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The FigFamily Newsletter: Archive
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Dear FigFamily Newsletter Subscriber,
After careful consideration, a little negotiation, and even a bit of hand ringing, I have decided to go back to running a company. But wait! There's more! This is not just any old
company, in fact, it's a very "NEW" company.
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Good Morning,
I was talking to a friend this week who knew someone who just spent time with the auto manufactures, in Detroit. They are now telling radio, TV, newspapers, and anyone else that does business with them,
"Do NOT suggest any marketing plan unless it includes our web site"
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On Tuesday at least five national (or regional) radio shows began their quest for the piece of the ratings
pie. (David Lee Roth, Adam Corolla, Penn Jillette, Jay Severin, and Rover... I may have missed a few.) In this new era of
"AH" (after Howard) there will be a lot of cume chasing in an increasingly competitive world. Although there
will be at least one failure it should be noted that at least there is an attempt to try something new.
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Dear Santa,
I know it's not really cool to write you, the lawyers say I have to say the word "holiday" instead of Christmas,
and even though I put a disclaimer on this e-mail at the bottom, they tell me they can still read my e-mail. So I'm taking a chance in writing you on
this "eve" of Christmas Eve.
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This week I attended the Radio Ink "Outlook 2006" conference in NYC. This was a look at the state of radio
business for the next twelve months. The full day sessions featured panels from economists, media planners, analysts, bankers, and of course,
radio group heads. (Kudos to Eric Rhoads on a fine day.)
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This weekend I did a bit of Christmas, uh, Holiday shopping. I was never a big fan of
shopping to begin with, but with a forced deadline (12/25) to spend as much money and time on friends and family as possible I
thought it would be a good time to get started. I went to my wallet, grabbed a credit card or two, sat down at my laptop, popped on Napster's jazz
holiday streamed radio station, and spent a few hundred, ok maybe a thousand dollars in a matter of a few hours. My car, with it's AM/FM
radio tucked into the dash, remained safely in the garage.
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2005 will be the year that will go down in the annuals of radio broadcasters as the year new technology and competition invaded our mindset.
That said, and for all the "issues" we have had this year, there is still much to be thankful for.
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For the first time in 23 years I won't be doing a radio station budget. I'm not complaining mind you, but I
always think it's a scary process. There are so many chances to miss plan. This year I have had many calls from GM's asking for tips. "I am
expected to grow the cluster by X percent, there is no way!" or "This budget is DOA anyway", "I'm just giving them the number they are asking for,
but there is NO way I can do it!"
So here are a few budget tips for 2006. Many you may already know this stuff, but it's good to review.
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As a former corporate radio operator, there is much that went into the decisions of the Infinity brass
Tuesday. Today's Family Newsletter addresses the issue from a perspective of someone that has been there.
As you know (and reported to you early last week) Joel Hollander has launched an ambitious plan to replace Howard
in 27 markets. This will cause an upheaval in radio not seen in decades. Every action has a reaction. There will be a lot of
"reacting" out there. What to do? Let's look at it.
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Radio is about to go through a revolution! If you're curious about your future, rest assured it will be revealed to you by
April of 2007. For those that can't wait, or want to get a head start, here are a few things to ponder...
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I haven't been to an NAB convention in about 5 years. It was 2000 (I think) and the business was rockin'. I
remember the lavish suites & free flowing optimism pulsing from the hotels. As a Senior VP with Infinity, working
with good friends & fellow pro's Dan Mason, Don Bouluoks, David Pearlman & John Gehron
and reporting to "Mel" we easily "made the numbers."
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I'll bet many of you spent the better part of Sunday evening and Monday glued to the TV & Internet for coverage of
Hurricane Katrina. Except if you lived within 1,000 miles of New Orleans. The images of people stocking up on
batteries hours before the arrival of a category 5 hurricane WERE NOT TO POWER THEIR I-POD!
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I have been watching with interest the rollout of a few HD radio stations over the past few months. If we're
not careful we have a really good chance of making a mistake with this new technology. I believe the next 12-24 months will seal
HD radio's fate with consumers. Kenwood is offering an car radio for $400+ in the Cruchfield
catalogue. BMW has announced they will offer HD radio in the new 7 series cars next year.
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I spent a portion of this week hanging with Wall Street folks. I was listening to the many radio company
Q2 earnings calls. This is where company Presidents & CEO's explain their performance for the last 3 and 6
months. (you can hear these too if you want. Just drop me a note, I'll tell you how.)
The news*, except for companies with stations that primarily target Spanish & African American listeners, was not what
Wall Street wanted to hear.
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Thank you for the overwhelming response to the FigFamily Newsletter. I have heard from company CEO's,
Trade Association Presidents, The Press (trade & national), record companies and everyone
from the GM to the sales assistants. It is my hope that these words cause a dialogue. Only then can we address
the real change that is coming to radio. To re-print/publish please ask me. Forward this if you like. Ask to be removed from the list? no problem.
Agree or disagree, that's fine. Ok, here we go!
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Just what we needed, another bit of negative press that positions our industry in a bad light. If the radio industry as a whole
were a single radio station we would be asking for a call letter change! Just something to get rid of all the "baggage" commercial radio seems to
have picked up over the past few years. And now there is a call for an FCC investigation. Great! - Just great!
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It's been a busy week here at the World Headquarters of FM1. Earlier this week I picked the hottest day of the
year to put on a suit and head into NYC for the Forrester Research/Arbitron PPM study. Despite the weather it was
well worth the trip. As a (now) independent broadcaster, I was appreciative of Gary Fries and the RAB for the
invitation.
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As we enter the dog days of summer there is a feeling of a perfect storm brewing. No, it's not in the Atlantic
off the coast of Africa, it's right here in the old radio business. The forecast coming up!
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I am pleased to offer the new edition of the FigFamily Newsletter. (those from Citadel receiving this know what this is.).
To everyone else, welcome! The FigFamily Newsletter is a confidential chance for us to communicate with a few well-chosen clients
and friends about observations, opinions and issues we face in the day-to-day operation of our professional lives. It is NOT based
on any one company or person. By design it's not fancy or pretty. There is no set schedule, this is a "call it as I see it"
publication. When the mood strikes, you'll get it.
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