PPM Lessons for Smaller Markets + More Spring Books

61° - clear/sunny at 8:17am

Why PPM matters. Even in non-PPM markets. I've been commenting on this blog for some time now that lessons learned from PPM can make a difference in non-PPM markets.

Tom Taylor - in his Radio-Info.Com Newsletter this morning relays a call he received from consultant Bob Taylor:

He says “in small markets, they’re thinking ‘this doesn’t apply to us’, but it doesn’t make a difference: tuneout is tuneout.” He started applying the early PPM lessons from Houston and Philly when he was programming in Binghamton and says “I saw that when we took that stuff off the air, like the jock saying ‘be right back’, we saw the Time Spent Listening go up in the diary world.” He kept picking away at “the stuff in between the songs, like how long the breaks were, and we re the breaks focused on the listener, not what you did last weekend.” The music’s got to be right, of course. But Bob says “This makes a difference in any market, like what you say going into breaks. The competition didn’t get what we were doing in Binghamton, but it’s like going into Starbucks – it’s not just the coffee, it’s the experience, on a minute-by-minute basis.” Bob says that’s what the People Meter rules – like those 20 that T-R-I ran on Monday from the Boot Camp session that included Rick Cummings – can do for every market. He says it’s dangerous to keep using “1996 rules…and then we scratch our heads and ask why the TSL is dropping” on a diary-measured station.

Tom's daily newsletter - a must-read - is offered as a free subscription here.

Spring Arbitrons - more classic rock winners: A big time win for WLAV/Grand Rapids. The station up almost 2-1/2 points and #2 12+. In Oklahoma City, KRXO up over a point and a half - good for #3 12+. KKFM/Colorado Springs also up a point and a half, good for a tie at #2 12+.

In Portland, KGON up a half point. WSFL/Greenville-New Bern up almost a full point - good for #3 12+. WIMZ/Knoxville up just over a point. And in Nashville, WNRQ is up a half point. All stations to spend some time with on the web with pen and notepad.

Added Advisory: This could be sitting in your Outlook in-box. Watch for emails with the subject line "CNN.com Daily Top 10". Clicking on a link in the email will invite a victim to install a video codec which simply installs some nasty malware on the victim's PC.

Yesterday I spent a good few hours removing such from a co-worker's desktop. Nasty stuff. Your IT people and co-workers should be aware. Read more here.

Headed north to Michigan's beautiful Traverse City today. More tomorrow.

Wanna Be Elected?

Imagine the thoughts coming from the collective brainpower in this competition:

If YOU were elected "President of Radio," what would you do during the first 100 days of your administration?

(SOUTHFIELD, MI - 8/06/08) That's the question we will be posing to nine industry luminaries (and former radio execs) at a session that will take place at the Jacobs Summit in Austin, TX on September 18th. Co-sponsored with Radio & Records and moderated by Fred Jacobs, the session will allow each panelist to present their initiatives for transforming radio as the industry endures challenging times. Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs comments, "We're looking for big thinkers with constructive solutions, and feel that providing a forum for ideas is what the Summit is all about. These presenters each have a unique perspective on the industry, and bringing them together will generate not only great thoughts and discussion, but also potential solutions."

The tenth slot on the panel will be open to anyone in radio, whether they're a CEO, a traffic director, or a DJ. Aspiring "Presidents" are asked to submit their initiative (500-900 words) to Jacobs Media and Radio & Records via email to presidentofradio@jacobsmedia.com. Details and FAQs are available on a special microsite - www.presidentofradio.com. Jacobs Media will choose the winner, who will be invited to present their thoughts at the Summit.

Erica Farber notes, "We know there are lots of dedicated, passionate radio professionals out there with ideas and solutions. We want to hear from them, and make sure we have a great representation for 'Presidents.'" Radio & Records has also decided to turn the "President" concept into a regular feature in their weekly publication.

This year's Summit agenda promises to be as hard-hitting and relevant as ever. "Our goal is to provide attendees with actionable ideas they can take back to their stations and implement," says Jacobs. Already on the Summit agenda are Leo Laporte, founder of "This Week In Tech," who will share his vision on digital solutions for radio. There will be a compelling panel with the RAB's Jeff Haley and Emmis Interactive's Deb Esayian who will talk about managing the digital transition from an inside radio perspective. And Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx, who will bring his unique perspective on the audience and how to keep a 1980s brand relevant in 2008.

The Summit is open to the radio industry and is free of charge. To RSVP, contact Lisa Riker at Lisa@jacobsmedia.com.

To find out more information about the Summit agenda or inquire about the "Presidents" panel, contact Paul Jacobs at Pauljacobs@jacobsmedia.com.

Jacobs Media Summit 13
http://www.jacobssummit.com/ or http://www.presidentofradio.com/

(248) 353-9030

Explained: "20 MORE Things You Need To Know About PPM and Then Some"

Received an email this afternoon from Paragon Media Strategies - who co-presented "20 MORE Things" at the Morning Show Bootcamp in Denver last Friday.

I posted a link to the Paragon blog and PPM PowerPoint - see here.

Paragon now offers some narrative behind the slides on their blog: here.

Learn and enjoy!

Wednesday Blogs

67° - mostly sunny at 8:23am

Good Morning from Okemos.

Always Roll Tape...err...TiVo: Last night I was watching a CNBC special on the Detroit Auto Show; the program highlighted a GM private party where Kid Rock performed.

CNBC interviewed Kid Rock and the result was a great soundbite for Detroit and the auto industry; timely audio that a great imaging guy (in Detroit) could use....just thinking here. Keep that TiVo going when you're watching the tube, you'll never know when you'll hear a good catch.

Steve Palec/WKLH: I've been a loyal fan of Steve's Sunday Morning "Rock 'N Roll Roots" show for a few years now. Milwaukee's Business Journal recently published an article about Steve and what he does when he's not spinning Led Zeppelin. Read here.

HD: Monday in "Net News", All Access published an HD Radio Update. Ibiquity's Bob Struble announced more automaker deals and the availability of sub-$100 consumer radios. On the programming side, ESPN is now offering HD-specific programming for stations.

Still - consumer awareness (not lack of interest) appears to be the biggest problem for the technology. Fred Jacobs ponders this lack of awareness for HD (as compared to the interest in the mandated Digital Television Transition) and asks "What would happen if all analog radio was to disappear on 1/1/2010? Would it be the end of radio as we know it? Or would it be the beginning?"

Read Fred's piece here.

Boston Blues: I note that the HD-2 channel of WZLX/Boston is airing blues 24/7 as "Radio Mojo". Very cool.

Somebody ought to try that in the Windy City!

Tom Becka. Congrats to my friend of 25+ years on the national release of his book "There's No Business Without The Show". Tom - who is hosts afternoons on talk KFAB/Omaha - has been a jock, radio salesperson, radio sales manager, stand-up comedian and talk show host.

All the best to my friend on the success of his book. Tom and I began our friendship at a little radio station off a rut-filled dirt road in Santa Fe. Memo to Tom: I'm waiting for my autographed copy!

Have a great Wednesday.