A Letter from Eric Rhoads
Publisher of Radio Ink Magazine
Dear Colleague:
Do you think the economy in 2009 will be better than in the past few years? Will it be strong for radio? Every day, I field calls from analysts, group heads, managers, bankers, and brokers who all ask questions about where I think radio is headed. Of course, my opinions are formed because I speak to so many people on a regular basis.
But... this year has seen the credit crisis, big banks suffering huge losses due to their real estate and mortgage portfolios and some say the recession is due. Of course radio always seems to be the first ad dollars to be cut and the last to return during recessionary times. Will this be the case?
This year, there is even more interest than usual; 2009 will be a make-it-or-break-it year for many. With new Clear Channel partners and Clear Channel spin-offs, market conditions may change. The upcoming presidential elections and early primaries will impact political spending and unit rates. What will happen with the XM-Sirius merger? How will the high-visibility shock jock firings impact Congress and the FCC? And what about the FCCs intention to impose tighter regulations on radio? Plus there has been a huge shift of ad dollars out of traditional electronic media to interactive media. How will that impact radio?
Your planning for ’09 needs to be spot-on. Though this conference will provide you with loads of data points about the financial aspects of the industry, it will also fill holes often not discussed at such conferences. At Forecast 2009, you'll hear about things radio can control as well as influences outside its reach: the regulatory environment, adoption rates of competing digital media, the state of capital markets, advertising industry projections for radio and America's retailers. You'll not only learn where the industry is headed, but what directs it and why it is important.
If you own radio stations, are running a group, division, or major cluster, this a must-attend event. Bankers, investors, analysts, and investment bankers and brokers will also walk away with a sense of where the opportunities lie.
This event explores the world of private ownership as well as public ownership. If you own or operate stations this event will help you focus your business.
This is an exclusive event. No more than 200 seats are available, so this conference sells out early. In Every person attending will receive an exclusive invitation to the Radio Ink 40 Most Powerful People In Radio cocktail party on the evening of December 2.
Our co-chairs promise an action-packed agenda that will present perspectives rarely heard. We hope you'll sign up early.
Register now at 561-655-8778, or click the Register button. This event has sold out each of the past three years, and we expect the same this year. Register early to guarantee a seat.
See you December 2, 2008, in New York City for Forecast 2009.
Eric Rhoads,
Publisher
Radio Ink
Streamline Publishing, Inc.
eric@radioink.com
