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Industry not in harmony on integrated measurement.
Arbitron says it has technology in place to begin measuring online audiences and to integrate them into its over-the-air estimates. But until an industry consensus emerges about what constitutes “radio,” the service won’t leave the launch pad. “We can do it today,” EVP/COO Sean Creamer said at yesterday’s JP Morgan conference in Boston.
Pandora: AQH and cume spoken here.
Aiming to validate its audience size to broadcast radio advertisers, Pandora has signed a multi-year deal with Triton Digital for local and national streaming measurement. The pureplay is banking on third party measurement – expressed in the language of traditional radio buyers – to make it easier for advertisers to size up its audience.
Boston’s iconic WFNX is sold.
After nearly three decades as an independently-owned alternative station, Phoenix Media Group is 
selling WNFX, Boston (101.7) to Clear Channel. The modern rock format will remain until closing but nearly all of the staff is being dismissed today. A new format is expected for the station.
SBS elevates Rodriguez to COO.
Spanish Broadcasting System promotes chief revenue officer and Miami TV market manager Albert Rodriguez to chief operating officer. He’ll be responsible for the day-to-day operations and will continue to oversee the revenue and profit performance of the company's consolidated operations, including radio, television, interactive and entertainment divisions.
Radio Mercury judges named.
Campbell Ewald CEO Bill Ludwig, the chief judge of the 2012 Radio Mercury Awards, has recruited the creative minds from the ad agencies behind spots for Allstate, Ford and Motel 6 to serve as this year’s judging panel. Submissions are now being accepted for the awards that will be given out in the fall. MORE
Growing ad pressure from social networks.
As investors buy into Facebook’s $100 billion IPO, part of their valuation is built upon modeling how much advertising revenue the company can amass. BIA/Kelsey data shows the social network has the wind at its back, with local ad spending on social media set to grow by $6 billion between 2011 and 2016. MORE
GM yanks its ads off Facebook.
Finding old friends and sharing photos are where Facebook excels, but according to General Motors the social media behemoth is a bust when it comes to selling cars. The automaker confirms to the Wall Street Journal that it’s pulling all ads from Facebook. The company, which is set to go public in the coming days, reportedly gets about $40 million a year in GM marketing dollars. MORE
Revenue declines at Dial Global.
National advertising has been weak so far in 2012 – as many broadcasters can attest. So it’s no surprise that Dial Global reports pro forma revenue fell 4% during the first three months of the year. The rollup of Westwood One into Dial Global continues, with the company reporting another $6.5 million in restructuring charges during first quarter, including $1.6 million in severance payments.
Strong Q1, sketchy Q2 for SBS.
“The advertising market continues to remain mixed.” That’s Spanish Broadcasting System CEO Raul Alarcon after reporting first quarter revenue grew 4%, thanks to gain in local ad sales. But still-weak national revenue, combined with a double-digit slowdown in April billings, could cause the company to lose ground in second quarter. “Overall we might be flat or down a little bit,” Alarcon told analysts yesterday. MORE
Arbitron floats sample size solution.
Developing a cost-efficient way to increase sample sizes was a central theme at last week’s Arbitron Radio Advisory Council meetings, where the council conveyed the “need for speed” for Arbitron to address the perennial issue. Speaking at yesterday’s JP Morgan conference, EVP/COO Sean Creamer floated a potential solution. MORE
ESPN Radio embraces personalization.
Time will stand still and even reverse for ESPN Radio mobile listeners. The sports network’s newly overhauled mobile app features the ability to pause live radio, as well as to rewind a station by up to one hour. It’s one of several features giving users more control, but it will come at a price. MORE
Emmis regains Nasdaq compliance.
Emmis was notified by Nasdaq late Tuesday that the company had regained compliance with the stock exchange’s $1 minimum trading rule. Since remaking its New York cluster late last month and paying down more debt, Emmis stock has made a steady climb, closing at $1.38 yesterday.
Why radio? RAB offers answers.
The Radio Advertising Bureau has created a new online data hub to help broadcasters use the latest research to build sales stories for clients. The “Why Radio” microsite is also designed to help marketers and ad agencies that are contemplating the medium. It replaces the RAB’s previous Radio Marketing Guide. MORE
Atlanta’s WYAY aims for improved signal.
Cumulus Media doesn’t just have new format plans for Atlanta-market rimshotter classic hits WYAY (106.7). It also has been busy reworking its engineering. The company is asking the FCC to allow it to move WYAY about 50 miles closer into the metro as it prepares to flip the station to all-news. MORE
Liberty Media ups stake in Live Nation.
Sirius XM isn’t the only entertainment company that John Malone has his eyes on. After increasing his position in the satcaster to 46%, Malone’s Liberty Media has invested $92 million in live concert and ticketing behemoth Live Nation Entertainment, according to the New York Times. That puts Liberty’s stake in the company, which includes Ticketmaster, at 25.6%.
INSIDE RADIO Webcast
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Hosted by Kelly Jenkins
RADIO2VIDEO - Solving The Internet Puzzle
Radio2Video explains how radio can solve the Internet puzzle; why the Internet, and online video in particular, is the biggest sales opportunity for radio to come along in years. Read the BLUE PAGE Here
