Beasley Broadcasting reports their auto revenue is up 40%. Clear Channel should report an increase in auto revenue on Friday. CBS Radio already has. Sirius gained more subscribers in Q1 and revenue was up, thanks in part to increased auto revenue although they continue to remain cautiously optimistic about auto sales following the recent tsunami tragedy in Japan. Ed Ryan of Radio Ink is bullish on car sales: "These days you can drive around many radio markets on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday morning and you will once again hear an abundance of car dealerships using radio to woo buyers. They are back heavy on the airwaves and driving a lot of the positive revenue radio is seeing in Q1" ...
The Washington Post reports that small car sales fueled the gain in auto sales in April. That happens when gas is $4 a gallon or more. Increased auto sales means more in-car radios, so the radio industry shouldn't care what size cars are. According to the Post, "Confidence among U.S. consumers rose more than forecast in April, signaling that six straight months of job growth are helping Americans endure the highest fuel prices in almost three years." Boston economist John Canally believes "This is sort of a vote of confidence for the recovery" ...
While increased auto revenue should make radio happy, it would be wise for the industry to temper their enthusiasm. Radio should adopt an athletes mind set - never too high, never too low. Don't look for extremes...
Timeline Memories:
1626] In a New York City Minuit: Dutch explorer Peter Minuit lands on what is now Manhattan...
1904] Wedding Bells: Charles Stewart Rolls meets Frederick Henry Royce in Manchester, England. Over one century later, this is the result of their marriage...
1927] Here Comes Oscar: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded. I'll bet you didn't know Oscar was made in Chicago...
1932] Big Al is slammed: Mobster Al Capone begins serving an eleven-year prison sentence in Atlanta for tax evasion...
1956] Recorded on this date: "Be-Bop-A-Lula" - Gene Vincent (and the Blue Caps)...
1953] Papa picks up his prize: Ernest Hemingway is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for "The Old Man And The Sea"...
1964] Number one on this date: "Hello Dolly" - Louis Armstrong...1977] "Hotel California" - Eagles...1986] "West End Girls" - Pet Shop Boys...
1970] Four dead in O-hi-O: Four people die and 9 others are wounded by Ohio National Guardsmen in the tragedy at Kent State. Mary Ann Vecchio was the woman standing over one of the wounded students. She was not a student but a runaway. John Filo, a photojournalism student wins a Pulitzer Prize for that photo...
1998] Guilty as charged: Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski is given four life sentences plus 30 years by a federal judge under a plea agreement that spares him the death penalty...2006] A federal judge sentences Zacarias Moussaoui to life in prison for his role in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks...
2001] Murder and acquittal in Hollywood: Bonny Lee Bakley, wife of Robert Blake is shot to death in Los Angeles. Blake will be acquitted of the murder...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Lance Bass (32), Erin Andrews (33), Randy Travis (52), Pia Zadora (57), Nick Ashford (69), George Will (70), Dick Dale (74) & Roberta Peters (81)...
Timeline Countdown: 3 days until The Kentucky Derby, 4 days until Mother's Day & 26 days until Memorial Day...
