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RAIN reader John Duncan writes: "I would like to let
you know that I have accepted the position of Rock  Content
Manager for Clear Channel Web Services Group, beginning Monday,
July 10th.
"I will remain based in LA, and will be working with John Martin,
Rick Torcasso, Christien Ducker, and the rest of the Web Services
team to help create compelling web content for all of the Clear
Channel Rock stations.
"The opportunity to work within the convergence of radio
and the Internet is a dream come true! It allows me to combine my
extensive programming and marketing background with my passion for
computers and the Net."
Duncan most recently programmed alternative station Y107/Los
Angeles. He previously held PD gigs at KLOS/Los Angeles,
KY102/Kansas City, WRDU/Raleigh; WLZR (Lazer103)/Milwaukee,
and WMAD/Madison.
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 We'll
send you RAIN's e-mail news updates on a regular basis,
plus bulletins when important news breaks. (In addition, we'll
appreciate knowing that you're reading our efforts -- and
you'll hopefully appreciate reminders to read RAIN.)
You should be receiving
a confirmation e-mail from us shortly.
Thanks!
|
 In
Wednesday's issue of RAIN (here),
we quoted PaineWebber analyst Leland Westerfield telling R&R
Online that he expects that overall growth in radio will outpace
almost every sector of the media landscape in 2001. ("He credits consolidation
for making radio a stronger advertising platform: 'Consolidation has
improved the health of the radio industry and has made it more competitive.'")
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"Consolidation
HASN'T impacted radio as an advertising platform..."
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Oh, what
some analysts will say to bring in corporate finance business!
Consolidation hasn't impacted radio as an advertising platform one
way or the other. Radio has benefited from the robust economic climate
and its ability to accommodate the quick turnaround that is important
to many start up businesses. Let's face it, when you have the longest
sustained period of economic growth in history and it's driven largely
by the consumer sector, most advertising vehicles will enjoy record
setting revenue.
Consolidation has afforded radio the opportunity to maximize
the margins on this unprecedented revenue growth, but the impact
from that accrues to shareholders much more than advertisers.
As for future growth, "...he sees no reason for it not to
continue". That statement implies growth number for 2001 that are
comparable to this year. There are important factors that suggest
that  recent
growth percentages will not extend to 2001, most of them economic.
Most germane is the Fed's open intention to slow the economy down
to preclude inflation. Assuming they are successful (and there's
every indication that they will do whatever it takes) then the consumer
spending which fueled the expansion should slow as a result. Presumably,
that would translate into comparably slower advertising growth.
Additionally, while radio companies are quick to point out
how dotcoms represent a small percentage of their revenue base,
they are not inclined to discuss how large a percentage of recent
growth those dotcoms represent. Ten percent isn't much as a percentage
of the total, but it represents 2/3 of 15% growth.
That's a nice number, but down considerably from the "vintage"
we've been accustomed to drinking. Climate impacts the quality of
a given wine vintage more than any other factor and the economic
climate for next year will also be the main ingredient in the radio
revenue pie. All indications are that the climate will be nice,
but not as nice as in recent years.
Cut dotcom expenditures in half in 2001 and allow for an
economy that's growing, but at say 3.5% (lower than we've seen in
several years) and 8-9% growth in radio revenue looks reasonable
next year.
This piece is a follow-up to yesterday's article on "Big
Brother" (here),
which some perceive as a possible bellweather event for streaming
media.
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"In
the course of the show, all the criticism vanished..."
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For your
personal information (since you apparently are into this "Big
Brother" thing): I got pretty hooked to the first Dutch version
of "Big Brother." As did most people I know.  The
same happened with many people in Germany, and in Spain episodes
of "Big Brother" even attracted a bigger audience than
important soccer games (which is the #1 sport in Europe, as you
may know).
In each country that got "blessed" with the "Big Brother"
virus so far, there was an awful lot of skeptical comments and criticism
before the start and at the start of the program. But in the course
of the show, all the criticism vanished. Really! Nothing was left
of it. People who really don't care simply don't watch and don't
bother about it.
It's also very difficult for journalists to write a newspaper
article about someone who has been baking an egg! Or has been doing
the dishes . But a lot of people will enjoy the show, and they'll
become hooked to it!! What "Big Brother" is showing you
is simply day to day life. But as a viewer in a very intimate way
you'll be able to follow the life of a bunch of people, and get
rid of those you don't like. And those people who manage to stay
in the house long enough, will become very famous in the US !! No
doubt about that!
For most people the following rule applies: Watch it once
and you won't be impressed. But watched the show 3 or 4 times in
a row and you'll recognize a pattern and those people on the screen,
who are behaving just like they are, will become part of your family.
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"There's a world out there that we know nothing about,
that we can only imagine. And that is the world of books."
Buy this fine
item from Amazon here.
(RAIN doesn't have an affiliate deal with Amazon or
anything. It's just a great book.)
|
 "RAIN:
Radio And Interent Newsletter" -- the leading web-based publication
devoted specifically to the subject of Internet radio -- is establishing
a summer internship program and is now accepting applications.
If you or someone you know is looking for an interesting new
opportunity in the exciting dotcom world, this may be just
what you're looking for!
To learn more about RAIN's Summer 2000 internship program,
click here.
(Note: This
link is working today! An intern helped me fix it.)
| xxx |
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Try it
out! Explore
the wide world of Internet audio by clicking the screenshot above.
Miss an issue?
Visit the RAIN News Archives here.
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