Press Releases
E-Letters and Press Releases:
July 24, 2008:
Dear Convergence Attendees:
You're receiving this because you were in the audience at our Convergence conference last March. We want to make you aware of a date change, so you can plan your calendar and be there for Convergence 2009. The new dates are February 9-10, which is almost a full month earlier in the year than the last conference.
If you'll remember, during the 2008 conference, many of you commented that "This conference is so powerful that every person in the industry should be there. Why aren't more people here?" Though we actually exceeded our expectations for conference attendance, we do want to grow it into a much bigger conference because the industry will benefit.
It's Not The Economy Alone, Stupid
Managers are focused on survival today. Most do not understand and cannot see that one of the reasons revenues are off is because dollars are shifting to interactive media on a local and national basis. Since it's happening at a time when the economy is bad, they assume the problem is the economy. And that's part of it, but when the economy improves, the dollars lost to interactive media will not return. That is, unless we can get managers to understand this now. The reality is that every manager in radio should attend this conference, and, by doing so, we will change radio.
Sadly, interactive is an afterthought for most radio stations. It is my belief that the interactive department must be just as important as the programming and sales departments, and no longer a second-class citizen. But most managers don't yet see that, and until the realization occurs, they will continue wondering why business is off more than most economic downturns. It's not the economy alone, stupid (to coin a Bill Clinton phrase). That missing business has shifted to interactive.
Your Role In Changing The Radio Industry Forever
If you also believe that the interactive component of radio must move to the forefront in a much bigger way, then I would appreciate your assistance in helping others see how valuable this conference is for the present and future of the radio business. You have credibility. Your word of mouth is more valuable than my promotional efforts.
My goal is to change radio, and we can do so if we increase the attendance with more managers, more sales managers, and more programmers, along with those who attended last year. Managers will be tempted will be to send someone listen to "report back," when in reality they need to sit through every session to open their eyes and understand the significance and impact of what is occurring around them. They cannot change their mindset through someone else's summary.
Every radio station in America needs to be focused on a tectonic shift to interactive as a major part of its revenue strategy. YOU can help others see it because of what you experienced at the conference. If we can get enough managers (and group heads) to attend, we will change the direction of radio forever. We saw it at our 1999 Internet conference, when we had several hundred managers and many group heads in attendance. That pushed many more stations into the Internet, where before they'd been doing nothing.
Bringing All The Managers, Groupwide
One group interactive manager told me today that she intends to meet with the CEO to strongly recommend sending all the company managers to the conference. Her comment: "Until they buy in to what is happening in interactive, we can never capture the income we are currently missing. They won't get it unless they hear the things we heard at the conference." Radio will benefit if managers are there.
Investing To Capture Revenues
We know that this is a difficult time to get anyone to spend money. Unless interactive as seen for what it is, an imperative initiative in radio, people who should come will not. Again, revenues are being lost to interactive locally and nationally because of managers who do not understand it. This conference will change their mindset about interactive, which will impact the tone and direction of entire clusters and improve their revenues. What they are doing now is not working. Maybe investing in something new will make a difference.
Help Us Form Our Agenda Now
We're forming our agenda as we speak. If you have speakers, concepts, and panels you wish to see conducted, let us know now. You can send feedback and suggestions to Deborah Parenti, VP/GM of Radio Ink at deborah@radioink.com. She is also accepting speaker and panel proposals right now.Hold the date: February 9-10, and thanks in advance for spreading the word. Oh, and please sign up early, at www.radioink.com/convergence/
Best,
Eric Rhoads,
RADIO INK
Platinum sponsor:
Liquid Compass
Radio Ink CONVERGENCE '09
The Conference On How Radio and Interactive Become One.
February 9-10, 2009
The Hayes Mansion, San Jose, CA
To register, call 561-655-8778
Or click here to register online: https://checkout.fmwmall.com/zriw/Convergenceconference.ap
