Radio Ink - Radio's Premier Management & Marketing Magazine

RAB's New Website Helps Get Radio's Message Out

Utilizing research, facts and figures from Arbitron, Edison, Kantar Media and others the Radio Advertising Bureau has launched a new website called Why Radio. The site gives sellers and Sales Managers easy access to the data so it can be downloaded and printed for presentations or pulled up on a laptop or iPad in front of a client. For years Radio's own leaders have said, in order for advertisers to take radio more seriously and give the industry a bigger piece of the pie, radio has to be stronger at getting its message out in a uniform way. What the RAB has put together for member stations moves the ball in that direction. A lot of the stat sheets are from 2012, however, the Return on Investment report is from 2004-2005.

Social Media Revenue to See HUGE Gains

BIA/Kelsey released a report yesterday stating that social media advertising revenue will grow from $3.8 billion in 2011 to $9.8 billion in 2016. The company also predicts the local segment of U.S. social media advertising revenues to grow from $840 million in 2011 to $3.1 billion in 2016. The predominant social ad format continues to be display, spending on which will increase from $3.6 billion in 2011 to $9.2 billion in 2016. The social non-display segment will grow from $140 million in 2010 to $630 million in 2016.

Pandora's Joe Kennedy is at it Again

Yesterday at the J.P. Morgan Media and Telecom conference in Boston, Pandora CEO Joe Kennedy beat the "we're number one" drum again. He told attendees Pandora is so popular it will soon be number one all across the country. Pandora claims it now owns 6% of all audio listening, although that number will be disputed soon by radio.

What's Next In Digital Media?

These days, it seems like everybody in media, radio included, is being asked to look into the future. New technologies are rumored, and become realities, every day, and fresh new ideas are constantly on the horizon. How can you know which of the endless "next big things" will really change the way you operate and bring in the revenue -- and which will only waste precious time and resources? At Radio Ink's Convergence 12, set for June 4-5 in Silicon Valley, Larry Marcus -- managing director of Walden Venture Capital and an original investor in Pandora -- has assembled a panel of successful venture capitalists representing different stages of investment, from seed/angel through later/expansion stage.

SBS Q1 Increases 5%

Spanish Broadcasting System reported first quarter revenue for the three months that ended March 31st. Net revenue for the Spanish-language focused company increased from $26.4 million to $27.8 million. SBS CEO Raul Alarcon said, "Our first quarter financial results improved considerably over the prior year."

The Big Boss From CBS Coming to Radio Show

With Dan Mason the face of CBS radio some might find it a bit surprising that CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves will be discussing "opportunities for radio" at the 2012 Radio Show. He certainly is a big name and someone the radio industry doesn't hear from often so his views on the industry should be of interest to all who attend the show in September. NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith will do a Q&A with Moonves following his opening remarks.

Emmis Back in Compliance

Here's the official wording Emmis will file with the SEC putting them back in compliance. "NASDAQ informed Emmis Communications that the Company has met the requirements of the Hearing Panel’s decision dated April 26, 2012 and is now in compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing on NASDAQ. Thus, the Hearing Panel determined to continue the listing of the Company’s securities on NASDAQ and has closed the matter."

Premiere Teams With Marketron for Network Orders

Premiere Networks and Marketron announced the completion of the interface connecting Premiere’s network traffic system with Network Connect, a Marketron Mediascape Service that fully automates the process of network schedules from order placement through reporting and affidavit for radio groups.

Efren Sifuentes Joins KOIT San Fran

Sifuentes will anchor 3pm-8pm weekday “afternoon drive” on the Entercom station. PD Andy Holt said, “After a nationwide search, Efren is the clear choice for KOIT. His ability to relate to an adult audience, knowledge of music and pop culture, and social media skills will make afternoons on KOIT even more enjoyable for our listeners.”

Does Facebook Advertising Work?

General Motors doesn't think so. GM plans to stop advertising on Facebook after the company determined the Facebook ads "had little impact on consumers' car purchases," according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. GM spends about $40 million on Facebook. $10 million of that is paid to Facebook for advertising, the rest covers content created for the site, agencies that manage the content and daily maintenance of GM's pages."

ESPN Radio Launches New App For The i's

ESPN Radio has released a new App for the iPhone, iPod touch and – for the first time – iPad. The app, sponsored by Lowe’s, allows fans to create their own sports stations. Also, listeners can rewind live audio streams. ESPN Digital and Print Media VP Marc Horine says, “This latest version of the ESPN Radio App builds on our promise to deliver the best sports audio content across any device. With this update, fans now have complete control over their listening experience as the app provides the functionality to customize specifically by sports, teams and athletes they care most about.”

Abacast and SESAC in Partnership

Streaming and ad management specialist Abacast and SESAC have entered into a partnership. SESAC will promote Abacast’s Clarity Digital Radio System to prospective Radio licensees that launch new streaming ventures. In return, radio stations that launch new streaming ventures with Abacast and license with SESAC will qualify for special introductory discounts from both organizations. The special rates were not disclosed.

Sunkist Picks Hipcricket For Mobile

Sunkist will use Hipcricket to power point-of-purchase mobile marketing campaigns to build engagement and brand affinity with its customers. Sunkist is using the self-service “AD LIFE” platform to manage the critical initial point of engagement with consumers. AD LIFE provides Sunkist with a suite of tools and services to reach consumers on all types of mobile devices.

FlipBoard Adds Audio From NPR

Microsoft Working on Ads That Watch You

Purchases Made Via Smartphone On The Rise

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(LEGAL) RMLC Settles With BMI. Where's SESAC?

(by Davix Oxenford) The Radio Music Licensing Committee has announced a settlement with BMI over music royalties for the public performance of musical compositions for the period 2010-2016. Terms have not been announced, so we can't provide the details, yet. But as I wrote recently, when the RMLC announced the terms of its agreement with ASCAP, we would assume that the terms would be somewhat similar to the ASCAP deal.

(SOCIAL) 4 Ways To Divide Your Time In Social

(by Loyd Ford) There are a lot of things you can do with social media, but stations have specific needs. As programmers or personalities, we should be seeking access to ears and eyes for our products both online and on-air, and also to participate in the lives of the most active listeners.

(PROGRAMMING) McRadio – Not Even

(by Ron Robinson) During all dayparts, corporate music radio has multiple opportunities to dish out the equivalent of a full and yummy smorgasbord. A tantalizing and stunningly attractive buffet. But, we won't do that. Instead, we are offering up the music radio equivalent of cracked bowls of dry cornflakes.

(TALENT) 5 Lessons From Little League Baseball

(by Angela Perelli) Say you're seven and up at bat for your first baseball game of the year. You're wearing your still-white baseball pants, a fresh red jersey, new cleats, and a Cardinals cap. Your first at-bat against the provincial champions, you hit a single. The next boy up swings and sends the ball to right field. As you reach second base, Dadcoach voices shout at you from all directions: "Go to third!!!" "Stay at second!!!" "Keep going!!!" "STOP!"

The FM Cell Chip Provides An Opportunity to Serve

(Op-Ed by Peter H. Smyth Chairman and CEO Greater Media) Broadcasters have long known that we have an obligation to give back to our communities. This service has its roots in the original Communications Act of 1934. It directed that we operate in the public interest, convenience and necessity. Since that time, broadcasters have taken that obligation seriously, supporting our local communities during good times as well as responding to national and local crises as diverse as 9-11, the War in Iraq, hurricanes, tornados and the vast array of civil emergencies that arise.

(PODCAST) Salespeople. Still Using These For Leads?

Sales have been flat in radio. There's no denying that. We hear about pockets of strength, mostly in small and medium markets, but we've also seen the big guns report weak revenue numbers. The cuts continue, as companies continue to reduce expenses until the economy rebounds and the sales improve. For sure some of it is the economy. Could another part of it be salespeople not making enough calls or calling on the wrong businesses or hitting the street with a pocket pen and a rate card?

(AUDIO) Dave Gifford Launches New Sales Website

Dave Gifford has been helping salespeople and sales managers improve their skills for decades and today Gifford launched a new website that will continue that work. The site is www.saleshowto.net and will include previous articles written by Giff, information on consulting services and special guest sales bloggers. We spoke to Gifford about the site, the number one problem facing salespeople today and how he plans to help sellers moving forward.

(SALES) Manning Or Tebow…What Say You?

(by Sean Luce) Denver Broncos quarterback legend John Elway, acting in his current role of VP of football operations for the club, chose Peyton Manning to be the team's new quarterback. That makes perfect sense. If John Elway was looking for a QB similar to himself, Peyton Manning would be the current NFL quarterback that comes closest. If you were doing a sales hire, would you choose someone who was closest to your skills and talents?

(DIGITAL) You Can't Get To The Stream From Here

(by Chris Miller) Let's say I open up your website on my smartphone because I want to listen to your stream. What happens? Too often, the answer is: "You can't get there from here."

Convergence: Special Registration - Spend Less Learn More

"Bravo! As I sort through my 27 pages of hand written notes. I have to admit by 5pm, I think I had reached the maximum of bandwidth of comprehension." 2011 Radio Ink Convergence Attendee. Convergence is jammed packed with concepts, ideas and information that impact every aspect of your station's digital strategy. To get the most out of radio's premiere digital conference, we encourage you to send at least three people - and if you do, we'll offer a fourth registration absolutely free this week.

Rob Glaser Gets Real At Convergence 12

Rob Glaser has been in streaming since before the beginning: He founded RealNetworks in 1994, and the company soon debuted the groundbreaking RealAudio, which created the market for real-time streaming audio. When KPIG in Freedom, CA, became one of the first stations to stream its over-the-air programming, way back in 1995, it got online via RealAudio.

Hotel Rooms For Convergence Selling Out

Radio Ink's 2012 Convergence is just a few short weeks away and hotel rooms are filling up. In addition to the first ever panel on the battle for the dashboard, attendees will see innovative speakers and informational panels as more companies increase their total digital revenue, understanding how vital online revenue is to their future. Take a look at our agenda. See who we have as keynote speakers. Most importantly, do not delay in reserving your room for Convergence 2012. If you want an edge over your competition when it comes to digital revenue in 2012 and beyond, we'll see you in Santa Clara June 4th and 5th.

The Battle For The Dash Coming to Convergence

With real estate limited and demand extremely high, the only question that remains is who will win. Gone are the days when AM/FM radio owned the dashboard in every automobile that rolled off the assembly line. We now live in an age where automotive manufacturers are creating entertainment systems - or infotainment systems - where consumers want to be able to safely use every app on the smartphone without ever having to take their hands off the wheel.

Borrell To Unveil Eye-Popping Research

Radio Ink is proud to announce that Gordon Borrell has joined our action-packed lineup at Convergence June 4th and 5th. Borrell will bring with him new research about local media and details about who's generating significant digital revenue. We spoke to Borrell abuot why it's important YOU attend Convergence 2012.

The Best of The Best in The Digital World.

Rewarding the best in the digital world is nearly complete. You submitted the nominations, our judges did their homework and the finalists have been selected for the 2012 Radio Ink Digital Awards. It's time to recognize and reward the people, stations, and companies that drive the industry in new media. All the winners will be announced at Convergence 12, to be held June 4-5 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley. Our digital awards are sponsored by Presslaff Media.

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Get The PastBlast iPad App

PastBlast, the new iPad app from Radio Ink is available now in the Apple App Store. Historical audio, photos, and more from every era of radio's history, with navigation through a beautiful, fully equipped retro radio studio. Click the headline to see it, or get it here.

Mighty Red II: Brand New Radio Features

Radio Ink debuts the Mighty Red II, bringing back the little HD radio with mighty HD sound. New features on the Mighty Red II include Artist Experience -- cover art, artist info, and more -- onscreen ads that can be synced with audio, Live Pause, and song and ad Bookmarking. It's a great gift for clients to show them what's really possible with HD Radio. Click the headline to order now.