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RTDNA/Hofstra Survey: Radio News Salaries Stagnant 
Overall, radio news salaries edged up only 0.8% in 2012, while local television news salaries actually fell 1.9% in 2012, according to the latest RTDNA/Hofstra University Annual Survey. "But you really have to burrow into the numbers to see what took place," writes Hofstra University Professor Bob Papper. For radio, he says, major market salaries rose in 2012 and rose by quite a bit. The overall number was so much lower because median salaries actually fell in large, medium and small markets, although the small market results were a bit more mixed. As usual, the larger the market, generally, the higher the salary. Papper notes that with inflation a modest 2.1%, that meant that TV news salaries dropped in purchasing power by 4% last year, while radio salaries fared only slightly better -- the radio increase was not enough to compensate for the inflation rate, leaving radio news salaries down 1.3% in terms of real wages. The latest survey finds that salaries rose substantially in major markets but fell in other markets. Over the past five and ten years, reporter salaries have outpaced inflation, but news director salaries have lagged. Starting salaries in radio and television remained flat from 2011.
'National Radio Talent System' Launches 
The National Radio Talent System -- a system of Radio Talent Institutes on college campuses across America -- has been launched. NRTS holds "an intense ten-day Radio Talent Institute" on college campuses, with the goal being that one is held in every region or state in America so students can attend in their home state, and so radio stations can recruit from their own region of the country, or nationally. "The Institutes are taught by radio professionals," says industry consultant Dan Vallie, who is the Director of the Institute. "This is to insure students and young broadcasters learn what you need them to know. He adds that these Institute students are just as determined, excited and passionate about getting into radio as you were." According to the announcement of the NRTS, "For decades, the radio industry has talked of the long-standing need for a farm system that would identify and bring new talent into the industry. Due to the advent of voicetracking, automation, syndication and labor laws that minimize or prevent the opportunity to just 'hang around' the station, the radio industry has lost much of its training ground. NRTS is designed to be the 'go to' place to find new, young, well-educated, entry level talent qualified to excel in stations across the U.S." We're told that the working model for the NRTS is the Kellar Radio Talent Institute at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, created by Vallie. So far, almost a hundred broadcasters from the region have taught sessions over the past 6 years, and 70% of the students that have completed the Institute have gotten their first job in radio or a related field. They are now working for CBS, Clear Channel, Beasley Broadcast Group, Entercom, Greater Media, Dick Broadcasting, Curtis Media, Centennial Broadcasting, CNN and others.
Nielsen to Replace Sprint on S&P 500 Index 
Nielsen Holdings will replace Sprint on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, effective at the end of the trading day on Monday (July 8). Sprint is being removed from the S&P 500 following a $21.6 billion deal giving SoftBank Corp. control of the wireless company. S&P says the deal puts Sprint shares available for trading below the 50 percent mark set as the criteria for the index. Nielsen's addition to the index is not directly related to its pending acquisition of Arbitron. Shareholders of Sprint last week approved the deal with Tokyo-based SoftBank Corp., agreeing to give the Japanese company control of the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier after, as Bloomberg puts it, "an eighth-month saga." The transaction "will mean that Sprint shares available for trading will fall below the 50% mark set by S&P as a criteria for membership of the U.S. equity benchmark index." 'Planet Radio' Returns to Jacksonville 
Clear Channel has relaunched Active Rock "Planet Radio" -- "Jacksonville's Real Rock" -- in Jacksonville, Florida. The new incarnation of the station comes via FM translator W295AZ at 106.9 and WNWW-FM's HD2 multicast channel. The 99 watt translator had been rebroadcasting Clear Channel’s "Sportsradio 930" WFXJ-AM. "106.9 Planet Radio" is being promoted as being commercial-free all summer until Labor Day. "We are thrilled to bring back Planet Radio and a brand that has been missed by Rock music fans in Jacksonville," says Clear Channel Jacksonville Market Manager Marv Nyren. Operations Manager Tommy Bodean adds, "Fans have missed Planet Radio. We hear from them all the time that they've wanted it back. I couldn't be more excited to bring a real rock station back to Jacksonville and the fact that we revive a brand like Planet that still resonates with the audience makes it even more exciting." The 106.9 frequency is the third one used for the Rock brand in the market. "Planet Radio" first aired on 93.3 from 1995 to 2005 -- and then 107.3 from 2005 until August 2010. 'Birmingham Mountain Radio' Now on FM 
The Triple-A format returns to FM in Birmingham as webcaster "Birmingham Mountain Radio" begins simulcasting its programming on FM tranlator W297BF at 107.3 via Summit Media's WZNN-FM HD2 multicast channel. This ends the national ESPN Radio feed which had been carried on the translator from WENN-AM. The AM station, meanwhile, returns to a simulcast of Classic Hip Hop "Power 102.1" on another translator -- W270BW. Birmingham Mountain Radio, under Program Director Geno Pearson, is a fully staffed webcaster that debuted in December 2010 to fill the gap left by the flip of "Live 100.5" WWMM-FM to News Talk earlier in the year. The station describes itself as "an Internet-based radio station that has a world class rock/adult album alternative format and focuses on local content through local DJs, specialty shows, promotions, and by highlighting local and regional bands." Says Pearson, "We've done so well just being on the Internet with just word of mouth. I think with FM, it's going to do really well. Nothing on the programming side or the content side will change. We have the same control as we did when we started. We’ve got the say on what’s on the air, who's on the air and when." The station will continue to be available on the Internet at bhammountainradio.com. Steve Cochran Returns to Chicago's WGN-AM 
Amid rumors that Steve Cochran, who just exited Salem News Talk "560 The Answer" WIND-AM, Chicago, was returning to crosstown WGN-AM, Cochran was heard on the air at WGN-AM Tuesday morning. MHBC has independently confirmed that Cochran, who was the afternoon host on "The Answer" and exited after declining a contract renewal, is indeed returning to "720 WGN Radio" but "for now" will only be doing fills. Chicagoland Radio and Media confirms that information, but we also have learned that Cochran, who was at WGN-AM from 2000-2010, is in the plans of new station boss Jimmy de Castro for a daily show, as de Castro continues re-making the station. Today (Tuesday), Cochran was heard on WGN-AM filling in for vacationing morning host Jonathon Brandmeier. A new daily show hosted by Cochran should be announced "in the next few months" according to our source inside the Tribune News Talk station who also tells us to expect to hear a lot of him in various roles until then. CRM, meanwhile, is reporting that Cochran "will spend much of this summer doing freelance fill-in work at the station, not just for the morning show, but other shifts, as well. Those fill-ins could very well lead to a much larger, full-time role at WGN-AM by the end of this summer, when even bigger changes are expected to take place." Chicago's JoAnn Genette Joins WERV-FM's 'Mackay in the Morning' 
Chicago radio veteran JoAnn Genette who has just exited WBBM-AM, will be joining Classic Hits/Classic Rock hybrid "95.9 The River" WERV-FM as the co-host and producer of the "Mackay in the Morning" show, starting Monday (July 8). According to Chicagoland Radio and Media, Genette has been working as a part-time overnight and weekend news anchor on "Newsradio 780" WBBM-AM since September 2012. Prior to her time at WBBM-AM, she was with the late "FM News 101.1" WIQI-FM as an anchor/reporter working multiple shifts. "She was among the first hired at the station in July 2011 and remained with it through its demise, just one year later," says CRM. Genette has been working in Chicago radio for over 15 years and has also "been heard delivering news and/or traffic reports on WLIT-FM, WLUP-FM, WXXY-FM (with Robert Murphy), and WCBR-FM. She may be best remembered as the morning news/traffic personality and co-host for WKSC-FM's morning show for well over seven years with DreX, and briefly with Sean Valentine before that," writes Chicagoland Radio and Media. Says WERV-FM Program Director Mark Zander, "I have known JoAnn since she was an aspiring broadcaster some years ago. It has been a pleasure watching her build a successful career here in her hometown. I was able to hire her once before, and am thrilled I had the perfect opportunity here at 95-9 The River to offer her now. We are indeed looking forward to the next phase of the 'Mackay In the Morning' show!" And says Genette, "I am excited to be part of a successful team, and a great morning show. The family atmosphere at The River and the dedication of its fans will be sure to make this experience fun and rewarding!" Tim Westergren: Pandora Not Worried About New Competition 
Pandora co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Tim Westergren says he is not worried about new digital music competition from Apple and Google. In an interview with the Financial Times, Westergren said, "I think we are on Pandora killer number eight by my count. I don’t mean to sound arrogant by saying that. We take every competitor seriously... But history has taught us that focus counts for a lot." Westergren adds, "We are the best builders of personalized playlists. I don’t think people get how hard it is to do that really well." The Financial Times says their interview took place just prior to "a crucial meeting on Monday with music industry representatives following its latest row over royalty payments." That would likely refer to last week's report that Pandora would begin formal negotiations with recorded music labels and publishers on royalty rates for the streaming music service. Westergren told FT that despite the company's recent, public issues with royalties, he predicts Pandora's overall royalty payments will continue to rise. "Our goal is to have those total payments go up," Westergren said, "Every hour [of listening] from broadcast radio to the web is [new] money for artists. It’s nothing but good news." Westergren argues that Pandora's “music genome” personalization technology, which ensures listeners are more likely to hear songs they like based on giving the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to tracks they hear, has been perfected over its 13-year history. That, he says, will give them an edge over new competitors. “We are the best builders of personalised playlists,” Westergren said. “I don’t think people get how hard it is to do that really well.” Cox Miami Market Manager Dan Kearney Resigns 
Cox Media Group Miami VP and Market Manager Dan Kearney has resigned, effective immediately. Kearney in July 2012 succeeded longtime Market Manager Jerry Rushin, who retired after more than 20 years with the company. Kearney has overseen the Miami cluster's WFLC-FM, WHQT-FM, WEDR-FM, and WFEZ-FM. Previously, he was VP and General Manager of CMG's Atlanta radio cluster from 2010 until he moved to Miami in 2012. "After fifteen-and-a-half years with CMG, I have decided to move on to the next chapter of my career," says Kearney. "It was almost a year ago when the company presented me with the opportunity to move to South Florida and we accepted. However, after much soul searching, my wife and I have decided to look at other opportunities outside of the South Florida market." Kearney began his radio career in Southern California. He joined Cox Radio in 1998 as LSM for KFI-AM, Los Angeles, later moving to GSM at WSB Radio in Atlanta, helping WSB become the top billing radio station in the country. So far, there's no word on a replacement for Kearney at CMG Miami. Dan Binder Joins SparkNet as Research Consultant 
Dan Binder joins the SparkNet team as a Research Consultant. The 25-year programming and management veteran becomes a member of the research and consulting firm to work mainly with the development and expansion of SparkNet's online products and services. Previously, Binder has held programming and operational positions at CBS Radio, Clear Channel, Radio One and Jarad Broadcasting. Says SparkNet Research and Consulting VP Max Dugan, "Dan's diverse experience in content development and programming combined with his vast research understanding, make him a valuable resource for our clients in the U.S., Canada and around the world." JVC Media Names New Directors of Client Services 
Long Island-based JVC Media recently announced the creation of new Client Services Departments for its Long Island and Ocala-Gainesville, Florida, clusters. Now, JVC tells us they've selected Ocala native Chad Hallmark and Long Island native Donna Drake to lead the new departments. Hallmark will develop the department for the company’s newly-acquired Ocala-Gainesville five-station cluster, and Drake will lead the Long Island four-station cluster department. Both assume the title of Director of Client Services. JVC Florida VP and Market Manager Shane Reeve tells us, "Hallmark will concentrate on building and developing long-standing relationships with clients, agencies and listeners. This really will become a department that focuses on making these stations market friendly and developing that synergy between sales and programming.” And JVC Long Island GSM Bruce Shepard tells us, "Donna Drake is a proven winner on Long Island and a natural talent for developing business and relationships. She is a wealth of knowledge and professionalism that we need as we expand our reach and develop new business. We are lucky to have her." 2014 Odyssey Is First Honda to Offer HD Radio 
The 2014 Odyssey from Honda now arriving at dealers, and its Touring Elite version offers HD Radio, Honda's first vehicle to offer the service. The 2014 Odyssey arrives at dealers with HD Radio and Neural 5.1 surround audio factory-installed. The offering in the upper-end Odyssey models is part of an audio package that includes surround-sound speakers in a 650 Watt system. According to iBiquity, HD Radio is now available as a factory installed feature in 33 automotive brands, including Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI USA, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Ram, Rolls-Royce, Scion, SRT (Chrysler), Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Behind the Microphone: The Ins and Outs of Radio "CBS Sports Radio 1140" KHTK-AM, Sacramento, returns to its previous "KHTK Sports 1140" identity, and moves morning host Don Geronimo back to middays (noon-3pm) starting July 8. Geronimo's co-hosts Drew Hoffar and Little Joe Pittman make the move with him. The rest of his team, Joe Ardinger, Mark "Phantom" Lowe, and Craig Harless are exiting the station. Co-owned Rhythmic CHR KSFM-FM afternoon host Keith "Boondock" Brooks will co-host mornings with former station host Carmichael Dave who returns to the station after being let go last year. The new morning show will air 5:30-9am, as the 9-10am hour is added to Jim Rome’s syndicated show so that all three hours air live on KHTK-AM. Current 12-3pm host Jason Ross will remain with the station in a role to be announced ... CHR-Top40 "95SX" WSSX-FM, Charleston, SC, names Yonni Rude Program Director, replacing Mike Edwards who exited last month. Rude was previously Assistant PD at sister Urban "Z93" WWWZ-FM ... Daron Harris joins CHR-Top40 "Kelly 95.3" KLLY-FM, Bakersfield, California, as Music Director and afternoon host.
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From Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Tuesday's Radio & Media News - July 2, 2013
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