Jay Mitchell on "The New Language of Radio"

28° - light snow at 8:53am

Yesterday's news of mass layoffs at CBS Radio that followed action earlier in the week by Emmis gave me another uneasy feeling in my stomach about this industry and where its future.

Consultant Jay Mitchell wrote early this morning on the latest round of layoffs - highlighting the CBS cutbacks. Caution: you might not want to start your morning this way:

"First Clear Channel, then Emmis et.al., slashed jobs to appease stockholders, who usually have jobs (or don't need them). This week CBS, um, released a bunch of good radio people. Here's the way CBS described it:

"With these actions, we continue to build on our strategy of deploying our assets to best grow our ratings and monetize the results ..."

"CBS Radio also ... considerably strengthened our digital assets in order to distribute our content on all available emerging platforms."

Yeah, that's the way I talk, too ... all "deploy" and "monetize" and "aggregate" and "assets.""

Jay adds:

"I guess it's easier to shit-can people if you think of them as "assets." Except if you shit-can them, they're "liabilities," aren't they? Even program directors are talking that way nowadays, in the spirit of joining them in lieu of licking them.

But really, which gets you more excited, doing great radio or monetizing assets?"

Thank you Jay. His complete post here.

In Chicago - the CBS cutbacks could mean change for AAA WXRT.

Sun-Times columnist Robert Feder is reporting this morning that the station could move "from its longtime home at 4949 W. Belmont and squeezing in with the company's other properties downtown, WXRT stands to lose the last vestiges of its rebellious roots." Feder's column here.

That could forever change WXRT's culture. In Denver - after Clear Channel built a giant complex to house its cluster, it left heritage AAA KBCO with stand-alone studios in nearby Boulder. As I was told, it was done to preserve KBCO and "not let it get polluted".

Sunday Morning Odds & Sods

47° - sunny at 9:10am.

Good Morning. Almost hit freezing here last night; some parts of Michigan did overnight.

Autumn in the air. Leaves starting to turn.

Listening: Started early this morning with WCSX/Detroit and "Sunday Morning Over Easy" hosted by Pam Rossi. Nice and laid back - the soundtrack to a perfect Sunday AM.

Pam is featuring Gordon Lightfoot this morning. He's from Canada - but is so Michigan to me. And heard The Guess Who's "Sour Suite"; plus Joan Baez' "Diamonds & Rust". Wonderful.

Very cool: A glance at the the WCSX "Over Easy" webpage - the site offers a podcast for independent artists to feature their original music. Check out how they handle the legal end of things to protect the station from the rights organizations.

Congrats in order: Both WRIF/Detroit and KBCO/Boulder receive the NAB HD Radio Multicast Award - to be presented during the NAB Radio Show at the end of the month.

Last month I applauded WRIF's "Riff2" channel here. AAA KBCO's HD2 is "The Studio C Channel" - highlighting years of in-station performances by the artists KBCO has hosted over the years. Very tasty stuff.

Added: More on the Multicast award winners from Lee Arnold's Blog here.

The Buzzard. WMMS/Cleveland clips the wings of its 33-year old mascot - as well as frequent mention of its legendary call letters. To ID primarily by frequency. More from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer here. Thanks to Radio Daily News for the tip.

Respectfully disagreeing: What becomes of the soul and character of the radio station? Is the using the frequency alone cold and sterile? What becomes of the stationality and emotional connection - that allows the listener to describe the station "like a person"? Isn't this one of radio's strengths? Just wondering.

More wondering. I've been spending a lot of time listening to oldies radio in the car. Why does "Wooly Bully" still get the airplay it does?

This still tests?

Why hasn't this song been banished to the novelty category with "Gitarzan" and "Gimme Dat Ding"? Damn - I feel better for getting that out; had it stuck inside for days - LOL.

Getting serious:

Calls for Leadership. At least twice in the past week.

From those like myself who have spent their lives in radio - love the industry and can't think of doing anything else.

Back on Monday - Paragon Media's Mike Henry wrote:

"While the news keeps flowing quickly on both sides of radio’s future…positive and negative…the leaders of our industry are strangely quiet. No offense to the NAB or the RAB, but radio leadership needs to come from…radio."

Read Mike's piece - along with reader comments here.

And yesterday David Martin blogged:

"I dream of companies that actually deserve the passion and creativity of the folks who work there, and naturally elicit the very best that people have to give. Of course, these are more than dreams; they are imperatives. They are do or die challenges for any company that hopes to thrive in the tumultuous times ahead - and they can only be surmounted with inspired management."

Read Dave's complete commentary here.

Ponder that and have a great Sunday.

Monday Monday

70° - cloudy - 97% humidity at 9:33am
Drippin' in Mid-Michigan

Free name tag generator here.

Good Morning.

Radio Station Names. What makes a strong one? Mark Ramsey takes notes here from a book by author Marty Neumeier.

Added: More ARBs: Just read Anthony Acampora's latest demo breakouts on All Access. In Denver: Persons 25-54 is ruled by Clear Channel's AAA KBCO followed a half point behind by sister Classic Rocker KRFX. Not a bad place to be - congrats to KRFX/Fox PD Garner Goin.

In Seattle: KZOK is #1 P25-54. And in Portland: KGON is a solid #2 P25-54.

XM's Lee Abrams: "Heard a Deep Tracks promo. Great example of NOT using “lazy words”. They used the line “handcrafted sets” (as has the Loft for a long time) to describe the music programming on the channel. They COULD have used “All your Deep Classic Rock Favorites” or something silly like that."

Lee's blog is here.

Lee Arnold. Last Thursday his internet station WORJ.COM streamed a 1975 radio concert from Gary Wright. From the "Dream Weaver" era - and wonderful.

Thanks again Lee.

Kudos. To Cox Radio head Bob Neil for telling it like it is: "The reality is that if radio doesn’t play their music they’re not gonna sell their recordings."

This in reaction to proposed artist airplay royalties - and last week's testimony in Washington.

Nearly every successful recording artist can thank radio for their careers - including Sam Moore and Judy Collins.

The Weekend Classic Rock FM

90° - sunny at 11:52am

More classic rock spring winners: In Denver KRFX holds steady 12-plus - though swaps rank (5 to 6) with sister AAA KBCO. Also in the Mile High City: the more eclectic KQMT improves its 12-plus numbers slightly.

In Colorado Springs, KKFM recovers from a rough winter book. Up in Portland: KGON is up a point and a half 12-plus with its best numbers in four books; good enough for #3.

KZOK in Seattle is off less than a half point - but falls a bit in rank.

Added: Pittsburgh's WDVE simply dominates. 12+, 18-34, 18-49, 25-54. Wow.

Let's order pizza and talk radio. Tuesday I wrote here about surveying your database again - especially if its been awhile.

Taking it to the next level, I've recently been reminded through listener club invitations about the significance of asking listeners what they think with Listener Advisory Board meetings.

A couple hours spent in the station conference room with a qualified panel of your P1s can really be an eye-opener.

Some stations will compensate listeners with a small cash incentive - but it might be as simple as feeding them and offering some items from the prize closet. Make it show-biz by showing them around the station - perhaps a moment or two in the studio to meet your on-air talent.

The whole experience makes them part of the process - gives them ownership - and pays off with some very candid views of your station.

Have a great weekend; more here Sunday.