The Wires (Nov 17, 2007)

Radio World: Mullaney: Use TV Channel 6 for Radio. It’s time to drop radio’s protections for TV Channel 6 and re-purpose that spectrum to the FM band. So says engineering consultant John Mullaney

Inside Music Media: From Jerry Del Colliano -- The radio industry is connected to the record business. There wouldn't be an iPod without the major labels (and, to be frank, their stupidity). Radiohead, Trent Reznor and Saul Williams offering fans the chance to pay what they want (even nothing) for free downloads is certainly not a business model. It's more frustration with the lack of progress from the labels. At least it's something -- an idea. They want the labels to lead. The labels don't know how to lead

THIS JUST IN... (as of 10pm on Nov 15, 2007)

AM 1360 is valiantly holding on in its fight to remain a sports talk station!

Our sources tell us that after 79 hours, the format remains unchanged, and it's unlikely now that it's a stunt for another format.

The Wires (Nov 16, 2007)

Kurt Hanson: Slacker's new portable music device debuted today to some fanfare in the press, but not all of the reviews have been positive. A blogger for the Chicago Tribune's website panned the player, saying that a long list of playback restrictions prevent the new Slacker product from being a real competitor against Apple's music device offerings. Read more from the review in today's issue of RAIN, available now at http://www.kurthanson.com.

Randy Dotinga: Look out parents: Your kids are facing yet another challenge to their morals and values. According to a new study of popular music, one genre is chock-full of references to substance use. It's worse than hip-hop and rock. So rip those headphones off your daughter's ears right now so she won't hear that devil music known as ---- country. You heard me. Researchers looked at the top-selling country songs from 2005 and found that more than one in three referred to drugs or alcohol

Bob and Tom: Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold of The Bob & Tom Show have released their newest comedy CD, “We Just Landed”, featuring the best moments from The Bob & Tom Show along with many favorite moments in the studio with guests such as: Jim Gaffigan, Paul Mecurio, Bobcat Goldthwait, Frank Caliendo and Brian Setzer. “We Just Landed”.

FM 94/9's Holiday Hootenanny Coming (Nov 15, 2007)

Joining the station for the FM 94/9 Holiday Hootenanny will be Queens of the Stone Age, Pinback, Louis XIV, The Kooks, Mute Math and Rogue Wave. Yes, that's for real. Six bands that the station really digs and know will make for a great night at UCSD's Rimac Arena.

The station thanks the folks at Scion for supporting the Holiday Hootenanny. With their help, the station is able to donate $1 from every ticket to the "About the Music" Fund to help keep music education programs alive in the San Diego County Public Schools.

O.J. Simpson News (Nov 15, 2007)

House of Sophie on HD2 (Nov 15, 2007)

Don Imus Returning to Television (9am on Nov 14, 2007)

He returns to radio's airwaves the same day he will be seen on RFD: December 3rd. His New York radio home is WABC-AM, a Citadel-owned and operated station.

The radio show will be simulcast on weekdays from 6-9 a.m., and will be rebroadcast from 6-9 p.m. each evening, said Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of the Rural Media Group. The program will also be available to RFD's nearly 30 million homes through on-demand services, Gottsch said.

Imus has a five-year contract with RFD.

RFD caters to a rural audience with programming like "The Cattle Show" and "National Tractor Pulling."

"Don's passion and understanding of rural America fits in so well with our ongoing effort to bridge city and country folks with this channel," Gottsch said. His station launched in December 2000, billed as the first 24/7 television network dedicated to rural America.

Imus was fired by CBS Radio eight months ago for his ill remark about the Rutgers University women's basketball team. Shortly after, NBC's MSNBC dumped Imus for the TV simulcast version, leaving Imus without a radio and TV home.

THIS JUST IN... (as of 9pm on Nov 13, 2007)

AM 1360 is still XTRA Sports Talk!

Our sources tell us that the format remains unchanged after 30 hours since the flip to sports talk.

XM Shareholders Vote to Approve Agreement with Sirius (Nov 14, 2007)

"Today's vote is the latest demonstration of the strong support for our merger from a wide range of individuals and prestigious organizations who recognize the benefits that a merger will bring to consumers," said Gary Parsons, Chairman of the Board, XM Satellite Radio. "We are proud to have received support for our merger from organizations representing African Americans, women, rural Americans and Hispanics, as well as from former FCC Chairmen and Commissioners and a diverse group of elected officials. We appreciate our shareholders' overwhelming support."

Under the terms of the merger agreement with Sirius, XM stockholders will receive 4.6 Sirius shares for each XM share that they hold.

The merger remains subject to regulatory approval by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. We remain optimistic that the merger will be approved by the end of the year.

More information on the XM-SIRIUS merger can be found at http://www.xmmerger.com/

The Wires (Nov 14, 2007)

Kurt Hanson: Artists and broadcasters squared off in front of a Senate committee hearing yesterday in Washington D.C. on the increasingly controversial topic of performance royalties for broadcasters. Much of the debate was framed around the contested "promotional value" that broadcasters bring to recording artists via airplay.

Kurt Hanson: The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing today on the issue of whether broadcasters should pay royalties for the music they use for their over-the-air programming. Record labels and performers say radio's 80-year exemption from these royalties is a mistake that needs to be corrected. Other forms of radio, such as Internet radio and satellite radio, pay these royalties. Senate Judiciary chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) is expected to introduce a bill in support of royalties soon. The Hollywood Reporter says proponents of the measure are citing an FCC study showing radio ad rates increasing 10% over the last decade, while the Consumer Price Index has only increased 3% in that same time span. See excerpts from the article in today's issue of RAIN, available now at http://www.kurthanson.com. Also in today's issue, Paragon Media Strategies, examining the radio consumption patterns of 14-24 year-olds, advises broadcasters that it's time "to be part of the menu as young listeners go to the Internet for a significant part of their audio experience."

Inside Radio: Kevin Martin: No rule change for radio. The FCC chief would keep radio ownership caps where they are, and retain the ban on radio-TV cross-ownership. But Martin is calling for an end to the 32-year old ban on broadcast-newspaper cross-ownership. He'd allow cross-ownership in the top 20 markets on a case-by-case basis. And there'd be limits on newspapers, barring them from buying one of the top four TV stations in a market. Editorial independence would also be required. Martin is still pushing for a vote on the change at the FCC's December meeting.

Happy Hare: It’s okay to “frame” a good country song and play it in a pop mix. Fr’instance in last Wednesday’s 1p-3p signonradio.com show, I played a broad spectrum of music, mixed by sound and tempo, then abruptly “framed” a country song that seemingly was way off base - except it “worked.” People came from all corners of the Union-Tribune building to wave at me through the studio window, and mouth the words to the song I was playing, Hank William’s, “A Family Tradition

After Midnite with Blair Garner began in 1993 with 12 stations. Today marks the 14th anniversary of After MidNite with Blair Garner and the affiliate list has grown to over 100

Inside Music Media: From Jerry Del Colliano -- Is the next generation with their iPods and piracy killing the record labels or are the record labels and their artists killing the record business? You could make arguments on both sides, but something is killing the business of selling music. Wal-Mart sold 710,000 of the Eagles new album “Long Road Out of Eden” in the first week. Putting aside lead singer Don Henley’s environmentalism and Wal-Mart’s – well, less than environmentally-conscious policies -- it is the only place you can buy the Eagles’ new album

Radio Ink: Anti-Royalties Resolution Adds Co-Sponsors. House Concurrent Resolution 24, resolving that Congress should not impose a performance royalty on broadcasters, has picked up 26 more co-sponsors, bringing the total to 79.

All Access: Movin'/L.A. In A Rhythmic AC/Oldies Direction? According to some observant ears, Emmis Rhythmic Hot AC KMVN (Movin' 93.9)/Los Angeles continues its evolution. The station continues to shed its Rhythmic Hot AC approach by moving more toward a Rhythmic AC/Oldies sound. KMVN has recently been airing early '70s titles by the likes of Eddie Holman, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Spinners, Billy Paul and Johnny Nash in addition to their heavy '70s/'80s mix.

All Access: John Ziegler Exits KFI/L.A. Talk KFI-A/Los Angeles evening host John Ziegler told listeners Monday night (11/11) that Tuesday (11/12) night's show will be his last with the station. Ziegler called the decision to leave "mutual" and said that "this is the right time for this show to go." He added that he is working on a documentary film with details to be announced later. Ziegler joined KFI in January 2004

Hannah Montana Knockoffs (Nov 13, 2007)

Mana Indiana - a middleaged trailer trash country singing diva who chainsmokes, drinks ale, and sings about broken relationships all the time.

Rona Arizona - a Tucson-based Latin-heritage ingenue who sings Amor Ranchero Musica to a teenage latina audience.

Boy Georgia - a white butch lesbian who sings about relationships with femmes and looks like Billy Idol.

Susie Tennessee - a composite of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tanya Tucker, but appeals mostly to elderly dirty old redneck dudes in rest homes.

And finally...

F--ky Kentucky. We can't say her real name here, but take Carrie Underwood and mix her with Sarah Silverman. Some people refer to her last name with an alternate spelling that we can't reproduce here either.

Lincoln Financial Media Deals (Nov 13, 2007)

The Wires (Nov 13, 2007)

710 ESPN Radio’s Bob Koontz, General Manager is re-launching its afternoon and evening programming on November 26 and will feature four new programs including: The Steve Mason Show (1-4 p.m.), The Dave Dameshek Show (4-7 p.m.); The Brian Long Show (7-10 p.m.) and 710 ESPN SportsCenter Presents (10-11 p.m.)

San Diego Union-Tribune: Karla Peterson: "Radio should go left, right and up, but the loss of voices takes it down." Excerpt: "He is rich, famous and aging very nicely. But while Bruce Springsteen may look like a man who has everything, his single “Radio Nowhere” suggests that at least one area of his life could use some work. I want a thousand guitars, he sings. I want pounding drums/I want a million different voices speaking in tongues. Bruce may be cash rich, but he is radio poor. And if your Radio Somewhere happens to be San Diego, your assets aren't what they used to be, either. After months of doomsday buzz from the industry and some heartfelt protests from supporters, progressive talk-radio outlet KLSD/AM 1360 is going dark. Read the rest at the link.