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Entercom Second Quarter Revenues Down 3% 
Entercom reports second quarter net revenues declined 3% to $101.2 million from $104.5 million for April, May and June compared to the same three months in 2012. Station expenses were also down 3% to $65.7 million, while station operating income decreased 4% to $35.5 million. The company posted net earnings of $9.8 million (26 cents/share) compared to a loss of $3.2 million (9 cents) in the year-ago period. During the quarter, the company took a $0.9 million impairment related to the anticipated sale of non-core real estate. Says President and CEO David Field, "Strong expense management and reduced interest expense enabled Entercom to grow Adjusted Earnings per Share despite a decline in Revenues for the quarter. Notwithstanding our disappointing revenues, we believe that we are well positioned to accelerate our performance later in the year based on our excellent ratings and our strong competitive position that has been further bolstered by a number of recent operational and strategic enhancements." We're told that Entercom reduced its outstanding net senior debt and senior notes by $3.5 million during the quarter. As of June 30, the company had $6.3 million in cash and $545.6 million of senior debt and senior notes. Also during the second quarter, the company realized a $1.6 million gain related to the completion of its 2009 tower sale transaction. Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo Responds to Sexual Harrassment Allegations 
Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo responds to sexual harassment allegations that have been reported as the reason for his sudden exit from Univision last month. Sotelo says in a statement, "For the past week, I have remained silent as some former disgruntled Univision employees have made false accusations about me. I did not want to dignify their lies by responding. But enough is enough. During the past 14 years, I helped my friend Beto Cortez through a number of difficult periods in his life and have been very generous to him. It saddens me that he has resorted to making baseless claims in an attempt to obtain an undeserved financial windfall. For more than a decade, through all of Beto's personal travails, I stood up for my friend again and again. In 2012, by Beto's own admission, his work performance had become horribly erratic and I could no longer protect him. This is why Univision decided not to renew his contract when it expired at the end of last year. For several months, we received reports that Beto was soliciting many of our co-workers to join him in asserting fictitious allegations and filing a complaint against me. Contrary to Beto's malicious statements, I have received an outpouring of unconditional support from my listeners and fans. I am very thankful for their thoughts, their prayers and their encouragement. I plan to be back on radio very soon and will continue to work hard to keep your loyalty and trust. Stay tuned!"
WSJ: 'Turtles and SiriusXM - Not Happy Together' 
Some 46 years after their 1967 hit "Happy Together" topped the charts, the Turtles are suing SiriusXM for playing the group's songs without permission, reports the Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of the group's founding members, "spotlights one of copyright law’s oddities: federal law protects only recordings made since 1972. Recordings made before 1972 are protected under state law, to varying degrees, in a handful of states, according to Henry Gradstein, the Turtles’ lead attorney," says WSJ. "California's civil code explicitly protects pre-1972 sound recordings against unauthorized duplication until 2047, and state courts have ruled that sound recordings can be protected in a misappropriation, conversion, or unfair competition claim, said the attorney. The suit, which is seeking class action status, is demanding at least $100 million in damages." A SiriusXM spokesman declined to comment. The Wall Street Journal report notes, "The 1972 rule wasn’t a significant issue in the past since terrestrial radio broadcasters are exempt from paying performance royalties on all sound recordings, no matter when they were made. But satellite radio and digital music services have been required to pay performing artists royalties for the digital use of their recordings since 1995, according to federal law." Such services can either strike their own deals with rights holders to use their music, or they can get an automatic license from the government to use any music they want for set rates. In the latter case the service pays royalties to SoundExchange, which collects the money and distributes it to recording artists and record labels. Until two years ago, Sirius regularly sent SoundExchange a log of every song it played – including songs recorded before 1972 – along with a lump sum payment for the royalties it owed. The non-itemized sum didn’t include pre-1972 recordings, but since the payment wasn’t broken down per song, SoundExchange for years distributed the royalties to all the artists on Sirius’s playlists, including the legacy artists, according to a person familiar with the matter. But in 2011 SoundExchange asked Sirius to start reporting exactly what it was paying for, and since then Sirius has stopped reporting pre-1972 songs, so SoundExchange stopped paying out on them, meaning older artists like the Turtles are only now starting to feel the impact. Entercom Renews with Arbitron 
Arbitron announces that Entercom Communications has signed multi-year, multi-market renewals for Arbitron's PPM and Diary radio ratings services. "Entercom is an industry leader and shares Arbitron's commitment to helping radio demonstrate its value to advertisers as a vibrant and growing medium," says Arbitron President and CEO Sean Creamer. "Our two companies have enjoyed a long and collaborative relationship and we will continue our joint efforts to demonstrate the strength of Radio within the expanding media landscape." Says Entercom President/CEO David Field, "We look forward to expanding our partnership with Arbitron as we continue to identify opportunities that grow our radio platform and make us more attractive to our listeners and our customers. We plan to continue to collaborate with Arbitron to demonstrate the incredible value of radio, to ensure broadcasters get full credit for their audiences and to enhance the high return to marketers on their advertising investment." New Clear Channel CFO Richard Bressler Gets $1.2M/Year Base 
Clear Channel tells the SEC, in an 8K filing, new CFO Richard Bressler will receive a base salary of $1.2 million a year, with the opportunity to receive a lot more in bonuses. As we reported last week, Bressler was named President and CFO of CC Media Holdings and Clear Channel Communications, and CFO of Clear Channel Outdoor. An employment agreement entered last week is detailed in the 8K. CC Media Holdings tells the SEC that Bressler "will receive a base salary at a rate no less than $1,200,000 per year, which shall be increased at the discretion of CCMH's board of directors or its compensation committee," and that "Bressler will also have the opportunity to earn an annual performance bonus for the achievement of reasonable performance goals established annually by the CCMH Board or its compensation committee after consultation with Mr. Bressler. The aggregate target performance bonus that may be earned when all of Mr. Bressler’s performance objectives are achieved will be not less than 150% of Mr. Bressler’s base salary amount; provided, however, that Mr. Bressler’s actual bonus for 2013 will be no less than the target performance bonus multiplied by the percentage of the 2013 calendar year from July 29, 2013 to December 31, 2013. In addition to the annual bonus, Mr. Bressler is also eligible for an additional annual bonus opportunity of up to $500,000, based on CCMH’s achievement of one or more annual performance goals determined by CCMH’s chief executive officer and approved by the CCMH Board (or a committee thereof), which amount is guaranteed for 2013." The Employment Agreement also "entitles" Bressler "to participate in all pension, profit sharing, and other retirement plans, all incentive compensation plans, and all group health, hospitalization and disability or other insurance plans, paid vacation, sick leave and other employee welfare benefit plans in which other similarly situated employees of CCMH may participate. During the term of his employment, CCMH will make a car service available for Mr. Bressler’s business use. CCMH will reimburse Mr. Bressler for the reasonable legal fees incurred by Mr. Bressler in connection with the negotiation of the Employment Agreement and ancillary documents. The Employment Agreement also contains customary confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions." Mike O'Brian Named KKLZ-FM/Las Vegas Program Director 
Beasley Broadcast Group announces the promotion of Mike O'Brian to Program Director for Classic Hits KKLZ-FM, Las Vegas. O'Brian will also continue as co-host of the "KKLZ Morning Show with Mike, Jim and Carla." The promotion is effective today. As PD O'Brian will report to VP and Market Manager Tom Humm and VP of Programming Justin Chase. Corporate VP of Operations Brian Beasley tells us, "It's a good day at the office when we can promote someone who has served previously as a program director and has a long tenure with Beasley. The fact that Mike is a respected and key voice for KKLZ and a genuine supporter of charitable causes in the Las Vegas community is an added and important bonus! We are wishing Mike all the best in his new role."
Las Vegas 'Coyote' Names Kris Daniels Program Director 
Beasley Broadcast Group names Kris Daniels as Program Director and morning co-host at Country "102.7 The Coyote" KCYE-FM, Las Vegas. Daniels will report to VP and Market Manager Tom Humm and VP of Programming Justin Chase. She's coming to Vegas from Louisville, Kentucky, at "New Country Q 103.1" WQNU-FM, where she's co-host of "Daniels and Diaz in the Morning" and is the station's Music Director. She'll start at "The Coyote" in several weeks after exiting WQNU-FM, where she's been since 2008. Previously, Daniels had stops in Tucson, Bakersfield and Fresno tackling a variety of on-air shifts (mornings, middays and nights) and working her way up from on-air personality to Music Director and Assistant PD.
Pandora, Clear Channel Again Top Triton Digital Internet Rankers 
Pandora and Clear Channel again are at the top of Triton Digital's monthly online audio Top 20 Ranker for June 2013. The Ranker is a listing of the top-performing Internet audio using Triton's webcast metrics. Pandora is again first for online listenership rankings. Clear Channel was again ranked second. After Pandora's Average Active Sessions for Monday-Friday 6am-8pm, in the Domestic Ranker declined for three consecutive months, its numbers were up in June, with 1.7 million AAS, compared to 1.69 million in May. Session starts, however, were down to 814.9 million from 961.5 million the prior month. Again second, Clear Channel's AAS was up to 335,571 from 333,058 in May. Slacker was ranked third, followed by Cumulus and CBS Radio, NPR Member Stations, EMF Corporate, Cox Radio, ESPN and Entercom for the top ten. On the June All Streams Ranker (M-F, 6a-8p), Clear Channel was first again, with a slight increase, while Prisa Radio moved up to second, followed by Slacker, Cumulus, CBS Radio, NPR, EMF Corporate, Cox, ESPN and Karnaval.com. On the full week Domestic Ranker (6a-mid), Pandora was again first, but its AAS fell to 1.444 million. Clear Channel remains second, followed by Slacker, Cumulus, CBS, NPR, EMF Corporate, Cox, Univision and ESPN. And on the June All Streams Ranker full week listing, Clear Channel was again first, with Slacker second, and then Prisa Radio. CBS, Cumulus, NPR, EMF Corporate, Cox, Karnaval.com and Univision round out the top ten. John Sykes Among 2013 T.J. Martell Honorees 
The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research has announced the honorees for its 38th Annual Honors Gala on October 22, which will be held at the legendary Cipriani in New York. The honorees include John Sykes, President of Clear Channel Entertainment Enterprises; Jennifer Breithaupt, SVP of Entertainment Marketing for Citi; Brandon Steiner, CEO of Steiner Sports and Target Corporation. Celebrity performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Steiner will receive the Humanitarian of the Year Award, Sykes will receive the Lifetime Music Industry Achievement Award, Breithaupt will receive the Spirit of Music Award and the Spirit of Excellence Award will go to the Target Corporation.
Seattle Mariners Extend with Flagship KIRO-AM 
The Seattle Mariners have extended their radio contract with Bonneville's Sports Talk "710 ESPN" KIRO-AM, Seattle, through 2016. The team says it agreed to exercise a two-year option with its flagship radio station. The Mariners have aired in Seattle on "710 ESPN" since 2009, after a six-year absence from the former version of KIRO-AM, which was the team's flagship from 1985-2002. "Our relationship with Bonneville and 710 ESPN is an excellent one," says Mariners President Chuck Armstrong. "We look forward to three more seasons on 710 ESPN's powerful signal and the Mariners Radio Network across the Northwest." Bonneville Seattle VP and General Manager Carl Gardner adds, "We are delighted to be part of the rich tradition and the exciting future of Mariners baseball. It's our privilege to allow fans to follow their team at home, in the car and on the go across the Northwest." We're also told that the Mariners will continue to have a year-round presence on "710 ESPN" -- including all regular-season and most Spring Training games, pregame and postgame programming, a weekly magazine feature during the baseball season, and the Hot Stove League during the off-season. Clear Channel San Diego Names James Thomas GSM 
Clear Channel San Diego names James Thomas General Sales Manager. Most recently, Thomas led Townsquare Media's New Jersey and Flint, Michigan, clusters as Sales Manager. Prior to that Thomas was Townsquare Media's Regional Director of Digital Sales and Digital Sales Manager. "We are proud to add the depth and experience James brings to our sales management team," says Clear Channel San Diego Market President Melissa Forrest. "He will be a tremendous asset to our integrated sales efforts." Thomas has also held digital sales management positions with Midwest Communications in Green Bay, McVay New Media in Cleveland and Regent Communications in Evansville, Indiana, and Owensboro, Kentucky. More Congressional Support for Local Radio Freedom Act 
A bipartisan group of 13 members of Congress sign on as co-sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act, the resolution that opposes "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations. The LRFA is now co-sponsored by 152 members of the House and 11 Senators. Adding their support to the LRFA are Reps. Robert Andrews (NJ-1), Spencer Bauchus (AL-6), Mo Brooks (AL-5), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Tom Cotton (AR-4), Rick Crawford (AL-1), Duncan Hunter (CA-50), James Lankford (OK-5), Frank Lucas (OK-3), Ben Ray Lujan (NM-3), Dan Maffei (NY-24), Candice Miller (MI-10), and Matt Salmon (AZ-5). Reps. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) introduced the Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 16) in the House of Representatives on February 15 along with 71 additional co-sponsors. An identical resolution (S. Con. Res. 6) was introduced in the Senate on March 6 by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). The Mavericks to Perform at NAB Marconi Radio Awards 
The NAB tells us that the 2013 NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner and Show will feature a performance by Grammy-winning group The Mavericks. The event, sponsored by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, will take place September 19 at the 2013 Radio Show at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando. "The Mavericks' infectious energy, passion and chemistry on stage will make this year's NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner an unforgettable evening," says NAB EVP of Radio John David. "These guys are great entertainers excited to join Radio to salute the Marconi nominees and winners. Our thanks to Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group in Nashville for helping to make this happen." We're told that the "genre-defying Mavericks" -- who describe themselves as the "most interesting band in the world" -- have blended Country, Rock and Cuban sounds in hit songs such as "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" - "Here Comes the Rain" - and "Dance the Night Away." Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio. Winners will be announced at the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show. New York City's 'Z100' Celebrates 30 Years 
Clear Channel CHR-Top40 "Z100" WHTZ-FM is celebrating 30 years in New York City. The WHTZ transmitter is located on the Empire State Building. The call letters were chosen to represent the word "Hits" -- and an early advertising campaign for the station claimed that WHTZ was "The New Way to Spell 'Hitz' in New York." Z100's current slogan is "New York's Hit Music Station." The format and the call letters were debuted in early August 1983, with the first two songs played being "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, then "America" by Neil Diamond. Within 74 days of signing on, WHTZ had climbed from last place to first in the New York Arbitron ratings book. Over the years, Z100 stayed with a Top 40 format. Original Program Director and morning host Scott Shannon left at the end of 1988. Over the past 30 years, WHTZ-FM has had several ownership changes, having been launched by Cleveland-based Malrite Communications, then was acquired by Chancellor which later merged with Evergreen, then acquired Capstar, forming AM/FM which was bought by Clear Channel Communications. Although the station became WHTZ-FM on August 2, 1983, the transmitter move to the top of the Empire State Building wasn't completed until several days later, and the "Z100" logo was introduced shortly after that. After Shannon, programmers included Steve Kingston, and Tom Poleman (now Clear Channel Media and Entertainment President of National Programming Platforms). Although Shannon left in late 1988 to begin "Pirate Radio" in Los Angeles, he's now the PD and morning host at crosstown Hot AC WPLJ-FM, which originally was WHTZ-FM's Top 40 competition until WPLJ-FM realized it had lost the battle and tried other formats before moving to its current Hot AC programming.
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From Mark Harris Broadcast Consulting
Monday, August 5, 2013
Monday's Radio & Media News - August 5, 2013
Humm adds, "I have worked with, competed against and listened to Mike for over thirty years. He cares about entertaining his listeners every day through great preparation and believes that serving our community is his number one goal. Mike leads by example with great enthusiasm and passion. His desire to achieve perfection makes him the perfect candidate to lead KKLZ and our outstanding staff." O'Brian has been waking up Las Vegas radio listeners for nearly 30 years. He joined the "KKLZ Morning Show" in 2007, but his career with Beasley Las Vegas began five years earlier in 2003 as morning show host and ultimately Program Director of "Star 102.7" KSTJ-FM. O'Brian has been in the Las Vegas market since 1980, hosting morning shows there since 1986.
"We're thrilled to welcome Kris Daniels to Beasley Broadcast Group Las Vegas," says Chase. "She is joining the finest collection of radio professionals that I have ever had the privilege to work with. Kris has an impeccable reputation and history within the Country music community. In addition, we are excited to build upon Vegas' number one Country morning show as she teams up with Rick Kelly." Daniels, originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, tells us, "I'm looking forward to working for a wonderful company and with a strong, local, talented staff; together we're going to make sure that 102.7 The Coyote remains the #1 country radio station in Las Vegas."
The annual New York Honors Gala brings together hundreds of music and entertainment leaders, top business executives and celebrities. It is one of the most sought-after tickets in the industry and is one of the most important events for the T.J. Martell Foundation, allowing the organization to continue its work in Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS research. Sykes is the co-founder of the MTV and VH1 Cable Networks. In 2011 he was named President, Entertainment Enterprises for Clear Channel Media Holdings. "When I started this Foundation with several of my peers in the music and entertainment business in honor of my son T.J., I wanted to do all that I could to make sure other families would not have to suffer the way my family did," says Tony Martell, Founder/Chairman of the T.J. Martell Foundation. "Our annual New York Honors Gala is one of the most important fundraisers we produce and without it we could not continue to offer the patient services or cutting-edge research for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS."
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