Spanish broadcasters attack PPM again
The Spanish Radio Association (SRA) launched a new attack on Arbitron's PPM, saying the organization is disappointed with Arbitron's response to its concerns about Hispanic audience measurement under PPM. "It appears that in trying to rush out PPM, Arbitron is sacrificing the accuracy of the data," the group charged. SRA - whose members include Border Media Partners, Spanish Broadcasting System, Entravision Communications and Univision Radio - has four main complaints about PPM. It charges that Arbitron: 1) Is not taking into account the diversity of the Hispanic population; 2) Has not shared information on recruitment to ensure that the diversity of the Hispanic community is reflected; 3) Is knowingly under-sampling the "cell phone only homes," which impacts Hispanic representation disproportionately; and 4) Is using the same model across markets and not looking at the diversity and demographics of each in recruitment and measurement models. Arbitron told RBR late yesterday that it has great respect for the role of Spanish-language radio and that "We are confident that a fair understanding of the PPM system will demonstrate that it produces objective, unbiased audience estimates."

PPM panelists unmasked
There's nothing sinister going on, though. Coleman Insights was granted exclusive access by Arbitron to Portable People Meter panelists as they finished their participation in the New York, Philadelphia and Houston markets. Findings from the "Real PPM Panelists Tell All" study will be presented on Friday, September 19th at the NAB Radio Show in Austin. "Besides the no-holds-barred interviews that offer a look at what it's like to be a PPM panelist, we will also reveal new insights between 'perceived' and 'metered' listening, including how large this gap is and when and why it exists," said Coleman Insights President and COO Warren Kurtzman. "These insights will help stations program smarter, as we will share concrete ideas on what you can and cannot control in a PPM world," he added.

Gas taking the fire out of back to school
The high price of gasoline is coming right out of household back-to-school budgets, according to a report from online research outfit Zoomerang. Parents and students are apparently in agreement on this - 60% of parents and 62% of students say they're spending less, and 92% of the parents are pointing directly at the gas pump when assigning blame. Out of the entire survey, 25% said gas prices have affected their lives "a lot," and a mere 4% said "not at all." People who are already driving less in general also drive less than they might in search of back-to-school items. The higher-end stores get a pass. Generic product sales are up at the expense of advertised products. Traditional brick and mortar retail sales lose out to both internet sales and second-hand sales. People buy online or second-hand, and put off big ticket items like a new computer.

RBR observation: When selling time, broadcasters must remember that merchants facing higher costs and fewer customers look to cut overhead, and advertising is often first to go. But those who find somewhere else to cut can take advantage of a prime time to grab market share, a move that can pay off for years to come. That is the story that has to be sold in these down times.

Honored at the Denver convention
Fellow New Orleans musicians, Allan Touissant (left), The Meter's Leo Nocentelli (center) and Walter "Wolfman" Washington accepted the Heroes of the Storm Award on behalf of Music Rising from the Friends of New Orleans at the site of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Emily Byram, Executive Director of the Friends of New Orleans presented the award in honor and appreciation of all of the support Music Rising continues to do for the Gulf Coast State and the nation as a whole. A special presentation and concert was produced on the eve of the Democratic National Convention to bring awareness to the country for the work that is still needed in the Gulf Coast Region. For more information on Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org. Photo Credit: Barry Staver Photography.

Carat lowers ad forecasts
Ad buying giant Carat has revised downward its worldwide advertising expenditure forecasts. 2008 ad growth is now projected to be 4.9%, down from the previous projection of 6%. US growth is expected to be only 2.1%, not 3.8% as previously forecast. "It's clear that the worldwide economic issues affecting businesses are having an impact on where and how advertisers spend their money. It is also significant that the US and the UK, as the highest spenders on advertising in their regions, are showing reductions in our forecasts. But overall, the picture is still one of growth," said Jerry Buhlmann, CEO of Aegis Media, which owns Carat.

Hot dog attack ad debunked
A vegetarian group has an ad out showing kids enjoying hot dogs in their school cafeteria, until one little boy laments the fact that he was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer. While there are links to certain foods and certain cancers, they generally involve adults, not children, and in the case of hot dogs, there is no proven danger in eating one occasionally, according to health experts talking to the Associated Press. That is not to say hot dogs are at the top of the health food pyramid. Experts say lack of exercise, and avoidance of fruits and vegetables are more serious health problems.

RBR observation: We understand the allure of shock to grab attention, but going too far in an advertisement probably damages the cause of the advertiser more than it helps. When a campaign is so over the top, it may well weaken similar campaigns that stick more closely to reality. The same goes for product advertising - you can make fantastic claims, but if the product cannot deliver, you will no doubt have alienated customers for life.

$1.8M KAJC-FM Millersburg OR; KIHS-FM Adel IA; KJCQ-FM Westwood CA; KJCU-FM Fort Bragg CA; KKCJ-FM Cannon AFB NM; KPKJ-FM CP Mentmore NM; KWJT-FM Rathdrum ID; KYWH-FM Lockwood MT; WAJC-FM Wilson NC; WCJL-FM Morgantown IN; WFGL-AM Fitchburg MA; WGPS-FM Elizabeth City NC; WJCE-FM CP Elkton MD; WJCO-FM Montpelier IN; WJCX-FM Pittsfield MN; WJCY-FM Cicero IN; WJCZ-FM Millford IL; WJIJ-FM Norlina NC; WJWD-FM Marshall WI; WJWT-FM Gardner MA; WOJC-FM Cothersville IN; WPGT-FM Roanoke Rapids NC; WPJC-FM Pontiac IL; WQKO-FM Howe IN; WTMK-FM Wanatah IN; WWFP-FM Brigantine NJ; and WHLP-FM Hanna IN from CSN International (Jeffrey W. Smith) to Calvary Radio Network Inc. (Charles Smith). $90K escrow, balance in cash at closing. [FCC file date 7/17/08]

$400K WKXI-AM Jackson MS from Urban Radio II LLC, a subsidiary of Inner City Broadcasting Corporation (Pierre M. Sutton et al) to Pollack Broadcasting Company (William Pollack, David Pollack, Robert Pollack). $20K escrow, 30K cash at closing, $350K note. Buyer must change calls. [FCC file date 7/17/08]

$1 KMET-AM Riverside-San Bernardino CA (Banning CA). 100% of Sunset Broadcasting Inc. from Richard Nuthmann to David Tow. Cash. [FCC file date 7/16/08]

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hear from you
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Harper responds
RBR.com has been heating up with discussion of recent columns by Bob Harper on radio research. Here is the discussion.

Read Harper’s articles:
* Back to the Future
* Play Misty for Me
* "Ordinary People" Finding your listeners in the real world.

Only on RBR.com
When the Traffic
Audience Leaves
This is going to be painful
Watch as the only recurring
Element moves

Ad Business Report
Carat lowers ad forecasts
Revised downward its worldwide ad expenditure forecasts for 08

Media, Markets & Money
Danziger spins out
Of Islamorada - Caribbean Brdct is picking up a Florida Keys FM

Classifieds RBR.com
Radio's Hiring Hot List
RBR has over 40 Openings
Submit your opening at N/C

Have lunch
with Jeff Haley
The Radio Advertising Bureau President and CEO will discuss the future of radio as the NAB Radio Show Luncheon speaker on Friday, September 19th in Austin. The luncheon will also feature presentation of the National Radio Award to Bonneville International President and CEO Bruce Reese. During the luncheon presentation titled "A Conversation about Radio's Future in a Digital World," Haley will draw on this experience to discuss the digital opportunities that will promote the future expansion of radio.

Noncom survives
Spak attack
Mario Fiorucci and Richard Aston, citizens in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton market, filed to deny the license renew of noncommercial WRKC-FM, owned by Catholic-oriented Kings College. They claimed that the station's GM dismissed volunteer announcer Jim Spak and his three programs due to political disagreements. King's College admitted that his comments were sometimes at odds with their philosophy, and that his commentary was available on another local station anyway. But King's College needn't have gone to all that bother. The FCC simply noted that it did not have the authority to interceded in the licensee's programming decisions. The Fiorucci/Aston complaint was brushed aside, thanks to the First Amendment.

Rocky Mt. Gold Mine!
3-FM station cluster, dominates market of 7! 3.5 million gets you a million in billings!
[email protected]

White hot radio
gains 6% in 2007
Somehow, the seemingly never-ending radio slump is nothing more than a fairy tale north of the border, where radio increasing its revenues by 6%.

RBR observation: One Canadian analyst who had been predicting doom and gloom with iPods holding the murder weapon. The analyst, however, suspects the inevitable decline will come unless the Canadian government liberalizes content rules to allow more operating room for edgy shock jocks.
08/27/08 RBR #168

Five still chasing the Cubs
COO Randy Michaels said the changes being made at Tribune are not just about cuts, but also investing in businesses and changing the company culture.

RBR observation: Nobody likes to lose their job and it is also painful to work where lots of other people are being pink slipped. But the reality is that Tribune is in a fight for its survival.
08/27/08 RBR #168

Payola And Plugola (FCC Fines Made Easy!)
Let's Review In Case You Forgot. Record promoter comes by the station and offers you two box seats at a Giants game, and a really cool Pink leather jacket. Nothing in return; "Just play our records," Okay? Can you take this? It's not money. Will you play his records? Answers at RBR.com.
08/27/08 RBR #168

Taking issue with research
I could not disagree more strongly with Harper's previous column about the importance of music testing in programming a successful radio station. If "Content is King" why are our music selection methods geared toward making our music content as bland, boring, predictable, and uninspiring as possible?
08/27/08 RBR #168

"Mass" vs. "Me"
Sales and Marketing - Understanding the difference between "mass media" and "me media" is a pivot point for radio creating innovative ideas that present triple-win scenarios which benefit advertiser, listener, and station. Important to note, however, that new media is not simply the Internet alone.
08/26/08 RBR #167