as Barack Obama noted, “Today the FCC failed to further the Volume XXXIII • Number 51 • December 21, 2007 important goal of promoting diversity in the media and instead chose to put big corporate interests ahead of the peoples’ interests.” The three Republican’s obviously took exception to MAIN STREET these changes and said that these new rules could prevent Presents newspapers continued decline. Republican Commissioner TheThe ConclaveConclave Deborah Taylor Tate defended the process as “transparent and thorough” describing the changes as narrow, and intimating that AA TT TT LL EE she would favor even more deregulation. Commerce Secretary TT RR Carlos Gutierrez wrote various Congress officials that the Bush administration was fully behind the revisions. The fight isn’t over. Publisher: Tom Kay Expect to see this decision to be ruled on in court. Cartoons Pilfered by Lenny Bronstein & Jay Philpott The early-bird tuition rate of $179 for the 33rd Annual Conclave This week, the FCC did approve the highly debated revision that Learning Conference: At the Crossroads is set to expire on allows media conglomerates that own a radio or TV station to December 31, 2007. Broadcast professionals are encouraged to also own a newspaper in the same top-20 market. The vote was register now for the 3 days of learning scheduled for June 26-28, split by political party with three Republicans voting for and two 2007 in Minneapolis at the Marriott City Center. As you know, 2008 Democrats against. To counter any perceived ill effects of cross- will be all about looking for ways to better maximize budgets. It ownership and to encourage minority ownership, Chairman Kevin makes sense to for anyone in our industry to save money, either Martin has already proposed several diversity initiatives, such as for ourselves or our company…or BOTH! That’s why every the tax-certificate policy, and proposed boosting localism by TATTLER reader is encouraged to take advantage of the requiring broadcasters to offer more comprehensive and detailed Conclave’s Earlybird rate for attending this summer’s Learning reports on how much local news and other programming they are Conference. Just $179 for 3 days, addressing the topics that are doing. Also just made public is a Dec. 4th letter from Commerce vital to the growth of the broadcast industry AND each registrant’s Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to the leaders of the Senate and its place in it! With sessions already in place for the Promo Summit, Commerce Committee, which indicate that the Bush administration Conclave College, and our new multi-track format, as well as supports Martin’s effort to loosen the newspaper-broadcast cross- keynotes like the NAB’s David Rehr and talker Ed Shultz, there’s ownership ban. In the letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid really no reason to put off signing up now…unless, of course, (D-NV), that notes the administration’s opposition to “S. 2332 or you’d like to spend more money on the Conclave after the first of any other attempt to delay or overturn these revised rules by the year. And frankly, we’re okay with that! But do take a look at legislative means.” That’s a fairly predictable response to the bill what your $179 will buy: over 30 sessions, keynotes, important by co-sponsors Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Trent Lott networking. What’s more, your tuition includes up to 10 different (R-MS) that would have requiring at least a 90-day comment period meals, snack, and liquid refreshments. It gives you a chance to on Martin’s proposal before allowing the FCC to vote on media- reserve a $134 Marriott City Center sleeping room (a room that ownership changes. usually goes for $200/night or more…in a fabulously remodeled hotel, the freshest in Minneapolis). But if you’d like a less expensive The FCC’s decision to overturn the 32-year-old ban has set ablaze room, you can find one costing $90 or less within walking distance the criticism from those opposing any deregulation. On the negative of the Marriott. If you can drive, suburban hotels can be had for side, Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps called the move $65 or less (tip: use your AAA card to knock off at least $10 a “”terrible decision ... In the final analysis, the real winners today nightly!). Weekend parking near the Marriott is just $5/day! are businesses that are in many cases quite healthy, and the real But the tuition for next summer’s big event goes up January 1st. losers are going to be all of us who depend on the news media to So, register now at www.theconclave.com. learn what’s happening in our communities and to keep an eye on local government.” The other Democratic Commissioner, Jonathan Adelstein added “Anybody who thinks our processes are open, thoughtful or deliberative should think twice in light of these nocturnal escapades.” This might even become an election issue 2008 KEYNOTES THE 33RD CONCLAVE ED SCHULTZ LEARNING CONFERENCE JUNE 26-29, 2008 MARRIOTT CITY CENTER MINNEAPOLIS EARLYBIRD TUITION AT THE $179 UNTIL 12/31/07! DAVID REHR CROSSROADS DETAILS AT WWW.THECONCLAVE.COM PRESIDENT/CEO NAB JONES RADIO NETWORK CROSSROADS MAIN STREET MARKETING & PROMOTION, 4517 MINNETONKA BLVD #104, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55416 PHONE/FAX: 952.927.HITS (4487)/927-6427 Publisher: Tom Kay at [email protected] Web: www.main-st.net ADDED & ON Chris Stills WUTC! KOHO! FoolFool ForFor LoveLove KNBA! KOZT! KCRW! WNKU! Spins KINK! KPTL! THE LOFT/ WBMX! WJCU! XM! KCSF! KINK! KMMS! DMX! WKRQ! Overshadowed by the cross-ownership rule, the FCC made other and houses lit until January 6th (or later). With everyone in the rulings that could have an equally demonstrative impact on radio. holiday mood, why kill off Bobby Helms, Brenda Lee, and Bing On the top of the list is the new localism proposal, pushed by Crosby? Does the radio public really want the spigot on holiday Chairman Kevin Martin, in hopes of mollifying those who believe music turned off? Do advertisers? Personal aside, the public MAY localism is threatened by further consolidation. According to be getting tired of hearing the same holiday artists in high rotation Broadcasting and Cable, the series of proposals requires – I’d personally like Elton to step OUT of Christmas - but that’s a broadcasters to demonstrate that they are carrying a minimum topic for another time. But speaking of ‘stepping out’, let’s see amount of local programming. Nine areas must be satisfied: 1) which brave programming soul will step out and program for the Communications between the community and the station; 2. The holidays DURING the holidays, next year! – TK nature and amount of local programming; 3. The nature and amount, specifically, of political programming; 4. Underserved Let’s get ready to rumble as the battle over performance royalty audiences; 5. Disaster warnings and ensuring that someone us for terrestrial radio has begun. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) physically at the station to relay them; 6. Preemption of and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and in the House Reps. Howard Berman programming and content issues between network and affiliate, (D-CA) and Darrell Issa (R-CA), have submitted bills that would and whether those can be an impediment to local decision-making; require radio stations obtain a statutory license to play music, which 7. Payola and sponsorship identification (radio pay-for-play rather would require the payment of a government-set annual fee to cover than TV product integration); 8. The adequacy of license renewal all the music they play, Forbes reports. The legislation limits the procedures; and 9. Additional spectrum allocations that might maximum annual fee for stations that generate less than 1.25 increase the diversity of voices. The potential avalanche of million in revenue a year to $5,000. Non-profits would have a max documentation to make all that work raised a red flag at the NAB. of $1,000 a year. Uncertain of what commercial stations will pay, “We will also be reviewing closely the FCC’s ‘localism’ proposal, a the NAB took little time in railing against the bills. EVP/Media proceeding that carries grave First Amendment implications and Relations Dennis Wharton released a statement, with label which stems from a false notion that radio and television stations executives such as Tom Biery and Ken Lane that said: “After have abandoned our commitment to serving communities or have decades of Ebenezer Scrooge-like exploitation of countless artists, stopped offering distinctive local programming,” its statement read. the RIAA and the foreign-owned record labels are singing a new “From coast to coast, local broadcasters are saving lives every holiday jingle to offset their failing business model. The NAB will day with Amber Alerts, emergency weather warnings, and aggressively oppose this brazen attempt to force America’s coverage of natural disasters. The record shows that broadcasters hometown radio stations to subsidize companies that have profited have an unmatched tradition of serving the public interest, and as enormously through the free promotion provided by radio airplay.” the FCC found in the 1980s, onerous regulations can have the Nevertheless, such verbiage hasn’t deterred the bills’ sponsors. unintended consequence of reducing programming quality ... We “Radio play may have promotional value to the artist, but there is are confident that any truly objective localism analysis will vindicate a property right in the sound recording, and those that create the the performance of radio and TV broadcasters, and overshadow content should be compensated for its use,’’ Leahy said in a the shrill voices of those who would regulate broadcasters back statement.