The Jury Is Still Out On PPM…

The Radio community opposed to Arbitron’s Portable People Meter are to no one’s surprise, not doing well with the PPM numbers, otherwise why would they be opposed?  So Clear Channel, Cox Radio, Cumulus, Inner City, Radio One and Saga Communications, fired off a letter to Arbitron detailing “industry expectations” for PPM.  Emmis, Entercom, Citadel and CBS obviously like the PPM methodology and the numbers they’ve received from the measurement and did not add their company names to the letter sent to Arbitron…

Being an old C.E. Hooper guy, I love any methodology that tells me what a listener is listening to at that very moment as opposed to documenting his or her listening in a diary.  At Hooper we made random phone calls in what was called a “coincidental” survey.  What stopped us was unlisted phone numbers.  Cell phones really would’ve done it but there weren’t any cell phones yet.  To me there’s no substitute for immediate response to a question.  PPM is an immediate response…

It’s interesting to note that CBS Radio is in opposition to those in opposition to PPM.  CBS Radio President/CEO Dan Mason has called the PPM “the most accurate, most reliable data collection technology used in radio measurement.”  In response to the letter of opposition to PPM sent to Arbitron, CBS issued a statement  that reads “we support the new methodology and have every confidence in Arbitron that they will continue to improve the service and deliver us information that will help elevate our accountability with our clients.”  Lest you think that this is a totally altruist response, CBS has done well by PPM’s numbers too…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1664] Are you from Jersey?: New Jersey, named after the Isle of Jersey, is founded. Get ready for the stench as soon as you approach Secaucus…
2. 1922] And they called it…the NFL: The American Professional Football Association has the good sense to change its name to the National Football League. Interesting footnote: Curly Lambeau paid $250 for the Green Bay Packers, founded by his employer, the Indian Packing Company. Today the entire community of Green Bay owns the team…
3. 1948] That wall won’t be for handball: Communists forces cut off all land and water routes between West and East Berlin. The U.S. organizes a massive airlift known as “The Berlin Airlift“…
4. 1949] Hoppy’s happy: “Hopalong Cassidy” becomes the 1st network (NBC) western on TV. The series will run 2 seasons…
5. 1953] With this ring: John F. Kennedy  and Jacqueline Bouvier announce their engagement…
6. 1956] Hi-Ho Steverino: “The Steve Allen Show” returns on NBC-TV for 5 years…
7. 1975] Tragedy at JFK: An Eastern Airlines  Boeing 727 crashes while attempting to land during a thunderstorm at JFK, killing 113…
8. 1979] Diamond Dust: Rickey Henderson  wastes no time in stealing his 1st base, doing it in his major league debut with Oakland…1992] Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent  permanently bans drug abuser Steve Howe  from baseball…
9. 1987] “Happy Trails“: Jackie Gleason  dies from colon and liver cancer at 71…2006] Patsy Ramsey, mother of JonBenet, dies from ovarian cancer at 49…
10. 1992] Gotcha: “Crazy Eddie” Antar is captured and arrested in Israel on U.S. fraud charges. Remember the commercial done by Jerry Carroll?…1993] An Arab terror group  planning the bombing of the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels gets caught - all are arrested…

Music Memories:

• 1972] Released on this date: “I Am Woman” - Helen Reddy…
• 1992] Graduated on this date: At 43, Billy Joel receives his diploma from Hicksville High School…

 Commentary:

The latest flap on the Imus remark about Pacman Jones is much ado about nothing.  Can you imagine the scrutiny George Carlin would have if he had a radio show?  He was on the radio though and one of the stations he worked for was WEZE in Boston.  Len Zola recalls Carlin’s firing at WEZE:  “Within a week of joining the staff, Carlin “borrowed” the station’s van for a weekend drive home to Connecticut but apparently did not make anyone aware he was doing so.  Nor did he realize that GM Art Haley used the vehicle for sales and other calls so he could park where he saw fit without likely being ticketed.  That Friday afternoon Arturo (as we called him) went looking for it and couldn’t find it.  It wasn’t until Monday when it suddenly reappeared.  He fired Carlin on the spot.”  Paul Power mentioned some folklore about Carlin being on the air when a drunk came up to the WEZE showcase window and relieved himself on the window.  Reportedly Carlin quit the next day.  That may or may not be true according to Paul.  And finally Ed Pyle, a big Carlin fan and fine former newsman on my comparison of Tim Russert and Carlin:  “Russert was one of a kind.  Carlin was too, but what he did and how he did it was good for laughs.  What Russert did and how he did it was good for our country.” …One ‘Happy Trails’ announcement to make this morning concerns the death of ditsy but brilliant comedic talent and writer, Dody Goodman, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 93.  Dody became famous when Jack Paar made her a regular on the second episode of “The Tonight Show” on July 30, 1957…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Minka Kelly (28), Peter Weller (61), Mick Fleetwood (61), former N.Y. Gov. George Pataki (63), Jeff Beck (64), Michelle Lee (66), Jack Carter (85) and “Happy Days” Al a.k.a. Al Molinaro (89)…

Timeline Countdown: 10 days until July 4th, 21 days until the MLB All-Star Game and 45 days until the Summer Olympics… 

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