 RAIN 5/22: Digital gains again the bright spot in slumping radio ad revenues ·May 22, 10:10 AM RAIN NEWS FLASH: WEBCASTER SETTLEMENT ACT OF 2009 ENTERS SENATESenators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009 to the U.S. Senate yesterday. It enters the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The bill is identical to the version in the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed committee earlier this month (RAIN coverage here). The Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009 modifies the existing Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008, extending the deadline for which webcasters and SoundExchange must agree to a royalty rate to 30 days after the enactment of the new bill. The original bill set a deadline of February 15, 2009. However, SoundExchange was not able to reach deals with all webcasters by that date, including “pureplay” webcasters, small commercial webcasters, and religious broadcasters. The new bill would give webcasters and SoundExchange more time to hammer out a deal. DIGITAL REVENUE UP 13% IN FIRST QUARTERLocal and national radio ad sales fell 26% in the first quarter, according to RAB, but digital revenue — the “one bright spot” — was up 13%. That increased online revenue to $101 million, compared to local and national over-the-air sales of $2.83 billion.
“Radio’s digital platforms are experiencing the greatest growth and are reflective of the dollar shift from media to marketing by many of today’s advertisers,” said RAB President/CEO Jeff Haley. Overall ad revenues for radio dropped 24% in the first quarter. For more, read Radio Ink’s coverage here and MediaWeek’s here. ACCURADIO LAUNCHES “CHITOWN SMOOTH JAZZ”AccuRadio has launched “ChiTown Smooth Jazz,” a dedicated genre-specific website focusing on smooth jazz music. “Chitown Smooth Jazz” features nine radio channels, with selections like “New Releases” and “Smooth Sax.”
The site offers customization tools like pause and skip functionality, as well as artist deselection. AccuRadio is produced by the same team that brings you RAIN each day, and uses the underlying technology of Slipstream Radio. RAMSEY: “WAKE UP RADIO,” AD DOLLARS HEADING ONLINEAd dollars are shifting online, says industry analyst Mark Ramsey, and sooner than some broadcasters may think. Ramsey points to a recent study (from eMarketer here) which found that 22% of the marketers surveyed “indicated they would shift dollars from traditional media into the digital space.”
Additionally, 34% believe interactive marketing ROI would be more profitable in 2009 than traditional media marketing. “As an industry we need to look past Arbitron and look past PPM,” writes Ramsey. “Our long-time agency clients may make their decisions the same way as always, but the resources at their disposal are shrinking – that slice of the pie is getting smaller.” Read more of Ramsey’s thoughts at his Hear 2.0 blog here. DEL COLLIANO: OPPORTUNITIES ARE WAITING ONLINE FOR BROADCASTERS Internet radio is a big component of industry pundit Jerry Del Colliano’s eight ideas for a “life after radio.” One of the suggestions is to create a webcast with unique programming that will stand out amongst “jukebox” offerings. Another tip is to “build Internet stations for local restaurants, businesses and retailers …Before opening, the programming is for the employees. When the doors open, it works in real-time for customers. After hours, it’s for the janitor or stock people.” Read through Del Colliano’s list of ideas at his Inside Music Media blog here.
THESE TIMES CALL FOR ACTION, NOT WORDS SAYS DARDISIndustry analyst Ken Dardis sees radio throwing words like “Radio Heard Here” against continuing reports about shrinking revenues. “Words can’t save the radio industry now. Only actions will result in crawling away from revenue drops like the latest Q1 2009 plunge of 24%,” he writes. Dardis urges broadcasters to start discussing solutions to new media problems, like dropping ad rates, mobile listening and Internet radio’s geo-targeted ads. “To do nothing means waiting until the revenue drop can’t get lower,” he says. To read Dardis’ full post, head to Audio Graphics here.
LIVIO TABLE-TOP PANDORA RADIO GETS A “THUMBS-UP”The Livio table-top Wi-Fi Internet radio with Pandora streams — which first came to light back in April (RAIN coverage here) — was put through the usual trials by Examiner reviewer Jay Siegel.
He found the device to be easy to set up and use, with “virtually all functionality” controlled by the “handy remote.” Additionally, the sound is “surprisingly good for a small radio with just one speaker.” Read Siegel’s full review at Examiner.com here. The Livio Radio has a $150 price tag. share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
Comment Other stories RAIN 9/2: Apple makes iTunes experience more social, more "radio-like" RAIN 9/1: FilterMusic.net excels at helping you discover new streams RAIN 8/31: Pandora's Les Hollander to speak at RAIN Summit East RAIN 8/30: Former Forrester analyst to deliver second keynote of RAIN Summit East RAIN 8/27: Radio vet Bill Gamble to consult AccuRadio's country stations RAIN 8/26: Clear Channel's digital chief Evan Harrison to leave at end of year RAIN 8/25: Pandora spotlights improved "genre-based" listening options RAIN 8/24: NAB presents details of proposed royalty settlement to members RAIN 8/23: Mobile media growth will even outpace Internet, predicts Nielsen RAIN 8/20: New deadline for Internet Radio Awards is August 31 |
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