Radio Q1 Bite Worse Than Expected…

Friday, May, 23, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

(Memorial Day Weekend Edition)

Local and national radio sales took a 7% hit  in the first quarter.  The only thing up besides the rent was network radio which grew 7%.  To no one’s surprise, off-air revenue, which includes online, was up 15%.  Local sales, radio’s bread and butter was down 6% to $3.1 billion.  The total take in radio revenue was $4.5 billion in the first quarter, down 5% from Q1, 2007…

The growth in network radio has to be attributed to local spot insertions which advertisers love, especially Wal-Mart and Home Depot, the two accounts that spent the most.  Geico remained the top insurance spender overall and Nationwide, coming in second has made a major commitment to radio…

Despite the 7% revenue hit suffered by radio, the RAB remained optimistic as voiced by this quote from President/CEO Jeff Haley, “We are encouraged that first quarter has brought new and returning advertisers to radio.  Aggressive pursuit of brand-extension opportunities, new programming formats, interactive on-demand experiences maintains radio’s relevance and provides advertisers a recession-resistant outlet to engage their consumers.” …

Some might say the RAB sees the glass half-full, others might call them delusional…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1883]  Happy 125th:   The Brooklyn Bridge opens to the public (5/24).  The celebrations have already begun and will last all weekend long…
2. 1927]  Debuted on this date:  “Movietone News” is shown for the first time at the Sam Harris Theatre in Manhattan (5/25)…1951]  Future Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays  debuts with the New York Giants (5/25)…1969]  “Midnight Cowboy” premieres in Manhattan (5/25)…1977]  “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope“, the first ‘Star Wars’ movie, opens as the largest grossing film to-date (5/25)…1992]  Jay Leno debuts as the new host of NBC-TVs “The Tonight Show“, succeeding Johnny Carson (5/25).  Conan O’Brien  will replace Jay next year but Leno is still going strong…
3. 1934]  They’re young…they’re in love…and they kill people:  Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow  are shot and killed in an ambush set up by former Texas Ranger Frank Hamer (5/23)…
4. 1935]  Curtains:  Babe Ruth  hits his 714th and final home run as a member of the Boston Braves.  The blast reportedly traveled more than 600 feet (5/25)…1974]  The last “Dean Martin Show” airs on NBC-TV after a run of 9 seasons (5/24).  In this clip, Dino welcomes Don Rickles… 1978]  Keith Moon  plays with The Who for the last time (5/25).  He will OD at 32 in September…1988]  After a six-year run, “St. Elsewhere” (starring Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon, Alfre Woodard, Howie Mandel, Ed Begley Jr. and Ronnie Cox) bows out with its final episode  (5/25)…1999]  The final episode of “Mad About You” starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt is run after 7 seasons (5/24).  This clip is from the first episode…
5. 1959]  Wham-O:  The word “Frisbee” becomes a registered trademark of Wham-O (5/26)…
6. 1960]  Musical call letters:  WRCA changes call letters back to WNBC (thank you) (5/23)…
7. 1961]  To the moon Alice:  President John F. Kennedy  asks America to work toward putting a man on the moon (5/25)…
8. 1974]  ‘Happy Trails’:  Jazz great Duke Ellington passes away from pneumonia at 75 (5/24)…2002]  Legendary golfer Sam Snead dies from complications of a stroke (5/23) four days short of his 90th birthday…2006]  Desmond (”Israelites“) Dekker dies from a heart attack at 64 (5/25)…
9. 1987]  Like father, like son:  Al Unser Sr. wins his 4th Indy 500 at the age of 47 (5/24).  Five years later, same date in 1992, Al Jr. wins it, making junior the first, second-generation winner (5/24)…
10. 2005]  These are your “American Idols“:  2005]  Carrie Underwood  (5/25)…2006]  Taylor Hicks (5/24)…The 2008 winner, David Cook was chosen (5/21)…

Music Memories:

• 1960]  Recorded on this date:  “Cathy’s Clown” - Everly Brothers (5/23)…1969]  “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” - Hollies (5/25)…
• 1962]  Released on this date:  “Twist and Shout” - Isley Brothers (5/25)…
• 1965]  Number One on this date:  “Help Me Rhonda” - Beach Boys (5/23)…1969]  “Get Back” - Beatles (5/24)…1975]  “Shining Star” - Earth, Wind & Fire (5/24)…1984]  “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” - Deniece Williams (5/24)…

Commentary:

It’s hard to believe this one, but it’s true.  Optometrist Brian Rowley who lives in Utah has only been to two Red Sox games in his life.  He must have 20/20 vision because in his first game, Rowley witnessed a no-hitter by Clay Buchholz.  On Monday night, Rowley saw his second Red Sox game - another no-hitter, this one by Jon Lester.  The odds on this happening are infinitesimal.  Rowley hopes to be back to Fenway in a couple of years.  Call your bookie now…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

(5/23)  Jewel (Kilcher) (34), Bartolo Colon (35), Drew Carey (50), Marvelous Marvin Hagler (56) and Joan Collins (75)…(5/24)  Rich Appel (51), Priscilla Presley (63), Patricia Holt a.k.a. Patti LaBelle (64), Bob Dylan (67) and Tommy Chong (70)…(5/25)  Anne Heche (39), Mike Myers (45), Cookie Gilchrist (73), K.C. Jones (76), Kitty Kallen (82) and Hal David (87)…(5/26)  Lenny Kravitz (44), Stevie Nicks (60), Levon Helm (68), Brent Musburger (69) and James Arness (85)…

Timeline Countdown:  3 days until Memorial Day, 23 days until Father’s Day, 30 days until summer and 43 days until July 4th…

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