ftm Radio Page - March 28, 2014

When times are tough change something
Life is too short

Radio broadcasters are special. Unlike other mostly analogue or linear media stations reinvent themselves all the time. Listeners seem to like that and media buyers are thrilled with a new story to tell.

Big legacy broadcasters, however, hesitate making big changes, confusion among listeners and advertisers a certain risk. Italian national pop oldies channel R101 took the chance this week and changed logos, jingles and the entire station branding. There is, of course, a marketing budget for it all, about €3 million, part spent on a TV campaign with the slogan “Life is too short to listen to bad music.” The station will be official sponsor for several big name concerts in coming weeks, including the Rolling Stones show in June. Earlier this year new programmers were hired. (See more on media in Italy here)

R101 is owned by media house Mondadori Group. “Radio has always been a priority of our group,” said CEO Ernesto Mauri to the press gaggle, quoted by Il Sole 24 Ore (March 25). “With the launch of the new R101 we decided to step up our presence in radio, one of the areas where we want to have a leading role.”

Also this week Mondadori reported 2013 financial results, notably a 9.9% drop in revenues over 2012. The company took a €31.3 million impairment write-down on R101. Revenues at sales house Mondadori Pubblicità, which sells ads for several radio outlets, dropped 18.1%.

Rhyme and reason in Ireland
digital metaphors

Let there never be heard a discouraging word is the typical frame around industry conferences. It’s certainly true of broadcasting conventions where executives and minions go for fire-ups from the mighty and successful. Gatherings of radio people – like the just finished RadioDays Europe in Dublin – are hardly humble in that regard. And that’s as it’s supposed to be.

The RadioDays Europe show featured none other than Ireland’s prime minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny as keynote. “Radio has lost none of its currency, urgency or intimacy,” he told the radio people after admitting to listening to the BBC’s shipping forecast. “In the white noise of social media, radio endures.” (See more on radio audience here)

As so, once again, the specter of new media is undeniable. The BBC’s head of radio Helen Boaden said radio broadcasting is facing “iceberg challenges,” reported the Irish Times (March 27). The tip of that iceberg – the visible part – is the very social nature of radio,” the most participative linear” medium. Beneath that – dark and cold – is competition from streamers and social apps mixed with slow uptake of digital radio platforms. Young people are “broadcaster-promiscuous,” said Irish public broadcaster RTE director general Noel Curran, meaning “less loyal.”

Next spring RadioDays Europe moves to Milan. The always over-the-top World Mobile Congress remains in Barcelona. The World Avocado Congress will be in Lima, Peru.

Second hand CD store gets station library
Emotional rescue

Zagreb station Radio 101 is selling its 11,000 CD music library. The station’s music is now all on a computer hard drive. At least one commentator finds it disturbing.

The entire music library was packed up and moved to a second-hand CD store in Zagreb. The station’s program, said program director Daniel Berdais, quoted by Jutarnji list (March 20), “should not suffer consequences.” The CDs were taking up too much space.

Radio 101 is an alternative music station in the Croatian capital. Selling off the CD library, to the Jutarnji list writer, symbolizes the “death of radio” as listeners are “lobotomized” by radio formats. (See more on media in Croatia here)

“A different kind of music has always been at the core of Radio 101,” said Mr. Berdais in a separate interview with tportal.hr (March 17). “Listeners recognize that we are one of the few radio stations that surprised them with songs they haven’t heard in a long time.” The station survived bankruptcy a couple of years ago.

Radio Page week ending March 21, 2014
radio in Greece, NERIT, ex-ERA

Radio Page week ending March 14, 2014
radio in Germany, ag.ma, MA 2014 Radio I, Antenne Bayern, Radio NRW, WDR, radio in Ukraine, TRK Breeze, ERA FM

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radio in Austria, digital radio, DAB+, radio in Sweden, audience measurement, PPM, World Radio Day, UNESCO, radio in Germany

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radio drama, radio in Spain, RNE, BBC Radio 4, radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, 6Music, Planet Rock, Communicorp

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radio in Italy, radio advertising, RadioCompass, radio in Switzerland, Mediapulse, SSR-SRG, private local radio, Radio 3i, Radio Swiss Pop, radio in France, Médiamétrie, Paris audience, Europe 1, Radio Latina

Radio Page week ending January 17, 2014
radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, Europe 1, RTL, France Inter, NRJ, Skyrock, Nostalgie, France Bleu, radio in Germany, MDR 1 Sachsen, radio in the Czech Republic, CRo Sever, public radio, radio in Switzerland, Radio 105, BAKOM, Radio 1

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Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• Germany - Radio Audience (March 2014)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Italy - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (March 2014)
  public and private broadcasting companies, channels, audience reach/share, management
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2014)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (February 2014)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (February 2014)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (January 2014)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (January 2014)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (January 2014)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (January 2014)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (January 2014)
  share, trend
• Bulgaria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (12/12/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, market share
• France - National Radio Summer Audience (03/10/2013)
  national channels, summer period 2008-2013 trend
• Austria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (09/09/2013)
  public and private broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (French region) (28/08/2013)
  Wallonia region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (Flemish region) (28/08/2013)
  Flemish region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio broadcasting (15/08/2013)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms

More Resources

Also see ftm Knowledge

Europe's Radio - Western Europe

Opportunity meets tradition in Western Europe's radio broadcasting. Change has come fast and yet oh, so slowly. This ftm Knowledge file contains material and resources on public and private radio broadcasting in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Netherlands and Switzerland. 244 pages. Resources. PDF (September 2013)

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Europe’s Radio – Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe’s radio writes new rules. In fact, most everything about radio in this region is new... and changes often. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. 159 pages PDF (April 2013)

Order here

Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe

Northern Europe’s radio has a very digital sound. And change is in the air. Economic challenges abound for both public and commercial broadcasters. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the UK. 144 pages PDF includes Resources (November 2012)

Order here

Digital Radio - Possibilities and Probabilities

Digital radio has many platforms. From broadcast platforms to internet radio and rapidly emerging smartphone platforms, listeners and broadcasters have choices galore and decisions to make. Some regulators have made up their minds, others not, some hedging their bets. This ftm Knowledge file details the possibilities for digital broadcasting and the probabilities for success. Includes Resources 149 pages PDF (August 2012)

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Europe's Radio - Southern Europe

Radio broadcasting in southern Europe ranges from highly developed to developing highly. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese radio is unique, creative and very popular. Radio in Croatia, Serbia and Greece has had ups and downs. The ftm Knowledge file includes Resources. 74 pages PDF (May 2012)

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