Sunday Evening Odds & Sods

75° - clear at 9:15pm

Good Evening From Michigan. Most of the weekend spent ripping music for the internet radio project. Did catch a bit of Bob Stroud's Rock 'N Roll Roots show this morning on Chicago's WDRV - first of a two-part salute to The Who.

Catching up on reading:

Great posts - both related. Fred Jacobs wrote Friday on a new JupiterResearch study showing that "despite all the other music discovery media and methods, radio is still #1" for discovering new music. Fred's post here. And back on Thursday, Mark Ramsey wrote a piece on Pandora - and radio's advantages - both music and non-music. A must read here.

Dave Lange. Dave asks "Sales solves all problems?". Read here.

Industry heros ignored. This past week Lee Arnold blogged that "the inductees for 2008 into the National Radio Hall of Fame were announced today (Friday). Scott Muni, Tom Donahue, Bill Drake, Thom O'Hare, Bill Vermillion and Jack Benny were not among the inductees." Lee - I think you and I need to start a campaign for next year. I'm certain others would join the effort.

Chicago Radio Spotlight. This week Rick Kaempfer interviews WERV/Aurora production director Jim McInerney. More great radio stories here.

Larry. Getting back to the state broadcaster's conference I attended early this week. Tuesday Night the annual Michigan Association of Broadcaster Hall of Fame Awards were announced. Five individuals were inducted into the Michigan Broadcaster Hall of Fame - all very deserving.

Among the five: Larry Estlack.

Larry has been in the business since his high school days in Muskegon, Michigan; has been an air personality, programmer, engineer, teacher and friend to many.

His influence is statewide - having (as engineer) constructed many facilities throughout the state - plus (at least) two television stations from construction permit to air in Lansing. Larry's day job is that of Director of Technology for the state broadcast association.

As an air personality and programmer, Larry's been on-air at several Lansing area stations during his career - and for the last 20+ years, has been hosting the All-Request Saturday Night Show on the classic rock station I formerly programmed here in Lansing.

Accepting his award Tuesday Night, Larry thanked one guy for the music he plays - and thats consultant Fred Jacobs. Larry and Fred attended (and taught) at Michigan State University together.

It was Fred Jacobs who nominated Larry for the Hall of Fame this year. Fred, along with many others were at the ceremonies to see and hear Larry accept the award; and yours truly fortunate to be there too. And glad to call Larry Estlack a friend.

Sunday Morning Odds & Sods

64° - light rain at 11am

Good Morning.

Fired up the WDRV/Chicago stream this morning - and Bob Stroud. Heard one hit wonder "Crow" and 1969's "Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me)". Nice.

Later: Bob wound up his show with "Lake Shore Drive" by Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah. Still a wonderful song to hear after all these years. You gotta be from the Windy City to understand; pardon this moment of self-indulgence.

WDRV doing a "triple play weekend" - 3'fers accompanied by some excellent artist imaging; hard to beat Nick Michaels' storytelling.

Speaking of music - I'm hearing all sorts of good things about a new Stephen Stills release "Just Roll Tape".

The CD features demo versions of many Stills classics performed in the studio back in 1968.

Bob Leftsetz writes here about the Stills release; Larry Estlack (Allen) at WMMQ wrote in an email last night: "Got it and it is very fresh, like finding a old photo in very nice condition." On my want list.

Added: With so many demos and unreleased versions of classic songs available now on reissues - can a special weekend be put together with this material? As only Classic Rock can do. The WXXX Basement Tapes or something. Just thinking...

Hype-o-licious. Consultant Greg Gillispie writes in this week's FMQB - here - about building momentum with buzz and WOM (word-of-mouth); and gives some examples of how the value far exceeds the investment.

Confessions of an Arbitron participant. Discovered consultant Harv Blain's new blog - and a post about comments some Arbitron participants have made on their own blogs. Very worth your time. Here.

Added: David Martin here on Swanson's Unwritten Rules of Management and unwritten rule number eight. Added: Rick Kaempfer interviews KLKX-KKZQ Palmdale PD and syndicated "The Rockin' 80s" host Mark Zander. Here.

Have a great Sunday. Going to enjoy this rain - long overdue.

Save The Streams

For the past few days, I've been attending the Michigan Association of Broadcasters annual Great Lakes Radio Conference - with time spent away from my laptop. My thanks to MAB Director of Technology (and classic rock aficionado) Larry Estlack for the invite.

Since last weekend - this blog has had a banner ad for "Save The Streams" (scroll down on the right hand column). I've intended to write more about "Save The Streams"; but Fred Jacobs wrote extensively today about saving internet radio on his blog here. If your station streams on the internet (or plans to), Fred's post is a great read.

More here tomorrow.