The Wires (May 9, 2009)

OC Register: Tom Leykis, ex-KLSX-FM, hosted a Cinco de Mayo party in downtown LA on May 5. I asked him to reflect on what it was like to have an event to go to, but no radio show. He e-mailed, "The turnout was large - hundreds were there. It goes to prove that, while radio is the love of my life, it is now possible to do radio-type events without being attached to any particular station. The world has changed, and not being on the air for 10 weeks has changed my perspective entirely.

Grand Junction Free Press: If it hasn’t recently occurred to you what a deeply weird world this is, ask yourself: How is modern commercial radio like failed insurance giant AIG? Who killed radio’s Moms and Pops? Will the word “radio” even hold meaning for our children and grandchildren, or will it be relegated to the linguistic dustbin with once-common but now-defunct terms like “bakelite,” “automat” and “mimeograph?” In case you didn’t know it, commercial radio is in a heap o’ trouble.

FMQB: Kevin and Bean Go National.

Radio and Records: CC Stations Adopt Shared Music Programming. 17 stations in four formats ID'd as musical carbon copies. The music on pockets of Clear Channel stations in multiple formats is now being programmed from a central source, according to research conducted by R&R chart managers using monitored airplay data provided by Nielsen BDS.

The Wires (May 8, 2009)

WSJ: Sirius XM Radio posts $236M loss for the first quarter.

Randy Dotinga: Voice of San Diego. San Diego-based radio talk-show hosts have suddenly become an endangered species, leaving listeners with few places to hear chatter dedicated to both local politics and national issues. In recent weeks, the station known as San Diego 1700 has severed ties with Stacy Taylor and Mark Larson, both longtime staples of local talk radio, apparently in favor of less expensive alternatives.

Inside Music Media: If you had any doubts that radio is going to lose its long-standing music royalty exemption, consider this. National Association of Broadcasters CEO David Rehr resigned yesterday. Yes, that David Rehr -- who heads the lobby group that represents radio broadcasters. The David Rehr who is fighting for truth, justice and the no-way-we-pay battle to preserve radio's exemption. For the record, radio pays enough fees to musicians and publishers.

Radio and Records: Copps to Diversity Committee: Don't Resurrect The Fairness Doctrine.

All Access: A Fifth Of U.S. Homes Have Cell Phones, No Landlines.

The Wires (May 7, 2009)

Randy Dotinga: More static for DJs at Clear Channel. If you wait long enough, local radio stations might get rid of all their local disc jockeys, leaving us with nothing but 24 hours of Ryan Seacrest. That day (shudder) keeps getting closer and closer. Last week, local stations owned by the Clear Channel company launched yet another round of house-cleaning, ridding themselves of a new group of well-known radio personalities.

Hear 2.0: It's easy to say that it has been tapped out - the market for folks who want to buy satellite radio gadgets and subscriptions for commercial-free music of the same varieties that can be found online for free. And yes, that game is indeed over. But you would be mistaken to close the chapter of media history titled "satellite radio" simply because the satellites are no longer relevant. You would be misjudging what satellite radio actually has and how they can theoretically leverage it in the future, assuming they get their heads out of the warm and cozy sand.

Radio Ink: David K. Rehr Resigns. As he announced his resignation today, NAB President/CEO David Rehr said, "I have enjoyed leading America's broadcasters through this time of change and challenge." During Rehr's busy three-year-plus tenure, the NAB has faced the digital TV transition, the Sirius-XM merger, an ongoing duel with the FCC over indecency, and -- most critical to radio now -- the fight against performance royalties for broadcast radio. Rehr will stay with the organization for a transition period, working closely with COO/CFO Janet McGregor, who takes over day-to-day duties.

Hollywood Reporter: CBS eyes game show remakes To replace the cancelled "Guiding Light", CBS is considering replacing the 3-4pm ET timeslot with remakes of decades-old game show franchises of "Let's Make a Deal" and "The Dating Game." "Light"'s run ends on September 18th.

ZD Net: Glary Registry Repair. 3 Problems with the Windows registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages. Glarysoft Registry Repair allows you to fix your registry and optimize your PCs performance with a few simple mouse clicks. License: Free. Platform: Windows.

Tom Taylor: Spanish radio owners flood Capitol Hill to lobby against a performance royalty. There was owner Amador Bustos of Bustos Media. Frank Flores, the New York market manager for Spanish Broadcasting System. Gary Stone, the President and COO of Univision Radio. Miguel Villarreal, VP and market manager for Border Media Partners. Tony Calatayud, national director of Salem Espanol. Maria De Leon, owner of Gaytan Broadcasting. Marcelo Gaete, vice president of Entravision. Rafael Grullon, president and CEO of Top Line Broadcasting. Alfredo Plascencia, president and CEO of Lazer Broadcasting. And Norberto Sanchez, president and CEO of Norsan Multimedia. D.C. attorney Frank Montero of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth moderated the panel that was produced for Congressional staffers with the support of the anti-royalty Free Radio Alliance. Amador Bustos said a new performance royalty “would be the added and final nail in the coffin for these small broadcasters.” He says the record companies “are trying to bite the hand that feeds them.” But the MusicFIRST folks weren't taking off Cinco de Mayo, either. The National Hispanic Conference of State Legislators announced it's backing a performance royalty.

The Wires (May 6, 2009)

Radio Ink: Bustos: Royalty Could Be 'Final Nail In The Coffin'. At a panel discussion today on the potential impact of performance royalties on Spanish-language broadcasters, Bustos Media CEO Amador Bustos said the royalty could be the "final nail in the coffin" for small companies like his.

Radio Ink: Savage Not Welcome In The UK. Talk Radio Network's Michael Savage is one of 22 people who have been banned from entering the UK by the British Home Office for "unacceptable behavior." A TRN spokesman compares the UK government's position with a BBC ban on Winston Churchilll and says Savage is "in the best of historical company.

Southern California Radio Station Jingle Memories (May 5, 2009)

The Wires (May 5, 2009)

Chris Carmichael: Headline: Low-power KUUP-FM 91.3 to sign on in the fall. It will be owned and will be operated by the Pala Band of Indians.

Mark Larson: JACK KEMP, RIP. We have lost a real treasure. Jack Kemp's passing tonight didn't come as a surprise to those who knew he was battling illness for some time, but it's still hard to believe he's really gone. Jack was a wonderful man, with a strong faith and great enthusiasm for the American dream. He had such amazing ideas and unbridled energy and passion for what he believed. Our country is better because he lived, and was very involved in politics... all the way to the end. I got to know him over the years through various organizations we both supported, and at events I was honored to MC (such as all the Dole/Kemp campaign events in 1996 when Jack ran for VP). He was one-of-a-kind. Our prayers are with Joanne and the family. Thank God for Jack Kemp.

Kurt Hanson: Radio was rewarded for its online efforts last year, according to a new Borrell Associates study. Local Internet revenue for radio broadcasters was up 16.4% over 2007, growing from $189 million to $220 million. But the radio sector should be getting an even bigger share of the $12.6 billion local advertisers spent online last year, the analysts say

Inside Radio: Trend to watch: More FM talk. Stations in Fresno, Mobile and Chattanooga have dropped adult hits for an FM talk format in the past week. That leads Talk Radio Networks president of programming Phil Boyce to conclude it's a "breakout year" for FM talk.

KURS 1040 has returned gospel to the airwaves as of this weekend.

Tom Taylor: "Smooth jazz expires in three more markets." Fresno, Albuquerque, and Dayton. Also: “Compass Media Networks has absolutely secured NFL Sunday afternoon games.”

Dealerscope: Bypassing broadcast and cable TV: "Internet-enabled" TV sets may be the next big thing

Radio World: While New York's "Pulse87" (87.7 MHz via the TV aural carrier of a CH-6 LPTV) gains listeners, a lease deal with KSFV-LP in the Los Angeles area fails to materialize.

Radio World: The Long View on HD Radio.

USA Today: The Supreme Court wants a lower court ruling to re-examine its decision throwing out a $550,000 fine against CBS over Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" incident, the Associated Press reports

Inside Music Media: If Clear Channel went into bankruptcy (a possibility as early as this year) and the government as well as another healthy partner participated, the employees could rebuild the kind of radio that time has shown audiences love. Not repeater radio, voice tracking and under nourished programming, but 100% local radio with news and community involvement that reflects diverse local needs. If Clear Channel winds up in bankruptcy, it is likely that a judge will allow them to violate their pension and severance responsibilities. A lot of good people are going to get screwed if that happens. And that's what I liked about the UAW/government deal to protect the workers. After all, it was their bosses who messed up. What if it were the other way around for radio?

Jacobs Media: Boomers provide stability - both in terms of their finances and their ability to be easily reached by radio. We have great formats - Classic Rock, Country, Oldies, News/Talk - that speak directly to consumers whose homes are paid off, whose kids are out of the house, and who are becoming increasingly comfortable with new media. As we've seen in our new Tech Poll, these listeners are catching up - half now own iPods, they are becoming actively involved in social networking sites, and they are using mobile devices for entertainment and information