Sadly, R&R Means Rest and Relaxation Again

Other trades have closed their doors and nobody really blinked...this is different. It is as telling and eventful as, say, it was announced that CBS-TV was signing off. R&R was very much a part of the industry they represented and reported on.

"Back in the day" being a R&R reporter meant everything. Street Talk was the TMZ or Perez Hilton for our industry. And when someone changed jobs or got promoted getting on the front page meant so much (mostly to the person on the front page) because it was "the front page."

I want to personally wish everyone at R&R the very best--many of whom I have known for a very long time.

Radio & Records Closes Doors

It's The End Of An Era

By R&R Staff
Updated 0 Hour(s) 20 Minute(s) ago

The current state of affairs has left The Nielsen Company with no other alternative but to immediately cease all services, products and events related to Radio & Records. The magazine's final edition is the June 5 issue. Electronic products end today, the Web site will be taken offline soon.

R&R Editorial Director/Associate Publisher Cyndee Maxwell stated, "Everyone on this team has worked extremely hard to fulfill the vision of Radio & Records, and everyone can hold their heads high on this very sad day. We had a highly talented group of people that always worked hard and gave it their best -- especially in the recent past. I deeply regret that this day has come. The good news for some other companies out there is that we have many fantastic people who are now available to put their excellent talents, abilities and skills to work for someone else."

Radio & Records Timeline

1973 Radio & Records is founded by Bob Wilson. The first issue is Oct. 1.
1974 The first R&R Convention is held.
1979 Radio & Records is sold to Harte Hanks.
1987 Westwood One purchases Radio & Records.
1988 The R&R Hotfax Updates debut, comprising 12 weekly format-focused fax publications.
1994 Perry Capital acquires Radio & Records.
1995 Radio & Records launches R&R Online.
1996 The first annual R&R Talk Radio Seminar is held.
The R&R Daily online news service debuts, and Music Tracking is launched online.
1997 R&R introduces the daily R&R TODAY news fax.
1998 The R&R Convention returns after a six-year hiatus.
The first R&R Industry Achievement Awards, voted on by R&R subscribers, are presented at the convention.
1999 Data collection for R&R's charts is converted to include Mediabase airplay.
2000 Daily e-mail updates and Today's News online are introduced as extensions of the R&R TODAY fax publication. Radio & Records acquires Radio Y Musica.
2001 Adult Alternative and Christian sections debuts in the weekly R&R newspaper, each with its own full-time editor. The Going for Adds fax publication debuts.
2002 A CHR/Rhythmic section debuts in the weekly R&R newspaper, with its own full-time editor.
R&R produces its first annual Triple A Summit.
Electronic Promotion Kits are introduced for music customers, and the Street Talk Daily fax and e-mail publication debuts.
Radio Y Musica is incorporated into the R&R newspaper.
2004 Radio & Records announces its new web address, www.radioandrecords.com.
2006 VNU, a global information and media company, acquires Radio & Records. VNU owns ACNielsen, Billboard, the Hollywood Reporter and many other business-to- business publications. Radio & Records charts convert to Nielsen BDS airplay data.
2007 VNU changes its name to The Nielsen Company.
2009 The Nielsen Company announces it's shuttering R&R. The final issue date is June 5.

Bob Grant Gets His Cake and Eats It Too

Much has be reported, written and commented on this week over R&R rescinding Bob Grant’s lifetime achievement award. In my view, an award the man deserves.

He is a talk radio pioneer with a storied career that dates back many, many decades. And yes, controversial words have come out of his mouth over the years. And yes, he was fired from WABC for comments made in 1996. Should that be his legacy? I think not. Bob, will get his award from WABC (his second stint) and Michael Harrison’s Talkers Magazine—at that publications conference later this year. In the meanwhile, he has gotten a boatload of free advertising and largely this has been a PR bonanza for Mr. Grant.

What’s most interesting and odd about this entire episode is that the award was announced and then taken away. These types of things are subjective pronouncements to begin with and if R&R had never made the announcement in the first place, life would have gone on and no one would have been any the wiser. Some other deserving person would have gotten the spotlight and that would have been it.

Who’s it gonna be? What broadcaster will receive the award this year? How uncomfortable! Maybe a posthumous award might be best.

One of my favorite radio boards, The NY Radio Message Board, where this story was buzzing big, posted Bob Grant’s interview on the Opie and Anthony Show. It’s edgy, fun, and a bit uncomfortable in a couple of spots. Check it out:

MP3 File

Vote In The New Poll

Right above this post is a new poll asking what you think will be the greatest challenge to the radio industry in 2008. Please take a moment and vote. There are many challenges ahead, but I am optimistic there will be good things happening as well.

I would like to see this blog grow to be an interactive forum for all of us to share ideas. With that in mind--I put the ball in your court: What do you think is in-store for the new year? Click the comment link below and join in!

For the time being, and I hope for the long term, I would like to keep this space unmoderated. So please keep things respectful.

Interviewed by R&R

I was honored to be asked some months ago to be interviewed by R&R's Erica Farber. Honestly, I don't do a lot of interviews (OK, almost never) but when Erica called I said yes to be featured in the "Publishers Profile."

Here is that interview:

Originally published on June 1, 2007 Harve Alan

It takes a mix of art, science and research to give the audience what it wants


Bitten early by the radio bug, Harve Alan remembers riding in his mother’s car, pretending a spoon in his hand was a radio microphone. Alan’s career has brought him from on-air to programming and consulting. In January he was appointed VP of programming for NextMedia, directing content development for 42 stations in 12 markets.

Getting into the business:

Growing up in Long Island [N.Y.], I listened to WABC, and I would get completely immersed in what was coming out of the radio. The day I got my driver’s license, I applied for an internship at WBAB/Long Island. A couple of months into it, I found myself getting paid as a board op.

First full-time job:

My first full-time job was at WCCC/Hartford, as on-air, promotions and programming. My lucky break came less than a year in. The program director was on his way out, and I cajoled, convinced, begged and was in the right place at the right time and became interim program director.

The station was losing the rock battle, and when I took over, it was at a 3 share. The first book out, we popped to a 4.9. The second book, we were up to a 6.4. Someplace between the 4.9 and the 6.4, I actually got to keep the job.

CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK:
http://www.radioandrecords.com/Profiles/Pages/Alan_H.asp