Harvard Business Review blog: The Builders’ Manifesto by Umair Haque
January 3, 2010
"Dear World Leaders,"
http://blogs.hbr.org/haque/2009/12/the_builders_manifesto.html
George
Media Services Group
Holiday Format Change Roundup
January 4, 2010
12/21 – 103.9 WTDA Columbus, OH – “103.9 Talk-FM” flipped to Classic Hits “Classic Hits 103.9” at 12:00pm.
12/25 – Former CHR “Hot 100” 100.7 WFNR Christiansburg, VA flipped to Hot AC “Mix 100.7“.
12/26 – 100.1 WJRZ Manahawkin, NJ flipped from Classic Hits to Hot AC “Magic 100.1” at 12:00am.
12/26 – 98.1 WLND Chattanooga, TN has flipped from Classic Country “The Legend” to Hot AC as “98.1 LND“.
12/26 – Former “100.3 The Beat” 100.3 KATZ St. Louis, MO flipped to Modern AC “100.3 The Sound” at 12:00am under new WSDD calls.
12/26 – “Magic 107.1” WTLY Tallahassee, FL flipped from AC to Hot AC as “My 107.1“.
12/26 – Classic Hits “My 95.7” WRIT Milwaukee has returned to its former “Oldies 95.7” moniker.
12/26 – AC “EZ Rock 97.3” flipped to Classic Hits “Boom 97.3” at 9:00am.
12/28 – Smooth Jazz “107.3 The Wave” WNWV flipped to AAA “Boom! 107.3” at 12:00pm.
12/28 – Variety Hits “107.9 The Track” WNTR Indianapolis, IN relaunched as “My 107.9” at 12:28pm/
12/28 – Former 70’s based Classic Hits “Kool 106.1” KQQL Tulsa, OK flipped to 90’s based Classic Hits “Gen X Radio” at 12:00pm.
12/28 – 93.1 WEZW Wildwood Crest, NJ flipped to Soft AC “Easy 93.1“.
12/28 – AC “95.7 Star-FM” KKSR Walla Walla, WA flipped to Classic Hits “95.7 Fun-FM“.
12/29 – Active Rock “94.7 The Buzz” KHBZ segued to 80’s based Classic Rock “94.7 The Brew” at 10:00am.
12/31 – 104.3 WECB Appleton, WI “104.3 The Breeze” relaunched as Variety Hits “104.3 & 103.5 Chuck-FM” at 3:00pm on New Years Eve. 103.5 is a translator for the station in Green Bay, WI.
1/1 – 106.1 WRDU Raleigh, NC flipped to its previously announced News/Talk “Rush Radio 106.1” identity.
1/1 – 94.5 WGBT Greensboro, NC flipped to News/Talk “Rush Radio 94.5” with new WPTI calls.
1/1 – 99.9 KXLY & 96.9 KEZE Spokane, WA – “Coyote Country 96.9” and AAA “99.9 The River” swapped frequencies at midnight.
1/4 – Former “Z-Rock 94.5” WZJO Charleston, WV flipped to a simulcast of sister News/Talk “Supertalk 950” WVTS with matching WVTS-FM calls.
Will our listeners go GaGa for LaLa?
January 4, 2010
LaLa is a "pay" service where customers pay a dime to be able to permanently stream a song wherever and whenever they want. The company's growth was held back a a little known startup. Who wants their music library investment tied to a little known, probably under-funded start-up? But Apple is a different story. I'd trust them with my music and you probably would too.
Apple's iTunes arguably already controls the music business. They have the content. And with their myriad of cool appliances (iPhones, Nanos, iPods, Macs, etc.), they have the distribution platform. Plus, the technology provides a cache of the tunes . . . you can still listen when you're away from the Internet.
There is an appealing "anytime/anywhere" component to Apple/LaLa (sound familiar?). And this puts Apple into the streaming business, big time. Short term, that might bode well for our streaming businesses. Long term, different story.
Apple innovates. Consumers know it. And we (the broadcasters) have been a little short on innovation lately. It will be tough to "out music" Apple. They have a coolness cachet that we can't match, especially with their appliances. By the way, have you bought a radio lately? Drop by Target or WalMart and see what you think of your choices. But, I digress.
LaLa is developing an iPhone app. A subscription service is probably just around the corner. Pandora and XM/Sirius are likely the most immediate casualties, but we might be next.
So why didn't a broadcaster buy LaLa? Maybe because none of us have any cash at the moment. But even if we did, would we, as (mostly) a bunch of 50+ (mostly) guys, have had the vision?
How do we compete? We can't beat them with just music offerings on our interactive platforms. We have to provide more. We have to "go where they ain't." And I suspect that talented local personalities are part of that solution. Think "entertainment."
Those are my thoughts. What are yours? Your comments are encouraged (click "Comments" below).
George
Media Services Group
Detroit Morning Show Shuffle
January 4, 2010
The new year has begun with a pair of morning show changes in Detroit with the possibility of more on the way. Jay Towers, co-host at CBS’ Sports “97.1 The Ticket” WXYT has left the station for an undisclosed Clear Channel station. Former WDFN Morning Host Mike “Stony” Stone is filling-in with incumbent Bill McAllister for the time being.
At Greater Media’s Classic Rock 94.7 WCSX, morning team Jeff Deminski and Bill Doyle have left the station after one year. The station is moving to a music-intensive position in mornings and have moved Afternoon host Ken Calvert into the morning slot, while the station’s Operations Manager Doug Podell takes over the afternoon slot. Michiguide.com has more on both of these stories
Boston Radio Watch 2010-01-04 17:11:00
January 4, 2010
Happy 2010!
January 4, 2010
Phil Bernstein is a blogger in Portland, Oregon. He’s also an account manager with Portland’s Clear Channel radio stations. And he writes about advertising. He’s on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, too.
Writing about marketing so that his customers can see his thinking differentiates him from virtually every other radio sales person out there.
This is the kind of person that is the future of radio – forward thinking and ready to tackle the marketing of his customers businesses with some marketing of himself. Hats off to Phil!
http://philbernstein.wordpress.com/
Broadcast engineering formulas and information
January 5, 2010
http://www.grahambrock.com/eng_info.htm
Here is the list they provide:
- Ohms Law
- Simple Conversions
- T & H Pad Calculator
- Property Requirements for Standard Guyed Towers
- Property Requirements for an AM Ground System
- Ballast Formula for Non-Penetrating Roof Mounts
- Audio Terms used to descripe Audio Sound
Good luck with that!
George
Media Services Group
Welcome to 2010
January 5, 2010
It was close, and touch-and-go for a while, but here we are.
This is just a placeholder announcement. Due to circumstances beyond our control, our ability to update this report will vary widely over the next few weeks.
We'll try to keep track of the "big stuff" and major changes, as soon as we can.
But the updates will be sporadic for some time to come. We'll try to keep a regular presence here.
One sad note: a local sports radio personality has passed away.
Though he had an extensive background covering high school sports, Fred Mourey was also host of the nationally syndicated (Sports Byline USA Network) "Joe Average Poker Show".
An obituary published recently reports that Mourey passed away December 12 at the age of 57, from complications from the disease ALS.
Our thanks to local ALS Association executive director - and veteran media personality - Brad Sussman for the heads up...
Meet the Media Services Group partners: Bill and Mike Lytle
January 6, 2010
Another Grab Bag
January 6, 2010
CBS RADIO CLEVELAND'S NEW BOSS: The Cleveland CBS Radio cluster officially has its new market manager, to replace the unceremoniously-dumped Chris Maduri.
A copy of the memo announcing the new market chief happened to float its way to the OMW World Headquarters:
I am thrilled to announce that Steve Carver has been appointed SVP/Market Manager for CBS Radio in Cleveland.
Steve is a terrific manager and broadcaster with nearly 30 years of local market leadership experience in radio, television, on line and newspaper.
Steve is a proven winner and we’re ecstatic to welcome him back to CBS where he began his career.
For the past 11 years, Steve has worked for The Tribune Company where he was Publisher, President and CEO of The Hartford Courant newspaper (2006-2009); General Manager of WATL-TV in Atlanta (2003-2006) and General Manager of WGN Radio in Chicago (1998-2003). During his years in TV, Steve continued to oversee radio as well.
Prior to joining Tribune, Steve was a veteran CBS guy where he served as VP and General Manager of WBBM in Chicago (1993-1998); Vice President & General Manager of WOGL FM/AM in Philadelphia (1989-1993) and also served as GSM, LSM, NSM and an AE at WCBS in New York. He also was a rep for then owned CBS Radio Spot Sales.
Frankly, Steve has done it all and is widely known as an outstanding manager with a track record of success.
Dan, Anton and I are thrilled to welcome Steve back to CBS Radio.
He officially starts today.
I would also like to thank Tom Herschel for his strong leadership during this transition. Thanks to Tom and all your efforts, we are coming out of the gate strong for January and we expect great things from CBS Radio Cleveland in 2010.
Judging from his long track record at Tribune, Carver likely clashed with the wave of former Jacor and Clear Channel executives brought aboard by Tribune chief Randy Michaels, the suburban Cincinnati-based former radio chief at Clear Channel...
CHICAGO THING: A former Northeast Ohio radio personality has become something of a minor media personality in Chicago in recent days, but not due to her on-air work or radio talent.
We've spent a lot of time thinking about this, and we've decided not to summarize the situation or name the personality.
The situation made the newspapers, and admittedly, it - what has been reported as happening - doesn't look good for the former local radio type.
But at this point, it's become a more heat-than-light-fest powered by blogs and whatnot. It's not the kind of story we like to shed light upon, in general. And the incident in question took place in Chicago, and the radio personality no longer works in this region. (It's not the first time we've not noted a similar story for that reason - lack of relevance to the area.)
We're only putting this up here because more than one reader has called our attention to it, and we're sure to get more requests or E-mails in the coming days...
