Headlines

(By Bob McCurdy) In advertising, we talk about a message being promotionally focused or brand focused. Companies spend a lot of time, dollars, and effort to effectively “brand” their products, and in fact a company’s “brand” is often worth considerably more than its factories and other physical assets.

(By Randy Lane) One of the top complaints we hear from talent about management is that their program director hauls them into a daily show critique meeting. This is a legitimate beef for most shows. There are situations where daily show meetings are needed and can be productive. But generally, this is overkill.

This week the big question is: "Do influencers really influence anything?" Also, "Adidas unfriends Facebook. Maybe your brand should, too." Tom Asacker and Mark Ramsey will discuss, drawing from an article by Laura Martin. Also, “How Amazon’s New Convenience Store Changes Everything.”

(By Ronald Robinson) Radio is in a position, right now, where it is sliding into a miasma of indifference – demonstrated by the lack of enthusiasm from listeners and from advertisers. Radio has, for the most part, stopped providing the products and services that would begin to have an impact on such a shoddy circumstance.

Kensington Digital Media has reached an agreement with Talking Stick Communications of Warsaw, Indiana, to purchase three stations and an FM translator. The stations are WRSW-AM, WRSW-FM, and WAWC-FM.

We do not have the details on the filing as of early this morning, however it's clear The Radio Music License Committee filed a petition late last night with the federal rate court to try to resolve its ongoing rate dispute with BMI. That filing did not sit well with BMI's Executive Vice President for Licensing & Creative, Mike Steinberg, who had this to say...

Low-power FM trio Prometheus Radio Project, Common Frequency, and the Center for International Media Action have filed an objection to over 1,000 of those applications. The groups are saying that the FCC isn’t observing the Local Community Radio Act of 2011.

(By Larry Stone) I wonder: Where has the great need to change radio ownership rules been hiding? Seems like in our society when a rush to make something happen, happens, it’s because someone sees a chance at a fast buck.

At least in our non-scientific poll, so far, the majority of Radio Ink readers seem to be opposed to more deregulation for the radio industry. We understand this is not really a black or white answer so feel free to leave your comments after your vote. As of Friday morning (5/18) poll results are 80% opposed and 20% in favor of more deregulation. VOTE IN OUR POLL NOW

On Thursday, Jacobs Media released data from its 14th annual online survey of radio listeners and there was plenty of good news for radio. The survey included 567 radio stations covering 14 formats and there were 64,289 respondents. It was conducted in early 2018 between January 16 and February 26. Here are some of the highlights...