Podell Announces His Pick!

To most reading this, the talent involved doesn't matter. It's a Detroit thing. But what's important is the playbook; and Doug Podell's well-thought process of releasing a long-time morning show and replacing it with another. See my first post here.

Greater Media/Detroit Director of Rock Programming Doug Podell announced to WCSX listeners on the air, on the web, via email and via text - a new morning team - one well known to Detroit listeners.

Podell using a lesson learned from one candidate for President - using new media to create a buzz with the P1s. And just like the President-elect - his new morning team won't even go into office (on the air) until January (due to a non-compete).

More details on the WCSX website here. And no, I don't think this would have worked replacing the longtime talent with an unknown from outside the market.

When It All Comes Together

33° - overcast at 7:17am

Kudos to Greater Media/Detroit's Marketing people again for more brilliance. Back in June, I mentioned here on this blog that the company's WCSX was hitting a home run with "Putting The Workforce Back To Work", with job listings and email updates for registered listeners looking for work.

The company is taking it a step farther with a "networking party" this Thursday night to bring participating employers and potential employees together. Also attending is a career counseling firm. See here.

Very cool. I have to believe that there's some NTR dollars involved here. Add the timely nature of the unemployment situation (especially here in Michigan - far above the national average), plus a web component and you've got a win/win for the station, employers and those listeners sitting on the beach right now. This scores points with everyone.

If you're a PD in a market with high unemployment - take this example into your next meeting with your GM, sales and promotion manager. Ideas like this are worth sharing.

Back but....

...(more than ever) feeling uneasy about our industry.

While I've been away from the blog for several weeks now - I haven't been away from the trades. October was a pretty disturbing month with the unprecidented layoffs happening in our industry. Lots of talent, both on-air and off being shown the door. This includes voices from all shifts as well as behind-the-scenes programming folk.

This past Friday (10/31), All Access reported that it "has obtained an internal memo from a major broadcaster that seems to foretell the demise of live and local night shows. It reads "Nights on all stations to be tracked by full or part-time staff -- or syndicated." More than the usual Halloween scare.

Reading about some of the dayparts affected throughout the country, it appears middays may not be too far behind nights in the land of "endangered shifts". Prime workforce listening hours. And that's sad.

Its no question that the tough economic environment is simply adding to the turmoil we've all seen in our industry in the past 18 to 24 months. More than a few times in the past several weeks, I've made reference in conversation to those in the biz (casually, I'm not bitter, really!) about my involuntary "hiatus" from radio only to be reminded that its simply not a good time to be in radio; and I'm fortunate to be employed on the sidelines. Indeed.

Two people who I have great respect for (names you would know; I don't have permission to quote from our private conversations) have said that 2010 will be radio's recovery year. I can't wait.

Meanwhile, I fear that cuts in "people assets" - all in the name of short-term shareholder value is really doing long-term harm to the industry.

Greater Media Chairman of the Board Peter Smyth writes in his November column today that radio will survive and once again prosper. Read here.

I share Peter's optimism. There's no better industry. And I've been at it since the 1970s.

Glad to be back; more to come - and thanks for reading.

Thanks for reading.

Dan

Greater Media/Detroit Scores Again!

As we countdown to November 4th - the Greater Media cluster in Detroit has launched (going back a few months now) a great resource site for Michigan voters - Shut Up and Vote Michigan:

The site features voter registration links, a list of sites on where to vote, guest bloggers, videos from WRIF, WCSX and WMGC personalities encouraging listeners to vote, games, clips from SNL and lots more.

A great listener resource put together by the cluster's marketing unit. Kudos to Greater Media/Detroit Director of Interactive Marketing Jennifer Williams and everyone involved!

Monday Morning Quotes

53° - clear at 8:15am

Good Morning from Okemos.

My oldest (Tyler, pictured left) turned 13 yesterday. Everybody says it - but its true: time passes way too fast with kids.

Labor Day Weekend coming up. I promise to run down special programming in the next day or two. What have you got planned? Please share!

Some quotes seen over the past couple days - first from Fred Jacobs:

"And yes, if it was a radio programmer running the Obama campaign, that text would have gone out at 7:20 Thursday Morning."

Fred - writing about Obama...and "whats the digital application?". Makes for a great read and food for thought for your radio station. Here.

A quote from Greater Media VP/Program Development Buzz Knight:

"As programmers, we have to understand that cultivating new air talent is critical to the future of our business. We have to be sensitive to how we are grooming new talent, a challenge for every company."

"Great talent adds great value to your brand. It is incumbent upon us to create talents that are great brands. We have to evolve with the times in our thinking of how to develop strong personalities. We as managers have to play significant roles in that process."

That's part of a great interview with Buzz in the current issue of FMQB. Read here.

Next from Dave Martin:

"...The six-word job description of the PD remains "Deliver numbers to the sales department." The PD is advocate for the group(s) formerly known as the audience. The four-word job description of the SM remains "Convert deliverables into cash." The SM is advocate for the paying customers."

"In the most effective organizations PDs and SMs are involved in an ongoing creative collaboration. The work is akin to the real-time improvisation one finds integral to jazz. A mix of equal parts art and science. Each player has a deep understanding and respect for producing results. Accordingly, there is art in commerce. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."

Dave reviews the classic product vs. sales debate here.

And from the brilliant mind of KEZK-KYKY/St. Louis PD Mark Edwards:

"I think sometimes management doesn't let talent do what they were hired to do. Whether its a big money morning man, a rookie weekender, or a PD, you have to let your people do their jobs. I have a tremendous amount of respect for great Air Personalities, partly because I was never that good on the air, but mostly because I've always tried to build a team with people who are specialists in what they do."

"When you clamp down on any kind of talent, you don't let them do what you hired them to do, so I'd rather let them do their "act", critique when its necessary, and make sure they know their limits, whether it be what they can talk about or how long a bit should be. Great local talent will always be broadcast radio's best weapon, and you have to let them be themselves as well as good station ambassadors on and off the air."

Mark is interviewed on Rick Kaempfer's Chicago Radio Spotlight here.

More later. The day job awaits...

Monday Monday

77° - mostly sunny at 11:44am

The Boys Are Back. Arrived back from our day trip to Midway Airport, Chicago to pick up our two boys (9 & 12) coming back from 3-weeks at my wife's parents in Denver. Pulled in the driveway at home about 1am Sunday Morning.

Home life has returned to normal; the last few weeks have been like the inside of a station control room with the monitor turned down.

During the road trip back and forth had a chance to listen to a lot of radio - both the small and medium markets between here and Chicago. Heard some great stations as well as some not-so-good.

In the latter category - spent some time with a variety hits/AC station where every segue was a train wreck; even my wife asking "what is this"? I replied "George Benson/On Broadway". "Not the song...the station". The station just needed a little attention to detail...(a sweeper or dry "voice guy" liner would have done the station wonders). Road trips are great for PDs; hearing the good and the bad.

In Chicago our radio was stuck on WDRV. A station both me and my wife can agree on. If you're a regular reader to this blog, I'm certain you're not surprised.

Wise words. Dave Martin blogged last week on recruitment and coaching. A great read here. Two highlights:

"Every talent benefits from having a coach but too few enjoy that advantage. Talent want to be led not managed. We need to catch them doing something right."

"Are you providing your stars with an environment to be successful?"

Life Lessons: Mike Mallace writes about a recent experience on "going the extra mile". Read here.

XM/Sirius - keeping it positive: Greater Media CEO Peter H. Smyth released a statement late Friday after the merger was announced:

“Obviously, I strongly disagree with the FCC’s decision and I am very disappointed by it. Although I fail to see the public interest benefits of a satellite monopoly, I am confident that free radio will continue to be the local connection for our listeners, the most reliable source of information, entertainment, and support in our communities, and the most innovative and powerful marketing vehicle for our advertisers. These are qualities that satellite radio - a national, subscription based service, can never achieve.”

I couldn't agree more. In talking to others over the weekend, most reflect Peter's thoughts as well as mine posted here late Friday.

Added: More Spring ARBs today. KSLX/Phoenix shows its best 12+ numbers in recent history. Classic Hits WGRR/Cincinnati up a half point.

Thanks for stopping by.

Back On The Job

33° - clear at 10:10pm

It's been a long week. Not yet caught up on rest. And the blog!

A couple of highlights from the Great Lakes Broadcast Conference and Expo held in Grand Rapids on Monday and Tuesday: One was a session on station websites "60 in 60: 60 Web Ideas In 60 Minutes", hosted by Fred Jacobs and Tim Davis of Jacobs Media along with Chris Brunt of Greater Media's Detroit cluster.

My only regret was not being able to see the entire presentation with my conference responsibilities. But there were plenty in the almost-packed room feverishly taking notes. Thanks to Fred, Tim and Chris for making the trip from the Motor City - and congrats on a great hour of website ideas.

The other highlight was the Tuesday Night Broadcast Excellence Awards. It served as a reminder of the many great stations still doing all things local and doing them well. In both large, medium and small markets in the State of Michigan.

Lee Abrams teamed up with Randy Michaels. During the Michigan conference I had a rare chance to check my email and there it was in a R&R news bulletin.

All I could think is "wow". Lee - on his blog (here) writes about Randy:

"He’s possibly the smartest guy I’ve ever met He MIGHT be crazier than me…at least I won’t have to fear being too out there. We ARE going to re-write the future of media. He’s the kinda guy you want to do it with."

First Randy and now Lee. Tribune is one to watch in the coming year.

Congrats: To WKLH's Steve Palec. The longtime host of the station's Sunday Morning "Rock 'N Roll Roots" program adds weeknights 7-9pm to his schedule with the "Legends of Rock". A very cool move.

And speaking of WKLH. I can't help but love this graphic around Bruce Springsteen's appearance Monday Night in Milwaukee. Monday is St. Patrick's Day!

More congrats: To the legendary Tom Kent - who's just launched The Tom Kent Radio Network. Listen for his programming to come to an oldies/classic hits station near you.

Somewhere in my collection I have a quick aircheck of Tom on WHBQ/Memphis in the early 70s. Very few could match the combination of talent and extreme high energy that Tom displayed night after night back then.

And oldies. Edison Media's Sean Ross takes a look at "The New Oldies". A good read here.

I'm still catching up on my reading.

The Roaring Silence

85° - Sunny at 9:25am

With props to Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Today is the internet radio day of silence; designed to bring public awareness to the pending increase in copyright royalty rates that may make the cost of streaming prohibitive to many webcasters.

According to Inside Radio, broadcast groups participating in today's "silence" include Saga, Greater Media, Lincoln Financial and NextMedia.

A quick listen this am had Clear Channel, Citadel and Bonneville streaming as normal. CBS previously announced to trades that it was not participating.

In Detroit, Greater Media's WCSX has a banner on their site explaining the silence.

To the right is the screen you'll see when you click to listen on the website of WKLH/Milwaukee.

The Weekend Classic Rock FM

70° - scattered clouds at 12:45pm

Friday here already; this week went by too fast.

Sunday: I'll be heading to Milwaukee to retrieve my 11-year old son who spent this week touring Wisconsin with his best friend (and family) from our old neighborhood in Durango, Colorado.

Rather than do even more driving than last weekend - I'm taking the Lake Express Ferry across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee and back. New adventure. Will have my pocket radio and ear buds!

Nice Promo: Country KYGO/Denver held a "belly flop" contest yesterday with contestants competing to win a Mexico trip. Video (windows media) here.

Streaming day of silence: This Tuesday has been designated as a "day of silence" for America's webcasters to protest (and generate public awareness) of the pending royalty rate hikes.

Only one broadcast group has announced their participation on Tuesday: Greater Media. Read here.

Jerry Del Colliano writes this morning on the day of silence here - and asks why more broadcast groups are not participating. Added: another take on the day of silence from consultant Jaye Albright here.

Research. Music researcher Steve Casey blogs - here - about his concerns with giving listeners too much control of your programming - and offers some thoughts.

Seth Godin. Mark Ramsey has posted chapter 6 of his conversation with Seth Godin - here - a must-listen for all radio management.

Have a great weekend.

Wednesday Blogs

73° - Sunny at 10:30am

Happy Wednesday...from my blogosphere:

It's all about the audience. McVay Media's Dave Lange offers up some thoughts for programmers to pass along to their air talent. Read here.

So easy even a consultant can do it. The Geico caveman campaign comes to my mind when I heard this promo (and commentary) passed along by Fred Jacobs.

All in good fun Fred!

Inventory: While writing about Google selling adtime, Greater Media President/CEO Peter H. Smyth asks "How much inventory is enough, and how much is too much?"

Peter comments: "radio is still flush with too many commercial units. For the long term health of the business, we have to address this problem."

As a programmer - I've had my battles over adding units: sometimes successful, sometimes not. Protecting the product a part of the job.

Peter also writes: "Long term, more inventory doesn't create added profit; it simply reduces the selling price." Read Peter's column here. Pass it up the chain. It all gets down to leadership; and Peter Smyth sounds like a great one to work under.

Classic Rockin' A to Z. I'm likely wrong - but I don't think a top three market radio station has done A to Z in the last five years or more.

Chicago's WDRV kicks off A to Z this Friday - and its going to be interesting to see what effect this might have on the station's spring numbers.

A to Z is usually a AQH magnet.

The Weekend Classic Rock FM

Its been a great week.

HD Radio. While interest and awareness of HD/IBOC Radio certainly isn't at the level broadcasters would like, HD is getting noticed in Detroit. Greater Media deserves a pat on the back for their efforts promoting the HD2 channels of Classic Rock WCSX and Rock WRIF. In recent months, they've devoted entire weekends simulcasting the HD2 programming for each of those stations on their main channel. A significant committment.

And now WRIF has won an award and market recognition for its "Detroit Local 101" show airing on HD Channel "RIFF2". Read more here.

If you check out the "RIFF2" webpage, you'll see that they're doing it right: A blog, fan board, podcasts, instant messaging and more - all part of cultivating a listener base; plus the HD channel itself is more than a jukebox; its a living, breathing radio station with personalities and programs. Kudos to Greater Media.

Satellite News. Aside from Mr. Karmazin going to Washington - this week Arbitron released a report on satellite radio listening based on the Fall '06 survey. All satellite listening combined results in a 3.4 share. Whats really revealing is that satellite radio listeners tend to be heavier traditional AM/FM listeners. More from Jacobs Media, Mark Ramsey and David Martin. Alan Mason shares what he's learned from satellite radio here.

Stickers. Window and bumper. Ever do a remote without a supply of stickers? Lee Arnold passes along an article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer here.

Diversions. If you've seen the Geico Caveman commercials on TV - here's a song you might recognize. Everytime I hear it, the song lingers in my head for a while. And for a little more Caveman fun - go here.

Have a great weekend. More Sunday Morning.