Industry News

Two-Day IBSNYC 2024 Conference Kicks Off Today (3/1) in NYC – Michael Harrison Set to Speak Tomorrow (3/2)

TALKERS founder/multi-format radio pioneer Michael Harrison will serve as a featured speaker at the national IBS (Intercollegiate Broadcasting System) conference taking place today and tomorrow (3/1im-2) at the Sheraton Times Square hotel in New York City. Harrison’s address titled, “The Next 10 Years of Media and Popular Culture is…?,” is scheduled to take place between 11:00 am and 12:00 noon on Saturday (3/2). Harrison states, “I have always believed that the future of broadcasting, for better or worse, brews on the campuses of America and this observation is truer now than ever before. I am very excited to bring an array of provocative and pertinent observations, predictions and possibilities, born of my perspective as a future-minded immigrant from the 20th century to such a vital and dynamic group of young communicators.” See registration, agenda and hotel information here.

Industry Views

Pending Business: Welcome to 2024

By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President

imWhat do your New Year’s resolutions look like?

Chances are your resolutions included what I call the old reliable “mores.” Earn more, save more, exercise more, eat more of the healthier foods. Sound familiar? Do you break down the resolutions into daily goals? As in here is what I need to do today to meet my goals and fulfill my resolutions. How about the “less” category? Do you spend any time thinking about what you want to do less often? Let us start with some obvious candidates.

A recent survey by Frequence.com indicated 84% of respondents in marketing and advertising felt stress on the job. Maybe the other 16% had just taken their morning meds. Seriously, can you blame the stressed-out thousands who have spent a career working for companies that stand on the brink of financial peril, delist from the stock exchange, or initiate short-notice personnel cuts? Has anyone in the radio business reading this column ever experienced a fully stress-free experience for over 36 waking hours? If it is not work, maybe it is friends, family, travel issues, or anything else that you simply cannot stop thinking about.

“Less” resolution #1. Less stress on the job, unless you are in the parachute business or an air-traffic controller or emergency room doctor in New York or Chicago, you get where I am going with this.

The same survey showed 72% of respondents work for organizations expecting them to deliver more with less support. The last time I worked for a broadcast company that provided me with my own dedicated assistant, the Cowboys won the Super Bowl in the first ever televised in prime time. Please raise your hand if you are a seller or sales manager with your own dedicated assistant. Anybody? How about in the past 10 years?

“Less” resolution #2. Less is more. The slogan takes on new life in the remote work environment that is a norm for many in the media buyer-seller relationship. Everyone in the chain is being asked to do more, reach increased goals, and perform to a higher standard with less support. You are either on the income money flow line or the expense side. Pick your lane and try your best to deliver measurable results.

Technology is driving change in every corner of the workplace. New strategies and technologies designed to monetize media impressions are part of our culture. Surveys show anywhere from 52-70% of sellers and marketers are challenged with keeping up.

“Less” resolution #3. Prioritize your upskilling. Pick the one area that will allow you to hit your most important “more” goals and master it. Never stop learning, just adjust your learning curve to what works best for you.

Here’s to a more productive and prosperous New Year!

Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.

Industry Views

What’s a “Bombshell” in a Noisy World?

By Michael Harrison
Founder
TALKERS

imWe live in an increasingly noisy world.  The accelerating advancement of media technology, with its accompanying “everybody is a star” syndrome, combine to make it increasingly difficult to get attention. By that, I mean real attention – the kind of attention that those in the professional media (and related) industries describe as “traction.”

Public conversation, as conducted in today’s media, has fallen victim to the noisy cocktail party syndrome. That’s what happens at social events, catering halls and froofy restaurants where the cruel combination of loud background music, echoey acoustics, and lots of small talk forces attendees to speak louder and louder and louder in order to be heard. The decibel count goes into hyper-inflation. People start screaming at each other saying nothing of consequence. Some folks deal with the inherent discomfort of this scenario by practicing the disingenuous (but extremely useful) art form of faking interest and understanding through confident smiling, eyebrow raising, nodding, grunting and saying innocuous phrases like “ha” and “there ya go” while others just keep on screaming.

Have you noticed how headlines – even when used by the editors of generally reliable platforms – have taken hyperbole to new lows of dishonest click bait in order to get attention?  Beware of two such words that are being spewed through today’s media to cut through the noise only to create even more noise in the process.  In the world of science, it’s “terrifying.”  In the world of politics, it’s “bombshell.”  These ratty words have infested our media sewers and should be avoided unless actually used in an honest and accurate manner.

Michael Harrison is publisher of TALKERS.  He can be contacted directly via email at michael@talkers.com.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend

The 2024 presidential race and the latest polls; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; Penn president Liz Magill resigns and the fate of other college presidents in the aftermath of their anti-Semitism testimony; the pressure on Israel to end its Gaza operations; Hunter Biden is indicted on felony charges of tax evasion; Volodymyr Zelensky’s pending trip to Washington; U.S. immigration policy; and the deadly tornadoes that swept through Tennessee were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Tucker Carlson’s Media Venture Inks Flagship Advertiser

Former FOX News Channel star Tucker Carlson is launching his new digital media platform Last Country Inc and has signed its first flagship advertiser. PSQ Holdings describes its PublicSq. as a “marketplace of patriotic businesses and consumers” focusing “on highlighting the patriotic, parallelim economy found on PublicSq.” The agreement includes collaborative content segments that will air on Tucker Carlson’s show on both X and Last Country’s own platform. Last Country CEO Neil Patel comments, “We are proud to announce that our new media venture will be partnering with PublicSq. as our first advertiser. PublicSq. is a key company in the parallel economy, specifically countering the Chamber of Commerce and Amazon. There is a wave of disruption coming to the media and economic establishment, and our companies will help accelerate this overdue shift.”

Industry News

Tony Bruno Launching Sports Talk Network

Philadelphia sports site Crossing Broad shares a press release from sports talk media personality Tony Bruno that announces the debut of his new sports talk venture, the Tony Bruno Sports Network. The network will feature “The Tony Bruno Show” in afternoon drive (3:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET), along with “The Pete Sheppard Show” (7:00 am to 10:00 am ET), “Defo & Lubie” (10:00 am to 12:00 noon ET), andimMartinez & Company” (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm ET), with the early afternoon daypart to be announced. The press release states, TBSN will debut October 30th  with LIVE programming every weekday with sports talk radio from 7am to 8pm to start. Additional time slots and weekend programming will be added over the following months. TBSN is available to listeners nationwide online via LIVE365.com and on the ‘Tony Bruno Sports Network’ app for Android and iPhone.” Bruno adds, “I want to thank all of my fans who have followed and supported me through the years. I am grateful to everyone who has encouraged me to return and who still want to hear my daily fun approach to sports and current affairs, which has been my forté for over five decades in broadcasting; this time, I’m bringing friends! I hear over and over again that fans are tired of X’s & O’s sports radio. I plan to bring back exciting, sports talk radio again, with a Florida flair. What better place to launch a new nationwide sports network than in Florida, a true melting pot of fans from all over the nation.”

Industry Views

Premature Ejection

By Michael Harrison
TALKERS
Publisher

imThere are media and there are media. There are platforms and there are platforms. Not all cultural artifacts are equal in terms of their utilitarian versus cultural value. Damn the tone-deaf corporate bean counters who are ripping the heart out of the spirit that gives humanity its life force! Marketplace obsolescence should not solely be determined by profit and loss. With all due respect to the idea of public service, what about the concept of loyalty? Shame on the automobile industry! Not only is it turning its back on the needs of millions of people, it is in the process of betraying one of its historic partners in not only commerce – but romance and glory. In other words, the automobile industry owes the radio industry a huge debt. The relationship between cars and radios goes a century deep and has been nothing less than a two-way street. Yes, auto industry, don’t be so hasty to save a few bucks by rushing AM (and then FM) radio out the door. You might just find in the long run that “radio” outlasts the private “car” as a fixture of human activity.

A radio is not a cassette, CD, or 8-track player. A radio is a magic box that embodies a century of culture during which it spun the idea that taking a car ride is a lot more soulful than spending time getting from point A to B via the subway, bus, or plane. The car has been the perfect radio-listening chamber and radio has returned the favor in spades with its music and DJs glorifying everything from little deuce coups to Cadillacs to the T-Bird that daddy took away – not to mention bolstering the ubiquitous culture of automobiles with traffic reports, news, weather, and endless references to this particular form of transportation as being a key component of what it is to be a member of society. Radio has provided the car biz with a century long, non-stop free or generously bonused commercial!

From a purely economic position of self-interest and greed, it is understandable why car manufacturers might consider AM radios expendable and are eager to toss them out like the aforementioned obsolete devices of music conveyance.  So, what if millions of people still listen to it and DEPEND on it for free speech, religious expression, ethnic connection, demographic habit and public safety. Couldn’t the car manufacturers wait another decade before turning its back on such an important – and still vital – relationship?

Hey auto industry, be careful what you’re doing. You’re severely mistaken if you think your poop doesn’t stink and your place in our rapidly changing society is guaranteed. You might find rolling along in this brave new world without radio turns out to be a very dangerous road.

Michael Harrison is the publisher of TALKERS and can be reached via email at michael@talkers.com. Meet Michael Harrison at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University.

Industry News

Audacy Releases Fourth State of Audio Guide

Audacy releases its latest “State of Audio” guide. This fourth installment of the company’s bi-annual e-book explores audio’s impact throughout the brand funnel, from awareness and intention to action. Highlighting case studies from today’s biggest brands, the guide gives advertisers a look into how they can use radio, podcastsim and streaming for everything from brand awareness to consumer purchase. Audacy chief marketing officer Paul Suchman says, “Audio holds the title as the undisputed leader of brand-building channels – working its magic with the one-two punch of massive reach and beloved and trusted personalities. But if you’re thinking of Audio as just a top-of-funnel play – good for sparking a conversation but not driving conversion – think again. The truth is the game has expanded in recent years and audio is now a truly multi-purpose platform. Thanks to precision targeting, authentic influencers whose listeners follow them across channels, and advanced measurement, marketers are uncovering the best-kept secret in media – audio’s ability to drive impact at every funnel stage.” See the “State of Audio” guide here.

Industry News

Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy to Speak at TALKERS 2023

One of the talk media industry’s most impactful movers and shakers, Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media is scheduled to speak at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. Ruddy will engage in one of the conference’s two “fireside chats” hosted by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison. According to Harrison, “There isn’t a day that Chris Ruddy isn’t in or behind the media news. The growth of Newsmax on the television, radio, print and digital fronts has been nothing short of phenomenal. He is extraordinarily connected and his influence on this business as well as the national conversation is on a non-stop upward trajectory. Ruddy’s instincts and savvy about positioning, programming and navigating the infrastructure of modern media are as sharp as it gets. I’m delighted to have him as a guest in this setting and at this time. (Harrison will also conduct a fireside chat with another leading industry maverick, Jeff Warshaw, CEO of Connoisseur Media). There will be more than 60 distinguished industry speakers at TALKERS 2023, the 26th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important annual gathering.  See more about the agenda, registration, sponsorship and hotel information here.

Industry News

SiriusXM Adds Three Talk Shows to Urban View Channel

The satellite service announces that it is adding three new weekend programs to the schedule on its Urban View channel. Political consultant, writer, and commentator Shermichael Singleton hosts the Saturday 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm show. He’s a former contributing host of Vox Media’s “Consider It” and the host ofPublic Relations - Business “ScreenShare” on MSNBC’s Peacock. The program features diverse guests and conversations that “tackle the biggest issues in culture, entertainment, media, and politics.” Best-selling author, advocate, speaker, and strategist Reecie Colbert hosts the Saturday 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm program that addresses politics, culture, current events, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. And broadcaster, news analyst, business executive, college dean, university professor, lecturer, entrepreneur, and advocate Dr. Rashad Richey is host of the Sunday 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm hour that SiriusXM calls “your one-hour Sunday ‘all things’ political, social, and economic empowerment show!”

Industry News

Yesterday’s (1/10) Hottest News/Talk Media Stories

The matter of President Joe Biden having classified government documents in a think tank office from his vice presidential days; the deadly California floods; The U.S. House approves the creation of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government to investigate attacks on conservatives; the flap over reports that gas stoves are harmful to users’ health and the threat of a government ban; Russia’s claim that it has taken control of the Ukrainian city of Soledar; the death of pro-Trump duo “Diamond & Silk” member Lynette Hardaway; Tuesday evening’s return of the Golden Globes award show after a year off; and reaction to the publication of Prince Harry’s book, Spare, and his appearance on “60 Minutes” were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday (1/10), according to research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry Views

Valerie Geller to Present Free Webinar Titled “Never Be Boring”

Media consultant Valerie Geller – president of Geller Media International – is presenting a free seminar for radio and audio salespeople called, “Never Be Boring.” Geller says the four things that participants will learn are: 1) the three mistakes salespeople make, 2) how you can communicate more effectively, 3) how to tell your story and help clients tell their stories, and 4) how to never be boring. You can get more information and register here.

Sales

Finding Your Next Great Salesperson

By Kathy Carr
Howie Carr Radio Network
President

 

BOSTON — What does “sales” really mean in this day and age? And just as important, where is your next great salesperson going to come from?

Here’s a quote from a best-selling self-help author named Og Mandino in his book, The Greatest Salesman in the World.

“Truly, many times have you heard me say that the rewards are great if one succeeds but the rewards are great only because so few succeed.”

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