Saturday Aircheck: Shotgun Tom Kelly KMFB 1990

Back in 1990 Shotgun Tom Kelly was doing the Saturday Night Oldies Show from The Corvette Diner in Hillcrest on KFMB-AM. The restaurant built a 60's era studio at the diner complete with an RCA DX-77 mic. Check out the Shotgun in the cool retro studio in this video from California Aircheck.

As you probably know Shotun hosted the Marconi Awards this past week at the NAB/RAB Radio show in Orlando.  Tom himself was awarded a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame this years and he's profiled here.

FCC Nominee O’Rielly Favors “Light” Regulation

Michael P. O'Rielly

Michael P. O’Rielly, a Republican Capitol Hill staffer nominated to fill a vacancy on the FCC, told the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday that agency regulations “need to be flexible” and to have “as light hand as possible,” asccording to Variety.

 

There are few doubts that O’Rielly will be confirmed. Committee chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) predicted as much, and it is expected that his nomination will be paired with that of Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, to make both politically palatable to the full Senate.

But Rockefeller took issue with O’Rielly’s approach to regulation, calling O’Rielly’s “light hand” remarks “code words” that ignore the role of regulation in reining in the excesses of unchecked technology.

O’Rielly, who has worked for Congress for 20 years, is currently an adviser to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Republican minority whip. He previously was a staffer for Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) and for the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

O’Rielly signaled a willingness to look at revising media ownership rules, an effort that has been sidelined as the agency looks at the impact any changes would have on minorities and women.

Asked about what he would do when it came to indecency complaints, he said he would seek to “enforce the statute,” but he was not specific as to how he would craft a policy that could survive a constitutional challenge from broadcasters.

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Nielsen To Go Mobile

Arbitron Deal Okay Expected Today

Nielsen has long been a kingmaker in the TV industry. Its ratings data, which tracks viewership of shows, determines how advertisers shell out some $66 billion annually. But the company has been slow to adapt to new technologies and expand its reach to other media services, industry critics say.

Now Nielsen is making some significant moves, according toThe Wall Street Journal.

Next week Nielsen will announce plans to augment its TV ratings data with information on viewing on tablets and smartphones, meeting a major demand of media companies that say they aren't getting credit in the current system for viewing on mobile devices. The change won't take effect until next fall's TV season, however.

Nielsen also plans to roll out a planned Twitter-related ratings service on Sept. 30. It will measure the audience that sees tweets about TV shows to help gauge their popularity. Early findings showed that for every one tweet about a TV show, roughly 50 people see it, the company says.

Meanwhile, the company's $1.3 billion acquisition of Arbitron that also has technology to advance Nielsen's TV measurement capabilities outside homes, could get approval from the Federal Trade Commission as early as Friday, people familiar with the situation said.

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What Kind of Shows Are Best For Live Tweeting?

If you've ever tweeted about a TV show while watching it, you know that it can make the experience a lot more fun -- but it works better with some kind of shows than others, and Yahoo! News' Robert Walker decided to ask some media- and tech-savvy people their opinions about which kinds are best.

Peter Kafka of AllThingsD said he thinks Twitter goes best with programming that he called "live and dumb" -- meaning things like sports, live reality shows and presidential debates -- which don't, quote, "require lots of focus and/or may be improved by the sense that you're throwing virtual brickbats/tomatoes at the screen with your friends."

David Carr of The New York Times had a similar idea, adding awards shows as another kind of programming that goes great with tweeting. He said, "The more mass, the more canned, the better, so awards shows are money when it comes to wise-cracking on Twitter."

But what most agreed doesn't go well with Twitter are really good scripted shows like Breaking Bad. Carr said, "I would no more tweet than play ping-pong during a really good show." My bond and loyalties in that instance is with the show, characters and storytellers, not the other people who are watching it."

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2013 NAB Marconi Radio Awards Winners Announced

WBBM-AM: Legendary Station Winner

Winners of the 2013 National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Radio Awards were announced Thursday night at the annual NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show held at the Radio Show in Orlando, FL.

Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio. 

This year's NAB Marconi Radio Award recipients are” (winner is highlighted)

LEGENDARY STATION

KFI-AM Los Angeles, CA

KIIS-FM Los Angeles, CA

KYW-AM Philadelphia, PA

*WBBM-AM Chicago, IL

WEEI-FM Boston, MA

NETWORK/SYNDICATED PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Argelia Atilano, Univision Radio Network

Delilah, Premiere Radio Networks

*Steve Harvey, Premiere Radio Networks

Tom Joyner, Reach Media

Petros & Money, Fox Sports Radio / Premiere Radio Networks

 MAJOR MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Carter Alan, WZLX-FM, Boston, MA

Boomer & Carton, WFAN-AM/FM, New York, NY

Ryan Cameron, WVEE-FM, Atlanta, GA

*Eric & Kathy, WTMX-FM, Chicago, IL

The Musers, KTCK-AM, Dallas, TX

 LARGE MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Amos Brown, WTLC-AM, Indianapolis, IN

Chris Carr & Company, WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, OH

*Cornbread, WIL-FM, St. Louis, MO

Laurie DeYoung, WPOC-FM, Baltimore, MD

Kym Sellers, WZAK-FM, Cleveland, OH

 MEDIUM MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Roger Todd, Tom O’Brien, Melissa Moran & DJ the Trucker, WPCV-FM, Lakeland, FL

*Brian Byers, WSOY-AM, Decatur, IL

Brian Gary, Todd Harding and Susan Moore, KUAD-FM Fort Collins, CO

Mark Ericson and Karen Kiley, WOKQ-FM Portsmouth, NH

Jermaine "Funny Maine" Johnson, WBHJ-FM Birmingham, AL

 SMALL MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Alex & Cora, WAXX-FM, Altoona, WI

Cosmo & Whitney, KTXY-FM, Columbia, MO

Brian Lee & Chris Wolfe, KZOQ-FM, Missoula, MT

Susan Littlefield, KZEN-FM, Columbus, NE

*Monk & Kelly, WGSQ-FM, Cookeville, TN

 SPANISH FORMAT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Milton Andrade Cardenas, KLNV-FM, San Diego, CA

Diamond Boy Luis, WLZL-FM, Washington, DC

Rafael Orlando, WYUS-AM, Milford, DE

*Javier Romero, WAMR-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Armando Ulloa, "El Chiquilin," KLZT-FM, Austin TX

 MAJOR MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

KROQ-FM Los Angeles, CA

*WBEB-FM Philadelphia, PA

WINS-AM New York, NY

WJMN-FM Boston, MA

WMMR-FM Philadelphia, PA

 LARGE MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

*KSTP-FM St. Paul, MN

WCCO-AM Minneapolis, MN

WPRO-AM Providence, RI

WWL-AM New Orleans, LA

WXYT-FM Detroit, MI

 MEDIUM MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

*KRMG-FM Tulsa, OK

WDGL-FM Baton Rouge, LA

WGCV-AM Columbia, SC

WMEE-FM Fort Wayne, IN

WMGX-FM Portland, ME

 SMALL MARKET STATION OF THE YEAR

KCLR-FM Columbia, MO

KCVM-FM Cedar Falls, IA

KICD-AM Spencer, IA

*WKDZ-FM Cadiz, KY

WLEN-FM Adrian, MI

 AC STATION OF THE YEAR

KBIG-FM Los Angeles, CA

WFEZ-FM Miami, FL

*WTMX-FM Chicago, IL

WWDE-FM Virginia Beach, VA

WWRM-FM Tampa Bay, FL

 CHR STATION OF THE YEAR

WFBC-FM Greenville, SC

WKSW-FM Cookeville, TN

*WRDW-FM Philadelphia, PA

WVAQ-FM Morgantown, WV

WXNY-FM New York, NY

 COUNTRY STATION OF THE YEAR

KCLR-FM Columbia, MO

*KKBQ-FM Houston, TX

WDSY-FM Pittsburgh, PA

WGSQ-FM Cookeville, TN

WUSN-FM Chicago, IL

 NEWS/TALK STATION OF THE YEAR

KTMY-FM St. Paul, MN

WBT-AM Charlotte, NC

*WBZ-AM Boston, MA

WPRO-AM Providence, RI

WSB-AM Atlanta, GA

 RELIGIOUS STATION OF THE YEAR

KFSH-FM Los Angeles, CA

KKJM-FM Sauk Rapids, MN

KKLA-FM Los Angeles, CA

*KLRC-FM Siloam Springs, AR

WCAO-AM Baltimore, MD

 ROCK STATION OF THE YEAR

KSHE-FM St. Louis, MO

WBAB-FM Long Island, NY

WDRV-FM Chicago, IL

WRAT-FM Belmar, NJ

*WZLX-FM Boston, MA

 SPANISH STATION OF THE YEAR

KGBT-FM McAllen, TX

*KLOL-FM Houston, TX

KLNV-FM San Diego, CA

WKAQ-FM San Juan, PR

WYUS-AM Milford, DE

 SPORTS STATION OF THE YEAR

*KTCK-AM Dallas, TX

WBZ-FM Boston, MA

WIP-FM Philadelphia, PA

WSCR-AM Chicago, IL

WXYT-FM Detroit, MI

 URBAN STATION OF THE YEAR

WEDR-FM Miami, FL

WHUR-FM Washington, DC

WKYS-FM Washington, DC

WTLC-FM Indianapolis, IN

*WVEE-FM Atlanta, GA

Marconi finalists were selected by a task force of broadcasters, and the winners were voted on by the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Selection Academy. The votes were tabulated by an independent firm.

The NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show was hosted by "Shotgun Tom" Kelly of CBS Radio's KRTH-FM in Los Angeles. The show also featured a performance by Grammy Award-Winning band The Mavericks from Big Machine Label Group.

Firday At The NAB/RAB Radio Show

The following sessions at the 2013 Radio Show will be streamed live and archived at www.radioshowweb.com for viewing on demand until the end of the year.

Brightcove, Inc. will use its Video Cloud online video platform to support the live and on-demand streaming. On demand sessions will be available following the Radio Show.

The Radio Show is produced by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB).

Friday’s Live Streaming Session

12:40 – 1:20 p.m.: Radio Luncheon: Featuring remarks by FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai and the presentation of the National Radio Award to Hubbard Radio Chair Ginny Morri

On-Demand Session (Available Next Week)

Friday, September 20, 8 a.m.– 12 p.m.: The Sales Consultant Series, sponsored by Katz Media Group

Rush Limbaugh Talks About Affiliate Meet&Greet

As Media Confidential posted yesterday, Rush Limbaugh took advantage of so many radio owners and execs in Orlando for the Radio Show. 

SEE 'RUSH CUTS-THE-CAKE':  Click Here 

El Rushbo hosted a ‘Thank-You” meet-and-greet at the Ritz-Carlton Wednesday evening.

He talked about the event during Thursday’s radio show: 

This is the week for the National Association of Broadcasters convention, and this is the 25th anniversary year of this program. So we threw, the EIB Network threw, a cocktail party and reception for all of our affiliate radio stations, stations that carry the program, and it was really nice.  It was from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and I just want to share with you what I told them.  These are the people that own and operate, or manage and/or run, the radio station.  Some of them had family with them, and some of them had friends. 

But I stood up -- I didn't speak to them long, five or seven minutes -- and I recounted some of the early days, what I call the "rat radio days" where you couldn't keep me out of the radio station. It was all-consuming and, you know, how things change. But I said, "The one thing that hasn't changed is my devotion to you and my appreciation for all of you."  I said, "I've been blessed. My life has been truly blessed, but none of what I've been able to experience would have happened had it not been for the people on these radio stations that carry the program." 

They're the ones that make it all possible for everything else to happen.  Boy... As I acknowledged, and they laughed affectionately when I said I've put them through some really stressful times with a couple or three little events over the course of 25 years, and they've hung in there. They have never wavered.  They've hung in, and I've always known they would, and that gives me confidence. I can't tell you the kind of confidence that that gives to me or inspires in me, and it also guarantees stability. 

You all know where this radio show's gonna be each and every day.  A number of you have, over the course of the many years here, asked me why the program's not on satellite especially when Sirius and XM were starting up. Many of you wanted to know why, and it's because of the affiliates.  I promised them early on, in the early onset days of satellite, that I would not cannibalize them and make the program available on satellite. People thought that was silly. 

Of course, the smart business decision would be to put the radio show where the vast majority of people can hear it -- and I've always believed that if the content is there, people will go wherever they have to to get it. Even if it's two tin cans and a string, it doesn't matter: AM, FM, satellite, wherever it is, if people like it, they'll go there.  My job has always been to keep this content, at least at your level-of-expectation or greater.  These people took this show 25 years ago…they took a real risk when this program started, and they've hung in through all these times.

 Tom’s Take: Rush did not mention his private meeting with the Dickey Brothers prior to be event.

Sinclair Emerges As Major Broadcasting Player

In the last 2½ years, Sinclair nearly doubled its portfolio of TV stations to 108 from 58, becoming the largest broadcaster in terms of number of stations, according to USAToday.

It will own and operate 149 stations when its pending deals are completed.

With interest rates low and ad dollars plentiful, Sinclair is hardly alone in scooping up TV stations. Other companies — including Gannett, Media General, Nexstar Broadcasting and Tribune Co. — also have bought or announced deals to acquire more stations this year.

But Sinclair's singularly torrid pace of growth has fueled debate about enduring questions on concentration of media ownership and fresh attempts by federal regulators to scale back broadcasters' ambitions.

Julian Sinclair Smith

Founded by David Smith's father, Julian Sinclair Smith, the company started with one small local station in Baltimore in 1971 and has retained its strong roots in the area. David Smith and his brothers took control of the company in the 1990s and began expanding it by acquiring stations. Sinclair started offering its shares to the public in 1995. But the Smith family firmly controls the company, with a majority stake in its shares. Four of the eight seats on the board are occupied by David Smith and his brothers.

Sinclair's acquisitive mode has been good for investors. Its stock more than doubled — up about 136% — in the last 12 months. Its revenue for the first six months of the year is up 26% from a year ago to $596.8 million.

Particularly eye-opening — and perhaps most illustrative of Sinclair's ambition — is a deal announced in late July to buy the seven stations owned by Allbritton Communications for $985 million. It would give Smith a foothold in the influential Washington, D.C.-market that would be used for a broader national expansion. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.

Read More Now.

Survey Unveils Cellphone Uses

Fully 91% of American adults own a cell phone and many use the devices for much more than phone calls.

According to Pew Research, texting, accessing the internet and sending and receiving email remain popular. 

Some 50% of cell owners download apps—up from 22% in 2009. Many use certain location-based services like getting directions or recommendations.

Nearly half of cell owners (48%) use their phones to listen to music.  The proportion of cell owners who use video calling has tripled since May 2011.

Some of the most popular activities people perform on their cell phones and found:

NBC’s Ann Curry Lands First Interview With Iran Prez

In an exclusive interview with Ann Curry, newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke about Israel, his views on previous president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the Iranian people's access to the Internet.

Rouhani  blamed Israel for causing "injustice to the people" of the Middle East and said Iran is not "looking for war" in the wide-ranging interview which you can watch in its entirety here. Rouhani deflected a question about whether he believed that the Holocaust was "a myth."

Ann Curry and NBC News' Ali Arouzi Thursday answered viewer’s questions from Tehran.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

NBC’s Ann Curry talks about how her team worked tirelessly around the clock to bring the exclusive interview with Iran’s newly-elected president Hassan Rouhani to viewers.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

NOLA Radio: Angela Hill Joins WWL

Angela Hill

WWL 870 AM / 105.3 FM announced Thursday that iconic New Orleans news anchor and beloved personality Angela Hill will join the WWL radio lineup effective Monday, September 30th.

Angela will take over the 1pm to 4pm time slot.

 “It doesn’t get any bigger than this,” says Chris Claus, Vice President and General Manager of Entercom New Orleans.  “Not only is Angela a household name, she’s one of the most respected, popular and beloved personalities in New Orleans and the Gulf South,” continued Claus.

Hill, who retired from WWL-TV earlier this year said, “I am sure people are asking, ‘what happened to retirement?’ I always said I was looking for the next chapter of my life.  This is a natural fit, it’s in the city I love and talking with the people I love.  I’ll have the opportunity to get to know my community better, and they’ll get to know me better,” said Hill.  “Radio allows you to connect with and engage people on a more personal level. When you add the power and reach of WWL radio, we can do great things. My show will be engaging, fun and attract big time guests that will keep the Deep South talking.  The sky’s the limit.”

WWL Operations & Program Director, Diane Newman, couldn’t be more excited about the move. “For decades, Angela Hill has been friend, family, community leader.  Now she gets to expand and connect to her fans, guests and community in an intimate way.  She’s a trusted journalist, an amazing interviewer and a great listener. Garland and Angela back to back is a powerful combination.  Their perspectives are different…the ultimate skeptic followed by the ultimate optimist.  It’s going to be a great ride.”

“Heeere’s Johnny” To Be Developed Into Mini-Series

Carson as Karnac

NBC is in development on a miniseries about the life of legendary late-night talk show host Johnny Carson, according to broadwayworld.com.

Based on the upcoming biography "Carson the Magnificent: An Intimate Portrait" (Simon and Schuster) by Bill Zehme, the project will cover Carson's legendary 30-year run (1962-92) as host of "The Tonight Show," as well as his childhood growing up in Nebraska, his often secluded off-camera life and friendships he made throughout his career as one of the most beloved TV personalities of all time.

Casting for the iconic star will be named at a later date.

Carson, who interviewed more than 22,000 guests from the show's home in both New York City and Burbank, Calif., is revered by today's talk show hosts as a huge inspiration in their respective careers. Comedians often cite their first appearance on the Carson-hosted "Tonight Show" as their big break into show business.

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'Safe Money Radio' Host Cheated Investors

A one-time host of “Safe Money Radio” in western Minnesota has allegedly contradicted the show’s title by swindling investors who said they had invested proceeds from the sale of their farms or life savings.

According to startribune.com, Jeffrey C. Rodd, 49, of Redwood Falls, was charged this week in federal court with four counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud in connection with the scam that spanned more than three years.

In February, regulators with the state Commerce Department ordered Rodd to halt his scheme and fined him $300,000. The agency said Rodd’s victims included four elderly people, one of them with dementia, and others who said they turned over their entire life savings to Rodd, with some raising their investments by selling their farmland.

An executive at Redwood Falls station KLGR 1490 AM that carried Rodd’s show said that while he was stealing from clients he would try to appear generous to the community by sending gifts of food to families in need.

Read More Now

Media Trust Recovers Slightly

Americans' confidence in the accuracy of the mass media has improved slightly after falling to an all-time low last year. Now, 44% say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust and confidence in the mass media, identical to 2011 but up from 40% in 2012, the lowest reading since Gallup regularly began tracking the question in 1997.

The latest results are based on Gallup's annual Governance survey, conducted Sept. 5-8. Americans have consistently been more distrusting than trusting of the media each year since 2007, in contrast with 1997 through 2003, when the slight majority expressed trust in the media.

This year's bump in confidence comes mainly from independents and Republicans, after these groups' trust in the media dropped last year amid a heated presidential election race in which Mitt Romney supporters may have felt their candidate was being treated unfairly. Democrats' confidence, however, has been inching up since 2011.

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Mamie Shephard Named Radio Personality Project Winner

Mamie Shepherd

NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith Thursday recognized radio host and programmer Mamie Shepherd as the winner of the NAB Education Foundation's (NABEF) inaugural Radio Personality Project.

The announcement was made at the Opening event of the NAB/RAB Radio Show in Orlando.

The Radio Personality Project is an initiative of NABEF to identify a creative and talented individual who has yet to be discovered by the Radio industry.

Shepherd's entry stood out among a variety of high quality entries. A graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, she currently coordinates programming and serves as on-air talent at the Levine Children's Hospital's Seacrest Studios broadcast media center in Charlotte, NC.

At the Radio Show, Shepherd is conducting interviews with celebrities who are participating in the event, including Ann Compton, Carson Daly and Big Sean. She also co-hosted a shift at Orlando's CBS Radio's WJHM-FM on September 18.

Jay Z, Beyonca Top Forbes List of Highest Earning Couples

Beyonce, Jay Z

Jay Z and Beyonce Knowles are so much more than just the first couple of hip-hop: They’re a combination of two of the savviest businesspeople in entertainment. They made more than any other celebrity couple this year with an estimated $95 million in earnings between June 2012 and June 2013, according to Forbes list.

Both are at the top of their games, with multiple hits under their belts. Jay Z’s recent Watch the Throne album went platinum and launched a world tour that brought in $1.4 million per night in America. Knowles, who took a short break when her daughter Blue Ivy was born in January last year, was back with a vengeance this year with her Mrs. Carter world tour, which grossed an average $2 million per night.

SEE ENTIRE FORBES LIST:  Click Here.

Then there are their other interests. Jay Z is a part owner of the new Barclays BCS -0.94% Center in Brooklyn, where the Brooklyn Nets play. He sold his stake in the team and now has to dump his share in the arena, too, because he’s started his own sports agency: Roc Nation Sports, which represents star athletes like Kevin Durant and Victor Cruz. Knowles has a fragrance collection and a clothing line called House of Deron. Blue Ivy could soon join the family business. She’s already been on one of her Dad’s songs and her parents have petitioned to trademark her name for the right to use it on anything from baby clothes to toys.

Bey and Jay earned $15 million more than the No. 2 couple on the Forbes’ list: Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen. Like Jay Z and Knowles, Brady and Bundchen have used their fame to build bigger businesses around themselves.

Read More Now.

The Connected Car: Smartphone On Wheels

Automakers and tier one electronics makers are designing connected car systems that are changing the way consumers entertain and inform themselves while they drive.  Soon, the two knob radio we’re accustomed to will be replaced with a touch screen audio delivery platform, making cars essentially smartphones on wheels.  How can the radio industry adjust to the new challenges?  How are consumers adjusting to new in-car technologies currently in the marketplace?

Roger Lanctot, Fred Jacobs

Thursday at the 2013 Radio Show, jointly produced by the National Association of Broadcasters and the Radio Advertising Bureau, in Orlando, FL, Arbitron Inc., Strategy Analytics and Jacobs Media presented Radio and the Connected Car, an in depth look at the current state of in-car entertainment, where it’s headed and what actions radio broadcasters should take to maintain their station’s relevance in the car.

According to Strategy Analytics, the connected car industry is growing.  They project that by 2017 there will be 140 million connected cars on the road globally.  While radio remains a strong connected car component, the industry must adapt its strategy now to maintain that relevance.

Based on a series of videos showing automotive executives, experts in the connected car industry and consumers interacting with in-car infotainment technology, Jacobs Media concluded that there are still improvements needed in the integration and user interface of the digital dashboard.  For now, radio maintains a strong presence in the automotive ecosystem.

Radio and the Connected Car shows us that although there’s some improvements needed with the new in-car technology, radio broadcasters need to have a strategy to remain competitive with the new in-car technology.

  

By investigating where auto entertainment has been, where it’s going, and what has and hasn’t worked, Radio and the Connected Car leaves us with the following suggestions to keep radio the “King of In-car Media.”  

• Develop your mobile strategy with the in-car experience in mind.  For many car makers their connected vehicles use smartphones to link consumers with their audio entertainment.
• Align your station’s streaming experience so that’s on equal footing with competitive streams and channels.
• Engage with the connected car technology which is rapidly changing . While radio remains strong it needs to be proactive by planning and acting now to take advantage of the digital dashboard.
• Drive a connected car.  Whether you buy, lease, rent or test drive a connected car, it’s important to understand how your audience will be viewing the many in-car options that will be available to them.
• Partner with a local car dealership.  Getting closer with local car dealerships will help radio focus on better understanding their needs and potentially uncover mutually beneficial opportunities.
• Attend a connected car conference.  Listen and speak directly to automotive leaders about both their industry and the radio industry.
• Rethink HD Radio.  Most auto manufacturers believe HD Radio is a conduit to a better consumer infotainment experience in the car.
• Form a radio in-car consortium.  A radio industry consortium can provide a collective support network while protecting radio’s in-car franchise and build relationships with auto manufacturers and tier 1 electronics makers.

Download the Executive Summary: Click Here.

At The Radio Show, Larry Wilson Sez VT Is Dead

Holland Cooke

According to consultant Holland Cooke, any NAB/RAB Radio Show attendees who had a little too much fun Wednesday night snoozed through a Thursday morning Leadership Breakfast everyone in radio needed to hear.

Cooke, writing for RadioInfo, says four respected group heads were interviewed, and often interrupted by applause from attendees they left buzzing.

Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw:

• Less local-local-local and commercials that are too-many-and-too-bad will prevent AM/FM broadcasters from defending against Pandora and other new-tech interlopers.

Citdel founder Larry Wilson is back in the game, as Alpha CEO and Chairman of L&L, which he explained stands for “live and local”

• Wilson said “voice tracking is not good, dead, a waste of great facilities.”

Cumulus Media CEO Lew Dickey:

• Yes, “the audio ecosystem expanding,” although AM/FM listeners have always also bought music.  In his view, Pandora is simply “the new mix tape.”

NRG Media CEO Mary Quass:

• Thoughtful, provocative idea I’ll immediately steal: Programming litmus test:  “Is it good-enough that listeners would time shift it?”  Her surmise, of radio generally, “Not just no, HELL no!”

For more on Holland’s recap of the Leadership Breakfast, Click Here.

Rush Limbaugh Cuts the Cake In Orlando

Rush Limbaugh and WFLF/WFLA Morning Host Bud Hedinger

With so many radio execs and owners in Orlando for the NAB/RAB Radio Show this week, syndicated Premiere Rush Limbaugh took advantage of the opportunity to have an affiliate meet-and-greet.

Local Orlando affiliate WFLF "WFLA' 540 AM/104.5 FM helped host a reception at the Ritz-Carlton.

Rush expressed deep appreciation to those attending to to some 600 affiliates on the occasion of his 25^th Anniversary of his national show.

Speaking about the importance of the relationship between the personality and the radio station, Limbaugh said from his earliest days in radio, he’s always believed that “it takes the radio station to make the personality, the personality can’t make the radio station.” 

Limbaugh referring to the controversial nature of talk radio “And Lord knows, I’ve put you through hell.”

“Probably more times than even I know!  I’m aware of the times I know.  I can’t tell you how much it means to me that whatever the obstacle or controversy – whenever it pops up – that you all hang in there.  One thing that’s such a blessing of freedom: I don’t have to worry when those things happen that you’re going to be affected by whatever the media is attempting or whatever detractors are attempting.  The one thing that fuels me and gives me confidence and strength is I know I’m not going to lose you all…and I’m going to be forever grateful.”

Clyburn Proposes Six Point Plan To Help AM Radio

FCC Acting Chair Mignon Clyburn came to the NAB/RAB Radio show in Orlando bearing gifts.

Attendees at the AM Revitalization Session earlier in the day indicated hope to hear encouraging news on improving AM Radio service and most were happy to hear about Clyburn’s proposals.

Clyburn was the keynoter at Wednesday’s opening ceremonies. And she unveiled a six-point plan the FCC intends to dramatically help AM broadcasters.  Although most were technical in nature; the first one in particular was welcomed. Clyburn said the FCC would be expanding the inventory of translator stations.  By the end of this year, the FCC’s Audio division will be increasing the number of authorized FM translators from 5,700 to 7,300, a 28 percent increase.  

According to Clyburn “I am happy to confirm that this morning I circulated the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which will represent the next major step in the Commission’s review of AM service”.

The notice means the six-point plan can being examined and discussed by other, including the FCC Commissioners without waiting for a scheduled meeting. The notice also means more immediate action to help AM broadcasters.

Clyburn’s action includes opening a one-time filing window which limited to current AM licencees and permittees.  They alone would be allowed to apply for a new FM translator station to augment their service area.  Increasing the number of translators would provide relief to AM operators faced with the increasing price of existing channels.

For example, an AM broadcaster with limited night-time or early morning power could use a an FM translator to give more consistent coverage in their city of license.

Read Clyburn’s Comments: Click Here. 

Clyburn: More For AM Broadcasters

FCC Acting Chair Mignon Clyburn also delivered more news that pleased AMers:

• Give AM broadcasters more flexibility to make antenna site changes
• FCC would also relax its AM daytime and nighttime community coverage rules,  which Clyburn said would help broadcasters find suitable sites and provide relief for towers and directional arrays
• The  FCC would completely eliminate the AM “ratchet rule,” which requires AM stations to throttle back their nighttime signal to reduce interference to other AMs
• Broadcasters would no  longer need authorization or a waiver to reduce power consumption through “MDCL” control technologies..they’d just have  to notify the agency
• The FCC would significantly adjust its AM antenna efficiency standards so that AMs could use shorter antennas.

The notice comes one year after Commissioner Ajit Pai proposed an initiative to revitalize the band, which has been plagued by poor reception, rising interference, and a loss of listeners.

NAB’s Smith Reminds Radio of Broader Role

Gordon Smith

In his Radio Show remarks, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith opened with a remembrance to KHTK Dallas morning host Kidd Kraddick, who died in July.

Smith said Kraddick had a special connection to Orlando.  Each year, his charity, Kidd's Kids, sent terminally and chronically ill children to Disney World with their families. Kidd's listeners donated the funds to make these trips possible.

According to Smith, “the passing of Kidd, and sadly many other good friends in radio this year, reminds us of the power of this great medium… its connection to listeners… and its impact on communities.

Every day, Smith said there are stories of broadcasters serving the public in times of crisis. “Sadly, we experienced this earlier this week when a terrible tragedy occurred at the Navy Yard, not far from NAB headquarters in Washington, D.C.”

“At times like this, we know we can turn to broadcast radio and television to help keep us safe.”

He stated broadcasters share the mission of serving our local communities - providing them with the news, emergency updates, and entertainment that they rely on each day.

Smith reminded attendees that radio's future lies with the listener, and broadcasters must keep looking forward in order to meet those needs.

“Unfortunately, many businesses are unable to think long-term, focusing instead on short-term gains to satisfy Wall Street… they seem only capable of concentrating on the here and now.”

Read a transcript of Smith’s Comments: Click Here.

Thursday At The Radio Show

Thursday, the following sessions at the 2013 Radio Show will be streamed live and archived at www.radioshowweb.com for viewing on demand until the end of the year.

On demand sessions will be available following the Radio Show. The Radio Show is produced by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB).

Live streaming Sessions:

• 7:30 – 9 a.m.: Leadership Breakfast: "Opportunities in a Changing Economy," presented by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

On-Demand Sessions

• 9:15 – 10:30 a.m.: Radio and the Connected Car, sponsored by Radionomy
• 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Jocks on Jocks
• 3 – 4:15 p.m.: Radical Change in Local Advertising And How Media is Morphing to Survive, sponsored by Media Monitors

Read More Now.

Also The Marconi Awards Dinner is on the agenda for this evening. Read More Now.

Cox Media: ‘Live and Local Is Where It’s At’

Susan Larkin

After dabbling in voicetracking as a less expensive way to generate content, a Cox Media Group market manager says the company decided it wasn’t for them.

“We all looked at voicetracking as a more efficient way to produce content and what we learned is live and local is where it’s at,” CMG-Orlando VP/GM Susan Larkin  told Radio Show attendees yesterday according to InsideRadio.

“Personalities are far more important than they’ve ever been and they need to be able to execute across all platforms.” Despite programmers handling multiple stations (sometimes in more than one market),  Larkin said their importance as brand managers and talent coaches has also gone up and that both personalities and  programmers are more involved in sales than ever.

“They’re sitting down with advertisers and collaborating with agencies” to conceive creative ways to execute campaigns across the company’s multi-media platforms, Larkin added.

With events like this weekend’s iHeartRadio Music Festival, Larkin said  radio remains “a pretty sexy business” that can attract smart, young sales and programming talent.

“There’s still so much fun  to have in this business,” she said.

Read More Now.

NAB's 'OK2TALK' Campaign Generates Unprecedented Support

The National Association of Broadcasters announced Wednesday that local radio and TV stations across America have donated airtime valued at over $12 million for NAB's 'OK2Talk' mental health public service announcement campaign. This includes over 106,600 airings on local TV and radio stations.

In response to today's announcement, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith said, "NAB salutes the efforts of broadcasters across America to make a real difference on the issue of mental health. As stewards of the airwaves, local radio and television broadcasters and our network partners have a unique megaphone and a remarkable capacity to change attitudes in a positive way. Mental health issues are often the common thread in tragedies like the Navy Yard shooting this week. We thank our broadcast brothers and sisters for their support for the NAB campaign, and urge them to continue carrying these pro-social messages that encourage a meaningful dialogue on mental health."

The PSA campaign, launched on July 23, directs people to OK2TALK.org, a Tumblr-based community where teens and young adults struggling with mental health problems can share personal stories of recovery, tragedy, struggle or hope

Pandora Releases 5.0 For iPad

Pandora Wednesday released Pandora 5.0 for iPad, the company’s biggest redesign of the tablet app since launching on the platform when the device was first introduced in April 2010.

Pandora Chief Technology Officer and EVP of Product, Tom Conrad said, "Our mission is to provide the best personalized radio experience to our more than 200 million registered listeners in any context on any connected device. The tablet category continues to demonstrate strong growth and momentum, and the iPad’s big touch interface makes it an ideal environment for listeners to seamlessly explore the music they’re listening to and discover new favorites. We’re thrilled to deliver this new Pandora experience.”

Pandora 5.0 for iPad features:

• Enhanced Listening Experience & Personalization – Significantly enhanced app interface is optimized for large screens and features upgraded core Pandora functionality, such as adding variety to a station with artist suggestions and viewing station details, in addition to the ability to easily shuffle, rename and delete stations.
• Deeper Music Discovery & Exploration – Listeners can explore more about the artist and album that is currently playing as well as easily purchase tracks from iTunes through enriched artist pages that include similar artists and genome traits of the current track spinning, plus lyrics, artist biographies and album discographies.
• Personal Music Profile & Music Feed – Detailed timeline captures music preferences for each individual listener, such as stations created, bookmarked tracks and thumb history with the option for users to make the profile either public or private. The Music Feed offers a centralized place to view music activity, making it easy to explore what friends and other listeners with similar musical tastes are discovering and enjoying on Pandora.
• Connect & Share Music with Friends – Social sharing features are available on iPad for the first time with listeners able to publish their music activity to Facebook with the Pandora Timeline app, as well as manually share links to favorite stations with followers on Twitter.

Pandora 5.0 for iPad is available now for download in the App Store. The company will release the redesigned version of the Pandora app for Android tablets this fall.

SiriusXM Adds Content

SiriusXM Radio continues to expand its service offerings by launching an array of services for its customers. Recently, the company formed a partnership with Bleacher Report to present daily sports talk show on SiriusXM Sports Zone.

The Bleacher Report, a unit of Turner Broadcasting, is one of the popular digital service providers for team-specific sports content and real-time event coverage in the U.S. Hence, teaming with SIRIUS XM will further extend its reach. SIRIUS XM’s subscribers can easily access the talk show on Sirius channel 92 and XM channel 208. Moreover, they can also listen to the new program on SiriusXM Internet Radio App and SiriusXM.com website.

Recently, SIRIUS XM has also joined forces with The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. It is a 24/7 business radio channel where the world's top corporate people will deliver lectures or share their experiences on different business plans, motivating employees and financing businesses. The new program will be available on SiriusXM channel 111, SiriusXM Internet Radio App and SiriusXM.com website.

Recently, SIRIUS XM crossed the 25 million subscriber base with a record net addition of 715,000 customers for the second quarter of 2013. The company gained approximately 1.17 million subscribers in the first half of fiscal 2013. 

Twitter By the Numbers

From Bloomberg TV...

Book: Howard Stern Killed Boston’s WBCN

Carter Alan

As it turns out, radio ratings king Howard Stern was the man who killed WBCN, according to The Boston Herald.

So says longtime ’BCN jock Carter Alan in a new book, “Radio Free Boston: The Rise and Fall of WBCN,” which chronicles the station’s journey from oddball, lefty broadcast free-for-all to Rock of Boston domination and eventual death after an incredible 41-year run.

“Howard Stern made a lot of money for a lot of stations and gave ’BCN huge ratings,” Alan said. “But ultimately, the addition of Stern in the morning created a schizophrenic station. People tuned in in the morning to hear Howard, then they were gone. People who listened to ’BCN for the music, it was hard to get them back if other stations were doing music better.

“’BCN became the Howard Stern Station, a music station, then a football station and it was very difficult to determine what ’BCN was.”

For years, 104.1 FM (Now HotAC WBMX Mix 104.1) was the city’s dominant rock signal, a station that invented album-oriented music programming in the Top 40 era and launched or helped launch musical acts including Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash and U2.

It had a crazily creative morning guy, Charles 
Laquidara, who surrounded himself with a cast of compelling characters, pioneering a morning show format that has been emulated by nearly every morning DJ in the country — including Stern. It was the voice of the counterculture in Boston and for a long time the hippest place on the dial.

But it was only a matter of time until competitors began emulating ’BCN’s format and ratings 
declined. CBS bought ’BCN and, as radio became more corporate, ratings were all that mattered. When Stern eventually left CBS to go to satellite radio, ’BCN’s fate was sealed.

See More Now