Posts Tagged ‘ Business ’

All Access

June 18, 2013
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All Access

Radio stations throughout the land have all been fighting a war of attrition these past few years: shrinking marketing budgets. Now if we were a bunch of Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises, we’d be in trouble.  But because we’re radio stations – brands that consumers still are passionate about – we have alternatives, and pretty good ones. That is, if we decide to use them. Just like professional sports teams and rock bands, radio fans are always looking for more.  Other entertainment sectors have mined the behind-the-scenes opportunity, but radio...

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Now Firing

June 13, 2013
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Now Firing

Don’t think for a moment that talk and chatter don’t lead to perceptions. In radio, the talk for the past few weeks (few years?) has been about layoffs in highly visible radio companies. And while cutbacks are still only rumored, smaller employee counts have become the norm in radio.  And it continues to be a part of radio management and corporate conversations.  So while broadcasters pare their payrolls and health care obligations by cutting staff, the competition is moving in a very different direction. And as radio continues to struggle...

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What, Me Worry?

June 12, 2013
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What, Me Worry?

The long-awaited announcement that Apple is now officially playing radio – called iTunes Radio (italics mine) – simply reinforces what has long been happening in the pure-play space: Everyone’s trying to recast, redefine, and reinvent radio – except most radio broadcasters. Pandora’s response to Apple’s new baby sounded a lot like Mad’s goofy poster boy, Alfred E. Newman and his famous quote: “What, me worry?” As Pandora noted, “…we have spent the last 13 years singularly focused on redefining radio and benefit from unrivaled intellectual property, deep experience in delivering personalized...

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Welcome to Detroit!

June 10, 2013
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Welcome to Detroit!

Last week in a suburb of Detroit – Novi, to be exact – Telematics Update held their annual conference, bringing together a growing group of automotive and media professionals to discuss the ongoing hot topic – “the connected car.” Nearly 2,000 professionals made the trip to Metro Detroit.  For Paul and me, it was a quick 13 mile drive to what is a different world than the one we’re used to living in. Joining us from the radio industry were….not many people.  Of course, Dr. Ed Cohen from Arbitron...

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Jolly Good Company

May 20, 2013
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Jolly Good Company

Last month, we showcased the Greater Media Philadelphia cluster which was named as one of the best workplaces in town by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com for the second consecutive year. Not to be outdone, I heard from a reader across the pond who told me about UKRD Group Ltd., named by The Sunday Times as one of the 100 Best Companies to work for.  Except they’ve been listed as #1 for three consecutive years.  This honor comes from employee reviews, making it all that more impressive. So I...

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TV Is Kicking A__

May 17, 2013
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TV Is Kicking A__

On last week’s investor call, Saga CEO Ed Christian gave a (as always) transparent view (as much as possible) of the state of radio – and his company.  Ed is famous for substantive analyses of the industry and where it’s headed.  He takes the issues head-on, and uses these calls to sound off about what’s good, bad, and otherwise for radio and the media business. It was an off quarter for Saga, and while Ed talked about specific issues facing Saga, he went out of his way to praise...

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Acknowledgment 201

May 16, 2013
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Acknowledgment 201

Yesterday, we took a look at the importance of responding to consumers who visit radio’s social pages.  Far too often,  a cavalier attitude about listeners (“contest pigs”) has led to aloof, ambivalent, or even negligent policies in markets big and small. For all those request line calls that blinked away and went unanswered, for those letters and emails that waited for a response, and for brush-offs that occurred at station events by egotistical DJs, the chickens are coming home to roost.  On Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social networks where consumers are demanding...

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The Innovation Stations

May 14, 2013
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The Innovation Stations

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs Another Steve – Steve Case former head of AOL – sees the world of business as either attackers or defenders.  In his mind, it is essential for companies – especially smaller entrepreneurial businesses – to think proactively and innovatively: “…I realized the world of business really separates into these two groups.  The attackers are the entrepreneurs who are disrupting the status quo, trying to change the world, take the hill, anything is possible, and have nothing to lose...

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Elevator Pitch

May 7, 2013
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Elevator Pitch

A recent article on CNBC’s website highlighted the coffee wars between Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and McDonald’s and gave us a glimpse into some “corner office wisdom” each company’s corporate leadership. But what struck me in the story was Starbucks’ CEO Howard Schultz’s take on the competitive landscape, in addition to how he considers Starbucks a different player in the field. In the process, he reeled off his company’s mission: “The sourcing and roasting of quality coffees and the experience we create in our stores.” Succinct, simple, direct, and solid.  Pretty...

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Roller Coasters

May 6, 2013
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Roller Coasters

Recently, Lori Lewis tweeted out a Huffington Post piece from Craig Kanalley that will get you thinking: “10 Smart Quotes from ‘Innovation Uncensored’ Conference” Sponsored by Fast Company, the conference took place in New York City and it included an impressive array of luminaries and contemporary businesspeople. Click on the link above to peruse all these words of wisdom, and perhaps select your favorite.  But without a doubt, here’s mine: For those of you who have started something – a new format, a new morning show, a new business, or a new career...

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