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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

AC posts lower than average December ratings gain. With the release of Nielsen’s Holiday ratings still a month away, it’s too early to stack up the Christmas format’s 2014 ratings to past years. But results from the December survey, which covers November 6-December 3, shows a slightly softer November-to December gain in 2014 than in past years. The new numbers provide a peek at the format’s performance in the early going of the holiday season. The new Nielsen analysis shows the AC format’s December 2014 ratings are identical to those of 2013 – in both the 6+ (8.5) and 25-54 (8.2) demos. AC is one-tenth of a share lower in 18-34 (7.2) than this time last year. But AC, which historically accounts for the most Christmas format converts, experienced a less robust November-to December gain in 2014 than in past years. In 2010 and 2011, AC grew by more than two shares from November to December, improving from 7.8 to 10.0 in 2011 and from 7.2 to 9.5 in 2012. Last December the format gained just one share from November (7.5-8.5) and this year it increased 1.5 shares (7.0-8.5). The slightly smaller growth from November to December may be due to a combination of factors. For one, 2014 saw AC hit its lowest 6+ numbers ever in PPM measurement, according to Nielsen. And while AC more often than not is the go-to station for holiday music, the all-Yule format has been co-opted by other outlets – other broadcast stations, satellite radio and digital streaming services.

Holiday format still Mr. Grinch for country radio. No format takes a bigger ratings hit from the seasonal holiday format than country. Nielsen analysis shows it has historically been the one most likely to see its audience shrink as a result of Christmas music. Based on the limited view afforded by Nieslen’s “December” survey, the Christmas format continues to siphon listening away from country. Country declined from a 7.9 6+ share in November to a 7.7 share in the December survey, which covers November 6-December 3. The declines were felt both in country’s traditional 25-54 stronghold (7.8- 7.6) and its newfound 18-34 coalition (9.2-8.8). While not unexpected, they mark the format’s fifth consecutive down monthly trend. Despite the loss, country isn’t all that far from where it was at this point last year, when it had a 7.8 share among listeners 6+. The full extent of the holiday’s format’s impact on country ratings won’t be known until Nielsen releases the Holiday survey, which covers December 4-December 31.

‘Throwbacks’ help propel urban to new ratings heights. Whether classic hip-hop evolves into the next classic rock or devolves into the next Jammin’ Oldies won’t be apparent for some time. But during the brief period since it became radio’s hottest new format, “throwback” stations are already helping grow the ratings pie for the larger urban contemporary format. “Thanks in no small part to that growing trend, in December urban contemporary picked up right where it left off last month, breaking November’s record results for listeners 6+ (3.4) and 25-54 (3.8) while tying the number for 18-34 year-olds (6.3),” Nielsen says in a new report. Urban is ending the year on a high note: 2014 was its most successful year in PPM history.

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The format ranked sixth among all formats in its core 18-34 demo. This year was also one for the record books for hot AC, which nailed its best ratings ever under electronic measurement. December’s hot AC PPM ratings shattered its previous records in three demos: 6+ (a 6.5 in December), 18-34 (7.2) and 25-54 (7.0).

December heats up as one of best months for auto sales. Radio stations typically bank on holiday-related retail ad spending to make or exceed their fourth quarter sales targets. But there’s new evidence to suggest automotive budgets are also ripe targets this time of year. Long one of the slowest months for new vehicle sales, December has become one of the strongest, according to Automotive News. December is on track to be 2014’s fourth-biggest month for auto sales, with 1.5 million light vehicle sales, according to TrueCar. That would trail only May’s 1.61 million, August’s 1.59 million and March’s 1.54 million – all of which are peak sales months. December’s arrival as one of the hottest for auto sales is especially remarkable in light of the fact that this year it only contains four sales weekends rather than five. “We now see sales congregating around three epic selling seasons,” TrueCar president John Krafcik tells Automotive News. The first takes place from March through late spring, quickly followed by the summer selling season. “The period that stretches from Black Friday to New Year’s has emerged as the third blockbuster period,” Krafcik says. What’s driving the trend? An increase in automotive marketing focused on year- end deals. And the notion of giving a new car, complete with a big red bow, as a holiday gift.

Coming to a dashboard near you: hyper-localized weather forecasts. Radio’s new competitors in the car aren’t confined just to streaming music services. Service elements motorists have long relied on the radio to provide, like the weather, are also being offered in new and interactive ways. At next month’s 2015 International CES consumer electronics show, Ford and AccuWeather will unveil a new weather app for Ford’s Sync infotainment system that brings minute-by-minute, hyper-localized weather forecasts to a driver’s exact street address. Using Ford’s Sync AppLink and a paired smartphone, motorists in the U.S. and a handful of other countries can select MinuteCast on the vehicle display menu. They’ll see a static image of the weather condition they’ll soon face, and the time the precipitation is expected to happen on the route. An audio warning will also be delivered. The minute-by-minute forecasts will last for a period of up to two hours. The two companies say the updated app will help drivers plan and time their trips around weather conditions and give advance warning of inclement weather. Ford Connected Services product manager Julius Marchwicki says it will bring consumers “the most up-to-date weather information” and help them to “make safer driving decisions during bad weather.”

Radio wins in battle of the coffee beans. Radio is part of the marketing blend for an aggressive new campaign for Cumberland Farms that targets the coffee-drinking customers of Dunkin’ Donuts, a major radio spender. Working with Boston-based ad agency Full Contact, the gasoline, convenience and coffee retailer launched a new campaign December 28. It includes TV spots that highlight real consumers trying both brands of coffee, radio commercials and billboards. The campaign shares the results of an independent, double-blind taste test of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee drinkers in four major markets where both Cumberland Farms and Dunkin’ Donuts stores are located. It found that half of the respondents either preferred the taste of Cumberland Farms or had no preference. “Since launching our signature Farmhouse Blend coffee, we’ve seen huge growth in our coffee business, and the results of this test validate our quality,” Cumberland Farms SVP of marketing Gwen Forman says.

Busey averts meltdown in new Hardees radio spots. When it came time to cast a voice actor for the radio campaign for its new patty melt, Hardees called on the quintessential meltdown king, actor Gary Busey. The spots, which debuted December 29, feature Busey being calmed down by a Bacon Velveeta Patty Meltdown. Hardees is promoting the newly arrived comfort sandwich with the message, “Don’t have a meltdown, eat one.” The creative was conceived by award-winning agency 72andSunny. It also includes a new TV ad titled “Meltdown” that features WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar.

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The ad uses footage from Lesnar’s famous meltdown that went viral in 2012, combined with new footage introducing an assistant who tries to calm Lesnar down with the new patty melt.

Radio station moves to fill local TV news void. A New Jersey Shore radio station plans to increase its local news coverage to fill a void created by a local TV station that dropped its nightly newscast. Longport Media news/talk WOND, Atlantic City- Cape May (1400) intends to air a half hour of local news each night at 6pm. The news opening was created by extensive changes at WMGM-TV, Wildwood (channel 40). Dropped by NBCUniversal as an affiliate, the TV station is not only losing NBC programming but also its local newscasts, created by Access.1 which has operated the station under a deal with California-based LocusPoint Networks. “We saw it as an opportunity to step in and try to fill the void,” WOND president Dave Coskey tells CBS. Longport is also negotiating with Locus Point to provide local TV shows that would help the TV station meet FCC requirements. WMGM’s frequency is expected to eventually be sold as part of the FCC’s spectrum auction.

Entravision to prepay $20 million of debt. On the heels of record revenue from the mid-term elections and the World Cup, Entravision has announced it will prepay $20 million of term loans under the senior secured credit facility it entered into in May 2013. The company says it expects to fund the prepayment with cash, leaving it with about $340 million outstanding in term loans. The announcement comes in the same month that Entravison said it will pay $2.2 million in payouts to shareholders under a quarterly dividend. Entravision says it expects to continue paying dividends to shareholders in 2015.

Wichita’s Brett & Tracy return to morning drive. A pair of Wichita’s best known radio hosts are reuniting. Last heard together in 2012, Brett Harris and Tracy Cassidy will anchor mornings on KKGQ (92.3), the 100,000-watter that Envision Broadcast Network bought from Journal Broadcast Group. The morning duo were heard for more than 20 years on AC “B98” KRBB, starting in 1990. Branded as “Q92 The Beat,” KKGQ will focus on music from the ‘90s to now. But it will also work to advance the Envision mission to improve the quality of life and provide inspiration for the blind and visually impaired. Harris and Cassidy have a long history with the not-for-profit organization. They both received the organization’s Excellence in Volunteerism award and have participated in benefit concerts, committee involvement and internal events. “Local radio is not only a terrific investment for a non-profit, but what a way to spread the mission by training kids who are visually impaired to become on-air talent,” says Cassidy who got into the business while working for the visually impaired department in her high school, where she began reading books. Envision paid $1.55 million for KKGQ, formerly “Classic Country 92.3” KFTI- FM. Journal has moved the classic country format to KFTI (1070).

Inside Radio News Ticker… WGN adds FM simulcast – for one month… After Tribune Media ends its short-lived “The Game 87.7” Chicago sports station on New Year’s Eve, the company will begin simulcasting news/talk “Radio 720” WGN on the LPTV station’s audio signal. But it’s only a one-month placeholder for the frequency, according to the Chicago Tribune. Tribune has reached an early exit agreement from its lease arrangement with WGWG-LP owner Venture Technologies Group, which has reportedly agreed to lease the signal to Chicago-based TV station owner Weigel Broadcasting. Weigel is expected to take over the 87.7 frequency on February 1, according to Chicago media blogger Robert Feder. Weigel, which owns 10 TV stations in the Midwest, is said to be planning a music format for the frequency, which has aired four different formats in as many years… Spokane gets first Spanish-language radio station... Eastern Washington state will get its first Spanish language radio station on Monday when Moody Bible Institute flips religious teaching KMBI, Spokane (1330). The daytimer will play Spanish contemporary music, sermons in Spanish and other programs that have been translated from English into Spanish, station manager Joe Gonzalez tells the Spokesman-Review… Wheeler expands Motor City oversight… Three months after joining Cumulus Media to program Detroit news/talker WJR (760), Mike Wheeler is promoted to operations manager of the company’s Detroit cluster. Continuing to program WJR, he’ll also work with programmers Lori Bennett and Robby Bridges on hot AC WDVD (96.3), country “Nash-FM 93.1” WDRQ and WDRQ’s “Nash Icon” HD2 side channel. Raised in Detroit, Wheeler started his career working on the air at Motor City stations WNIC, WABX, WHYT and WCZY. He joined Cumulus in September from iHeartMedia, where spent five years as regional program manager.

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NEWS MAGAZINE HOST - BROADCAST PRODUCER/MANAGER qual SALES MANAGER

KJZZ in Phoenix, AZ is hiring for a Broadcast Producer Manager CALIFORNIA who will host and produce radio programs by delivering on-air content It’s warm and sunny and technical continuity among all segments of today in Southern programming. The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an California! Riverside/San Bernardino’s equal opportunity employer of protected veterans All Pro Broadcasting Alt Rock and individuals with disabilities. X1039 (KCXX) is looking for an aggressive, high energy HOW TO APPLY: KJZZ is being assisted in this search by Livingston sales leader with a proven Associates. Visit www.livingstonassociates.net/openings track record to lead our sales for the full job posting and to apply. Inquiries are welcome with department. Must possess Livingston Associates. EOE. excellent organizational and time management skills along For best consideration apply by January 9, 2015. with a “can do” attitude. qualEXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY IN COLUMBUS OHIO Candidates must be self motivated, self disciplined, FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE a great communicator and Wilks Broadcasting in Columbus Ohio is seeking a sales leader to a positive leader. be our DOS/GSM. Our cluster includes heritage Classic Rock WLVQ. Please contact VP/GM You need to be a street warrior as this in an active sales role where Bill McNulty at: you lead by example and personal revenue generation. The successful [email protected]. candidate is willing and eager to maintain and grow their own list in No calls, please. addition to leading a talented team. In addition you must be performance- driven and results-oriented, with excellent communication, analytical, All Pro Broadcasting is an organizational, leadership skills and a strong work ethic. Equal Opportunity employer.

This opening includes competitive compensation and benefits packages.

Note DOS/GSM in the subject line when sending resume to: [email protected]. No phone calls/recruiters please. All correspondence will be held in the strictest of confidence. Wilks Broadcast-Columbus, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. qual GM - MATTOON.CHARLESTON, IL

If you have a reason to be in the South Central Illinois area, and if you are a “selling manager”, Cromwell Radio Group has a great position for you. Growing area, college town on interstate. Not a turn- around. Performing wonderfully. Need the right GM with solid business and digital knowledge to keep it that way and growing. We have three FMs, two being the most listened to Country and CHR stations in the region. Great community involvement.

This is a position where you can make a difference and see it. It is not a position for “ratings or transactional” selling GM. It’s a “roll your sleeves up, get the job done, serve the community and be a leader” position which is always appreciated in smaller markets. Base plus bonus and good benefits for the right person. Current 11 year GM leaving on great terms for a position she can not pass up and we support her. Candidate must be involved in the community and be able to lead by example. E-mail resume and cover letter to: [email protected]. E.O.E.

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