Radio Ink - Radio's Premier Management & Marketing Magazine

Comcast and NBC to Help Broadcast Museum

Comcast , NBC News and NBC 5 Chicago pledged more than $2.7 million worth of in-kind support to the completion and promotion of the broadcast museum in Chicago. The new 62,000-square-foot museum is expected to open later this year. Museum founder Bruce Dumont (pictured) said, "We are grateful to have Comcast, NBC News, and NBC 5 Chicago ¡V institutions that have contributed so much to the history of television ¡V show so much support for our new facility. We are excited to open our doors and share the experience with visitors."

ACM Nominations Announced For Radio

Yesterday, The Academy of Country Music announced nominations for its annual award show to be broadcast on CBS Television April 1st. Nominees were announced online via the first-ever ACM digital press conference on the Academy’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Here are the nominees in the radio category.

TALENT -Music Station Shows and Politics

This promises to be an engaging election year, and seldom has the voting population been more polarized. That is the essence of entertainment -- anytime there is natural division, conflict and contrast it’s a good springboard for sticky content. This election has crossed over from the political arena into the pop culture mainstream. Here's what you should do.

Radio Vet Creates Hot Clock Company.

David Darling voiced his first radio commercial when he was 4 years old. Darling caught the radio bug in high school. His first paid position was in Houston and ever since he's been working his way through the ranks. Today he works for Salem in Dallas. In addition to his radio gig, Darling is an entrepreneur. He saw a need for a product, figured out how to create that product and now he's selling it all over the world. We asked him how it all got started.

Roy Williams Featured Speaker at RAB Workshop

The RAB's "Radio On Creative Workshop" will be held on March 7th in Dallas. Williams, a regular columnist in Radio Ink magazine, will be the luncheon speaker. Williams is also the founder of the Wizard Academy in Austin which teaches ad writing, creative thinking, strategic planning and human persuasion to a roster of students that include many of the world's most forward-thinking and successful CEOs, educators, journalists, inventors and consultants.

Fisher House Recognizes Greater Media's Graham

The Fisher House Foundation has recognized WTKK-FM, Michael Graham, and 96.9 Boston Talks listeners for their support in helping build "homes away from home" for the military families of wounded American troops. WTKK’s 4th Annual Fisher House Radiothon raised over $120,000. Pictured (l-r) at WTKK’s studios are Greater Media Chairman & CEO Peter Smyth, WTKK’s PM Drive Host Michael Graham and The National Executive Director of the Fisher House Foundation, David Coker.

CRS Announces Songwriters For Kingsley Event

The CRS says songwriting events will take on increased role at Country Radio Seminar in February and the Kingsley event "Acoustic Alley”will be a highlight. Kingsley says, “There's nothing better than hearing a favorite song sung by the writer. For a music lover, that's as good as it gets”

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AutoNation Posts Huge 4th Quarter

Good news from one of radio's biggest categories. AutoNation, the nation's largest auto retailer, reported a record 4th quarter. The company reported net income of $69.4 million for Q4 a 3.1% increase. For the full year, AutoNation net income jumped over 24% to $281 million. Gross profit per vehicle rose to $2,451 or 2%.

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Plotkin Out at WTOP

The Washington Post is reporting that WTOP has canceled Mark Plotkin’s politics show and that Plotkin, after 10 yers, is leaving the station. The paper quotes WTOP Vice President of News Jim Farley saying "Plotkin has parted ways with WTOP, and the parting was “without rancor on either side.”

Jonathan Reed New PD at WNOK Columbia.

Reed will keep his Music Director duties at WNOK and his afternoon drive shift at the Clear Channel station. During the past 15 months Reed has been assistant PD. He's worked at WFKS-FM in Jacksonville, WRVQ-FM in Richmond and WZEE-FM in Madison. WNOK is the longest-continually running CHR station in the nation and the only CHR station in the Columbia market.

Tony Banks New Ops Manager in Fresno

Banks takes over operations for the Clear Channel cluster for Steve Weed who took the Ops job in Sacramento for Clear Channel. Banks has worked at WPLJ in New York and WPRO-FM in Providence, R.I. For three years he also worked in the Programming Department at Clear Channel Miami's WHYI and WMGE.

SALES- Have You “Red Tailed” a Client Lately?

(by Sean Luce) How much bonding can be done with a client over a PowerPoint presentation even with all the bells and whistles? How stimulating is it for a prospect or client to sit through that Customer Marketing Profile or a seventeen minute closing presentation? Yes, sizzle can be added to the presentation, but is that really building a relationship with the client?

SOCIAL - 7 Steps To A Social Partnership

(by Mike Stiles) Radio has always done partnerships very well. The idea of teaming up with a client to make a promotion happen is nothing alien to us at all. We’ve always understood that providing a client with involvement that takes them above and beyond a standard spot schedule creates a premium marketing vehicle for them, and usually serves to deepen and strengthen the relationship between that client and the radio station.

SALES - Are You Keeping Your Customers Satisfied?

(by Theresa Merrill) I worked for a media rep firm whose CEO was fond of saying “our most valuable assets go down in the elevators every night.” As an employee I appreciated the sentiment; however, he was wrong. The customer is the most important asset of any organization. Period.

DIGITAL - How You Should Approach Digital in 2012

(by Dan Halyburton) The year 2011 was a mixed one for so many broadcasters. There was plenty to distract our attention, now 2011 is behind us and 2012 is here. What are your plans to make it a year of growth in Digital? Here are a few simple steps you can follow that will make 2012 a banner year for your digital department.

SOCIAL - Make Social Media Easier…For Your Listeners!

(by Loyd Ford) Radio people are usually always thinking “How can we spend less time doing it but be more effective with social media for radio?” Today we're going to talk about how to make it easier for your LISTENERS to engage your brand and get more from your social media. Here are six ways to make things easier for your listeners.

Making Great Sounding Radio

How would you like to be able to pick the brains of three of the best minds in the business and ask them how to make your radio station shine? That's exactly what we've done. Listen to Lee Abrams, Randy Lane and Dave Richards about what it's going to take to Make Great Radio in 2012.

30 Minuntes of Great Selling Ideas

In this weeks sales meeting we pepper Center for Sales Strategy EVP Matt Sunshine for 30 minutes, touching on Cold Calling, Sales meeting, R.O.I., Training New Salespeople, Categories you should be focusing on, business questions to ask you clients and much more.

The Best Country Program Directors in America

The Country Radio Seminar is less than one month away and so is our annual listing of the best PD's in Country Radio. We had a record number of nominations this year. Great submissions from all over the country, from small, medium and major markets. The program directors on our list are the very best at what they do. As part of the 2012 issue, we've asked the 20 best in the country to describe a successful PD. How did they get to where they are? It surely wasn't luck. We're sure you'll be able to learn a few lessons and improve what you're doing at your station if you are a subscriber to Radio Ink.

Seats Going Fast For Hispanic Radio Conference

It's time to reserve your seat for the 2012 Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference in beautiful San Diego. Seats are going fast. The Hispanic population is exploding and this is a key demographic for radio station growth in many markets across the country. At this conference you'll learn from the experts on how to position your station, take advantage of that growth and how to best serve the growing Hispanic population. Go to our website now, take a look at our agenda of speakers and panels and reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay. We have blocked off a limited block of rooms for this event which is sure to be a sellout.

The Explosive Hispanic Population Growth

As March 21st approaches, we want to be sure to give you the details on some of the panels that will highlight our Hispanic Radio Conference program. Adam Jacobson is the founder of Adam Jacobson Editorial Services. He'll be moderating a panel entitled "The Impact on Media of America's Hispanic Population Growth." This session will discuss some of the latest findings released in the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey and how advertisers, media buyer and branding professionals digest the details.

Have You Submitted Your Hispanic Broadcasters Nomination Yet?

Radio Ink Magazine will be hosting its 3rd Hispanic Broadcasting conference in San Diego March 21st and 22nd. During the show awards will be given out to the best Hispanic broadcasters in the country. Nominations are being accepted now. Radio Ink Executive Vice President Deborah Parenti said "the competition is heating up. There are some excellent Hispanic Broadcasters in our industry. We look forward to recognizing them in San Diego." Here are the categories:

Balderas Leads Killer Revenue Panel in San Diego

As March 21 quickly approaches, we want to be sure to give you the details on some of the panels that will highlight our Hispanic Radio Conference program. Angelica Balderas is the National Sales Manager for Adelante Media Group, and she'll moderate a panel focused on how stations can find and capture revenue in 2012. She says the panel will fous on several details that will help uncover that money.

Stimulate Station Growth in San Diego

Are you looking for actionable, innovative ways to stimulate your station's or company's economy during these challenging times? This year's Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference will give you at least five solid ideas for increasing sales when Barry Fischer, COO of McGavren Guild Media presents a panel on the "Three R's: Radio, Revenue and Recession."

Caballero Honorary Chair of Hispanic Conference

Radio Ink has announced that highly respected broadcaster Eduardo Caballero will serve as honorary chair for the upcoming Hispanic radio conference being held in San Diego. Radio Ink V.P./GM Deborah Parenti said Mr. Caballero's vast experience in all areas of Hispanic broadcasting, advertising and public service, will help insure a compelling, focused and exciting agenda for the 2012 Hispanic Radio Conference."

San Diego Here We Come

The third Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference will bring together leaders in the Hispanic radio community and experts in Hispanic advertising and media for a comprehensive overview of opportunities and strategies within this rapidly transforming sector. The conference will be held March 21-22 at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego.

Christian Named Broadcaster Of The Year

At the end of every year Radio Ink picks a broadcaster who has had an outstanding year and names that person Broadcaster of the Year. For 2011 that person is Saga CEO Ed Christian. For the most part Radio has become the ugly duckling of media stocks on Wall Street. For sure the economy has been stagnant and Washington's political bickering deflates the consumer, but through it all Ed Christian's company, with his medium and small market stations, has weathered the storms others could not.

Mighty Red II: Brand New Radio Features

Radio Ink debuts the Mighty Red II, bringing back the little HD radio with mighty HD sound. New features on the Mighty Red II include Artist Experience -- cover art, artist info, and more -- onscreen ads that can be synced with audio, Live Pause, and song and ad Bookmarking. It's a great gift for clients to show them what's really possible with HD Radio. Click the headline to order now.

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Get The PastBlast iPad App

PastBlast, the new iPad app from Radio Ink is available now in the Apple App Store. Historical audio, photos, and more from every era of radio's history, with navigation through a beautiful, fully equipped retro radio studio. Click the headline to see it, or get it here.