Just when you thought radio owners ran out of ways to save money, comes this …

There is more recycling in radio than by Waste Management.

We know about the radio rush to simulcast AM on FM all of a sudden – 30 years too late.

Now get a load of this …

1.  The tactic that you’re likely going to see a lot more of in radio.  If you’re working for a real good radio station, consider this a warning.

2.  The best way to simulcast a worthwhile radio brand and the worst way.

3.  When is it permissible to not do a simulcast when a simulcast is the better option?  Here it is.

Plus, 4 fresh ideas you’re going to love (but owners will hate) for innovating on AM stations.  That’s right.  I haven’t lost my mind.  I’ll show you a new age use for AM radio.

1.  The perfect place to find someone who can double your current AM numbers in one year and make the demographics younger.  Guaranteed.  I’m telling you, program directors will love this.  Why hasn’t anyone thought of it?

2. The best way to do a simulcast.  In radio, even a simulcast isn’t a simulcast anymore.  

3.  What an AM station and the Internet were made in heaven for.  I’ve got an idea so exciting, you’re going to marry AM and mobile Internet and do better than the same old tired AM syndicated formats.

4.  The one ingredient that is lacking from simulcasts or the second coming of simulcasts – without which the AM/FM simulcast lays an egg.

If you’re looking for fresh ideas and sound perspectives to defend against corporate tactics that threaten to cheapen radio, you’ve picked a great day to start a subscription.

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Stop!

Before we hand out credit to the radio industry for a job well done, let’s ferret out the owners who don’t deserve it and the ones that do.

Hurricane Irene took less than two weeks to wreak havoc on the east coast of the United States, but the radio folks who should be getting kudos in its wake are the ones who have been averting a management disaster in their local markets all year.

5 things you can take from this disaster to make local radio better …

1.  Re-setting the station’s mission – and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Here’s how.

2.  What a station’s number one focus must now be.  Not profits.  Not just local shows but these types of local shows.

3.  How to prepare for disaster every day and win ratings while practicing.

4.  How to get a young digital user to willingly turn on a radio.  Not just a scary hurricane bearing down, this!

5.  The best way to get an FM chip built into an iPhone.  If proponents of FM chips in cell phones had done this, every phone would be a radio.

Here’s what happens when the FCC goes missing and consolidators run the show with voice tracking.

If you’ve been thinking of starting a subscription, today is a great way to start.

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This is an uplifting story for everyone but the owner barons who have taken over the radio industry.

Today, all the details of a courageous, respected and talented talk show host who refuses to have his contract assigned to Cumulus.

You’ll want to read this …

1.  The matter is in court and Citadel is frantically trying everything to force this poor guy to work for Cumulus after the takeover.

2.  They’ve reportedly turned Judy Ellis loose on him.  Wait until you hear what she is trying.

3.  It gets better – a people-friendly radio group is ready to snap him up the minute he is out from under the Dickey regime. 

4.  How Citadel allegedly bullied Finebaum into signing a critical contract addendum and what they threatened to do if he didn’t.

5.  The one clause in

Listening is off.

Revenues are down – even though the same bad economy that is killing radio is not killing new media ad buys.

Forget consolidation for a moment.

Radio is on the wrong side of their listeners.

1.  We know what radio cares about most, can you name what today’s listener cares about most?  I’ll share.

2.  Stations continue to make this big mistake that turns listeners off more than anything else a station can do.  I’ve got some fresh examples for you.

3.  What radio used to do to position itself solidly with listeners used to work like a charm on almost every radio station and now backfires on stations foolish enough to keep doing it.   I’ll lay it out for you and you can take it from there – stop.

4.  Take how Apple zeroes in on exactly what its audience wants and then extrapolate the process and try it for radio.  I’ve done it for you here – and you’ll like this outcome a lot better.

5.  Market by market stations are focused on dominating a format instead of doing this – a strategic winner that would reinvigorate the radio spectrum.  Forget AM and FM – neither is an advantage until you do this one thing first.

You read these previews every day.  Today is the day to start unlocking them and get intelligence you just can’t get anywhere else.

5 things that actually matter to listeners – today, here.

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Now CBS is blowing up WYSP, Philadelphia to simulcast its AM sports brand currently residing on WIP.

Again, under attack from a competitor.

More simulcasting is on the way to a market near you and this is about the danger ahead of migrating AM brands to FM.

That’s right – danger!

1.  The one legitimate reason for simulcasting an AM format on FM.  There are not two reasons.

2.  The real reason you’ll be hearing about more simulcasting in the coming months.  And it has nothing to do with Randy Michaels.

3.  The challenges of simulcasting AM radio on FM in the digital age.

4.  My prediction on how this strategic move will play out.

5.  The only real insurance policy – better than simulcasting – that can protect a long held AM radio brand.  Do this and you’re cooperating with the inevitable instead of fighting it.

Simulcasting is not what it seems and if you’re competing against an owner who thinks they’re protecting their AM brand by moving it to FM, this article will be worth reading.

Better yet – why wait for a competitor.  Act now.

If you would like to read this story, have access to my entire archive (over 1,300 pieces) and get daily email delivery, click “read more” for your choices. 

Let’s move on.

The economy is down for the next two years according to actions at the Fed and radio is in the doldrums.

How about 5 blueprints for revenue in tough economic times.  Apple can do it.  Why not radio?

1.  The fastest way to get an additional stream of revenue coming into your station – and the best.  If you don’t grab the next 4 ideas, then at least start with this one.

2.  A new aged way radio stations can actually hitchhike on Steve Jobs’ success.  For the first time, a means for you to become the Apple of local content.  All you need to start is right here.

3.  Four times during the next year – even in spite of the economy – do this project that will eek out extra money from sponsors who will not want to be left out.

4.  There is an opportunity in digital that few, if any, stations are opting to take.  I’ll describe it for you so you can beat them to it.

5.  Do what 3M does.  That’s right.  The next source of revenue even in this recession is right under your nose.  This will help you find it.

Everyday I try to put intelligence reports together that make your investment worthwhile.

Today, there is also an immediate monetary payoff if you start your subscription with this article.

Then, go get ‘em!

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You know who the worst radio CEO is.

But who is the best?

We have a few good ones, but I’ve got one outstanding radio exec that I will name.

But first …

1.  The 5 critical skills that make a manager great – a radio CEO.

2.  What a radio CEO should not be -- I’ll bet you’ve never seen a list like this before.

3.  Four top performing radio groups succeed because of their chief execs – here’s who they are.

4.  PLUS …  The Best Radio CEO.  Who he is.  Why he is.  And why he rarely gets the credit he deserves.  Bet you can’t guess.

This is a piece that will make you feel proud and motivated to possess all the skill sets that are necessary to succeed in the digital age.

Every day in this space we write intelligence reports for broadcast, new media and music people who want to get a leg up on the times, technology and competition.

What a great day to join us.

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Randy Michaels’ Merlin Media is now up and running in New York with FM News 101.9 to join its recent Chicago FM that launched a few weeks back.

CBS blinked in Chicago and dumped music from one of its FM stations to simulcast news leader WBBM-AM.

The battle lines are drawn and today I am going to tell you who will win.

1.  Hint:  CBS isn’t going to pin Randy’s ears back and Randy isn’t going to kill CBS’ money making news stations.  Here’s the winner.

2.  Merlin’s chances for cutting into CBS’ revenue in New York and Chicago.

3.  WBBM will surprise.  The AM station!  Read on for how.

4.  The real battle for local news brands is not on AM – not FM – and not even streaming on the Internet.  Here’s the battle neither CBS nor Merlin even know they are in for.

5.  It is very possible that CBS and Merlin may both lose traction – but not to each other. Here’s the culprit.

6.  The big opportunity Merlin and CBS may miss but other local broadcasters may jump on.  

News as a radio brand is changing.

CBS and Randy think one of them will prevail.

In this article, you’ll come to learn that something more shocking may happen.

You can’t get this stuff anywhere else.  

What a great story with which to begin your subscription.

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Have you been noticing the trend toward simulcasting lately?

Not just Randy Michaels who forced CBS to dump an FM music format in Chicago to protect WBBM-AM's top billing new franchise with a simulcast.

And not teh FM station CBS may be forced to find to protect all-news against Michaels in New York or sports in Philadelphia.

And it's not just CBS.

Why so long to migrate and what's the soundest strategy now in the digital age...

1.  Will simulcasting valuable AM brands on FM at this late date still work?  You may be surprised because the answer is more complicated than owners think.

2.  The one simulcasting move no broadcaster should ever make - not now or ever.  Avoid this strategy like the plague or there is no coming back.

3.  The best way to migrate a popular brand.  Warning:  very few radio broadcasters are doing this.  Learn from their error of omission right here.

4.  PLUS...How to turbocharge an AM brand not just protect it.  Randy's not buying FM stations for nothing.  He's not forgoing music formats because he doesn't like music.  I'll take a well-known top billing AM brand and walk you through what they should do now to bulletproof their franchise.

You won't find this information anywhere else.

 Great day to start.

Look out for what Clear Channel did yesterday because it is going to change everything in radio programming.

On the surface, the company announcement looks like the usual harmless shuffling of titles and consolidation of jobs.

But it’s worse and since other radio companies – even small, non-consolidated groups – tend to follow the leader’s lead, it’s even more dangerous.

1.  The next strategy to do without program directors.  No, not just simply fire them all – but to implement this.

2.  How the Clear Channel move actually makes it harder – if not eventually impossible – for local stations to do local radio in several key ways.  I outline them for you here.

3.  Just how many program directors will now be at high risk in their careers and why.

4.  What is a “Vice President of Hamburger Helper”.  Read it and weep.

PLUS… What competitors can do to gain on Clear Channel stations … what your station must absolutely avoid to prevent getting sucked into bad strategy by following the leader … and how non-broadcast programming may wind up on the air at perfectly good stations.

If you read about Clear Channel’s latest mangled management changes anywhere else, you didn’t get the real meaning and the competitive steps you can take to take advantage of their poor judgment.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a subscription, what a great day to do it.

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I’ve got some powerful ammunition here for radio stations looking to prevent Groupon from so easily walking away with local ad dollars that should rightfully belong to radio.

I’ve got charts, links to Groupon disasters that act as an insurance policy for radio.

Plus …

1. For the first time, a hard number – a figure of how much money Groupon takes out of local communities actually leaving less money to spend with merchants there.

2.  Scare retailers with this documented small business horror story – what happened to a business that signed on with Groupon and almost went out of business. 

3.  What’s the biggest problem is when Groupon coupon users descend on small businesses – and it’s not too much business.  It’s actual loss of business – check it out.

4.  Two quick solutions for radio stations to pitch small businesses that like the idea of new traffic from couponing without the risks that are burning others.

PLUS …  All you need to put some real hurt on coupon competitors today.

You won’t get this information anywhere else.

If you’ve been thinking about subscribing, what a great day to start.

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Two things.

Townsquare will soon be the fourth largest radio group.

And have you noticed that “name” broadcasters are leaving secure jobs to go work for companies that want to do what they want to do – live and local radio.

The question is, is Townsquare that kind of venture capital based consolidator?

1.  What about talent.  Is Townsquare a good place to send a resume and make a contact?  Know your options.

2.  A good place to work?  Is it developing into another Cox, Bonneville or Hubbard?  Or because it is essentially owned by investment banks, is Townsquare just a smaller market Cumulus.  I have some thoughts on that.

3.  It will take 3 things to make Townsquare viable.  I’ll name them and fill in the details. 

4.  The brain drain I have been predicting has started – slowly, but surely.  Are smaller companies that do local radio a destination for talented radio people shunned by the big three?

5.  PLUS … the blueprint that all radio groups must have to succeed.  Without these things, forget it.  Radio gets devalued.  With them, radio becomes potent again.  Can you name the three things?

If you’ve been thinking of subscribing, today is a great day to join the others who have already come aboard and to remain on our distribution list.

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Tell me it ain’t so.

Not Mike McVay.

Not to Cumulus as a hired hand.

After that shocker sank in, it occurred to me that the McVay hiring is part of what I call Consolidation 2.0.

1.  How one person can “magically” program hundreds of stations.  I don’t think so!  But what the Dickey’s are thinking is downright scary.  I share.

2.  That the coming Citadel bloodbath – even though it has been postponed until Christmas – is going to be worse than even I originally thought.  Here’s how.

3.  We’re entering an era of “Hamburger Helper Radio” but it is going to be different than most experienced radio people once thought.  How different?

4.  The real significance of the McVay hiring – and it has little to do with employing the experience of a talented program consultant.

5.  The scariest ramification is what is likely to happen to the once great ABC stations that Citadel overpaid for and Cumulus now gets in the merger. 

PLUS… The good news for Cumulus competitors now that McVay has joined the Lord of the Clones.

Sometimes you just have to say things that are being ignored – today’s piece provides evidence about how consolidation is changing and how you don’t want to be the last to see it coming.

Every day in this space, we try to write thoughtful articles about the way things really are in the media business.  If you’ve been thinking about subscribing, you won’t be disappointed to start today.

If you would like to read this story, have access to my entire archive (over 1,300 pieces) and get daily email delivery, click “read more” for your choices. 

You win!

I’m going to do it.

How radio stations can get started in non-branded mobile iPad apps that can and should replace their websites.

This is on the agenda for my upcoming Media Solutions Lab, but I can’t wait to share …

1.  How non-branded radio content sites are better than station websites.  And how to get started.

2.  The iPad – when used the way I will describe in this piece – was born for radio.  Not a competitor, a friend.  

3.  Then, what should you do with your streaming site?  Keep it, fix it, scrap it?

4.  Non-branded site ideas ready for you to claim ahead of competitors in your market for news, talk, sports and music radio stations.  

5.  One rule you must never break about non-branded sites or your investment goes up in smoke.  Know it.

6.  The magic of how to use your station with the non-branded content site without hawking the app or website on-air.  Here’s the secret that makes it all work.

7.  The best part – how to market your new non-branded content site and not have advertisers and agencies beat you up for discounts.  Yes, it’s all here.

PLUS … 7 very specific non-branded websites I would do in a minute – ready for you to rip off and use.  And I’ll tell you which one I would start with.

One of the benefits of subscribing is that you’ll never see these opportunities anywhere else.

This one is all about getting a head start.

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