Social Networking for Radio

I had to do it. I couldn't let the idea sit on my desk any longer. I have been toying with the idea of creating a Social Network for Radio Professionals. A place for radio people to congregate, collaborate and create. A place of mutual respect and admiration for each others successes, no matter how big or small the successes might seem. A place to support each others growth in this medium and to share resources and ideas for the betterment of the radio community as a whole. It's like "open source" for IT professionals, but this is "open source for radio". A place to learn or advance your knowledge about programming, promotions and production. Or, learn what it takes to move up the radio ladder into the position of your dreams. In this Social Network for Radio Professionals, you can learn how to navigate your way around radio in the new world, especially with new media sites like Twitter and FaceBook. Learn how to use these tools and help your radio brand (whether that be you as a personality, or your station) grow. In this place you can keep up with industry news and even stay connected with your state's broadcasting association! Radio professionals have been seeking THIS type of community, but no one is building it. Well now, I am.

You now can witness the birth and growth of Radio x, if you get invited (sorry, I can't give you the name of it yet either). Yes, it's exclusive right now. It's not about quantity, it's about quality. A lesson many radio executives need to learn. For the first 100 days, it will be limited to 100 people. Once we get 100 people, membership will be locked until June 28th. During this 100 days, if you get invited, you will get to participate in the development of what it will become. You might even get to rub elbows with some of the Industry's movers and shakers. You will also lock in your free lifetime membership at premium levels. The basic site will always be free, but we will be adding premium levels of membership. Hey, there will be valuable stuff from industry experts here, well worth a premium upgrade at some point. But if you are one of the first 100, you will not have to worry about it!

To request your invitation, contact me by going to this page and send me an email: http://contact.charlieprofit.com (you can even chat with me if I am online!) If you are serious about making a difference in radio (during these times when one of radio best companies to work for at one time, is headed for bankruptcy due to mismanagement at the executive level) then now is the time to act. Once you contact me, I will send you an invite to Radio x, if I still have them to send out. Otherwise, I will let you know membership is full and I will send you an invitation on June 28th, 2009. Keep in mind I want serious radio professionals only.

Technorati Tags: radio, social media

Neilson Hired for Radio Research in 51 Markets

This recent article in AdAge tells readers that Nielson, the television ratings company, is now testing radio audience measurement "at participating Clear Channel and Cumulus stations". 

Nielsen: Young Adults Do Listen to Radio - Advertising Age - MediaWorks

Results from the leading media-measurement company's first U.S. pilot study of radio listening, in Lexington, Ky., indicate a potential reversal of a trend that has been working against radio for the past decade: a supposed decline in radio listening among adults 18 to 34.

Am I glad to hear that the 18-34 year old's are returning to radio? I would be if it were true. And maybe in Lexington, Kentucky that is the case. Who am I to argue when I don't have any counter evidence myself? The problem with these surveys is that people know they are surveys! Sometimes people will tell you want you want to hear, just like how one can make statistics say what they want, with the proper manipulation of the results. I don't know about you but I get queasy whenever I hear of companies hired to do market research for radio, by radio. What a waste of resources.

The next test of Nielsen's radio measurement will be an eight-week spring survey that begins this week in 51 small to midsize markets at participating Clear Channel and Cumulus stations.

Jess Hanson, Clear Channel Radio's senior VP-research, declared the Lexington findings a confirmation of what the radio company has been struggling to prove to advertisers about its young audience. One problem has been that studies done by phone don't measure listeners without landlines. "We've known it's harder to reach certain groups, and the random, digital-dial telephone sample doesn't pull in certain groups, one of the biggest being cell-only households. Now radio is going to be able to say that younger group is still very radio-friendly, and probably in greater numbers."

We already know listenership is down in younger demographics. It's a waste of money to hire yet another company to find out otherwise, even if the trend is reversing. Take that money you are wasting on these "audience measurement companies" and put it toward your product! Hire live jocks back to entertain the remaining audience, and the audience will reciprocate it's gratitude by TELLING THEIR FRIENDS. The audience will naturally grow! You will know because your advertisiers will be thanking you for the increase in their revenue with renewals. Then you can use the advertiser testimonials (which would be free) to sell other advertisers on the idea of advertising with you. Too simple? For someone with an MBA or PHD, probably!

In this day and age, only ad agencies are interested in who is number one (and everyone is number one in something!). Your clients only want to see a return on their investment with you. Stop pandering to agencies (who should be paying for this research ANYWAY), and start servicing your clients by giving them a better product and sell them on THAT, not on numbers that can be manipulated to say anything.

Related articles:

• Sweeps Week
• At Long Last, Somebody Stands Up to Nielsen's Idiocy
• A Brief History of Sweeps Week
• Nielsen: $823 million spent on game marketing in '08

Remembering Paul Harvey

Radio Pioneer, Legend and Icon, Paul Harvey, famous for his line "and now you know, the rest of the story" passed away on Saturday February 28, 2009 at the age of 90. It was a sad day for broadcasters and listeners alike around the world to learn of his passing. I followed many comments about him on the famous Social Networking site Twitter via their search page. Of course people were sharing memories, and passing on condolences.

Naturally I started thinking about my own memories of listening to Paul. Unfortunately I don't have many, but he did have an influence on my life. My earliest memory is when my dad would listen. Dad would even record the broadcasts just in case it was one he would want to listen to again when he couldn't find anything else as entertaining to listen to. Back then I didn't understand what was so appealing. But dad was 3 years younger than Paul, and so he related very well. I would sit and listen from time to time with dad to see if I could "get it" but I was a teen more interested in music. When my dad passed away in 1989 I remember going through his effects and seeing several cassettes with Paul Harvey's "Rest of the Story" on them. I don't know what happened to them. I wish I did.

It wasn't until I was about 22 that I gained a true appreciation for Paul Harvey and Talk Radio. I was working a roofing job and the guys had on the local Talk Station. Of course, the station carried Paul's News and Commentary. It was mesmerizing to listen to Paul tell his stories. I remember thinking how cool that these "construction" guys were into it too! I always associated the rock genre with construction, so that had been an enlightening experience for me.

In 1996 I got a job working for a radio group in Salt Lake City. The AM station in the cluster also carried Paul's programs. At times I was asked to make sure it aired as the station recorded the feed from ABC Radio on reel to reel for playback at noon. So I would go sit in the AM studio and listen while it played. The stories were always entertaining. I never came away disappointed!

Paul Harvey must have touched 98 percent of American's lives. That is not a hard fact or statistic I am presenting, I am just suggesting that he had a serious influence. And if he didn't touch someone directly, he most certainly has has an indirect effect. And it has been a positive one because he believed in God, Country and Family. Not only from a broadcasters point of view, but as an American and as a human, Paul has led a life of example we should all live by.

My legacy in radio will not be anywhere near as great as Paul's. But I certainly aspire to be able to influence lives in the same fashion as he did with honesty, integrity, moral character and a wholesomeness that is withering away just to earn a buck. In a day of shock talk and celebrity gossip that most broadcasters call entertainment, I hope to provide listeners the same caliber of entertainment as Paul Harvey did.

Paul Harvey, I stand as one counted whose life you touched and had influence on, not only as a broadcaster but as an American and a human. I am honored to have had the opportunity as many of us had, to have listened to you and we could always count on you to tell us the rest of the story.