Barack Obama is being slammed by John McCain and Fox News Channel for wanting to take from the very rich and give to the poor -- or spreading the wealth.

He denies it.

I kind of like it -- and remember I'm talking as a guy with Clear Channel's money.

I like this idea of spreading the wealth for the radio industry.

So I'd like to run for President of Radio's Conscience. Here is my platform for spreading the wealth. Warning: you have entered a "no win" zone. You may like these ideas or you may not but the only place you can even entertain them is in the fantasy of your own mind.

Having said that, here&hellip

Barack Obama is being slammed by John McCain and Fox News Channel for wanting to take from the very rich and give to the poor -- or spreading the wealth.

He denies it.

I kind of like it -- and remember I'm talking as a guy with Clear Channel's money.

I like this idea of spreading the wealth for the radio industry.

So I'd like to run for President of Radio's Conscience. Here is my platform for spreading the wealth. Warning: you have entered a "no win" zone. You may like these ideas or you may not but the only place you can even entertain them is in the fantasy of your own mind.

Having said that, here&hellip

Paragon Research has a new study out that has been getting headlines in The New York Times, Rolling Stone and elsewhere.

The Times headline says "Perhaps iPods Aren't Replacing Radio" and Rolling Stone says "According to New Study, Traditional Radio Gaining Popularity".

You can believe all of this at your own risk.

I have&hellip

Paragon Research has a new study out that has been getting headlines in The New York Times, Rolling Stone and elsewhere.

The Times headline says "Perhaps iPods Aren't Replacing Radio" and Rolling Stone says "According to New Study, Traditional Radio Gaining Popularity".

You can believe all of this at your own risk.

I have&hellip

I was a major market program director for a radio GM who used to call me and the station sales manager, a guy whose nickname was "The Snake" -- into his office when the Arbitron rating books arrived.

Behind closed doors, he'd shut his thick drapes that covered the windows overlooking an array of towers in a large field.

He had "The Snake" on his right side and me on his left as he paged through the newly arrived rating books. There was one light on -- a desk lamp, as I remember it.

I was scared no matter how many times he performed this voodoo ritual -- and I wish I was making this up -- but sadly, it's exactly as I&hellip

I was a major market program director for a radio GM who used to call me and the station sales manager, a guy whose nickname was "The Snake" -- into his office when the Arbitron rating books arrived.

Behind closed doors, he'd shut his thick drapes that covered the windows overlooking an array of towers in a large field.

He had "The Snake" on his right side and me on his left as he paged through the newly arrived rating books. There was one light on -- a desk lamp, as I remember it.

I was scared no matter how many times he performed this voodoo ritual -- and I wish I was making this up -- but sadly, it's exactly as I&hellip

McDonald's franchises their local stores.

Many other fast food outlets and providers of goods and services everywhere also do.

It's all-American to be in the franchise business.

Which is why I think I have an out for radio operators who have had a devil of a time trying to run their monopolies since consolidation allowed them to put their clusters together.

There's even precedent for it in radio.

Remember how ABC went searching for crummy little AM signals in big markets and did long-term deals where they supplied Radio Disney content while the owner got checks and kept the license?

Well...

Why&hellip

McDonald's franchises their local stores.

Many other fast food outlets and providers of goods and services everywhere also do.

It's all-American to be in the franchise business.

Which is why I think I have an out for radio operators who have had a devil of a time trying to run their monopolies since consolidation allowed them to put their clusters together.

There's even precedent for it in radio.

Remember how ABC went searching for crummy little AM signals in big markets and did long-term deals where they supplied Radio Disney content while the owner got checks and kept the license?

Well...

Why&hellip

So Citadel is at 31 cents. Market cap at only $82.36 million.

Entercom is selling for a whopping 70 cents. Market cap a paltry $26.5 million.

Cumulus $1.68 a share. Market cap $71.38 million.

Salem 88 cents. Cap $20.83 million.

Emmis 60 cents. Market cap $21.82 million.

Regent 38 cents. Market cap $15.14 million.

Radio One 9 cents. Market cap $8.86 million.

Beasley $1.50 with a market cap of $35.61 million.

Spanish 19 cents. Cap $12.31 million.

Saga $4.92. Market cap $96.83 million.

And the winner is ...

Cox trading Friday at $6.19 with a market cap of $530.62&hellip

So Citadel is at 31 cents. Market cap at only $82.36 million.

Entercom is selling for a whopping 70 cents. Market cap a paltry $26.5 million.

Cumulus $1.68 a share. Market cap $71.38 million.

Salem 88 cents. Cap $20.83 million.

Emmis 60 cents. Market cap $21.82 million.

Regent 38 cents. Market cap $15.14 million.

Radio One 9 cents. Market cap $8.86 million.

Beasley $1.50 with a market cap of $35.61 million.

Spanish 19 cents. Cap $12.31 million.

Saga $4.92. Market cap $96.83 million.

And the winner is ...

Cox trading Friday at $6.19 with a market cap of $530.62&hellip

If technology, the Internet and the next generation is killing radio, why is radio doing so much better in Canada, Australia and Europe?

Look, let me say upfront and I am going to underscore this -- I am not an expert in foreign radio. Just an observer. I will say that I have a lot of readers from around the world and although radio is challenged in America right now they report that it is not in such dire condition overseas.

Here are a few thoughts:

Regulation Is Important

Canadian broadcasters are still marching to basically the same orders as they did decades ago but radio is not dying there. Of course,&hellip

If technology, the Internet and the next generation is killing radio, why is radio doing so much better in Canada, Australia and Europe?

Look, let me say upfront and I am going to underscore this -- I am not an expert in foreign radio. Just an observer. I will say that I have a lot of readers from around the world and although radio is challenged in America right now they report that it is not in such dire condition overseas.

Here are a few thoughts:

Regulation Is Important

Canadian broadcasters are still marching to basically the same orders as they did decades ago but radio is not dying there. Of course,&hellip

They just don't get it.

The record industry is broken beyond repair.

The radio industry exists only for an older available generation.

We see poor decisions by executives in these two industries based on their inability to see what the next generation wants.

For example, in their day radio and record CEOs saw how well the simple process of finding new acts, pressing records and promoting them on radio worked. It was a beneficial relationship for both sides no matter what their rhetoric may be today.

But now, record execs cannot grasp that free downloading is their friend and that they need -- no will&hellip

They just don't get it.

The record industry is broken beyond repair.

The radio industry exists only for an older available generation.

We see poor decisions by executives in these two industries based on their inability to see what the next generation wants.

For example, in their day radio and record CEOs saw how well the simple process of finding new acts, pressing records and promoting them on radio worked. It was a beneficial relationship for both sides no matter what their rhetoric may be today.

But now, record execs cannot grasp that free downloading is their friend and that they need -- no will&hellip

When I saw the headline "Clear Channel Locks Up Programmers" in Inside Radio's afternoon email yesterday, I'd be lying if I told you I didn't say, "oh, shit".

It sounded like "Hogan Gone Wild" to me. It's not bad enough to underpay, under budget and under appreciate their employees but now he's throwing them in jail?

Well actually, all kidding aside, I like what Clear Channel Radio President John Hogan is doing on this issue in principle. It's a beginning. He deserves some credit for starting somewhere because the other radio groups aren't even trying to do multi-year deals with their people. It's true Clear Channel is&hellip

When I saw the headline "Clear Channel Locks Up Programmers" in Inside Radio's afternoon email yesterday, I'd be lying if I told you I didn't say, "oh, shit".

It sounded like "Hogan Gone Wild" to me. It's not bad enough to underpay, under budget and under appreciate their employees but now he's throwing them in jail?

Well actually, all kidding aside, I like what Clear Channel Radio President John Hogan is doing on this issue in principle. It's a beginning. He deserves some credit for starting somewhere because the other radio groups aren't even trying to do multi-year deals with their people. It's true Clear Channel is&hellip

I got to thinking the other day that if radio presidents were elected by their own employees rather than anointed, you would see change and reform like you've never seen before.

I know what you're thinking.

Radio presidents (often also known as CEOs) are elected.

Yes, by their boards of directors -- a sorry conglomeration of special interest members who have so much integrity that they keep rubber stamping the regimes of chief officers who steadily deliver share prices below -- one dollar.

That's not what I had in mind.

What would happen if radio CEOs were elected by their employees?

I'm just kidding&hellip

I got to thinking the other day that if radio presidents were elected by their own employees rather than anointed, you would see change and reform like you've never seen before.

I know what you're thinking.

Radio presidents (often also known as CEOs) are elected.

Yes, by their boards of directors -- a sorry conglomeration of special interest members who have so much integrity that they keep rubber stamping the regimes of chief officers who steadily deliver share prices below -- one dollar.

That's not what I had in mind.

What would happen if radio CEOs were elected by their employees?

I'm just kidding&hellip

When I heard that Levi Stubbs, the phenomenal lead singer of the Motown group The Four Tops died Friday I had all the usual reactions someone in this industry would have.

And a few more.

Stubbs, the handsome rough voiced baritone, was a special part of a very special group.

And I'm not just talking about singing talent.

This was a man who was loved and who loved the business as well as his fellow group members. He turned down chances to star in the movies deciding instead to remain with the group -- a special guy in an entertainment industry populated by divas.

I have a point to make about the music&hellip

When I heard that Levi Stubbs, the phenomenal lead singer of the Motown group The Four Tops died Friday I had all the usual reactions someone in this industry would have.

And a few more.

Stubbs, the handsome rough voiced baritone, was a special part of a very special group.

And I'm not just talking about singing talent.

This was a man who was loved and who loved the business as well as his fellow group members. He turned down chances to star in the movies deciding instead to remain with the group -- a special guy in an entertainment industry populated by divas.

I have a point to make about the music&hellip

During the final debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, McCain invoked the named of a middle class Ohio worker he called "Joe the Plumber".

In spite of the fact that both McCain and Obama addressed "Joe" directly on camera during the debate and that Joe (whose real name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher) was a bit loose on the facts, it was interesting to see how concerned both candidates are with addressing the needs and concerns of Joe Six Pack or middle class Americans.

I wonder what the leaders running radio would say to Joe the Radio Guy if he could get their attention if only but for one minute in time. Of course, I&hellip

During the final debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, McCain invoked the named of a middle class Ohio worker he called "Joe the Plumber".

In spite of the fact that both McCain and Obama addressed "Joe" directly on camera during the debate and that Joe (whose real name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher) was a bit loose on the facts, it was interesting to see how concerned both candidates are with addressing the needs and concerns of Joe Six Pack or middle class Americans.

I wonder what the leaders running radio would say to Joe the Radio Guy if he could get their attention if only but for one minute in time. Of course, I&hellip

One of my readers broke down the bad news for me yesterday about the market capitalization of several radio companies.

Keep in mind that many radio stocks had already entered no man's land way in advance of the turbulent stock market. Capitalization is the price of the stock multiplied by the number of outstanding shares.

Citadel, for example, has a capitalization of $70 million. Keep in mind that they paid $2.7 billion (like in "b" billion) for ABC alone. Their debt ratio is through the roof.

Entercom comes in at $88 million. They are worth more than most radio groups but incredibly, not even worth $100 million&hellip

One of my readers broke down the bad news for me yesterday about the market capitalization of several radio companies.

Keep in mind that many radio stocks had already entered no man's land way in advance of the turbulent stock market. Capitalization is the price of the stock multiplied by the number of outstanding shares.

Citadel, for example, has a capitalization of $70 million. Keep in mind that they paid $2.7 billion (like in "b" billion) for ABC alone. Their debt ratio is through the roof.

Entercom comes in at $88 million. They are worth more than most radio groups but incredibly, not even worth $100 million&hellip

The FCC helped take the free wireless web a step closer to reality this past week when it approved an engineering report that dismisses concerns that the concept will interfere with other carriers.

The Commission can now auction off the airwaves to any bidder who agrees to offer the service nationally.

T-Mobile is up in arms because the spectrum for this free web service is adjacent to theirs. And it's fair to say other competitors who have had to invest in the infrastructure to deliver mobile service are not happy.

I'm sure the NAB will have its grouch face on -- this threatens the fabric of local radio, and all&hellip

The FCC helped take the free wireless web a step closer to reality this past week when it approved an engineering report that dismisses concerns that the concept will interfere with other carriers.

The Commission can now auction off the airwaves to any bidder who agrees to offer the service nationally.

T-Mobile is up in arms because the spectrum for this free web service is adjacent to theirs. And it's fair to say other competitors who have had to invest in the infrastructure to deliver mobile service are not happy.

I'm sure the NAB will have its grouch face on -- this threatens the fabric of local radio, and all&hellip

I read that Frank Blake, CEO of Home Depot, has discovered something earth-shattering.

In an attempt to help the troubled company respond better to the marketplace he discovered a lot of bad decisions were being made -- by headquarters! You've got to respect him for that realization.

Lawnmowers lined up at Home Depot locations in Arizona when many of the stores considered themselves lucky to sell one each year. Lawnmowers in the desert? Not that big an item. Who would have known? Not necessarily corporate.

So, he could have made some software adjustments and moved toward the kind of smart marketing Wal-Mart is&hellip

I read that Frank Blake, CEO of Home Depot, has discovered something earth-shattering.

In an attempt to help the troubled company respond better to the marketplace he discovered a lot of bad decisions were being made -- by headquarters! You've got to respect him for that realization.

Lawnmowers lined up at Home Depot locations in Arizona when many of the stores considered themselves lucky to sell one each year. Lawnmowers in the desert? Not that big an item. Who would have known? Not necessarily corporate.

So, he could have made some software adjustments and moved toward the kind of smart marketing Wal-Mart is&hellip

Friday did not just end a bad week for the stock market, it was also the beginning of the end for what's left of the radio industry.

The final round of personnel cuts is coming to a radio group near you between now and the end of the year.

CBS decided to go first.

LARadio broke the news Friday that a massacre occurred at CBS in Los Angeles when KNX and KFWB fired 2o staffers for an estimated one million annual cost savings. We've seen a lot of cost cutting in radio almost since consolidation started back in 1996 -- remember the mantra -- economies of scale.

Now it's panic firing.

Revenues are down due to&hellip

Friday did not just end a bad week for the stock market, it was also the beginning of the end for what's left of the radio industry.

The final round of personnel cuts is coming to a radio group near you between now and the end of the year.

CBS decided to go first.

LARadio broke the news Friday that a massacre occurred at CBS in Los Angeles when KNX and KFWB fired 2o staffers for an estimated one million annual cost savings. We've seen a lot of cost cutting in radio almost since consolidation started back in 1996 -- remember the mantra -- economies of scale.

Now it's panic firing.

Revenues are down due to&hellip

An Ann Arbor based weather service called Weather Underground launched a new Apple app within the past few days that promises to be very popular with some potential audience members.

For $5.99, you get the app for your Apple iPhone. It has a GPS function that can find local stations with ease from wherever you are with your phone. It also offers thousands of stations seamlessly. Great audio. Intuitive interface. Sounds like radio's greatest wish -- to be on an Apple mobile device.

I paid my money. Downloaded the app. I didn't need AOL Radio or FlyCast or anyone else. Everything worked just fine. The audio was great.&hellip

An Ann Arbor based weather service called Weather Underground launched a new Apple app within the past few days that promises to be very popular with some potential audience members.

For $5.99, you get the app for your Apple iPhone. It has a GPS function that can find local stations with ease from wherever you are with your phone. It also offers thousands of stations seamlessly. Great audio. Intuitive interface. Sounds like radio's greatest wish -- to be on an Apple mobile device.

I paid my money. Downloaded the app. I didn't need AOL Radio or FlyCast or anyone else. Everything worked just fine. The audio was great.&hellip

What the hell is a hockey mom anyway?

Right in the middle of a financial crisis when the Dow takes another almost 200 point drop, I get even worse news.

No, not that OPEC is calling an emergency meeting.

Word that Ed Snider, chairman and founder of The Philadelphia Flyers, has invited Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin to drop the puck at a Flyers home hockey game. And he's channeling the old days of radio by giving all hockey moms lipstick -- Flyers orange. God help us. And God help the Broad Street bullies because the team they are playing that night -- the hated New York Rangers -- are not as&hellip

What the hell is a hockey mom anyway?

Right in the middle of a financial crisis when the Dow takes another almost 200 point drop, I get even worse news.

No, not that OPEC is calling an emergency meeting.

Word that Ed Snider, chairman and founder of The Philadelphia Flyers, has invited Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin to drop the puck at a Flyers home hockey game. And he's channeling the old days of radio by giving all hockey moms lipstick -- Flyers orange. God help us. And God help the Broad Street bullies because the team they are playing that night -- the hated New York Rangers -- are not as&hellip

If Congress were to rescue the radio industry, it would demand something back in return. Hey, even the failed banks and mortgage companies are going to have to give things up to qualify for the bailout.

It's unthinkable that Congress -- a body that also rescued the auto industry in the same week it poured billions into the financial meltdown -- would be interested in saving radio.

So, let's think about it. Assume these failed radio groups get bailed out ("where's

PROGRAM NOTE: I did an interview with Marc Germain on his excellent Internet radio show last night on radio and the future. Click to hear it.

If Congress were to rescue the radio industry, it would demand something back in return. Hey, even the failed banks and mortgage companies are going to have to give things up to qualify for the bailout.

It's unthinkable that Congress -- a body that also rescued the auto industry in the same week it poured billions into the financial meltdown -- would be interested in saving radio.

So, let's think about it. Assume these failed radio groups get bailed out ("where's

PROGRAM NOTE: I did an interview with Marc Germain on his excellent Internet radio show last night on radio and the future. Click to hear it.

The Wall Street meltdown continues and it's getting scary out there.

The rest of the world is now reacting to our situation and even with a near trillion dollar bailout of troubled American financial companies very little relief is expected soon.

It's not hard to look at our own little meltdown in a microcosm called the radio industry. True, Citadel closed at 55 cents yesterday after the market went on another one of its magic carpet rides. (I think the market is on more hallucinogens than Steppenwolf was when they recorded their hit).

Think about it.

Yesterday Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld, Jr. was heckled&hellip

The Wall Street meltdown continues and it's getting scary out there.

The rest of the world is now reacting to our situation and even with a near trillion dollar bailout of troubled American financial companies very little relief is expected soon.

It's not hard to look at our own little meltdown in a microcosm called the radio industry. True, Citadel closed at 55 cents yesterday after the market went on another one of its magic carpet rides. (I think the market is on more hallucinogens than Steppenwolf was when they recorded their hit).

Think about it.

Yesterday Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld, Jr. was heckled&hellip

I give up.

Go ahead, radio industry -- kill The People Meter. A number of influential executives obviously are intimidated by the digital future so I hope you get what you're asking for.

Friday, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo decided to file a lawsuit to block next week's planned rollout of Arbitron's People Meter in the New York market.

No biggie. Small market, that New York.

Not many ad agencies there.

Cuomo is a politician. Worse yet, he's an attorney general -- the job that helps advance political careers (especially in New York). He's pandering to the radio executives and Hispanic&hellip

I give up.

Go ahead, radio industry -- kill The People Meter. A number of influential executives obviously are intimidated by the digital future so I hope you get what you're asking for.

Friday, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo decided to file a lawsuit to block next week's planned rollout of Arbitron's People Meter in the New York market.

No biggie. Small market, that New York.

Not many ad agencies there.

Cuomo is a politician. Worse yet, he's an attorney general -- the job that helps advance political careers (especially in New York). He's pandering to the radio executives and Hispanic&hellip

To show you how clueless the radio industry is about the next generation and their technology look no further than Thursday's Inside Radio.

The industry is hell bent to put a radio tuner in every mobile device. The article says NAB, phone carriers and the FCC are all discussing ways to do it. And, they believe that within the next five years every portable phone device could be equipped with a radio chip.

Radio interests are pandering to the regulators telling them that putting radios in cell phones will solve a lot of problems pertaining to emergency notification.

All this is&hellip

To show you how clueless the radio industry is about the next generation and their technology look no further than Thursday's Inside Radio.

The industry is hell bent to put a radio tuner in every mobile device. The article says NAB, phone carriers and the FCC are all discussing ways to do it. And, they believe that within the next five years every portable phone device could be equipped with a radio chip.

Radio interests are pandering to the regulators telling them that putting radios in cell phones will solve a lot of problems pertaining to emergency notification.

All this is&hellip

The House and Senate sent the authorization bill to President Bush that allows SoundExchange to negotiate royalty agreements with webcasters on behalf of copyright owners and performers.

A lot is on the line for webcasters because the interested parties now have until February 15th to come up with a negotiated agreement that could reduce the high rates imposed by the Copyright Royalty Board.

These draconian rates have put a damper on Internet streamers causing many to close shop and others like Pandora to be concerned about whether they can operate in the future with a disproportionate amount of their total revenue going to&hellip

The House and Senate sent the authorization bill to President Bush that allows SoundExchange to negotiate royalty agreements with webcasters on behalf of copyright owners and performers.

A lot is on the line for webcasters because the interested parties now have until February 15th to come up with a negotiated agreement that could reduce the high rates imposed by the Copyright Royalty Board.

These draconian rates have put a damper on Internet streamers causing many to close shop and others like Pandora to be concerned about whether they can operate in the future with a disproportionate amount of their total revenue going to&hellip

What gets around faster than a Tina Fey Saturday Night Live take-off of Sarah Palin?

Perhaps you are like me in receiving not one but many emails with thoughtful people linking to SNL on YouTube.

Radio's most dynamic daypart is morning drive. Morning drive commands the highest rates and often delivers half the total revenue of a radio station.

Radio companies panicked by the financial meltdown -- no, not the bank crisis but the radio meltdown are wielding the knife deep into their morning shows. It's not as if radio morning shows were as awesome as they once&hellip

What gets around faster than a Tina Fey Saturday Night Live take-off of Sarah Palin?

Perhaps you are like me in receiving not one but many emails with thoughtful people linking to SNL on YouTube.

Radio's most dynamic daypart is morning drive. Morning drive commands the highest rates and often delivers half the total revenue of a radio station.

Radio companies panicked by the financial meltdown -- no, not the bank crisis but the radio meltdown are wielding the knife deep into their morning shows. It's not as if radio morning shows were as awesome as they once&hellip