Category Archives: Media & Culture
My Enormous Penis
From Enormous Penis by Da Vinci’s Notebook. MP3 audio sample
Bob Dylan to host weekly show on XM
Bob Dylan has signed on to host a weekly show on XM Satellite Radio, the D.C.-based pay-radio provider. Dylan will select the music, offer commentary, interview guests and answer e-mail from listeners during the one-hour program, which will start in March. Now, just tell me this: Is there anybody that Bob Fucking Dylan can’t get to be on his show? I’m trying to understand why Bob Dylan would do this. It’s not the money. Maybe he’s bored and this sounds like fun.
These are strange and wonderful times. I don’t ever remember seeing anything as big or as disruptive as what we’re seeing now. Color TV was big. Cable TV didn’t seem big at first but it got to be big. I was at the NAB meeting in Chicago when the announced MTV. That was big for a while. But the flood gates (sorry, New Orleans) are open and things just aren’t gonna ever be the same again. I honestly don’t know what it means for me and all my radio buddies but I’m glad it’s finally here. The anticipation (and the need to prepare or do something) has been exhausting. I can’t say we haven’t had a chance to gear up for this sea change, because it’s been ten long years. I’m pooped. But I can finally shut the fuck up about the changes “blowin’ in the wind” because they are here.
CBS Sheds Infinity Name
As Viacom prepares to split into two companies, the CBS Corporation side plans to rename its radio arm, which will become more like an “audio” arm given the new ways to deliver that content. Infinity Broadcasting, which operates 179 radio stations, will be rebranded as CBS Radio. The group will use the slogan “Broadcast….HD…Streaming….On-Demand.” The group’s name change takes it back to its roots. In 1928, CBS formed CBS Radio by purchasing 16 radio stations and forming one of the first radio networks. [B&C. Thanks, Morris]
S&P: Bumpy road for media companies
According to this Business Week story, Standard & Poor’s sees a bumpy road ahead for media companies:
S&P expects radio advertising to grow only in the low-single-digit percentages in 2006. Radio ad demand is under pressure from competing media such as the iPod and satellite radio, as well as from excess commercial loads. … Even with lethargic revenue growth, radio broadcasters generate significant free cash flow.
S&P expects that online ad growth in 2006 will exceed 20%, reflecting the continued strength of both search and brand advertising. Marketers appear to be gaining confidence in the Internet’s ability to reach consumers. For example, Yahoo! indicated that its brand-marketing revenue from the top 200 U.S. brand advertisers grew more than 45% in second-quarter 2005, and Ford Motor has allocated about 15% of its marketing budget to online initiatives. Furthermore, some marketers have begun to incorporate search advertising as part of their overall branding campaigns, which could spur more online-ad spending.
Even assuming that growth decelerates somewhat, Internet advertising is likely to exceed magazine advertising in 2006. Spending on Internet ads could potentially surpass spending on radio in 2008, assuming 1% to 2% growth in radio ad spending and a minimal contribution from satellite radio.
Hmmm.
Al Franken podcast newscast
According to the folks at Air America Radio, beginning in January Franken will launch a daily podcast newscast. It will be Franken’s voice, but according to Air America, the audio will be lip-synced by attractive underwear models, with both male and female versions. [B&C]
How I would have loved to have been in the meeting where that idea was first floated.
Newsroom naming rights
Madison radio station WIBA has sold the naming rights to its newsroom. According to a story in the Wisconsin State Journal, beginning January 1, the WIBA newsroom will be called the Amcore Bank News Center. Jeff Tyler, vice president of Clear Channel Radio-Madison, says the deal will not affect news content.
(Disclosure) Our company does business with WIBA and I met Jeff Tyler some years ago. A very sharp guy and a well-respected radio station.
What happens if the FDIC decides to investigate some of the Amcore Banks in Wisconsin? If WIBA does a story (or does not), a listener might wonder if there was any influence. Now that I think about it, it won’t matter. A swarm of bloggers will be all of any such story. Just one more missing frog in the broadcast journalism ecosystem.
Drunker than me
That’s the title of a new country song by Kennett native, Trent Tomlinson. Viretta and Nancy were beating this drum back in September and sent us a pre-release CD. I sort of half-way listened to some of the songs but I’m not a country fan so I didn’t really give it a shot. I just watched one of the videos on Mr. Tomlinson’s website and loved it. The video and the music. Like I said, I don’t know shit about country music (possible song title?) but it sounds to me like the boy has some real mojo. I went to school with Trent’s daddy (and sat on the bench, watching his pop play basketball) so that might be a factor here. But if Trent’s career takes off the way Sheryl Crow’s did, we’ll need a bigger Welcome to Kennett sign.
‘Cause I keep worryin’ about who’s drivin’ home,
Who’s got the keys, who’s got the ‘phone.
Who’ll pay the bill, call a cab.
I don’t mean to make you mad,
But I don’t want that responsibility,
An’ I can’t be with a woman, baby, who gets drunker than me.
Living Healthy (07) – Smoking
How to Stop Smoking
I thought I had heard about all there was to hear on the subject of smoking but I learned some new things from this week’s Living Healthy Podcast (show #7, by the way). If you smoke or have a friend or family member that smokes, this episode is worth a listen. Dr. Domke told a chilling story about an acquaintence (a doctor!) who had not smoked for 12 years…smoked one cigarette at a party or bar or something…and still smokes today, years later. The addictive quality of nicotine is staggering. Of those who stop, only 10% are still smoke-free one year later. But Henry is convinced that smokers can quit. No question, this is our best show to date.
Henry and I are having a hell of a good time doing these. And they remind me of all the interviews and radio shows I produced back in the day. But podcasting is sort of the distilled essence of that “radio” experience. It peels away everything but the fun. To all my old radio buddies who saw corporate PD’s and greedy owners suck the joy and life from “radio as we knew it,” I highly recommend podcasting.