Online Ad Spending Continues To Climb…

Friday, November, 21, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition) 

Yesterday we took a look at Radio ad spending - down 6.5% for the first 6 months of 2008, but what about online ad spending?  Unlike radio, online ad spending is up 14% over last year’s total at this time.  The third quarter gain year-to-year is up 11%.  The year-to-date revenue total is now a record $17.3 billion.  While radio, magazines and newspapers continue to take their lumps, online says ‘what recession?’.  So how is online advertising weathering this economic tsunami???

PricewaterhouseCoopers might have the answer.  They maintain that the weakening economy will continue to challenge ad-supported media but the Internet is in a better position to weather the slowdown “given its ability to combine performance-based advertising along with broad-based branding”, according to Media Life…

Before you believe the sky’s the limit for online advertising, the nine-month growth pace is well below those of the last two years.  Last year online advertising was up 26% and 2006 finished 35% to the positive, but it’s still tracking slightly ahead of forecasters’ projections, set at 12%.  Compared to other media, online continues to grow while overall ad spending dipped 1.6% year-to-year…

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, if your radio station is not taking advantage of the internet, you lose.  It’s not just about streaming, it’s about selling the Internet in combination with radio and doing it effectively…   

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1877] Talking Machine: Thomas A. Edison announces the invention of the phonograph or as he calls it, his “talking machine.” (11/21)…
2. 1889] Jukebox Saturday Night every night: The first jukebox goes into service at the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco. Owned by developer Louis T. Glass, the box contains an Edison tinfoil phonograph with 4 listening tubes. A nickel bought a few minutes of music. The jukebox took in a whopping $1,000 in 6 months (11/23)…
3. 1963] A day we’d all like to forget but never will: John Fitzgerald Kennedy is gunned down in Dallas. A day we always remember what we were doing at the time. I was recording a Canada Dry spot at WMID, Atlantic City. LBJ is sworn in as our next president (11/22).  This is the infamous Zapruder Film…
4. 1980] “Happy Trails“: Aging blonde bombshell Mae West suffers a fatal stroke at 87 (11/22)…1997] INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence, 37, is found hanging in his Sydney, Australia hotel suite (11/22)…
5. 1980] Up in flames: A fire at the MGM Grand Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas kills 87 (11/21)…
6. 1982] Wedding Bells: Joni Mitchell marries her bass player Larry Klein and then paves paradise on her honeymoon (11/21)…1983] New York Rangers star Ron Greschner checks model Carol Alt into the matrimony boards. Greschner goes to the penalty box in 1996 (11/21)…1987] Demi Moore and Bruce Willisrock down the aisle. They divorce in 2000 when Demi discovers where Ashton Kutcher lives. She robs his cradle in 2005 (11/21)…
7. 1984] Hail Mary: Doug Flutie connects with roomie Gerard Phelan and Boston College defeats Miami 47-45 in one of the greatest college football games of all-time (11/23) Bernie Kosar was the Miami QB…
8. 1998] Dr. Death: “60 Minutes” airs videotape of Dr. Jack Kevorkian unethically administering lethal drugs to a terminally ill patient (11/22)…
9. 2005] Nightline goodnight: Ted Koppel hosts his final edition of ABC News’ “Nightline” (11/22)…
10. 2006] Spy snuffing: Former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko dies in London from radiation poisoning after making a deathbed statement blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin (11/23)…

Music Memories:

• 1960] Number One on this date: “Are You Lonesome Tonight” - Elvis Presley (11/23)…1964] “Leader of the Pack” - Shangri-Las (11/22)…1971] “Theme from Shaft” - Isaac Hayes (11/22)…1974] “I Can Help” - Billy Swan (11/23) I had the pleasure of working with Billy who was a member of Kris Kristofferson’s band…
• 1968] Released on this date: “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” - Supes & Temps (11/21)…1995] “The Beatles Anthology I” (11/21) which sets a first-day sales record of 450,000 units. It contained the new song, “Free As A Bird“…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

(11/21) Michael Strahan (37), Nicollette Sheridan (45), Lorna Luft (56), Livingston Taylor (58), Goldie Hawn (63), Earl Monroe (64), Tweety Bird (66), Dr. John (68), Marlo Thomas (71) and Stan Musial (88)…
(11/22) Scarlett Johansson (24), Boris Becker (41), Mariel Hemingway (47), Jamie Lee Curtis (50), Steve Van Zandt (58), Billie Jean King (65) and Robert Vaughn (76)…
(11/23) Miley Cyrus (16), Jonathan Papelbon (28), Robin Roberts (48), Bruce Hornsby (54), Sen. Chuck Schumer (58), Luis Tiant (68???) and Jack McKeon (78)…

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Thanksgiving, 30 days until winter, 31 days until Hanukah and 34 shopping days until Christmas…

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