Car Companies Pony-Up For Terrestrial Radio…

Tuesday, November, 10, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

Could car business be on its way back? Although it’s still down from one year ago, there are signs that auto manufacturers are starting to invest in radio again. According to Media Monitors, the Big Three (Chrysler, Chevy and Ford) were radio’s top three auto spenders last week. There are also reports that local car lots are showing a more positive tone. Chrysler put their money behind their Jeep Dodge to the tune of over 7,000 ads. Chevrolet ponied-up with close to 5,000 ads and Ford Lincoln Mercury kicked in with over 2,000. While the auto total of 14,000 is substantial, Sugar Daddy Geico led the pack in radio ad spending with close to 40,000. That scrawny green lizard is now looking even greener to radio…

Radio is starting to believe that this comeback from the auto industry might be real — at least Saga and Greater Media are. Saga CFO Sam Bush says his company has detected a shift in their markets. “We are seeing some good stories with auto advertisers — not so much on the national level but on the local level where folks who haven’t been in the market for quite some time or were in the market for advertising in a small way are actually beginning to come back.” Bush also says it remains “very tenuous” so far. Greater Media CEO Peter Smyth sips the Kool-Aid too: “We are seeing activity in the automotive sector, especially at the dealer level. In general, as the fear of the past year has abated we’re looking toward a much improved first quarter performance, if we continue to focus on providing good solid solutions” …

Chrysler CFO Richard Palmer has already announced plans to bump spending from $100 per new car this year to $170 next year. Bet the ranch that Chevy and Ford will soon follow…    

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1775] Semper Fi: The U.S. Marines are organized under authority of the Continental Congress…
2. 1871] Dr. Livingstone, I presume?: Journalist-explorer Henry M. Stanley finds missing Scottish missionary David Livingstone in central Africa and delivers his famous greeting: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” to which Livingstone replies: “And you arrrrrre?”…
3. 1954] Dedicated to the ones we love: The Iwo Jima Memorial is dedicated in Arlington (VA)…
4. 1969] Debuted on this date: ‘Sesame Street’ on PBS…
5. 1975] Down with the ship: The ore-hauling ship Edmund Fitzgerald sinks during a storm in Lake Superior with all 29 crew members on board (leading to the hit by Gordon Lightfoot, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” or as one CBS-FM caller asked: “Can you play the ‘Wreck of Ella Fitzgerald?”)…
6. 1980] Cabnapping: CBS-TV network anchor Dan Rather claims he was kidnapped in a cab but it turns out that Rather refused to pay the driver for the ride (leading to the R.E.M. hit: “What’s the cab fare Kenneth?”)…
7. 1982] Memorialized: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is opened in Washington (D.C.)…
8. 1984] Comeback Terps: Backup Maryland QB Frank Reich stages one of the greatest comebacks in college football history, throwing 6 TD passes in the 2nd half and overcoming a 31-0 deficit as the Terps beat Miami 42-40. Reich pulled off an even bigger upset as the QB of the Buffalo Bills…
9. 1993] With malice toward none: John Wayne Bobbitt is acquitted on the charge of marital sexual assault against his wife Lorena Bobbitt (aka “The Blade”) who is later acquitted of malicious wounding of her husband. Apparently cutting off one’s genitals is not malicious enough in Virginia. The victim is seen testifying at Lorena’s trial…..
10. 1997] Wedding Bells: WorldCom Inc. and MCI Communications Corp. walk down the $37 billion dollar aisle, link by link and chip by chip…

Music Memories:

• 1965] Number One on this date: 1965] “Get Off My Cloud” - Rolling Stones…1974] “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” - Bachman-Turner Overdrive…
• 1967] Released on this date: “Nights in White Satin” - Moody Blues…1973] “Rock On” - David Essex…1986] “Live 1975 - 1985” Box Set - Bruce Springsteen…
• 1969] Gold Standard: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” - Gene Autry. The song was recorded and released in 1949…
• 2003] Country tribute: Country and rock stars gather for a tribute to Johnny Cash, who passed away in September ‘03, by singing his songs at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Ellen Pompeo (40), Tracy Morgan (41), Mackenzie Phillips (50), Sinbad (53), Ann Reinking (60), Greg Lake (62), Dave Loggins (62) and Russell Johnson (The Professor on ‘Gilligan’s Island’) (85)…


Timeline Countdown: 16 days until Thanksgiving, 31 days until Hanukah, 42 days until winter and 45 days until Christmas…

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