The FCC today issued the long-awaited text of its decision on Digital Audio radio - the so-called IBOC system.  As we have written, while adopted at its March meeting, the text of the decision has been missing in action.  With...

Although the FCC has not issued a public notice announcing that the revised form is available, the new FCC Form 398 Children's Television Programming Report is now available on the Commission's web site.  The form is available here, and should...

Avtoradio – the First Car Radio Station followthemedia.com (subscription), Switzerland - 1 hour ago In 2005 the US National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) awarded it an International Broadcasting Excellence prize for organizing and executing a road ...

It's amazing what some strong ratings and a couple of station debuts can do to rekindle the media's perceptions about Rock Radio.  PPM coverage in various outlets is coming back universally positive for Rock formats - a great sign for stations that have been fighting the good fight with buyers, advertisers - and perhaps even some of the guys in corporate. 

Here's some recent press coverage:
Inside Radio
The Newark Star Ledger

As we've pointed out in recent blog entries, Rock ratings in Houston and Philly are causing managers to re-think Rock, while new sign-ons underscore the growing opportunity for Rock formats.  As PPM continues to sign up new companies and markets, here's hoping that Rock Radio experiences an industry renaissance.  For those of us who have worked in Rock our entire careers, the passion and loyalty among Rockers have always been impressive.  Now the ratings may be truly reflecting it.

As the Oldies format sails into the sunset, and a month doesn't go by without someone asking what on earth will Classic Rock stations do in five years when their listeners start moving 55+.  You have to wonder about who is making decisions in the ad world.

That's why I was heartened by a recent Advertising Age article, sent to me by Classic Rock programmer Dan Kelley.  It's about Unilever's "Boomer Project."  Unilever's the company that owns and manages brands like Wish Bone, Lifebuoy, Lipton, Ponds, Slim-Fast, and Vaseline.  As you might expect, they know a little something about consumers, and target marketing.

While radio broadcasters are running away from aging Baby Boomers, Unilever has discovered the obvious opportunity - even though only 45% of households fall into this category, they account for 60% of package goods spending.  And due to the fact they are retiring later and have more spendable income than any earlier generation of retirees, their value to marketers is crystal clear.

This is why campaign's like Dove's Pro-Age hits the nail on the head.  While everyone else is chasing 18-49s, Unilever has discovered that Boomers are a great untapped area of opportunity.

And as Eileen Kozin, director of Unilever's consumer futures notes that even when it comes to technology, "Younger people may be more excited and write about it, but boomers have the money to spend on it."

We saw this in spades in our Tech Poll 3.  When you consider that one-third own iPods (or other personal mp3 players) and participate in social networking sites, it makes you wonder why more companies aren't chasing these mature dollars.

In a recent project we conducted for Arbitron, we conducted a series of 1-on-1 interviews among Boomers right here in the Motor City.  The results were consistently spectacular.  These graying consumers are jazzed about technology, and they know their way around.  Many play video games, and they are able to explain the intricacies and the applications of tech they use.  They are optimistic about the future, and can't wait for cool new toys and gadgets to come to market.

Radio reaches these people - perhaps better and more efficiently than any other medium.  That is, if we don't abandon their formats in our get-ratings-quick efforts to score now, and worry about the future well after it's too late.

P.S. Ron Wood turns 60 tomorrow.

As the Oldies format sails into the sunset, and a month doesn't go by without someone asking what on earth will Classic Rock stations do in five years when their listeners start moving 55+.  You have to wonder about who is making decisions in the ad world.

That's why I was heartened by a recent Advertising Age article, sent to me by Classic Rock programmer Dan Kelley.  It's about Unilever's "Boomer Project."  Unilever's the company that owns and manages brands like Wish Bone, Lifebuoy, Lipton, Ponds, Slim-Fast, and Vaseline.  As you might expect, they know a little something about consumers, and target marketing.

While radio broadcasters are running away from aging Baby Boomers, Unilever has discovered the obvious opportunity - even though only 45% of households fall into this category, they account for 60% of package goods spending.  And due to the fact they are retiring later and have more spendable income than any earlier generation of retirees, their value to marketers is crystal clear.

This is why campaign's like Dove's Pro-Age hits the nail on the head.  While everyone else is chasing 18-49s, Unilever has discovered that Boomers are a great untapped area of opportunity.

And as Eileen Kozin, director of Unilever's consumer futures notes that even when it comes to technology, "Younger people may be more excited and write about it, but boomers have the money to spend on it."

We saw this in spades in our Tech Poll 3.  When you consider that one-third own iPods (or other personal mp3 players) and participate in social networking sites, it makes you wonder why more companies aren't chasing these mature dollars.

In a recent project we conducted for Arbitron, we conducted a series of 1-on-1 interviews among Boomers right here in the Motor City.  The results were consistently spectacular.  These graying consumers are jazzed about technology, and they know their way around.  Many play video games, and they are able to explain the intricacies and the applications of tech they use.  They are optimistic about the future, and can't wait for cool new toys and gadgets to come to market.

Radio reaches these people - perhaps better and more efficiently than any other medium.  That is, if we don't abandon their formats in our get-ratings-quick efforts to score now, and worry about the future well after it's too late.

P.S. Ron Wood turns 60 tomorrow.

On Radio: More static for broadcasters: Now performers want ... Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - May 30, 2007 When both Web-only and traditional broadcasters said higher royalty rates threatened to quash Internet radio as a medium, US Rep. Jay Inslee introduced the ...

On Radio: More static for broadcasters: Now performers want ... Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - May 30, 2007 When both Web-only and traditional broadcasters said higher royalty rates threatened to quash Internet radio as a medium, US Rep. Jay Inslee introduced the ...

On Radio: More static for broadcasters: Now performers want ... Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - May 30, 2007 When both Web-only and traditional broadcasters said higher royalty rates threatened to quash Internet radio as a medium, US Rep. Jay Inslee introduced the ...

On Radio: More static for broadcasters: Now performers want ... Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - May 30, 2007 When both Web-only and traditional broadcasters said higher royalty rates threatened to quash Internet radio as a medium, US Rep. Jay Inslee introduced the ...