Audiographics is quickly becoming one of my favorite Radio-related sites. Ken really does call it like he sees it. His latest article, Radio Industry's Use of Words About Howard Stern, features a perfectly snide and accurate look at how terrestrial twists things to be artifically positive.

Let me place two sentences side by side that describe Howard Stern and his move to Sirius. See if you react differently to each:

•  New Jacobs Study Says 70% Of Stern Listeners Stayed With Terrestrial Radio
•  New Jacobs Study Says 30% of Stern Listeners Moved To Sirius

[...] 

Perhaps, if the radio trades followed the same style word usage for Arbitron's RADAR national audience measurement service, instead of seeing the headline "Arbitron: Radio Reaches More Than 230 Million People," we'd have been witness to "Arbitron: 63 Million Persons Not Listening to Radio." 

Of course, as Get Sirius Info points out, Jacobs Media (the company who did the survey) is regularly contracted by major terrestrial radio companies... like CBS Radio.

Fred Jacobs ran a 25,000-person web-based study from 79 rock stations in late February and learned that 70% of listeners decided not to do the jump to satellite radio. In the study he states that "the biggest winners appear to be many of Stern's former FM competitors," though he backpedals a bit and says that there's no doubt that Howard has been a "big plus to Sirius."

Let's see, because today the Phase II Arbitrends are due, and I don't see David Lee Roth or Adam Carolla doing so well. 

There's absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that David Lee Roth's days on terrestrial radio are numbered. His ratings continue to dive as time goes on and there is just no way that CBS Radio can keep this up. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, DLR is the best advertisement for satellite radio. The rating's for Stern's West Coast replacement, Adaom Carolla, are even worse.

"It’s a matter of waiting for the blow up," said Tom Taylor, editor of Inside Radio.

"Somebody is going to replace David Lee Roth," said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine. "Radio people do much better on radio than non-radio people."

Meanwhile, the question still remains whether the rumored addition of Opie and Anthony to the K-Rock lineup will actually happen. Sean Hannity outright asked both Opie and Anthony whether the rumors are true, whether they will be replacing David Lee Roth.

"We've been negotiating with them [CBS Radio] for a few weeks now," said Greg "Opie" Hughes, "We've got some major hurdles that have occurred though now. When it first was presented to us two weeks ago, it was a done deal. We kind of are at a standstill at this point."

"We would never comprimise the integrity of the satellite radio program that people have enjoyed," said Anthony. When asked whether XM was amenable to this concept, Anthony responded, "That's the thing that needs to be worked out before we go onto any terrestrial radio station."

Over the past day or so, the response about Clear Channel imposing commercials on XM has been absolutely incredible. The post made it's way to the front page of Digg, and as a result throughout the blogosphere. Interestingly enough, the anger that people are voicing isn't towards XM - but towards Clear Channel. This says something.

See, Clear Channel doesn't get it. By directly trying to sabotage a growing media like satellite radio, they are in effect fueling the anger of those who hate them the most. CBS Radio is doing it as well with their lawsuit. These two companies - who have enjoyed near monopolies over the years - have decided to launch an assault on satellite radio in hopes to stomp them out.

But when you piss off the little brother, you're going to get beat up when he gets bigger.

We would like nothing better than to completely ignore terrestrial radio. Most satellite radio listeners haven't tuned into terrestrial in months because we could never imagine going back. But by messing with our music, and our talent, terrestrial radio is just going to create 9.3 million little billboards across the country. Little billboards with big mouths, who will tell all their friends exactly how much better satellite radio is than terrestrial.

Welcome to the best Word of Mouth campaign ever. 

Bubba The Love Sponge will appear on The Morning X with Fisher and Boy for a live interview on Thursday, March 9th to speak to the Tampa Bay radio audience about the details of his firing, his future, and the of events of the past two years. I wonder if he'll take the opportunity to drop his "bombshells" about Clear Channel on someone else's airwaves instead?

[via FMQB] 

Yesterday Bubba the Love Sponge was preparing to drop some "Clear Channel Bombshells" as the non-disparagement clause in his contract with Clear Channel expired. But these "bombshells" were put on hold as Clear Channel threatened to file an injunction if he makes any disparaging comments.

Bubba was intending on talking about some info about Clear Channel Execs John Hogan, Lowery Mays and Mark Mays to name a few. After an extended break Bubba said "I've been told by my bosses to shut the fuck up, at this point."

This amid the legal turmoil between Howard Stern and CBS Radio, it looks like SIRIUS' Lawyers are definitely working overtime with their two biggest shock jocks.

[Get Sirius Info]