Cumulus Signs with Arbitron

Cumulus Media signs a multi-year agreement with Arbitron for diary and PPM radio ratings services for all 450 Cumulus stations in the 100 radio markets currently surveyed by Arbitron in which Cumulus has stations. "We are pleased to have Cumulus once again as a subscriber to Arbitron's radio ratings services in each of its Arbitron-measured markets," says Arbitron President and CEO Sean Creamer. "Cumulus is using multiple platforms to reach listeners and engage consumers and Arbitron has a robust suite of technologies and methodologies that we can leverage to help Cumulus demonstrate the power of its radio brand."

The agreement provides Cumulus stations in 44 diary markets access to the Arbitron radio ratings service for the first time in more than three years. It also renews ratings agreements in 17 PPM markets and 39 diary markets. In addition to diary and PPM local market ratings, the agreement also provides Cumulus with access to Arbitron software applications, Scarborough consumer profile services, and national and network radio ratings for Cumulus Media Networks. Cumulus has also agreed to collaborate with Arbitron on cross-platform services that would quantify the total impact of the Cumulus radio brand. "With this agreement, Arbitron and Cumulus are demonstrating a long-term commitment to collaborate for the benefit of the radio industry," says Cumulus Chairman and CEO Lew Dickey. "We will work closely with Arbitron on its ongoing quality and service enhancement initiatives. Specifically, we look forward to participating in the development of an integrated, total radio audience service that gives broadcasters full credit for our audiences regardless of how listeners access our content."

FCC Approves Liberty Media Application for SiriusXM Control

Liberty Media moves closer to taking control of SiriusXM, with the FCC granting approval of Liberty's request to assume the satcaster's broadcast licenses. The FCC has approved the transfer of control of SiriusXM's licenses to Liberty, which informed the Commission last spring it was aiming to take over the satcaster. Throughout 2012, Liberty gradually increased its share of SiriusXM stocks.

Liberty has said that it planned to convert preferred securities, as well as buy more shares, to own more than 50 percent of SiriusXM's common stock, within 60 days of gaining FCC approval of the license transfer. Last summer, Liberty Media's John Malone confirmed that once his company gains control of SiriusXM, it plans to spin the satcaster off to a new owner. The FCC approval comes five months after the deal was filed at the Commission. Liberty has already installed Jim Meyer as Interim CEO to replace Mel Karmazin.

Home Depot Was Radio's 2012 Top Advertiser

As Media Monitors releases its listing of the top radio advertisers for 2012, The Home Depot is reported to have been radio's number one advertiser of the year. The top 2011 radio advertiser, Geico, slipped to number two for 2012. The Home Depot was number two in 2011.
The 2012 Top 10 radio advertisers, according to Media Monitors, with the number of radio spots aired:
l. The Home Depot - 2,093,047
2. Geico Berkshire Hathaway - 1,937,625
3. McDonald's - 1,366,786
4. AutoZone - 990,822
5. Wal-Mart Stores - 802,351
6. Lowe's Companies - 786,490
7. State Farm Insurance Co. - 770,512
8. Macy's - 613,485
9. Subway - 606,883
10. Walgreens - 597,840

Triton Digital Re-Aligns Organizational Structure

Triton Digital re-aligns its organizational structure "to simplify and centralize all publisher and advertiser-related initiatives." The company tells us, "All agency and advertiser-facing activity will now be managed at the enterprise level under President of Market Development John Rosso. Similarly, all publisher-facing activity will now be managed centrally by President of Publisher Development Dominick Milano. In addition, Patrick Reynolds expands his strategic role as Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer." Triton Digital says that the new simplified structure enables Triton to more efficiently build and deliver new technology and services to meet the demand of the fast growing streaming audio market. The streaming audio market is projected to reach $2 billion by 2015. With the changes, Triton expects to accelerate market growth to further support its expanding customer base. Says Triton Digital COO Mike Agovino, "2012 was successful in that we expanded our relationship with market leaders like CBS, Cumulus and Pandora, while entering into relationships with exciting new clients like Microsoft and NPR. As we look to 2013, with these changes implemented, we now have the best structure, alignment of assets and organizational focus to optimize the upcoming opportunities in 2013 and beyond."

WEEI Adds New Affiliate to Its New England Sports Radio Network

"Sports Radio WEEI 93.7 FM" tells us that effective January 4, WZEI 101.5 FM will become the eighth WEEI affiliate across New England. "Licensed to Meredith, New Hampshire, WZEI-FM is a Class A FM station with 6,000 watts of power, and covers the counties of Concord, Laconia, Meredith, North Conway and Plymouth, New Hampshire." Entercom Boston VP and Market Manager Jeff Brown says, "Adding an eighth WEEI affiliate truly validates our flagship station's strength in programming and leading sports coverage. Entercom is proud to extend the WEEI footprint to listeners in the northern New Hampshire market as we kick off 2013." WZEI-FM will broadcast the entire WEEI weekday lineup. WZEI-FM joins these WEEI affiliates across New England: WVEI 103.7 FM Providence; WVEI 1440 AM Worcester; WWEI 105.5 FM Springfield; WPEI 95.9 FM Portland, ME; WPPI 95.5 FM Portland, ME; WEII 96.3 FM Cape Cod; and WEEY 93.5 FM Keene, NH. "We are very excited to bring coverage of everything New England sports to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with 101.5 WZEI," says Great Eastern Radio CEO Jeff Shapiro. "Great Eastern Radio and WEEI have a great partnership that has been key to great sports programming in northern New England for the past few years, and we look forward to extending that for years to come!" Entercom Boston VP of Programming and Operations Jason Wolfe adds, "I'm thrilled that we are able to bring the WEEI brand to the New England sports fans of central and northern New Hampshire. WZEI-FM will reach upwards of 300,000 listeners throughout the Lakes Region and we will continue to work very hard every day, to provide them with a most entertaining and compelling product."

The Conclave Opens Rockwell Award Nominations

The Conclave opens nominations for the Rockwell Award. "Since 1989, the Conclave has presented The Rockwell Award -- an annual lifetime achievement award -- to an individual of unquestioned accomplishment in the radio industry," says a news release. "This year, the Conclave once again reaches out to the entire industry to help select nominees for this important recognition to be presented at the Conclave Learning Conference July 17-19, at the Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis/Park Place." Conclave Executive Director Bob Shannon tells us, "The Rockwell Award is our highest honor and recognizes individuals whose contributions to the American Media are exceptional. Once again we're reaching out to the industry for nominations." According to the official announcement: "What does the Conclave look for in a Rockwell Award recipient? A person who is not just an inspirational leader, but a person of great accomplishment -- one who teaches and guides others directly, by example, or both. The successful nominee has made lasting and significant contributions not just inside the industry, but to the public the industry serves." The Rockwell nomination guidelines are: Any member of the industry may nominate one or more persons for the Rockwell award: a syndicated or local talent, a single market or national programmer, a general manager or group owner, a production or promotion professional, V/O talent, etc.; All nominations must be accompanied by supporting evidence sufficiently detailed for the Conclave Board to render a decision (e.g., a resume; accounts of industry accomplishment; testimonials from individuals or organizations regarding the nominee’s body of work and contribution, etc.); Nominations will be accepted by email to Bob Shannon bob@theconclave.com and must be accompanied by the nominating person's name and contact information. Deadline for submissions is 12midnight, January 31. Upon receipt of nominations, members of the Conclave Board of Directors will meet to weigh the merits of each nominated party and will make a final determination of 2013's winner(s) and announce it to the radio industry shortly thereafter. Past winners of the Rockwell include CBS Radio President Dan Mason, RAB President Erica Farber, and Consultant Fred Jacobs.

Eric Chase Joins Toledo's 'Kiss' as Program Director

Eric Chase joins CHR-Top40 "92.5 Kiss FM" WVKS-FM, Toledo, as Program Director and afternoon host, replacing Dave "Boomer" Mazur who moved to Rhythmic CHR "Jamz" WJQM-FM, Madison, as Music Director. Says Operations Manager Nathan Reed, "I've known Eric for many years. Finally, the planets have aligned for us to work together." Chase most recently was PD at Sports Talk "1130 The Fan" WDFN-AM, Detroit. He previously programmed CHR-Top40 "B104" WAEB-FM, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Chase tells us, "I've known OM Nathan Reed for over ten years and even when we competed against one another we maintained a good friendship with a positive and at times esoteric exchange of philosophies. It's exciting to be able to pair those philosophies with creative, inventive strategies as teammates now."