Every weekday in 2014, I'll be keeping an eye on what's happening in the media. My focus will be on some of my favorite subjects...the moguls, the pundits, the broadcast news biz, and show business. (Read "$everance" if you want a crystallization of my positions on those subjects.) And, of course, I'll also keep tabs on Chicago's media.
Chicago media
~Greg Brown
I'm finishing up my latest column for Illinois Entertainer today. I interviewed WLS-FM's Greg Brown this week. It will be posted on the Illinois Entertainer site on February 1st.
~Afternoons Open At US-99
The former afternoon host at US-99, Drew Walker, has been promoted to middays, according to Radio Daily today. (Promoted? I guess drive times aren't what they used to be) Here's what they say..."
CBS Radio's Country WUSN (US99.5)/Chicago afternoon talent Drew Walker heads to middays replacing Trish Biondo, who left the station last week after failing to reach a new contract. Walker, who has been with WUSN since 2004, made the move to PM drive in 2005. "In an effort to keep the continuity from mornings to middays the best it can be for our audience, I am very excited to announce the promotion of Drew Walker to middays," said US99.5 PD Jeff Kapugi.
~Boers & Bernstein Soundboard
Many of the drop-ins (sound clips) you hear on the Boers & Berstein show on the Score have been posted on the CBS website. It's a treasure trove.
~Dobie Maxwell
The former Loop morning man is planning a benefit comedy show to help a friend who suffered a stroke. The date hasn't been set yet, but Dobie writes about it in his blog.
Broadcast News
~Has Jeff Zucker made CNN Better?
He's been there a year now, so the New Yorker analyzes the moves he has made. You can read their analysis at the link. As for me, I still can't watch it regularly. It's just the same news story over and over and over again. More than one story happens a day, ladies and gentlemen. It doesn't matter who delivers the news if you're only telling us about one story.
Showbiz
~Dick Clark Productions Doing 14 Awards Shows This Year
Don't laugh. Award shows are gold because people feel like they have to watch them live. (No fast forwarding through commercials)
The Publishing Biz
~Amazon selling kindles in airport and shopping mall kiosks now
It's just a matter of time until they squash their competitors like grapes.
~Stick a Fork in Barnes & Noble
If they make it through this year I will be shocked. Holiday sales were down 60% this year. (I have a funny feeling we're never going to get the money they owe Eckhartz Press)
~"Mein Kampf" becoming big seller as e-book
Somebody translated that into English? It didn't even make sense in German.
The Radio Biz
~Political Ad Buys Not What You Think They'll Be
Whenever there's political discord in this country, politically-oriented talk radio shows assume they'll be getting some dough because of political advertising. But if you're the political parties, why would you advertise when the radio hosts talk about your message for free? From today's Washington Post...
While the RNC wouldn't disclose how much money they spent on the radio ads, reports from local news organizations suggested it wasn't much. At all. In New Hampshire, the ads "savaging" Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) had $20 dollars behind them. Yes, $20. Not $2,000. Or $20,000. In Alaska, a single ad -- at the cost of $30! -- ran against Sen. Mark Begich (D), according to the Anchorage Daily News.
