More Opposition to the XM/Sirius Merger…

Friday, May, 9, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition)

Peter Smyth is the Greater Media CEO.  Peter is also the Chairman of the Radio Advertising Bureau.  As a vocal spokesman for both, he is totally opposed to the XM/Sirius merger.  Smyth clearly states his position in his Greater Media blog, “From the Corner Office“.  Yes it’s a company news letter but it’s usually a good read.  Peter feels that the merger would ” completely undermine the FCC’s laudable regulatory objectives” whereby one company would control 25 MHz of spectrum, more than the entire AM and FM terrestrial radio bands combined.  “In addition, one licensee would be able to air over 300 channels in every market - 40 times more channels than terrestrial radio broadcasters are permitted to control in the largest markets.”  …

Smyth feels that if the FCC permits the merger then it should insure that satellite subscribers not be discouraged from sampling other audio services, including HD radio.  Smyth’s opposition to the XM/Sirius merger is understandable as both CEO of a terrestrial radio group and chairman of an organization representing thousands of radio stations, all feeling the sting of fighting an uphill media battle for their very existence…

Peter and I are cut from the same radio cloth sharing a Kevin Bacon  connection centered around the old WRKO-FM in Boston.  It was at WRKO-FM that I made my programming debut and about 10 years later, Peter began his sales career at the same station, then WROR-FM.  Peter was helpful in helping us organize the 25th anniversary of WRKO (AM) in the 90s and I wish him luck in his merger fight.  I don’t think his opposition to the merger will matter but I have to give him credit for his strong stand and for fighting the good fight…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1908]  Put them all together they spell Mother:  The first Mother’s Day  observance is held during church services in Grafton (WV) and Philadelphia (5/10)…
2. 1949]  In an instant:   The first Polaroid Camera  sells for $89.95 in New York City (5/11) “but for you - $85.95“…
3. 1958]  Rock ‘n’ riot:  Alan Freed  is indicted for inciting unlawful destruction of property in Boston as fans riot at the Boston Arena.  Many consider this event the beginning of the end for Freed’s career (5/9)…
4. 1961]  TV wasteland:   FCC chairman Newton N. Minnow condemns TV as a “vast wasteland” in a speech to the NAB (5/9)…
5. 1969]  Wedding Bells:  The merger of the AFL and NFL becomes official with Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore agreeing to move to the AFL.  The AFC and NFC are formed with two-thirteen team conferences (5/10)…
6. 1970]  On the fly:  In one of the greatest sports moments captured on video and in print, Boston Bruins superstar Bobby Orr  flies through the air after taking a pass from Derek Sanderson and putting the puck in the St. Louis net for the winning OT goal that produces an NHL championship for the Bruins (5/10)…
7. 1972]  Say Hey returns:  Returning to the city he started in, Willie Mays  comes back to New York to play for the Mets.  The Say-Hey Kid is traded for the immortal Charlie Williams and $50,000 cash (5/11)…
8. 1981]  ‘Happy Trails’:  Reggae legend Bob Marley  dies at 36 from cancer in a Miami hospital (5/11)…2006]  Former heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson  passes away at 71 from prostate cancer (5/11)…
9. 1982]  The death of Musicradio:  At exactly 12 noon, Musicradio 77 becomes Talkradio 77.  After Dan Ingram joined Ron Lundy for the final Musicradio show, the WABC chime was used for the last time at 11:59:55 a.m. (5/10)  WABC switched to top 40 in December, 1960 and for 22 years dominated ratings in New York.  The final jock lineup:  5-9a.m.  Ross and Wilson, 9-Noon  Ron Lundy and Dan Ingram.  Jay Clark was Operations Manager when the end came…
10. 1988]  God Bless America:  A star-studded Carnegie Hall concert is held to honor the 100th birthday of legendary song writer Irving Berlin.  Performers include:  Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Madeline Kahn, Marilyn Horne and others.  Berlin was too feeble to attend but watched on TV (5/11)…

Music Memories:

• 1954]  Released on this date:  “Rock Around The Clock” - Bill Haley & Comets (5/10) (The first time around this was not a hit, charting for only 1 week.  One year later after “Blackboard Jungle” premiered, the song will top the charts in July, 1955)…1970]  “Ride Captain Ride” - Blues Image (5/9)…
• 1964]  Number One on this date:  “My Guy” - Mary Wells (5/11)…1981]  “Bette Davis Eyes” - Kim Carnes (5/11)…1985]  “Crazy For You” - Madonna (5/11)…
• 1974]  The future of Rock & Roll:  Music critic Jon Landau  sees Bruce Springsteen  perform at the Harvard Square Theater in Cambridge (5/9) and says “I saw rock and roll’s future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.”  Landau will start a career in management with his first client…
• 1974]  Recorded on this date:  “I Shot The Sheriff” - Eric Clapton (5/10)…

Commentary:

One of the first singers I met when I became the morning man at WKDA in Nashville was a very quiet, likeable man who always wore a smile.  Of course I recognized his face from seeing him on TV variety shows.  Although he was already famous he didn’t act it at all.  He was just a regular guy who was becoming famous in real estate around Music City too.  Eddy Arnold was a friend of our general manager, Jack Stapp, co-founder (with Buddy Killen) of Tree Music Publishing and he could often be seen at WKDA where he became a regular.  No one complained.  Eddy Arnold passed away yesterday just a week from his 90th birthday.  He was not a fancy guy, just nice to everyone he met.  Eddy always reminded me of a Country Perry Como.  When I think of Eddy, I think of this song, prophetic in a way.  R.I.P. Eddy Arnold…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

(5/9)  Billy Joel (59), Candice Bergen (62), Tommy Roe (66) and Mike Wallace (90)…(5/10)  Bono a.k.a. Paul Hewson (48), Chris Berman (53), Donovan Leitch (62), Gary Owens (72) and Pat Summerall (78)…(5/11)  Martha Quinn (49), Mike Lupica (56), Dr. Robert Jarvick (62), Eric Burdon (67) and Mort Sahl (81)…

Timeline Countdown:  2 days until Mother’s Day, 17 days until Memorial Day and 37 days until Father’s Day…

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