Radio’s Big Spender…

Wednesday, October, 29, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

Someone forgot to tell Wal-Mart about the recession.  I guess the retail giant didn’t read The Wall Street Journal’s dire projection of a 5-10% decline in Radio ad spending or Goldman Sachs turning 2008-2009 into 2001.  Must be, because last week Wal-Mart bought over 50,000 radio spots or four times last year’s average according to Media Monitors…

Wal-Mart bought about 17,000 more radio spots than the second-biggest spender, Geico.  This is not so much a testimonial for Wal-Mart as it is a testimonial for embracing radio as a way to drive shoppers into stores.  And oh, by the way, Wal-Mart is the only retailer still in the positive column, up 4.5% since the start of the year.  The rest of radio’s top 10 spenders, after Wal-Mart and Geico are: 3) Home Depot, 4) HD Digital Radio Alliance, 5) AT&T, 6) Verizon, 7) Barack Obama For President, 8) McDonald’s, 9) Ford Lincoln Mercury and 10) Jared Galleria Of Jewelry (Sterling Jewelers)…

One market Wal-Mart is not embracing is the number one market - New York.  This city refuses to allow the retail giant to set up shop here in order to protect local retailers.  Why should New Yorkers be allowed to save money shopping???  

10 Timeline Memories: 

1. 1652] The birth of the Bay State: The Massachusetts Bay Colony proclaims itself an independent commonwealth. Knowing this wouldn’t work on a T-Shirt, the founding fathers rename it Massachusetts…
2. 1929] Cur-rash: “Black Tuesday” ushers in ‘The Great Depression’ as banks and stocks go belly up…
3. 1940] Brrrrrrr there’s a draft in here: The first peacetime military draft begins in the U.S…
4. 1956] Premiered on this date: Chet Huntley (from New York) & David Brinkley (Washington) debut on the “Huntley-Brinkley Report” which begins a 15-year run.  This is their final sign-off…1967] “Hair” opens on Broadway…
5. 1964] Natural History heist: Thieves make off with the Star of India and other gems from the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Tom Cruise is arrested immediately…
6. 1966] NOW and then: The National Organization for Women is founded…
7. 1971] “Happy Trails“: Duane Allman is killed in a motorcycle crash in Macon (GA) at 24…1987] Woody Herman in failing health for years, passes away at 74…
8. 1991] Musical Yankee Managers: Buck Showalter replaces the immortal Stump Merrill as Yankees manager…
9. 1998] Deja Vu all over again: The space shuttle Discovery blasts off with 77-year old John Glenn. In 1962 he was the first American astronaut to orbit…
10. 2004] Osama sighting: Osama bin Laden in a videotaped statement, directly admits for the first time, ordering the September 11 attacks. He tells America “the best way to avoid another Manhattan” is to stop threatening Muslims’ security”…

Music Memories:

• 1957] Released on this date: “Oh Boy” - Crickets…1977] “Bat Out Of Hell” LP - Meatloaf…
• 1970] Gold Standard: “Cracklin’ Rosie” - Neil Diamond…
• 1990] R&R HOF announcement: The class of ‘91 inductees: Byrds, LaVern Baker, John Lee Hooker, Impressions, Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Reed and Ike & Tina Turner.  Letterman interviewed Roger McGuinn (Byrds) about changing his name.  It was an interview that defied description…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Winona Ryder (37), Joely Fisher (41), Denis Potvin (55), Kate Jackson (60), Richard Dreyfuss (61), Melba Moore (63), Denny Laine (64) and Dominick Dunne (83)…

Timeline Countdown: 2 nights until Halloween, 3 nights until Standard (back one hour) Time and 6 days until Election Day…

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