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Ask anyone in my office – if you want to get my day off on the wrong foot, just let something out of our office with a typo.  Of course, it happens.  We're all human.  But when I see some obvious mistakes that spell checking would catch – well, it makes me a little nuts.  […]

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Years to one billion sold: 15   Months to one billion downloads: 9* *In a recession

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Last week, Paul and I were treated to something you don't see or hear about very often in radio these days – a large group of positive broadcasters, eager to learn, grow, prosper, and serve their communities. We were invited to present by Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters President Vance Harrison.  This year's convention was held […]

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If you regularly read this blog, you've heard me opine that living in Detroit in this economy often feels a lot like being at "ground zero."  As tough as it may be wherever you are reading this, it's a few clicks more desperate – and insane – here.   Consider: Our mayor recently went to jail […]

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At a particularly important time in the struggle over performance fees, an important voice has been heard.  Bono, expressing thanks for all the radio support U2 has received, has come out in support of a performance royalty from radio.  Here's his thinking: “While we [the band] have many friends at radio and appreciate the many […]

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At a particularly important time in the struggle over performance fees, an important voice has been heard.  Bono, expressing thanks for all the radio support U2 has received, has come out in support of a performance royalty from radio.  Here's his thinking: “While we [the band] have many friends at radio and appreciate the many […]

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As more and more businesses and institutions are under distress because of the weak economy, it should come as no surprise that music festivals aren't getting a hall pass.  The LA Times reports that many are under serious financial pressure, while some are going on hiatus or simply shutting down.  The Langerado Music Festival in […]

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Last week proved once again the power of video streaming – in both incredible and horrifying ways.  On the touching, moving side, Britain's Got Talent gave birth to another star.  This time, it was the unlikeliest of the unlikeliest – dowdy Susan Boyle knocked out the judges on the British version of American Idol.  This […]

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A recent research survey by Epsilon confirms data that we continue to see in our national studies of radio's email clubs – a majority of consumers (57%) have a positive impression of companies when they receive email from them.  They're also more likely to buy products from companies that send them emails. That confirms our Tech […]

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As dismal as the current climate can often seem, new and sometimes odd opportunities continue to arise, often in the most unlikely of places.  We are truly learning about who is versatile, who is stuck in the past, and who is turning out to be a pretty good lemonade maker. Adam Carolla falls into that […]

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One of the back stories to the economic nightmare is all about those dashed dreams and disappointments that have impacted so many people in radio.  Whether you're a DJ who no longer has access to an audience, an out of work salesperson without nothing to sell, a programmer brimming with great ideas but no station […]

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Here are some impressive stats:  the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings now hold the longest current streak of consecutive winning seasons – 17.  That’s longer than any team in any professional sport, but the Yankees hold the all-time record of 39 seasons, set from 1926-64. That’s not to take anything away from […]

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You're Major League Baseball.  You have a great product that has huge interest around the country, not to mention around the globe.  You're trying to get your games on as many platforms as possible, while building revenue along the way.  Sure, you're on satellite radio.  But with all the troubles they have, and the lack […]

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You have to hand it to the Newspaper Association of America.  When they book a keynote speaker, they don't mess around or worry about angering their membership.  Case in point:  Google CEO Eric Schmidt closed out their convention last week, a controversial but important player in the new media game.  I don't know about you, […]

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As March Madness comes to an end – hey, Michigan State did their very best – it continues to amaze me how many media outlets and personalities utilized their version of brackets to have some fun and make a little noise.  We were pleased that many of our stations hopped on for the ride.  Rachael […]

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If you're wondering what ever happened to all those gold and platinum album pictures that you sent us last month as part of the "Going for the Gold" promotion to protest the performance tax, stop wondering. The NAB has launched a new website – https://www.noperformancetax.org. Right there on the front page is a dynamic digital mosaic […]

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It's getting more and more painful to read the radio trades these days.  It seems like every morning, there's another raft of companies running into financial problems, flirting with bankruptcy, and firing more employees.  As the names have scrolled by over the past year, you cannot help but react personally as a person who has […]

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You have to give KISS, Craig Lambert, and Tommy Nast credit when it comes to re-energizing old brands, and giving fans a voice.  The newest twist on this 35 year-old institution is to let the audience determine where KISS will play this year on their North American tour.  Using Eventful as their back end, KISS […]

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Here’s a guest blog from Keith Cunningham, who continues to be inspired by some of the incredible metrics being generated by Facebook. In the inaugural Jacobs Media Tech Poll, the “cell phone only” problem was first discovered, and there was also a little thing called the iPod that looked to have some promise.  What a […]

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I was recently in Toronto at a meeting about iPhone apps (apparently, a recession-proof business), and was startled by the skyline.  I'm not talking about new building construction (which is happening, by the way), but by the number of radio station billboards I spotted in a short period of time.  It was like going back […]

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