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Advertising; Out Of Print And Off The Air --- Michael Hedges February 15, 2009
Google’s exit from radio and print advertising says little about the company yet speaks volumes about advertising and media’s place in it. It’s a media buyers market and will be for the foreseeable future. Retail traffic and branding are only part of what advertisers are buying. Google knows this.

Counting down to digital, and counting, in Oz --- Michael Hedges February 3, 2009
Broadcasters and publishers dare not blink this week, next week or the nanosecond after that. Digital media is upon us. What we’ve learned is to look everywhere for learning.

Arbitron changes CEO, opens India center --- Michael Hedges January 13, 2009
Surprising some, Arbitron has named a new CEO. Surprising none, the company continues its transition to technology developer. The year 2009 will certainly be one of transitions.

Nielsen to measure US radio - the diary returns --- Michael Hedges November 18, 2008
Two US broadcasters – Cumulus Media and Clear Channel Radio – have opened the door for the Nielsen Company to measure radio audiences. Nielsen will measure 50 small US cities starting Q3 2009. Nielsen has been active in radio measurement in other countries but has stayed with television in the US, giving Arbitron a near monopoly.

To The Lifeboats! Rupert Murdoch and the Canadians First! --- Michael Hedges August 18, 2008
Three years after becoming the first foreign owner in UK broadcasting the venerable Canadian CanWest packed up the hockey sticks and headed back to land-locked Winnipeg. Is this a trend, a wave or a ripple?

Biggie Advertiser Anheuser-Busch Cuts Back Its US Radio Advertising In Favor Of TV – Just What ‘Overlooked’ Radio Doesn’t Need Right Now --- Philip Stone July 10, 2008
Much has been made of the trend by major advertisers to tweak their advertising spend away from traditional media to the Internet, but it came as a bit of a shock recently when Zenith Optimedia forecast that globally the Internet advertising spend will surpass radio this year.

Is Tribune’s Plan to Make Its Newspapers 50-50 Editorial/Advertising Zell’s First Step In Closing Them Down? --- Philip M. Stone June 11, 2008
Sam Zell seems to take great delight in shaking up the newspaper industry so when he announced that Tribune newspapers would reduce their news hole to a 50-50 split between editorial and advertising (instead of the normal 60-40) that really got some pretty astute print analysts declaring the end is near.

The first syllable in consolidation is con --- Michael Hedges March 27, 2008
Clear Channel Communications stock price fell 20% on the revelation that banks are unwilling to finance a leveraged buyout. America’s largest radio broadcaster by leaps is falling to a reality of its own creation. Consolidation fails. And UK broadcasters want to follow the same path.

Two radio guys in two countries take hold of two newspapers called Tribune --- Michael Hedges January 7, 2008
Just as the old guard newspaper people digested Rupert Murdoch’s take over of Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal, populating both with old guard newspaper people, the radio people slipped in the back door of the Tribune Company in the United States and La Tribune in France.

Liquidity, liquidity, come, please, to my door --- Michael Hedges December 17, 2007
The final billion euro media deal of the year is very likely German publisher/broadcaster Heinrich Bauer Verlag buying UK publisher/broadcaster Emap. UK and German media wags view it quite differently, either an end or a beginning. The whole story is far more interesting because it’s very real.

‘Media Is Still A Wonderful Area For Private Equity To Invest In,’ Says Carlyle Group MD, But Most Agree Investments Will Be At Lower Valuations And Favor Emerging Markets --- Philip Stone November 9, 2007
The good news coming out of a media conference this week featuring private equity executives is that even with the current credit crunch there is still plenty of equity funding available, but the likelihood is that valuations will be lower and that European emerging markets will be the main targets.

‘A Newspaper Is A Business. It Used To Be A Fabulous Business That Made Extraordinary Margins. It’s Now A Very Good Business With Appropriate Margins’ – Sam Zell --- Philip Stone October 24, 2007
Sam Zell, the Chicago billionaire who hopes to take Tribune private by the end of the year in his $8.2 billion deal, has been elaborating on what he thinks about the newspaper business, on the one hand saying the industry must accept a lot of the blame for allowing other media to pull ahead, but also how important it is that a private Tribune can make long-term decisions rather than having to worry about the conflicting short term goals of Wall Street.

'Why Are Some Sports Stories Only Available Online? Why Have You Savaged The Financial Section? What Have You Done To The Weekly TV Book?' – All Typical Questions Bombarding Newspapers Whose Readers Don’t Like The Changes That Lower Margins Force --- Philip M. Stone October 11, 2007
Newspaper readers have a tradition of not being shy in telling editors what they think about unwelcome changes to their daily read. But newspapers are becoming clean – telling their readers that, like it or not, it’s a matter of economics and they very much need to boost revenues. C’est la vie!

New Arbitron goof: rats ate the PPM data --- Michael Hedges August 22, 2007
A new problem surfaced this week for US media measurement agency Arbitron in their roll-out of radio audience surveys collected with the Personal People Meter (PPM). A big chunk of data from the Houston, Texas survey disappeared. Arbitron calls it an “error.” Broadcasters call it a crisis.

On measurement and monopoly --- Michael Hedges August 13, 2007
Across the globe and across all media measurement is the be-all and end-all to commercial success. As media buyers and ad agencies demand changes and enhancements to measurement systems, from cross-media, passive monitoring to ‘granular’ data, broadcasters either acquiesce or endure the financial consequences. Cox Radio CEO Bob Neil took questions from ftm on radio measurement and monopoly.

Ad Creative Goes Outdoor --- Michael Hedges - June 28, 2007
Most outdoor advertising evokes nothing more than a sideward glance in the ad world. Billboards, posters, benches, shelters, taxi-tops and bus-backs and the like are not sexy at all. The Cannes Lions ad awards show that outdoor is back.

Have You Noticed That In The Recent Traditional Media Deals Announced By Google and Yahoo That They Are Not Spending Even One Penny On Buying Traditional Media Properties; You Can’t Pull The Wool Over Those New Media Eyes! --- Philip Stone April 18, 2007
Google and Yahoo are getting involved with traditional media in big ways. Nary a day goes by that some sort of co-operation or advertising deal isn’t announced with traditional media by the new media gurus. But there are limits to their largess – they’re not spending one penny on actually buying traditional media properties. They’re just doing business with them. Stupid, they’re not.

It is a Fight to the Death : Branson v. Murdoch --- Michael Hedges March 28, 2007
When Big Media turns to the courts and the regulators to arbitrate business negotiations it’s clear that the consolidation cycle is turning down.

Political Shift to Impact American Broadcasting --- Michael Hedges - November 13, 2006
As the political wind changes in Washington DC so might the domestic “industry” and US government international broadcasting. Further de-regulation, in particular cross-media ownership, will grind to a halt. US media analysts, largely of the Wall Street variety, see an ominous shift away from the staunchly partisan, pro-big business US Congress.

State Broadcaster Wins Denmark Radio License Auction --- Michael Hedges - August 28, 2006
Reports from the scene tell of a brief, rather dull auction for the Danish national radio license formerly known as Sky Radio. The five qualified bidders had already narrowed to three. State-owned commercial broadcaster TV2 took the prize.

New Headache For Arbitron. PPM Not Certified in US --- Michael Hedges June 14, 2006
Not that long ago US audience measurement company Arbitron was poised to revolutionize the system. That was then. Today that revolution just got delayed…again.

RAJAR Shows RAJAR Works --- Michael Hedges May 29, 2006
Upgrade and improve were the key words used by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) Managing Director Sally de la Bedoyere when announcing the long awaited new contract for UK radio measurement. Times are tough enough in the UK commercial radio industry without inflicting new trauma. RAJARs delicately prescribed measurement homeopathy provides a regimen for well-being, mental and physical.

“Radio is an Analogue Dinosaur in a Digital World” --- Michael Hedges April 6, 2006
Everybody in “new media” relishes this meme of “old media” sinking slowly, or not so slowly, into history’s swamp, heaving, moaning and perishing. Rarely do “old media” executives risk life, limb and their jobs uttering – in public - any suggestion of heat rising and nourishment – audience – disappearing, Rupert Murdoch exceptionally noted. So this little reported headline from a small venue speech by US radio executive of the year Harvey Nagler caught the attention – and ire – of more than a few US broadcasters.

Ipsos Cellphone Radio Measuring Thing Maybe Included in RAJAR Tests --- Michael Hedges February 24, 2006
Bells are ringing at RAJAR headquarters as a new electronic measurement device for radio has apparently passed the functionality test, the same test passed by ARBITRON’s PPM and Eurisko’s Media Monitor early last year.

David Mansfield Exits GCap Media – September 20, 2005 --- Michael Hedges September 20, 2005
Thus ends the short, five-month run of UK radio broadcastings dynamic duo: David Mansfield and Ralph Bernard.

Round Up the Children, Louisa. The Canadians Are Coming! --- Michael Hedges September 8, 2005
The UKs first foreign-owned radio broadcast license is awarded to CanWest, the Canadian media giant. Will ice-hockey be forced on unsuspecting British listeners?

The BBC Offered Five Beethoven Symphonies For Free and Logged More Than 650,000 Downloads. --- Philip Stone June 22, 2005
If ever there was an example of convergence between delivery platforms the BBC has shown how it can be done. In conjunction with broadcasting all of Beethoven’s symphonies on its domestic classical Radio 3, it also made the first five symphonies available free for downloading from its web site, and those downloads have already exceeded 650,000. It is making Symphonies 6 – 9 available after they are broadcast later this month.

Media Consolidation is Just a Phase June 30, 2005 --- Michael Hedges June 20, 2005

“Expect a New Burst of Creative Energy” --- Michael Hedges June 2, 2005

Timing Is Everything - May 17, 2005 --- Michael Hedges May 17, 2005
UK media consolidation took another step forward this month as The Wireless Group (TWG) shareholders and Ulster TV (UTV) agree on a price. And the GWR-Capital Group merger – GCap Media - becomes official.

Spring RAJARs: Has BBC Radio made all the right moves? --- Michael Hedges May 13, 2005

Berlin’s First Private Commercial Radio Station Goes Bankrupt - April 28, 2005 --- Michael Hedges April 28, 2005

“What Gets Measured Gets Done.” --- Michael Hedges April 21, 2005

“It’s Pointed and a Bit Uncomfortable” --- Michael Hedges February 24, 2005

A Very Long Year for the BBC --- Michael Hedges January 24, 2005

Spitzer and Payola – the Two Most Feared Words in US Broadcasting --- Philip M. Stone October 25, 2004

Howard Stern --- Michael Hedges October 10, 2004
In a move that rattled American broadcasters but startled few financial analysts, notorious shock-jock Howard Stern will leave Infinity Radio for Sirius Satellite Radio.

Capital Radio GWR Merger October 1, 2004 --- Michael Hedges October 1, 2004

NRG Groupe Acquires KLEM FM --- Michael Hedges September 23, 2004

NRJ Groupe Withdraws From Denmark --- Michael Hedges August 1, 2004

Concentration and Diversity --- Michael Hedges July 30, 2004

EU Greets New Radio Audiences --- Michael Hedges June 1, 2004

The Door Opens, Investors With Big Plans Pour In --- Michael Hedges July 16, 2019 Follow on Twitter
Most business sectors are fairly insular, internal structures strong and skill-sets narrow. In this respect, media and advertising businesses operate like aerospace, agriculture, mining and pharmaceuticals. Financial services touch them all. And, now, so do digital technologies. These are new inputs, sometimes welcome and sometimes not.

Make a Joyful Noise – The Noughties Are Over --- Michael Hedges December 21, 2009 (follow on Twitter)
Ah, the first decade of the 21st century is now a memory, mostly a bad memory. Let’s reflect on the state of affairs, look for the ‘silver lining’ or just enjoy the Holidays. 2010 will be here soon enough!

Global Kiss of Success --- Michael Hedges April 2003
Found in more than 25 countries, the Kiss radio brand is everywhere. Station names may vary – Kiss Radio, Kiss FM, Kiss Kiss, just Kiss – but the name is ubiquitous, perhaps the most frequently used radio brand name in the world.

How Long Will It Take Until We Have the Dallas-Ft. Worth News Star-Telegram? --- Philip M. Stone Novermber 20, 2008
It’s just a matter of time until neighborly competing metropolitan newspapers bite the bullet and merge so surely it makes business sense, for instance, for the Dallas Morning News (Belo) and the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (McClatchy) to come together so instead of two newspapers truly suffering from the economic downturn there arises from the ashes one strong newspaper for the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex?

New Radio Channel "Couldn't Be Better" --- Michael Hedges November 10, 2011 - Follow on Twitter
Private sector media operators have long called for reducing public broadcasting’s output. The overwhelming might of legacy, publicly funded radio and television stifles competition, they say. Politicians, sympathetic for various reasons, have been reluctant to make changes, fearing voter backlash. One of the first newly privatized radio channels has signed on to both criticism and praise.

Measurement Goes Mobile --- Michael Hedges April 21, 2010 Follow on Twitter
The ubiquity of the mobile phone has become a basic building block of the media world. Only cave-dwellers question the power of this device, loved by consumers, to deliver a different business model. The measurement people know this.

Commercial radio takes another hit --- Michael Hedges April 28, 2009 Follow on Twitter
Lousy music and too many bad commercials drive listeners away. So do stupid DJs. None of this is new for radio programmers. The bigger threat to commercial radio is consolidation, too few channels all sounding alike. It could be fatal.