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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 iHeart creates programmatic, real-time radio buying platform. iHeartMedia, has announced the launch of a programmatic and automated ad buying solution for its broadcast radio stations, powered by cloud-based technology innovator Jelli. This solution is the foundation for iHeartMedia to be able to offer its ad inventory to advertisers and agencies looking to leverage programmatic and automated technology including private market place and exchange environments to improve the buying process and reduce administrative hurdles and delays. The new programmatic solution will also allow iHeartMedia to apply its rich data and insights to the planning process and will utilize data sets to enable unique forms of targeting, such as music- based psychographic groups, weather and traffic patterns, purchase behavior and other environmental, population and consumer trends. “Programmatic is already an important and expected method of ad buying in the digital space. Now we can bring broadcast radio into that world at a scale no digital audio provider can offer,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. “This new tool will give our sales groups the ability to more deeply partner with an advertiser and bring the best resources, unprecedented accountability and speed ,allowing us to provide much better service and performance to every client.”
HD Radio status report: 25 million digital receivers, most on four wheels. This year marks a decade since HD Radio scored its first entry into the dashboard. As the connected car today dominates automotive conversations, iBiquity says its digital technology keeps radio at driver’s fingertips. “We offer a better way to do over-the-air,” iBiquity COO Jeff Jury says. He concedes a focus on web-delivered services may pose a challenge for radio, particularly to remain at the center of dashboard developments. But offering a digital radio product, dovetails with carmaker efforts to increase ways to get new content to drivers. “It is definitely hot to say let’s put more in the dash,” Jury says. “But the real question is what will survive the scrutiny of the consumer and in that sense radio is very well positioned because it is something consumers want to use in the vehicle.” There are more than 25 million HD Radio receivers in the market, with more than eight in 10 in a vehicle. That figure will continue to climb, with 40% of new cars sold today equipped with digital radio. There’s been a democratization of HD Radio over the past few years as more mass-appeal car brands like Toyota and Mazda have joined high-end brands like BMW and Jaguar. More brands are also using HD Radio for related services. Mazda and Honda use it for navigation, while Toyota has traffic and weather piggybacked on digital signals. “These are all great signs for HD Radio, and for the broadcast community, because it shows the power of radio as being more than just an audio experience,” Jury adds. Ibiquity wants to bring radio back to Radio Shack. There are over 2,300 stations broadcasting with HD Radio technology with more than 1,550 subchannels on the air. The car dashboard remains the main focus, yet iBiquity is also working to bring radio back to Best Buy and other electronics retailers where finding a standalone home receiver has become a shopper’s challenge. “If you go to a retail store, you are not going to see a lot of radio products and we’re working to turn that trend around,” Jury says. That includes getting HD Radio into new portable devices, although web-enabled wearables like smartwatches are not on the radar. Smartphones are somewhat a different story. Jury says iBiquity is talking with handset makers around the globe, but a bigger issue overshadows those conversations. “The first battle for the smartphone is radio in there at all,” he says. “And then the question is, if you like radio in there, then you’ll like digital radio even more.” Ibiquity has formed an alliance with NextRadio to cross-promote each other’s technology, and while it hasn’t opened any new doors
[email protected] | 800.275.2840 PG 1 NEWS insideradio.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 per se, Jury says it’s part of a “broader dialogue” with carmakers. “It’s part of the ongoing process of showing them what radio can do,” he says.
NextRadio TSL 70% higher than over the air radio. With two million activated users, the percent of radio’s 242 million total listener base using NextRadio is relatively small. Despite the small cume, Time Spent Listening outperforms the industry norm. The average NextRadio listening session clocks in at 17 minutes, according to Emmis, 70% higher than the typical radio listening session of 10 minutes tracked by Nielsen’s PPM service. Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan chalks up the longer TSL to the app’s interactive and visual experience, which allows listeners to see album art, interact with DJs, enter contests, and rate, share and buy music. “When people have the interactivity of NextRadio on their smartphone, they’re spending almost twice as long,” he said on a webinar yesterday. “As we go from two million to many more millions, it will be a game-changing experience for our industry.” That interactivity is now being investigated as a way to attract more ad dollars to the industry. NextRadio is beta-testing visual reinforcements and calls to action executed in the app in conjunction with a 70-market spot radio campaign purchased by Allstate. But the campaign, which began last week and runs through November, won’t just be scrutinized by Allstate. NextRadio president Paul Brenner said other advertisers “are watching the results of this test very closely.” Emmis says it will roll out new reporting functionality that quantifies the engagement produced by radio campaigns that are enhanced by the app’s interactivity. Smulyan says the ability to track the number of impressions delivered will position the industry to leverage it’s over the air signal to take advantage of digital ad budgets. Do radio ads produce results? They did for NextRadio. Apart from getting more listeners to download the app, one goal of the recently launched NextRadio on-air spot campaign was advocacy. With messages like “demand free radio,” some of the spots were designed to motivate listeners to contact their wireless carrier or government officials to persuade more carriers to unlock FM receivers on smartphones. Since the campaign launched, Emmis reports one million page views to freeradioonmyphone. org, which in turn triggered 132,599 messages to carriers, regulators and Congress. The actions, which encompassed emails, calls, and social media posts, resulted in 48,142 messages to Verizon, 40,892 to AT&T and 7,659 to Congress. “We’ve got feedback from carriers — they know people are contacting them and it seems to ramp up their willingness to talk to us,” Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan said on a NextRadio webinar yesterday. “Outsiders are taking notice; whether it’s carriers, regulators, device makers or members of Congress.” Emmis says the spots have increased NextRadio downloads by 400%. The first flight of the campaign, which ran from February 23-March 31, resulted in 51,933 spots being aired, according to Media Monitors data provided by Emmis. A second flight launched April 1, adding a batch of new 30-second spots. “We learned a lot from this round about what kinds of messaging drive the most downloads,” NextRadio president Paul Brenner said. Among the new spots are some designed for sports stations that talk up the ability to listen to a game when it is otherwise blacked out.
CEA predicts record year for electronic gadgetry — including audio. Whether it’s HD Radio or smartphones with NextRadio pre-installed, the radio industry is selling into a rapidly expanding tech marketplace. The Consumer Electronics Association is updating how much it believes consumers will spend on electronic gadgetry and appliances this year. It now expects total sales of $286 billion. That’s a jump from $223 billion forecast in January and the CEA says it’s not that consumers have rallied, but rather CEA is now factoring into its total retail margins and additional services sold to tech buyers. CEA president Gary Shapiro says that’s become a “common expectation” in the consumer goods sector. The trade group was already predicting consumer electronics revenue would reach an all-time high in 2015 as the category keeps growing and expanding to include everything from new devices equipped with speakers to drones and home robots. “Our forecast underscores that consumers’ love affair with technology shows no signs of slowing any time soon,” Shapiro says. CEA pegs audio devices among the growing categories this year, and sees automotive electronics sales increasing 3.3% to $14 billion. Smartphones and tablets are the two tech products showing the biggest growth. “Overall, improving economic conditions, consumer enthusiasm for new features and product categories, competitive manufacturer pricing and several other dynamics now at play should make 2015 an especially significant year for tech,” CEA chief economist Shawn DuBravac says.
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Edison: tech advances welcomed by consumers. A majority of Americans say technology changes during the past decade have been a positive thing for society. And just 14% say they’ve been a negative. Typically it’s the elderly and the less-educated that are down on technology. That’s according to Edison Research-Triton Digital’s Infinite Dial study. The study found one-quarter of those surveyed said technology has been equally good and bad for society. Radio spiced up social media for Chevy. Chevrolet got social media mileage out of its April 1st Best Day Ever campaign, thanks to Cumulus Media stations in five cities. The enticement: surprise food giveaways from popular food trucks in New York, Nashville, Kansas City and Minneapolis and a donut shop in Chicago. Radio fueled the promotion with on-air mentions, social pushes and putting its personalities on site at the food trucks. The automaker’s goal was to get breakfast and lunch-goers to share their thanks using #BestDayEver, which generated nearly 874,000 social impressions in the five cities where Cumulus stations were involved. Onsite video crews captured the action in real time and sent edited content to Chevy’s YouTube video stream, which generated 3 million viewers during an eight-hour live stream and received 600 comments a minute.
Slacker refreshes Android app. Slacker has updated its mobile app for Android devices, adding more personalization features and cleaner interfaces like it did for iOS devices in December. The company says the refreshed app better surfaces the radio-centric content and features that differentiate it from other streaming music services. Positioning itself as bringing a human touch to an internet radio field dominated by algorithms, the relaunched app makes it easier for Android users to tap into hundreds of hand-crafted music stations and exclusive stations hosted by the likes of Luke Bryan, John Legend, Charlie XCX, and the cast of the FX series “Archer.” The new app offers a Today on Slacker feed that surfaces artist, station and album recommendations, curated music news stories and tweets from relevant artists and hosts. It also updates customization controls for variables including song popularity, release year and listener favorites. The service, which has subscription-based and ad-supported options, also offers customized content from ABC News Radio, ESPN Radio, Radio Disney and American Public Radio. Technology may bring multilingual EAS to market before mandates. After a decade of study, the Federal Communications Commission has yet to take any steps to require radio and television stations to air multilingual emergency alerts. While there are rumblings inside the agency that it’s a good idea, technology may ultimately prove to be the solution. Monroe Electronics’ Digital Alert Systems has just released software that will allow stations to send emergency alert text messages in a variety of languages. It also uses text-to-speech capabilities that will give stations the ability to follow standard on- air English-language EAS messages with translated alerts in multiple languages. It’s based on Canadian findings from 10 years of real-time translations of English and French. Digital Alert Systems senior director of strategy and global government affairs Ed Czarnecki says it’s “designed as a tool to assist broadcasters in reaching communities with critical emergency information in their native language, and to do so on a completely voluntary basis.” The software currently supports translations to languages including Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Polish, and Lithuanian, with others in the works. It is estimated more than 25 million people living in the U.S. have limited English proficiency. FCC chair Tom Wheeler testified before a congressional hearing last month that he supports making EAS multilingual. “We have an EAS that hasn’t been updated since the Cold War,” he said. But Wheeler didn’t indicate if or when the FCC will step in and mandate alerts be sent in multiple languages.
NABEF spotlights efforts to help vets, kids. Radio efforts to help veterans, the hungry and needy kids are getting NABEF honors. The long-running “Show Your Stripes” campaign, designed to help veterans ease their way back into civilian life, will receive a President’s Special Award at the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation’s annual Service to America Awards. IHeartMedia has invested more than $150 million in media time for the campaign, making “Show Your Stripes” the largest public service effort in the company’s history. Receiving the NABEF Service to America Award is iHeartMedia’s “News Radio 1190” KEX, Portland, OR. It has provided eyeglasses and hearing aids to children whose
[email protected] | 800.275.2840 PG 3 NEWS insideradio.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 families cannot afford them since 1987. An annual four-day radiothon raises about $100,000 each year, which allows the KEX Kids Fund to help about 1,000 children. NABEF is also honoring CBS Radio’s “News Radio 830” WCCO, Minneapolis with its Service to Community Award for an individual campaign. WCCO powered the month-long Food Share campaign, the largest food drive in the country. It replenished food pantry shelves across 59 counties with 1.73 million pounds of donations. “This year’s winners clearly provide local impact and are an integral part of the fabric of their communities,” NABEF president Marcellus Alexander says. The Service to America Awards will be held June 16 in Washington.
Inside Radio News Ticker…‘Sweat Hotel’ adds NTR element... With off-air events a growing part of radio revenue, more national and syndicated shows are getting into the act. Cue a Jamaican beat for Keith Sweat, whose syndicated evening R&B show “The Sweat Hotel” will hold its first-ever “Sweat Fest 2015” weekend. It will be held in Montego Bay, Jamaica in June. “Sweat Fest has been a dream of mine for some time,” he says…Univision moves ‘Heat’ to FM…The Miami Heat have called Univision Radio’s news/talk WQBA (1140) home for more than a decade, but the NBA franchise has made a mid-season switch to tropical sister “Mix 98.3” WRTO-FM. The Heat says all remaining regular season and playoff games will be heard on the station which it previously called home before moving to WQBA. In a short statement the team says José Paneda will continue to handle the play-by-play duties, while Joe Pujala will serve as analyst and host of the pre-game, halftime and post-game shows on WRTO-FM…Leighton buys Results Radio stations…Jerry and Pat Pappenfuss’s Results Radio Group has struck a deal to sell 10 stations in Minnesota to Leighton Enterprises, the Winona Daily News reports. No details were immediately available on which stations are part of the deal. Bob Leighton currently owns stations in the St. Cloud and Detroit Lakes areas of Minnesota, and Grand Forks, ND…Scranton sports stunter…Entercom’s “102.3 The Sports Hub” WHBS, Wilks Barre-Scranton, PA has begun stunting with a variety of voices counting up — number after number — teasing a new format to launch Friday at 7am. The station has been sports since August 2013 and hasn’t made much of a dent in the ratings. Nielsen says it had a 0.5 share (12+) in the Fall 2014 survey. That put it in a tie with Shamrock Communications WEJL (630). Neither station had any bump with the temporary silence of Cumulus Media’s cross-town Sports Radio 590” WARM, which returned to the air in December.
T-Mobile grabs top radio lobbyist. One of radio’s top lobbyists is heading for the telecom industry. IHeartMedia director of government relations Brendan Kelsay has joined T-Mobile where he’ll hold a similar role. Kelsay had worked at iHeartMedia since February 2003. The company will still have two Washington lobbyists, and according to Politico, relationships with a half dozen outside firms. Kelsay made the move to radio after serving as an aide to Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), where he worked on media and telecommunications issues. He earlier worked for California Democrat Vic Fazio. In an unrelated K Street move, Pandora is gearing up for an onslaught of copyright and music royalty battles in Washington with the hiring of its third lobbying firm. WilmerHale joins a retainer roster that also includes Forbes-Tate and TwinLogic Strategies.
Guilty verdict for station murder…A Kansas man has been found guilty of killing an employee at Steckline Communications’ Wichita cluster last year. Prosecutors say board op Daniel Flores startled Antwon Banks when he discovered him scrawling messages on a station wall about his ex-girlfriend. She also worked at the stations. Banks then beat Flores with a fire extinguisher. The 25-year old was found dead in the talk KQAM (1480) and “SportsRadio 1410” KGSO basement. Sentencing is scheduled for May 22.
People Moves - Univision Radio returns Angela Navarrete to general manager and director of sales for its El Paso, TX cluster. Cumulus Media promotes senior account executive Melissa Galliani to general sales manager for news/talk KGO (810) and “Hot Talk 560” KSFO in San Francisco. And iHeartMedia CHR “96.1 Kiss FM” WPKF and “Rock 93.3” WBWZ in Poughkeepsie, NY hires Jaleel “J-Will” Williams as program director.
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[email protected] | 800.275.2840 PG 4 CLASSIFIEDS insideradio.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 qual DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR STATIONS FOR SALE iHeartMedia is searching for a Digital Content Coordinator to TUSCALOOSA, AL support their five Washington DC and four Baltimore, MD radio stations. The Digital Content Coordinator will be responsible for WTBC-AM, FM translator maintaining and moving our sites forward with current industry trends and WNPT-FM for sale in and creating unique content under the direction and parameters of Tuscaloosa, one of Alabama’s the Senior Digital Content Coordinator. This position is located in fastest growing cities and their Rockville, MD offices with potential travel to Baltimore 4 times home to The University a month. of Alabama…Roll Tide!
The ideal candidate will be able to create new original online content Heritage WTBC-AM 1230 is and add existing content to our nine station sites and social media 1-KW 24 hours, Translator FM accounts as needed. He/She will understand and manage reporting at 100.1 W261BT, and needs for the team, and make design choices based on analytical WNPT-FM, 50,000 watts at data, and troubleshoot site issues and escalate when needed. 102.9 FM offers solid footprint all over Tuscaloosa and Experience in entertainment internet is preferred, along with West Central Alabama, experience with image/video/audio file protocol over 12 counties. and proper file compression(s) with relevance to all graphic formats and multimedia formats. Motivated seller.
Follow THIS LINK to upload your Email: resume and apply for this job. [email protected] Equal Opportunity Employer. or, call (205) 515-4451.
MARKET MANAGER qual MEDIA ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP SALES COLORADO This is not a normal job-posting… because this is not a job! We Cumulus-Colorado Springs have “one” incredible opportunity available, that will change your is searching for an exceptional life. The only question is “Are you that person?” Ramsey Solutions Market Manager to guide our has an opening for the right person who possesses as a minimum: 6 well positioned and impactful stations. The successful candidate • Proven track-record of closing million dollar deals will have a history of leading • Ability to deliver results for your client b/c you seek the right solution high performance sales teams, • Personal integrity that allows your to rise above your competition coaching good to great, and • Aptitude to hear the word “No” as an opportunity attracting sales all-stars. Here’s • Fortitude to manage the resources of Radio, Video, Digital, Print, and Event Sponsorships to create unlimited earning potential your opportunity to join our • Strong working knowledge of what we do and “Why” it works so well growing company and become an integral part of our stellar team in This full-time position located in the Brentwood, TN provides the Colorado Springs by contributing ability to represent all Dave Ramsey products. The opportunity to to their continued success. prove what you can do begins now! Not many better places to live and work than in the beautiful If you have what it takes to fill this “one” position landscape of Colorado. then it’s your assignment to get our attention. When we find this person we will commit to Inquiries will be held in providing an incredible work environment, un- the strictest confidence: paralleled resources with a brand that delivers [email protected] results, and the ability to control your own Equal Opportunity Employer earning potential with no corporate imposed ceiling. E.O.E.
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