Council Speaker’s PPM Charges Answered…

Monday, August, 18, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

I was not surprised by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s  charges of a “potential bias in the (Arbitron PPM) methodology.”  What did surprise me is Quinn’s lack of knowledge regarding the FCC’s possible role in an investigation of Arbitron’s methodology.  That is something that the FCC does not and will not do.  They are a regulatory commission not an investigative agency that determines audience measurement methodology…

For those not familiar with Christine Quinn, she is an overly ambitious public servant who could be the next mayor of New York.  She was obviously aware of last November’s request by the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters that Arbitron delay the PPM rollout until “inconsistencies” could be addressed.  Arbitron agreed to a temporary halt, addressed the issues and the PPM is set to roll in New York in September…

I thought Arbitron’s response  to Quinn’s request was right on the money:  “While Arbitron does not believe that the FCC has jurisdiction over the company or its operations and assets and consequently lacks the authority to commence a Section 403 investigation, it is important to note that the FCC has not determined that it will undertake such an investigation.”   Arbitron also added that “our PPM samples effectively represent the diversity of the New York radio marketplace and of all the markets we measure in terms of age, sex, race, ethnicity and Spanish-language preference.  Overall, Hispanics and African Americans have the highest listening levels in the PPM system.”

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1920] Suffer no more ladies: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the right of women to vote, is ratified when Tennessee becomes the 36th state to approve it…
2. 1937] FM CP: The 1st FM construction permit is issued in Boston. W1XOJ in Paxton goes on the air 2 years later. That station is now WAAF in Westborough (MA)…
3. 1961] That wall is not for handball: Construction of the Berlin Wall  separating the western and eastern sectors of Berlin is completed…
4. 1963] Breaking the color barrier: James Meredith becomes the first black to graduate from the University of Mississippi…
5. 1967] All news all the time: WCBS in New York goes all-news as they decide to compete with WINS. Both stations are now owned by CBS Radio…
6. 1967] Brutal beaning: Red Sox star outfielder Tony Conigliaro  is beaned by the Angels’ Jack Hamilton at Fenway Park. A promising future is cut short although Tony C. will recover from the beaning but never be the same player again…
7. 1988] Bagging a Quayle: Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle  is nominated as George H.W. Bush’s running mate at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans…
8. 1992] Curtains: One of the greatest players to wear Celtics green or any NBA uniform, Larry Bird  announces his retirement after 13 years…
9. 1996] Tapped out: A record 6,654 (or 13,308 feet if my math is correct) tap their brains out at Macy’s “Tap-o-mania” in front of Macy’s on 34th Street. They set a new world’s record. They should be damn proud of it too…
10. 2005] BTK packs his bags: A judge in Wichita, Kansas sentences BTK serial killer Dennis Rader  to 10 consecutive life terms…

Music Memories:

• 1962] Released on this date: “If I Had A Hammer” - Peter, Paul & Mary…1973] “China Grove“ - Doobie Brothers…

Commentary:

The death of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame producer Jerry Wexler on Friday brought to mind the note he once sent me.  It was a thank-you note for the early playing of the Drifters‘ “Under The Boardwalk” while I was at WMID in Atlantic City.  I mean playing that song during an AC summer was a no-brainer.  I later found out that Jerry would send out lots of thank-you notes to radio stations across the U.S. for playing certain records he produced.  It didn’t make my note any less special.  Jerry was 91 at his passing.  Here’s the song he thanked me for…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Christian Slater (39), Dennis Leary (51), Patrick Swayze (56), Sarah Dash (65), Martin Mull (65), Matt Snell (67), Robert Redford (71), Roman Polanski (75) and Rosalynn Carter (81)…

Timeline Countdown: 14 days until Labor Day and 17 days until the NFL opener (Washington @ NYG)…

Posted in Today's Post | No Comments »