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, show business, and the publishing 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
~Chicago Radio Ratings
The very latest, courtesy of Tom Taylor:
The rough Winter’s generally over, and that drops CBS Radio’s all-news WBBM (plus its FM simulcast) to second place, 6.2-6.6-6.1. #1 is Clear Channel’s urban AC “V103” WVAZ, 6.0-6.5-6.5. Third place is held (barely) by Hubbard’s hot AC “Mix” WTMX, 4.9-5.0-4.9, ahead of Clear Channel CHR “Kiss” WKSC, 4.2-4.5-4.8. That’s the best share for Kiss since August 2012, in a format that often performs better in the warm Summer months. CBS rival “B96” WBBM-FM is off, 4.1-3.8-3.6. Cumulus has a winner in WKQX (2.8-2.6-3.0), restoring alt-rock to the 101.1 frequency it’s LMA’ing from Merlin. (That should convert to a purchase in 2015.) Top-rated talk station is Tribune’s WGN, 4.0-3.7-3.8 (praying for a decent Cubs season). Cumulus talker WLS stays in its range, 2.1-2.2-2.0. In sports, there’s CBS Radio’s “Score” WSCR, 2.6-2.0-2.0 and Disney’s “EPSN 1000” WMVP, 1.7-1.4-1.7. Tribune’s just-out-of-the-box Channel 6 audio “Game” XGWG (in Nielsen parlance) dips 0.6-0.6-0.3. Surging CHR “Kiss” attracts the most Chicago cume at about 2.35 million.
~Jerry Schnake Let Go By Hubbard
Robert Feder has the details about the vice president and market manager of Hubbard Radio Chicago, who was fired in a surprising move yesterday. Schnake oversaw the Mix, the Drive, and whatever they are calling Rewind these days. By all accounts, he was doing a good job. This is a bit of a head scratcher for me.
The Moguls
~Twitter's Co-Founders Aren't Cashing Out...Yet
In May they'll be able to turn their paper fortune into a real cash one, but they say they aren't going to do that. At least not yet.
~As the Rupert Turns
Former Rupert editor (and Prime Minister Cameron spokesperson) Andy Coulson testified yesterday. Rupert's own American paper (the Wall Street Journal) reports on that testimony at the link. The story kind of glosses over the details of what Coulson knew, but it does provide some rather in-depth discussion of the affair Coulson had with Rebekkah Brooks, who is also on trial. (Anybody still wonder why I have given this ongoing story the soap-opera-like title "As the Rupert Turns")
The Pundits
~Lawrence O'Donnell injured in a traffic accident
Here's the statement from MSNBC: “Lawrence O’Donnell and his brother Michael were injured in a taxi accident on Saturday while vacationing out of the country. They were transported back to the US – Lawrence to NYC and Michael to Boston. They are both under the care of doctors and expected to make a full recovery. Lawrence will be off from MSNBC for several weeks as he recuperates. Our thoughts and support are with the O’Donnell family and we look forward to having Lawrence back on the air soon.”
Journalism
~Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced
The full list is at the the link. There are no Chicago winners. The Washington Post won two, and so did the New York Times (although both of theirs were for photography).
The Radio Biz
~Clear Channel Says Radio Hosts Are Still Relevant
The CEO of Clear Channel, Bob Pittman, was interviewed by Adweek and revealed the findings of a study Clear Channel commissioned. Apparently, people still listen to what radio personalities have to say. OK, obiviously this is a bit of a self-serving report...it reminds me of Chris Christie's report absolving himself of wrongdoing...but if what Pittman is saying is true (and I think it essentially is), then I have one big question for him: Why don't you let your personalities talk?
