….while still recovering from the Phillies loss in the NLCS and the ass whuppin’ the Rangers took last night….
Soooooo, the NAB made the first move and presented a term sheet to musicFirst…and by doing so also made a term sheet offer to congress, CTIA, AFTRA, CRB, CEA and a couple of acronyms I might have missed…..
…plenty has been written this week and in case you missed some of the better opinions and takes you can read Eric Rhoads here….or Mark Ramsey here..
..here’s how I see it in a stream of consciousness…by presenting the term sheet first quite a bit of leverage was given up by NAB…we can’t now say we don’t agree with the labels that we owe them money…BUT, if the labels were smart they’d take this deal and run…run around the world finally collecting their blood money from radio to the tune of $100,000,000 held until they get a deal with US radio…how in the heck can we present a united front when it is reported that the biggest of all Clear Channel voted no to support the deal…I liken that to the fact at my golf club the dining chair has the same vote as the golf chair….if CC isn’t in how is that a united radio front?...what I found the most preposterous was that it has been reported that there were two abstentions?...seriously…if those Board Members represented my district I’d bounce them for not taking a stand based on their member stations one way or the other…
…so now the CEA is calling us a “horse and buggy” business and technology….happy to have us sell listening devices for their members but….the carriers are fighting hard because they have other things they REALLY need from congress and until they get that done they’ll continue to fight the radio chip…..
…I’ve advised a client of mine that EAS and the chip go hand-in-hand and from a government standpoint it’s really the only reason to mandate that cells and other devices carry the chip….sadly, the musicFirst and CTIA and CEA are making hay by only focusing on their members wants, desires, needs, etc…..
..I’m on record as saying the hell with AFTRA…stop simulcasting and make your stream soo good that you sell it as incremental revenue with less inventory…
…at the end of the day when you hear the drums beating from a friend (Gordon Smith hearing from close friend and musician Orrin Hatch) you have to take it seriously…as always in Washington, if you hear the drums beating from your opponents you stand up and fight and may the best person win…seems there’s definitely something afoot to get some sort of PRA done if even in a lame duck congress (soooo sad!)….but we need to hear that from our organization!....not as speculation and rumor….
…it would be interesting to see a straight up and down vote of all members so we know who, what, where and when everyone voted…too many unscientific polls and quotes from “many of our readers” creates fear and uncertainty and shows a lack of unity….-
..to musicFirst..you wanted a deal and now you know what we want to do…to the CTIA..get what you need from Congress on the table and trade the chip to get it done….to the CEA…I agree that more radio folks should attend and stay ahead of the curve on consumer technology but in turn, you should support enhancing public safety and the benefits of national alerting thru RBDS and EAS on all consumer devices!
….last but not least….make sure you all get out and vote next week and support the candidates that most support radio and its issues!
…follow me on Twitter @teejgolfer and I’ll follow you back and keep in touch at tj@tjlambert.net...
..until next week….----teej
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The NAB/RAB Show and other stuff.....
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…Live from NM World HQ…(one of the "special shapes balloons during mass ascension at ABQ Balloon Fiesta)
I swear…the political ads are approaching pure craziness….if you believe the 4 back-to-back pods on radio (and radio with pictures!)…there isn’t an honest person running for anything anymore…..very, VERY cool spot from KOB-TV though….showing a peaceful waterfall in full HD and stereo…tag line?....”Enjoy this break from political ads from KOB-TV4…nice…
..what a crazy busy three weeks…first the NAB in DC…then friends and family annual visit week for Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta….a must event for any “bucket list”….and then a busy week working on projects and landing the next adventure….
NAB was pretty darn cool this year…bankers attended but aren’t lending…brokers are attending but can’t do deals because no one is lending….and broadcasters all walked around with curious smiles….
..the more you ask the more you learn….do yourself a favor and call your NAB rep…or call the NAB office in DC and get the real lowdown on the plans for the PRA and FM Chips and why they are tied together…they go hand-in-hand…one sets the rate and the other sets the percentage of that rate that will be paid….seems to me that just once we need a 100% agreeable group….there are a million opinions on the benefits of the FM chips (sorry, “radio chips”) in phones and the wisdom of making a deal that’s hard to swallow….but a united front from radio is needed now more than ever….
…at our last lunch Jim Kerr and I discussed how the AFTRA deal found its way into the PRA, etc negotiation…it’s the old “step into my sandbox and you’ll play in my sandbox”…during a November meeting with the Copyright Royalty Board it seems the meeting was conducted by the head of AFTRA….welcome to the party!
…Kurt Hanson’s RAIN Summit was the best attended I’ve ever seen…lots of terrific ideas presented and of course the “hallway office” was in full force! Some random thoughts from RAIN…Ford and OnStar innovating to take over radios place in the car and no real innovation from terrestrial radio (don’t get me started with HD…sheesh)…Safety issues will become more and more important as the screen becomes more prevalent in cars…texting is the biggest cause of distracted driving accidents…radio needs to be in the forefront with this issue….the Coleman Insights presentation was fascinating to me….seems instead of satellite radio the new love affair is with Pandora….seems it is not a dominant brand…heck, I’m one of their 60 million registered users and haven’t used it in years….according to CI…”terrestrial radio needs to take dominant branding (local) and match it up with key product attributes”….see the study here….and my final quick hit from RAIN?....”target digital/online efforts on listeners needs not the stations needs!”…AMEN! (Thanks for another great conference Kurt!)…
…kudos to Mary Quass for championing reducing inventory to sell yield and ultimately improve programming….many a campfire talk when I was on the network side on the downside of selling share…a fool’s game that selling for share…sell yield, create value, improve programming….Mary said it to a packed house….nice!
…pretty darn big news this week…The wireless industry's eyes turned to Microsoft on Monday as CEO Steve Ballmer introduced the nine Smartphone’s that will run on its new Windows Phone 7 operating system -- models from HTC, Dell, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. T-Mobile USA will join AT&T as the carriers offering the handsets when the phones start to ship next month. Analysts offered favorable reviews. "We believe this is a key step toward rebuilding confidence in their ability to innovate in mobile," said Wells Fargo analyst Jason Maynard in a research note…..more from the CEA here…
..the Great Jill-Bear Bruce Gilbert passed along a terrific study from Esquire presenting facts about men 2010…if you are in sports radio, as Bruce points out …”VERY interesting data and representative of how we always talk about how different a 25 year old guy is vs. a 54 year old guy”….view the stats here….(as a side note…thanks to Amy/Bruce for the Rangers ducats this week!)
..Russ Hill recently wrote an open letter to news talk radio…what a terrific read here..!
…Seth Godin recently blogged about the difference between “generous gifts and free samples”…read it here….pretty insightful as always …
…make certain that you get a copy of the study commissioned by FEMA through Northrop-Grumman regarding the use of RDBS messaging in concert with EAS….email Matt Straeb from AlertFM for the lowdown here….
..so the end of an era has finally happened with Mickey Luckoff’s departure from KGO in SFO…Mick was the best (still is by the way!)…he ran the place with passion and class…too bad he was shown the door with a lack of both!
..random musings from the high desert….too dang many people to shout out from the NAB…always great to get a few minutes or a few hours with friends and colleagues….special thanks to the Triton/Dial-Global squad for the invite to their dinner…great time and great idea sharing….great to join Carl Rohling from RadioTime and Dan Halyburton from McVay New Media for dinner with my pal Patrick Pohlking from ESPN Radio…to my friend Milt McConnell…thanks for everything..you are the best….the team at Ando soooo gets it…..keep an eye on Abacast…Mike LoConte’s Advantage Sales Systems can make you money today….new direct ca$h..what are you waiting for….can a guy, my friend and mentor Jim Thompson, ask for two better guys as sons-in-law?...Tony Cima and Tommy McElwee are great guys…pretty good golfers and can deliver an all around fun day….thanks for the game guys!....go ahead…look up class and a great friend and the smiling mug of Peter Doyle is front and center….Dennis Green getting his pistol loaded with two launches in January..good luck Den….
…and finally….Go Phightin’ Phils Go…..what a cool WS it will be if it ends up Philly and Texas….??!!!!!
..from the high desert of NM World HQ…have a great weekend….-----teej
Thursday, September 23, 2010
...DC here we come....
…getting’ ready for the NAB/RAB Radio Show in DC….looking forward to meeting old friends and new….in Tuesday and out Thursday night….214-695-7595 is the cell….
"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens."…Ben Stein
..seems to me (I’d like to think my blog on focus had a little to do with it) but the NAB is focusing totally on getting the FM, excuse me, Radio chip into cell phones….in the past two weeks we haven’t seen nor heard a peep on PRA/AFTRA/CRB in most trades…nada…
..to my pals at the NAB…don’t dismiss in your quest the value of tying RDBS visual alerting to the case of expanded EAS…together they are a powerful partnership/collaboration that no one can ignore…not even the CTIA….the carriers will have no argument if you pair them. The carriers know that their “texting” solution is hogwash…ever try to text during a Super Bowl?...send a picture to your social page at an NFL game?...could there be any better example than a Super Bowl to have the ability get everyone’s attention in an emergency with a short visual message with instructions to tune to the station of your choice for additional important information?
As the most interesting man in the world says, “stay thirsty my friends”….I say to the NAB “stay focused my friends….”…these initiatives can be mutually exclusive but each deserves complete focus to succeed….right now FM chip, dang it, Radio chip stories are trumping all of the initial PRA press…ride it cowboys!
…always a blast to talk to old friend Traug Keller…TK has a plate full everyday with his ESPN bucket…ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, Bass Outdoor and more….we talked yesterday to catch-up and talk new media…don’t ya know a conversation we started in Miami at Super Bowl was the emergence of Ford Synch…and don’t ya know this morning this rolls across my screen from gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine…..
…old buddies Bill, Dan, Dave and George…all donkeys!....Donkey Comedy Network launches with SASS technology for comedy bits….this makes sense to me….quick hits to the punch line….get us an affiliate in Dallas boys…I love to laugh! More on DCN here….and be sure to read Randall Bloomquist’s review and thoughts here….
…what fabulous news this week that the Broadcasters Foundation raised $150k+ at its annual Celebrity Golf Tourney…now more than ever we must give back to our own and the asks of the BFOA are more frequent and urgent than ever…PLEASE at least become a member and help your brothers and sisters in our great industry out…more info on the mission and a way to become a member here…(as a side note…Scott Knight gives so much of his energy, cash and time to the BFOA I’m convinced his place in heaven is already reserved!)
…working with friend Henry Peirse on bringing the inside scoop on Simon Cowell’s next hit X-Factor and all things inside his world through brother Tony Cowell to the states in 2011…hit me up at NAB for more details….
…musing away….I’m not sure why but my younger brother got him a mail-order preacher’s license…things that make you go “hmmmmm..”….Showtime original series the Big C is soooo good…Laura Linney is fantastic….tackles a tough subject with such grace and comedy…set the TiVo…….client Paa-Ko Ridge Golf gets another big hit with a #29 Ranking on the Top 100 you can play….bucket list course and a great buddy trip stop….is there a bigger Michigan fan than Spencer Brown?...congrats to Lew and John and Michael on closing their deal for the luxury mag group….the Abacast webcast yesterday drew a nice crowd of over 200 interested participants…pretty interesting concept on pricing for streaming….Modern Family’s season opener didn’t disappoint…still the funniest show on TV…
... iPhone’s Newest Radio App: Home Radio Pro – The newest radio application, Home Radio Pro for Apple’s iPhone will allow users to play, discover, and record streaming radio. With access from 65,000 stations from around the world, Hope Radio Pro allows the user to search a name of a band and the app will create a list of what stations are playing their songs right at that moment. The app has a built-in recorder, ability to browse by country, type of music, sport, news, or station name. Already in the top 12 for the music in the App Store, it costs only $5.99…we’re following this one to see if folks will pay 6 bucks….thanks for the heads-up David Ross!
…looking forward to seeing many of you next week in DC….----teej
"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens."…Ben Stein
..seems to me (I’d like to think my blog on focus had a little to do with it) but the NAB is focusing totally on getting the FM, excuse me, Radio chip into cell phones….in the past two weeks we haven’t seen nor heard a peep on PRA/AFTRA/CRB in most trades…nada…
..to my pals at the NAB…don’t dismiss in your quest the value of tying RDBS visual alerting to the case of expanded EAS…together they are a powerful partnership/collaboration that no one can ignore…not even the CTIA….the carriers will have no argument if you pair them. The carriers know that their “texting” solution is hogwash…ever try to text during a Super Bowl?...send a picture to your social page at an NFL game?...could there be any better example than a Super Bowl to have the ability get everyone’s attention in an emergency with a short visual message with instructions to tune to the station of your choice for additional important information?
As the most interesting man in the world says, “stay thirsty my friends”….I say to the NAB “stay focused my friends….”…these initiatives can be mutually exclusive but each deserves complete focus to succeed….right now FM chip, dang it, Radio chip stories are trumping all of the initial PRA press…ride it cowboys!
…always a blast to talk to old friend Traug Keller…TK has a plate full everyday with his ESPN bucket…ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, Bass Outdoor and more….we talked yesterday to catch-up and talk new media…don’t ya know a conversation we started in Miami at Super Bowl was the emergence of Ford Synch…and don’t ya know this morning this rolls across my screen from gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine…..
Ford gets techy with MyFord Touch
A recent New York Times print advertisement for the Ford Edge crossover included barcodes that, when scanned by a mobile phone camera, provided readers with access to Times articles on style and technology. It’s part of a techy advertising campaign for the Edge, which will be the first vehicle to feature the likewise-techy MyFord Touch system. Touch is built around Ford’s existing Windows-based SYNC communications and entertainment system, and allows drivers to use the dashboard as... well, pretty much as a big smartphone. Read more here!
…old buddies Bill, Dan, Dave and George…all donkeys!....Donkey Comedy Network launches with SASS technology for comedy bits….this makes sense to me….quick hits to the punch line….get us an affiliate in Dallas boys…I love to laugh! More on DCN here….and be sure to read Randall Bloomquist’s review and thoughts here….
…what fabulous news this week that the Broadcasters Foundation raised $150k+ at its annual Celebrity Golf Tourney…now more than ever we must give back to our own and the asks of the BFOA are more frequent and urgent than ever…PLEASE at least become a member and help your brothers and sisters in our great industry out…more info on the mission and a way to become a member here…(as a side note…Scott Knight gives so much of his energy, cash and time to the BFOA I’m convinced his place in heaven is already reserved!)
…working with friend Henry Peirse on bringing the inside scoop on Simon Cowell’s next hit X-Factor and all things inside his world through brother Tony Cowell to the states in 2011…hit me up at NAB for more details….
…musing away….I’m not sure why but my younger brother got him a mail-order preacher’s license…things that make you go “hmmmmm..”….Showtime original series the Big C is soooo good…Laura Linney is fantastic….tackles a tough subject with such grace and comedy…set the TiVo…….client Paa-Ko Ridge Golf gets another big hit with a #29 Ranking on the Top 100 you can play….bucket list course and a great buddy trip stop….is there a bigger Michigan fan than Spencer Brown?...congrats to Lew and John and Michael on closing their deal for the luxury mag group….the Abacast webcast yesterday drew a nice crowd of over 200 interested participants…pretty interesting concept on pricing for streaming….Modern Family’s season opener didn’t disappoint…still the funniest show on TV…
... iPhone’s Newest Radio App: Home Radio Pro – The newest radio application, Home Radio Pro for Apple’s iPhone will allow users to play, discover, and record streaming radio. With access from 65,000 stations from around the world, Hope Radio Pro allows the user to search a name of a band and the app will create a list of what stations are playing their songs right at that moment. The app has a built-in recorder, ability to browse by country, type of music, sport, news, or station name. Already in the top 12 for the music in the App Store, it costs only $5.99…we’re following this one to see if folks will pay 6 bucks….thanks for the heads-up David Ross!
…looking forward to seeing many of you next week in DC….----teej
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Has the PRA sort of taken a back seat to FM chips in cell phones…great friends…great causes..and more..
…fascinating to see the PRA negotiations goings on along with its loaded other “asks”!....the NAB releases a study by a very reputable research firm showing the “peeps” want their free radio on their mobile devices….did they also commission a study of ALL broadcasters on whether they want a $100m deal with the labels? Why not a full study on the impact of the AFTRA deal that broadcasters of their own free will agreed to that is now in the PRA package to have it tossed…wouldn’t a study of the onerous impact of the CRB agreement be appropriate to present to congress as well…..nope…only a study of the acceptance of FM chips in cell devices…
…I’m a major advocate of the chips in cells and other devices (alarm systems, internet desktop radios, etc.)….and I’m mostly an advocate as a device to save lives…but through much more than the antiquated EAS system….the EAS MUST be updated….and there MUST be a uniform way for RDBS technology to transmit short messages advising of imminent danger…(i.e., “CHEMICAL SPILL…EVACUATE IMMEDIATLEY..TUNE TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION NOW FOR DETAILS”)….
…in a perfect world broadcasters and the carriers would figure this out to the satisfaction of both sides…The CTIA just says “nope” and has nothing to back up why the chip isn’t a valuable life saver….FEMA is/has conducted a study on the ability of chips to deliver short messages and EAS alerts and will deliver those results shortly…
…I hope this PRA offer wasn’t a clever way to get the chips introduced as a sort of “earmark” to the offer…..all of the issues presented in the original PRA plan are critical and deserve our close attention….for once, we need a totally unified radio industry stance…EVERYONE, stand-up, speak up, support or not and if you don’t say a word, then shut-up!
…Mark Ramsey has commissioned his own study on internet radio in the car….a very interesting read to say the least and you can check it out here….
The Broadcasters Foundation held their annual golf fund raiser this past Monday in Bronxville, NY…so many participants gave their time and cash to this great organization….a full field of golfers, silent auctions…and a terrific live auction that raised tens of thousands of dollars that go into the BFOA funds. The stories are always amazing and always anonymous…become a member…so many great broadcasters have found that they need our help and the BFOA is there to do it…read about the organization and join as a member here….
..a guy couldn’t ask for two better friends than Jim Thompson and Peter Doyle…their hospitality and generosity over this past weekend was over and beyond fantastic…we all have more fun than any humans should have…and the golf wasn’t bad either…I’m blessed to know them and count them as friends…
…seeing and visiting in-person is always a treat for this old campaigner…last weekend and Monday were fantastic….Spencer Brown, thanks for the golf and the always engaging biz talk….Julie Talbott…you are the best, thanks for the encouragement….Rick Buckley, Joe Bilotta, Stu Olds, Bob Ausfeld, Joe Reilly, Paul Rotella, Barry O’Brien, Alyssa Pollock, Renee Cassis, Nisha Sedaker, Bill Hogan, Dick Foreman, Ron Ruth, so great to see you pal….Jeff Healy….so many people and so many encouraging words…thanks folks…
…personal musings….I think I might like the Upper Course at Baltusrol better than the Lower Championship course……Siwanoy is a gem of a course and pleasure to play…Ryann O’Toole, LPGA player gave me a great lesson for short game control before the outing…she’s a player to watch next season on the LPGA…
…some tech stuff…About four in 10 adult mobile users have apps on their phones but only two-thirds (68%) actually use them, according to a new report by the Pew Internet Project. People are more likely to use their phones to take a picture, text-message, browse the Web, email, record a video, play music and send instant messages than they are to access an app…..Location-based services provider TeleNav Tuesday unveiled an ad platform for its mobile navigation app that promises to drive users right to the doorways of nearby businesses. TeleNav, whose GPS-based app allows smart phone users to get turn- by-turn driving directions, will now add a sponsored listing to the top of search results.
…no contract, no problem….Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will offer a cell phone plan under its own brand, a move that the company hopes will bolster its position as a low-cost provider of wireless services. Wal-Mart already offers cell phone plans through all the major U.S. carriers, including AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA. The Wal-Mart Family Mobile Plan, which runs on T-Mobile USA's network, will offer a range of low-priced cell phones without a lengthy contract for a flat monthly fee. The plan will be available starting September 20. Consumers will be charged $45 at the end of each month for unlimited calling and texting. Each additional phone line is $25 a month. Data will be sold in buckets rather than monthly. The first 100 megabytes are free, and more can be bought at a cost of $10 for 200 megabytes, $25 for 500 megabytes or $40 for 1,000 megabytes.
…looking forward to seeing many of you in DC for the combined NAB/RAB…have a great week and stay in touch….feel free, by the way to share this weekly musing…---teej
…fascinating to see the PRA negotiations goings on along with its loaded other “asks”!....the NAB releases a study by a very reputable research firm showing the “peeps” want their free radio on their mobile devices….did they also commission a study of ALL broadcasters on whether they want a $100m deal with the labels? Why not a full study on the impact of the AFTRA deal that broadcasters of their own free will agreed to that is now in the PRA package to have it tossed…wouldn’t a study of the onerous impact of the CRB agreement be appropriate to present to congress as well…..nope…only a study of the acceptance of FM chips in cell devices…
…I’m a major advocate of the chips in cells and other devices (alarm systems, internet desktop radios, etc.)….and I’m mostly an advocate as a device to save lives…but through much more than the antiquated EAS system….the EAS MUST be updated….and there MUST be a uniform way for RDBS technology to transmit short messages advising of imminent danger…(i.e., “CHEMICAL SPILL…EVACUATE IMMEDIATLEY..TUNE TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION NOW FOR DETAILS”)….
…in a perfect world broadcasters and the carriers would figure this out to the satisfaction of both sides…The CTIA just says “nope” and has nothing to back up why the chip isn’t a valuable life saver….FEMA is/has conducted a study on the ability of chips to deliver short messages and EAS alerts and will deliver those results shortly…
…I hope this PRA offer wasn’t a clever way to get the chips introduced as a sort of “earmark” to the offer…..all of the issues presented in the original PRA plan are critical and deserve our close attention….for once, we need a totally unified radio industry stance…EVERYONE, stand-up, speak up, support or not and if you don’t say a word, then shut-up!
…Mark Ramsey has commissioned his own study on internet radio in the car….a very interesting read to say the least and you can check it out here….
The Broadcasters Foundation held their annual golf fund raiser this past Monday in Bronxville, NY…so many participants gave their time and cash to this great organization….a full field of golfers, silent auctions…and a terrific live auction that raised tens of thousands of dollars that go into the BFOA funds. The stories are always amazing and always anonymous…become a member…so many great broadcasters have found that they need our help and the BFOA is there to do it…read about the organization and join as a member here….
..a guy couldn’t ask for two better friends than Jim Thompson and Peter Doyle…their hospitality and generosity over this past weekend was over and beyond fantastic…we all have more fun than any humans should have…and the golf wasn’t bad either…I’m blessed to know them and count them as friends…
…seeing and visiting in-person is always a treat for this old campaigner…last weekend and Monday were fantastic….Spencer Brown, thanks for the golf and the always engaging biz talk….Julie Talbott…you are the best, thanks for the encouragement….Rick Buckley, Joe Bilotta, Stu Olds, Bob Ausfeld, Joe Reilly, Paul Rotella, Barry O’Brien, Alyssa Pollock, Renee Cassis, Nisha Sedaker, Bill Hogan, Dick Foreman, Ron Ruth, so great to see you pal….Jeff Healy….so many people and so many encouraging words…thanks folks…
…personal musings….I think I might like the Upper Course at Baltusrol better than the Lower Championship course……Siwanoy is a gem of a course and pleasure to play…Ryann O’Toole, LPGA player gave me a great lesson for short game control before the outing…she’s a player to watch next season on the LPGA…
…some tech stuff…About four in 10 adult mobile users have apps on their phones but only two-thirds (68%) actually use them, according to a new report by the Pew Internet Project. People are more likely to use their phones to take a picture, text-message, browse the Web, email, record a video, play music and send instant messages than they are to access an app…..Location-based services provider TeleNav Tuesday unveiled an ad platform for its mobile navigation app that promises to drive users right to the doorways of nearby businesses. TeleNav, whose GPS-based app allows smart phone users to get turn- by-turn driving directions, will now add a sponsored listing to the top of search results.
…no contract, no problem….Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will offer a cell phone plan under its own brand, a move that the company hopes will bolster its position as a low-cost provider of wireless services. Wal-Mart already offers cell phone plans through all the major U.S. carriers, including AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA. The Wal-Mart Family Mobile Plan, which runs on T-Mobile USA's network, will offer a range of low-priced cell phones without a lengthy contract for a flat monthly fee. The plan will be available starting September 20. Consumers will be charged $45 at the end of each month for unlimited calling and texting. Each additional phone line is $25 a month. Data will be sold in buckets rather than monthly. The first 100 megabytes are free, and more can be bought at a cost of $10 for 200 megabytes, $25 for 500 megabytes or $40 for 1,000 megabytes.
…looking forward to seeing many of you in DC for the combined NAB/RAB…have a great week and stay in touch….feel free, by the way to share this weekly musing…---teej
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
no, seriously, the rain, the park...building an ark...
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…after last week’s musings got an email from Jerry Del Colliano reminding me that I didn’t cover my thoughts on his thoughts (I called it a rant…sorry..) on the PRA….a couple of things we agree on..
-the record companies should get an “invoice” not a “check” from radio…we couldn’t agree more on that….
-the record companies want to blame others for their lack of foresight and innovation and acceptance of new technology….make a great total album and consumers will buy it…make an album with a few hits and that’s what the consumers will buy…simple…
-no one will buy anything until they discover it….mostly by radio (my thought!)….
-but, BUT, Jerry wants to use an Inside Radio survey (they do one every Friday) to make the case that 85% of radio folks don’t want a deal….I love proof positive through research and surveys but to make that case with that random survey is like wetting one’s finger and holding it in the air to decide the speed and direction of the wind…the owners supporting this compromise control at least 33% of the stations so in a best case maybe the naysayers would be 66%...
-I have heard, as have a few others, that there is a group of owners that want a straight up and down vote from the NAB on whether to proceed….seems fair…but does a no vote add up to a vote of “no confidence” for NAB President Gordon?
…another thing that came up in conversation yesterday with good friend Jim Kerr of Triton digital is whether or not the dissolution of the CRB equates to like terms for streaming as for the PRA? Seems, as a practical matter that would have to be the case, yes? If not, what’s the point? Also discussed was how a deal with the record companies relates to a deal with a union, in this case, AFTRA? Jim and I disagree slightly on FM chips but so it goes….
..and speaking of Herr Kerr…he is writing a fiction book and got invited to a very special writers conference on Cape Cod for a week after the NAB in DC….very few get invited and he made the cut after submitting two chapters…how cool is that?
..is the radio network business going through a major shift in model…a major net just did a comp deal with a major group that ends up a 90/10 split of net revenues…seems more like a rep like deal….that seems like a lot of revenue generation that after allocated expense adjustments drops that margin a few more pegs….
..other stuff….the Kno gets another $46m in VC financing..check out the Kno and the dough here….looking forward to seeing old and new friends at this year’s Broadcasters Foundation Golf Charity event on Monday at Siwanoy in Bronxville, NY….”The Four Agreements” from Don Miguel Ruiz based on Toltec wisdom is a life transforming experience if applied….1st Agreement: Be Impeccable With Your Word/2nd Agreement: Don’t Take Anything Personally/3rd Agreement: Don’t make Assumptions/4th Agreement: Always Do Your Best….easier said than done each day….for more check out the online version of this story here…..stuff I read every day?...Taylor on Radio, Inside Radio, Jerry D, Mark Ramsey and a slew of Media Post stuff….also spend a lot of time with Stumble Upon, addicting!!
Back to building the ark….have a great week----teej
Friday, September 3, 2010
Happy Labor Day....or the non-golf Ping!
Hope you've started your 3 1/2 day weekend....now about Ping from Apple and iTunes...
Dave Van Dyke and I both added it to our iTunes account and as DVD is apt to do...he dug deeper than me and came up with the Top 10 problems with Ping! Here then, DVD's Top 10....
Ping has incredible potential, but this feels a bit more like v0.1 than 1.0. Here are the issues….
(1) Band pages are extremely limited, and most artists are currently excluded.
Apple has indicated that artists must be invited, and the selection is insanely slim at launch. If your world revolves around Katy Perry, Diddy, and Lady Gaga, you're set - otherwise, this was launched too early. Meanwhile, profiles are geared towards individuals, not groups. So why not tie artist profiles to those present on the iTunes Store - that is, at launch?
(2) No Facebook connectivity.
Maybe Apple and Facebook will eventually make the handshake, but the paint is still drying on this one - and that means...
(3) This is a ghost town.
Sure, you can join hands with Jason Bentley, Rick Rubin, and Ted Cohen. But most of your friends are still coming on board - and probably unaware of the walled-in Ping.
(4) And, not much musical connectivity outside the iTunes walls, for that matter.
Increasingly, musical lives are spread across important properties like Pandora, YouTube, MySpace Music, and Facebook. Certainly, a sizable chunk of the 160 million-plus iTunes users have expressed musical preferences on at least one of these outside services. So why not build the bridge?
(5) Users can only check three favorite genres for their profiles.
Most music fans criss-cross over lots of different genres, and loathe over-categorization. The iPod collection helped to blur genre buckets, so why reinforce them here?
(6) No usage-based favorites or other listening activity streams.
What are you listening to right now? 5 minutes ago? 5 days ago? What are your top-rated iTunes tracks - purchased or not?
(7) No Beatles.
Does a Beatles song define your musical identity? Well, not on Ping, as favorite songs must be sold in the iTunes Store.
(8) Spam.
Already, fake accounts are proliferating (ie, Ben Folds), and Ping could become a giant sandbox for shady characters. That includes fake accounts, phishing attacks, and other niceties that confront networks like Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis. Hopefully, Apple isn't learning on the job.
(9) Where's my Twitter connectivity?
Or, is a tie-in buried somewhere? Seems like status updates and favorites should cross-pollinate.
(10) No Facebook Integration.
Oh, sorry, that was #2.
Comments to Dave here! And be sure to copy me on your comments here!
Have a great weekend....on Tuesday I'll share my email chat with Jerry D (a good one!)...talk about the changing radio network business and model...more on the PRA....----teej
Dave Van Dyke and I both added it to our iTunes account and as DVD is apt to do...he dug deeper than me and came up with the Top 10 problems with Ping! Here then, DVD's Top 10....
Ping has incredible potential, but this feels a bit more like v0.1 than 1.0. Here are the issues….
(1) Band pages are extremely limited, and most artists are currently excluded.
Apple has indicated that artists must be invited, and the selection is insanely slim at launch. If your world revolves around Katy Perry, Diddy, and Lady Gaga, you're set - otherwise, this was launched too early. Meanwhile, profiles are geared towards individuals, not groups. So why not tie artist profiles to those present on the iTunes Store - that is, at launch?
(2) No Facebook connectivity.
Maybe Apple and Facebook will eventually make the handshake, but the paint is still drying on this one - and that means...
(3) This is a ghost town.
Sure, you can join hands with Jason Bentley, Rick Rubin, and Ted Cohen. But most of your friends are still coming on board - and probably unaware of the walled-in Ping.
(4) And, not much musical connectivity outside the iTunes walls, for that matter.
Increasingly, musical lives are spread across important properties like Pandora, YouTube, MySpace Music, and Facebook. Certainly, a sizable chunk of the 160 million-plus iTunes users have expressed musical preferences on at least one of these outside services. So why not build the bridge?
(5) Users can only check three favorite genres for their profiles.
Most music fans criss-cross over lots of different genres, and loathe over-categorization. The iPod collection helped to blur genre buckets, so why reinforce them here?
(6) No usage-based favorites or other listening activity streams.
What are you listening to right now? 5 minutes ago? 5 days ago? What are your top-rated iTunes tracks - purchased or not?
(7) No Beatles.
Does a Beatles song define your musical identity? Well, not on Ping, as favorite songs must be sold in the iTunes Store.
(8) Spam.
Already, fake accounts are proliferating (ie, Ben Folds), and Ping could become a giant sandbox for shady characters. That includes fake accounts, phishing attacks, and other niceties that confront networks like Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis. Hopefully, Apple isn't learning on the job.
(9) Where's my Twitter connectivity?
Or, is a tie-in buried somewhere? Seems like status updates and favorites should cross-pollinate.
(10) No Facebook Integration.
Oh, sorry, that was #2.
Comments to Dave here! And be sure to copy me on your comments here!
Have a great weekend....on Tuesday I'll share my email chat with Jerry D (a good one!)...talk about the changing radio network business and model...more on the PRA....----teej
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
…The rain, the park….the PRA, the schwag, the congress, the FM chip and a plethora of other things filling my mind…
…first a PSA…we know it as schwag, premium, and station prize closet crap….but we really know it as? I bet I’m asked 10+ times a year for the spelling of? My brother asked me last week…c’mon people…TCHOTCHKE!!! Yep…use it proudly…correctly pronounced “chatch-kah” although we Americans have made it “chatch-key”….now you know! (btw, in the movie “Office Space”, Joanna (played by Jennifer Anniston) works at a restaurant named “Chotchkie’s”, where she forced to wear “flair”….)
So much written and so much debated in the press, the blogosphere and in closed door meetings on the PRA and all that lately that implies…had a great conversation with Jeff Smulyan recently…have read Mark Ramsey’s insightful commentary on the FM chip…Jerry’s rant on the PRA…and other on and off the record chats…here’s some of what I’ve discussed and heard…and then an update on my take….
..Jeff and I talked at length about the PRA, not just our mutual passion of FM chips….he believes the time is right for a deal…a deal that can hold water on the fees for a longtime…the labels are frothing at the mouth to get their hands n 100’s of millions in fees from Europe and Asia but can’t unless they have a deal in place in the good ol’ USA! Greed, it seems, knows no boundaries…..this one issue is a lightening rod amongst broadcasters after years of fighting this hand-to-hand….adding the CRB and FM chips in phones and the seaming commercial issues to this bill may be a way to accomplish many things with one stone in the slingshot….Jeff believes it is time to control the dialogue and get a deal radio an live with on the PRA and also advance critical issues at the same time…hard to argue that logic….(hope I got this right Jeff!)…you can check archives of the trades to see many of Jeff’s thoughts on this entire issue…
Mark Ramsey has been passionate about FM chips in phones and their value to radio and, most importantly, the listener…his views are, as always, insightful and you can read all of them here!
Dave Van Dyke’s Bridge Ratings keeps close tabs on the pulse of mobile, pure play internet radio, and terrestrial streaming with the consumer….the move to pure play is gaining steam….perhaps stations shouldn’t just stream the same over-the-air over commercialed content on their site…but find a way to take the essence and best of their local content, reduce the inventory to say 4 minutes and make music discovery and local talent worth substantial jing?! You can keep up with Bridge’s daily updates on their Facebook page or check their site here!
As I see it…
1. FM chips have a place on cell phones and other devices. I still believe that a combination of RBDS short text alerts and EAS over an FM enables phone is vital and should be mandated. Seems the FCC mandates that radio have alerting capabilities but CMAS for the carriers is “voluntary”…seriously? Seems the carriers will be looking for things from congress in a big way shortly and now is the time for congress to listen to FEMA and get the damn chips in the phones…saving lives is the reason…not song tagging! Now for radio…clean up the EAS mess and stop dumping it solely on the engineers….come up with a standard for RBDS alerting for over the air and in cell phones…AlertFM is a terrific system that has may features for the cell phone and other devices like a sleep-wake function….start there….
2. The PRA may or may not be on the way from a lame duck congress….if a deal can be struck that is 25 years in length at the terms noted by the NAB it seems maybe we move on…the record companies get their dough from Europe and Asia, claim victory, and still don’t have a clue. They’ll probably take some of the money and invest it in the promotion departments to get airplay….perhaps the record companies should look inward not outward….here’s a quote from Vivendi’s quarterly call on Universal Music Group…The same thing we’ve heard for the last decade, according to Vivendi’s press release: "Digital revenues are up, but not enough to counter reduced demand for physical product”
3. The disbanding of the CRB is important not only for terrestrial streamers but also for the hard working and committed and creative folks that do pure play streaming stations!...end of story…bad deal needs to go away….or at least be made in a fair way as part of the new PRA..
4. The separate spots on the stream of stations….I still believe you can force “non-motivated” sellers to sell that inventory separately, not as “value-added = free”…but it was a dumb rule to start with but radio missed an opportunity for incremental revenue, if only a dollar….
…let me get this right…Roger Clemens allegedly lies to Congress and might get 25 years in the pokey and a $250k fine….Charlie Rangel lies to Congress, cheats on his taxes, commits who knows how many ethics violations and he gets to negotiate if he stays or goes and what the penalty is?....here’s the thing…Congress needs to focus on many things not on whether athletes are cheating by using PED….just sayin’!
Good friend and master marketer and now mobile marketing guru David Ross checks in with this nugget:
Good to catch up with friends and associates over the past couple of weeks….Bruce Gilbert, Dennis Green , Dave Demers, DVD, Jim Robinson, Gary Bird, Don Wasley, Jim Thompson, Peter Doyle, Spencer Brown, Darryl Brown, brother Art and SIL Tomi….
..working on many cool things for Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club…this may be the coolest buddy-trip destination on the planet…but you’ll be hard pressed to leave the significant others at home with Santa Fe just 45 minutes up the road …
Heading to NY for the BFOA charity golf outing and the NAB in DC this month…look forward to seeing many of you there….until next week….---teej
….duh!!!
…first a PSA…we know it as schwag, premium, and station prize closet crap….but we really know it as? I bet I’m asked 10+ times a year for the spelling of? My brother asked me last week…c’mon people…TCHOTCHKE!!! Yep…use it proudly…correctly pronounced “chatch-kah” although we Americans have made it “chatch-key”….now you know! (btw, in the movie “Office Space”, Joanna (played by Jennifer Anniston) works at a restaurant named “Chotchkie’s”, where she forced to wear “flair”….)
So much written and so much debated in the press, the blogosphere and in closed door meetings on the PRA and all that lately that implies…had a great conversation with Jeff Smulyan recently…have read Mark Ramsey’s insightful commentary on the FM chip…Jerry’s rant on the PRA…and other on and off the record chats…here’s some of what I’ve discussed and heard…and then an update on my take….
..Jeff and I talked at length about the PRA, not just our mutual passion of FM chips….he believes the time is right for a deal…a deal that can hold water on the fees for a longtime…the labels are frothing at the mouth to get their hands n 100’s of millions in fees from Europe and Asia but can’t unless they have a deal in place in the good ol’ USA! Greed, it seems, knows no boundaries…..this one issue is a lightening rod amongst broadcasters after years of fighting this hand-to-hand….adding the CRB and FM chips in phones and the seaming commercial issues to this bill may be a way to accomplish many things with one stone in the slingshot….Jeff believes it is time to control the dialogue and get a deal radio an live with on the PRA and also advance critical issues at the same time…hard to argue that logic….(hope I got this right Jeff!)…you can check archives of the trades to see many of Jeff’s thoughts on this entire issue…
Mark Ramsey has been passionate about FM chips in phones and their value to radio and, most importantly, the listener…his views are, as always, insightful and you can read all of them here!
Dave Van Dyke’s Bridge Ratings keeps close tabs on the pulse of mobile, pure play internet radio, and terrestrial streaming with the consumer….the move to pure play is gaining steam….perhaps stations shouldn’t just stream the same over-the-air over commercialed content on their site…but find a way to take the essence and best of their local content, reduce the inventory to say 4 minutes and make music discovery and local talent worth substantial jing?! You can keep up with Bridge’s daily updates on their Facebook page or check their site here!
As I see it…
1. FM chips have a place on cell phones and other devices. I still believe that a combination of RBDS short text alerts and EAS over an FM enables phone is vital and should be mandated. Seems the FCC mandates that radio have alerting capabilities but CMAS for the carriers is “voluntary”…seriously? Seems the carriers will be looking for things from congress in a big way shortly and now is the time for congress to listen to FEMA and get the damn chips in the phones…saving lives is the reason…not song tagging! Now for radio…clean up the EAS mess and stop dumping it solely on the engineers….come up with a standard for RBDS alerting for over the air and in cell phones…AlertFM is a terrific system that has may features for the cell phone and other devices like a sleep-wake function….start there….
2. The PRA may or may not be on the way from a lame duck congress….if a deal can be struck that is 25 years in length at the terms noted by the NAB it seems maybe we move on…the record companies get their dough from Europe and Asia, claim victory, and still don’t have a clue. They’ll probably take some of the money and invest it in the promotion departments to get airplay….perhaps the record companies should look inward not outward….here’s a quote from Vivendi’s quarterly call on Universal Music Group…The same thing we’ve heard for the last decade, according to Vivendi’s press release: "Digital revenues are up, but not enough to counter reduced demand for physical product”
3. The disbanding of the CRB is important not only for terrestrial streamers but also for the hard working and committed and creative folks that do pure play streaming stations!...end of story…bad deal needs to go away….or at least be made in a fair way as part of the new PRA..
4. The separate spots on the stream of stations….I still believe you can force “non-motivated” sellers to sell that inventory separately, not as “value-added = free”…but it was a dumb rule to start with but radio missed an opportunity for incremental revenue, if only a dollar….
…let me get this right…Roger Clemens allegedly lies to Congress and might get 25 years in the pokey and a $250k fine….Charlie Rangel lies to Congress, cheats on his taxes, commits who knows how many ethics violations and he gets to negotiate if he stays or goes and what the penalty is?....here’s the thing…Congress needs to focus on many things not on whether athletes are cheating by using PED….just sayin’!
Good friend and master marketer and now mobile marketing guru David Ross checks in with this nugget:
….”I have now examined over 50 various radio sites at random with my associates from Big Couch Media. We found 6 sites with proper Meta tagging and optimization tools. We found several with tags in place and not being used. We found most with no shot at all of optimizing. Very little SEM.”Folks, that’s a bad sign….
Good to catch up with friends and associates over the past couple of weeks….Bruce Gilbert, Dennis Green , Dave Demers, DVD, Jim Robinson, Gary Bird, Don Wasley, Jim Thompson, Peter Doyle, Spencer Brown, Darryl Brown, brother Art and SIL Tomi….
..working on many cool things for Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club…this may be the coolest buddy-trip destination on the planet…but you’ll be hard pressed to leave the significant others at home with Santa Fe just 45 minutes up the road …
Heading to NY for the BFOA charity golf outing and the NAB in DC this month…look forward to seeing many of you there….until next week….---teej
….duh!!!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Upgrades and updates...
As we get ready for a week of vacation....
-last week no blog as we upgraded our systems and web site (but still under a bit of construction!)...
-off to a week of vacation and observation...
-week of the 30th blog will be feedback and takes on the PRA elements from industry leaders and me...a look at what appears to be a major radio network re-tooling to perhaps be the new entry into the rep business...my visit with Darryl Brown and why he needs to be welcomed back into the radio biz after his time off....great tidbits and insights from my belated birthday lunch (we're all traveling of late) with Dave Van Dyke and Jim Robinson...Mike Malloy? Seriously?....and much more...
Have a great week...----teej
-last week no blog as we upgraded our systems and web site (but still under a bit of construction!)...
-off to a week of vacation and observation...
-week of the 30th blog will be feedback and takes on the PRA elements from industry leaders and me...a look at what appears to be a major radio network re-tooling to perhaps be the new entry into the rep business...my visit with Darryl Brown and why he needs to be welcomed back into the radio biz after his time off....great tidbits and insights from my belated birthday lunch (we're all traveling of late) with Dave Van Dyke and Jim Robinson...Mike Malloy? Seriously?....and much more...
Have a great week...----teej
Thursday, August 12, 2010
As I See It...Week of August 9, 2010
Once again live from NM World HQ….delayed the blog this week to see the varied reactions to the PRA proposal…more on that shortly….musing and….
…came across a terrific quote this week…so true…even more true the older one gets….”There is always morning where life gives us another opportunity to do good”! Lou Holtz has always said to himself and his players…”do right”….these two quotes seem to be intertwined and a great way to live life personally and professionally….do good and do right…words to live by….
…the NAB proposal to the PRA and some thoughts….I’ve always been taught and believe that once you make an offer you sit back and wait for the other party to react before you and your team/members comment..otherwise you tip the other party/customer off into your thinking of deal breakers, etc…anyway, breaking my own rule I suppose…the American public and businesses are all over Washington for earmarks and add-ons…in fact a great deal of reasoning behind this PRA offer is just that….having the PRA get loaded onto another bill and rammed through a lame duck congress…..soooo….this offer does a little of that…maybe a lot of that….
1. Seeking support to pressure AFTRA into giving up their rights for their members on the streaming ads…all of us soooo want this to happen….and Bud Walters comments in the Tom Taylor report this morning were spot on….BUT…we could’ve all also used this to our favor by selling, not value added give away, these units as exclusive to the online audience….I know the argument about not getting Arbitron credit…but Ando measures the online audience quite well and Arbitron/Nielsen/Eastland do a good job on the over-the-air audience…fish where the fish are…
2. Those that know me know that I’m a tireless worker for FM chips in cell phones…but adding this to the PRA offer just doesn’t make sense…and it pisses off the powerful CTIA and the carriers because it’s seen as “at the tip of a bayonet” move to force the carriers to capitulate. This is a separate and equally important issue that needs its own focus and effort…
3. The PRA is a dangerous precedent in and of itself…it needs total focus to either defeat or settle….adding other things (earmarks!) takes the real focus and dilutes it…if settling and dealing make the PRA and the Copyright Royalty Board issues the focus and expend all energies to make that work favorably for radio and streamers.
…did I read that right in Taylor this morning?... “iBiquity figures about 2,078 stations have converted to its digital audio broadcasting system, counting both AMs and FMs.” All that money and effort promoting HD Radio and that’s it? And for “everyday” cars for consumers it’s an expensive option? Hmmmmm…..
Working with new client Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club…ranked #42 on the Top 100 Modern Design list and #29 on the Top 100 You Can Play list….great destination for a buddy trip or a couples trip with Santa Fe right up the road….also a must play, bucket list, destination…check it out and the Paa-Ko cam at http://www.paakoridge.com/
Former longtime Billboard Radio-TV Editor Claude Hall, author of the indispensible industry textbook The Business of Radio Programming, has an e-book release called, appropriately, I Love Radio. The e-novel, which is set in the Top 40 era circa 1955-1970, centers on the adventures of out-of-work disc jockey Buddy Coffee. The tome is skillful blend of fact and fiction and contains the exploits of some 50 radio figures and includes photographs of such radio legends as Jimmy Rabbitt, China Smith, Lee Baby Simms, Joey Reynolds, Gordon McLendon, Todd Storz, Bill Stewart and Kent Burkhart. I Love Radio is only $9.95 and is available in Kindle, iPad and computer versions. Order now at http://www.claudehallonline.com/
…random thoughts and musings while wondering…did the White House press secretary really say the WH is tired of “the professional left”? Yep, the American public was tired of them as well thus the end of Air America me thinks……ahhh, the wonderment of watching a squirrel climb into and amongst desert cactus to eat…..Tents Rocks and Nambe Falls, NM @ $5 and $10 a carload respectively are must sees in your lifetime……great to hear from old and new friends this week including Marty Sheehan, Dwight Douglas, Jim Robinson, Peter Doyle, Jim Thompson, Mike Thompson, Tim McCarthy, Karen Travis, Milt McConnell, John McConnell, Bruce Gilbert, Spencer Brown, Scott Knight, Carl Anderson…..good lineup of inductees in the Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago this fall…but how in the world did Bob Kingsley, Howard Stern and Ronn Owens not make it?...my brothers bl;og this week is a pretty good one on lawyers and you can enjoy a twisted look at http://genelambert.blogspot.com/2010/08/lawyers.html
…we’ll be live from Dallas World HQ next week…..let us know how we’re doing…thanks…---tjl
…came across a terrific quote this week…so true…even more true the older one gets….”There is always morning where life gives us another opportunity to do good”! Lou Holtz has always said to himself and his players…”do right”….these two quotes seem to be intertwined and a great way to live life personally and professionally….do good and do right…words to live by….
…the NAB proposal to the PRA and some thoughts….I’ve always been taught and believe that once you make an offer you sit back and wait for the other party to react before you and your team/members comment..otherwise you tip the other party/customer off into your thinking of deal breakers, etc…anyway, breaking my own rule I suppose…the American public and businesses are all over Washington for earmarks and add-ons…in fact a great deal of reasoning behind this PRA offer is just that….having the PRA get loaded onto another bill and rammed through a lame duck congress…..soooo….this offer does a little of that…maybe a lot of that….
1. Seeking support to pressure AFTRA into giving up their rights for their members on the streaming ads…all of us soooo want this to happen….and Bud Walters comments in the Tom Taylor report this morning were spot on….BUT…we could’ve all also used this to our favor by selling, not value added give away, these units as exclusive to the online audience….I know the argument about not getting Arbitron credit…but Ando measures the online audience quite well and Arbitron/Nielsen/Eastland do a good job on the over-the-air audience…fish where the fish are…
2. Those that know me know that I’m a tireless worker for FM chips in cell phones…but adding this to the PRA offer just doesn’t make sense…and it pisses off the powerful CTIA and the carriers because it’s seen as “at the tip of a bayonet” move to force the carriers to capitulate. This is a separate and equally important issue that needs its own focus and effort…
3. The PRA is a dangerous precedent in and of itself…it needs total focus to either defeat or settle….adding other things (earmarks!) takes the real focus and dilutes it…if settling and dealing make the PRA and the Copyright Royalty Board issues the focus and expend all energies to make that work favorably for radio and streamers.
…did I read that right in Taylor this morning?... “iBiquity figures about 2,078 stations have converted to its digital audio broadcasting system, counting both AMs and FMs.” All that money and effort promoting HD Radio and that’s it? And for “everyday” cars for consumers it’s an expensive option? Hmmmmm…..
Working with new client Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club…ranked #42 on the Top 100 Modern Design list and #29 on the Top 100 You Can Play list….great destination for a buddy trip or a couples trip with Santa Fe right up the road….also a must play, bucket list, destination…check it out and the Paa-Ko cam at http://www.paakoridge.com/
Former longtime Billboard Radio-TV Editor Claude Hall, author of the indispensible industry textbook The Business of Radio Programming, has an e-book release called, appropriately, I Love Radio. The e-novel, which is set in the Top 40 era circa 1955-1970, centers on the adventures of out-of-work disc jockey Buddy Coffee. The tome is skillful blend of fact and fiction and contains the exploits of some 50 radio figures and includes photographs of such radio legends as Jimmy Rabbitt, China Smith, Lee Baby Simms, Joey Reynolds, Gordon McLendon, Todd Storz, Bill Stewart and Kent Burkhart. I Love Radio is only $9.95 and is available in Kindle, iPad and computer versions. Order now at http://www.claudehallonline.com/
…random thoughts and musings while wondering…did the White House press secretary really say the WH is tired of “the professional left”? Yep, the American public was tired of them as well thus the end of Air America me thinks……ahhh, the wonderment of watching a squirrel climb into and amongst desert cactus to eat…..Tents Rocks and Nambe Falls, NM @ $5 and $10 a carload respectively are must sees in your lifetime……great to hear from old and new friends this week including Marty Sheehan, Dwight Douglas, Jim Robinson, Peter Doyle, Jim Thompson, Mike Thompson, Tim McCarthy, Karen Travis, Milt McConnell, John McConnell, Bruce Gilbert, Spencer Brown, Scott Knight, Carl Anderson…..good lineup of inductees in the Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago this fall…but how in the world did Bob Kingsley, Howard Stern and Ronn Owens not make it?...my brothers bl;og this week is a pretty good one on lawyers and you can enjoy a twisted look at http://genelambert.blogspot.com/2010/08/lawyers.html
…we’ll be live from Dallas World HQ next week…..let us know how we’re doing…thanks…---tjl
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
As I See It for week of August 2, 2010
….live from New Mexico World HQ…
…one of my best friends and one of the great radio and programming minds in our biz packs his Beltway bags and heads back to DFW….Bruce Gilbert takes the reins of KRLD-AM/FM programming starting August 16th…let the fireworks begin as Bruce takes on not one, but two, former employers….The Great Jill-Bear programmed the Ticket and was GM of ESPN Radio in Bristol…wife Amy and their son Hudson (The Tank!) come back to Dallas (Amy worked for me at ESPN Radio/ABC Radio Nets) just in time for some of the infamous August heat…welcome back brother…
…tell me it ain’t so…what group head reduced his smaller markets from continuous measurement from Arbitron down to two books and then made sure it was the best two books….Spring and WINTER! Seriously? This guy actually runs a group…and a big one? Thankfully he has smart market managers who convinced him to get at least the Spring and FALL books….ham-stringing markets in tough times by taking away trends and such is no way to run a railroad…or a radio group…
…automobile advertising has long been a mainstay revenue generator for US radio….but now comes word that Chinese company Zhejiang Geely, a public company in China has purchased Volvo. No-one blinked when Ford bought Volvo a few years back, but the concept of what is effectively a Swedish brand being owned by the Chinese is stretching a few brain cells. Coming hot on the heels of the purchase of the British MG marquee by SAIC (Chinese government controlled) and Jaguar and Land Rover by India’s Tata, it’s clear to see that the forces of change are afoot in the automotive industry. Existing automotive brands have saturated their own domestic markets and are now faced with stiff local competition for the massive emerging markets of China and India, and to a lesser extent, Brazil and Russia. Last year China became the largest producer of automobiles and the largest consumer of automobiles simultaneously. How does this effect US automakers and their ad budget?...worth watching for sure.
….from Gizmag.com…With Apple selling three million iPads in just 80 days it’s no surprise that some companies are after a slice of the tablet pie. According to a report on Bloomberg, Research in Motion Ltd., (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry, is planning to introduce its own tablet computer this November. The report cites two unnamed sources who say that the device, to be known as the Blackpad, will have roughly the same dimensions as the iPad and will include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that will allow users to connect to the Internet through their BlackBerry…
…Brett Favre has told the Vikings he won’t return this season…until he returns this season and ESPN does a one hour special on why he wasn’t going to return and then did..Favre has selected Steven Colbert as the moderator of the special called “Farce is Back”….
…really? 20,000,000,000 mark (20 billion for those at home) hit for Twitter Tweets….crazy right?
…interesting goings on at NAB HQ in DC this week….after a confidential conference call for the radio board that same group is called to DC for a meeting….seems Bonneville head man Bruce Reese struck a nerve on the PRA….sad to think that a lame duck congress would do such a dastardly thing…NOT! And congress wonders why their trust rating is down to 10%?!
…I know I’ve promised to have a feed to opt in and out of….you will see an email opting in or out in the next few days and our updated web site will be up and running on Monday the 9th…
…many have asked so here’s the scoop….after 18 months of consulting and helping Radiolicious and AlertFM, partner Peter Doyle and I have parted ways with the Lafayette, LA based company that runs both entities. We wish them well….but now comes word that Radiolicious is abandoning it terrestrial model and going in a different direction….tough space to compete in for sure….Radiolicious and Dial-Global have also mutually cancelled their partnership for ad sales….AlertFM is a terrific system…
….from TechCrunch….Today sees the launch of CardMunch , an iPhone app that lets you take a snapshot of a business card and have it added to your iPhone contacts. The application is $2.99 and comes with 10 credits (it costs one credit per card entered). Beyond that, it costs around 25 cents per card. This isn’t a new idea — we recently wrote about the similar ScanBizCards , and there are plenty of other competitors. The difference here is that CardMunch is actually have humans verify every card that’s submitted through their system — you’re sending each photo you upload to someone on Mechanical Turk, who converts it by hand, not through optical character recognition. Given how important it can be to make sure this contact information is accurate (a wrong digit in a telephone number or email address will render them useless), this could actually prove quite useful. www.techcrunch.com
…what a pleasure to start working with friend Henry Pierse in London on the Tony Cowell project….Tony has complete and unencumbered access to brother Simon...with “X Factor” debuting on the states in Fall 2011 Tony will have the scoop before anyone…email or call me for details or if you have interest…. tj@tjlambert.net or 214-695-7595
Touching base this past week with it seems a million folks wishing happy birthday and getting an update on our goings-on…old friends and new thanks for the wishes….until next week---tjl
…one of my best friends and one of the great radio and programming minds in our biz packs his Beltway bags and heads back to DFW….Bruce Gilbert takes the reins of KRLD-AM/FM programming starting August 16th…let the fireworks begin as Bruce takes on not one, but two, former employers….The Great Jill-Bear programmed the Ticket and was GM of ESPN Radio in Bristol…wife Amy and their son Hudson (The Tank!) come back to Dallas (Amy worked for me at ESPN Radio/ABC Radio Nets) just in time for some of the infamous August heat…welcome back brother…
…tell me it ain’t so…what group head reduced his smaller markets from continuous measurement from Arbitron down to two books and then made sure it was the best two books….Spring and WINTER! Seriously? This guy actually runs a group…and a big one? Thankfully he has smart market managers who convinced him to get at least the Spring and FALL books….ham-stringing markets in tough times by taking away trends and such is no way to run a railroad…or a radio group…
…automobile advertising has long been a mainstay revenue generator for US radio….but now comes word that Chinese company Zhejiang Geely, a public company in China has purchased Volvo. No-one blinked when Ford bought Volvo a few years back, but the concept of what is effectively a Swedish brand being owned by the Chinese is stretching a few brain cells. Coming hot on the heels of the purchase of the British MG marquee by SAIC (Chinese government controlled) and Jaguar and Land Rover by India’s Tata, it’s clear to see that the forces of change are afoot in the automotive industry. Existing automotive brands have saturated their own domestic markets and are now faced with stiff local competition for the massive emerging markets of China and India, and to a lesser extent, Brazil and Russia. Last year China became the largest producer of automobiles and the largest consumer of automobiles simultaneously. How does this effect US automakers and their ad budget?...worth watching for sure.
….from Gizmag.com…With Apple selling three million iPads in just 80 days it’s no surprise that some companies are after a slice of the tablet pie. According to a report on Bloomberg, Research in Motion Ltd., (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry, is planning to introduce its own tablet computer this November. The report cites two unnamed sources who say that the device, to be known as the Blackpad, will have roughly the same dimensions as the iPad and will include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that will allow users to connect to the Internet through their BlackBerry…
…Brett Favre has told the Vikings he won’t return this season…until he returns this season and ESPN does a one hour special on why he wasn’t going to return and then did..Favre has selected Steven Colbert as the moderator of the special called “Farce is Back”….
…really? 20,000,000,000 mark (20 billion for those at home) hit for Twitter Tweets….crazy right?
…interesting goings on at NAB HQ in DC this week….after a confidential conference call for the radio board that same group is called to DC for a meeting….seems Bonneville head man Bruce Reese struck a nerve on the PRA….sad to think that a lame duck congress would do such a dastardly thing…NOT! And congress wonders why their trust rating is down to 10%?!
…I know I’ve promised to have a feed to opt in and out of….you will see an email opting in or out in the next few days and our updated web site will be up and running on Monday the 9th…
…many have asked so here’s the scoop….after 18 months of consulting and helping Radiolicious and AlertFM, partner Peter Doyle and I have parted ways with the Lafayette, LA based company that runs both entities. We wish them well….but now comes word that Radiolicious is abandoning it terrestrial model and going in a different direction….tough space to compete in for sure….Radiolicious and Dial-Global have also mutually cancelled their partnership for ad sales….AlertFM is a terrific system…
….from TechCrunch….Today sees the launch of CardMunch , an iPhone app that lets you take a snapshot of a business card and have it added to your iPhone contacts. The application is $2.99 and comes with 10 credits (it costs one credit per card entered). Beyond that, it costs around 25 cents per card. This isn’t a new idea — we recently wrote about the similar ScanBizCards , and there are plenty of other competitors. The difference here is that CardMunch is actually have humans verify every card that’s submitted through their system — you’re sending each photo you upload to someone on Mechanical Turk, who converts it by hand, not through optical character recognition. Given how important it can be to make sure this contact information is accurate (a wrong digit in a telephone number or email address will render them useless), this could actually prove quite useful. www.techcrunch.com
…what a pleasure to start working with friend Henry Pierse in London on the Tony Cowell project….Tony has complete and unencumbered access to brother Simon...with “X Factor” debuting on the states in Fall 2011 Tony will have the scoop before anyone…email or call me for details or if you have interest…. tj@tjlambert.net or 214-695-7595
Touching base this past week with it seems a million folks wishing happy birthday and getting an update on our goings-on…old friends and new thanks for the wishes….until next week---tjl
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Musings for the week of July 26th
…random musings having just arrived back from NM HQ wondering…
Why in the hell did I head back to such hot and humid weather in Texas….crazy heat….
…for those that wonder about my obsession with NM…former boss at Drake-Chenault Bill Sanders reminded me that “if you go through a pair of shoes you’re stuck for life”….so dang true….
…another is headlines way above the fold like this one last Saturday morning from the ABQ Journal…”Gov. Weighs Pardon for Billy the Kid”…c’mon…you’re paper got that one?
..my pal and world speed golf record holder (shot 65 in a little over 44 minutes!...yep, while running…no cart!) Christopher Smith reminded me that I play best when I play fast…his book “99 Swing Thoughts and Hitting the Ball Isn’t One of Them” is a terrific read….I once saw him shoot 75 in like 47 minutes…took a little longer because the speed golfer in front of him had bronchitis and slowed him down!....check him out at www.ChristopherSmithGolf.com
…Dave Van Dyke’s Bridge Ratings just completed a great study showing the radio consumer’s internet interest and how radio delivers on that interest…really, really is a must read. www.bridgeratings.com
..personal note…my nephew recently returned from Afghanistan….career soldier (like his dad) and after three tours of Iraq and now Afghanistan has decided to retire this Fall. One of my heroes and one of many of our soldiers who help provide our freedom every day…welcome CSM Brian Lambert…ready for the party!
…music notes…my favorite country song of the summer so far is “Lover, Lover”—Jerrod Nieman….so Katy Perry hears “New York State of Mind” and thinks Tupac wouldn’t be happy…so she writes “California Gurls” and it becomes of the hottest summer anthems….neat song…if you get a second you have to hear Natalie Merchant sing “If I Only Had a Brain”…(side note: not as cool as my pal Danny Duffy’s version but pretty dang neat!)…
..entering dog days of sports coverage in Dallas….Rangers playing their asses off and every story is about the Cowboys and that knucklehead Dez Bryant..and being a fan of the E-A-G-L-E-S!...well yanno….
--smart move by Apple on the bumpers for the iP4…and quick…already got the credit on my card
…so my kid brother has decided to blog…he’s funny as hell and trust me when I tell you he has a “different” view of the world…great brother, great dad, crappy golfer….enjoy the read…I did. http://genelambert.blogspot.com/
..one of my very best friends, Don Wasley, has one of the great marketing minds in the world…worked with him @ Casablanca Records and saw his handiwork at LA Gear and Skechers…great track record and loves to do one-off projects….looking for a different way to market and connect? DoooDaaa@aol.com
…I never say it or mention it enough but my wife Terry Lynn is one of the most amazing people on the planet…smart, compassionate, fun and funny…and has an amazing knack of reading the minds of our entire crew of horses, dogs and cats…and me always! Gotta love a woman who drives a ¾ ton diesel truck everyday…
…working on the final touches of my updated web site tonight…it will have opt in options for this blog, etc…..only two people so far think these musings are nonsense and have opted out…encouraging to me but then I’m not sure what the percentages are for this sort of thing…learning as I go….
…okay…Arizona takes heat for immigration laws while neighboring states NM is “requiring illegal immigrants and other foreign nationals seeking driver’s licenses to make appointments at a MVD office rather than walking in at anytime for the transactions”….will the current DOJ file suit for inconveniencing these folks?
…having satellite TV in both places (TX & NM) I can officially state that Dish sucks….thrilled that ESPNU is now bundled near the other ESPN channels so I can easily remember to watch and listen to the best syndicated sports show on the radio “The Herd with Colin Cowherd”….never ever a bad listen…just loving listening to Greggo Williams back on the air in DFW…Mark Levin never waivers in his beliefs and is a great listen…
…great to catch-up with friend and affiliate relations pro Dennis Green, EVP over at WW1…ditto Red Zebra CEO Bruce Gilbert….blast from the past as Cleveland guy Max Heywood checks in…Max was part of the lineup of extraordinary talent I had the pleasure of working with at WGCL…Tim “The Birdman” Byrd, Sue O’Neal, Jeff Gerber, JJ Jackson, Dude Walker, Bob Travis, Lee “Baby” Simms, Bob Gott…and many more…
…sooooo great to see the CBS stations back in the mix for the Marconi’s…I’ve always had trouble with these awards…it’s never been the best station but the best NAB member station….so it goes but CBS is back and perennial nominee 77KKOB is back for another run at station of the year….
…I believe that ask.com is onto something here…Ask.com will launch a social network Tuesday that allows people to poll the community for the best possible answer. The engine hopes to tap into the approximate 87 million people visiting the search engine monthly. The project has been in the works for seven months…..
…for those of you who have been holding out on the iP4 for the white version…Apple has announced that it has run into manufacturing delays on the white version of the iPhone 4 and that shipments will be delayed "until later this year." Some Apple watchers, however, say they think the delay could have something to do with the device's much-hyped antenna problems…
..Thanks for reading and have a great week….trust me, you’ll be able to sign up or opt out stating next week….----tjl
Why in the hell did I head back to such hot and humid weather in Texas….crazy heat….
…for those that wonder about my obsession with NM…former boss at Drake-Chenault Bill Sanders reminded me that “if you go through a pair of shoes you’re stuck for life”….so dang true….
…another is headlines way above the fold like this one last Saturday morning from the ABQ Journal…”Gov. Weighs Pardon for Billy the Kid”…c’mon…you’re paper got that one?
..my pal and world speed golf record holder (shot 65 in a little over 44 minutes!...yep, while running…no cart!) Christopher Smith reminded me that I play best when I play fast…his book “99 Swing Thoughts and Hitting the Ball Isn’t One of Them” is a terrific read….I once saw him shoot 75 in like 47 minutes…took a little longer because the speed golfer in front of him had bronchitis and slowed him down!....check him out at www.ChristopherSmithGolf.com
…Dave Van Dyke’s Bridge Ratings just completed a great study showing the radio consumer’s internet interest and how radio delivers on that interest…really, really is a must read. www.bridgeratings.com
..personal note…my nephew recently returned from Afghanistan….career soldier (like his dad) and after three tours of Iraq and now Afghanistan has decided to retire this Fall. One of my heroes and one of many of our soldiers who help provide our freedom every day…welcome CSM Brian Lambert…ready for the party!
…music notes…my favorite country song of the summer so far is “Lover, Lover”—Jerrod Nieman….so Katy Perry hears “New York State of Mind” and thinks Tupac wouldn’t be happy…so she writes “California Gurls” and it becomes of the hottest summer anthems….neat song…if you get a second you have to hear Natalie Merchant sing “If I Only Had a Brain”…(side note: not as cool as my pal Danny Duffy’s version but pretty dang neat!)…
..entering dog days of sports coverage in Dallas….Rangers playing their asses off and every story is about the Cowboys and that knucklehead Dez Bryant..and being a fan of the E-A-G-L-E-S!...well yanno….
--smart move by Apple on the bumpers for the iP4…and quick…already got the credit on my card
…so my kid brother has decided to blog…he’s funny as hell and trust me when I tell you he has a “different” view of the world…great brother, great dad, crappy golfer….enjoy the read…I did. http://genelambert.blogspot.com/
..one of my very best friends, Don Wasley, has one of the great marketing minds in the world…worked with him @ Casablanca Records and saw his handiwork at LA Gear and Skechers…great track record and loves to do one-off projects….looking for a different way to market and connect? DoooDaaa@aol.com
…I never say it or mention it enough but my wife Terry Lynn is one of the most amazing people on the planet…smart, compassionate, fun and funny…and has an amazing knack of reading the minds of our entire crew of horses, dogs and cats…and me always! Gotta love a woman who drives a ¾ ton diesel truck everyday…
…working on the final touches of my updated web site tonight…it will have opt in options for this blog, etc…..only two people so far think these musings are nonsense and have opted out…encouraging to me but then I’m not sure what the percentages are for this sort of thing…learning as I go….
…okay…Arizona takes heat for immigration laws while neighboring states NM is “requiring illegal immigrants and other foreign nationals seeking driver’s licenses to make appointments at a MVD office rather than walking in at anytime for the transactions”….will the current DOJ file suit for inconveniencing these folks?
…having satellite TV in both places (TX & NM) I can officially state that Dish sucks….thrilled that ESPNU is now bundled near the other ESPN channels so I can easily remember to watch and listen to the best syndicated sports show on the radio “The Herd with Colin Cowherd”….never ever a bad listen…just loving listening to Greggo Williams back on the air in DFW…Mark Levin never waivers in his beliefs and is a great listen…
…great to catch-up with friend and affiliate relations pro Dennis Green, EVP over at WW1…ditto Red Zebra CEO Bruce Gilbert….blast from the past as Cleveland guy Max Heywood checks in…Max was part of the lineup of extraordinary talent I had the pleasure of working with at WGCL…Tim “The Birdman” Byrd, Sue O’Neal, Jeff Gerber, JJ Jackson, Dude Walker, Bob Travis, Lee “Baby” Simms, Bob Gott…and many more…
…sooooo great to see the CBS stations back in the mix for the Marconi’s…I’ve always had trouble with these awards…it’s never been the best station but the best NAB member station….so it goes but CBS is back and perennial nominee 77KKOB is back for another run at station of the year….
…I believe that ask.com is onto something here…Ask.com will launch a social network Tuesday that allows people to poll the community for the best possible answer. The engine hopes to tap into the approximate 87 million people visiting the search engine monthly. The project has been in the works for seven months…..
…for those of you who have been holding out on the iP4 for the white version…Apple has announced that it has run into manufacturing delays on the white version of the iPhone 4 and that shipments will be delayed "until later this year." Some Apple watchers, however, say they think the delay could have something to do with the device's much-hyped antenna problems…
..Thanks for reading and have a great week….trust me, you’ll be able to sign up or opt out stating next week….----tjl
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Musings for the Week of July 19th
Musing while watching the afternoon thunderstorms roll into and toward the NM HQ office….and wondering..
…how a person wakes up one morning and says…”gee, let me hide 18 monkeys under my clothes and head to the airport to fly out of here..” and then is amazed when stopped at a Mexican airport security checkpoint…swear…true story….and not a morning show stunt…we think…Les Nessman investigating….
Terrific dinner with Cumulus execs John Dickey (more energy than me I swear), Jan Jeffries and Gary Klein….what a terrific night of idea sharing and a little visit to the way back machine to my days in the record biz….
One of the longest running confabs, The Conclave, headed by old friend Tom Kay keeps chugging along…and attendance in a tough environment up 60%...greats panels and great learning…and..
….a revealed rift amongst broadcasters about the PRA…Bonneville and Saga heads differ in opinion…I’ve said it for a long time…if radio wasn’t so important to the record companies success why spend a gazillion dollars chasing airplay with promotion departments?...
…yep, gotta have it….the MODU phone…way small and way cool….phone, text and 2 gig of memory….soon in the states and the next generation of radio listeners will be early adopters…take a peek at www.modumobile.com
..lots of notes regarding the Broadcasters Foundation and how to help….membership is $150 annually and donations of any amount are always welcome…info had by contacting President Jim Thompson at jim@thebfoa.org
…recent lunch with former Citadel Media prez Jim Robinson…it’s a monthly get-together that I always look forward to…always great food and always great idea sharing….JRo’s agent to the stars business is growing (agent to Rick Dees and others!) and he also has a great program that can save stations/groups a load of dough on utility bills….more info shoot me an email at tj@tjlambert.net
Premiere’s Julie Talbott has never, EVER failed to return a call or answer an email within a day…well earned respect amongst affiliates and peers…thanks for the call and the chat Jules!
…the buzz is all abuzz about hyper-local….ESPN does a great job with their local sites in NY, LA, DFW, Boston and Philly…..whenever I think of hyper-local I always think of Cromwell Group and their Pres Bud Walters….great owner who cares about his people and the communities that they serve….localism makes money too…Bud is ahead year-to-year….and has been even in a tough economy…
….call me a proud and biased family member but my brother’s company has to be in the mention for “best companies to work for”…brother Art and longtime friend/partner Ron treat their people very well with training, benefits, incentives and more….Art’s son Dean does the day to day….great vibe in the office…great culture…..check them out at www.lexjet.com (btw…he keeps my younger brother Gene way busy…a good thing!)
…how many of you had your hopes pinned on picking Louis Oosthuizen to win The Open?
..of the many magical things in this world one has to be the hummingbird…we have plenty here at NM HQ…there is nothing more awesome than having one park a foot from your eyes….
...lessons learned department....once did a profile interview...felt great during the interview but didn't get a chance to review before publishing....ALWAYS get agreement for that review process...was talking about a veery high level meeting and who was there and what we accomplished...said "and (this guy) had a hand in it as well" meaning of course that meeting...well the guy told everyone in the world that I was a shit since he had a major part in the overall project...and he did...never told me his feelings but ended up disparaging me later to CEO of our group....always get a review agreement...in retrospect I probably would've changed that answer a bit.....
Have a terrific week and many thanks for the great feedback…----tjl
…how a person wakes up one morning and says…”gee, let me hide 18 monkeys under my clothes and head to the airport to fly out of here..” and then is amazed when stopped at a Mexican airport security checkpoint…swear…true story….and not a morning show stunt…we think…Les Nessman investigating….
Terrific dinner with Cumulus execs John Dickey (more energy than me I swear), Jan Jeffries and Gary Klein….what a terrific night of idea sharing and a little visit to the way back machine to my days in the record biz….
One of the longest running confabs, The Conclave, headed by old friend Tom Kay keeps chugging along…and attendance in a tough environment up 60%...greats panels and great learning…and..
….a revealed rift amongst broadcasters about the PRA…Bonneville and Saga heads differ in opinion…I’ve said it for a long time…if radio wasn’t so important to the record companies success why spend a gazillion dollars chasing airplay with promotion departments?...
…yep, gotta have it….the MODU phone…way small and way cool….phone, text and 2 gig of memory….soon in the states and the next generation of radio listeners will be early adopters…take a peek at www.modumobile.com
..lots of notes regarding the Broadcasters Foundation and how to help….membership is $150 annually and donations of any amount are always welcome…info had by contacting President Jim Thompson at jim@thebfoa.org
…recent lunch with former Citadel Media prez Jim Robinson…it’s a monthly get-together that I always look forward to…always great food and always great idea sharing….JRo’s agent to the stars business is growing (agent to Rick Dees and others!) and he also has a great program that can save stations/groups a load of dough on utility bills….more info shoot me an email at tj@tjlambert.net
Premiere’s Julie Talbott has never, EVER failed to return a call or answer an email within a day…well earned respect amongst affiliates and peers…thanks for the call and the chat Jules!
…the buzz is all abuzz about hyper-local….ESPN does a great job with their local sites in NY, LA, DFW, Boston and Philly…..whenever I think of hyper-local I always think of Cromwell Group and their Pres Bud Walters….great owner who cares about his people and the communities that they serve….localism makes money too…Bud is ahead year-to-year….and has been even in a tough economy…
….call me a proud and biased family member but my brother’s company has to be in the mention for “best companies to work for”…brother Art and longtime friend/partner Ron treat their people very well with training, benefits, incentives and more….Art’s son Dean does the day to day….great vibe in the office…great culture…..check them out at www.lexjet.com (btw…he keeps my younger brother Gene way busy…a good thing!)
…how many of you had your hopes pinned on picking Louis Oosthuizen to win The Open?
..of the many magical things in this world one has to be the hummingbird…we have plenty here at NM HQ…there is nothing more awesome than having one park a foot from your eyes….
...lessons learned department....once did a profile interview...felt great during the interview but didn't get a chance to review before publishing....ALWAYS get agreement for that review process...was talking about a veery high level meeting and who was there and what we accomplished...said "and (this guy) had a hand in it as well" meaning of course that meeting...well the guy told everyone in the world that I was a shit since he had a major part in the overall project...and he did...never told me his feelings but ended up disparaging me later to CEO of our group....always get a review agreement...in retrospect I probably would've changed that answer a bit.....
Have a terrific week and many thanks for the great feedback…----tjl
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
As I see It...Week of July 12th
Random musings as I see them.....If you start everyday as I do "cleaning up" after three horses and getting them and the 9 dogs off to a start of their day, what could possibly make anything one of those "I don't do that sort of work..." moments!
My pal DVD reminded me to be sure to add in links if I like something so one doesn't have to search for it...hence www.grooveshark.com !
Let's make sure we have this right....a trade pub announces a co-chair for its once a year outlook conference...this co-chair took a fantastic radio company (actually 2!) into bankruptcy and stiffed how many shareholders for more than a billion $ right?..I suppose the opening session will be "How to Take a Legacy Company, Screw the Shareholders, Get a New Overpriced Contract and Get Appointed a Co-Chair on the Future of the Radio Business...I think I just heard the sound of cancellation to a trade!
Loved, loved, loved the US Women's Open this weekend...now who won the John Deere? The Scottish Open?...for that matter The World Cup? (I know, I know, Spain!)....even cooler (or more amazing) is that the World Cup set a ratings record for soccer in the US…something like a 26 share…
Great to hear Greggo Williams back on the air in Dallas...Bigby and CBS taking an educated gamble...good luck Greggo!....
Here's hoping good pal Dan Halyburton can keep a job this time landing with Mike McVay's New Media Division!...
Most of you know I'm a Seth Godin fan...he's sharing a freebie for all on his main blog site...makes much more sense if you've read Linchpin but still terrific....check out "Insubordinate"..
How cool is it that CBS Radio Prez Dan Mason plays every week religiously with the NY stations softball team…class act and great leader…
Dave Van Dyke’s Bridge Ratings studies are must reads for all who love the radio biz…particularly if you have a nose for new media and ca$h! (www.bridgeratings.com)
Who won the HR Derby last night? I hear it was Big Poppy….but it was dragged out so long that the local news was already on in Dallas…good move by MLB to keep kids interested in the game…NOT!
77KKOB continues winning…more live and local and community oriented than syndicated and national….
Former KOB GM and one the first reporters on the Beatles first American Tour and one of the creators of “give us 20 minutes and we’ll give you the world”, Art Schreiber inducted into NM Broadcasters Hall of Fame last month…he deserves a spot in the NAB HOF and the Radio HOF in Chicago…let the lobbying start now….
Former Miami radio GM and marketing master David Ross has struck it big with 3Ci….might be the smartest guy I know in the mobile marketing world www.3cinteractive.com
Mega buzz on the new Android phone coming to AT&T…many claiming it will give business users a reason not to buy the iPhone4…time will tell but it seems that the usually flawless releases from Apple stumbled with this new iP4…
People from my past who has passed recently and who will be missed….Eli Bird and Bill Aucoin….the former as publisher of The Album Network and oldest of Bird brothers the late Bruce and my pal Gary, and the latter as the manager of KISS….Eli’s son Neal is a terrific Affiliate rep for WW1….
Because you never, EVER know…become a member of the Broadcasters Foundation www.broadcastersfoundation.org
Has there been a better Joint Board Chair at the NAB as Steve Newberry? Endless travel and endless/tireless efforts on behalf of all broadcasters…and more groups coming back to membership…a terrific thing…
What does it say about our radio business and the state of the economy when there will be no “floor” so-to-speak” but only “table top” exhibits at this year’s NAB/RAB Radio Show? www.radioshowweb.com
I’ll be setting up a blog feed so any of you who get this weekly musing can opt out or just tell me to buzz off so I ask for patience in the interim..
Have a great week….TEE-J
My pal DVD reminded me to be sure to add in links if I like something so one doesn't have to search for it...hence www.grooveshark.com !
Let's make sure we have this right....a trade pub announces a co-chair for its once a year outlook conference...this co-chair took a fantastic radio company (actually 2!) into bankruptcy and stiffed how many shareholders for more than a billion $ right?..I suppose the opening session will be "How to Take a Legacy Company, Screw the Shareholders, Get a New Overpriced Contract and Get Appointed a Co-Chair on the Future of the Radio Business...I think I just heard the sound of cancellation to a trade!
Loved, loved, loved the US Women's Open this weekend...now who won the John Deere? The Scottish Open?...for that matter The World Cup? (I know, I know, Spain!)....even cooler (or more amazing) is that the World Cup set a ratings record for soccer in the US…something like a 26 share…
Great to hear Greggo Williams back on the air in Dallas...Bigby and CBS taking an educated gamble...good luck Greggo!....
Here's hoping good pal Dan Halyburton can keep a job this time landing with Mike McVay's New Media Division!...
Most of you know I'm a Seth Godin fan...he's sharing a freebie for all on his main blog site...makes much more sense if you've read Linchpin but still terrific....check out "Insubordinate"..
How cool is it that CBS Radio Prez Dan Mason plays every week religiously with the NY stations softball team…class act and great leader…
Dave Van Dyke’s Bridge Ratings studies are must reads for all who love the radio biz…particularly if you have a nose for new media and ca$h! (www.bridgeratings.com)
Who won the HR Derby last night? I hear it was Big Poppy….but it was dragged out so long that the local news was already on in Dallas…good move by MLB to keep kids interested in the game…NOT!
77KKOB continues winning…more live and local and community oriented than syndicated and national….
Former KOB GM and one the first reporters on the Beatles first American Tour and one of the creators of “give us 20 minutes and we’ll give you the world”, Art Schreiber inducted into NM Broadcasters Hall of Fame last month…he deserves a spot in the NAB HOF and the Radio HOF in Chicago…let the lobbying start now….
Former Miami radio GM and marketing master David Ross has struck it big with 3Ci….might be the smartest guy I know in the mobile marketing world www.3cinteractive.com
Mega buzz on the new Android phone coming to AT&T…many claiming it will give business users a reason not to buy the iPhone4…time will tell but it seems that the usually flawless releases from Apple stumbled with this new iP4…
People from my past who has passed recently and who will be missed….Eli Bird and Bill Aucoin….the former as publisher of The Album Network and oldest of Bird brothers the late Bruce and my pal Gary, and the latter as the manager of KISS….Eli’s son Neal is a terrific Affiliate rep for WW1….
Because you never, EVER know…become a member of the Broadcasters Foundation www.broadcastersfoundation.org
Has there been a better Joint Board Chair at the NAB as Steve Newberry? Endless travel and endless/tireless efforts on behalf of all broadcasters…and more groups coming back to membership…a terrific thing…
What does it say about our radio business and the state of the economy when there will be no “floor” so-to-speak” but only “table top” exhibits at this year’s NAB/RAB Radio Show? www.radioshowweb.com
I’ll be setting up a blog feed so any of you who get this weekly musing can opt out or just tell me to buzz off so I ask for patience in the interim..
Have a great week….TEE-J
Monday, July 12, 2010
Random musings as I see them.....If you start everyday as I do "cleaning up" after three horses and getting them and the 9 dogs off to a start of their day, what could possibly make anything one of those "I don't do that sort of work..." moments!
My pal DVD reminded me to be sure to add in links if I like something so one doesn't have to search for it...hence www.grooveshark.com !
Let's make sure we have this right....a trade pub announces a co-chair for it's once a year outlook conference...this co-chair took a fantastic radio company (actually 2!) into bankruptcy and stiffed how many shareholders for more than a billion $ right?..I suppose the openbing session will be "How To Take a Legacy Company, Screw the Shareholders, Get a New Overpriced Contract and Get Appointed a Co-Chair on the Future of the Radio Business...Ithink I just heard the sound of cancellation to a trade!
Loved, loved, loved the US Women's Open this weekend...now who won the John Deere? The Scottish Open?...for that matter The World Cup? (I know, I know, Spain!)....
Great to hear Greggo Williams back on the air in Dallas...Bigby and CBS taking an educated gamble...good luck Greggo!....
Here's hoping good pal Dan Halyburton can keep a job this time landing with Mike McVay's NewMedia Division!...
Most of you know I'm a Seth Godin fan...he's sharing a freebie for all on his main blog site...makes much more sense if you've read Linchpin but still terrific....check out "Insubordinate"
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Just thinking/typing out loud to mostly amuse myself...World Cup Soccer is kinda cool but how the hell does ESPN/ABC make money with no commercial breaks...does anyone care now that USA is kaput?...does soccer have a chance in hell of displacing the NFL?...notso much....the new iPhone4 is addicting because of the speed and the screen, yes?....why is it that smart gys play such a dumb random game as golf?....is it just me or has Sean Hannity become unlistenable?....I even own one and don't listen to HD Radio....same old crap repackaged.....If I wanted to hear annoying lack-of-talent morning shows on I certainly don't want to have to pay for it with my XM subscription...add to that the puker who does the countdown on the weekends on 20 on 20 and i'm this close to cancelling...olkay, time to really get into baseball...all-star break is upon us....can the Rangers, Reds etc really keep it up? Great opening remars by John Kincade (Sunday am show on ESPN Radio) talking about watershed moments for he and his dad and uncle...Phillies in 80 was the one....I remember going to nearly every game of the '64 collapse wth and without my dad as the Phillies crumbled....now I'm addicted to some carmel extra this and that at Starbucks....cool to see my pal Nisha's sister doing well on Big Break on Golf Channel.....btw, how good did Aroniminck look to the rest of the world for the AT&T....and it was interesting only because Tiger had a hand in it somehow....pretty sure I won't be dvr'ing the John Deere this week....I'm living proof that Pilates for golf and a contaption called a gyrotronic can work wonders...addicted!....great story in Newsmax Magazine on Google...revealing look at the giant....Still the best sports talk show on national radio is The Herd!.....Tom Taylor on Radio is still the best read in the business and starts my day everyday.....followed by GizMag..those that know me understand why!....Grooveshark is way cooler than Pandora..just sayin'!...see ya next week..---tjl
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