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Cumulus Names Brian Demay Providence 'Lite Rock' Program Director 
Veteran radio programmer Brian Demay joins Cumulus AC "Lite Rock 105" WWLI-FM, Providence as Program Director. He was most recently PD of Beasley AC WJBR-FM, Wilmington, Delaware, and has also programmed in Buffalo at "Star 102.5" WTSS-FM. In Providence, Demay replaces Tony Bristol who previously exited. "The minute I walked into the Providence cluster, I knew I had found a home," says Demay. "The energy and enthusiasm of the team [Market Manager] Barbara Haynes and [Corporate PD/Cluster Programmer] Davey Morris have assembled is second to none. I have missed working in an environment like this, and I'm excited to be a part of the Cumulus family. I'm also very enthused to be working with my friend and mentor Mike McVay again and to work with AC Corporate PD and VP/Stratus Music Emily Boldon." Says Boldon, "WWLI is a heritage AC. Brian has worked with a few of these in his career. He understands the responsibility that goes along with programming a station that's already at the top-of-the-ratings heap." Pandora to Limit Free Mobile Listening 
Pandora will discontinue its free unlimited mobile listening plan -- and limit some listeners to 40 hours per month. The cap is intended to curb the streaming service's high royalty costs. Pandora says, however, the new plan will affect only "a small number" of its users. Pandora founder Tim Westergren writes, "This week we will begin communicating directly with a small number of our listeners as we introduce a 40-hour-per-month limit on free mobile listening. Most of you reading this will never hit the limit. In fact, it will affect less than 4% of our total monthly active listeners. For perspective, the average listener spends approximately 20 hours listening to Pandora across all devices in any given month. That said, limiting listening is a very unusual thing to do, and very contrary to our mission so we wanted to share a quick explanation. Pandora's per-track royalty rates have increased more than 25% over the last 3 years, including 9% in 2013 alone and are scheduled to increase an additional 16% over the next two years. After a close look at our overall listening, a 40-hour-per-month mobile listening limit allows us to manage these escalating costs with minimal listener disruption. For listeners who do hit the limit, we have a variety of options available to keep the music you love flowing. Listen for free for as many hours as desired on desktop and laptop computers; pay $0.99 for unlimited listening for the remainder of that month, or subscribe to Pandora One for unlimited listening and no advertising. In short, this is an effort to balance the reality of increasing royalty costs with our desire to maximize access to free listening on Pandora. We will be sure to alert any of our listeners that start getting close to the 40 hour limit. As always, your feedback is welcome." Entercom to Deploy Jelli Platform in A Group-Wide Deal Jelli Network Grows to 175+ Stations and Over 1.7 Billion Radio Ad Impressions 
Jelli, the social radio platform, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Entercom Communications to deploy the Jelli Platform in 104 of its radio stations across 23 markets. The arrangement signals the expansion of the Jelli Platform to a total of more than 175 radio stations in over 50 markets nationwide. Jelli's network now reaches 23.5 million unique listeners weekly. Radio ad impressions served by the Jelli Platform have grown to an over 1.7 billion annual run-rate, which is a greater than 1,300 percent growth rate year-over-year.
TuneIn Launching 'TuneIn Live' User Interface 
TuneIn is adding a new customized graphical interface to its web and iPad versions -- "TuneIn Live" -- offering rotating tiles with music, sports, and news information based on the logged-in user's listening habits and interests. "TuneIn Live" will be added to the service's other mobile apps later this year. "Our biggest opportunity has been discovery," says CEO John Donham. "We have more than 70,000 radio stations and more than 2 million on-demand programs from around the world, and that's a lot for anyone to digest. We needed a sophisticated system to do the work for our listeners, not ask them to do extra work in order to personalize their experience. TuneIn Live is a big part of that system." Donham adds, "Every day, there are thousands of live events on the radio, from concerts to interviews to sports to a DJ playing a set of songs and, until now, there has never been a way to relay all of this live content to people worldwide. That's where we're innovating with TuneIn Live. We're combing through our millions of listening options from around the world and, for each individual listener, we’re bringing into focus just the stations that mean something to them." Entravision Q4 Revenue Up 28% 
Entravision Communications, reporting its fourth quarter and full year 2012 fiscal results, says Q4 net revenue grew by 28 percent to $63.75 million, and the company went from a net loss in the year-ago period to net income of almost $7.7 million. Entravision reports fourth quarter radio revenue increased 16%, led by a 45% gain in national ad sales. For the full year, net revenue was up by 15 percent to $223.25 million, while going from a 2011 net loss of $8.2 million to net income of $13.6 million. Says Entravision Chairman/CEO Walter Ulloa, "During 2012, we achieved double-digit revenue growth primarily driven by increases in political advertising, core advertising, and retransmission consent revenue. Core revenue (excluding retransmission consent revenue and political advertising revenue) from our television and radio segments outperformed their respective industry averages, and we significantly improved our free cash flow over 2011. Our television and radio platforms have become an increasingly important channel for reaching Hispanic voters, resulting in significant increases in political advertising revenue. Our audience shares remain strong in the nation's most densely populated Hispanic markets, and we believe we are well positioned to benefit as the U.S. Hispanic market continues to expand and advertisers increasingly recognize the importance of reaching our target audience." 'Conexion Thalia' Adds Five Markets 
Cumulus Media Networks announces that Latin Recording artist and actress Thalia's radio show -- "Conexion Thalia" -- will debut in five new markets March 4 -- New York on "La Nueva 93.1" WPAT-FM, Patterson, NJ; Los Angeles on "97.9 La Raza" KLAX-FM; Chicago on "La Ley 107.9" WLEY-FM; Miami on "106.3 La Raza" WRZA-FM, and San Francisco on "93.3 La Raza" KRZZ-FM. Thalia's show airs weekdays 1-3pm. Thalia has sold more than 40 million CDs worldwide and her most recent album, Primera Fila, peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Album. She was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012, and is author of three how-to and self-empowerment books. Thalia is also a businesswoman with numerous ventures directed to the Latino market and more.
Tom Kent Radio Network Reaches 400 Affiliates 
Tom Kent tells us his Tom Kent Radio Network has passed 400 affiliate stations. Says Kent, “Approaching our 5 year anniversary on March 16 and with this new batch of great stations, we just surpassed the 400 station mark! Thank you radio for making us the fastest growing radio network in America!” Among the latest added affiliates are Clear Channel’s AC WSRS-FM, Boston, adding “Lovin’ Life, Livin’ the 80s” to Saturday Nights; Access.1 Communications AC KOOI-FM, Tyler, Texas, adding “My 70s Show” to Weekdays; Clear Channel Classic Hits WDMX-FM, Parkersburg, WV, adding “Ultimate Party” Saturdays; Broadcast Partners Classic Hits KYBG-FM, Lafayette, LA, adding “24/7 Fun” ; Oregon Trail Broadcasting Classic Hits KRRR-FM, Cheyenne, and sister KZQL-FM, Casper, both adding “CLASS” Saturdays and Sundays. Mancow Gets Increased Chicago 'Face Time' 
Syndicated radio host Mancow Muller is getting more "face time" on Chicago television. His daily radio show now originates at WPWR-TV, Chicago, which simulcasts two hours of the show weekday mornings. And a new "Mancow Mashup" is being televised on weekends -- Saturday nights on WFLD-TV and Sunday nights on WPWR-TV. Both TV stations are owned by Fox. The "Mancow Mashup" is comprised of "Best Of" segments from the televised weekday show. Muller says he's happy with the expanded "face time" and being viewable in the Chicago market seven days a week. He especially likes having the Saturday night (not live) "Mashup" airing opposite "Saturday Night Live."
Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio  |
From Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Thursday's Radio & Media News - Feb. 28, 2013
Over the last twelve months Jelli has added advertising inventory from premier stations in markets such as San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, Tampa, Minneapolis, Denver, Sacramento, Portland, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and many others. "We saw the benefit of connecting our stations to a cloud-based platform that will generate new and incremental national advertising dollars," says Entercom Regional President Weezie Kramer. "Entercom is one of the most innovative media companies in the radio business, running some of the best radio stations in the top U.S. markets," says Jelli CEO Mike Dougherty. The Jelli Platform combines the technology of online and mobile advertising with the significant reach of terrestrial radio advertising, enabling partners like Entercom to automate radio advertising, deliver accountability, and increase measurability and transparency to their clients through Jelli's cloud-based advertising platform.
"The radio show provides me with a wonderful opportunity to create an entertaining and positive experience," says Thalía. "I'm joined each week by fashion experts, entertainers, music artists and my celebrity friends from all around the world. It’s fun, upbeat and very interactive and I love the weekly conversation with my listeners."
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