NAB President/CEO David Rehr OUT!

That is what is being reported this afternoon.

My personal experience with him is nothing more than a convention handshake and he seemed like a perfectly affable person. But, as the man responsible for leading the radio industry's most prominent trade organization he missed the mark on so many levels.

The NAB has a tough job and needs a strong leader that understands our business and what our business needs to be in the years ahead--not an easy task.

An Optimistic Tone

After attending the NAB and R&R Conventions in Austin this past week, I felt a little different leaving these gatherings than I had in recent years--optimistic.

It was a pleasant surprise.

Sure, there was the normal (and usually empty) rah rah speeches and a certain amount of grousing one would expect from these meetings. However, for the first time in quite a long time I got the feeling something good could be brewing. I listened to and talked to a lot of people and I detected a more determined spirit.

How could this be? August revenue down another 11%. Good people are still losing their jobs. The banking and credit situation is still shaking foundations loose. Radio stocks still at record low levels. Station multiples have declined. Under 25's haven't magically developed a new found passion for radio. HD Radio is still flailing. And "Radio Heard Here" is no more an effective slogan, pitch or campaign than it was last year when it was introduced.

Any one of these things could dampen anyone's spirit. I think what has changed is everything has changed and a certain sense of reality has set in. Act now or your time to act may be very short. And there is lots of action. My fear, while many of the actions being taken (PPM navigation, social networking, etc) are certainly positive for the industry, there is still a crater-sized hole for some forward and dare I say visionary thinking.

Yeah, yeah, easy for me to say...blah blah blah....You might be asking what am I doing to help?

Here are a few things I am involved with:

• Coaching a fresh new radio show launched on-line by way of podcasts already with thousands of downloads--next will be adding a traditional radio show.
• Launched a new local Alternative station that is more than 70% current-recurrent 24/7 designed for Millennials.
• Developing a new commercial strategy designed for both PPM and diaries that defies conventional wisdom and does everything WRONG! So crazy it just might work.
• A ready-to-launch concept--a talk/entertainment/music hybrid targeted at young adult women 18-44.

There's just a few examples of some things spinning around my brain these days. I bet you have some very good ideas of your own--and that's what we need. Lot's of good ideas. Not all of them will work, but if we try enough new and truly different things we will be a better industry.

Bottom line: it will be new long-term strategies that will win (maybe even attract younger listeners) and not a series of short-term tactics.

Who Did We See at the NAB?

Talking to attendees here in Austin at The NAB.

Day One @ NAB and *YES* It Was Fun

Busy day here in Austin and I have some video you certainly won't see anywhere else.

After NAB President and CEO David Rehr addressed the ballroom with the show's State of the Industry Address [largely the same address as he delivered at the Conclave a couple of months ago] it was:

The New York Times columnist and Emmy-winning technology correspondent for “CBS News Sunday Morning,” David Pogue, will deliver the keynote address, offering attendees a unique perspective on the opportunities that evolving technology brings to the future of radio.

Unfortunately, I was unable to make the speech, but fortunately I run into Saga's Steve Goldstein who was kind enough to share the take-away from the session AND provide some funny moments on the convention floor. See for yourself right here:

NAB Next Week

I am looking forward to seeing old friends and new ones next week in Austin! If you are planning to be there--let's get together.

As a blogger and radio guy I will be wearing two hats...one as a journalist who will be writing about some of things I believe are important coming out of the convention, and two, as a passionate participant trying to lift up our industry during the most challenging time I have ever witnessed in 30 years in the this business.

Hope to see you there!!

Less Talk...More Music

It sounded good at the time when that "nifty" phrase began making its way to stations around the country all those years ago. Most of the time, it simply was bluster intended to cover up increasing spotloads and other time-eating clutter.

Monday morning NAB President/CEO David Rehr delivered his opening address at the NAB convention in Las Vegas and said this:

"For years, we've been saying local, local, local. And that's true, but we have a new wrinkle. We also learned from these consumers that being local, in and of itself, is not what defines radio's value. It's the accessibility and the connection with radio personalities. And it's being everywhere and available to everyone. A radio is not a jukebox.

"If you're listening to radio, you want to hear a human voice sharing that same moment in time that you are. There is power in that personal bond. A CD doesn't have that connection. An iPod doesn't have it. No, our model is not broken."

He got it right--radio is not a jukebox. But turn the radio on outside of morning drive you wouldn't know it. One could argue that's what it needs to be in the face of, well, the proliferation of the jukebox...errrr iPod.

Today the more music strategy is still "working" and in the short term it will continue to do so. What is not visible right now is what lurks right around the corner. The gradual aging in of the the Gen Y's that begins in 3 short years--that's when the first of the millennials turn 25. That magic age when one becomes much more important to our industry and its advertisers.

As we all know this is the first generation of consumers that's always had computers, cell phones, and 100+ channels of TV. We also know that this generation's mantra is "give it to me now...on-demand". Couple that with this groups dramatic decline in passion and perception of radio and one must believe these factors indicate the future radio climate will be stormy at best.

What can we do? A cynic would say we can't do anything to reverse this trend. I believe we can. It is going to require game changing strategies and "more music" won't be one of its tactics.

A new generation of talent will begin to emerge as radio is FORCED to reassess what it sends down the transmission line. If you are an echo boomer (maybe Gen-X) or older think about what lead you to a career in radio. If you hadn't been captivated, inspired, or mesmerized with what came out of the speakers I suggest we might all be bankers, plumbers, or health care providers today.

You know how hard it is to attract under 25's to choose radio as a career today. I say build it and they will come. Some courageous broadcasters will step up and begin developing this new brand of radio--one that does not depend on music alone for its success. Once that process begins and IF it's relevant and compelling something magical might begin to happen--new people will want be in radio.

I refuse to seed radio's future to the cynics. I believe new coalitions will be identified, talent will come from new and different places once we start looking for it, and the role of music in this new world will be quite different than what we know today.

Who's ready to join me in the future today?

From The NAB...

Saw a good session on Sunday here at the NAB in Las Vegas. The presenter was Rob Curley, Vice President, Product Development, WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive.

It's one of the most popular websites and you can check out the Washington Post here. Or sample a special series produced exclusively for the website--it's called on being. Very well done and entertaining. You may have to register to see certain parts of the their site, but it's free.

For the second time in the last couple of months I learned just how big Web/Internet departments can be. And that number is: 350. The first time was at a recent conference and the discussion was Sports Illustrated's web staff; and today I learned that's the number in the Washington Post's Internet office--of which 15 are full time videographers. How many web creators does a radio station/cluster/group have? I'm sure there are some that are appropriately staffed up, but I'm not sure that's the norm.

It was pointed out at the session that even though Washington is a world city there seems to be an enormous appetite for finding out about your neighbors and the interesting aspects of their lives. Their POV is be local and people will be interested. Of course that is provided the content is good.

Stating the obvious: find out what content your listeners crave and make sure you provide that content on your website. Our industry has improved, but the improvement must be ongoing.

The NAB in Vegas

Will you be heading to Las Vegas for the NAB?

If so, I would love to get together with you.

Drop me a quick email (harve@harvealan.com) and let me know.

See you there!