The Weekend Classic Rock FM

63° - partly sunny at 8:10am

Good Morning from Okemos.

Getting ready to make a quick day trip to Chicago tomorrow to pick up our two boys at the airport - who've been spending the last three weeks with their Grandparents in Denver. The house has just been too quiet with just the two of us.

More Spring book: Congrats out to KSAN/San Francisco (107.7/The Bone)...up a half point. In Sacramento, KSEG (Eagle 96.9) up nearly a full point.

My former station in Lansing, WMMQ, rebounds from a weak winter book. In Toledo, WXKR is up over a half point.

Added: More Chicago PPM. Anthony Acampora writes today in All Access that Bonneville's WDRV leads the market 25-54 in pre-currency PPM. Very cool Mr. Solk!

This weekend in Buffalo - WGRF's John Hager again engages the listener with the "The Top 100 Guitar Heroes of Classic Rock". As John has done a lot lately, he's cleverly set up a listener discussion board on the station's website (here).

No doubt there will be some debate among fans about who showed up where and who should have been on the list but wasn't. Another great example of involving the listeners in the product and giving them ownership.

Disappointed. But not surprised about the imminent XM/Sirius merger. One company controlling one delivery system. Where else does this happen?

Can anyone count on the combined company to live up to promises made to get the merger through, given each company's past record - that's now resulting in a combined $19 million dollar fine? (just a cost of doing business, right?).

Disappointed (again) but not surprised by our FCC leadership.

Fans of certain XM and Sirius channels might not be too thrilled losing their favorite brand for a "almost just like" substitute. It'll be interesting to watch from the sidelines. I'm not a subscriber.

Late update: It's a done deal. 3-2 in favor as reported by Inside Radio at 9:20pm.

HD Radio Report. Ibiquity's Bob Struble now writing a monthly column. Read here.

Added: Little did I realize while writing this morning that this is post #500 since starting this blog 18 or so months ago. Thanks again for stopping by. Its your pings that make it all worthwhile.

Sunday Morning Odds & Sods

82° - clear at 12:30pm

Chicago. Returned from our brief 4th of July road trip last night. Lots of time on the road with typical Chicago road construction and related traffic delays.

While piled behind hundreds of cars attempting to get through a toll booth on the Indiana toll road, my wife remarked that "at least the music is good". We were listening to Chicago's WDRV. (surprise? I think not)

And while I listen to that station a lot on the internet here in Michigan, the station (and others) always seems to sound better when you're actually in their market.

More great radio. Fred Jacobs turns us on to Entercom's KSEG/Sacramento and some on-air special programming that keeps the format fresh. A great read (plus audio) here.

Aircheck Critiques. Dave Lange posted a piece back on Tuesday about aircheck critiques of air talent. Something that should be a top priority, yet is taking a back seat these days with PDs juggling multiple stations and increased workloads. Dave offers some great tips here.

Imaging. Jaye Albright (via Paul Orr) turns us on to another blog - and some thoughts on keeping imaging fresh even when you're suffering from "writer's block":

"Ask ANY writer: the only solution to a creative block is to just start writing. So, what did you create today to make your station's brand imaging more topical and fun? And, like Morneau (and Orr), what did you do to share it with other people?"

Jaye's piece is here. And be sure to check out the comment section. Start your own blog and get noticed. Avoid secrets you can't reveal but share your work once its on the air.

More Seth Godin. The other day I mentioned one of Seth's pieces and hinted at another one. Here's a bit of that second one:

"What happens when marketers stop arguing on behalf of their corporate or organizational client and start arguing on behalf of the customer instead?"

Seth's post here. I'm not suggesting for one moment that we forget this is a business - but Program Directors need to argue on half of the listener and become their advocate. If not the PD, who?

Have a great Sunday.

July 4th and more

75° - cloudy at 1:30pm

Welcome to Thursday.

Summer book (6/28-9/19) starts today along with The Conclave in Minneapolis. But you knew that...


On the air - on the 4th:

Buffalo's WGRF is doing a "USA to Z" featuring "Classic Rock's greatest songs about life in America."

WCSX/Detroit also on the air with "USA to Z" - promising "All-American bands in alphabetical order, from Aerosmith to ZZ Top.". This will be followed up with a complete A to Z starting on July 9th. Likewise with Milwaukee's WKLH...all day Tuesday and Wednesday.

KSEG/Sacramento is featuring a "Made in the USA Classic Rock A-Z" with all American bands.


In Boston - WZLX is doing "All American Classic Rock Blocks" on Independence Day.

WRXK/Naples is celebrating the 4th by changing their handle from "K-Rock" to "U-Rock" with an all-request Independence Day. Paducah's WQQR is doing on-air giveaways 4x an hour to caller 4.

July 7th (Saturday)

Premiere Radio Networks will be providing coverage of the "Live Earth" event from noon to 8pm ET.

Premiere reports more than 100 stations signed already.

The broadcast features 9 concerts from 9 countries - including Genesis, The Police, Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. Details here.

Classic rockers on board for Live Earth include WAXQ/New York and WNRQ/Nashville.

WGRF/Buffalo celebrates 7-7-07 with "The Magnificent Seven" - with listeners voting now to pick classic rock's seven greatest bands. The station will play only those seven "great artists" from 10am-9pm on the 7th.

WKLH/Milwaukee also with "The Magnificent Seven" and listener voting is underway. Did I mention downtown MIlwaukee rocks?

In Billings - KRKX is doing an abbreviated "Magnificent Seven" - airing one hour that day.

Hope whatever your station does on the 4th or the 7th, you've got some great imaging in the can ready to go!

Paul McCartney: Bob Lefsetz writes here about seeing Paul perform last night. In the audience: Ringo Starr with Barbara Bach. Olivia Harrison. Joe Walsh. Jeff Lynne. Barbara Orbison.

"Mindblowing" says Bob.

MId-Book Promo Check

Well almost mid-book. Today begins week #5 of the spring Arbitron.

I was really expecting to see a lot of "Harley Days Of May" promotions as I surfed through the stations. Did find a few: WGRF/Buffalo; KMOD/Tulsa; KSEG/Sacramento; WPYX/Albany; KRKX/Billings; WBXQ/Altoona; WGBF/Evansville; There's got to be others I missed.

Dude, You're Getting A Dell: "A Dell A Day In May" - WAOR/South Bend with a Dell laptop and 3-months of Comcast internet when the cue plays. Here.

No Repeat Work Week. WCSX/Detroit with this 9 to 5 contest featuring a song of the week worth $1000. Sometimes it plays twice for another chance to win.

Hi-Lo Jackpot. WMGK/Philadelphia brings back a promotion thats been around since (at least) the 1960s. Great graphics here.

Another Classic: "The Secret Sound" giveway. KJFX/Fresno brings back another one. Link. I'm waiting for a station to do a new twist on "radio bingo".

Ultimate Garage. Its a definite guy thing. WSKZ/Chattanooga has the goods. Here. Also saw one station doing a kitchen makeover...not quite a guy thing...but....

Best wishes for a great spring book!

Cool Spring Promotions - Part Two

The Spring Book begins today. But you knew that already.

More spring promotions we've noted:

More Workforce: WKLH/Milwaukee does their take on the Workforce Payroll with a chance to become the station's CEO. $96 an hour with a chance at a $10,000 CEO benefits package.

Tampa Bay's WXGL kicks off the Eagle Work Zone on Monday with $100 to be on the clock. Likewise with KGON/Portland. $100 an hour on the KGON Workforce Payroll.

Sacramento's KSEG with $100 an hour with The Workforce Payroll. WCHR/Monmouth County, NJ has The Job Squad with $105/hourly.

WSFR/Louisville does the SFR Payroll with $107.70 per hour. Can you guess their frequency? WJSR/Tulsa has the At Work Network Payroll at $50/hour; it doubles on Thursdays. In Knoxville, WIMZ offers $100/hour to a listener and a friend. Details here.

Beyond The Workforce Payroll:

WHTQ/Orlando is offering up $96 4x/daily with the "Classic Rocker Of The Day". Check it out here. In Nashville, WNRQ has $500 when the group of the day plays with "Cash For Classics". WHPT/Sarasota is doing the "Workforce Song Of The Day" - hear it and win $1000.

Springfield's WAQY began qualifying listeners this past Monday for a BMW Motorcycle.

WDGL/Baton Rouge is doing License To Win - $98 five times a day matching numbers with listener drivers licenses.

More spring promotions as we see 'em. Got one we missed? Share.