Dave Ramsey
Sean Hannity
Category: Features
Florida News/Talk Radio Takes Center Stage
Kevin Casey
Managing Editor
TALKERS
JUPITER, Fla. — The race to secure the GOP nomination to face off against President Obama crosses another hurdle today as Florida Republicans go to the polls. Numerous talk radio hosts and programmers tell TALKERS the coverage on their shows or stations will be intense but, as for the candidates making themselves available to talk radio, it’s a mixed bag. Florida talk pro Mark Larsen will be anchoring coverage on WFLA, Tampa from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm tonight. He says Ron Paul 
and Rick Santorum have not been spending much time there since it’s a winner-take-all primary. “I think Newt Gingrich has made himself more available than Mitt Romney, as he hasn’t had the advertising firepower and he knows our medium is a mainline to his core. But they are both accessible. Having interviewed both, I can tell you that Newt (who does like to embellish) is a far more compelling guest for chat radio. He is one of those “auto pilot” guests, who will take a question and run with it until the break if you don’t interject. Romney is much more stilted, curt, and doesn’t seem as comfortable in a two-way. He comes off much more cautious than Newt in a live interview. I think more folks are paying attention when Newt talks, even if he isn’t the front runner.”
WIOD-AM/FM, Miami programmer Ken Charles says for his station the everyday stumping hasn’t had much effect on South Florida talk radio. “However, when someone like Newt says we should colonize the moon and make it the 51st state that is just talk radio gold. Or when Romney and Gingrich brought up the Dream Act at an appearance in front of a group of Cuban Americans, that was a huge topic and our phones exploded. However, on a day-to-day basis it has been business as usual here.”
Still, for Genesis Communications’ Tampa-area news/talk WMGG, program director Len Weiner believes the important Florida primary has brought a national story to home turf. “We’ve had two candidates on AM 1470 – Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Both were good interviews. Newt took calls and, as you might imagine, he generated a lot. While we couldn’t get them all on, the phones were certainly jingling. Neither one was difficult. Both were professional and helped add to the station’s credibility.”
Talk host Burnie Thompson is based at Magic Broadcasting’s WYOO-FM, Panama City, Florida and is syndicated across the state. He says the primary has “generated timely and enormously relevant content for talk radio, which provides an opportunity for hosts to get a pulse from the voters as well as to offer analysis of the candidates.” As for access to the candidates themselves, “The candidates have been much less available during this primary compared to 2008. They have offered surrogates for interviews, which I have rejected because I prefer to interview the candidates. I’m not sure why they have been less available considering my audience is much larger than before. It might be because I have been pretty critical of each, calling Romney a RINO; Gingrich a Progressive; Paul inarticulate; and Santorum a political moralizer.”
Ken Charles reports to TALKERS that Santorum and Paul, in contrast to Gingrich and Romney, have been available to his station. “For some reason Newt and Romney have not been easy to get and you would think they would camp out in our parking lot to talk to our audience. Both campaigns and the PACs supporting them have spent a ton of money with our stations so we know they think we are a valuable platform.”
There was money spent indeed. Media Monitors tracked political ad spending in the state during the month of January and reports Romney aired 2,196 spots; Gingrich aired 492. That was just the candidates. The Super PACS – one supporting Romney, the other behind Gingrich – aired more than 3,500 spots. Plus the Service Employees International Union aired 247 anti-Romney ads and American Family Association supported Gingrich with 438 spots. It’s likely that Florida will again be a hotly contested state in the general election and news/talk stations will see campaign dollars leading up to November 6.
Kevin Casey is managing editor at TALKERS magazine. He can be e-mailed at kevin@talkers.com.
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Social Media: Handle with Care
Since this story was published on the morning of Friday, January 27, KTRS, St. Louis talk host JC Corcoran has responded with illuminating details that add even more to the fascinating subject of social media use by talk broadcasters. Read his letter here.
By Kevin Casey
and Mike Kinosian
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –– Using social media such as Twitter and Facebook to promote one’s radio program, the station brand or to interact with P1s is what most talk radio practitioners are expected to do these days. After all, used properly, most digital experts agree the explosive nature of social media can reach people –– including potential new listeners –– in a way other media can’t. But are there damaging aspects to social media? Is there a potential downside?
Consider the cases of KTRS, St. Louis talk show host JC Corcoran and Current TV (and former MSNBC and ESPN) personality Keith Olbermann.
Corcoran is a very successful, longtime St. Louis radio personality. Last fall he got into a back-and-forth argument via Twitter with a listener –– complete with salty language –– about his prediction the Cardinals would re-sign slugger Albert Pujols. Management at KTRS suspended Corcoran briefly for how he handled the exchange. The theory being that although the FCC’s jurisdiction is limited to only what goes out over the airwaves, a host’s general public image is the concern of station ownership regardless of the venue upon which it is conveyed –– licensed or unlicensed.
TALKERS Top 10 Talk Media Industry Stories of 2011
TALKERS looks back at the top talk radio/media stories of 2011. It was a year marked by financial stress, corporate shuffling, format flips and the relentless march of technological change.
1. Radio Faces Continued Economic Hardship. Mired in debt and hampered by soft advertising sales, most radio broadcasting companies found 2011 to be challenging. Marked by cutbacks, limited budgets and job insecurity, talk radio – as well as all commercial radio – was a tough business in which to work.
2. Big Deals: Cumulus Closes Deal Buying Citadel. This was an enormous deal by any year’s standards with far ranging impact and implications on station formats and personnel — highlighted by serious material changes in format and personnel at KGO, San Francisco. Another significant deal of the year — Bonneville sells 17 Midwest/east major/large market stations to Hubbard Radio.
3. The Invasion of FM by Talk. 2011 was the year that the long-awaited migration of talk to the FM dial actually could be called a “trend” with numerous AM bastions picking up accompanying FM outlets for their programming. All signs point to this continuing in 2012 and beyond.
4. Growth of Sports Talk. Many of the new FM talkers in 2011 are doing sports as the format grows showing encouraging signs of vibrancy, talent and revenue potential.
5. Merlin Media Formed – Puts Innovative News Formats on FM in New York and Chicago. Randy Michaels and Investors form group that gets lots of attention, both positive and negative, for expanding the scope and approach to all news radio.
6. Westwood One Merges with Dial Global. The acquisition by Dial Global ended WW1’s three decade-plus run as an independent corporate entity and further established DG as a dominant player in syndication/rep field.
7. Clear Channel Media Holdings Names Bob Pittman CEO. This clearly marks the transition of the industry’s largest radio company to a new era, image and digital paradigm. iHeartRadio made a tremendous impact in 2011 and will eventually be credited by history as an early, major step in the migration of programming content, formats and “brands” from the stick to the internet.
8. NPR Undergoes Corporate Shakeup. Problems and changes at the industry’s largest public radio programming provider brought a new level of attention and illumination to the importance of public broadcasting in general – including its strengths and weaknesses – and sparked a new wave of debate over the connection of its financing to the American taxpayer.
9. Glenn Beck Exits Fox News Channel. The high-profile controversial talker launches major digital initiative, GBTV, viewed as a model of independent entrepreneurship that is possible in the emerging internet environment.
10. Fairness Doctrine Officially Off the Books. But that probably won’t stop people from evoking it every time the discussion of the free marketplace, free speech and political programming comes up in radio conversations
Radio pro Debbie Nigro targets
40-something-plus female demo with
Still a Babe concept
By Mike Kinosian
Special Features Correspondent
Uttered with such exuberance of Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) in the 1964 film classic “My Fair Lady,” Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) twice proclaims, “By George, she’s got it.” Despite the absence of breaking out into a song like “The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain,” a similar “By George, she’s got it” deduction surrounds what Debbie Nigro is executing with her “Still a Babe” project.
Genuinely affirming that she and her fellow baby-boomer “babes” are actually getting younger every day, Nigro greatly anticipates each forthcoming day. That refreshing upbeat attitude is what she is delivering to an extensive target audience, who are constantly seeking ways to become ageless. Mirroring the base to which she has such strong appeal, Nigro is no stranger to being knocked to the mat; however, she refuses to succumb to setbacks.
Part of the Still a Babe philosophy features Nigro cheerleading her constituents to celebrate their imperfections and deliver humor, even though some of their physical qualities are beginning to erode. Very evident is Nigro’s subscription to the laughter can be the best medicine approach and she is extremely cognizant that this segment of the population has tremendous economic clout. They trust their fellow “girlfriends” and maverick Nigro has emerged as the primo “babe.”
With that backdrop, it would certainly appear that of Nigro’s entire Still a Babe package, Professor Higgins would deliver a heartily enthusiastic, “By George, she’s got it,” nudging industry observers that what Dynamo Debbie is doing to reach female demos could be of significant attention.
The Changing Program Director/Talent Dynamic
Critiquing talk radio talent in the modern era proves challenging as the role of the PD and structure
of the industry undergo massive changes
By Mike Kinosian
Special Features Correspondent
“This could hurt your feelings, but it is being said for your own good.”
Such verbiage has been the basis for any one of countless program director-conducted aircheck sessions throughout the years in every conceivable radio format.
Quite possibly even more so than ever and as hyperbolic as it may sound, a program director supremely performing duties as a motivating talent coach is worth his or her weight in gold, silver, bronze and platinum.
“Directing” is, of course, a derivative form of the program director title. Analyzing on-air personalities while simultaneously providing key components of constructive criticism, positive encouragement and guidance was once a basic calling card for anyone aspiring to be an upper-echelon programmer. To say it is a dying, if not lost, proficiency is the height of understatement. It is however clearly a two-way process, deeply rooted on a foundation of reciprocated trust. If or when that is shattered, progression for the two parties becomes tenuous at best.
Achieving the elusive goal of “success” can have its downsides since that particular nebulous description can lead one to think he or she is above any form of critique or direction – especially from someone they perceive to be a “lowly” program director. Chaos becomes the inevitable and seamy result.
Talkers.com evolving into
industry “media station”
By Kevin Casey
TALKERS MAGAZINE
VP/Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –– There have been significant changes placed into effect at Talkers.com during the past year with the measurable results now reaching what publisher Michael Harrison calls a “critical mass tipping point” in the evolution of the Talkers brand as a radio industry trade publication.
Harrison states, “As much as we all adore our beloved 22-year-old monthly color print edition and the special place it holds in the heart of the industry, it has clearly been surpassed by the Talkers website to the tune of thousands of talk professionals who use it on a day-to-day basis and the numbers are increasing at an amazing pace.”
Daily news updates, new sections, more expansive feature stories generated by a larger editorial force and striking graphics further supplemented by the ambitious launch of TALKERS TV have added up to Talkers.com becoming an indispensible minute-to-minute information source and destination for professionals working in association with the expanding talk media universe.
Qualitative aspects of the talk radio audiences
By Michael Harrison
TALKERS MAGAZINE
Publisher
NEW YORK –– Continuing with a fall tradition, the latest numbers have been compiled for TALKERS magazine’s annual release of its Talk Radio Research ProjectTM (TRRP). Primarily designed as an in-house vehicle to provide the TALKERS editorial staff with intelligence about the national talk radio audience as a resource for general background and to help answer basic questions from the press (such as “What kind of people listen to talk radio?”), the publication began honoring requests from radio stations to share this information. It has proven extremely valuable as a supplemental sales tool that provides a thumbnail qualitative overview of several leading spoken word formats’ audience profiles including demographics, political orientation, income, education and consumer tastes, habits and disposition. These include the mainstay news/talk format as well as the recent additions of the sports talk and pop culture talk genres.
The latest figures indicate that news/talk radio maintains its historic position as the most reliable attraction to draw adult audiences and inspire them to action in all audio broadcast media. At present, the news/talk format predominantly focuses on discussion about politics, but it does reserve room within its scheduling for specialty programs about relationships, finance, health, technology and home improvement, among others which are taken into consideration when compiling these percentages.
News/talk radio is not alone in displaying these attributes. So do the relatively recent additions of sports talk radio and pop culture talk radio (with several specific differences indigenous to these formats). These spoken-word genres also deliver attentive and highly desirable audiences that consume foreground radio with passion and attention. The people who regularly listen to news/talk, sports talk and pop culture talk radio are more than listeners –– they are radio fans!
TRNS White House Correspondent
Ellen Ratner Saves Young Blind South Sudanese Boy and Brings Attention of South Sudan
Atrocities to Congressional Hearing.
By Kevin Casey
VP/Managing Editor
In a remarkable display of the power of talk radio when focused on humanitarian projects, Ellen Ratner shed light on the horror befalling South Sudan and its people before a the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and 
Human Rights of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (10/4).
This came as the result of tireless work on the part of Christian Solidarity International (CSI) and the Washington, DC-based news agency Talk Radio News Service (TRNS) whose years of missions to the region bringing talk show hosts and relief have resulted in the feeding of starving people, the freeing of slaves and the reporting of news mostly ignored by the mainstream press. Ratner is pictured at right delivering her testimony. Seated to her right is former slave Ker Deng.
The following is the text of Ellen Ratner’s testimony before the Congressional Subcommittee:
Video Thrilled the Radio Star
By Mike Kinosian
Special Features Correspondent
Something radio people seldom, if ever, worried about has rapidly become an extremely potent arrow in their stations’ proverbial quiver.
In varying degrees, programmers and on-air talent are becoming increasingly more knowledgeable about –– and adept at integrating –– video components on station and individual websites.
Conn emphasizes visual pros
Several different such elements, for instance, are being utilized by Roe Conn, who along with Richard Roeper, does weekday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm duty on Cumulus Media’s WLS, Chicago. “We have a contract with NBC in which they put cameras in the studio and do a stream on their digital platform,” Conn points out. “It is a simple three-camera operation and isn’t a particularly big-budget thing.”
Ten Years After
By Kevin Casey
TALKERS Magazine
VP/Managing Editor
The 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011 is Sunday and – indicative of the important role those attacks and their aftermath have played in the programming of American news/talk stations over the past decade – many of these stations are treating this Sunday as if it were a weekday, with their top talent broadcasting live and special programming pre-empting the usual Sunday schedule. The following is cross-section of examples of what news/talk stations across the country are programming for the anniversary.
The day is obviously an important one for Citadel’s WABC, New York and the station is pulling out all the stops to produce special programming live from Ground Zero and more. Program director Laurie Cantillo says, “9/11 is about rebirth, rebuilding and the enduring American spirit.” The station’s Doug McIntyre, based in Los Angeles, will be in New York hosting a live, four-hour show from the World Trade Center from 1:00 am to 5:00 am that will be sent out to affiliates across America. Other 77WABC personalities broadcasting live from Ground Zero include: John Batchelor, Eric “Mancow” Muller, Rabbi Joe Potasnik and Deacon Kevin McCormack, Jason Mattera, and Ric Edelman. Bob Grant is producing a special program to air from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. 77WABC’s Aaron Klein reports from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm from the Israeli/Egyptian border with an update on the war on terror and an exclusive interview challenging one of the most senior leaders of al-Qaeda.
WEEI Goes FM in Beantown;
FM Sports Talk War Begins
Two years ago CBS Radio made major changes to its FM properties in Boston and created WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” to challenge Entercom’s WEEI, even hiring away some of the younger staff that had been working at WEEI. A strong, quick climb in the ratings by WBZ-FM – especially in younger demos – showed that station to be a worthy competitor to WEEI. Now, Entercom fires back by dumping the classic hits format on WMKK-FM “Mike FM” and simulcasting WEEI on FM, beginning Monday, September 12. Entercom will make the announcement official today (9/8) at 8:00 am ET on the Dennis & Callahan morning show. WMKK-FM is licensed to Lawrence – north of Boston – and that will certainly help with coverage. WEEI, although a 50k directional station at 850 AM, has a notoriously sketchy signal. In fact, one of the amazing things about WEEI’s success over the past 20 years has been its ability to thrive with the poor signal. Now, though, Entercom hopes to gain younger demos by being on FM along with its new, improved FM home in the sports-crazy Boston market.
Larry King to Address Breakfast at “Los Angeles Regional Talkers Forum 2011”
Some of the most important names in American talk radio will be assembling for six power-packed hours of give and take at what is aptly being described as a “new kind of industry gathering.” Now the addition of one of the most legendary of the legends brings the roster of heavyweights over the top as Larry King signs on as the special breakfast speaker for “Los Angeles Regional Talkers 
Forum 2011.” The first of its kind event is being presented by TALKERS in conjunction with the Los Angeles Press Club on Thursday October 20 between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Organizers report that as of 4:00 pm ET yesterday the free (including continental breakfast and lunch) mega-regional event has reached capacity for reservations. However names of attendees will still be taken for a standby list on a first-come basis. (The event is open only to members of the working media and press.) Some 30 speakers have been recruited including keynoter Bill Handel, morning host of KFI, Los Angeles; and special guest solo speakers Norm Pattiz, CEO, Courtside Entertainment; Don Barrett, publisher, LARadio.com; and Holland Cooke, consultant, McVay/Cook Media. Moderators, panelists, presenters and introducers include (in alphabetical order): Cliff Albert, KOGO, San Diego; Robin Bertolucci, KFI, Los Angeles; Kevin Casey, TALKERS; Chris Crump, Comrex Corporation; Skip Essick, KMJ-AM/FM, Fresno; Charles Feldman, KNX, Los Angeles; Jessica Gillette, C. Crane Company; Michael Harrison, TALKERS; Roger Hedgecock, KOGO, San Diego/Radio America; Jason Insalaco, KFI, Los Angeles; Mike Kinosian, TALKERS; Tom Leykis, The New Normal; Don Martin, KLAC, Los Angeles/Fox Sports Radio; Doug McIntyre, KABC, Los Angeles/Citadel Media; John McMullen, Desert Radio Group, Palm Springs; Stephanie Miller, KTLK, Los Angeles/Dial Global; Bill Moran, Bill Moran & Associates; Patt Morrison, KPCC-FM, Los Angeles/Southern California Public Radio; John Phillips, KABC, Los Angeles; Josefa Salinas, Hot 92.3, Los Angeles; Jack Silver, KABC, Los Angeles; Dave Sniff, KFMB, San Dieg0; Doug Stephan, Stephan Multimedia; H. Leighton Steward, Plants Need CO2; Chuck Tyler, KRLA/KKLA, Los Angeles; and Jeff Wasserman, Life Coach Media. TALKERS managing editor Kevin Casey states, “This event has taken off like a rocket. It is extremely gratifying to see so much interest in this new concept. Part of its charm and appeal is its intimacy. That being said, if we don’t cut off registrations at this point we’ll have to move it from the Los Angeles Press Club at the Steve Allen Theater to the Staples Center.” For further information, click here.
Labor Day is not a throw away
By Alan Linder
Associate Editor
As the PPM and a societal epidemic of attention deficit disorder continue to hurl talk radio into a tedious new era in which every measurable second of listenership is pure gold, the challenge of programming a station on a national holiday such as Labor Day takes on a new urgency. The question becomes, can programmers afford to treat any Monday holiday as “another Sunday?” (Ironically, minute-to-minute real-time listening has become so important that programmers are re-evaluating their handling of actual Sundays themselves — let alone the anomaly of three and four day weekends.)
Even though the holiday audience might be smaller than usual, how do you serve the regular listeners (including those still having to show up at work in businesses that don’t close on holidays) who tune in hoping to hear what they would normally hear on an average weekday? Does the station have the responsibility to meet their expectations? And what are the consequences if it does not? In a PPM world, loyalty counts for something — but only in an abstract, secondary sense. Actual real-time listening is of primary concern.
Steve Malzberg Out; Former Governor David Paterson Named WOR, New York PM Drive Host
Citing a desire to be locally focused, WOR, New York ousts Steve Malzberg from the 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm program and brings former Governor David Paterson in to host the show. WOR VP/GM Jerry Crowley says, “During his frequent stints as a fill-in host on WOR, Governor David Paterson proved to be a favorite with our listeners throughout the tri-state area. He was the obvious choice to be the man behind the microphone as we extend our locally focused drive-time programming to the afternoon.” Paterson is a confessed “radio junkie” states WOR program director Scott Lakefield. “He is truly a fan of the medium.” Malzberg is the second conservative talk show host to leave the station within the past year. Premiere Networks host Glenn Beck exited the station at the beginning of the year. But Lakefield tells TALKERS that from a positioning standpoint, there’s nothing to read into this move. “This is all about our belief in David Paterson.” He says of Malzberg, “Steve is a fine broadcaster and we have the utmost respect for him.” Since leaving the governor’s mansion, Paterson has done some fill in work at sports WFAN among other New York radio outlets. He begins his new show Tuesday, September 6. As for Steve Malzberg, he writes on his website, “I am extremely proud of the four years in PM drive there. I could not have imagined the great success, which came very quickly. (Not entirely true, I knew we would rock!) I wish my successor David Paterson all the best. Please understand that this is not the end of the Steve Malzberg show, just a detour on the road to a better and bigger forum for all of us.” Malzberg is available for fill-in work. Contact Frank Murphy at 732-741-5456.
Paul Finebaum v. Citadel:
A Lesson in Fine Print
By Steven J.J. Weisman
The recent unsealing of the court documents by which WJOX-FM, Birmingham talk show host Paul Finebaum sued Citadel Broadcasting Company, the parent company of WJOX-FM, presents some good lessons in contract negotiations and fine print for every talk show host.
In 2007, Paul Finebaum and Citadel entered into a three-year contract for Finebaum’s services at WJOX-FM. Near the end of that contract and following extensive negotiations, Finebaum and Citadel entered into an “Addendum and Amendment to Employment Agreement” which extended the term of his contract for an additional three years and which provided for increases in compensation for Finebaum. The contract also contained a provision that was not found in the original contract indicating that if Citadel were to file for bankruptcy protection that this would be considered a violation of the contract and grounds for terminating the contract by Finebaum. In fact, Citadel had filed for protection under the bankruptcy laws just a month prior to the signing of the new contract extension in January of 2010.
Less than four months later, in May of 2010, Citadel filed for a modification of its bankruptcy plan which was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court three weeks later.
All-News and Talk Radio Stations Keep Public Informed During Hurricane Irene
The hurricane/tropical storm that swept up the East Coast over the weekend pushed radio stations, especially news and talk radio stations, into their familiar and historical roles as providers of timely and emergency information as Irene bore down upon their markets. While radio of all formats can deliver this kind of information, news and talk radio does so without breaking format – they just alter the type of news, information and talk they provide. Their P1s expect to be kept informed during these times and the many news and talk stations up and down the East Coast did an exemplary job of being there for their listeners. (There were simply too many examples of stations serving their listeners this weekend to name them all!) According to TALKERS monitoring of radio during the Irene event, the approach to coverage went through three basic phases: First, tracking and speculating on the direction, timing and tips for preparing for the storm. Second, being in the storm itself when the power goes out and all hell is breaking loose (a crucial phase for radio). Third, the aftermath — the details and politics of recovery. The past 10 months have provided ample opportunity for coverage of natural disasters with a higher-than-usual occurrence of these, from intense snowstorms to floods to tornadoes and recent earthquakes. News and talk radio remains the best link to accurate and timely information when the power goes out. The bigger questions now include: Should emergency preparedness and local, on-the-ground coverage become a more institutional component of the competitive terrestrial radio infrastructure? Also, should talk radio of all genres focus primarily on super-serving its most loyal fans (who are still in the habit of using radio) or break out of that role and aggressively try to bring new listeners to the format (or in the case of those who have left, back to the format)?
CBS Aggressively Leads Sports Talk
Invasion of FM
By Mike Kinosian
Special Features Correspondent
When alternative-formatted WKRK-FM, Cleveland (“Radio 92.3”) transitioned to “The Fan” on August 29, it marked the eighth time in just shy of four years that CBS Radio placed an all-sports format on a top 30-market stick. On September 6 CBS will drop rock on WYSP-FM, Philadelphia and begin simulcasting WIP, Philadelphia on the 94.1 frequency as “SportsRadio 94 WIP.”
Format changes begin with underperforming properties and in the case of “Radio 92.3,” the station never managed to crack the top ten (6+) ever since Cleveland began utilizing Arbitron’s electronic Portable People Meter ratings measurement in October 2009. It ranked eleventh in January 2011 (4.2); June 2010 (4.3); April 2010 (4.1); March 2010 (4.3); and January 2010 (4.4 –– its highest 6+ PPM mark).
If nothing else, “94 WYSP” has been a model of ratings consistency in Philadelphia with an average 6+ share of 2.27 over a 10-survey period (November 2010 – July 2011). This only goes to illustrate that even consistent performers are subject to this type of format change because rock is a much more difficult sell than sports talk.
Sports fan’s ultimate outlet
In terms of installing all-sports stations on FM, CBS Radio executives four years ago weren’t thinking of any facilities other than Detroit’s WXYT-FM.
Revenue and Technology Concerns Draw Talk Media Pros to NYC
An analysis of the TALKERS New Media Seminar 2011
By Kevin Casey
VP/Managing Editor
NEW YORK –– The 2011 New Media Seminar was held Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11 at the Concierge Conference Center on New York City’s East Side and more than 550 people working in the talk media business and affiliated industries attended the annual conference. As the radio and advertising businesses continue to try to pull out of the morass created by the recent recession, attendees appeared upbeat about the talk media biz and were eager to listen to fellow broadcasters discuss ways of improving their products and methods for enhancing revenue.
Eager to begin the discussion, attendees packed the auditoruim early for the opening panel at 11:00 am on Friday.
Talk Radio Day at the United Nations chalks up another huge success
By Ellen Ratner
TALK RADIO NEWS SERVICE
Bureau Chief
NEW YORK –– For the sixth consecutive year, TALKERS magazine, in association with its sister firm Talk Radio News Service and the United Nations Foundation, hosted and presented “Talk Radio Day at the UN.” More than 20 talk media personalities from across the United States aired their shows live and recorded interviews for later broadcast from the United Nations in New York during a dynamic 5:00 am to 7:00 pm “radio row” extravaganza on Thursday, June 9 –– the day before the kick-off of this year’s New Media Seminar. The hosts interviewed a variety of UN ambassadors and officials from the UN and its agencies to offer listeners first-hand accounts about how the United Nations operates and provide insights into international news stories and developments that are mostly overlooked or ignored by the mainstream media.
The Talk Radio Producer: The Cold, Hard and Brutal Facts
By Lionel
LIONELMEDIA
NEW YORK –– DISCLOSURE: The following is true. The names have been omitted to prevent needless embarrassment. This is not for the squeamish or the hypersensitive or ex- or current TRPs. I’m serious. Stop now if you’re easily miffed. Contains gluten.
Proem. Years ago, in a land far, far away ‘twas the custom of talk radio execs and managers to reward usually an entry-level employee with a lofty title in lieu of requital and recompense. And thus the talk radio producer (or TRP hereinafter) was born. Such a grand rank – PRODUCER! Behold! I, who produce. I, in charge of production, the fruits of that which I produce. Now, lest I inspire misdirected objection and anger (which I wholeheartedly eschew), be not confused and think of radio production as in music, jingles, sounders, promos, commercials and the like. No, I speak of the talk radio producer (pronounced breathlessly with great affectation and panache). Nor am I talking about producer as is usually envisioned anent the television or film or music industries or media. No, this producer is special.
Theoretical job description versus reality. Let me explain to you the job description of the prototypical TRP. The TRP theoretically is the brains behind the talk radio host or “talent.” This talent feller is a spent shell, a tabula rasa, a mouth and vocal cords who is nothing without the steady and guiding hand of the TRP. A loose cannon, a misdirected, undirected and/or directionless vacuous hominid that needs the expert direction of the TRP. The TRP is to make sure this nincompoop stays on message and on subject and doesn’t veer or go off the rails, careening off the subject matter road or crashing into the desultory topic ditch. The TRP is to provide this “talent” dude with story ideas, topic options and the like. The TRP must sit back with her feet propped up and watch the overpaid clown behind the glass muddle and maunder through the show hitting the IFB every now and then with vague instructions to “move it along” or something equally irritating. The TRP works for the PD or station management and owes primary allegiance and pledges fealty to same. The TRP ofttimes refers to the broadcast as “her show.”
A lesson from the NJ101.5 case
By Matthew B. Harrison
Senior Partner, Harrison Strategies
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –– When choosing to use non-original materials as a portion of programming, it is important to make sure that such usage falls squarely within the accepted affirmative defense of fair use.
A New Jersey federal appeals court recently reinstated a copyright and defamation lawsuit against New Jersey talk radio station, New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW-FM) and its former PM drive team “Carton & Rossi.” Craig Carton currently co-hosts the WFAN, New York morning drive show “Boomer & Carton.” Ray Rossi hosts an evening show on New Jersey 101.5.
The case was simple. New Jersey Monthly (NJM) hired a photographer to take a photo of Carton & Rossi to accompany an article to be published. An unknown employee of WKXW-FM then scanned in the image from NJM and posted it to the WKXW-FM website, among others. The image, as scanned and posted, cut off reference to NJM’s story title, and eliminated the gutter credit identifying the photographer. The station invited visitors to alter the image and submit resulting versions. In all, the station posted 26 of these submissions. At no time did the station or the hosts ask the photographer for permission, and as a result –– the photographer sued.
Hackers are Threatening You
By Steven J.J. Weisman
Legal Editor
BOSTON –– Computer hackers have been in the news in recent months. And with good reason. Hacking by criminals, pranksters and even foreign governments have breached the security of major companies and institutions including, Citibank, EMC, Intel, Google, Northrup Grumman, Walt Disney, Sony, Johnson & Johnson, PBS, Gannett, Sega and even the CIA. The hacking of Sony through its PlayStation network appears to have been done in response to actions taken by Sony with which the computer hackers disagreed. Similar revenge hacking was done to MasterCard, Visa and PayPal when these companies stopped taking donations for WikiLeaks, a company near and dear to many hackers.
And that is what leads me to you.
Got Delay? Use it!
By Don Watson
NEWSTALK RADIO LLC
President
PENSACOLA, Fla. –– Just about everyone who has spent any time as an on-air host handling the complexities of a talk show has, at one time or another, run into that dreaded split-second decision or moment that demands hitting the “dump” button.
I was in my first year as a talk show host when I had to hit the delay because a caller decided to tell me what “he really thought.” I don’t recall the subject but I certainly recall asking the screener/producer if I was in time and did the delay work? It did, I was safe and didn’t even tell the PD. Of course, the screener did talk and I wound up having a minor hallway chat with the boss rather than an “in the office” and “in your face” brief-but-intense conversation.
Of course that’s the way it usually turns out as the hardware always seems to work and it’s really all about knowing that someone in the studio or in the production booth is alert and not asleep at the switch.
Talk Radio’s Senior Class
Some of the fascinating characters and outstanding broadcasters who’ve reached 70-plus years of age
By Mike Kinosian
Special Features Correspondent
LOS ANGELES –– Remuneration of a mere quarter for each time you either personally wrote “dads and grads” in a June radio commercial or heard that phrase in a spot might not necessarily make you rich, but at the very least you won’t have to agonize over postage expenses for the foreseeable future.
Assured identity of the specific marketing “genius” who made that perfect June rhyme is open for debate, however for many in the industry the latter part of the equation can trigger considerable professional introspection.
Influx of low-cost, inexperienced “green” graduates can translate into tenuous worrisome situations for some susceptible age-challenged on-air talents.
Euphemisms such as “seasoned veteran” and “ageless superstar” actually tend to be more like hackneyed industry clichés or shorthand for personalities who may have the perception as being on the verge of outlasting their on-air stay.
Podca$hing In
Podcasters working in the trenches discuss their business models
By Jason Insalaco
KFI, LOS ANGELES
Executive Producer
LOS ANGELES –– With the explosion of portable media and increased bandwidth, broadcasters have been presented with a unique opportunity to create and monetize podcasts. For the terrestrial broadcaster, podcasting typically involves the following: Remove commercials, insert a pre-roll, sprinkle one or two value-added spots and upload to the station website and iTunes. Podcasting is, in many ways, the “red-headed stepchild” of most traditional broadcasters. It’s viewed as “important” by some and we know we should participate, but our enthusiasm is not always there. Unfortunately, it seems that this “have-to” attitude may result in money being left on the table.
News/Talk from an Independent Position
By Mike Kinosian
Special Features Correspondent
LOS ANGELES –– How serendipitous it would have been if, when Bing Crosby recorded “Straight Down the Middle” on New Year’s Eve 1957, he were imploring talk show hosts in the 2010s to comment with complete neutrality on the day’s news and refrain from unashamed bootlicking of one particular political party. It is highly unlikely though that network and/or local programmers are advising talent to take a cue from the Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen-penned tune –– which became Der Bingle’s golf anthem –– and have them surge toward the center.
A strong case could be made not to take a genuinely “fair and balanced” attitude given that some notable talk show hosts who could correctly be accused of being flagrant cheerleaders continue to do quite well with that tactic.
Nevertheless, it is still possible that “The Old Groaner”‘s now 54-year-old recording may not have necessarily fallen on deaf ears, in that, a number of prominent talk radio on-air talents are more than copacetic that they cannot be conveniently pigeonholed into one of two political headings.
Selling Stuff to Listeners
Non-traditional approaches to non-traditional revenue
By Mike Kinosian
Special Features Correspondent
LOS ANGELES –– Since the statute of limitations is now exhausted, go ahead and admit it –– your very first tiny apartment was furnished in large part by periodic surreptitious raids on the station’s promotions department.
It has been a time-honored tradition for radio stations to slap their logo on any number of items from wholly utilitarian to the very definition of downright tacky.
Some radio gypsies, for example, never felt compelled to purchase a leisurewear wardrobe in view of the fact they generally were given (or pilfered) a particularly trendy station sweatshirt that imparted noticeably more than the mundane fashion statement.
