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The debate continues over :30s vs. :60s.

I just had to respond to the account manager from Clear Channel regarding thirty second spots (3/9/05 TVBR #48). There is no doubt many 60's just rail on and on with nothing but a laundry list menu of everything the store owner has to offer. However, really well done theater of the mind commercials take a 60 to do well. Maybe if local radio reps and their managers learned to sell ideas and concepts to their clients, instead of "We're Number One" and price and "packages," they may have better sounding spots and get better results for their clients. Effective radio advertising is the right blend of reach, frequency and MESSAGE. You can run an irritating spot 100 times in a week, but if the listener pushes the button, they won't hear it and it won't produce results. By the way, I never heard a Clear Channel rep mention the idea of using thirties until the Company proclaimed it an edict. Now, suddenly, "thirties are the way to go"!

Zellner to join XM
XM Satellite Radio announced that Jon Zellner, former Vice President of Adult Top 40/Hot AC Programming at Infinity Broadcasting, will be joining XM to serve in the newly-created position of Senior Vice President of Music Programming. At Infinity, Zellner oversaw Adult Top 40/Hot AC stations in 17 cities.

IBiquity taps three
iBiquity Digital has expanded its broadcast marketing department, hiring Renee Jamerson and Roy Sampson, who join the company as Managers of Broadcast Marketing where they will work with radio stations on promoting HD Radio. iBiquity also hired Vicki Stearn as Director of Marketing and Communications. She had been a communications consultant to HD Radio during the fourth quarter of 2004.

Steele back in Houston
Dayna Steele, who's been called "Houston's First Lady of Radio," returned to the airwaves yesterday as host of a one-hour afternoon show on how "you can master the art of doing business" on KXYZ-AM "BizRadio1320."

Smitty gets Radio Engineering Achievement Award

Crystal finalists named

GM puts 3 billion account
up for grabs
Mark LaNeve is wasting no time shaking things up after being but in charge of all domestic sales and marketing at General Motors early this month. He's put the company's entire US media buying account up for review. The GM account, which totaled nearly three billion bucks in ad buying last year, is apparently the largest ad contract ever put up for bid. It covers buying for both General Motors and its regional dealer groups. LaNeve is looking for new ways to boost sales for GM, whose US market share has fallen to a historic low. RBR observation: Ok you were not there at the 4A's this year when the buzz was creative and the problems agencies are having wrestling the issue under control. Reminder: LaNeve stated he wants to keep auto offers simple in the market place and be more targeted on incentives by models and regions of the country. In short: Price the car right and no incentives. LaNeve was the point on re-branding the Cadillac division so successfully he is now the man in charge of 3 billion bucks and the up front season is around the corner. So, now do you think LaNeve is going to commit all that cash at one time? 03/14/05 RBR #51

Powell heading to Think Tank
When he leaves the FCC this week, Michael Powell's first stop with be the Aspen Institute, a think tank that's also been a post-FCC home for ex-Chairmen Reed Hundt and Bill Kennard. Powell will become senior fellow of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program for a three-month period effective upon his departure from the FCC. He will advise the Communications and Society Program on leadership, communications policy, and program activities and operations. Judith Mann will also move from the FCC to the Institute as Powell's confidential assistant. RBR observation: Seems many go to some form of Think Tank after their experience at the FCC. Mostly to think why they went there in the first place, second is what did they screw up for the communications business while they were there - - a business called radio and TV which they never were employed in, but became overnight experts in judging what is best for all. It's like going to a clinic to dry out. 03/14/05 RBR #51

Bob Iger to CEO when
Michael Eisner retires
Speeding up his retirement timetable and will step down on September 30th of this year. EBay CEO Meg Whitman withdrew from consideration for the Disney post late Friday - - and that Iger was the only other candidate remaining. Whitman's withdrawal, which was confirmed, came just hours after former Disney directors Roy Disney and Stan Gold sent a letter to the current board demanding that Eisner be kept out of the interview process to select his successor because he had already publicly endorsed Iger.
RBR observation: If you've been reading "DisneyWar" by James Stewart, get ready for the sequel - - Disney War II - - as Roy Disney and Stan Gold go ballistic over the current board anointing Iger after such a brief and half-hearted search for outside candidates. Since it's nearly a year until the next scheduled shareholders meeting, we'd guess that the two will strike while the iron is hot and start soliciting support to call a special meeting and try to fire the entire Disney board. It should be interesting. 03/14/05 RBR #51

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