush Limbaugh, who attracts more than 15 million different listeners a week, according to Talkers. He's followed by Sean Hannity (14 million), Glenn Beck (10 million), Mark Levin and Michael Savage (8.5 million apiece) and Dave Ramsey and Schlessinger (8 million each).

According to a story from The Hollywood Reporter,  talk's rising audience has been a bright spot in an industry dealing with an advertising recession and competition from the rise of digital music. Revenue in the radio industry fell for four consecutive years until recovering with a 6% gain during the first half of this year to $8.24 billion, according to the Radio Advertising Bureau.

Arbitron crowned the category of "news/talk/information" America's No. 1 format in its most recent "Radio Today" report, which says that -- in no small part because of a historic presidential election that had newbies tuning into talk -- the genre garnered 12.6% of the radio audience. That's up from 10.7% two years earlier and one-tenth of a percentage point ahead of the runner-up, country music.

At 2,634, news/talk/information also leads all 57 categories in terms of station count. Harrison estimates that about 100 million Americans listen to some form of talk radio, be it political, sports, finance, medical, relationship, comedy or what have you.

But insiders say that if talk is to continue its roll, it needs to identify and groom hosts who can attract Limbaugh-size audiences at reasonable salaries while learning not to skimp on the marketing of as-yet-unproven talkers.

It used to be that talkers would hone their craft during weekends and off-hours and in small markets, then work their way up. But cost-saving measures have led to filling those hours with syndicated shows.

Read more here.

2 comments:

  1. judging by the list of "talent" in the first paragraph, being a complete a@@hole seems to be a requirement for the job. I've been doing that for years but not getting paid for it...guess i should've stuck with radio...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm great content, unique, compelling story, passion.

    I believe IT, they (the listeners) believe ME, they (the same listeners) Believe IT. = Ratings


    Introducing a new breed of Talk Show host, a true rising star.

    Please read totally, in 2 minutes you will be done and probably glad you took the time.

    Picture yourself as Owner of the Yankees or ANY OTHER major league team.


    Continuing….

    You have word that someone from NOWHERE,
    has come along claiming to possess the ability to throw a 100 mile an hour fastball. Admitting to only decent control, he would still need Improvement to be world class, he is who HE SAYS he is. OR is He?

    Question:
    Would you drop everything you had on your plate to find out if indeed there is buried treasure within reach…

    Would you take 10 MINUTES to ELIMINATE this “seemingly waste of YOUR time?”

    My guess is if you are not a “BOXED IN” type of executive and you believe in what might be OUTside the BOX…you would probably say yes…come throw ten pitches…We would like to SEE this…indeed who wouldn't…

    Well, I'm your 100 mile an hour fastball pitcher and I'm asking you for 10 minutes of YOUR TIME.

    Please don't mistake me for a novice whose “wishful thinking” is packaged with blind ambition rather than talent.

    Please don't ask me to “pay my dues.”
    They have been paid ten times over. I'm looking to be what NO ONE else is in the Talk Show circuit.

    I'm smarter, quicker, more insightful (less inciteful), enjoy a vocabulary that transcends the streets into the academic squared. A Machiavellie of the 21 Century.
    My rhythm and rhyme are entertaining to many.

    A working advertising executive, Publishing successfully for 20 years after spending 15 years in and out of prison, my understanding of the dark side of life, has a unique understanding of how the wool is being pulled over the eyes as the mainstream media of today is contributing to the dumbing down of America...the promotion of negative behaviors and the apparent indifference of the consequences makes me a ONE of a KIND...simple as that..

    Have a minute? err Ten minutes?

    http://beyondpuke.com/tony_venuti (has many 2-5 min clips.

    http://beyondpuke.com/files/2009/10/VenutiDarkSide0608v30.mp3

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggGaOfAGlNw&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tony-venuti/2010/02/02/beyond-pukein-politically-correct--the-tony-venuti


    Listen to Tony Rant & Rave in Real Time. Giving away an Arizona Getaway!
    As Publisher of Az Tourist News He can do this. Todays show archived, Have a taste of Raw, Primal Ex-CONservative talk thought few speak of, but many understand.

    http://www.blogtalkradio.com:80/show.aspx?userurl=tony-venuti&year=2010&month=02&day=11&url=beyond-pukein-politically-correct--the-tony-venuti

    ReplyDelete