GOP Lawmakers Wary Of FCC Study

A new study proposed by the Federal Communications Commission has caught the wrath of 16 GOP members of the Commerce Committee, who, according to AdWeek, see it as a sneaky way to bring back the Fairness Doctrine.

Although the Fairness Doctrine—requiring broadcasters to give equal time to both sides of controversial issues—was scrapped in 1987, it wasn't until August 2011 that it was officially taken off the books.

The purpose of the FCC's "Multi-Market Study of Critical Needs" is to help the commission take action to lower market entry barriers in the broadcast space. As part of the $900,000 study, the FCC intends to do a qualitative analysis of providers by examining the station news process—how stories are selected, prioritized and produced. To do that, the study would query journalists and station owners about their news philosophy and what impacts story selection.

That, say the GOP lawmakers, crosses the "freedom of the press" line.

Fred  Upton

“Given the widespread calls for the commission to respect the First Amendment and stay out of the editorial decisions of reporters and broadcasters, we were shocked to see that the FCC is putting itself back in the business of attempting to control the political speech of journalists," they wrote in a letter on Dec. 10. "The commission has no business probing the news media’s editorial judgment and expertise," wrote Commerce Committee chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and 15 other lawmakers.

Just as curious, the GOP lawmakers asked new FCC chair Tom Wheeler to explain why the study was only limited to one market, Columbia, S.C., when it originally would have covered several markets of varying sizes.

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Get Ready for CableTV Without The Cable

A streaming-only bundle of channels, likely with a coast-to-coast reach, may be offered to viewers for the first time in 2014 or maybe 2015, according to The NY Post.

While the speculation of such a service has been talked about and forecast for years, the chatter this week has gained added weight as some of the industry’s top executives admit its time has come.

“I think there’s a very strong chance of that,” Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said of a so-called over-the-top service rolling out next year.

“After the struggles of Intel, this topic was dead in the water,” said entertainment analyst Richard Greenfield of BTIG, “After the last 24 hours, it sounds like it’s anything but.”

Comments by Dauman and others this week at the UBS media conference reignited a debate about who will be first out of the gate and what impact it will have. Verizon, which already has national mobile rights to primetime NFL games, is seen as the most likely to be the first to move in the over-the-top space, according to conversations with several TV industry sources.

The arrival of a virtual provider is also a double-edged sword for the program sellers. While it will create huge competition for national rights, there’s the risk that the least-expensive streaming package wins.

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Disney Would Welcome Broadband TV Packages

Jay Rasulo

Disney chief financial officer, Jay Rasulo, would welcome the prospect of a virtual cable operator as another outlet to sell the “package” of Disney channels, according to The NY Post.

Speaking at the same UBS media conference yesterday, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, predicted that 2014 would be the year that the industry sees a single operator begin to deliver a national package of TV channels via broadband.

Rasulo said: “I think the virtual MVPD (multichannel video program distributor) is coming and we would certainly be happy to license our content. They’d have to buy the package of services we sell…We’d be happy to have another entrant.”

Still the Disney boss mounted a strong defense for the current TV system, which sees Disney take the biggest slice of fees for its programming bundle, including top tier ESPN at $5 a month per household.

Rasulo said the firm expected to reap $500 million from retransmission fees that distributors must pay to ABC stations in order to carry the rest of Disney’s package.

When asked about the biggest technological change roiling the industry, Rasulo told investors that mobile was undoubtedly the most important shift.

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CableTV Consolidation Picks-Up Intensity

Time Warner Cable is no longer on its own as a major takeover target in the media industry.

Discovery Communications is considering a bid for Scripps Networks, home to channels such as the Food Network, WSJ reports.

A deal for Scripps could kick off a wave of consolidation among TV channel owners who fear that separate consolidation efforts among pay-TV providers could undermine their ability to increase programming fees in the future — a big complaint among distributors already, the story notes.

Discovery has yet to make a formal offer for Scripps, which has long been seen as a potential takeover target. Variety was first to report news of Discovery’s interest in Scripps Tuesday.

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Luke Bryan, FLA/GA Line Clean-Up At ACAs

• 'Mine Would Be You' singer Blake Shelton took four awards, while the Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban 'Highway Don't Care' team won three trophies at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

NASCAR driver Danica Patrick co-hosted the Fox broadcast with Trace Adkins, cramming her gargantuan colleague into a tiny smart car in an opening skit that included an Elvis impersonator and handcuffs. She later appeared in a line of showgirls clad in sequins and flowing orange and pink plumage before making fun of the size of her own breasts by assuring fans there'd be no wardrobe malfunction. A short time later Adkins showed up in the showgirl outfit, providing the night's most jarring moment.

'Showgirl' Danica Patrick

Take a look at all of the winners:

Artist of the Year

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan – THE WINNER

Florida Georgia Line

Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift

Artist of the Year: Male

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan – THE WINNER

Kenny Chesney

Eric Church

Blake Shelton

Artist of the Year: Female

Kelly Clarkson

Sheryl Crow

Miranda Lambert – THE WINNER

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Artist of the Year: Duo or Group

Lady Antebellum – THE WINNER

Little Big Town

Rascal Flatts

The Band Perry

Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist

Lee Brice

Hunter Hayes

Randy Houser

Scotty McCreery – THE WINNER

Justin Moore

Artist of the Year: New Artist

Florida Georgia Line – THE WINNER

Kip Moore

Kacey Musgraves

Cassadee Pope

Thomas Rhett

Album of the Year

‘Night Train,’ Jason Aldean

‘Here’s to the Good Times,’ Florida Georgia Line

‘Two Lanes of Freedom,’ Tim McGraw

‘Based On a True Story…,’ Blake Shelton – THE WINNER

‘Pioneer,’ The Band Perry

Single of the Year

‘Cruise,’ Florida Georgia Line – THE WINNER

‘How Country Feels,’ Randy Houser

‘Beer Money,’ Kip Moore

‘Better Dig Two,’ The Band Perry

‘One of Those Nights,’ Tim McGraw

Single of the Year: Male

‘Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),’ Gary Allen

‘One of Those Nights,’ Tim McGraw

‘The One That Got Away,’ Jake Owen

‘Wagon Wheel,’ Darius Rucker

‘Sure Be Cool If You Did,’ Blake Shelton – THE WINNER

Single of the Year: Female

‘Easy,’ Sheryl Crow

‘American Heart,’ Faith Hill

‘Mama’s Broken Heart,’ Miranda Lambert – THE WINNER

‘Begin Again,’ Taylor Swift

‘Two Black Cadillacs,’ Carrie Underwood

Single of the Year: Duo/Group

‘Downtown,’ Lady Antebellum – THE WINNER

‘Tornado,’ Little Big Town

‘Better Dig Two,’ The Band Perry

‘If I Didn’t Have You,’ Thompson Square

‘Goodbye in Her Eyes,’ Zac Brown Band

Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist

‘I Drive Your Truck,’ Lee Brice – THE WINNER

‘All Over the Road,’ Easton Corbin

‘Somebody’s Heartbreak,’ Hunter Hayes

‘How Country Feels,’ Randy Houser

‘Til My Last Day,’ Justin Moore

Single of the Year: New Artist

‘Did It for the Girl,’ Greg Bates

‘Don’t Ya,’ Brett Eldredge

‘Redneck Crazy,’ Tyler Farr

‘Cruise,’ Florida Georgia Line – THE WINNER

‘Beer Money,’ Kip Moore

Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration

‘The Only Way I Know,’ Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church

‘Don’t Rush,’ Kelly Clarkson and Vince Gill

‘Highway Don’t Care,’ Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – THE WINNER

‘Boys ‘Round Here,’ Blake Shelton with Pistol Annies

Touring Artist of the Year

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan – THE WINNER

Kenny Chesney

Miranda Lambert

Brad Paisley

Rascal Flatts

George Strait

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Zac Brown Band

Great American Country – Music Video of the Year

‘Cruise,’ Florida Georgia Line

‘Tornado,’ Little Big Town

‘Sure Be Cool If You Did,’ Blake Shelton – THE WINNER

‘Begin Again,’ Taylor Swift

‘Better Dig Two,’ The Band Perry

Music Video of the Year: Male

‘Take a Little Ride,’ Jason Aldean

‘Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),’ Gary Allan

‘One of Those Nights,’ Tim McGraw

‘Wagon Wheel,’ Darius Rucker

‘Sure Be Cool If You Did,’ Blake Shelton – THE WINNER

Music Video of the Year: Female

‘American Heart,’ Faith Hill

‘Mama’s Broken Heart,’ Miranda Lambert

‘Someone Somewhere Tonight,’ Kellie Pickler

‘Begin Again,’ Taylor Swift

‘Blown Away,’ Carrie Underwood – THE WINNER

Music Video of the Year: New Artist

‘Don’t Ya,’ Brett Eldredge

‘Cruise,’ Florida Georgia Line – THE WINNER

‘Crying on a Suitcase,’ Casey James

‘Beer Money,’ Kip Moore

‘Merry Go ‘Round,’ Kacey Musgraves

Music Video of the Year: Group or Collaboration

‘Tornado,’ Little Big Town

‘Highway Don’t Care,’ Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – THE WINNER

‘Come Wake Me Up,’ Rascal Flatts

‘Better Dig Two,’ The Band Perry

‘If I Didn’t Have You,’ Thompson Square

Song of the Year (award goes to the songwriter(s)):

‘Better Dig Two,’ Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen – Recorded by the Band Perry

‘Cruise,’ Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Joey Moi, Chase Rice and Jesse Rice – Recorded by Florida Georgia Line

‘Hard To Love,’ Ben Glover, Billy Montana and John Ozier – Recorded by Lee Brice

• ‘Highway Don’t Care,’ Mark Irwin, Josh Kear, Brad Warren and Brett Warren – Recorded by Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban – THE WINNER

‘I Drive Your Truck,’ Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary – Recorded by Lee Brice

‘Like Jesus Does,’ Casey Beathard and Monty Criswell – Recorded by Eric Church

‘Mama’s Broken Heart,’ Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves – Recorded by Miranda Lambert

‘Merry Go’ Round,’ Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne – Recorded by Kacey Musgraves

‘Pontoon,’ Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird – Recorded by Little Big Town

‘Wagon Wheel,’ Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor – Recorded by Darius Rucker

Video Visionary Award

Brad Paisley – THE WINNER

Worldwide Artist of the Year

Taylor Swift – THE WINNER

NOLA Radio: Country WNOE Changes Morning Show

Bobby Bones Show

Big D and Bubba

Country radio listeners in Baton Rouge and New Orleans might have noticed a change this week with the disappearance of syndicated show hosts Big D and Bubba, according to nola.com.

Big D and Bubba began the show in 1996, but until recently it was heard across the country for four hours on weekday mornings. The show formerly aired on WNOE 101.1 FM  in New Orleans and WYNK 101.5 FM in Baton Rouge, but the pair signed a syndication deal with Compass Media, which meant they left the Premiere/Clear Channel network that the local stations are a part of.

Peter Kosann, CEO of Compass Media Networks, said in a prepared statement that the company is preparing to announce a new Baton Rouge affiliation "shortly," but there was no word on a possible second option in New Orleans. Big D and Bubba will begin their show with the Compass Media network in January 2014

Michael Hudson, the CCM+E's market manager for WYNK in Baton Rouge, said the syndication deal Big D and Bubba signed is the reason for the disappearance from local airwaves.

"Big D and Bubba were with us for 15 great years, and they're part of our family. They're being represented by a different network now," Hudson said. "We love those guys, but it's just business. We wish them the best in growing their business."

The move means the Clear Channel stations have opened a pathway for the Bobby Bones Show, which is a Clear Channel program, to take over the morning shift in both cities.

The Facebook page for WYNK, Baton Rouge's radio station that previously aired the show, was covered in requests for the show's return Tuesday afternoon. A separate Facebook page titled "Bring Back Big D and Bubba" aimed directly at WNOE and WYNK had more than 600 likes by 5 p.m. on Dec. 10.

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CBS's Moonves Talks 'Revenue Splits'

Les Moonves (CBS photo)

Leslie Moonves said CBS Films has experienced a "breakthrough" with Last Vegas, a $28 million film that has so far earned $80 million worldwide.

Still, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "I have to admit, I like the television business better than the motion picture business as an economic proposition."

Moonves was speaking at the 41st annual UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York on Tuesday.

The CEO of CBS Corp. also expressed confidence that his company would win its legal battle with Aereo, a service he said more people talk about than actually use. "I'm tired of talking about Aereo," he said.

Moonves told Wall Street analysts that when advertising revenue for CBS comes down from 70 percent of the total now to 50 percent next year, it won't signal a "crisis," but in fact it will be a good development.
The company's revenue split will change dramatically because of the impending spin-off of its outdoor unit, so a 50-50 split of revenue between advertising on one hand and retransmission fees and other sources on the other hand "is what we like," he said.

The CEO also reiterated that, given DVR programming, in the future CBS expects it will get paid for advertising viewed as many as 30 days after it first airs, up from three and seven days, which is more normative today. About 80 percent of the advertising CBS shows is not time sensitive, he said. "We may not get paid as much, but you're selling Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. What's the difference if you watch now or 22 days from now?"

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iTunesRadio Poaches Michael Pallad From Cumulus

Michael Pallad

Apple's iTunes Radio has poached a top radio ad exec as it prepares to offer the service widely to advertisers in 2014, according to AdAge.

Former Cumulus Media executive VP-sales Michael Pallad is now overseeing ad sales for iTunes Radio internationally, according to people familiar with the matter.

Pallad started with Apple on December 2.  His appointment suggests that Apple plans to make a stronger play at the $1.56 billion U.S. digital radio advertising market, as estimated by eMarketer. One media buyer said the executive should gain traction quickly among agencies.

Apple launched music streaming service iTunes Radio in September with a handful of category-exclusive launch advertisers, such as Nissan, Pepsi and Procter & Gamble. Those initial deals expire at the end of this year, when Apple will begin pitching the service more broadly to brands. The initial campaigns included audio, video and display ads that air between songs.

Like everything Apple has tried in advertising, it's going out with ambitious pricing, reportedly looking to sign 12-month commitments that are worth at least $1 million apiece.

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DC Radio: Alan Leinwand Named VP/GM At RadioOne

Alan Leinwand

Radio One, Inc. announced today that Alan Leinwand has been named Vice President and General Manager of its Washington, DC radio stations.

Leinwand joined the company in September of 2010 as Director of Sales for the Washington, DC stations.  His previous experience includes 16 years at CBS Radio where he held positions as General Sales Manager, Vice President/General Manager and Vice President of Sales.   He also worked as General Sales Manager for Clear Channel Radio in New York.

"Alan and I have worked closely together for the last four years.  His previous management experience in the DC Market makes him the natural choice for this position," said Chris Wegmann, President, Radio Division.

"I am very thankful that Chris, Alfred, and Ms. Hughes have shown the confidence in me to lead our terrific group of employees and heritage brands. Radio One DC has become a destination for those who want to be part of a world class organization. My colleagues throughout the DC Cluster are some of the very best at what they do. I look forward to supporting them, as well our many business partners, as we continue to deliver great entertainment on-air, on-line, on-site, and mobile --- always with a keen eye on touching the communities we serve," said Alan Leinwand.

Aussie Radio: SCA Prepares For Life After Kyle/Jackie-O

Kyle, JackieO

It's been a tough couple of years for radio operator Southern Cross Austereo, and next year might be tougher from a ratings perspective. But, according to AdNews, chief content officer Guy Dobson reckons life after Kyle and Jackie O morning show could have a positive impact on the balance sheet if not the audience numbers.

In their final ratings period with 2Day FM in Sydney, Kyle and Jackie O's ratings dropped 0.8 percentage points, but remained the highest rating FM station in Sydney, according to Nielsen figures released this morning. These figures will drop considerably in the next ratings period, Dobson conceded.

But he claimed the benefit of the radio duo's departure will be seen on the revenue side. “We're under no illusions that this is going to be tough,” Dobson said. “But the decision was not a ratings decision, it was a decision about culture and revenue.

“The show we build in 2014 will be much more client friendly. Previously the breakfast show was focused only on the audience, never on sales results." Any audience-focused content editor or guardian would argue that is their perogative. But Dobson said that "the environment was too hot for some advertisers. We were the number one radio network but competitors with much smaller ratings were doing better stuff in the market from a sales perspective."

The controversial radio breakfast duo, who has held the number one FM position in Sydney over the last 51 consecutive surveys, resigned from Southern Cross Austereo in early November. It was reported that contract disputes were the cause of the parting.

“Kyle and Jackie is one the world's biggest radio shows, and are joined every day by the world's biggest stars,” ARN chief executive Ciaran Davis said. “It's unprecedented to have the country's #1 radio team move networks to create a brand new station and we couldn't be happier that they've made this switch with us.

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Tom's Take:  I guess 'client friendly' means less controversy. 

Charlotte Radio: Al Gardner To Join WZGV

Al Gardner

Longtime WBT-1110 AM / 993. FM morning host Al Gardner will be back on local radio next week as a Monday co-host on WZGV-730 AM ESPN.

Accoridng to The Charlotte Observer, Gardner will begin next Monday on "The Bottom Line" show, which airs at 6 p.m., with Lanny Ford.

Ford said Monday that Gardner, who was host of "Charlotte's Morning News" on WBT for 14 years before leaving at the end of 2011, will discuss local sports and his own two passions -- boxing and golf.

Gardner, 66, said that he looks forward to being part of ESPN 730 because it is a locally owned and focused station. "They're going to grow locally," he said. "That's what I want to be part of."

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Utica/Rome NY Radio: Matt Herkimer Joining The Bug

Matt Herkimer, longtime morning man at WFRG 104.3 FM Big Frog has caught a new gig. 

 He'll be the new morning host at the crosstown simulcast  of  The Country Bug WBGK 99.7 FM (Newport Village NY) and WBUG 101.1 FM (Fort Plain NY).

He starts Monday December 16.

Herikmer was cut loose at the end of November after 25-years as morning host and PD at the Townsquare Media outlet. At Froggy 104, Herkimer was the perennial ratings leader in the market. (See original posting, Click Here) .

WBGK 99.7 FM 60dBu Coverage

WBUG 101.1 FM 60dBu Coverage

The Bug is a simulcast of two Class A FMs and battle Big Frog's 100,000 watts.

WFRG 104.3 FM  54dBu Coverage

Billboard's Hot 100 Used In Brain Study

In the first study of its kind, two researchers have used popular music to help severely brain-injured patients recall personal memories, according to news-medical.net.   Amee Baird and Séverine Samson outline the results and conclusions of their pioneering research in the recent issue of the journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation.

Although their study covered a small number of cases, it's the very first to examine 'music-evoked autobiographical memories' (MEAMs) in patients with acquired brain injuries (ABIs), rather than those who are healthy or suffer from Alzheimer's Disease.

In their study, Baird and Samson played extracts from 'Billboard Hot 100' number-one songs in random order to five patients. The songs, taken from the whole of the patient's lifespan from age five, were also played to five control subjects with no brain injury.  All were asked to record how familiar they were with a given song, whether they liked it, and what memories it invoked.

Doctors Baird and Samson found that the frequency of recorded MEAMs was similar for patients (38%-71%) and controls (48%-71%). Only one of the four ABI patients recorded no MEAMs. In fact, the highest number of MEAMs in the whole group was recorded by one of the ABI patients. In all those studied, the majority of MEAMs were of a person, people or a life period and were typically positive. Songs that evoked a memory were noted as more familiar and more liked than those that did not.

As a potential tool for helping patients regain their memories, Baird and Samson conclude that: "Music was more efficient at evoking autobiographical memories than verbal prompts of the Autobiographical Memory Interview (AMI) across each life period, with a higher percentage of MEAMs for each life period compared with AMI scores."''

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Miley Cyrus Is MTV's 'Artist Of the Year'

More than Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Lady Gaga or Lorde, it was Miley Cyrus who owned 2013, reports CNN.

At least, according to MTV.

After stealing the spotlight at not one but two MTV awards shows, starring in an MTV documentary and taking over the network on her 21st birthday, MTV has crowned Cyrus as its best artist of the year.

It's not like the pop star hasn't twerked for it. Her October release, "Bangerz," bowed at No.1 and features two other chart-topping tracks, "We Can't Stop" and "Wrecking Ball." Both singles were accompanied by music videos that became cultural touchstones and almost broke the Internet. (According to Vevo.com, Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" is its most-viewed video of 2013, followed by the clip for "We Can't Stop.")

The former Disney star also nailed her appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in the fall, when she both hosted and performed. Barbara Walters considers Cyrus one of the most fascinating people of the year, and she somehow managed to end up on Time magazine's best- and worst-dressed lists of 2013.

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Bob Pittman Talks About Early Days Of MTV

Bob Pittman, President and CEO of Clear Channel Communications talks about the first music videos and the early days of MTV in this Network Trailblazer piece.

Network Trailblazers is a video series showcasing the tech luminaries who created the modern Internet network, and those who are taking it forward. Top See the collection of Trailblazers: Click Here