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NAB Show: Verizon CEO Not Big On Radio in Smartphones 
Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam says activated FM radio chips in smartphones is "not something customers ask us for" and to Verizon is "a very small issue." At a Tuesday session -- billed as a "candid conversation" between McAdam and NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith -- when the discussion turned to radio in cellphones, McAdam said that while his company already offers such phones, the trends "clearly" are leading to customers wanting streaming customizable audio. Smith then asked if the Sprint deal with radio interested the Verizon chief. McAdam answered, "Honestly, no." McAdam apparently doesn't believe any of a number of recent survey results that claim most Americans do indeed want a direct FM radio capability in smartphones. Verizon was among those wireless providers who couldn't provide cellphone or streaming service during last year's Superstorm Sandy, when many turned to broadcast radios that didn't require electrical service to bring them the latest emergency information and news. And, of course, Smith emphasized "that radio is an indispensable lifeline to every local community" in his earlier NAB State of the Industry address. "We were reminded of this when Hurricane Sandy struck the Eastern seaboard last October. It was also a reminder that built-in radio in mobile phones is an effective way to inform people of pending danger. Up and down the Eastern seaboard, we heard stories of cell networks and broadband connections being down for days, even weeks. But radio was always on… always there for its listeners," said the NAB President and CEO. Some observers believe McAdam may change his position when radio's deal with Sprint -- an effort led by Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan -- is fully implemented, especially, from a business standpoint, if that deal affords Sprint a significant advantage over Verizon. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai Again Calls for AM Radio Revitalization 
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai tells a panel at the NAB show in Las Vegas that he loves AM radio, and wants to see it revitalized. Pai, the first FCC Commissioner ever to moderate an NAB panel, told the session about his childhood memories of listening to sports on an AM station in Kansas -- and his hope that the Commission will "launch an AM Radio revitalization initiative," noting he first proposed that "at the Radio Show last September." Said Pai, "Today, AM broadcasters are facing some challenges. To throw out just a couple of statistics, in 1978, half of all radio listening was on the AM dial; in 2010, that number was only 17 percent. And since 1990, the number of AM stations has decreased while the number of FM stations has almost doubled." The two prevailing thoughts for making AM relevant again are digital signals and increased use of FM translators. On the Monday panel was broadcast attorney John Garziglia who has been urging the Commission for a rule change that would help AM broadcasters who want to utilize FM translators. "The FCC’s restriction on moving FM translators more than several miles is a huge regulatory barrier to bringing FM translator service to many AM stations," said Garziglia. "If the FCC removed or relaxed that regulatory barrier prohibiting FM translator moves of an appreciable distance, it would be an immediate, substantive step that the FCC could take to revitalize AM stations. The Tell City waiver request asks that the FCC allow an AM station to search 50 or more miles from its transmitter site for an FM translator it might acquire and move." Although there's apparently still no consensus on how to revitalize AM, Pai says something must be done to save ampliture modulation, the original broadcast technology and band. "When you talk to people about the AM band, you evoke a wide range of memories, from the child lying in bed on a warm summer night listening to a baseball game to the long-haul trucker listening to Paul Harvey’s commentaries," said the FCC Commissioner. "Indeed, this year’s Super Bowl commercial featuring Paul Harvey struck such a nerve, I’d bet, partly because broadcast radio has a strong bond with the American people." 2013 Crystal Radio Award Winners Announced 
The National Association of Broadcasters names ten winners of the NAB Crystal Radio Awards at Tuesday's NAB Show Radio Luncheon. The winners were selected from among 50 finalists. Since 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards have recognized radio stations for their outstanding year-round commitment to community service. The award recipients are KIRO-FM, Seattle; WKDZ-FM, Cadiz, Kentucky; KSFI-FM, Salt Lake City; WPEG-FM, Charlotte; KUZZ-FM, Bakersfield; WQHT-FM, New York; WCVQ-FM Clarksville, Tennessee; WTOP-FM, Washington DC; WHUR-FM, Washington DC; and, WYCT-FM, Pensacola, Florida. The NAB Show Radio Luncheon also featured a presentation of the NAB Crystal Heritage Award to KNOM-AM-FM, Nome, Alaska. The Crystal Heritage Award honors stations that have won a total of five Crystal Radio Awards. Entertainer and broadcast personality John Tesh provided a keynote address and personal money-management expert Dave Ramsey was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The luncheon was sponsored by ASCAP. Pandora Claims to Reach 200 Million Users 
Streaming music service Pandora claims that it has reached a milestone of 200 million registered users in the U.S. Pandora had its first user register in the Summer of 2005, and announced 100 million registered users in July 2011, six years after its launch -- and now claims to have reached the 200 million registered user mark less than two years later. Says Pandora Founder Tim Westergren, "We started this company to help people discover and enjoy music they love, and to help artists reach and grow their audiences. Only in our wildest dreams did we imagine what it would become. It is now clear that radio is changing, and that's great news for music fans and for the tens of thousands of working artists who now have a home on the air." In conjunction with the announcement, the company released an infographic to "visually highlight America's embrace of the service." [Note: click the reduced size version of that graphic below to view the full size version to easily read the specific claims made.]
Clear Channel Signs Agreement with Wind-up Records Agreement Enables Wind-up Artists to Share in Digital and Broadcast Radio Revenue 
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and Wind-up Records today announced an agreement in which the companies will share both digital and broadcast radio revenue streams. Wind-up Records is said to be "one of the largest independently-owned record labels." Founded in 1997, Wind-up Records has successfully launched a number of multi-platinum rock artists, including Evanescence, Creed, Finger Eleven, and Seether, and has further built the careers of Five for Fighting, O.A.R. and The Darkness, among others. Wind-up has garnered seven multi-platinum albums, including Creed's diamond-certified Human Clay, and seven gold albums.
Coalition Wants NYC's 'Power 105.1' License Suspended 
A coalition of watchdog groups is calling for the suspension of the FCC broadcast license of New York City's Urban/Hip Hop "Power 105.1" WWPR-FM, for airing the song "U.O.E.N.O." by rap artist Rick Ross -- claiming the song refers to date-rape drugging. Members of the coalition include the Parents Television Council (PTC), Rap Rehab, Industry Ears, A Long Walk Home and FAAN Mail. According to a news release, they claim "Power 105 leads the nation in spins of U.O.E.N.O.," and is one of the sponsors of an April 12 Rick Ross concert. "The song by rapper Rick Ross talks about ‘molly,’ a slang term for a narcotic that is used to reduce inhibitions and promote feelings of euphoria and sexuality, in other words, a date-rape drug. The lyrics in question are as follows: 'Put molly all in her champagne/She ain't even know it/I took her home and I enjoyed that/ She ain't even know it.'," says the news release. "We are calling for the FCC to immediately suspend WWPR-FM's broadcast license for violating its public interest obligation by airing music that promotes date rape and drug use," says PTC President Tim Winter. "Power 105 in New York is certainly not serving the public interest by airing this song." He adds, "Ross' recent tweet-delivered 'apology' rings hollow and sounds like a desperate attempt to maintain a paycheck. If he were truly sorry for his actions, he would insist that all radio stations cease any further airplay, he would call on his peers in the industry to cease any reference to 'molly' or date rape, and he would donate all proceeds from his record to rape victim service organizations." Most observers doubt that under control rules and policy that the FCC would seriously consider the call to suspend WWPR-FM's license. DC's WASH-FM Names Chilli Amar Morning Co-Host 
AC WASH-FM, Washington DC, names Chilli Amar morning co-host, effective April 16. She will join Loo Katz for the morning show on the Clear Channel station. Amar has been working in the DC market since 1996, holding a variety of radio roles including news reporter/anchor, morning show side-kick, afternoon host and traffic reporter. "Chilli has an amazing track record of communicating with adult listeners both on-air and online," says WASH-FM Program Director Bill Cahill. "We look forward to having her join Loo in the mornings on WASH." Amar tells us, "As a native Washingtonian, I'm thrilled about this next chapter in my broadcasting career. I look forward to working with Loo and the entire WASH team. I hope to contribute to the continued success of such a great morning show." And what does Katz think about this? ""I’m so excited to have her sitting across from me to wake up our loyal 97.1 WASH listeners weekday mornings," says Katz. "Chilli is so wired into this town and I know she'll have a great connection with listeners." Joanne Adduci Joins Boston's 'River' as Senior Marketing Consultant 
Market radio veteran Joanne Adduci joins Triple-A "92.5 The River" WXRV-FM, Boston, in the newly-created position of Senior Marketing Consultant, effective April 15. Her focus, we're told, will be on development of interactive campaigns with Boston's full-service ad agencies and media buying services. Adduci, who has extensive experience in local, regional and national broadcast sales as well as digital and event marketing, and has previously served at Entercom, CBS Radio and NECN. "Joanne is one of Boston's most respected broadcast professionals," says Northeast Broadcasting CEO Steven Silberberg. "She shares our independent and entrepreneurial spirit, and we're thrilled to add her to our team." Adduci adds, "The Boston radio landscape is changing. Independent radio stations like The River are flourishing because they're local and care about the communities and clients they serve. It's simple, but refreshing. And it doesn't hurt that I've been a longtime listener. I admire The River's approach and am delighted to join their very clever and creative team." Two Join Clip Interactive Bill Freund as EVP and CRO, Michael Fischer as VP of Affiliate and User Acquisition 
Bill Freund joins Clip Interactive as EVP and Chief Revenue Officer. The company says he will pave the way for expansion into new markets, as well as foster growth with national and local advertisers. As CRO, Freund will help drive new station partnerships, while working with the product and marketing teams to both explore the
WTOP-FM Launches 'TicketBuster' Consumer Feature 
All News WTOP-FM, Washington DC, and wtop.com, announce the addition of a new consumer feature -- the WTOP TicketBuster. "With hundreds of new traffic cameras (speed, traffic, and red light) in the DC area and a record number of parking tickets being written, more stories are surfacing about flaws in these systems," says the announcement.. "WTOP Sprawl and Crawl Reporter Ari Ashe will be the 'TicketBuster' -- sharing the stories and fighting the fines of wrongly ticketed commuters." Ashe will launch the new feature "with several jaw-dropping stories" -- including a listener who received a parking ticket with his license plate but the make, model, and color of an entirely different vehicle." Ashe was able to get the ticket dismissed. Another example, we're told, includes a listener who received a parking ticket in DC, yet has proof that she and her vehicle were at a funeral in Maryland at the time of the cited infraction. Ashe also reports on a motorist who received a ticket for suspended Maryland registration and tags. The DMV is unwilling to dismiss the ticket, in spite of an MVA letter explaining that it was an error. "Ari's reporting has touched a nerve with frustrated commuters in the Washington DC area," says WTOP Program Director Laurie Cantillo. "Many are battling tickets with reams of documentation to support their case, yet their arguments are falling on deaf ears. Our goal is to make sure all drivers in Maryland, Virginia, and the District get a fair shake." On its wtop.com website, the station tells listeners, "If you think you're the victim of a bogus speed camera, red-light camera or parking ticket in D.C., Maryland or Virgina, WTOP may be able to help you cut the red tape. Email us your case - along with documentation - to ticketbuster@wtop.com." The "WTOP TicketBuster" feature will air on WTOP with more complete stories featured on the website. 89 WLS 89: Chicago's WLS-AM Celebrates 89 Years 
Friday (April 12) will mark the 89th anniversary of Chicago's WLS-AM. That 89 is especially significant to the station which has been known as "89 WLS" for more than half a century, and often as "The Big 89" WLS-AM. "To celebrate the occasion, WLS-AM is throwing itself a birthday party featuring all of its current local hosts, special guests, and more," reports Chicagoland Radio and Media. "On the evening of April 12, 1924, the station officially began on the air. It had done a few weeks of test shows using the call letters WBBX and WES. However, on the day of the official launch, it was decided to go with the call letters of WLS, standing for World's Largest Store, a nickname of its owner, Sears Roebuck & Company. Edgar Bill, the station's first Program Director, spoke these famous words into the station's microphone: 'Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! WLS, The Sears Roebuck Station is on the air!'," says CRM. Friday, WLS-AM will honor its past with an 89th Birthday Party, at Chicago's Navy Pier on the Lakeview Terrace, beginning at 5:30pm. CRM's Larz writes, "Expected to take part in the celebration are all of WLS-AM's current weekday Chicago hosts: Bruce Wolf, Dan Proft, John Kass, Lauren Cohn, Roe Conn, Richard Roeper, and Lou Canellis, as well as their current news and traffic reporters. The station is also promising some special guests coming by on this evening." For those who cannot attend, we're told, WLS-AM will be broadcasting the event live."
Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio
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From Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Tuesday's Radio & Media News - April 9, 2013
Earlier this year, Wind-up signed Filter, whose sixth album, The Sun Comes Out Tonight, is scheduled for release June 4, 2013. In addition to these marquee acts, Wind-up has scouted and developed several award-winning emerging artists, such as Civil Twilight, Young Guns, The Virginmarys, Aranda and Jillette Johnson. "Wind-up has an impressive roster of established and up-and-coming artists, due in large measure to its collaborative, supportive artist development process, and we're excited to partner with them," says Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman. "This agreement demonstrates that market-based solutions can enhance the future growth of digital radio -- and benefit artists, labels, and listeners as well." Wind-up's CEO Edward Vetri adds, "Wind-up at its essence is an artist development company. This partnership with Clear Channel will provide us a new and innovative platform to make our artists' music more accessible to their fans. We believe growing digital radio is critical to artist development and are excited to be aligned with Clear Channel in its digital radio strategy." Clear Channel's market-based agreement with Wind-up follows several recent, similar agreements, including Big Machine Label Group, Glassnote Entertainment Group, Dualtone, DashGo, rpm Entertainment, Robbins Entertainment, and Naxos.
technology’s use on other broadcast channels and to leverage user data in new and innovative ways. "Billy Freund is a game changing hire for Clip Interactive," says Clip Interactive CEO Michael Lawless. "As a founder and key leader in radio’s migration to digital media, he understands this space better than anyone. The simple fact that he joined the Clip management team is an endorsement of our business model and of our potential to change the industry. I’m thrilled to be working with him." Freund spent seven years at Triton Digital as EVP and a founding partner before leaving earlier this year. Prior to that he was with Westwood One for five years, and had worked at the Katz Radio Group for ten years.
Fischer, a 20-year media veteran, joins Clip after spending nearly four years at Triton Digital, where he was responsible for the North American loyalty program, which served over 800 clients. In July 2011, Fischer was promoted to SVP of Engagement for Triton's Applications and Services Division. Says Lawless, "We're thrilled to have Michael at Clip. We're positioned to immediately benefit from his expertise and deep digital media knowledge. Clip has big plans for 2013 and beyond and Michael is expected to play a key role in developing and executing those plans."
Henry Lake joins "610 SportsRadio" KCSP-AM, Kansas City, to co-host middays (10am-2pm) with Jay Binkley. He arrives from KFAN-AM, Minneapolis, where he'd been since 1998. Meanwhile, KCSP-AM's Danny Parkins moves from middays to afternoons, as does Carrington Harrison. Both join former Kansas City Chief Jayice Pearson for the newly named "The Drive with Danny Parkins" airing 2-6pm ... Nugget joins CHR-Top40 "106.9 K-Hits" KHTT-FM, Tulsa, for nights. Nugget formerly hosted mornings at WHPP-FM, Fort Wayne, Indiana, before its flip from "Click Hop 106.3" to "Rewind 106.3" ... Galaxy Communications "K-Rock" trimulcast WKRL-FM/Syracuse-WKLL-FM/Utica-WKRH-FM/Oswego announces its Dysfunctional Family BBQ 7 (DFB), moving this year to the Oswego Speedway. DFB 2013, set for May 18, will feature Volbeat, 10 Years, Big Wreck, Wayland, Surrender The Fall and Eye Empire.
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