by Tom Taylor | tom@in3media.com | 609.883.3321

Tuesday, July 21st 2009

The Pope tunes in Low Power FM…

Yesterday was a “call-in day”, says the Catholic News Service - for Catholics to contact their Senators in support of the Local Community Radio Act, sponsored by Maria Cantwell and John McCain. The Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Communications has already sent a letter to every U.S. Senator, and Archbishop George Niederauer wasn't saying Hosanna to the 1996 Telecom Act. He says “Catholic dioceses and other Catholic institutions have experienced firsthand the neglect of service to the local community by full-power radio stations. Short public service announcements and other non-commercial religious programming produced by them face an uphill struggle for airtime.” While the president of the National Catholic Educational Association, in her own letter to the Senators, says “Schools are uniquely positioned to take advantage of low power radio. Students can learn broadcasting skills...” You can see this push for Congress to strip away radio’s third adjacent-channel protection as part of the Catholic church’s larger campaign to gain a larger share of voice on the American airwaves. Pope John Paul II realized how far U.S. Catholics had fallen behind in religious radio, and you started to see lay groups buy up full-power stations. Some Catholic churches and groups have been successful with Low Power FM – and they want more. But it’s up to Congress, and thus the lobbying.

Rhythmic WKTU’s 6+ cume shot from an already huge 4,770,300 to an estimated 6,436,300 for the week that Michael Jackson died. (This info is from a T-R-I subscriber who’s interested in the phenomenon.) Urban AC “Kiss 98.7” WRKS experienced a cume jump of the same magnitude – about 35%. The cume for Kiss in July week 1 shot from 2,174,200 to 2,938,100. Sound like those two stations were right to jump on the emotional death and funeral of Michael Jackson, doesn’t it?

But it’s probably the largest-market station to do so. I’ve written previously about T-R-I reader Bob Bittner’s annual fundraising for adult standards WJIB, Cambridge, MA (740) and WJTO, Bath, ME (730). And about KSCO, Santa Cruz (1080) pleading for support via PayPal to keep its talk format going. But this is the Big Apple we’re talking about, and Mega Media’s Pulse 87 WNYZ-LP isn’t fooling around. They’re offering wristbands ($10 donation), teeshirts, hats, messenger bags - all kinds of swag. They say “Donate to save Pulse 87”, and there are indeed some passionate partisans of Pulse’s unique dance format. Pulse says it’s not a big corporate station and it needs cash ASAP, to avoid going dark within the next week or so. Pulse 87 is of course the audio of a low power Channel 6 TV station, and thanks to a change in Arbitron policy, it’s been showing in the recent PPMs. It was up to a 0.8 share (total week age 6+ average quarter hour) for June. The New York Board of Radio-Info.com has a wide range of opinions about Pulse’s fundraising tactic.

Here’s why – ESPN’s going to offer not just Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, etc. content for the Chicago website that was its pilot project starting last Spring. They’re also digging down into high school level sports and even middle school. They’ll make it simple for a startup softball league (muses the New York Times) to keep their schedule, right there on the local ESPN site. Just imagine the social networking possibilities – not to mention satisfying an already massive appetite for fantasy sports play. After just three months, the Chicago beta site is the Windy City’s top sports site with 590,000 unique visitors in June. The Chicago Tribune site was second at 455,000 uniques. It’s nice to see ESPN acknowledge the role that ESPN Radio plays in driving traffic to Chicago and its future sites. (New York, L.A. and Dallas are coming next.) But if ESPN can really master the local and “hyper-local” sports stuff – company basketball leagues and kids’ soccer – it bids to become an even bigger threat to local newspapers and competing radio stations than the ESPN.com site is to national competitors now. ESPN’s reportedly hiring up to 15 new people for each major city. If they can get the eyeballs, they can sell the advertising – so it could be another game-changer for local radio.

Actually, her quote to this T-R-I newsletter is this – “One thing that would really help the radio industry would be for Arbitron to make cost-per-thousand the default setting in Tapscan, with cost-per-point as an optional, manual choice.” Haynes, a principal of Collins, Haynes and Lully Advertising, says “This could fall under the category of You broke it, you fix it” – meaning Arbitron. Her original point in the July 13 T-R-I is that Arbitron and the radio industry should be focusing more on selling using reach and frequency. Not cost-per-point. She says this is “a teachable moment” in the history of radio and ratings, and one that shouldn’t slip away.

So it’s two Citadel stations (talk KKOB-AM, Albuquerque and classic rock KQRS, Minneapolis). One Clear Channel station (Albany-market talker WGY). One Greater Media station (AC WMJX, Boston). And one Schurz Communications station (news/talk WSBT, South Bend). Those are all worthy finalists, though I’ll throw in my annual reminder that only NAB member stations are eligible to win Marconi awards, and that means (for example) no CBS stations. Then-Viacom boss Mel Karmazin ruptured relations with the NAB years ago over a TV-related issue, and the radio division was exiled as a matter of collateral damage. There are 20 categories in this year’s Marconi competition, including station of the year by market size, personality of the year by market size, and station of the year by format (CHR, country, news/talk, oldies, religious, rock, Spanish, sports and urban). There’s also a Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year, and the nominees are (envelope, please) Michael Baisden, Bob & Tom, Steve Harvey, Rush Limbaugh and Dave Ramsey. Winners will be revealed at the Marconi Dinner & Show on Thursday, September 24 at the NAB Radio Show in Philadelphia. See all the Marconi nominees here – and congrats to ’em all.

I asked Tom for his own opinion about the just-concluded event and he says “Our mission is education. When we started out 34 years ago, it was our goal to teach any and all who would come to us expecting to learn. Five people. Fifty. Five hundred. It made no difference. And this year - perhaps not so much in spite of but because of our economic and  business climate, it became imperative for us to make a statement to the industry. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. Each and every person attending helped deliver this important message – a message driven emphatically home as each scholarship recipient marched up on stage last Friday to accept their award. That statement? Hope is alive and well in our industry. We thank you and all those who joined us in delivering that important communication. About the future? Paraphrasing my ever-optimistic hero, Buzz Lightyear: ‘To 2010…and Beyond!’”

Fig – the president of his own Figmedia1 and head of operations for Peak Broadcasting – responds to my Conclave story and says “The days of PDs, GMs, and high profile personalities jetting into a city for a long weekend of networking, panels, vendor booths, and yes, an occasional cocktail are over. Why? #1, It’s expensive. Stations simply don’t have the budget for one, let alone two or three conventions per year. Salary reductions or freezes make it difficult for many to go on their own. #2, PDs and GMs are too busy – many program directors are managing more stations, websites, an airshift, HD channels, weekend remotes, community events, marketing and staff than ever before. Many GMs are overseeing more than one cluster or have corporate responsibilities. #3, We exclude younger, newer programmers or assistant PDs and GMs who simply want to learn. #4, Corporate is under too much pressure to cut costs. Many conventions, like the Conclave, play an important role in the development of new talent, ideas, trends, and mentoring. I believe many in our business will pay on their own if it were more affordable.” Fig’s answer – “consider regional confabs.” He argues that “well placed smaller conventions in hub cities could hold a tremendous opportunity for more broadcasters to attend on their own.” He likes “drivable locations like Providence, Philly, Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, St. Louis, Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento and Portland.” And says maybe they could be held every 18 months instead of every year…Let’s consider something new, accessible and affordable for all.”

KAGM had tried talk and rhythmic CHR before it went classic country in October 2006, as “The Range.” Owner American General Media already has a local CHR named “Wild 97.7.” So keeping Wild KDLW away from the new “Power 106” is going to be interesting, musically. Ditto for the jock lineup at “Wild”, which apparently shares both Eddie Go! and Big Moon with its Powerful sibling. Wild did a 2.0 share (total week 12+ AQH) in the Winter Arbitron. Classic country “Range” KAGM ranked higher than Wild, with a 2.3. Looks like the KAGM call letters are staying on 106.3, which is a Class C1 licensed to Los Lunas, New Mexico. Here’s the Power crew – The syndicated Big Boy’s Neighborhood, 6-10am. Julio G., 10am-2pm. Program director Eddie Go!, 2-6pm. Crisco Kidd, 6-10pm. And Big Moon, 10pm to midnight. No talent listed for midnight to 6am. The flip from “Range 106.3” to Power came at 1:06pm. First song – Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But a G Thang.” The New Mexico Board at Radio-Info.com supplies a few extra details, like the fact that jocks Julio G and Crisco Kidd were recently working across the street at Univision’s rhythmic CHR “Kiss 97.3” KKSS. That conversation’s happening here.

That’s considered to be a particularly objectionable term of derision by many Mexican-Americans, and Don Pryor kept employing it on last Tuesday’s show. What’s instructive about this incident is #1, how fast the Hispanic community (especially the business community) rose in protest. And #2, how fast Emmis management responded. Originally Emmis suspended Todd Jeffries and Don Pryor for two weeks without pay. As it investigated – and heard the roar of protests outside the door from the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association – manager Scott Gillmore decided that the nine-month-old KLBJ (590) talkshow had to go. Pryor continues on the payroll, but in some type of off-air role. Todd Jeffries will resume his previous job as news director. Gillmore had several meetings with the Hispanic Contractors Association and the Austin Statesman says on Monday morning he presented a plan that it accepted. The San Antonio-Austin Board of Radio-Info.com has its own running commentary.

Sean Ross, our executive VP of music and programming, says “Any broadcaster who has been lucky enough to research listener tastes under 18 probably has been struck by how much younger listeners look like AC listeners. They like Rhythmic Pop, but Hip-Hop is their older siblings’ music. They are surprisingly amenable to Rascal Flatts and to Nickelballads.” So where did that taste come from – Radio Disney? And how about the mainstream songs that Radio Disney chooses, like “If Today Was Your Last Day”? Sean – the proud papa of a six-year-old – digs into the wider effects of Radio Disney on today’s future adults, and he also recaps the R&B panel at last weekend’s Conclave. If you’re subscribed to the Tuesday and Thursday Ross On Radio columns, you’ll be seeing the latest one in your email soon. If you’re not receiving Ross On Radio – there’s no charge – just go here.

In Allentown, PA – Clear Channel CHR “B104” WAEB-FM has been steady as a rock the last three quarterly books – 10.2 to 10.0 to 10.2, measuring age 12+ average quarter hour share. Nassau’s “Hawk” WODE regains altitude after a 7.3 share in Winter. It’s now #2 again with a 9.6. This market basically has five big local FMs plus AMs like talk WAEB, and the biggest book-to-book gain among the FMs is Clear Channel rocker WZZO – 5.3 to 8.4.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – Entercom finishes 1-2 for the Spring book. CHR WKRZ improves 8.2 to 8.8. Country “Froggy” WGGY grows 7.7 to 8.1, near its 8.4 share of Spring 2008.

Searching for the latest ratings online, diary and PPM? They’re at Radio-Info.com. The site also lists formats and owners, and it gives you the recent history back into 2008. The Ratings Page is here.

» Arbitrons Spring quarterly book back to top » 69. Allentown-Bethlehem - 700,600 70. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 682,900 Click on the city to review recently released PPM ratings. View a complete list of Arbitron markets here. » Buzzing on the Boards back to top » Mike O’Meara’s impending disappearance from the airwaves in Washington (at CBS Radio’s WJFK) and nationally (from Westwood) has the Sacramento Board of Radio-Info.com chattering about what happened. Mike’s program – the re-grouped Don & Mike Show – has some fans in Sacramento from its carriage on CBS Radio-owned KHTK (1140). Pirates abound in Brooklyn, and the New York Board of Radio-Info.com literally clicks up and down the dial from 87.9 all the way up to 107.9. On some FM frequencies, it reports more than one pirate, and almost all are doing some form of Caribbean music. One poster jokes that “The FCC could make millions if they visited Brooklyn.” Follow the discussion about the full-up FM band in the five boroughs here. » Sound Bites back to top » The BBC learns the value of sharing – especially when its executives are being slagged for their high pay and the Beeb is battling to keep private broadcasters from horning in on its annual TV/radio license fee. Now comes word that the BBC intends to start sharing its vast archives of radio and video assets with cultural organizations such as the British Library and the British Film Institute. You might’ve thought that they’ve been doing that all along – but no. NRG adjusts the frequency of its “Hodag Country” WHDG, Rhinelander, WI from 97.5 to 97.3, remaining a Class C1. They do that to facilitate the frequency move of another Wisconsin station. That’s talk WTRW, which was won at FCC auction by Randy Michaels’ Radioactive LLC and is being acquired by Midwest Communications. The original WTRW was a Class A at 97.1 licensed to Two Rivers. The new-and-improved one will be at 97.5 (where Hodag Country WHDG was until yesterday), licensed to Glenmore. WTRW remains a Class A, but it’s near a larger population. Looks like Bakersfield's classic hits "Pirate Radio 93.1" KKXX is stunting. Could this be American General Media's second format flip in a matter of days, after Albuquerque going to hip-hop flavored "Power"? Russ Withers does a frequency swap in Marion-Carbondale, IL, as the formats of rock WTAO and hot AC WVZA swap places on the FM dial. WTAO shifts from 105.1/Murphysboro to 92.7/Herrin, IL. While WVZA becomes “105.1 VZA.” They’re both Class B1 facilities, and ops manager Paxton Guy says “the swap strengthens TAO’s signal to the north and east of the area, while WVZA’s move to 105.1 will eliminate on-campus interference issues on broadcasts of Southern Illinois Saluki sports.” The flip’s due tomorrow at 10am. “There has never been a better time to upgrade your sales staff”, says consultant Lindsay Wood Davis in a new column in the Features section of Radio-Info.com. But the question is – how do you go about it? Do you #1, “Bite the bullet and add a few top applicants to your current crew” or #2, “hire some top applicants and jettison at least an equal number of your lower performing sellers?” Lindsay ticks off the pluses and minuses of each approach, in a classic “devil and the deep blue sea” choice for management. Read “Bringing Senior Sellers onto Your Team” online. » Wheeling and Dealing back to top » Up in Ironwood, Michigan, an AM/FM combo sells for $950,000 to a former in-market owner who tried to buy his way back in once before – but was thwarted by a non-compete. That’s Gerald J. Hackman, whose Bay Broadcasting sold four stations in Ashland, Michigan to Heartland Communications in 2004. Then – says KQDS/Fox 21 News - Hackman attempted to buy two stations in Ironwood in 2007. Not these two, but the other two stations in town. Heartland squawked and said that violated Hackman’s four-year non-compete. Roll the calendar forward to 2009, when the non-compete is up, and Hackman is partners with John J. Nix in “J & J Broadcasting.” And J & J is buying these two Ironwood stations - “Real Country US 59” WJMS (590), with 5-kw days and 1-kw nights. And hot AC “The Storm” WIMI, a Class C1 at 99.7. Seller is Barracuda Broadcasting, which is father-and-son Melvin and David Winters. » Faces on the Radio back to top » Jamie White has been busted on a felony charge related to…something, says LARadio.com. All that was immediately known about the former KYSR, Los Angeles jock, now at “Buzz” KBZC Sacramento (106.5), is that she was arrested early on the morning of July 11 and released five hours later after posting $50,000 bail. She’s due back in an L.A. court on August 5. Michael Savage is cleared for takeoff to visit the U.K., now that the new British Home Secretary has scrapped the list of “undesirables” that included Ku Klux Klan members and neo-Nazis. But Savage will continue to push his suit against former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, claiming that he’s been libeled. Andy Levin will be leaving a top-level position at Clear Channel - Executive VP and Chief Legal Officer – as of January 8. He’ll continue to consult for Clear Channel Media Holdings, the name of the now-private Clear Channel, and he’ll earn nearly $1 million in a performance bonus for this year. Levin, who came to San Antonio from a government relations position in D.C., will continue to consult for Clear Channel. Roger Pina is the new regional VP of operations for MetroNetworks’ new consolidated hub in Dallas – which services Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and other Metro markets. David Locke succeeds legendary Utah Jazz radio play-by-play announcer Hot Rod Hundley, who retired after 35 years with the NBA team. Thomas Mancusi and Erik Carlson bring their digital media experience to Katz 360 as new senior sales directors. Mancusi has been Director of Sales for CBS Radio Sales (the rep) in New York. Carlson was a Senior Sales Associate at Google based in Los Angeles. Katz 360, part of the Katz Media Group, specializes in digital audio, mobile, “database segmentation” and display, and those opportunities are sold both by the 12 salesfolks at Katz 360 as well as the over 300 AEs within parent Katz Media. Sins - #1, Russ Del Core is indeed the new LSM for Millennium-New Jersey’s WOBM-AM/FM combo at the Jersey Shore. But his most recent gig was as general sales manager for Beasley’s WXTU, Philadelphia (92.5), not LSM. Russ is at RDelCore63@msn.com. #2, T-R-I reader Rick Lubin says the CNET list of “25 biggest tech flops” was compiled “chronologically by date of introductions”, not ranked by flopitude. Sirius/XM and HD Radio made the CNET rankings.