"Negativity is pervading the radio business and threatens to paralyze us." Those were the words from the NAB's el presidente David Rehr at the NAB Radio Show this week. He's right, of course. Negativity is pervading the radio business, and does threaten to paralyze the industry.
And the NAB hasn't helped in propagating this negativity. In relentlessly fighting new technologies. In resorting to smokey-room lobbying tactics. In setting up front-groups to appear as "consumers." In resisting the current of change, as opposed to embracing it.
"Never before has our business
faced so many challenges -- a rapidly changing media landscape that
makes us feel unsure and unbalanced, turbulent economic conditions that
impact our bottom lines, and regulatory and legislative hurdles that
threaten the way we conduct our business."
It's like a mallet has hit Rehr on the head (or, in the rear). You almost think he finally gets it. Until...
"...in order for us to move forward and build a successful future, we cannot continue to operate as we have in the past. We must stop listening to the negativity and false messages, many of which come from our own people. And we must commit to spreading the positive news about radio."
No. No. No. Spreading the "positive news" won't solve the negativity. Radio needs to be the positive news. There's no need to tell the world how wonderful radio is - the audience is far smarter than you think - radio just needs to be wonderful.
The thing is, Satellite Radio is already wonderful because of the niche content. It's relevant to its audience. It provides content that you can't hear anywhere else. Subscribers love what they hear, and over 18 million people are willing to pay for it every month.
The challenge for Sirius XM Radio is to not lose their way. In the goal to reach a mass audience, do not forget what got you this far to begin with.
It's like a mallet has hit Rehr on the head (or, in the rear). You almost think he finally gets it. Until...
"...in order for us to move forward and build a successful future, we cannot continue to operate as we have in the past. We must stop listening to the negativity and false messages, many of which come from our own people. And we must commit to spreading the positive news about radio."
No. No. No. Spreading the "positive news" won't solve the negativity. Radio needs to be the positive news. There's no need to tell the world how wonderful radio is - the audience is far smarter than you think - radio just needs to be wonderful.
The thing is, Satellite Radio is already wonderful because of the niche content. It's relevant to its audience. It provides content that you can't hear anywhere else. Subscribers love what they hear, and over 18 million people are willing to pay for it every month.
The challenge for Sirius XM Radio is to not lose their way. In the goal to reach a mass audience, do not forget what got you this far to begin with.
Davy Rehr is a dipshit.
'nuff said.
Well said, Ryan. FYI, on CNET's Buzz Out Loud podcast, Leo LaPorte announced he was going to address the NAB conference- to tell them radio was dead.
He wasn't kidding.
Terrestrial radio is dying because they don't understand one word: CONTENT. I don't want to listen to cackling talk during AM drive. I don't want to listen to 20 minutes of commercials an hour. I don't want to listen to the same songs played over and over for decades. This is living hell. Radio can be revived by learning another word: LOCAL. This is their advantage over satrad. Don't hold your breath. Terrestrial group owners are way to greedy to ever see the light. Watch it go out rapidly.
"The challenge for Sirius XM Radio is to not lose their way. In the goal to reach a mass audience, not to forget what got them this far to begin with."
Well said Ryan, but I don't think they're taking note at XM. Putting channels like UPop, The Move, and Fungus on hiatus to appeal to the folks who want to listen to all Metlica or all AC/DC show you that they're not overly concerned about niche channels.
It's sad that Rehr suggest to "stop listening to the negativity" - that's completely wrong. You must listen to the negativity. Sticking your head in the sand doesn't solve a damn thing.
Your most critical audience is also the most passionate. LISTEN TO THEM.
I never understood the concept that terrestrial radio was dying. It isn't. There are some radios with debt issues but even if they go under someone else will buy the license and set up shop.
Terrestrial radio does well in playing popular music and talk. There goal should be to generate the most listeners and create the most ad revenue. Niche programming like Classical, Standards and to a lesser extent Country are ideal for Satellite Radio. Ironically, Sirius and XM have mediocre Classical and Standards (Sirius at least) stations.
excellently stated Ryan.
Note this comment from Rehr: "The NAB head went on to say that radio is now reaching an estimated 235 million listeners each week, up 3 million listeners from last year. "Millions of people listen to the radio every single day. People spend more time with radio than on the Internet and reading newspapers. There is an exciting world of opportunity before us. It is the beginning of a new era for radio," Rehr proclaimed."
You're "up 3 million" on a basis of 235 million? That's not "up."
Here's another line: "Rehr also spoke about what he termed as "the FCC's misguided attempt at imposing so-called localism regulations." Despite having jettisoned these old localism rules in the eighties, the FCC is now proposing to bring them back, Rehr said. "Just recently, we've seen how broadcasters have prepared for and covered the recent tropical storms and hurricanes that have hit the gulf and east coasts. Witnessing all that broadcasters do shows how localism requirements are unnecessary, oppressive and built on an outdated regulatory mindset."
Wasn't "localism" the rallying cry for blunting SatRad's market penetration?
Man, is that a face you just want to rub into the dirt and laugh at or what?
WHY does he STILL have a job at the NAB?
I'm taking a bath on the stock, but I love my Sirius radio.
I won't ever go back to AM/FM - No Way
Death of LOCAL radio from a different kind of Satellite.....
http://starbulletin.com/2008/09/12/business/engle.html
It was kind of bizarre listening to the weekend show with the dj's doing their last show. Needless to say, it wasn't smooth. Dead air, songs getting cut off to answer on air calls from fans.. kind of cool actually :-)
Anyway, This was one of the stations I happened to like. Sad to see it go.
What is kind of ironic, is that they will be getting this new content from Satellite, yet we cannot receive any Sirius or XM content via Satellite. If the local stations here are going to continue to lose local content, SiriusXM need to appeal to the FCC to allow their content to be broadcast out here in Hawaii.
The only way to save radio is for SiriusXM to take it over.
"Satellite Radio is already wonderful because of the niche content."
If you believe that, then you've been de-punked.
You said it, Karl! Local radio, the way the stations were meant to be operated! Oh, you forgot other things: I don't want voicetracked DJ's, I want LIVE ones!
I don't want religious wingnut drivel on every other station I pass as I scan the dial.
Content, and I mean, real, localized and proper content...THAT will keep terrestrial radio alive.
But of course: this means spending more money to make not as much as the fat cat mega-owners once did. And local control means no death grip by the consultants and owners...
Because most are waking up, questioning and trying to justify paying for radio. Sure it's a automatic renewing contract, hidden credit card charge, thats just how SiriusXM likes it, and how consumers have been fooled so long.
...or maybe, that was my point. :)
Oh no, not him again! It looks like the love child of Matt Damon and Sarah Palin! This creep exemplifies everything that is negative about radio. He's a corporate yes man douche bag, and I am being on my best behavior when I say this. I would say that he is a reprehensible human being, but I cant; dudes not human. If it weren't for the stupidity and the mind boggling ignorance of the american people, terrestrial radio would be dead and buried by now. Satellite radio is the future of radio, and anybody with a brain in their head knows this. I will never understand why this service hasn't become at least as big as the i-pod - it's that good! If laughing your ass off for a month just listening to one station (Stern) isn't a bargain (12.95/ month, plus another 130+channels), then I don't know what is. Sirius/XM.... the most entertainment you can get for the money, and soon it will be available at lower prices. Now that's a POSITIVE !!
Steve some day you might learn paying for radio is not a "POSITIVE"
"If it weren't for the stupidity and the mind boggling ignorance of the american people, satellite radio would be dead and buried by now. Terrestrial and internet radio is the future of radio, and anybody with a brain in their head knows this. Anyone with some intelligence can understand why satellite radio service hasn't become, nor will ever become at least as big as the i-pod - satellite radio is crap. Paying for radio is crap. Supporting a monopoly scheme is crap. Subscribing to a company with massive debt which has never, nor will ever make a dime is crap.
So, basically you're saying that all people who pay for Radio are "stupid". It's obviously big enough for almost 20 million people to subscribe. Maybe it won't be a huge industry, but it's enough to apparently scare Terrestrial Radio and people like Clear Channel.
C'mon, enough with the hate campaign against SatRad.
Anonymous - someday you might learn that you ARE paying for terrestrial radio; the same songs OVER and OVER, commercials up the ass, and lame, humorless morning DJ's who are about as funny and entertaining as Ryan Seacrest. Some of us can't dumb ourselves down enough to listen to the shit that terrestrial offers, but obviously you thrive on it! You pay nothing monetarily for it, but by the same token you get nothing in return. I stand corrected - you get CRAP in return. Paying for bottled water is crap. Paying for cable TV is crap. Your opinion is crap. If you think that satellite radio is a monopoly, you are even more ignorant than I suspected. Monopolies don't have stock share prices of $.90, and monopolies don't COMPETE with dozens of other technologies that threaten their very existence. PS - The I-Pod is crap, the compressed music that comes out of them is crap, and the people who buy them are crap. If you don't like Sirius/XM, then don't get it. Nobody cares about your opinion, and if I want to listen to satellite radio, why would you even give a damn? I don't lose any sleep knowing that dopes like you are listening to outdated, obsolete crap radio. You haters need to chill and direct your venom towards a worthwhile cause, like the crappy war or the crappy President that is destroying the country. You seem to know everything, so why not put your amazing intellect to work for a worthy cause?