The Wires (Apr 17, 2010)

Multichannel: FCC To Address Set-Top Boxes, CableCard at April 21 Meeting. Commission Seeks Rule Changes to Spur Set-Top Retail Market.

TV Tech: Galaxy 15 Cable Satellite Has Failed. Cable TV networks USA, SyFy, Oxygen, ESPN, Fox Sports, TBS, CNN and others use this satellite for at least some of their cable feeds.

Inside Radio: Pelosi vows to pass radio royalty. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has, for the first time, thrown her support behind a bill that would abolish radio's decades-old performance royalty exemption. She's vowed to "find a way forward" on passing a radio royalty.

The Wave: More smooth, less "jazz." More vocals, fewer instrumentals and dropping the word "jazz" from on-air positioning have "94.7 The Wave" KTWV riding higher in the Los Angeles ratings pool than anytime in the past year. P2s helped drive the Wave's turnaround and put the station inside the Winner's Circle.

John Maffei TV/Radio Sports: TUBE TALK: NFL draft turns into a three-day, made-for-TV event. ARTICLE: Football people liked the old way when the NFL Draft was a one-day, 12-hour marathon of quarterbacks, cornerbacks, half-eaten hot dogs and big pots of coffee.

Jay Posner TV/Radio Sports: NFL's weekday draft a shameful change. Another organization is about to mess up a good thing. OK, so this isn't as bad as the NCAA's likely move to a 96-team men's basketball tournament; this isn't even an actual sporting event, really.

The Hill: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), speaking at the Recording Academy's Grammy on the Hill advocacy event, said singers, songwriters and musicians deserve to be compensated for their creativity. "The rights of performers are not forgotten," she said. "You have an army of advocates by your side -- from both parties -- on Capitol Hill"

Gary Lycan: Spaghettini Grill and Lounge, home to The Wave's 94.7 FM Sunday brunch for 10 years, is updating its "radio menu" May 2 when it begins a relationship with Hot 92.3 FM (KHHT) and KOST/103.5 FM - April 15 may have been tax day for you, but for 5-10 a.m. weekday personalities Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps it marked the day 25 years ago when they teamed up on WAPI-FM in Birmingham, Ala. Two years later, they moved to KLOS/95.5 FM

Mel Phillips: Local businesses are finally realizing how dynamic the mobile ad business has become. Borrell's 2010 U.S. Local Mobile Advertising & Promotions Forecast shows national business will more than triple this year with local mobile spending doubling in 2010. Mobile device usage is far from peaking with 80% of the population using cell phones and 31% switching to smartphones. It makes you wonder how long it will take for those percentages to reverse, killing off cell phones.

Hear 2.0: What are some fresh secrets from the world of online radio?

Inside Music Media: Adam Carolla, the funny star of radio and television, got 50 million iTunes downloads the first year he became a podcaster. And he still isn't making money. That's 50 million downloads -- and chump change for his efforts. Do you think we broadcasting types need to go back to school to learn media sociology and technology? Taking nothing away from Carolla or any other podcaster that can attract a following, making money in new media requires breaking away from an unhealthy dependence on spots. And getting away from the radio model.

All Access: Former LAPD Chief, KFI Host Daryl Gates Dies At 83

The Wires (Apr 16, 2010)

Tom Taylor of radio-info.com: "If my state has legal medical marijuana, can I accept ads from one of the stores?" That stumper of a question came up at an NAB session with FCC staff in attendance - and it's not one they anticipated. Probably no attorney is going to immediately say "sure, even though it's against federal law, take the buy." California is one state - though not the only one - where medical marijuana shops are becoming a legitimate new advertiser category

HD Radio power boost date set. Engineers will be circling May 10 on their calendars as the date for when they'll be able to flip the switch and give FMs that have converted to HD Radio more power. The FCC is allowing a fourfold blanket power increase for all stations' digital signals from the current 1dB level to 6dB to address complaints of signal dropout and the inability for stations to be heard in some buildings.

Sirius XM adds 171,441 subs. The addition put the satcaster at 18.9 million customers, about 100,000 shy of its 19-million high-water mark at the end of 2008. The first quarter pickup put its subscription rolls 344,765 higher than first quarter 2009. CEO Mel Karmazin says he expects to report "solid revenue growth and strong growth in pro forma adjusted income from operations" when the company reports first quarter financial results next month.

Cape Cod Times: The radio business is overconsulted and relies too heavily on focus groups and other less-than-passionate ways of recording what people want. Stations all seem to get their marching orders from some giant conglomerate, leaving programmers and disc jockeys out of the loop - The trend in the rock format of late reflects both economic and programming realities. Rock stations are dying. The reasons are legion

UPI Newswire: Gay activists are calling on Clear Channel Communications to cancel a syndicated U.S. radio talk show they say has a "hidden" anti-gay agenda.

Inside Music Media: An unintended consequence of the recession is that the companies that performed so poorly that they had to seek bankruptcy protection will live another day to screw up more radio stations. That's what is a distinct possibility once Citadel clears the bankruptcy court sometime later this year. Regent has already been given court approval to emerge from bankruptcy as early as this month

Yahoo: Cutting The Cable Cord (Apr 15, 2010)

Around San Diego (Apr 15, 2010)

The annual EarthFair in Balboa Park is the largest free annual environmental fair in the world. EarthFair 2010 will be our 20th anniversary - the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day! Each year, the EarthFair draws around 70,000 visitors. Produced by 400 volunteers, EarthFair features more than 350 exhibitors, special theme areas, a Food Pavilion, a special Kids' Activity Area, three entertainment venues, the Children's Earth Parade, the eARTh Gallery art show, and the Cleaner Car Concourse. Visit earthdayweb.org for more information.

Festival Cinco de Mayo & Quinceañera Extravaganza. Sunday, May 2, 11am - 7pm, 3rd Ave between E&G streets, Chula Vista.

Celebrate the biggest fiesta of the year! Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates Mexico's historical battle over the French in 1848. This signature event will feature live entertainment, authentic Mexican food and beverages from several Third Avenue Village restaurants and other food vendors; arts and crafts; a kids' fun zone with mechanical rides; singing, dancing, and salsa contests at our main F Street stage; a Quincean(era event and fashion show at Memorial Park Bowl. Best of all, admission is free! Visit thirdavenuevillage.com for more information.

Rhythm & Vine: A Music & Wine Festival. Saturday, April 17, Westfield North County Shopping Mall

Indulge all your senses this spring as Rhythm & Vine, a music and wine festival to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego returns to San Diego North for a one-of-a-kind tasting extravaganza. Held Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Westfield North County Mall in Escondido, the second annual Rhythm & Vine will feature over 60 world-class wineries, spirits and breweries; 35 restaurants and gourmet foods; and some seriously hot live music performances.

All event proceeds from Rhythm & Vine benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.rhythmandvine.org.

Source: Cox Communications Newsletter

The Wires (Apr 15, 2010)

Cape Cod Online: The radio business is overconsulted and relies too heavily on focus groups and other less-than-passionate ways of recording what people want. Stations all seem to get their marching orders from some giant conglomerate, leaving programmers and disc jockeys out of the loop - The trend in the rock format of late reflects both economic and programming realities. Rock stations are dying. The reasons are legion

Randy Dotinga: Legacy of Judge No-Naughty-Words

PR Newswire: SIRIUS XM Radio added 171,441 net subscribers in the first quarter of 2010, compared to a net subscriber decline of 404,422 in the first quarter of 2009. The Company ended the first quarter with 18,944,199 subscribers, an increase of 344,765 over the year ago.

Inside Music Media: Many of radio's major consolidators have hit the wall. They purchased radio stations and companies during the deregulation boom with fast and easy money. Bought their stations at multiples that were too high then to adequately handle their debt service now - I've said all along that we can look with fascination at Citadel's problems and Regent and all the other financially ailing radio groups but the one we should pray for is Clear Channel. Radio doesn't need its market leader stumbling

The FCC has set May 10 as the date to allow broadcasters to up their HD Radio signals, from 1dB to 6dB.

Edel Riegel's first airdate on The Young and the Restless is April 20.

Chris Cantore News (Apr 14, 2010)

Bay Bird Inc, a leading boutique public relations agency headquartered in San Diego, is pleased to announce media personality and interactive media guru, Chris Cantore, as its newest client.

Cantore's dynamic personality and expertise in social media and brand management have opened the door to nationwide speaking engagements and emcee opportunities. An emerging force in the interactive media scene, Cantore has the unique ability to reach tens of thousands of people and teach earnest audiences about how to best embrace the exciting opportunities and changes new media continues to provide.

Bay Bird Inc will be responsible for the day-to-day booking and management of public appearances, speaking engagements, emcee and publicity requests on local, regional and national levels on behalf of Cantore's personal brand, working with Cantore to help share his vast new media knowledge with a broader audience.

"The media landscape is changing at a pace which demands businesses keep up or perish. We are thrilled to help Chris utilize his inherent audience and expertise to help businesses and individuals thrive in the world of interactive media," says Bay Bird Inc PR founder, Peyton Robertson.

As an award-winning broadcaster with over fifteen years of experience producing multimedia content (radio/TV/online/print), Cantore has amassed a huge and loyal following that started with his 11-year run as an on-air personality at 91X/XTRA-fm where he hosted the longest-running, highest-rated morning program in the station's 27-year history. In 2008, Cantore embarked on a new career and developed Cantore Creative, LLC, a full-service interactive media agency geared towards helping local businesses develop personalized content, rich new media experiences and social community engagement. Cantore Creative also owns and operates an independent, grassroots online radio community, Legit Radio, and Cantore's work as the creative force / anchor contributor to NBC's SoundDiego, has elevated his presence in San Diego to a wider demographic.

"With an independent, hyper-local and lifestyle-oriented approach, it was important I sign with a group that maintains the same values," says Cantore. "Having worked with Peyton in my traditional media past (with successful results), I look forward to tackling the exciting universe of interactive media with Bay Bird Inc."

About Bay Bird Inc PR

Bay Bird Inc is a boutique public relations agency headquartered in San Diego, California specializing in business and lifestyle communications for companies in the culinary, entertainment, fashion, art and design, beauty and wellness and hospitality genres. Bay Bird Inc connects clients with both traditional and online media opportunities through a vast network of industry connections, adeptly navigating social media platforms in order to tap into coveted online "influencers." Bay Bird Inc develops creative, customized campaigns geared towards targeted consumers and draws on years of experience in the public relations, promotions, and talent and event management fields in order to positively affect brand awareness and growth. www.baybirdinc.com

Tom Taylor of radio-info.com (Apr 14, 2010)

The Wires (Apr 14, 2010)

Michi Guide: I'm not sure how you feel, but I like to wake up to human voices. I like to know what the day ahead is going to be like. I want to know about the weather, the traffic problems, the important news, and the light-hearted stories that make me want to say Hmmm. I want humor, funny stories and, dare I say it - entertainment

Inside Music Media: For Conan O'Brien, getting pushed out of his Tonight Show digs at NBC has turned into quite a profitable business. NBC paid him off -- $45 million to O'Brien and staffers -- when the network decided to reinstate Jay Leno to Conan's spot after Leno's ill-fated months in the 10 pm weeknight slot. Everyone thought Conan was headed to Fox -- including Fox -- according to Deadline Hollywood's reporting. More talks were said to be scheduled between Conan and Fox after the NAB Convention now underway in Las Vegas. Then the shocker

The Wires (Apr 13, 2010)

Inside Radio: Smith: Royalty a label "bailout." NAB president/CEO Gordon Smith may believe a compromise isn't out of the question with the music industry over a proposed performance right, but he wasn't holding back at today's NAB Show in Las Vegas. He told the crowd technology "chopped the head off the record industry's business model" so it's come after radio. "The American people have had enough bailouts," he said.

AP: Conan O'Brien Goes to TBS

Gary Lycan: Did ESPN hit a home run adding programs on KLAA?

L.A. Daily News: You may not know the name John Rook, but you probably know his work. Rook is the man who made KFI (640 AM) what it once was: one of the last of the bigger-than-life AM powerhouses, when he programmed it as a high-energy top-40 station from 1976 to 1992 - Rook knows radio. Good radio. So when he launches an Internet-based music station, people take note. His latest creation is Hit Parade Radio, available at www.hitparaderadio.com

Radio Survivor: Although radio is still very popular, with 92% of respondents saying that they listen to AM/FM radio; people are less likely to say that they are profoundly impacted by it or use it as a way to discover new music. Only 22% of those surveyed (Edison Research) say that AM/FM radio has a "big impact" on their lives. People are much more likely to report that their cell phones (64%), broadband Internet (49%) and even satellite radio (27%) are having a big impact on their lives

Japan Times: Once a highly popular entertainment medium, especially among Japanese youth, radio is battling to remain relevant as stations lose more and more listeners. According to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, shipments of radios slid from 2.89 million units in 1998 to an estimated 1.87 million units over the course of 10 years - High-rises springing up in urban areas have been one of the reasons why people have forsaken radio, as the tall buildings are blocking radio waves from reaching listeners

The Wires (9am, Apr 12, 2010)