It's Time To Bury The Fairness Doctrine...

(Weekend Edition)
The Fairness Doctrine is radio's birther issue. It doesn't matter whether the president assures that the doctrine is not coming back or not (he did). Doubters will continue to fear the return of the dreaded doctrine until they see it officially repealed. FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell is on your side, doubters. McDowell told the Telecommunications Industry Association in Dallas that the doctrine, which the FCC concluded was unconstitutional and unenforceable back in 1987, is still on the books...


"We stumbled on this forgotten fact while researching material for this speech" says McDowell. Republicans continue to fear the return of the doctrine, which requires broadcasters both to air and to seek out opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance. Multichannel News reports that McDowell wants the FCC to immediately initiate "A full and thorough review of every FCC rule, not just those that apply to telecom companies, but all rules that apply to any entity regulated by the Commission. The presumption of our review should be that a rule is not necessary unless we find compelling evidence to the contrary." ...


It's been well over 20 years since the Fairness Doctrine was used (it was abolished in 1987), but there are still some radio veterans around that remember the living nightmare it created. It's time to follow McDowell's lead and bury the doctrine - then do a thorough review of all FCC rules and regulations still in effect or on the books...


Timeline Memories:
1899] Putting pedal to metal: Jacob Erman of New York City becomes the first U.S. driver arrested for speeding. Erman exceeded the 12 MPH speed limit (5/20). At least Jacob didn't have to deal with taxi's & pedicabs...
1927] Touchdown: Charles A. Lindbergh lands his "Spirit of St. Louis" near Paris completing the first solo flight across the Atlantic (5/21)...
1932] Also winging it: Amelia Earhart takes off to fly solo across the Atlantic becoming the first woman to achieve the feat (5/20)...1939] Pan Am begins regular service from New York when a "Yankee Clipper" takes off from the harbor in Port Washington (L.I.) (5/20)...
1955] Recorded: Chess Records new artist Chuck Berry records his first single, "Ida Red". During the session Leonard Chess changes the title to "Maybelline" (5/21)...
1961] Number One: "Mother-In-Law" - Ernie K-Doe (5/22)...1966] "When A Man Loves A Woman" - Percy Sledge (5/22)...1972] "Oh Girl" - Chi-Lites (5/22)...
1977] Beatlemania breaks out: The musical "Beatlemania" opens at the Winter Garden Theater in Manhattan (5/20). Various incarnations of Beatlemania are still performing...
1979] Guilty as charged: Former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White is convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting deaths of mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk. White uses the "Twinkie" defense, claiming that junk food fueled his rampage. You can't make this stuff up (5/21)...
1992] One more for the road: Johnny Carson hosts his final "Tonight Show" with Bette Milder singing to him (5/22). Johnny started hosting the show on October 1, 1962...
1993] Curtains: "Cheers" closes its doors for the final time with 40% of the population or nearly 100 million watching at home (5/20)...
2002] Body found: The remains of Chandra Levy are found in a Washington (D.C.) park (5/22)...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (5/20) David Wells (48), Ron Reagan (53), Fmr. NY Gov. David Paterson (57), Comedian Dave Thomas (62), Cher (65), Joe Cocker (67) & Japanese BB great Sadaharu Oh (71)...(5/21) Lisa (Cuddy on "House") Edelstein (44), Lawrence Tero Tureaud aka Mr. T (59), Sen. Al Franken (60), Leo Sayer (63), Ronnie Isley (70) & Ara Parseghian (88)...(5/22) Naomi Campbell (41), Mike Breen (50), Bernie Taupin (61), Bernard Shaw (71), Richard Benjamin (73), Peter Nero (77), T.Boone Pickens Jr. (83), Charles Aznavour (87) & Judith Crist (89)...


Timeline Countdown: 10 days until Memorial Day, 30 days until Fathers Day, 33 days until summer & 45 days until July 4th...

Radio Needs To Tap Into Search Growth...

One look inside the new BIA/Kelsey local search forecast for the next 5 years should get traditional radio to react quickly. This forecast provides another wake-up call for the struggling medium. What the forecast tells us is that radio must act now to siphon off some of the incredible amounts of money being spent on search advertising. According to the forecast, local search dollars will reach $8.2 billion by 2015. That's a compound annual growth rate of 10%. When was the last time you heard of anything growing 10% ???


Driving the growth in ad revenues is a continuing increase in local search activity and there's better news. By 2015, BIA/Kelsey expects 30% of search volume will be local. Matt Booth, BIA/Kelsey Sr. VP says that "Local search ad revenues hit an all-time high last year, driven primarily by better product integration across search engines, especially Google." Memo: Radio Station General Managers: if you don't have a search bar on your website, you are in trouble! Booth adds that "Revenues will continue to grow as better targeting, increased mobile usage and improving integration drive up local search activity." The outlook for interactive local media is part of BIA/Kelsey's U.S. Local Media Annual Forecast (2010-2015). In addition to local search, the interactive local media forecast covers the overall search market, display and local display advertising and email, reputation and presence management...


The complete forecast is available to clients of BIA/Kelsey's Interactive Local Media advisory service. Whether you become a member or not is not my business but be advised that in order to be on a level playing field with the rest of the media world, you'd better be involved in local search activity...


Timeline Memories:
1958] Released: "Splish Splash" - Bobby Darin (released as the first 8-track master recording pressed on a plastic 45-rpm disc)...1973] "Kodachrome" - Paul Simon...
1960] The King is dethroned: Alan Freed is arrested with 7 others on suspicion of commercial bribery. Freed refused to sign an affidavit in 1959 denying he had accepted payola. Although payola was not yet a crime, Freed is charged with 26 counts of commercial bribery but escapes with just a fine. His career, however is ruined...
1960] Recorded: "Save The Last Dance For Me" - Drifters...
1962] "Happy Birthday Mr. President": Marilyn Monroe performs a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" for President John F. Kennedy with Jackie by his side at a fund raiser at Madison Square Garden...
1965] Number One: The Beatles top the charts with "Ticket To Ride", their first single to feature Paul McCartney on lead guitar...
1973] Big Red romps: The great Secretariat, winner of the Kentucky Derby, wins the Preakness Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths. In three weeks, perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of all-time will run away with the Belmont Stakes...
1992] Veep speak: Vice President Dan Quayle criticizes "Murphy Brown" because the title character has a baby out of wedlock...
1994] Happy Trails: Former first-lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis passes away from cancer at 64...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Kevin Garnett (35), Grace Jones (59), Pete Townshend (66), Nora Ephron (70), David Hartman (76) & Jim Lehrer (77)...


Timeline Countdown: 11 days until Memorial Day, 31 days until Fathers Day, 34 days until summer & 46 days until July 4th...

An Optimistic Sales Forecast For Q3...

While it might not be focused on local sales, the outlook for quarter three is pacing up more than 7%, according to Katz Radio Group. This follows news that National Spot Radio is up 1.4% in the second quarter with five of the six market group segments showing increases. Ad categories leading the way are domestic automotive, finance, retail and telecom says Katz President Mark Gray, who remains "very optimistic" about radio's outlook and long-term growth, according to Radio Online...


Gray's optimism stems in part from radio's expansion into online, on-demand, mobile and digital broadcasts, offering a broader ability to gain a larger share of advertising dollars in digital. While this off-cycle political year won't contribute much in the way of revenue - education, energy and the economy is making a greater contribution than usual. The hope is that those categories will make up for a down political year. Gray also sees solid gains being made across most markets and regions of the country. While not being noted in the top 10 markets where revenue gains are tepid, most of the other markets nationwide are showing stronger improvement...


Radio won't really be happy about revenue gains until local sales lead the way. Since we haven't seen that yet, local radio won't be quite as optimistic as Mark Gray...  


Timeline Memories:
1897] The Count begins: A public reading of Bram Stoker's new novel "Dracula" or  "The Un-Dead" is staged in London. No one played Dracula better than Bela Lugosi...
1934] New law: Congress approves the "Lindbergh Act" making kidnapping a capital offense...
1959] Number One: "Kansas City" - Wilbert Harrison...1960] "Cathy's Clown" - Everly Bros...1963] "If You Wanna Be Happy" - Jimmy Soul...1969] "Get Back" - Beatles...
1968] Released: Formerly a #1 hit for the immortal Nick Lucas in 1929, "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" is released by Tiny Tim. It will reach the top 20...
1980] Blowing its top: The Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington State explodes, leaving 57 dead or missing...
1998] Curtains: "Murphy Brown" starring Candice Bergen ends its 10-year run...
2004] Perfecto: Arizona's Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher, at 40, to pitch a perfect game, against Atlanta...


R.I.P. Baseball Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, died yesterday from esophageal cancer at the age of 74. Killebrew played 22 seasons, finishing his career with 573 home runs, 11th-most in baseball history. His nickname of "Killer" was a misnomer. Killebrew lived his life and played his career as the ultimate gentleman. He started his major league career with the Washington Senators in 1954, moving with the team to Minnesota when they became the Twins in 1961. Killebrew entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Tina Fey (41), George Strait (59), Rick (Yes) Wakeman (62), Reggie Jackson (65), Albert Hammond (69), Dwayne ("Dobie Gillis") Hickman (77), Jack Whitaker (87) & Bill ("Maude") Macy (89)...


Timeline Countdown: 12 days until Memorial Day, 32 days until Fathers Day, 35 days until summer & 47 days until July 4th...

Slacker Executive Slams Traditional Radio...

If Slacker senior vice president of marketing, Jonathan Sasse was trying to make a statement, he did just that by attacking traditional radio in the Los Angeles Times. Instead of taking on Pandora, his company's real competition, he ripped traditional radio. "If you look at where broadcast radio is going, it looks like they're trying to become what online radio used to be." Sasse claims Slacker is taking a different approach. "What we're trying to become is what broadcast radio used to be, which is radio that's expertly programmed and tailored to you. It used to be that when I came to a new town, I'd find an awesome station with a local DJ that talks about the music in my city, the concerts in my city and play some new music. Radio done right can be really good. And broadcast radio is really missing out, because they've just turned into generic hit machines." But how does Sasse really feel about traditional radio you might ask...


Sasse leveled his blast at traditional radio on the eve of Slacker's launching of its premium on-demand music service that lets subscribers listen to any of the 8 million songs in its catalog for about $10 a month. Slacker will be competing with Rhapsody, Rdio and MOG which offer similar services. Slacker Premium is available on most iPhones, iPads, BlackBerries and smart phones that use the Android operating system. Slacker wants consumers onboard quickly and are giving away a limited number of subscriptions by visiting their Facebook page...


If you're keeping score on where Slacker stands against Pandora it's the latter that leads in subscribers - 50 million to 5 million. This would explain why Slacker will be taking on traditional radio. By launching a new on-demand music service while describing broadcast radio as "generic hit machines", it should be noted that good traditional radio is about a lot more than just playing music. Slacker knows that but they've already lost their battle against Pandora, won't be taking on Sirius XM, so they may as well take on traditional radio...   


Timeline Memories:
1875] Derby debut: Aristides wins the first Kentucky Derby...
1963] Do you know the way to Monterey?: Joan Baez headlines the first Monterey Folk Festival. Also starring: Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary and The Weavers...
1973] Scandalous: The Senate begins hearings into the Watergate scandal...
1973] Released on this date: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" - Stevie Wonder...1975] "I'm Not In Love" - 10cc...
1974] Number One on this date: "The Streak" - Ray Stevens...1983] "Let's Dance" - David Bowie...
1983] Isles streak: The Islanders sweep Edmonton in 4 games to win their 4th consecutive NHL Stanley Cup. Only Montreal has done better, winning 5 in a row (1956-1960)...
1996] A law for Megan: Bill Clinton signs legislation authorizing "Megan's Law", named for 7-year old Megan Kanka from New Jersey who was raped and killed in 1994. This law requires community notification when sex offenders move in to a neighborhood...
1998] Perfecto: David Wells pitches a perfect game as the Yankees beat Minnesota at Yankee Stadium. It's just the 13th perfect game in the modern era of baseball...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Craig Ferguson (49), Enya (50), Jim Nantz (52), Bob Saget (55), Sugar Ray Leonard (55), Henry St. Clair Fredericks aka Taj Mahal (69)...


Timeline Countdown: 13 days until Memorial Day, 33 days until Fathers Day, 36 days until summer & 48 days until July 4th...

Congress Is Intent On FCC Reform...

Congress is asking questions. There's a growing feeling in Washington that however the FCC answers those questions won't satisfy members on the hill. Friday's hearing on FCC Reform featured the quizzing of the FCC about its processes and authority, according to the Freepress. Shockingly, the subcommittee didn't once mention the defection of Commissioner Meredith Baxter's questionable departure for Comcast after voting for the company's merger with NBC Universal. A huge oversight...


Congress may have given the FCC a pass on Baxter but they are still intent on seeing reform enacted at the agency. The subcommittee questioned the recent adoption of open internet rules and approval of the Comcast-NBC Universal merger. The Freepress has collected thousands of letters calling on Republican Representative Darrell Issa and his colleagues to investigate Baker's move to Comcast. Issa is the chairman of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Freepress President and CEO Craig Aaron says "It's no wonder why so many Americans are disgusted with business as usual in Washington. It's time for Congress to investigate and expose such blatant conflicts of interest (re: Baker's departure), to slow down the revolving door, and to confront the larger issues that are preventing the FCC from making policies that actually benefit the American public." ...


I can't speak for the Freepress which has it's own agenda but it's time for reform at the FCC. Reform and then stability. The FCC has become a revolving door for ambitious players and climbers who use the agency as a spring board for higher paying jobs. That nonsense has to stop for the agency to have any credibility... 


Timeline Memories
1888] Not Cousin Brucie?: Emile Berliner becomes the first radio disc jockey when his voice is heard on a flat disc demo...
1929] Oscar debuts: The first Academy Awards are presented during a banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel...
1946] Musical debut: "Annie Get Your Gun" opens on Broadway...
1957] At the Copa: A brawl breaks out at the 29th birthday party for Billy Martin at the Copacabana. Billy, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Johnny Kucks, Hank Bauer and assorted spouses take part in the melee. Lots are fines are handed down and in four weeks Billy Martin wears a Kansas City uniform...
1966] Released on this date: "Pet Sounds" LP - Beach Boys...
2002] Finding a Pearl: The remains of kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, 38, are found and will be returned to his wife...
2010] Black gold: Scientists find enormous oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico, including one as large as 10 miles long in spots as they discover that the leak from the broken undersea well could be worse than originally thought...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Tori Spelling (38), David Boreanaz (42), Tucker Carlson (42), Janet Jackson (45), Mare Winningham (52), Debra Winger (56), Olga Korbut (56) & Pierce Brosnan (58)...


Timeline Countdown: 14 days until Memorial Day, 34 days until Fathers Day, 37 days until summer & 49 days until July 4th...

Music Sweeps Seem To Work For PPM Markets...

(Weekend Edition)

A couple of things have been established about Portable People Meters since Arbitron re-tooled their methodology and re-positioned it in the market place. One - there seems to be continued unhappiness among urban radio stations about the methodology and its effect on their format and Two - CHR stations believe that using music sweeps is helping them in PPM markets...

Barry Mayo, Radio One President tells Radio Ink that he believes there's a direct correlation between PPM usage and his affiliates. "Absolutely, there is a direct connection between the impact of PPM on our ratings in our Midwest markets and our revenue declines in those markets." The markets Mayo refers to are Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Indianapolis. According to Radio One, Indianapolis halved their numbers. Company CEO Alfred Liggins takes up the argument: "We found that with urban stations you take a hit with rank, share and average quarter hour. And this takes about a year to cycle through." While both Mayo and Liggins complain about Indianapolis, both Cincinnati and Cleveland have been in play for over a year and both markets were just accredited by the MRC, which hasn't been easy on Arbitron's PPM. Indianapolis appears to be alone in being hit so drastically. This argument will continue but for now there doesn't seem to be any basis for inequity in PPM methodology at urban radio, despite Mayo and Liggins protests. On the subject of CHR music sweeps influencing stations in PPM markets, the Atlanta Airwave Action blog has seen it work with CHR Q100 (WWWQ-FM) and Star 94 (WSTR-FM) in Atlanta. According to AAC, CHR Q100 & Star 94 have both made gains since they started using music sweeps...

Arbitron's PPM is defined in Wikipedia as "An electronic measurement system that delivers empirical, verifiable audience measurement data." Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in this case Radio One doesn't buy that definition and CHR stations call that a perfect definition. As long as measurement services have existed there has been this truism - the stations that do well love it and those that don't, question it - no matter what methodology is used...


Timeline Memories:

1602] If you're fond of sand dunes: Bartholomew Gosnold, an English explorer known as "The Columbus Of New England" discovers Cape Cod (a summer paradise) (5/15)...

1929] A numbers game: When the Indians beat the Yankees 4-3 in Cleveland, it marks the first game to feature numbers on the backs of players (5/13). Uniforms 101 is seen here...

1940] Churchillian: Winston Churchill tells the British House of Commons: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" in his first speech as prime minister, leading to this question: why wasn't the group called Blood, Toil, Tears & Sweat? (5/13)...

1941] The Streaker: Joe DiMaggio goes 1-for-4 and starts his 56-consecutive game hitting streak (5/15)...

1948] The State of Independence: Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaims the independent state of Israel as British rule in Palestine comes to an end (5/14)...

1964] Recorded on this date: "Little Old Lady From Pasadena" - Jan & Dean (5/14)...1966] "Sunny Afternoon" - Kinks (5/13)...1968] "People Got To Be Free" - The Rascals (5/14)...1970] "No Matter What You Are" - Badfinger (5/13)...

1970] Released on this date: "Ohio" - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (5/14)...

1981] The Pope takes a bullet: Pope John II is shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter's Square by Turkish assailant Mehmet Ali Agca (5/13)...

1998] Death of an icon: The legendary Frank Sinatra passes away, his way, at 82 following a heart attack (5/14)...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (5/13) Stephan Colbert (47), Sean McDonough (49), Bobby Valentine (61), Stevie Wonder (61) & Harvey Keitel (72)...(5/14) Amber Tamblyn (28), Cate Blanchett (42), David Byrne (59), George Lucas (67), Jack Bruce (68) & Patrice Munsel (86)...(5/15) Jamie-Lynn Sigler (30), Josh Beckett (31), Chazz Palminteri (59), Lainie Kazan (71), Trini Lopez (74), Madeleine Albright (74) & Anna Maria Alberghetti (75)...

Timeline Countdown: 17 days until Memorial Day, 37 days until Fathers Day, 40 days until summer & 52 days until July 4th...

Another FCC Commissioner Bails The Agency...

The makeup of the FCC not only changes with each new presidential administration but seems to be in a constant state of flux year round. The latest commissioner to announce a resignation had been with the agency only two years. Meredith Baxter will resign from the FCC on June 3 to join Comcast-NBC Universal as its senior vice president of governmental affairs, according to the Washington Post. Baker, a Republican joined the FCC in 2009 after working at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under President George W. Bush. Baker oversaw a $1.5 billion coupon program to help consumers make the transition to digital TV. While the NAB seems to feel this is a great move for the broadcast industry, Baker may have a touch time of it because of her vote for the company she will now be working for...


Four months ago, Baker voted to approve the merger between Comcast and NBC Universal. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that there was any wrong-doing involved in Baker's vote but it does draw suspicion that first she votes for them and then goes to work for them. If I were Baker, I would hold a press conference and set the record straight in order to start with a clean slate...


In her departure statement, Baker said she is "most proud of the work she has done with the FCC on spectrum reform. It is the most important step we can take to ensure our nation's competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected world." Comcast-NBC Universal is happy to have her: "Meredith's executive branch and business experience along with her exceptional relationships in Washington bring Comcast and NBC Universal the perfect combination of skills." ...


Timeline Memories:
1926] The 400 Club: Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators joins Cy Young as the only 400-game winners in baseball history. No other pitcher has come close to that number since and never will. Randy Johnson was the last 300 game (303) winner in 2009. Jamie Moyer, the 48-year old disabled pitcher has won the most games among active pitchers with 267. Moyer hopes to make a comeback in 2012...
1932] Lindbergh baby found: The body of the kidnapped son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh is found in a wooded area near Hopewell (NJ)...
1965] Recorded on this date: "Satisfaction" - Rolling Stones...
1971] Wedding Bells: Mick Jagger & Bianca Perez-Mora rock down the aisle in St. Tropez. The marriage will last until 1979...
1985] Knicks win the lottery: The New York Knicks win the rights to Patrick Ewing in a special drawing, begging the question, was this tainted love for the New York franchise?
1991] Teddy Tribute: With Ted Williams in attendance, Lansdowne Street (outside Fenway Park) is renamed "Ted Williams Way" on the 50th anniversary of his great 1941 season when he became the last .400 hitter in baseball history...


"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Emilio Estevez (49), Ving Rhames (52), Gabriel Byrne (61), Steve Winwood (63), Billy Swan (69), Burt Bacharach (83) & Yogi Berra (86)...


Timeline Countdown: 18 days until Memorial Day, 38 days until Fathers Day, 41 days until summer & 53 days until July 4th...