Headlines

(By Roy Williams) “I was told that repartee heightens the attention of an audience.” “Is this going to be like that time you told me about ambergris?” “What do you mean?” “There I was, minding my own business, when you started telling me how the most expensive perfume in the world comes from whale puke. Like I needed to know that.”

(By Mark Gorman, CEO, Matrix Solutions) Is local radio advertising worth the money? Simply put, yes. With U.S. digital advertising poised to make $83 billion in revenue this year, some advertisers are now finding it difficult to make the case for radio – especially local radio.

According to ABC News in Tampa, former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan is suing 102.5 The Bone Morning Man Mike Calta (pictured), his former co-worker Matt Loyd, and Cox. The suit involves the 2007 sex tape recorded by Bubba the Love Sponge Clem that was posted to Gawker Media.

Alpha’s 102.3 WXLC/Waukegan-Kenosha, IL., raised $380 and collected 425 toys for Toys for Tots these holidays. In addition, the station worked with the Salvation Army in order to get children sponsored for the holiday. Listeners of the station sponsored all 102 kids.

(By Editor-in-Chief Ed Ryan) On Sunday, one of the most creative minds to ever grace the radio airwaves passed away. Dick Orkin, the creator of the radio series Chickenman, has died. Many people across the industry were positively impacted by Orkin and comments started pouring in immediately.

It was an organization the ratings firm established in 2005 to provide clients with a forum to drive research and improve audience measurement. A Nielsen spokesman told Radio Ink Tuesday it is ending its funding to the Council. Nielsen was pumping over $2 million a year into the organization.

(By Andy Bloom) The 2017 World series lived up to the name “Fall Classic.” As the Astros defeated the Dodgers in seven games, did you notice YouTube’s new TV service was a presenting sponsor? YouTube’s presence felt peculiar in light of headlines like this from the New York Post (11/1/17): “Cable Companies Freak Out After 1 Million Cut Cord in 3 Months.”

According to Media Monitors, Wal-Mart aired 43,624 commercials on radio stations across the country last week, making the big box discounter the number one radio advertiser leading up to Christmas weekend. Macy's was number two with 37,000 spots, followed by GEICO (32,751), AT&T Wireless (32,290) and Amazon.com (31,612).

(By Bob McCurdy) With things relatively quiet the week between Christmas and the New Year, it is a perfect time to reflect upon the previous 12 months while getting ready for the next twelve. 

(By Paul Weyland) One of the biggest drains of time and energy in broadcast sales is wasting time with elusive decisionmakers who won’t close. Oh, they’ll engage, but ultimately you are never able to close them. And there is a reason they’re not closing.