Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
PG 1
800.275.2840
THE MOST TRUSTED NEWS IN RADIO
MORE NEWS»
insideradio.com
[email protected] | 800.275.2840
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015
Mary Berner Sets New Tone For Cumulus. The word from the top at Cumulus Media is that the embattled broadcaster will rely less on top-down management and more on letting managers do the jobs they were hired for. That was a central message from Mary Berner addressing employees in a companywide webcast from Atlanta on her first day as CEO. Like many execs beginning a speech in a stressful situation, Berner started her webcast, delivered from the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead, GA, by keeping things light. Contrary to rumor, Cumulus wasn’t planning to blow up the Nash country brand or file for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection—and no, she said with a smile, the company’s new CEO wasn’t, in fact, a man. Berner was, however, ready and eager to share results of an employee survey conducted last week that identified two top priorities—changing the Cumulus corporate culture and improving how it operates. Berner said the company’s top-down management style has slowed it down and hurt its performance. She emphasized instilling pride in the company. “Programming is the oxygen of Cumulus,” the former magazine publishing exec said during the 20-minute talk, a phrase that Cumulus later tweeted. Berner added that Cumulus had too much employee turnover and she candidly shared such verbatim employee survey comments as, “I love my job, not my company.” Without mentioning them by name, Berner was complimentary about the platform amassed by her predecessors, former CEO Lew Dickey and ex-executive VP of content and programming John Dickey. The company’s rapid evolution into the second-largest owner of radio stations brought growing pains which got in the way of its success, she said. Berner’s closing message: “The turnaround at Cumulus starts today. Do your job and do it well.”
Berner Vows To Shift Cumulus Corporate Culture. Cumulus Media employees told Inside Radio they were upbeat about the future of their company after new CEO Mary Berner’s introductory appearance, which was greeted with applause in some quarters. Berner’s pledge to change the company’s corporate culture and let employees do their jobs was well-received by managers and programmers at a company famous for its top-down management style, where shots were often called out of Atlanta with little programming independence on the local level. Even before Tuesday’s all-hands-on-deck webcast, programmers said there was evidence of less corporate programming and more local autonomy in decision-making. “One thing is obvious, less top-down,” one PD told Inside Radio. But it will take more than a feel-good pep talk to turn around a company whose stock price closed at 77 cents yesterday, down from a 52-week high of $4.51. Berner didn’t reveal specifics of her plans for the company’s turnaround during the teleconference, nor did she detail findings of the Operations Review Task Force that she led for the company. She did say that she is developing her leadership team and that she will roll out her plan in the next two weeks.
Nielsen Confirms Radio’s Political Clout. As radio works to extract a larger share of what is forecast to be record-setting election season ad spending, new research from Nielsen shows the medium’s political firepower goes well beyond just a stop on the talk show circuit. Radio can deliver voters to the polls, the study concludes, and the best stations to reach specific voter segments vary from market to market and daypart to daypart. In a first-of-its-kind study, Nielsen matched Experian Simmons Political Personas Consumer Segmentation with PPM listening data in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. In L.A., Nielsen found that a single radio station reaches more than one-third of each of three voter segments in both parties while in Philly a single radio station reaches as many as 54% of each voter segment. In early morning L.A. traffic, when L.A.’s mild Republicans are driving
insideradio.com
PG 2 [email protected] | 800.275.2840
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015NEWS
to work, news/talk/information formats rank highest. During their drive home, mild Republicans listen to news/talk/information, AC and adult hits to equal degrees. Conservative Democrats in L.A., on the other hand, prefer Spanish contemporary on their morning drives, followed by all-news and Spanish adult hits. During the afternoon drive and on weekends, they evenly prefer AC and Spanish adult hits. The study found that radio can be a key way for candidates to connect with specific voting segments and that different formats deliver specific voter groups in particular markets. “The best choice of format is as unique to the local market as the districts and the propositions that will be voted on,” Nielsen said in the research report. “Radio’s local approach to programming means that local stations attract different voter types in each market, and that these voters migrate to different stations depending on the time of day.” Knowing the Demo—Nielsen breaks down the age and gender and which way different voters lean at InsideRadio.com.
House Committee Rolls Up For the Listening Tour. The wheels keep turning on the House Judiciary Committee’s “listening tour” on copyright reform, which made its first stop in Nashville on September 22. Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and ranking member John Conyers (D-MI) will travel to Silicon Valley on Nov. 9 and Los Angeles on Nov. 10. Among the speakers, according to a release, are “a wide range of creators, innovators, technology professionals and users of copyrighted works.” The Committee believes that music royalties are not keeping pace with digital technology. “Two years ago, the House Judiciary Committee launched a comprehensive review of our nation’s copyright laws, which have not been updated since 1976. As technology continues to rapidly advance, we have a responsibility to ensure that our laws are keeping pace with these developments,” Goodlatte and Conyers said in a joint statement. Royalty inequities encountered by songwriters when their music is streamed online took center stage at the Nashville tour stop last month. The focus on the streaming royalties songwriters earn deflected attention from the Fair Play, Fair Pay Act, which would remove broadcast radio’s decades-old performance royalty exemption. As the tour hits the music industry mecca of Los Angeles and the tech capital of Silicon Valley, voices on both sides of the royalty debate are likely to share the “tour” stage. The Committee says the two dates will amp up their efforts to hear “from creators and innovators about the challenges they face in their creative fields and what changes are needed to ensure U.S. copyright law reflects the digital age in which we live.”
With Sale, Wilks Bids Mile-High Good-bye. Wilks Broadcasting is selling off another market, dealing its three Denver stations to KSE Media Ventures for an undisclosed amount. KSE will add hot AC “Mix 100” KIMN, classic hits “Kool 105” KXKL-FM and country “92.5 The Wolf “ KWOF to its sports and entertainment assets, which include the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. The move continues a station sell-off for Wilks. Last year it sold its Kansas City cluster to Steel City Media for $105.5 million. It also unloaded three stations in Fresno and one in Reno to separate companies. After the Denver deal closes, Wilks will own only five stations—three in Reno and two in Columbus. “When these stations became available and were offered to us, we thought they would be a great addition to our media holdings,” KSE Media Ventures president & CEO Matt Hutchings said in a statement. “These stations have excellent local management and staff, which we look forward to welcoming to our family.” KSE’s venue portfolio includes the Pepsi Center, the Paramount Theatre and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. In addition to the NBA Nuggets and the NHL’s Avalanche, its sports teams include the Colorado Mammoth (National Lacrosse League) and Colorado Rapids (MLS). KSE is also home to regional cable channel Altitude Sports & Entertainment, retail provider Altitude Authentic, and Altitude Tickets, the official ticketing provider for its teams and venues.
NextRadio Spot Contest Earns Winner the Bacon. The winning entry in NextRadio’s College Radio Spot Contest positions Pandora and Spotify as “data pigs,” and NextRadio as an efficient way to listen to radio without cutting into costly wireless data plans. “Welcome to the data farm,” begins the ad by Thomas Baker III, a freshman at Lincoln College in Lincoln, IL, who took first place in the contest. “These are the data pigs—Spotify and Pandora. They eat a lot of your data and you have to pay more for it.” The 60-second spot, airing nationally through Dec. 31, claims NextRadio “only uses a third of the juice the data pigs drink” and “ten times less data than the data pigs.” The contest is a joint effort between NextRadio and College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI). Part
insideradio.com
PG 3 [email protected] | 800.275.2840
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015NEWS
of the fourth flight of NextRadio’s National Awareness campaign, the spot portrays the NextRadio app as an alternative that “saves your battery and data by streaming from the tiny FM chip in your smartphone….Hurry now before the data pigs eat every last byte of your data,” it warns. In addition to putting Baker’s spot on the air, the contest awarded him a trip to CBI’s National Student Electronic Media Convention (NSEMC), taking place Oct. 22-24 in Minneapolis, a package that includes registration, flight and a two-night hotel stay. Tayler Shaindlin, a senior at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA and Ryan Flannery, a senior at Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, came in second and third place, respectively. “The final entries were incredible; the level of talent coming from the universities was extraordinary,” says Jeff Schmidt, senior VP, professional development, at the Radio Advertising Bureau. You can listen to Baker’s winning entry HERE.
Cracker Barrel Returns To Comfort Of Radio. Comfort food restaurant chain Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is getting back into the radio business, using spot radio as part of a new multiplatform ad push. For decades, Cracker Barrel has relied on outdoor advertising to draw customers to its dining rooms. But, with the rise of mobile phones, Cracker Barrel needs fresh ways to connect and is seeking out radio once again. According to Adweek, Cracker Barrel’s new ad campaign will include national broadcast TV spots, radio ads and digital media, including paid search, social media and online video and, of course, outdoor ads. “Our early spots demonstrated what kind of place and people we are. We then moved to the types of products that are available in our stores. Our new spots showcase that we welcome everyone to this experience,” Chris Ciavarra, senior VP of marketing for Cracker Barrel, told Adweek. While Cracker Barrel isn’t currently a heavy radio advertiser, restaurants are a major ad category for the industry. Buffalo Wild Wings, for example, ranked as the no. 66 advertiser on broadcast radio for the first half of 2015, according to Media Monitors analysis. Cracker Barrel has used TV and radio before, including during a big 2012 push, when CEO Sandra Cochran told investors the restaurant chain would use spot radio to inform customers about menu updates. In a related case study by the Radio Advertising Bureau evaluating the success of its radio campaign, Cracker Barrel CFO Larry Hyatt praised the radio component, saying, “Radio continues to be an effective medium, but it appears we have opportunities in radio to get even better. We continue to think it is an important medium.” At that time, Cracker Barrel was claiming that about 84% of its advertising budget went to outdoor ads.
Among West Coast Talent, a Change Of iHeart. iHeartMedia is experimenting with new talk radio approaches on the West Coast, and repurposing talent from other formats and dayparts. In the most dramatic example, rhythmic CHR “Wild 94.9” KYLD, San Francisco morning man JV is tacking on a new two-hour afternoon show on sister “Talk 910” KKSF. JV’s expanded duties, part of the veteran Bay Area personality’s contract renewal, coincide with a retooled airstaff at KKSF that moves Gil Gross from 3pm-7pm to 10am-2pm, followed by Cory & Joel from 2pm-4pm (starting one hour earlier) and the “The Dog House with JV and Elvis” from 4pm-6pm. “Armstrong & Getty: Beyond The Broadcast,” a new show featuring the KKSF morning team, will run from 6pm-7pm. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, talker KFI (640) has introduced a new 1pm-3pm show focused on current events and pop culture hosted by a pair of veteran news anchors. “Gary & Shannon” launched Monday, featuring Gary Hoffmann and Shannon Farren, who anchor morning and afternoon news, respectively, on KFI.
insideradio.com
PG 4 [email protected] | 800.275.2840
Hoffmann has been the news anchor for “The Bill Handel Morning Show” for 11 years where he also produced comedy news bits and parody songs. Hoffmann also was the host of the 5am-6am “Wake Up Call.” Ten-year KFI reporter Farren has been at the helm of the afternoon-drive anchor desk for “The John and Ken Show” for the past four years and has been hosting the two-hour “Sunday Mornings with Shannon.” KFI PD Robin Bertolucci says the pair will “combine their smarts and humor into one big ball of show.” They replace Mark Thompson and Elizabeth Espinosa in the 1pm-3pm slot. Across the street at “The Patriot AM 1150” KEIB, the conservative talker is picking up Armstrong and Getty’s San Francisco-based morning show. The addition of L.A. clears the show from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Francisco and Sacramento. Armstrong and Getty’s subject matter goes well beyond politics to cover marriage, politics, kids and work with commentary and observations on local, regional and national news.
Beyond Nielsen, Stations Find Other Options. With some smaller and medium-size stations weighing cost vs. result and opting out of Nielsen measurement, station managers are seeking out ratings alternatives. Among them is Eastlan Ratings, a radio-only service operating in 90 markets, many of which are too small to be on Nielsen’s list. The service claims 450 station subscribers and costs significantly less than a Nielsen subscription, according to Eastlan CEO Mike Gould. Also, Eastlan’s sample sizes are generally larger and data, which is collected by phone and Internet surveys, can be parsed by demo, zip code and county. Larger markets can be canvassed quarterly, while smaller locales may only be polled once every year or two. One of Eastlan’s newest customers, Greensboro-based Dick Broadcasting, will represent the measurement company’s first foray into a Nielsen PPM market. General Manager Dick Harlow says he finds Nielsen’s sample size—1,000 in-tab participants in the Greensboro market—too small. But he still wants data to share with clients and media buyers. Harlow says Eastlan’s sample is larger (2,500 individuals in Greensboro). Another up-and-coming option is Dasis Research, a Houston-based company founded by ex-employees of former media research firm The Media Audit, including Dasis’ CEO Tod Higgenbotham. Dasis uses phone surveys (both landline and mobile phones) to sample participants on media usage and drills down into demographics and consumer behavior. Currently operating in Washington DC, Tulsa, OK and Ashville, NC, Dasis is adding nine more markets by the end of 2016. Growth Curve—Dasis and Eastlan are trying lots of methods to raise their profiles. Read about it at InsideRadio.com.
WNYC Will Turn Up Volume of Audio Production. As broadcasters look to harness the growing popularity of podcasts and on-demand audio, public radio giant WNYC-FM, New York (93.9) is launching its own in-house studio to create and distribute new audio programming. WNYC Studios will develop and produce podcasts for national distribution and also select programs to broadcast on fellow public radio outlets. So far, WNYC says it has raised $2 million toward its goal of $15 million to fund the venture. WNYC currently produces 17 podcasts and national radio shows, and plans to increase output significantly through the new production arm, including a 25% increase in production in the first year. “Traditional media businesses have been threatened by digital media, but that’s not the case here,” said Laura Walker, president and CEO of WNYC’s parent, New York Public Radio, in a statement. “We fully embrace podcasting and on-demand audio. Furthermore, we believe that narrative audio has to continue to evolve to stay relevant, and we are looking forward to leading the way.” The new formats will also help WNYC connect with young, mobile-savvy users accustomed to on-demand media consumption, Walker added. WNYC Studio’s first slate includes “The New Yorker Radio Hour,” a podcast and radio program coproduced with The New Yorker magazine and hosted by its editor David Remnick; and a new legal-themed podcast spinoff of WNYC’s existing “Radiolab” program focusing on the U.S. Supreme Court. The studio is also incubating new pilots in partnership with other media outlets and talent, including Vice News; “The Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams; author Roxane Gay; and comedian Sara Schaefer. “Snap Judgment,” a popular podcast/show hosted by Glynn Washington, will now be coproduced by WNYC Studios. Programming will be available on WNYC’s websites and apps, as well as through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn and iHeartRadio, and, in some cases, other non-commercial stations and international partners.
— Get more news, people moves and insider extras @ www.insideradio.com. —
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015NEWS
insideradio.com
PG 5 [email protected] | 800.275.2840
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015CLASSIFIEDS
INSIDE RADIO, Copyright 2015. www.insideradio.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or retransmitted in any form. This publication cannot be distributed beyond the physical address of the named subscriber. Address: P.O. Box 567925, Atlanta, GA 31156. Subscribe to INSIDE RADIO monthly subscription $39.95 recurring payment. For information, visit www.insideradio.com. To advertise, call 1-800-248-4242 x711. Email: [email protected].
MORE OPPORTUNITIES @ INSIDERADIO.COM >>
SALES MANAGER
Tired of the Mega company rat race?
Want to work for a company where your efforts are appreciated? Santamaria Broadcasting seeks a Sales Manager for our Minneapolis Stations. Successful candidates should have a minimum of 5 years radio sales experience and a proven track-record of sales success and leadership.
If you are ready to take on a new challenge where the rewards will match your efforts,send resume to:
An equal opportunity employer.
SALES — NEW YORK CITY
Salem Radio has an unusual opportunity for a
dynamic sales executive to join the New York Cluster.
Salem is one of the great dependable media companies in America.
Come join us!
Email:Laura Sheaffer,
[email protected] Or, 212-857-9639 to
schedule an interview. APPLY HERE
EOE
qual ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - AUSTIN, TXYou are the best of the best. You are self-motivated, creative, a pro-active problem solver, tenacious, detail-oriented, money-motivated and approach this job as if you are your own CEO. You are a self-starter, organized, detail-oriented and have the ability to work without much direct supervision. Entercom is seeking AE’s for 94.7 MIX FM, Magic 95.5 FM and Talk Radio 1270 AM/96.3 FM. Entercom has the latest tools and technology, the most knowledgeable management and is known as offering the best work environment for selling radio advertising in the industry. Nobody in the Austin market can offer more to their clients than Entercom Austin.
Successful candidates are experts in: Strategic targeting of clients; Prospecting and relationship building; and setting face to face appointments. Find more qualifications and requirements HERE.
In keeping with the other members of the Entercom Teams, the #1 trait we hire for is “WINNING ATTITUDE”. We are looking for driven individuals who refuse to lose or compromise their level of success. If this describes YOU, please forward your resume and career success stories today: [email protected]. Equal Opportunity Employer
qual NEWS-TALK GENERAL SALES MANAGERLooking for your dream job as a market-leading news/talk/sports GSM? News / Talk 95.3 MNC is looking for YOU! We are a family-owned, innovative, and legacy media company based in Northern Indiana in the heart of Notre Dame Country. You’re 90-minutes away from Chicago and less than an hour from the beach. This market is a great place to raise a family and has some of the most affordable housing in the nation. We have all the top radio brands (Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Fox News, etc.), plus a local all-news morning show, a great local PM-drive talk host and one of the best interactive teams in America. The station already has ratings success. Now all we need is the right leader to take us to the next level. You will have demonstrated experience leading a spoken-word radio sales team and a proven track-record of success. See a full list of requirements in our full ad HERE. Interested? For confidential interview, send resume & cover letter:
Stephanie Michel,Director of Sales
Federated Media provides extensive marketing and sales training through The Radio Advertising Bureau and The Center for Sales Strategy. Digital Training and Digital Services are provided through Federated Digital Solutions. Equal Opportunity Employer.
