Will Q4 Be Good To Radio???

Thursday, October, 1, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

Along with cooler weather and playoff baseball, October brings a 4th quarter that radio hopes will be good or at least better than the rest of the year has been but will there be a recovery? The CEO jury is out on that question. Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey is flipping a coin, saying “A lot of it is up in the air right now.” Greater Media CEO Peter Smyth says “Automotive, health care and the financial services categories are coming back.” Gilford Securities analyst Jim Boyle says there will be “moderate encouragement” but feels that even when it occurs it may not unlock radio’s turnaround. Wall Street says ’radio — what’s radio?’ That’s how much interest they have in the medium…

A new report from Nielsen Global AdView shows the rate of advertising cutbacks have slowed but traditional media continues to suffer. Carmakers and financial services have trimmed ad budgets the most, although some retailers and consumer product company spending is up from a year ago.  Market Watch says beware of October which is noted for spectacular market crashes. They say that October can be the spookiest month of the year. The prediction from Market Watch is that history shows an October correction isn’t in the cards this year either…

There are radio operators that believe radio won’t have a firm grip on whether the recovery has arrived until advertisers begin placing annual buys. I’m with them…    

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1903] World Series #1: The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Americans 7-3 in the first World Series game. Boston behind the pitching of Cy Young and Bill Dinneen will win the WS in 8 games (yes in 1903, it was a best-of-eight game series)…
2. 1908] A-Ford-able?: Henry Ford introduces the Model T to the market for $825…
3. 1952] Premiered on this date: “This Is Your Life“, hosted by Ralph Edwards. The biopic series will air in its original format for 9 seasons…1955] “The Honeymooners” kicks off 16 successful seasons…1962] “The Lucy Show“, featuring Lucille Ball as Lucy Carmichael, runs for 12 years…1962] Johnny Carson debuts as regular host of NBC’s “Tonight Show”…
4. 1961] Roger that: Yankees slugger Roger Maris hits home run #61 at Yankee Stadium, breaking Babe Ruth’s season record of 60 in 1927.Tracy Stallard served up the lollipop…
5. 1964] It’s called the 1st amendment: The Free Speech Movement is launched at the University of California at Berkeley. About 15 years later, The Clash were also launched to Epic Records personnel at a University performance at the school’s theater and I was lucky (?) enough to witness it…
6. 1967] The Impossible Dream: Those of us fortunate enough to have witnessed this will never forget it: The Boston Red Sox Impossible Dream comes true as they clinch their 1st AL pennant since 1946 on the last day of the season. With a 3-way tie between Boston, Detroit and Minnesota, Boston beat the Twins and the Tigers lose, giving the pennant to the Red Sox. Ken Coleman and Don Gillis narate the clip…
7. 1971] Eggpot: Walt Disney World opens in Orlando. Ten years later, to the day, EPCOT opens (1981). EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow or by the symbol: $…
8. 1975] The Thrilla in Manilla: Heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali retains his title with a TKO of Joe Frazier in the 15th round. Here’s a clip of all 3 bouts…
9. 1993] Every parents’ nightmare: 12-year old Polly Klaas is abducted from her California home. Her body is found more than 2 months later…
10. 1996] Gotcha: A federal grand jury indicts Unabomber suspect Theodore Kaczynski for a 1994 mail bomb slaying…

Music Memories:

• 1964] Released on this date: “The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons” LP (on Vee Jay)…
• 1970] O solo mio: Curtis Mayfield leaves the Impressions for a highly successful solo career…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Grete Waitz (56), Pete Falcone (56), Randy Quaid (59), Annie Lebovitz (61), Stephen Collins (62), Rod Carew (64), Stella Stevens (73), Julie Andrews (74), Tom Bosley (82), Roger Williams (85) and Jimmy Carter (85)…



Timeline Countdown: The MLB playoffs begin in 7 days and the World Series opener is 27 days away…

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