Headlines

(By Ronald Robinson) I was disappointed to hear that, after a presentation to a very senior, corporate radio sales executive of a series of 13x30-second spots for auto dealerships, that the commercials caused widespread confusion and some panic. The executive gathered some associates and colleagues together to review the pieces, and they decided that several had to go.

The 8th Annual ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp is off and running in Nashville, offering campers from around the country a week of activities and excursions around Music City. The camp’s dual purpose is to study Williams syndrome (a developmental disorder) while providing music enrichment through performance and education.

Based on the most recent MIW Gender Analysis Report, women currently program only 10.7% of all stations in the U.S. That's not much better than ten years ago. The news is better in the top 100 markets where female program directors now represent 12.2%, flat from last year. To help address that issue, Nielsen and the MIW group are launching a new mentoring program for women.

The $2 Million deal between Red Zebra and Radio One for WWXT-FM and WXGI-AM in the Washington, DC market is now closed. Urban One has been simulcasting Urban AC “Majic 102.3” WMMJ on WWXT. The deal was announced back in April. Greg Guy of Patrick Communications was the exclusive broker for the deal.

Thanks to the folks at Neuhoff Media for sharing the details about their 21st annual summer program in Danville which just finished up. Sixteen kids, ranging from middle school to college students participated. They interacted with speakers from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Boston Red Sox, Duke's basketball and football radio announcer along with local newspaper and television executives.

(By Bob McCurdy) Last week I had a lengthy discussion with a planner at a medium-sized agency who continues to position radio as a frequency vehicle to his clients. We exchanged perspectives and I believe we made some progress.

(By Randy Lane) We are largely defined by our habits. A few positive keystone habits have a ripple effect on several others. Peter Lassally has been Executive Producer for Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Craig Ferguson. After each show, Lassally made it a habit to sit down with these iconic hosts and go through an exercise that we call The Post Show Review.

Blood is a precious commodity and always needed. And there always seems to be good people ready to give. WMMR Philadelphia’s morning team Preston & Steve took the giving to another level on Saturday, June 17, when they conducted an all-day blood drive at Valley Forge Casino Resort Event Center. Knowing blood supplies get low during summer months, the guys put out the call… and the response was fantastic.

Good news from DC: The Local Radio Freedom Act now has 195 cosponsors in the House and 22 in the Senate, with four more Members of the House of Representatives adding their names to the list. The bipartisan resolution opposes "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations.

Last night we reached out to Kerri Kasem to get her reaction to the lawsuit file by Jean. Kerri told Radio Ink, This frivolous lawsuit was filed because Jean Kasem thinks that this will delay her own wrongful death suit and confuse people about what really happened to my dad. She never served anyone that she names in the suit and she could not get a lawyer to take the case."