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Links- internally where there are follow-up stories we try, at the end of each story, to put a pertinent link to the top of the next relevant story. Regarding external links see note at end of page.
RNW June comment considers when consolidation efficiencies cross the line into abuses of power.
RNW May comment looks at the future for Internet streaming.
RNW April comment looks at the the ways of ensuring diversity and choice in radio.
2002-06-30: The past week was mainly one for community and small station decisions in Australia and Canada but in the UK mainstream commercial stations were on the agenda and in the US, the question of equal employment opportunities brought opposing views to the Federal Communications Commission.
In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has allocated three new community radio licences in northern New South Wales, decided not to proceed with the allocation of another in north eastern New South Wales, and invited applications for two community licences in South Australia.
Licences issued went to Casino's Own Wireless Association Inc for Casino, to Community Radio Coraki Association Inc for Coraki and to Nimbin Independent Media Inc. in Nimbin. All licences were for general community services and all the services had been operating under temporary licences.
In Murwillumbah, north eastern New South Wales, no applications were received for a permanent licence by the closing date and Cool FM, which has been broadcasting under temporary community broadcasting licences since 1998, said it would not be applying. Other groups did express interest but did not submit applications by the closing date; the Authority now says that it will re-advertise the license at some future time.
"The ABA will re-advertise the licence at some time in the future. The ABA hopes that during the intervening period cooperative commented said ABA Chairman Professor David Flint.
The Authority has also invited applications for two new community services in the Victor Harbor area of South Australia, one to serve Victor Harbor only and the other to serve Victor Harbor, Strathalbyn and Yankalilla.
In Canada, radio related activity by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was also related to smaller stations.
It has approved the addition of a second 40-watts FM transmitter in Grand Falls for
CKXG-FM, Grand Falls, Ontario, to improve its signal in downtown Grand Falls-Windsor and the adjacent community of Bishop's Falls.
The Commission has also issued a public notice calling for comments on an application to allow CIBM-FM Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, to add an 11.9 watts transmitter at Saint-Juste-du-Lac and by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to allow three of stations to broadcast weather and environmental information in both English and French.
The stations concerned are CBPS-FM, Bruce Peninsula National Park and CBPO-FM, Parry Sound, both in Ontario, and CIQA-FM, Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), Nunavut.
Ireland was quiet on the radio side but in the UK, eight applications have been made to the Radio Authority for the London AM licence currently held by women-oriented Liberty Radio (See RNW June 26).
The Authority has also published its assessment of its recent award of the new East Midlands regional licence to Saga FM against competition from 14 other applications (See RNW June 13).
The Authority comments that the award decision "was closely fought between applications of impressive quality proposing to serve the youth audience in the East Midlands and those targeting an older listenership, both of which would widen choice."
"After lengthy consideration, Members concluded that Saga Radio Ltd.'s proposals would do the most to broaden choice, and would have appeal across the entire coverage area of the new licence."
It added, "Members considered that the audience research undertaken by Saga Radio provided thorough and compelling evidence of the need for a commercial radio service for the over-50s, who comprise 40% of the adult population in the area, and succeeded in demonstrating that the proposed programme content would cater for the tastes and interests of a good proportion of that target audience."
"In addition to a broad range of specialist programmes scheduled for evenings and weekends, Saga's music output during the day will also provide a broadening of choice by including tracks drawn from genres such as 'standards' and 'nostalgia' which are currently unavailable by way of ILR services in the area."
"…Members saw no reason why the group should not achieve its forecast audience figures, especially since it has already almost done so in the West Midlands region. Members noted that the proximity of the West Midlands service provided numerous operational synergies which would benefit the station and listeners in both areas."
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was again embroiled between opposing parties on the issue of Equal Opportunity rules for employment in broadcasting, discussed at en banc hearing at the start of the week.
The hearing heard FCC Chairman Michael Powell say that ensuring the presence of minorities and women in media companies was a "strategic priority for the nation and any industry that hopes to make money in a diverse future" but divisions quickly appeared amongst those present as how to achieve this aim.
On the one hand generally speaking were representatives of black broadcasters and women and on the other many of the broadcasting companies.
Cathy Hughes, the founder of Radio One Inc., the largest black-owned radio company in the US, said she was "a living example of EEO."
"My career has been the exception to the rule," she added. "Not because I'm exceptional, but because the FCC pried open the window of opportunity that afforded me an equal chance to prove my worth and value to the broadcasting community."
Charles Warfield Jr., president of ICBC Broadcast Holdings Inc. the second largest black-owned radio company in the country, said he favoured re-instating FCC equal opportunity hiring rules. "When a young minority person considering whether to pursue radio or some other career looks at the top of our profession, he doesn't see a lot of people who look like him or her, except at minority-owned stations, " he said.
Joan Gerberding, President of American Women in Radio and Television, said new EEO rules were needed and commented, "Only three percent of Media executives are women...It's taken the broadcast industry way too long to break out of the bad habits of the old boys' network and word-of-mouth recruitment that provided limited opportunities for advancement for women. Without the FCC's regulatory push that these habits cease immediately, they will continue to be perpetuated."
On the other side of the argument, Texas State Broadcasters' Association Executive Director Ann Arnold complained that the Commission's EEO rules had in effect led to shakedowns of broadcasters,
"Individual broadcasters are actually afraid to complain to you about it, but they tell me about the calls that they get asking for thousands of dollars for preparation of 'minority recruitment plans' for their stations in exchange for dropping protests of their license renewals," Arnold said about the tactics of some civil rights organisations to extract money from the broadcasters. Asked by Powell why they didn't "just not pay", he said that the reality was that it cost time and money to deal with such complaints even if no payments were made.
Mid-West Family Broadcasters VP Marilyn Kushak also told the commissioners that past EEO requirements had been costly and put an unjustified burden on broadcasters, especially smaller companies and that they had found it was often very difficult to comply with FCC rules.
Powell told the meeting he was surprised by the low representation of women and minorities in broadcasting and how "persistently stagnant" the numbers were and Democrat commissions Michael Copps commented that the old lines were "as clearly and starkly drawn as they used to be."
The FCC has also been proposed an indecency fine of USD7, 000 on Emmis and confirmed a USD10, 000 penalty on a Florida pirate operator (See RNW June 29).
Previous ABA:
Previous Copps:
Previous CRTC:
Previous FCC:
Previous Flint:
Previous Hughes:
Previous Licence News:
Previous Powell:
Previous UK Radio Authority:
ABA web site:
CBSC web site:
CRTC web site:
FCC web site :
UK Radio Authority web site:
2002-06-29: As more reactions are given to Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold's Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act (see RNW June 28), the splits are not unexpectedly broadly along the lines of those who benefit or think they will favouring changes and opposition coming from those who fear losing.
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) President and CEO Edward O Fritts issued a statement defending the 1996 US Telecommunications Act that it said had "strengthened the ability of radio to better serve listeners."
"…we strongly dispute claims," he continued, "that radio has grown more homogenous in recent years. Separate studies show that radio format diversity is far greater now than six years ago, and Spanish stations in the U.S. now number more than 600, up from fewer than 400 in 1996."
"Moreover, through the collective efforts of stations from Boston to Boise, local radio stations generated $7 billion in public service last year. That alone should be reason enough for Congress to let flourish a communications medium that is free, local and reliable."
The Recording Industry of America Association (RIAA) had backed Feingold in connection with "promotion" fees charges by independent promoters for airplay and its Chairman and CEO Hilary Rosen said, "We applaud Senator Feingold for introducing this important legislation. It takes the necessary first step toward ensuring diversity of programming on radio stations by preventing abuse of independent promotion through unprecedented increased radio ownership consolidation."
As well as the moves concerning consolidation and vertical integration, particularly the links between concert promotion and radio activities, Feingold's proposals also call for investigation into radio ratings companies.
It asks the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a review of their systems to check if the radio industry "utilizes practices to manipulate" companies that perform the measuring."
(RNW comment: This looks suspiciously like an attack on Clear Channel and Arbitron's deal over Florida-wide ratings (See RNW June 24 ).
Feingold would require the FCC to ensure that small and rural markets were measured and that measurement systems were consistent over time and could not be influenced.
Previous Feingold:
Previous Fritts:
Previous NAB:
Previous RIAA:
Previous Rosen:
NAB web site:
RIAA web site:
2002-06-29: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ended the week with a bang in terms of penalties -- it is proposing one of USD 7,000 for broadcasting indecent language on Emmis and has confirmed another of USD10, 000 on a Florida pirate for broadcasting without a licence.
It has also dismissed a petition to reconsider its earlier rejection of an indecency complaint against Entercom.
The proposed penalty on Emmis relates to a broadcast by WKQX-FM, Chicago, during the "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" programme in March 2001.
The complainant had in this case submitted a recording of the broadcast of the rap song "Smell My Finger" whose lyrics were said by the FCC to "contain explicit and graphic sexual references, including references to fellatio, female genitalia, ejaculation and manual stimulation of the female genitalia."
"The song's sexual import, "it continued, "is lewd, inescapable and understandable…the song, in context, has a sexual meaning that is unmistakable and is similar to other material found to have clearly understandable sexual references and to meet the definition of broadcast indecency."
The complainant had also raise the question of whether criminal charges were warranted in connection with a section of the show in which the host offered a reward for the killing of an incarcerated paedophile.
The FCC responded that this was a matter for local law enforcement authorities and was outside the FCC's jurisdiction.
The USD10, 000 penalty related to what the commission termed "wilful and repeated operation of radio transmitting equipment without a license" by James Leger of Lake Worth, Florida.
He had been issued with a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) in April but had not responded.
The Entercom case involved a complaint that its WGR-AM station in Buffalo, New York, had broadcast indecent material in 2000 when morning programme co-hosts said that that they wanted to "piss on" teams, players and the Commissioner of the National Hockey League and that one had also, in response to a listener's question, said "you can say prick on the air, you can even call someone a sawed- off little prick on the air."
The FCC had dismissed the complaint in 2001 and has upheld its original dismissal.
Previous Emmis:
Previous FCC:
FCC web site :
2002-06-29: Apart from the turmoil in stock prices, which saw significant drops for radio as for US stocks in general, the past week has been moderately busy regarding station deals in the US but most were fairly small transactions.
Bigger deals may yet come, however, for Cumulus, which has filed a shelf registration with the SEC for 10M new shares of stock that it would use "in connection with our acquisition of other businesses, properties or securities."
Of the week's deals, the largest was the USD30 million Colorado sale of KXUU-FM in Estes Park by High Peak Broadcasting LLC to Superior Broadcasting.
In West Virginia, LM Communications is paying Mortenson Broadcasting USD 1.5 million for three of its four Charleston stations -- WMON-AM, WSCW-AM and WJYP-FM.
Mortenson had already agreed a USD500, 000 deal to sell its other station, WZKM-FM, to the Educational Media Foundation.
LM Communications is also buying out its partners in two other Charleston stations, WCOZ-AM & WKLC-FM. John & Barbara Linn will get USD1.9 million for their 60% stake in the stations.
Among other deals:
In Texas, Encore Broadcasting is paying USD2.5 million to ICA Media for KMCM-FM.
In Massachusetts Multicultural Radio is paying The Add Radio Group USD1.78 million for WLYN-AM, licensed to Lynn, which is North east of Boston in Essex County.
In South Carolina, Caswell Communications Inc. is involved in the purchase of two stations, WZJY-AM, for which it is paying USD450, 0000 and WPAL-FM, priced at USD850, 000.
In Arkansas, Clear Channel has now been given the go-ahead to acquire KNEA-AM, Jonesboro, and KKEY-FM, Harrisburg from the Pollack Broadcasting Company.
The deal had been red-flagged on competition grounds by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) since Clear Channel already owned three stations in Jonesboro - KBTM- AM), KFIN-FM, and KIYS-FM - and the five stations it would ultimately own would control 61.9% of the revenue in the Jonesboro metro
In addition, taken with the share of Pressly Partnership Productions Inc., two companies would control just under 90% of the revenues in the area, 95% if Pressly were allowed to go ahead with an acquisition of KJBX-FM, Trumann, from Pressly Enterprises LLC.
Despite the figures, the FCC noted that the two Pollack stations were "in extremely poor financial health" and might go off the air if the deal were barred. It concluded that the acquisition served the public interest.
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Cumulus:
Previous FCC:
2002-06-28: Wisconsin Democrat Senator Russell Feingold has now put forward his Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act aimed at what he alleges are anti-competitive pressures in the radio and concert promotion businesses, a move that would clearly affect Clear Channel most.
Feingold says his bill would rein in the worst practices that have arisen since the 1996 Telecommunications Act removed many of the restrictions on how many stations a single company could own in a market.
In particular he has taken up allegations by artists, concert promoters and small radio stations that Clear Channel and other industry giants use their dominance to shut out competitors, put pressure on artists who do not use their concert services and use shell corporations to exceed ownership limits.
His bill would not reintroduce caps that were dropped in 1996 but it would stop the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from easing restrictions any further and direct the FCC to revoke the licence of a station involved in anti-competitive behaviour It would also update the current payola laws that prohibit hidden payments for playing recordings to take in independent promoters.
Clear Channel has already reacted to the proposals. It issued a statement by Mark Mays, its President and chief operation officer, that said it did not think the government should regulate private business practices as proposed by Feingold.
He notes the consolidation in various industries including the recording and movie industry, with five major players controlling more than four fifths of album sales and ten major studios controlling almost all movie revenues, as companies seek economies of scale and continues,
"By contrast, the top 10 radio station owners account for 44 percent of industry revenues,|" said Mays. "Even Clear Channel, the largest owner of radio stations in the country, owns only 11 percent of the stations. So, the notion of a few large corporations controlling the majority of the radio industry is not only incorrect, but is actually less of a factor in radio than in most other media and entertainment industries."
"Radio has modernized in a number of ways in recent years, which has not always been comfortable as everyone associated with broadcasting works to adapt to new ways of doing business."
"For many of us the changes and opportunities in our business are exciting and amazing. We now have a better chance to bring great radio to the consumer than ever before in history. It's very exciting."
"As a company that operates openly, honestly and fairly, we look forward to any opportunity to join with others who care about the industry in taking a serious look at it. We particularly value any such evaluation that puts the needs and interests of consumers first."
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous FCC:
Previous Feingold:
Previous Mark Mays:
Clear Channel web site :
2002-06-28: Two complaints against British radio were upheld by British Broadcasting watchdog, the Broadcasting Standards Commission, in its June bulletin just issued.
In all the Commission lists 122 complaints compared to 138 in April, although no statements were required from broadcasters in 105 cases compared to a corresponding figure of 99 in April.
There were only two complaints detailed concerning fairness (seven in May), one against TV being upheld and the other, against a teletext service not upheld. The other complaints concerned standards and two were upheld against radio (the same as in May) and five against TV (three in May). Two complaints against TV were partly upheld.
Of the two complaints upheld against radio that were upheld, one involved GWR's The Morning Crew and a complaint concerning a wind-up call to a young boy who had lost his skateboard. The presenter purported to be an official of the 'litter police' and said that he was going to fine the boy for littering.
Although the family had given permission, the Commission held that "the use of a young child in this way in an entertainment programme and the boy's evident distress had been offensive and went beyond acceptable boundaries.
The other complaint upheld against radio involved Tony Horne on Century FM's breakfast show.
He had broadcast an item about masturbation that the panel rules as "inappropriate" for broadcast when children might be listening.
In addition to the complaints upheld, two complaints against Virgin Radio were considered as resolved.
One involved a comment by Jon Holmes that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was "a stroke-faced old harridan"; the station apologised and said that Holmes o longer worked for it (The same comment was made by Virgin concerning an earlier complaint about Holmes that was considered resolved in the Commission's May bulletin -See RNW June 1). In the other case the complaint concerned remarks about Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and again the station had apologized.
In another case involving Piccadilly Key 102, the Commission was unable to proceed because of the poor audio quality of the tapes provided in three cases and in another case the station said correspondence had gone astray and the recording had no longer been kept. The matter was taken up with the Radio Authority, which reminded the station of its obligations; Key apologized and said the recording problems as it changed from an analogue to a digital logging system. It apologized for this and its administration of paperwork and said it had taken measures to prevent recurrence.
Previous BSC/BSC Complaints Bulletin:
BSC web site (Note: This is a 'Flash' site: It links to the report in PDF format- 189 kb):
2002-06-28: Westwood One and Country Music Television have announced that they will launch h the CMT Radio Network from Monday, July 1.
The Viacom in-house arrangement is similar to that announced concerning the formation of the BET Radio Network (See RNW June 13) and is a multi-year agreement to develop a radio network tailored to country radio stations.
It will include a daily entertainment report from Nashville, live "interactives" with country artists, news, information and a minimum of four live events or concerts a year.
Previous Viacom-CBS-Infinity:
Previous Westwood:
2002-06-27: Less than a month after Infinity took WBBM-FM morning duo Ed Volkman and Joe Bohannon (Eddie & Jobo) off the Chicago airwaves (See RNW June 1), Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Feder reports that their main competitor, Erich "Mancow Muller, has been speaking out on behalf of his rivals and urging them to jump to Clear Channel's Kiss FM.
Both WBBM and Kiss are contemporary hit formats and John
Gehron, who is vice president and general manager of Kiss FM and head of Clear Channel Communications' Chicago group, has said he hopes to hire Eddie & Jobo whenever they become available.
Volkman and Bohannon are under contract until the end of the year and have been barred from making statements without authorisation.
Muller, reports Feder, paid for adverts in alternative newspapers headed "Corporate Radio Sucks!" and saying amongst other things, "Mancow would like to congratulate Eddie & Jobo for fighting the suits at B-96."
He said he took the action because of the dwindling ranks of local radio personalities, hit by big corporation syndication and voice tracking.
"Chicago is a great radio city, and I want there to be big morning shows here," Muller said. "With syndication and everything else, I hate to see our legacy destroyed. It's disappearing."
He said others had not commented because they were afraid, adding, "There used to be 60 different [radio] bosses to choose from. Now there's three. The whole renegade attitude has been destroyed by corporate America. We're all under their boot."
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Eddie and Jobo:
Previous Feder:
Previous Gehron:
Previous Muller:
Previous Viacom-CBS-Infinity:
Chicago Sun-Times - Feder column:
2002-06-27: After 30 years with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, including 19 seasons of the Saturday morning Basic Black show on its Radio One network, Canadian radio host Arthur Black is to take early retirement aged 58.
The show's last edition was recorded last week in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where Black hosted the Radio Noon CBC radio show for nine years and where Basic Black was born in 1983; it will air on Saturday including various outtakes from over the years of the show.
The show which has a weekly audience of some 600, 000, began in 1983 when Black was hosting the local Radio Noon show in Thunder Bay and was asked if he would host a weekly poetry show. He made a pilot, which did not go down well, but he did and was asked what else he would like to do and said he'd like to interview ordinary people with extraordinary stories. The idea was accepted and the show, whose name was t=based on the title of a book he had just written, went ahead.
Black, who moved to British Columbia from Ontario six years ago, told the Toronto Globe and Mail that he had felt it was time to go. "You know when you go to a party and there's a time when you can see where the rest of the party is going to go and you don't want to be part of it?" he said. "That's how I felt."
He added that CBC executives accepted his decision with "amazing alacrity" and added, "I would have liked them to beg me to stay."
He also expressed concern about the Corporation's revamp to try and attract a younger audience, saying, "It's like watching Hugh Hefner trying to be hip. I've always said the CBC is like Scotch and olives. You'll like it when you're ready for it."
Previous CBC:
Toronto Globe and Mail report:
2002-06-27: Yahoo has announced that it is closing a number of its services including Yahoo Radio, which served as an Internet outlet for hundreds of small radio stations, but it says the decision is unrelated to the ruling on webcasting royalty rates earlier this month (See RNW June 21).
It says the streams will be gone by the end of this week together with around thirty jobs, as part of cost-cutting moves that re related to a new company structure announced last year. As well as dropping Yahoo Radio, it has stopped accepting new submissions for its jukebox service that allows musicians to post MP3 versions of their songs.
Yahoo Radio's site buries the impending death of the service through a promotion for its LAUNCHcast service, saying, "The future of Yahoo! Radio is LAUNCHcast."
Yahoo has been pushing the Launch division since it acquired the online music operation last year for USD12 million and says it is to continue to run that service.
At the start of this week, Radio and Internet Newsletter, carried comments by Mark Cuban, the founder of Broadcast.com, which he sold to Yahoo in 1999 for a figure reported as close to USD 6 billion, saying that he had been negotiating a high rate for web royalties with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the hope that small stations would not be able to compete.
Hence they would have to have had to go to Broadcast.com "to use our services because with our aggregate audience, if the price per song was reasonable, we could afford to pay the royalty AND get paid by the web radio stations needing to webcast. "
He also said he opposed a percentage of revenues model because " it meant every "Tom, Dick, and Harry" webcaster could come in and undercut our pricing because we had revenue and they didn't. Broadcasters could run ads for free and try to make it up in other areas so they wouldn't have to pay royalties."
He also noted that Broadcast.com had a large multicast network that sent only a single stream from the server with the result that only that stream would be reported and liable for payments.
Cuban had left by the time the Yahoo deal was signed but says he has been told no dramatic changes were made.
Previous RAIN:
Previous RIAA:
RAIN web site:
Yahoo Radio web site:
2002-06-26: Emmis Communications has reported first quarter earnings for this year above expectations with broadcast cash flow (BCF) up 4.5% to USD50.5 million and after tax cash flow (ATCF) up a third to USD22.9 million, or 44 cents a share, although net revenues were down 1.1% at USD136.8 million.
Radio revenues were down 5.2% from USD66.2 million to USD62.7 million but Emmis said most of this was linked to overseas operations and its US revenues were only down 1% on a same station basis; for the current quarter Emmis says domestic radio revenues will be down 14% and overseas ones down 38%, with the total down 3.7%.
Television revenues in the first quarter were up 6.1% on Q1 2001 to USD57.2 million and its publishing division showed revenues up 6.5% to just under USD17 million. Emmis is predicting that for the current quarter TV revenue will be down slightly and publishing up just over half a per cent.
Emmis Chairman and CEO Jeff Smulyan said, "As demonstrated by our ratings successes and market share growth, Emmis continues to position itself for the future by exceeding expectations in every area of the business…With the bulk of our leverage issues addressed, we look forward to being opportunistic in the near term."
During the quarter Emmis has raised USD120 million from the sale of 4.6 million shares; it used the funds to reduce debt and redeem some of its outstanding 12-1/2 percent Senior Discount Notes due 2011. It also completed the sale of Denver stations KALC-FM to Entercom for USD88 million and KXPK-FM to Entravision for USD47.5 million, using the proceeds to repay debt.
Emmis was also among the companies dropping Arthur Andersen as auditors, replacing them in its case with Ernst & Young.
Emmis also adopted SFAS 142 from March 4 and as a result recorded an impairment charge of approximately USD167 million.
Previous Emmis:
Previous Smulyan:
Emmis web site:
2002-06-26: Eight companies have applied for the re-advertised London AM licence currently held by Liberty Radio according to the UK Radio Authority. The mixes on offer include stations targeted at children, women, the 50 plus audience and the London Asian community.
They are:
*Radio Liberty - a full service station aimed at women mixing classic hits and speech.
*Abracadabra Broadcasting & Communications Ltd. - a music and speech offering for children under ten.
*Asian Talk Radio Ltd- A speech-led multi-cultural service for the Asian community.
*Club Asia (London) Ltd. - An Asian cum urban music offering targeting the 15-34 years old Asian audience.
*Planet AM (Hercules Productions Ltd.) - A mix of mostly Asian music plus other music formats and information targeted at the 15-34 Asian community.
*Saga Radio Ltd. - a full service format of melodic music, mixed with news and lifestyle oriented speech for the 50 plus audience.
*Takeover Radio Ltd. A children's radio station mixing pop, speech and educational programming.
*Tap Radio (London) Ltd. - an Asian and Western dance station targeted at the 15-34 year-old Asian community.
Previous UK Radio Authority:
UK Radio Authority web site:
2002-06-26: Internet listening grew by 2% in the week to June 16 according to latest figures from MeasureCast, which has also introduced Internet-only station rankings. This category was headed by sports-talk ESPN in the week with listening that kept it in fourth place in the top 25 station rankings. Second placed Internet-only station Radioio was knocked down from fifth to sixth rank in the station rankings by classical format King FM.
For the week to June 16, MeasureCast's top five stations ranked by Total Time Spent Listening (TTSL) with previous week's TTSL and Cume persons (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, in brackets, were:
1: Hot Adult Contemporary Virgin FM - TTSL 402,825 (345,394); CP 80,220 (67,663): Same position with higher listening and reach.
2: Jazz format Jazz FM - TTSL 325,688 (220,040); CP 69,836 (56,873): Same position with higher listening and reach.
3: Classical format WQXR-FM, New York - TTSL 176,861 (187,187); CP 22,020 (21,572): Same position with lower listening and reach.
4: Sports talk ESPN - TTSL 128,704 (127,491): CP 35,074 (39,864) : Same position with higher listening but lower reach.
5: Classical format King FM - TTSL121,303 (106,801); CP 23,294 (21,612): Up from fifth with higher listening and reach.
The top five networks for the week (Previous week's figures in brackets) were:
1: Clear Channel Worldwide TTSL 1,655,694 (1,522,076) ; CP 276,153 (259,227). Same position with higher listening and reach.
2: Radio Free Virgin TTSL 779,562 (785,492): CP 158,454 (151,727) - Same position with lower listening for the fourth week but with higher reach.
3: WARP Radio TTSL 733,020 (773,734) hours: CP 122,357 (118,613) - Same position with lower listening but higher reach.
4: Internet Radio Inc TTSL 556,583 (551,804) : CP 179,114 (172,210) - Same position with higher listening and reach.
5: Virgin Radio TTSL 519,510 (462,947) : CP 102,227 (88,755) - Same position with higher listening and reach
The top five Internet-only stations for the week, the first week they have been ranked , were (Previous week's TTSL and CP in brackets) were:
1:Sports talk ESPN - TTSL 128,704 (127,491): CP 35,074 (39,864). Fourth in top 25 stations.
2:Adult alternative Radioio - TTSL 114,750 (113,800 ) ; CP 30,772 (21,612). Sixth in top 25 stations.
3: Rock format KNAC.com - TTSL 85,248 (87,072); CP 14,284 (14,142). Seventh in top 25 stations.
4: Listener-formatted MediAmazing - 85,206 (83,829 ) ; CP 45,678 (43,497 ). Eighth in top 25 stations.
5: Classic Rock Radio Margaritaville -TTSL 74,998 (71,010); CP 13,429 (12,921 ) . Ninth in top 25 stations.
Previous MeasureCast ratings:
MeasureCast web site:
2002-06-25: US radio revenues were up 4% in April this year compared to April 2001 according to latest figures from the US Radio Advertising Bureau.
Local revenues, which have been less hard hit by the economic downturn, were up 2% and national ones were up 6%.
RAB's Sales Index, based on 100 for 1998, was 132.1 overall for April and 125 for national and 134.2 for local sales.
For the year to date it was flat overall at 132.3,up 2% at 131.5 for national and flat at 132.7 for local sales.
Gary Fries, RAB President and Chief Executive Officer, said radio was "in a slow, steady but strong recovery phase… Categories are up across the board, reflecting the growth of the business. Looking ahead, we see signs of inventory tightening and anticipate continued growth similar to April over the next few months."
Previous Fries:
Previous RAB:
RAB web site:
2002-06-25: Arbitron's RADAR (Radio's All Dimension Audience Research) report for the period from April 2001 to March 2002 just released shows most networks either static or losing audience although four ABC radio networks did well, mainly because of their Urban Advantage increases.
Top network in the latest ratings, RADAR 73, was Westwood One's CNN Max but its 12plus audience was a little down from its RADAR 72 figures. Second ranked was Premiere Morning Drive AM Network and third was Premiere Focus Network
RADAR 73 was based on 12.500 diaries for the final quarter of the year but the earlier quarters were each based on 9,000 telephone surveys, the system operated by Statistical Research, Inc from whom Arbitron purchased RADAR for USD 25 million (See RNW July 3, 2001).
By the release of RADAR 76 in March 2003,says Arbitron, RADAR reports will be based on an annual sample of 50,000 radio diaries.
The report also notes that, for the 31 networks rated by RADAR, around three quarters of the US 12 plus heard one or more radio network commercials during each week; for the 12-17 demographic the figures was 79%, for adults 18-49 it was 78% and for males 25-54 it was 81%.
Arbitron also says that the medium did better with upper income groups, garnering 81%of the 18+ adults in households with an annual income of USD75, 000 or more and 76% of adults with a college degree.
Previous Arbitron:
Arbitron web site:
2002-06-25: UK commercial radio stations will argue this week before a Parliamentary committee set up to look at the British government's Communications Bill for a relaxation of proposed radio ownership regulations saying the restrictions on radio are unfair compared to those proposed for television owners.
Under the bill, the governments wants three media owners plus the BBC in any region but leading radio executives and the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) will argue before a Parliamentary committee set up to look at the legislation that this too restrictive.
CRCA chairman Lord John Eatwell argues that consolidation will actually enhance diversity because larger operators are better placed to take risks and develop local services.
Paul Brown, chief executive of the CRCA, says the Bill was partial in its deregulation, leaving radio subject to tight ownership restrictions on ownership but relaxing the regulations on television.
The bill also proposes to drop rules barring foreign ownership of terrestrial broadcasters and there is some dissent about this. Capital Radio, seen as a potential target for a large US group such as Clear Channel, Disney or Viacom, takes the view that such restrictions should be removed only where there are reciprocal arrangements and is urging increased efforts for such arrangements. This would apply particularly to the US, where foreign ownership of broadcasters is prohibited.
Previous Brown:
Previous Capital:
Previous CRCA:
CRCA web site:
2002-06-25: According to the Australian Financial Review, Austereo is now thought to have made an indicative bid for the New Zealand radio stations of Canwest Global Communications. Winnipeg-based Canwest has put its New Zealand broadcasting interests that include the MoreFM and RadioWorks radio networks and television interests up for sale in attempts to reduce its debts (See RNW June 18).
Previous Austereo:
Previous Canwest:
2002-06-25: A Baltimore court has started yet another hearing of the USD5 million law suit against Watergate conspirator and current radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy over his comments that the real reason for the break in was to get evidence to link Democratic Party leaders with a call-girl operation that included the Maureen Biner who became the wife of White House Counsel John Dean.
Dean's testimony before the US Senate was a significant factor in the events that lead to the 1984 resignation of US President Richard Nixon.
The current case involves Ida Maxwell "Maxie" Wells, who was working as a secretary at the Democratic National Committee at the time of the break-in. It is the third time the case has been heard.
The previous one ended with a dismissal of her lawsuit in February last year after a jury had split 7-2 in favour of Liddy. (See RNW Feb 3, 2001).
That dismissal was by Judge J. Frederick Motz who had previously thrown out Wells' case in 1999, terming an "involuntary public figure" and saying she had failed to show that Liddy acted with malice in talking about the call-girl theory during a speech at James Madison University in 1996 and on board a cruise ship in 1997.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, overruled him and the case was sent to the trial that ended with the split jury.
Wells appealed again and the appeals court reversed Motz's decision, commenting, "A reasonable jury, relying on the evidence, could find that Liddy was at least negligent in making the allegedly defamatory statements."
RNW note-- Motz in his judgement had commented that no rational jury would find it unreasonable for US radio host and convicted Watergate conspirator G Gordon Liddy to tell audiences that he now believes the burglars who broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters during Nixon's presidency were looking for photographs of prostitutes.
The current hearing is before Chief U.S. District Judge Frederic N. Smalkin.
Previous Liddy:
2002-06-24: For this week's look at print comment on radio, we have concentrated on the big boys, starting with last week's New York Times article on Clear Channel by Lynnley Browning entitled, "Making Waves on Air: Big Radio's Bad Boy", a heading that in itself provides a fair clue to its tone.
Describing Clear Channel as a giant admired by Wall Street and then says, "Among its competitors and some cultural critics, however, Clear Channel is referred to as "the evil empire" - or worse."
Browning then goes on to note of complaints that it fills its broadcasts with "prefabricated non local programming or with tasteless fare that hit bottom last year when one of its disc jockeys in Tampa, Florida, had a wild boar castrated and killed in the parking lot of his station while he described the scene and added recorded pig squeals on the air."
But, says the article, many of its competitors, whatever they may say about Clear Channel, are increasingly copying it and scrambling to acquire more stations and notes that according to Inside Radio Clear Channel has an audience larger then the next four radio broadcasters combined.
Reed Bunzel, chief editor of Radio Ink, commented, "There is a very strong sentiment that they have done a disservice to broadcasting, by using their clout in a way that makes it difficult for smaller companies to compete. A lot of people in the business really hate Clear Channel."
Mirroring his comments but without venom, Lewis Dickey, chairman and chief executive of Cumulus, told the paper, "Being up against those guys is forcing us to become more resourceful,".
"They are very aggressive, so now we're more aggressive. They've set the standard that we're responding to."
Among the practices Clear Channel has pioneered are cost cutting through replacing local hosts with recorded programmes "spiked with local colour for individual stations" or with syndicated talk hosts such as Rush Limbaugh.
It has also taken advantage of its size to aggressively cross-promote its activities such as radio, outdoor and concert promotions and undercut on prices.
It has also used its size to promote "cluster" sales of ads, some across geographic areas, some involving formats and also recently Arbitron to lump its eight Florida stations into a single "trading zone" with a rating for the entire group, thus potentially giving it a competitive advantage over small competitors by allowing it to swell on the basis of ratings across Florida.
These activities and its size, notes the report, have led to complaints that Clear Channel resembles a monopoly and has been a factor that led to Wisconsin Democrat Russell Feingold to say he would propose legislation to curb some activities (See RNW June 15).
The article also gives a short potted history of the company, which began with a single San Antonio FM in 1972 when L. Lowry Mays, a former investment banker, was stuck with the station after a partner backed out of a deal to buy it. The company then grew slowly reach to 36 stations when the l federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 loosened station ownership restrictions and allowed the consolidation rush, enabling Clear Channel to grow to its current size aided by a massive USD24 billion leap when it took over AMFM, then the largest US radio broadcaster, a deal finally cleared in July 2000 (See RNW July 22, 2000).
On to a more positive report on the actions of a big broadcaster, this time the BBC which garnered praise in the UK Guardian for its use of on-demand audio in an article by Owen Gibson titled, "Web radio is finally getting its act together."
Gibson starts, "Whether it be Andy Kershaw's eclectic mix of world music late on a Friday night, a Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 that is well past your bedtime, or Jon Carter mixing on Radio 1's Breezeblock after midnight, it's far easier to miss out on your favourite radio show than it is a TV programme."
"After all, radio shows don't have countless magazines and newspaper supplements devoted to telling you when they're on, and you're unlikely to tape them to listen to later in the same way as you would with a TV and video recorder."
"Add in the fact that people tend to be tuned into their station of choice rather than making "appointments to listen" to specific shows and an awful lot of enjoyable and relevant radio content passes most of us by. "
Gibson then goes on to say, "…for those prepared to listen to the radio on the web (and put up with the attendant loss of quality that this entails), that could all soon change, thanks to a new radio player developed by the BBC's interactive arm, BBCi. It allows web users to listen to any specialist show from across the BBC's national stations over the past seven days, picking and choosing from hundreds of hours of content."
He then quotes Chris Kimber, head of BBC Radio Online: "Radio brands work both ways - they probably turn as many people off as they attract."
"A lot of people still think that Radio 3 is wall-to-wall classical music, for example. But it's changed beyond all recognition in the last couple of years. Using the player, someone who would never usually tune into Radio 3 might stumble across something they love on Mixing It or the Andy Kershaw show, which they wouldn't otherwise have found."
The innovation is to use on-demand for specialist music shows-some Radio 4 and World service has been on-demand for a while as RNW has reported - but it is not used for most of its routine shows.
"There's not much value in repeating Sara Cox's breakfast show or other topical shows," says Kimber, "but if there's a programme that's on once a week or late at night then there's going to be a lot more interest."
The sticking point in reaching this stage has been something that is very topical at the moment, the difficulty of agreement with the record companies who control the copyright of records.
Here the BBC has had to strike a compromise. Shows will only be archived for a week and will be made available only as "live" streaming cover that con only be skipped through in 15 minute chunks and cannot rewind to keep playing the same track.
"We managed to persuade them that it is streaming and not downloading," said Kimber. " We're not saying, 'Listen to the new Eminem track over and over again, '" adding that the move was a "bit of an experiment" for the recording companies.
Finally a look across the oceans, courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald, at SBS Radio in Australia, termed by Jacqui Taffel in her report, "the most diverse multicultural broadcaster in the world."
According to the report, the service, which started in 1975 with 2EA in Sydney broadcasting in seven languages and 3EA in Melbourne, broadcasting in eight, is described by its head, Tuong Quang Luu, as now representing more cultural voices than any other international broadcaster including the BBC World Service and Voice of America.
SBS Radio broadcasts 15,000 hours of programs each year to Australia's major cities, allocating time to languages depending on the number of speakers of it in Australia and other factors such as unemployment in a community and its ability to speak in English.
The report itself was prepared on a day when a Mandarin programme in Sydney was being followed by others in French, Armenian, Polish, Hebrew, Indonesian and Dari, Italian, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Spanish and Aboriginal and African languages.
Part of its charter is to "maintain culture through language" but, says the paper, it also plays an important social welfare role. Its most recent major revamp was in the early 90's and was based upon information from the 1991 census; currently figures from Australia's 2001 census are being examined to aid decisions on other changes that may be needed.
The paper quotes Luu, who escaped from Vietnam in 1975, on the challenges the station faces,
He says airtime is tight and sometimes people think not enough has been done for them but then adds that the criticism is a side of love.
"Because they love us, they would like us to do more for them, " he says, and adds, "Everyone working here is Australian. You may be an Australian of Arabic background or Vietnamese or Mandarin or Greek, but first and foremost this is an Australian institution so we work within that parameter. We make allowances for cultural diversity but at the end of the day what we bring is harmony."
RNW comment: The accountants would probably have a different view, but culturally we tend to rate Clear Channel in a category well below the other two broadcasters mentioned. We await evidence of a commercial broadcasting system that does match them in variety of output.
Previous Arbitron:
Previous BBC:
Previous Clear Channel:
Previous Columnists:
Previous Cumulus:
Previous Dickey:
Previous Feingold:
Previous Lowry Mays:
New York Times - Browning on Clear Channel:
Sydney Morning Herald - Taffel on SBS:
UK Guardian - Gibson on BBC on-demand audio:
2002-06-23: Last week was quite busy in Australia and the UK but quiet elsewhere for the regulators.
In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) is inviting applications for two new commercial FM licences in Queensland, one to serve the Gold Coast and the other to serve the Nambour area, and has proposed additional commercial radio frequencies for the Mount Tamborine region of Queensland.
It has also invited applications for a new community licence for the Yass area of New South Wales; it has also extended until June 27 the original deadline of May 16 for applications for new community licence in the Latrobe Valley area of south eastern Victoria.
The Mount Tamborine commercial licence changes will add a medium power service and additional low power in-fill frequencies for 4-SUN and also for 4SUN's additional commercial service 4RBL.
In the case of the Yass licence, the ABA had previously sought applications in 1999 but decided not to allocate the licence at the time.
In Canada, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), had a quiet week generally; on the radio side its only published decision was to approve the CAD725, 000 acquisition by Pellpropco Inc. of CHSC, St Catherines, Ontario, from Coultis Broadcasting Limited.
Ireland was also quiet but the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has now extended the County Clare licence of Clare FM for ten years.
The licence was one of a group advertised at the end of April and only Clare FM had applied for the licence (See RNW May 1).
In the JNLR (Joint National Listenership Research) ratings for the end of last year Clare FM's music and talk format had a 36% market share and 55% listenership.
In the UK, the Radio Authority has received two applications for the Yorkshire Digital Multiplex Licence.
They are from the MXR Consortium, whose members include Chrysalis Radio, Capital Radio, Guardian Media Group (GMG) and Jazz FM (currently being acquired by GMG), and Yorkshire & Humberside Digital Radio, whose members include GWR Group, SCORE Digital, Emap and Saga Regional Digital Radio Ltd.
MXR is proposing a total of nine services, one of which will initially only be broadcast from 0600 to 1900, and Yorkshire Digital Radio is proposing eight plus a ninth to be shared between four providers.
The MXR offering is:
*Kids and teens - Capital Disney (provider: Capital Radio plc):
*Urban music - Urban Choice (provider: Soul Media Ltd.):
*Melodic adult contemporary - Heart (provider: Chrysalis Radio Ltd.):
*Jazz, soul and blues - Jazz FM (provider: Jazz FM plc):
*Adult rock - The Arrow (provider: Chrysalis Radio Ltd.):
*Easy listening - Smooth (provider: Guardian Media Group plc):
*Rolling regional news - Digital News Network (provider: DNN Ltd.). This will initially only be broadcast from 0600-1900.
*Dance and r'n'b - Galaxy (provider: Chrysalis Radio Ltd.):
*Speech and music - Real Radio (provider: Guardian Media Group plc):
The Yorkshire & Humberside Digital Radio offering is:
*Dance/rhythmic hits - Galaxy 105 (provider: Chrysalis Radio Ltd. Subject to confirmation):
*Personality radio, music and speech - Real Radio (provider: Guardian Media Group plc. Subject to confirmation):
*Easy listening for 50 pluses - Saga Radio (provider: Saga Group Ltd.):
*Popular country -3C (provider: SCORE Digital Ltd.):
*Non-stop hits - Smash Hits (provider: Emap Performance Ltd.):
*Modern rock - The Storm (provider: GWR Group plc):
*Adult contemporary - Passion (provider: Passion for the Planet Ltd.):
*Asian - Sunrise Radio (provider: Sunrise Radio Ltd.):
In addition a ninth channel, Your Yorkshire, would be shared by four services broadcasting at different times. They are:
*Children's radio - Abracadabra (provider: Soundstart Ltd.):
*Student broadcasting - SBN (provider: Campus Media plc):
*Gay and lesbian radio - Purple Radio (provider: Clubmend Ltd.):
*Sport - Radio First (provider: Radio First plc):
The Authority has also announced that it has received only one declaration of intent to apply for each of the Hereford/Worcester AM and FM licences currently held by Murfin Music International Ltd., broadcasting as Classic Gold and Radio Wyvern plc (GWR Group plc), broadcasting as Wyvern FM.
These came from the current licence holders who are now being invited to apply for renewal under the authority's fast-track procedure.
On other matters, the Authority has called for comments on the suggestion that it ease its requirements that local news broadcasts have to come from a studio within a licence area and permit the use of news hubs (See RNW June 21 ).
The Authority also published its Restricted Service Licence (RSL) Annual Report for 2001. In all during the year, it handled 527 applications and issued 423 short-term services. In addition at the end of the year there were 97 long term RSL's in issue to a total of 85 separate stations.
Among the short term licences involved were a number in connection with the Queen's Golden Jubilee and others coinciding with the Commonwealth Games taking place in Manchester next month
The US was fairly quiet but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issue of Low Power FM (LPFM) construction permits has continued.
A total f 311 have now been now issued. They include 21 full licence awards.
Previous ABA:
Previous BCI:
Previous CRTC:
Previous FCC:
Previous Licence News:
Previous UK Radio Authority:
ABA web site:
BCI web site:
CBSC web site:
CRTC web site:
FCC web site :
UK Radio Authority web site:
2002-06-23: The South African Broadcasting Complaints Commission has banned the airing of a song that it ruled promoted "hate speech" and demeaned the country's Indian community.
In the ruling the Commission chairman Professor Kobus van Rooyen said the song by Mbongeni Ngema demeaned the Indian community by sweeping general accusations of the oppression of blacks in Kwazulu-Natal province.
Its lyrics included such phrases as "We need strong and brave men to face/confront Indians" but Ngema defended the song by arguing that African tradition termed it love to tell your angry brother the truth and that the song confronted the plight of his people directly.
South African Broadcasting Complaints Commission web site:
2002-06-22: As the implications of the Internet streaming royalties decision by the US Librarian of Congress (See RNW June 21) sink in, the ruling seems to be upsetting almost all those involved in the business.
In essence the side that stands to gain from higher charges wants to be paid more and the side that will lose from wants to pay less.
On the one hand, many radio stations and webcasters say they're likely to stop streaming or go out of business and on the other the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is still insisting that higher charges should have been levied.
In a statement its President Cary Sherman said, "The import of this decision is that artists and record labels will subsidize the webcasting businesses of multi-billion dollar companies like Yahoo, AOL, Real Networks and Viacom."
"The rate, which cannot be squared with the decision of the arbitration panel, simply does not reflect the fair market value of the music as promised by the law. This decision will certainly reinforce the steadfast opposition of copyright owners to compulsory licensing."
He was backed by John L. Simson, Executive Director of SoundExchange, who said that the decision disregarded massive evidence supporting a higher rate and meant that artists and record companies once again would not be paid fairly. He added that copyright owners should not be forced to subsidize webcasting as it had been forced to=o subsidise the radio industry for the past 70 years.
Similar comments saying that artists were not receiving enough came from the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
For the broadcasters, who are to pay the amounts recommended by the Copyright Arbitration Panel, Edward O. Fritts, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) said in his statement, "The Librarian's decision places a prohibitive financial burden on radio station streaming, and will likely result in the termination of this fledgling service to listeners. "
"It perpetuates the hoax that the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel process reflects marketplace reality."
From the webcasters, the comments reflected the halving of charges originally proposed and was a little more emollient than NAB's.
Jonathan Potter, executive director of the Digital Media Association (DIMA) amplified the comments we reported yesterday a little.
He said the decision was a move in the right direction but urged Congress to focus on the flaws in the CARP standards and process to ensure that future payments were "more equitable" to all parties.
Susan Pickering, Executive Director of the International Webcasting Association (IWA) said webcasters recognised the costs of conducting business but could not accept charges that restricted their ability to remain in business.
Arguing for a percentage of revenue structure, she said that without it there was a barrier to entry by any but the largest webcasters, adding that this would result in an Internet broadcasting industry dominated by large media companies that might simply mirror terrestrial broadcasting and limit the numbers of outlets.
RNW comment: As we said yesterday, either those streaming signals have been crying wolf far too loudly or the charges cannot be borne by most webcasters, irrespective of the effect of back payments.
If the webcasters have been telling the truth, there will be certainly be a major reduction in the diversity of material available on the Internet for some time.
As regards much chart material, we frankly remain fairly unconcerned since, if it's in the charts, there will be plenty of sources.
For less popular genres and new artists, however, there will be a downside in not having outlets unless, of course, there is a concerted effort to create an alternative to the recording companies.
Ultimately it is up to artistes as to whether they would prefer an environment in which they can be creative and still make a living or whether they would rather that most fall by the wayside whilst a few make massive amounts.
The Internet can still be a significant promotional and distribution tool at fairly low cost for artists should they choose to dump the big recording companies and strike out on their own.
For them to organise this would be very difficult but it should be much easier for the webcasters to put together a suitable package for new talent that would not demand the full fees.
This would certainly meet the "willing buyer and seller" requirement that Congress put into its original legislation and be to the benefit of both the webcasting industry and artists in the long run and would be an intriguing development with much potential.
Certainly it would hit the current recording giants but some new labels more committed to music than profit would be a development we would favour and we can't get too excited if the top artists merely become millionaires instead of raking in tens of millions a year.
Previous DIMA:
Previous Fritts:
Previous NAB:
Previous Potter:
Previous RIAA:
Previous Sherman:
DIMA web site:
NAB web site:
RIAA web site:
2002-06-22: Last week was a quiet one for radio deals in the US and ended on a weak note for stocks in general with radio amongst the harder-hit sectors.
On the deals side, the largest was the UD30 million purchase by Superior Broadcasting from High Peak Broadcasting of KXDC-FM in Estes Park, Colorado.
There was also a USD500, 000 sale in New Mexico, where Simmons Media Group disposed of one of its seven Albuquerque stations, KIVA-AM, to local buyer Argon Broadcasting.
On the stocks front, the rot came on Thursday and continued on Friday for most stations, both English and Spanish language.
Clear Channel, which had dropped around a tenth on Thursday to end $4.38 down at $44.08; on Friday it dropped another 3% and was down to USD38.43 by late afternoon, having started the week at around USD44 and touched USD 46 ON Tuesday.
Viacom, which began the week around USD45.50 and peaked around USD47.50 on Tuesday also dropped heavily on Thursday to just under USD45 and was down to USD43.86 in the late afternoon.
There were similar falls for Cox, which began the week around USD27, wad down Thursday to end at USD25.26 and slid again on Friday to USD23.52 in late afternoon; Cumulus, which began the week around USD 19.00, dropped on Thursday to USD17.75 and then slid further on Friday to just under USD17; Emmis, which began the week around USD26, ended Thursday at USD24.15 and slid on Friday to around USD 22.55; Entercom, which started the week around USD50, ended Thursday at USD47.20 and slid on Friday to around 45.80; Hispanic, which from a start of just over USD28, ended Thursday at USD26.58 and slid a little more on Friday to around USD26.20; and Radio One, which began the week at just under USD21, ended Thursday at USD19.39 and slipped a little more on Friday to just over USD19.
One station that bucked the trend was Christian-oriented Salem, which began the week around USD29.50 and, after a steep fall early on Thursday to below 28.50, recovered most of the losses to end Thursday at 28.85 and then rose a little more on Friday to move above USD29 in late afternoon.
2002-06-22: A survey of US radio listeners released this week by the Future of Music Coalition, a lobby group that wants industry changes and whose report was conducted in conjunction with the Media Access Project and the Rockefeller Foundation, makes grim reading.
Echoing comments made on June 14 at the R&R Convention by Jimmy de Castro, former AMFM Inc CEO and radio group President, now President of America Online, that consolidation had hurt US radio by putting too much focus on cash flow and leading to too many advertisements, the report said listeners surveyed were unhappy about the effects of consolidation.
Based on 500 random phone interviews, the report said:
*Eight of ten favour congressional action to protect or expand the number of independently owned local stations
*By a better than ten to one ratio - 76 percent to 7 percent - radio listeners believe that DJs should be given more air time for songs they think will be of interest to their audiences rather than be required to mostly play songs of artists backed by recording companies
*If it can be substantiated that radio stations are paid to give air time preference to the music artists supported by record companies, the public approves by a 68 to 24 percent ratio consideration of new laws to ensure that all artists have a more reasonable chance of having their songs heard
Three quarters also said they would like to see low power FM stations (LPFM) expanded in their communities, especially if they offer the music of local bands and artists, talk shows on issues of local interest, and on local issues and health, science or fitness programming.
Around the same fraction also favoured legislation to expand the number of LPFM stations in the United States.
Commenting on the study results, Earl de Berge, Research Director of the Behaviour Research Center, the opinion survey firm that conducted it, said: " Since its inception, radio has been a vanguard technology that Americans have relied on to deliver information and music. Today, half of listeners say radio no longer delivers well on the music side of the equation and another fifth of the public (17 percent) does not listen to radio at all."
"This seems to reflect their desire for a menu of music that is both more varied and more reflective of cultural change as measured by themselves, and not by folks in media boardrooms."
Wisconsin Democrat Sen. Russell Feingold, who last week said he would introduce legislation calling for broadcasting industry reforms (See RNW June 15), said that the survey confirmed what he had been hearing about people's concerns over the concentration of ownership in the radio, concert and promotion industries.
Previous de Castro:
Previous Feingold:
Future of Music web site:
Future of Music news release on survey:
2002-06-22: Unsurprisingly new coverage of the September 11 attacks dominated the 2002 Edward R Murrow Awards, named after the CBS news correspondent and run by the US Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA).
In the radio Overall Excellence awards, CBS Radio News, which took the same honour last year (See RNW June 19, 2001), won the network radio award for its September 11-related cover.
WMAL-AM Washington took the large market award; and WATD-FM Marshfield, Maine, took the small market award.
Other radio awards were:
Network awards:
Newscast: ABC News Radio, 10 a.m. Information Network Newscast
Spot News Coverage: AP Broadcast, 9/11: A New War
Continuing Coverage: CBS Radio News, America Fights Back
Investigative Reporting: Latino USA, Brewster Packing
Feature Reporting: CBS Radio News, The Weakest Link
Sports Reporting: ABC News Radio, From High School to High Stakes: The 2001 NBA Draft
News Series: CBS Radio News, One Month Later: The Change in Us
News Documentary: DC Productions, Learning To Live: James' Story
Use of Sound: Great Lakes Radio Consortium, Mallard Ducks on the Decline
Writing: ABC News Radio, Keith Olbermann Commentary
Large market:
Newscast: KMOX-AM St. Louis, 7:05 News
Spot News Coverage: WINS-AM New York, 9/11
Continuing Coverage: KCBS-AM San Francisco, Energy Watch
Investigative Reporting: KOA-AM Denver, A DIA Security Report Card: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Feature Reporting: WNYC-AM/FM New York, Cracker Jack
Sports Reporting: KGO-AM San Francisco, Fairway to Heaven
News Series: KSL-AM Salt Lake City, Violent Voices, or Just Music?
News Documentary: WNYC-AM New York, The Execution Tapes Use of Sound: WMAL-AM Washington, Cal's Last Game
Writing: KYW-AM Philadelphia, John Ostapkovich Stories
Web Site: WTOP-AM/FM Washington, www.wtopnews.com
Small market:
Newscast: WJBC-AM Bloomington, IL
Spot News Coverage: WGY-AM Albany, NY, 9/11
Continuing Coverage: WGY-AM Albany, NY, Rensselaer Police Scandal
Investigative Reporting: WNOX-AM/FM Knoxville, TN, Oak Ridge Asbestos
Feature Reporting: KOSU-FM Stillwater, OK, The Whistler
Sports Reporting: KOSU-FM Stillwater, OK, Michelle Takes Aim
News Series: KSMU-FM Springfield, MO, Women Behind Bars: Incarceration and the Family
News Documentary: KUSD-FM Vermillion, SD, Dakota Heroes
Use of Sound: WNOX-AM/FM Knoxville, TN, Pearl Harbor Survivor
Writing: WKSU-FM Kent, OH, Xtreme Bowling
Web Site: WSJM-AM Benton Harbor, MI, www.wsjm.com
Previous Murrow awards:
Previous RTNDA:
RTNDA site (links to award details):
2002-06-21: The Librarian of Congress, James Billington, has halved the fees proposed by the US Copyright Arbitration Panel (CARP) for Internet-only webcasts, putting them at the same 0.07 cents per listener per song rate as that to be charged for streaming a broadcast radio station signal.
For non-commercial broadcasters, he has accepted the 0.02 cents per listener per song charge but reduced the proposed 0.05 cent charge for Archived programming subsequently transmitted over the Internet, substituted programming and up to 2 side channels; the charges for transmissions on any other side channels will be halved from 0.14 cents to 0.07 cents.
In addition the fee webcasters and broadcasters must pay for the making of ephemeral recordings has been reduced from 9% of the performance fees to 8.8% (the effective rate in a Yahoo-RIAA) agreement) but the minimum payment for business establishment services was increased from USD400 to $10,000.
In making the decision, the Librarian commented, "On the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, the Librarian rejected the CARP's determination because significant portions of it were arbitrary or contrary to law. Where the Librarian could not accept the CARP's recommendations, he has adopted rates and terms that are justified based on the evidence presented in the CARP proceeding and the requirements of the law. Otherwise, he has adopted the CARP's reasoning and recommendations."
The CARP rates were based on an agreement between Yahoo and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) but the librarian rejected CARP's view that a lower rate was justified for streaming radio station signals because of their promotional value. He accepted its rejection of a percentage of profits arrangement and conclusion that business-to-business webcasters should pay the same rate as business-to-consumer webcasters. He also accepted the recommendation that, because not all webcasters have kept detailed records of their transmissions, they should be allowed to estimate the number of performances at 15 per hour (1 per hour in the case of radio retransmissions of news, business, talk or sports stations, and 12 performances per hour in the case of other radio retransmissions) but said this should apply until the end of this year rather than have CARP's suggested 30-day cut-off period apply.
The rates will take effect from September 1, although webcasters will still be liable for royalties for streaming since October 28,1998; Full payment for this earlier period will have to be made by October 20.
The ruling received a cautious welcome from the Digital Media Association (DIMA), which represents webcasters.
Its executive director Jonathan Potter, said in a statement, "When Congress enacted the Internet radio statutory license it intended to promote a new medium and promote artists' welfare. Today's decision by the Librarian offers hope that the final royalty will be more in line with marketplace economics than was the arbitrators' proposal. If so, then the result will accomplish Congress's goals. "
RNW comment: The decision will speedily show who was correct about streaming-related income and whether too many wabcasters and stations were "crying wolf" as a bargaining tactic..
Based on these rates many radio stations have said they will cut their streams and if many webcasters were being accurate in their warnings they will be shutting down since the rates will mean all their income, or more, has to be paid out in royalties (See RNW March 27) .
Expect also, a rush of bankruptcies as webcasters find they cannot find the back-payments owed since 1998,
There may also be significant problems for some broadcasters who did not make enough provision for back-payments.
Previous CARP:
Previous DIMA:
Previous Potter:
Previous RIAA:
Librarian's ruling:
2002-06-21: Canadian CHUM Group Radio has fired most of the senior staff associated with its all-sports radio network, The TEAM, including vice-president of programming Ross Davies; vice-president of sales Tim Steele; vice-president and general manager of The Team sports radio network Paul Williams; and Williams' deputy, Gerald McGroarty, according to the Toronto Globe and Mail.
The paper says that Bill Bodnarchuk, who is now vice-president and general manager of CHUM's Team 1050 in Toronto as well as CHUM-FM, said that, despite its problems, the sports radio network was alive and reasonably well, but will become more decentralized, with an increased emphasis on local content.
"We're committed to sports," he said, "but we want to turn the focus to compelling local radio content."
The paper comments that CHUM is sticking with its all-sports concept in part because it is locked into long-term contract with sports talent. It suggests a number of reasons why the network failed including the problems of competing with The FAN sports station in Toronto, the fact that radio sports is strongest for local cover, plus weak hires and poor marketing.
Previous CHUM:
Globe and Mail report:
2002-06-21: The UK Radio Authority has launched a consultation exercise on the issue of "centralizing" local news operations for local commercial stations in the UK.
Currently local news has to be read and primarily produced from a location within each station's transmission area but a number of licensees are pressing to be allowed to create "news hubs" that would allow transmissions to be made from another location.
Stations have argued that this could reduce duplication of some tasks, and might also allow a better career structure and more specialized skills, thus improving output.
Among objections are that, were news hubs to be allowed, their existence might be regarded as allowing cost cutting and lead to cutbacks in individual newsrooms and a decline in the amount and quality of "truly local" news because hubs would be more likely to record material in advance and allocate stories to staff without local knowledge of an area.
Comments have to be submitted by August 2 and will be posted on the Authority's web site unless the author requests otherwise.
The Authority recently sanctioned an experimental 'Local News Hub' operation in the south-west involving the GWR stations Plymouth Sound, Gemini FM, Orchard FM, South Hams Radio and Lantern FM.
It was felt the stations formed a natural news area that might benefit from a pooling of resources and, therefore, permission was granted for a six-month period, conditional on the number of news staff employed remaining the same.
Previous UK Radio Authority:
UK Radio Authority Consultation Paper:
UK Radio Authority web site:
2002-06-21: Eastlan Resources , the second largest radio ratings company in the US, has added four new Hawaiian markets to its service.
It is now to measure Kauai, Maui and two markets on the Big Island: Kona and Hilo.
Kauai and Maui are Summer markets while Kona and Hilo will be Fall markets. Contracts for the markets run through 2004.
Previous Eastlan:
Eastlan web site
2002-06-20: A number of major US broadcasters have been urging caution over the speedy introduction of Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM), calling in particular for tests other than just the Philadelphia tests it has so far conducted (See RNW June 18).
The group, which includes Clear Channel, Infinity, ABC, Emmis and Entercom, issued their call following a meting with Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) President and CEO Gary Fries to discuss the system.
As well as additional tests they also want additional data comparing diary and PPM results before the rollout. There is particular concern over the results that show less listening during the morning drive time with speculation as to the reasons including a call for a check on when people have activated the meter.
Previous Arbitron:
Previous Fries:
Previous PPM:
Previous RAB:
2002-06-20: Latest Australian ratings from the AC Nielsen McNair survey show Sydney talk host Alan Jones not only keeping Macquarie's 2GB at the top of the breakfast time ratings but actually increasing his lead over Southern Cross's 2UE, his former station.
2UE remained fourth for the time slot with an 8.2 share (the same as the previous survey) compared to Jones's 16.1 share, up from 15.8.
Overall in Sydney, 2DAY held on to the top spot for Austereo but its share was down again, from 12.6% to 11.7; 2GB remained second with a share of 10.2%, down from 10.4%; and 2UE remained third with its share down from 9% to 8.7%;
Below them, Austereo's Triple M stayed fourth but increased its share from 8.3% to 8.5% and Nova FM stayed fifth with an increase in share from 8.3% to 8.5%.
Elsewhere DMG's new Nova station in Melbourne dropped back, falling from first to fourth rank.
City by city, the top three were (previous % share in brackets):
*Adelaide: SAFM with 25.8 (25.6); 5AA with 15.7 (14.9); 5MM with 12.8(12.5) - no change in rankings:
*Brisbane - B105FM with 17.9 (18.4); NEW97.3 FM with 14.2 (14.2); Triple M with13 (12.6)- no change in rankings:
*Melbourne -3AW 14 (12.2) - up from second equal; Fox FM 12.1(12.1) - previously second equal: ABC774 11.4 (10.7) -up from fourth.
*Perth - MIX 94.5FM with 22.8 (22.0); All New 92.9 with 14.7 (16.5); 96FM with 14.5 (13.6) - no change in rankings:
*Sydney - 2-Day with 11.7 (12.6); 2GB 10.2 (10.4); 2UE 8.7(9.0) - no change in rankings:
Previous Austereo:
Previous Australian ratings:
Previous DMG:
Previous Jones:
Previous Macquarie:
Previous Southern Cross:
2002-06-20: According to the UK Guardian, Richard Wheatly, the chief executive of Jazz FM, is to leave the company upon completion of its GBP44.5 million takeover by the Guardian Media Group (GMG).
The paper says that Wheatly, who turned the station from one near collapse into the world's most listened to Jazz broadcaster, is understood to have received a number of job offers and is likely to remain in the media business.
As well as running the company, he was also a presenter on the weekly programme, 1am-5am Monda Smooth Jazz In The Night.
Previous GMG:
Previous Jazz FM:
Previous Wheatly:
UK Guardian report:
2002-06-20: Jack Buck, one of the longest lasting sports voices in American broadcasting has died aged 77 after nearly five decades as the voice of the St Louis Cardinals.
He joined the team in 1954 after calling minor league baseball and took over as lead announcer after Harry Caray was fired in 1969.
He had not called games during the current season and his last main public outing was to recite his own patriotic poem at the Busch stadium after the September 11 attacks last year.
Chicago Tribune/AP obituary:
2002-06-19: The long running battle by Ed Stolz to keep hold of KWOD-FM, Sacramento, for which he signed in 1996 letters of intent to sell to Entercom for USD 25 million in cash, has moved a stage further.
He and Entercom have now signed the FCC form to transfer the station to Entercom.
Stolz was ordered in April to sign the forms by May 2 (See RNW April 20) but is still continuing to fight the sale.
He had argued that the four-page document he signed was a letter of intent to sell, not an enforceable contract, an argument rejected by the California Court. The document was attached to the FCC filing for the transfer form as the sales contract, complete with scribbled amendments.
Previous Entercom:
Previous Stolz:
2002-06-19: Former Capital Radio DJ Steve Penk is rejoining the company.
In January Penk, who had replaced the sacked Chris Evans as breakfast host on Scottish Media Group (SMG) owned Virgin Radio (See RNW June 29,2001), walked out on Virgin after a row with the station management over exchanging time slots with Virgin newcomer and then drive time presenter Daryl Denham (See RNW January 26).
Pnk will present a new late evening show from Monday (June 24) with co-presenter Bethan Davis, who rejoins Capital from Heart FM.
Penk said he had "decided I would only return to radio if it was absolutely right ... I am absolutely thrilled and am champing at the bit to get home to the home of great radio. I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms after six months away from a studio.
"I think the show will add a new dynamic to the programming mix and really excite listeners."
The new show will initially be broadcast on Capital FM in London, BRMB in Birmingham and Power FM in southern England from 10 pm to 1 am local time, Sunday through Thursday.
Previous Capital:
Previous Denham:
Previous Evans:
Previous Penk:
Previous SMG:
2002-06-19: The Country Radio Broadcasters' has named veteran programmer Ed Salamon, former President, Programming, with Westwood One, as its new Executive Director.
He takes over from Paul Allen who resigned after seven years in the post and is to leave in August.
Salamon has been on the CRB Board of Directors for more than 30 years and acting as President since 1993. He will retire from the board to officially take his seat as Executive Director from July 1.
Previous Paul Allen:
Previous CRB:
CRB web site:
2002-06-19: The former Head of the BBC World Service Caribbean output Hugh Crosskill has been shot dead during a struggle with a security guard at a Kingston medical centre in Jamaica.
Crosskill, who was 47, was born in Scarborough in Northern England of a Jamaican father and Scottish mother and began his broadcasting career as a trainee reporter with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation when he was 18.
He became well known as a sports commentator in Jamaica before moving to Barbados in 1983 to establish the Caribbean News Agency (Cana) ,staying with it for five years before moving to the BBC in 1998.
There he headed its Caribbean output until 1996 when he returned to Jamaica to run the island's largest commercial radio station, Radio Jamaica.
He later spoke publicly about his drug addiction.
UK Guardian obituary:
2002-06-19: Internet listening in the week to June 9 was up 12% on the previous week's figures, which were hit by the effects of the Memorial Day holiday, according to MeasureCast.
It says that 22 of the top 25 stations streamed more hours compared to the week before.
At the top of the station rankings, there is now only one Classical station in the top five; King FM streamed 106,801 hours compared to 109,034 a week earlier and was pushed down to sixth place by adult alternative Radioio. In the network rankings, StreamAudio continued its fall and dropped to sixth position; Virgin Radio came back up and took the fifth spot.
For the week to June 9, MeasureCast's top five stations ranked by Total Time Spent Listening (TTSL) with previous week's TTSL and Cume persons (CP), a measure of the cumulative audience, in brackets, were:
1: Hot Adult Contemporary Virgin FM - TTSL 345,394 (339, 333); CP 67,663 (67,005): Same position with higher listening, albeit still well down on two weeks earlier, and reach.
2: Jazz format Jazz FM - TTSL 188,765 (220,040); CP 56,873 (60,288): Same position with lower listening and reach .
3: Classical format WQXR-FM, New York - TTSL187,187 (175,825); CP 21,572 (22,933): Same position with higher listening but lower reach.
4: Sports talk ESPN - TTSL 127,491 (117,573): CP 39,864 (32,245) : Same position with higher listening and reach.
5: Internet-only Adult Alternative Radioio TTSL 113,800 (96,415) ; CP 32,365 (31,007 ): Up from sixth with significant rise in listening and smaller increase in reach.
The top five networks for the week (Previous week's figures in brackets) were:
1: Clear Channel Worldwide TTSL 1,522,076 (1,328,180) ; CP 259,227 (260,422). Same position with higher listening but lower reach.
2: Radio Free Virgin TTSL 785,492 (788,392): CP 151,727 (165,306) - Same position with lower listening and reach for the third week.
3: WARP Radio TTSL 773,734 (650,950) hours: CP 118,613 (120,535) - Same position with higher listening but lower reach.
4: Internet Radio Inc TTSL 551,804 (464,314) : CP 172,210 (172,054) - Same position with higher listening and slightly higher reach.
5: Virgin Radio TTSL 462,947 (449,479) : CP 88,755 (88,800) - Up from sixth with higher listening but lower reach
Previous MeasureCast ratings:
MeasureCast web site:
2002-06-18: Figures from Arbitron's Philadelphia test of its Portable People Meter show a larger cumulative audiences for all that those shown from diary entries with some stations reaching three times as many listeners.
The data covers 46 stations that participated in the trial full time from March 28 to April 24 and compares audiences with those shown for the Winter survey running from January 3 to March 2.
In a similar manner to the results from a test of the Swiss Radiocontrol system conducted by the Wireless Group in the UK (See RNW March 22) cumulative audience figures are increased more for