According to http://allaccess.com REUTERS reports that web search leader GOOGLE is hiring scores of radio sales people and is spending heavily in a bid to expand its position in the $20 billion radio industry.

GOOGLE spokesman MICHAEL MAYZEL said that the company will begin a public test of GOOGLE AUDIO ADS by the end of the year. Advertisers will be able to go online and sign up for targeted radio ads using the same ADWORDS system they use to buy Web search ads.

"Google is hiring salespeople in most major markets, and they're hiring sales people to sell radio," said SOFTWARE MEDIA EXCHANGE COO BILL FIGENSHU. "They're paying about 50% more than a typical radio sales person might make."

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 9:20 PM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

According to http://allaccess.com At a bankruptcy hearing TUESDAY, AIR AMERICA RADIO lawyer TRACY KLESTADT told the court that the network is talking to several possible buyers and hopes to have a deal in place by THANKSGIVING.

KLESTADT said that there is a "significant amount of interest" in the network, which has been given until NOVEMBER 22 to find a buyer, although no potential buyers were identified. The court approved the network's temporary financing plan that requires a deal to be in place by NOVEMBER 22 to allow the financing to continue past then.

Meanwhile, a "no-buy" list of advertisers who have instructed ABC RADIO NETWORKS that their ads not run on AIR AMERICA RADIO is rapidly circulating in the liberal blogosphere. The list of about 100 advertisers is similar to much longer "no-buy" lists for other talk programming, including most top conservative talkers and "shock jocks." MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA and THINKPROGRESS.ORG are among the liberal websites circulating the list.

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 12:02 PM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

According to http://allaccess.com Rumors become reality as CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40 PD/afternoon personality KANE -- who resigned yesterday (NET NEWS 10/31) -- heads to wakeups at sister Top 40 WIHT (HOT 99.5)/WASHINGTON, beginning NOVEMBER 13th. He's replacing the HOT MORNING MESS, featuring MARK KAYE, KRIS GAMBLE and Producer RON ROSS, who are out immediately.

KANE, who worked with CLEAR CHANNEL OM/WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE JEFF KAPUGI at WFLZ when KAPUGI was the PD, said, "I'm so excited to be reunited with JEFF KAPUGI. He and I are like SNOOP and DR. DRE! I am very grateful for this opportunity, and special thanks to DAVE PUGH, MARC CHASE, DOUG HAMAND and BRAD HARDIN. I look forward to joining the already amazing team at HOT 99.5!"

"HOT 99.5 is lucky to have the opportunity to get a high-profile personality like KANE," said KAPUGI. "This is the final piece of the air staff for HOT 99.5 that will take us to new heights."

Until KANE arrives, APD/MD/afternooner TOBY KNAPP will handle wakeups. Once KANE is in place, the line up will be VIBEGRRL from 10a-3p, TOBY KNAPP from 3-7p and THE HOT FREEK SHOW WITH GROOVES from 7p-midnight.

And, anyone interested in becoming KANE's sidekick, send your package now to hot995@gmail.com for the EEO post.

KAYE remarked on his and KRIS' departure: "We were informed after this morning's broadcast that our contract was not being renewed. We are still processing this surprising turn of events. SUMMER 2006 was our best ratings period ever. We are #1 with women 18-34 (HOT 99.5's key demo) and had a 9.0 share overall. While we are baffled by the decision of HOT 99.5's management, we respect that it was theirs to make. We look forward to bringing our #1-rated morning show to a new outlet soon. Any further questions or inquiries should be directed to THE ROBERT EATMAN AGENCY, (310) 459-3728."

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 11:56 AM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

A day after CNBC reported that CLEAR CHANNEL was considering a leveraged buyout to take the company private (NET NEWS 10/24), the company today confirmed that its board of directors is "evaluating various strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value" and that the board has retained GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. as its financial advisor.

The company further stated that there "could be no assurance that this process will result in any specific transaction. The company does not intend to comment further publicly with respect to the exploration of strategic alternatives unless a specific transaction is approved by its board."

Meanwhile, CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS and CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS today revised the timing of both companies? release of third-quarter 2006 financial results and will now release Q3 results before the market opens on MONDAY (10/30) at approximately 7a (ET); a teleconference is set for 9a (ET) that morning.

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 9:27 PM PDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

According to http://www.radioonlinenews.com/ Air America filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York on Friday (10/13/06) Parent Company Piquant LLC investors decided to pull the plug citing that loses increaced from 8.6 million in 2004 to 19.2 million in 2006. In the court filing new CEO Scott Elberg said that Air America will stay on the air during the Bankruptcy hearings and will us this time to reorginize, while informing and entertaining the audience. Read entire story at http://www.radioonlinenews.com/ And in a related story Liberal talk show host Ed Shultz assured listeners that his show is independantly owned and not in danger of bankruptcy. (Nor is the Stephanie Miller Show http://www.stephaniemiller.com/)

Please post your comments

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 11:10 AM PDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

CBS RADIO disposes of its KANSAS CITY and COLUMBUS, OH clusters, selling the stations to WILKS BROADCAST GROUP, LLC for $138 million. WILKS gets Country KFKF (COUNTRY 94.1), Country KBEQ (Q 104), Top 40 KMXV (MIX 93), and AC KCKC (STAR 102.1)/KANSAS CITY and Rock WLVQ (Q FM96), Classic Country WHOK (COUNTRY LEGENDS K95.5), and Rock WAZU/COLUMBUS in the deal.

"We are excited to add these assets to our portfolio and build upon the success we have achieved in our other markets," WILKS CEO JEFF WILKS said in a press release. "KANSAS CITY and COLUMBUS are tremendous markets with dominating stations and employees that have consistently outperformed their competitors in ratings and revenue."

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 12:25 PM PDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Read more http://mediamatters.org/items/200609090008

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 10:27 PM PDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

According to http://allaccess.com

SPRINT has launched SPRINT RADIO, a service of over 50 channels of streaming audio and video provided by mSPOT, The service is priced at $5.95/month and is available to SPRINT POWER VISION, SPRINT VISION, and NEXTEL customers. SPRINT is also adding enhancements to its SPRINT MUSIC STORE that include personalized recommendations, the ability to re-download accidentally deleted songs, and, on select phones, the ability to fast-forward, rewind, pause, and skip songs.

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 10:20 AM PDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

From http://allaccess.com

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 10:18 AM PDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

ARBITRON announced today that it has begun installing its Portable People Meter (PPMSM) system among PHILADELPHIA-area consumers for the all-electronic radio ratings service, which is scheduled to replace the current paper and pencil diary method that the company's used since the late 1960s. The company is recruiting a panel of 2,040 consumers (age 6 and older) to carry the PPM in PHILADELPHIA.

The first release of radio ratings will take place after the completion of an audit report by the MEDIA RATING COUNCIL (MRC) and a review of the audit report findings with the MRC radio committee. The MRC audit process in PHILADELPHIA currently is under way.

ARBITRON has already signed PPM contracts with BEASLEY, CBS RADIO, GREATER MEDIA, and JERRY LEE AC WBEB in PHILADELPHIA. The 14 stations account for at least 60% of the radio advertising revenue in the market. In addition, Arbitron has signed agreements with national advertising agencies that account for more than 90% of the national radio advertising dollars spent in the market. ARBITRON reported successful PPM testing in PHILADELPHIA in 2002-2003.

ARBITRON President/Sales & Marketing PIERRE BOUVARD said, "No other system has yet to even begin to demonstrate all that we?ve shown the radio industry about the advantages of electronic audience measurement. We?ve also released a comprehensive suite of training materials and tools that the industry can use to better manage the transition to electronic measurement."

Powered by Qumana

Posted by djsource1 at 10:14 AM PDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink