It’s Time To Learn From Our Neighbors Up North…

Wednesday, September, 3, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

U.S. Radio would do well to learn a thing or two from our Canadian friends, eh?  The Canadian economy isn’t any better than ours right now yet their radio revenues continue to grow while ours continues to tank and their programming is more inventive too - more on that later.  You can use all the excuses you want for Canada’s growth - less competition, smaller audiences, a more concentrated population, whatever.  Facts are facts  and Canadian radio revenue grew 6% to $1.47 billion in 2007 when the value of the Canadian and American dollar was equal.  None of the radio market categories registered losses.  The top five metro markets grew 4% and 8.3% in the 28 other metro areas with populations over 100,000.  Smaller markets grew 7.4%…

In programming, Canada is going through a “Pop Alternative revolution“.  Curve 94.3 in Winnipeg switched to ‘Pop Alternative’ which features such diverse artists as Nirvana, Katy Perry, Notorius B.I.G. and Kanye West, targeting a 25-40 audience.  It’s way too early to tell whether or not this will work but it does show the adventuresome spirit of Canadian radio.  Let’s hope it’s not another Jack format which started in Vancouver before spreading to the U.S….

This is not to suggest that Canadian radio is any better than it is in the United States but it does suggest that they are more successful than we are in revenue growth and innovative programming ideas.  Maybe it’s time we started learning something from our neighbors up north… 

10 Timeline Memories: 

1. 1833] Here comes The Sun: The 1st successful penny newspaper in the U.S., “The New York Sun” is launched by Benjamin H. Day (too bad his name wasn’t “Brown”, then he could say “I’m Brown from The Sun” but at least people could say he had his day)…
2. 1895] Pigskin debut: According to the folks in Latrobe, PA  the 1st professional football game was played in that city as the Latrobe YMCA beat pants off of the Jeannette (a city name not a girl) Athletic Club 12-0…
3. 1954] Riding off into the radio sunset: “The Lone Ranger“ airs on radio for the last time after 2,956 episodes (that covers a period of 21 years)…
4. 1966] Curtains: “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” ends after 14 years (it ran on radio for 10 years, some of those years it ran on both mediums)…
5. 1967] “What Was My Line?”: After 17 years, “What’s My Line ?” airs for the last time (early panelists were: Arlene Francis, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf with others like Steve Allen and Fred Allen). John Daly was the host of the show…
6. 1970] “Happy Trails”: Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi  dies from cancer at 57…1991] Movie director Frank Capra suffers a fatal heart attack in his sleep at 94…2001] Movie critic Pauline Kael  falls victim to Parkinson’s disease at 82…
7. 1971] The Walrus returns: After a visit to England, John Lennon  returns to New York City, never to return to England, where he was born (in Liverpool)…
8. 1976] Doing the Martian Hop: Viking 2 lands on Mars to take the 1st close-up photos of the red planet…
9. 1977] Mary tosses her hat for the last time: “The Mary Tyler Moore Show“ bows out (the 1st episode was titled “Love Is All Around” which was the theme song of the sitcom. It was written and performed by Sonny Curtis. And of course that last show featured the famous group hug by all the cast members)…
10. 1999] Super Mario: Mario Lemieux’s ownership group officially takes control of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lemieux becomes the first player in the modern era of sports to buy the team he once played for…

Music Memories:

• 1942] O Solo Mio: Frank Sinatra starts his solo career  on this date…
• 1973] Released on this date: “Angie“ - Rolling Stones…

Commentary:

There are 3 deaths to report of people you know.  Singer-actor Jerry (“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”) Reed died from complications of emphysema on Monday morning.  Reed was 71…The greatest movie voiceover voice has been stilled with the death of Don LaFontaine.  LaFontaine who started doing movie trailer voiceovers in the 60s, died following a collapsed lung on Monday at 68…CBS correspondent Ike Pappas who reported on the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald on radio in 1963 (”Oswald has been shot…“) passed away Sunday of heart failure at 75…All will be remembered, all will be missed… 

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”: Jenny Finch (28), Charlie Sheen (42), Valerie Perrine (64), Al Jardine (65), Eileen Brennan (72), Anne Jackson (81) and “Beetle Bailey” cartoonist Mort Walker (84)…

Timeline Countdown: One day until the NFL Opener (Washington @ NYG), 25 days until the end of the regular MLB season and 27 days until the playoffs start…

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