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Google Debuts 'Play Music All Access' Streaming Service 
It's official ... Google did indeed today announce during its I/O conference that it's launching an on-demand subscription music service. It's called "Google Play Music All Access" -- and features "millions of songs, recommendations, charts and playlists, and instant radio stations at a cost in the U.S. for $9.99 a month. Early adapters get a free trial month, and sign-ups before June 30 get it for $7.99." In our earlier report, before the official announcement, we told you that "Google's streaming music service is being described as a competitor to Spotify." And Google beats Apple in launching yet another streaming service. We also reported, "The Verge notes that Google's service would be closer to Spotify's on-demand system, while Apple's more closely resembles Pandora's model. But with the presentation at I/O, Google executive Chris Yerga differentiated its "Play Music All Access" service from competition such as Spotify and Pandora -- citing "better music organization" in the Google subscription-only service. "Why is it that managing my queue feels like a chore?" he asked. "We set up to build a music services that doesn’t just give you access to great music but also guides you through it." Google says it won't only offer access to millions of songs, but also help guide subscribers to music they might like. They can choose one of 22 music genres and see key albums that define the genre along with recommendations from Google's curators. They can listen to any track right away, or switch to a "radio station" format featuring songs they are likely want to hear -- and adjust the playlist as you go.
Windows Phone 8 Update to Include FM Radio, 
Nokia has unveiled its Lumina 925 which is already running the next Windows Phone 8 update and it includes FM radio. Microsoft had made previously-standard FM radio an optional component for phone manufacturers last fall. The Lumia 925, which will go on sale at T-Mobile stores this summer, will be equipped with FM radio as a standard feature. And Microsoft's next Windows Phone update will return FM radio to its standard features, although it requires a headset to function. Nokia's Lumia 925, which is already running the next Windows Phone 8 update, includes international support for podcasts alongside FM radio. Other Lumia models are expected to add FM capabilities in the coming months. With a market share of less than 1%, Nokia’s move may not result in much additional listening for radio. But it could help convince other manufacturers to follow suit. Microsoft says the update is coming to existing Windows Phones this summer. The biggest upgrade in the Lumia 925 -- likely to be the main selling point in its advertising -- is a new camera that’s supposed to be better in low-light situations. While FM radio isn’t a marketing focus, many Windows Phone users were upset last October when they discovered FM was suddenly missing.
Arbitron RAC Wants Faster Action on 'Project Leapfrog' Radio Advisory Council Also Pushes for Better Online Ratings 
The Arbitron Radio Advisory Council (RAC), at meetings this week, indicated they want Arbitron to move forward on implementing Project Leapfrog, the plan to improve reporting in small and midsize markets with online reporting replacing diaries. Arbitron's Project Leapfrog offers web and mobile apps to track radio habits in small to mid-size markets for better radio reporting. The RAC met in Arbitron's hometown of Columbia, Maryland, where the topics discussed included increasing sample sizes and Project Leapfrog. South Central Media President Craig Jacobus, who held his first meeting as RAC Chair, said the council would like to see implementation of Project Leapfrog following the extensive testing already done. "We've seen good progress. It is just a speed issue," Jacobus said on a conference call with reporters.
Nick Cannon to End 'Cannon’s Countdown' 
Nick Cannon says he will leave his CBS Radio-syndicated "Cannon's Countdown" weekend show next month, 16 months after exiting as morning host on CBS Radio CHR-Top40 "92.3 Now" in New York City. He left the daily show after two years following a health scare, but continued the weekly Countdown show. Cannon says the final "Cannon's Countdown" will be June 8. This time it's not a health issue, but a busy schedule including time spent with his new multi-media company NCredible Entertainment. "I've made the difficult decision to step away from my on air duties in radio in order to have the time to dedicate to NCredible Entertainment and the various projects that I have on my plate in film, TV, retail and a new album. It is my plan to return to radio and my listeners very soon through my music." Cannon is also a host on NBC's "America's Got Talent" and will be back on his MTV show "Wild N Out" this summer. Also, we have just learned that Cannon is close to bringing back “Soul Train" after purchasing all the rights to the show. Although no official word on this is available yet, there's speculation that Cannon may be planning to host the revamped syndicated weekly television show. KSBJ-FM/Houston Taps Ty McFarland for Program Director 
Contemporary Christian KSBJ-FM, Houston, names industry veteran Ty McFarland as its new Program Director, effective June 17. Most recently, McFarland was Senior Program Director at WGTS-FM, Washington DC. Previously he developed and managed programming for the K-Love network as Program Director. Before K-Love the 17-year broadcaster was General Manager at KTFY-FM, Twin Falls, Idaho, and Operations Manager at KTSY-FM, Boise, Idaho.
Dial Global Appoints Christina Albee Chief Marketing Officer 
Dial Global appoints Christina Albee as Chief Marketing Officer -- responsible for the company's positioning and branding, and overseeing Dial Global's advertising, marketing and communication strategies. Albee joins Dial Global from Conde Nast, where she was Senior Executive Director of Integrated Marketing. "I am thrilled to assume the role of Chief Marketing Officer role at Dial Global," says Albee. "I look forward to working closely with Paul Caine to innovate and advance our marketing initiatives surrounding Dial Global's premium programming and unique assets. There's an incredible amount of opportunity to redefine the category and I'm happy to be a part of Dial Global's extremely smart team at the forefront of this industry." Dial Global CEO Paul Caine tells us, "We're committed to investing in top talent who will be an integral and critical part of our path to success. That's why I am so thrilled to have Christina on board. I have known her for many years. She's a creative, warm, loyal, and supportive coworker; she will be a huge enhancement to our powerhouse Marketing group." Steve Harvey to Host 2013 Ford Neighborhood Awards 
Radio and TV personality Steve Harvey is set to host the 2013 Ford Neighborhood Awards Show (formerly the Hoodie Awards) -- an event Harvey hosts annually in Las Vegas, seeking the nation's best community leaders, teachers, churches, businesses and more. This year's Neighborhood Awards nominations in twelve categories started May 13 online at www.SteveHarvey.com, and continue through May 29. The 11th annual awards show will be held in Las Vegas August 10 as part of a celebration weekend of events related to the awards. Harvey says of the nominations, "The Neighborhood Awards Show was created for you -- to honor the real stars of the neighborhood. I look forward to seeing the turnout on those Neighborhood Award nomination submissions, who are some of your favorite people and places that have impacted you, and how close the categories will be this year!" The August 10 awards show will provide a special evening for the top 40 nominees, fans, and other guests at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, with a special presentation from Ford to the Best Community Leader winner, who will receive a $30,000 donation from Ford to be used toward the leader's nonprofit organization. Scheduled to appear at the show are Chaka Khan, Jaheim, and Fantasia, and celebrity presenters including Anthony Hamilton, RonReaco Lee, Salli Richardson, Tamara Tunie, Tichina Arnold, and Judge Greg Mathis. 'Saturday Night Online Live with Romeo' Hits 100 Affiliates 
SupeRadio's "Saturday Night Online Live with Romeo" hits 100 total affiliates as it adds four new stations to the roster of those airing the syndicated show. The new affiliates, all Clear Channel CHR-Top40 stations, we're told, are "Wild 95.5" WLDI-FM, West Palm Beach, Florida; "Q94" WRVQ-FM, Richmond Virginia; "Channel 96.3" KZCH-FM, Wichita Kansas; and "96.1 Kiss FM" KSME-FM, Ft. Collins, Colorado. We're also told that SNOL Associate Producer Colleen Shea has been promoted to Executive Producer, replacing Joe McCollum. "I am so excited to be moving up my role on Saturday Night Online," says Shea. "I could not ask for a better a team. I have watched SNOL grow from one affiliate to one hundred through the vision and direction of Tim, Rich and Superadio and I look forward to taking it to the next level!" SNOL is online here. SupeRadio -- online here -- calls itself "The Radio Mix Show Network." Exiting FCC Commisioner Robert McDowell to Join Hudson Institute 
When FCC Commisioner Robert McDowell exits the Commision May 17, he will join the Hudson Institute’s Center for Economics of the Internet as a visiting fellow. In a statement, McDowell says, "As its mission statement articulates, the Hudson Institute is a nonpartisan policy organization dedicated to innovative research and analysis that promotes global security, prosperity, and freedom. Ensuring that the Internet marketplace remains free from unnecessary government and multilateral intervention will help achieve those noble goals. I have long admired the work of the Hudson Institute, especially its focus on how international trade can help spread liberty and improve the human condition. I look forward to joining such a distinguished group of scholars." JVC Media Buying Five Florida FM Stations 
JVC Media announces an agreement to buy Asterisk Communications’ five Gainesville, Florida, FM radio stations, Country WTRS-FM, Hot AC WMFQ-FM, Smooth AC/Smooth Jazz WXJZ-FM, News Talk WBXY-FM and Sports Talk WYGC-FM. JVC owns four FM stations on Long Island and operates Long Island Events. Says JVC Media CEO John Caracciolo, "We are honored and privileged to welcome these top performing radio stations into the JVC family. The prior owner of these stations was committed to community service, high quality broadcasting and creating an excellent work environment for its staff, and we are proud to be able to continue the tradition that Asterisk started in this great market." JVC Media, also known as JVC Broadcasting, is a privately owned company headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York. The company founded in 2008 derives its initials from its founders John Caracciolo and Vic Canales. It is not associated with the electronics company with the same initials. CMB Announces New Radio Station Awards Format 
The Christian Music Broadcasters announces a new "streamlined" process for entering their Radio Station of the Year Awards competition. CMB says it "has re-vamped the entry procedure for the 2013 Station of the Year competition. Stations will no longer need to put together an elaborate written entry and submit it for judging. All written information will now simply be entered into an online 'form' on the CMB website - cmbonline.org - No more pictures, no more elaborate layouts, just a written record of what your station has done in the past year in the areas of ratings, community involvement, new media and industry leadership. Audio portions of each entry will be uploaded directly to our website." Stations wanting to enter the 2013 competition will only be allowed to submit airchecks, ratings information and station activities which took place between May 1, 2012 and April 30, 2013. Stations wishing to enter the competition must submit their entries by June 14. Voted on by a panel of judges within the radio industry, the Christian Music Broadcasters Radio Station of the Year Awards are presented to stations which show outstanding achievement in on-air presentation, community service, ratings, new media and industry leadership. One award is given in each of four market categories -- Major, Large, Medium and Small. The 2013 Christian Music Broadcasters Radio Station of the Year Awards will be presented Wednesday evening at the CMB Networking dinner to be held at Momentum 2013, September 4-7 at the Disney Yacht & Beach Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
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From Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Wednesday's Radio & Media News - May 15, 2013
Before the official announcement was made, we reported that according to 
He said the RAC encouraged Arbitron to integrate "the best of Project Leapfrog" -- and that the RAC is "pleased with the progress" -- but they want Arbitron to move faster toward implementing the system. The RAC also asked Arbitron to further revise its streaming simulcast rules in order to allow substitution of spots from different advertisers outside the metro. "Arbitron was open to this request and is working on the details and timing," said Jacobus. Arbitron, we're told, is currently analyzing that, and hopes to render a decision as quickly as possible. The RAC, said the new Chair, also asked for better measurement of online radio listeners, while Arbitron countered that its customers and streaming service providers are being slow about turning over the log file data that Arbitron needs to produce such estimates. "We would like to get more log files from more customers and more content delivery networks," Arbitron SVP of Marketing Bill Rose said in the media briefing. "That has been a little slower than we would like." Jacobus added, "We know there's a lot of listening on the Internet that we're not getting credit for. We've really impressed upon Arbitron the need to move quickly." Asked if the RAC has a position on Arbitron's upcoming merger with Nielsen, Jacobus said that, for now, "It's business as usual." He said the meeting overall was "very productive."
Says KSBJ-FM President and General Manager Tim McDermott, "We are excited to have Ty join our team at KSBJ. Many of us have known Ty for a long time and know of his creativity, his passion of people and his passion for God. I know he will be a great addition to our team and that he will take our programming to even greater levels of ministry and impact in our city." The station is operated by KSBJ Educational Foundation. a "Christ-centered, non-profit, listener-supported radio ministry."
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