I hate to give Pdxradio CC-bashers another reason to rejoice, but Radio and Records reports that Clear Channel is cutting the number of spot breaks per hour from 3 to 2 in markets with the PPM. While this might be construed as a good thing... they will manage to keep spot inventories close to normal.... by slashing station promos and IDs. Talk about kill the messenger.

"According to a recent e-mail sent to buyers, Clear Channel said the avails change at its Houston stations won’t add additional minutes or commercial units per hour. At most, commercial breaks will only increase by one minute for a total of five minutes, and more typically four and a half minutes. To accommodate the change, stations are reducing the amount of time devoted to station promotions and IDs to one minute per hour."

Clear Channel IPOD radio, with spots. Further mimicking of whats written below.

I read an article today about the "imminent death " of CD players in Automobiles, going the way of 8 track and cassette. Mfgrs are either looking in to building or a few are actually building players with MMC or SD slots for music memory cards for automotive applications. Some of these units will have a radio tuner in them, some 'nada'. Many are going to be so slimline and with very small displays so that they can be installed along side or with satellite radios or a standard radio reciever.

I have been reminded of this by simply trying to keep track of my CDs on long trips and to maintain some kind of quality control over dirt and scratching on the CD.

A totally seemless sound between your own digital music and what you hear on the air. Commercials would be the only difference. Now CC wants to eliminate some of thier Promotion and Identifier Images. More seques? Nice if they have good programmers who can come up with a decent mix or then voice trackers who can do a quick talk set and pop two songs together and talk over an intro, keep the flow and deliver an identifier in the talk set. A lot of us know how to do that !

I remember when PDs would raise hell when breaks went longer than 2 minutes or 3 units each. Of course, there were more stop sets per hour...but it was amazing how air talent and programmers worked to make it flow...and that DIDN'T count the dedicated promo positions on the clock.

Kinda adds new meaning to the phrase "we've come a 'long' way," doesn't it?

The people at JAM and Jones/TM are probably not gonna like this move.

This explains why I've been hearing dry segues on CC's Los Angeles FM's.

This is likely the result of PPM data. I recently saw a brief mention of the PPM verifying better TSL with 2 stop-sets per hour compared with 3 or more.

The PPM will drastically change radio programming. No more winning two quarter hours by programming contests at :15 after, no need to brand your station around the music format so that listeners think they're listening to you even when they are not (i.e. 'I spell Country KUPL'). It'll be way different.

Man !

It costs so much to operate a ( or mulitple ) radio station(s). Transmitter, antenna maintenance, electricity, payroll, ascap/bmi fees the real estate maintainece and taxes it goes and on and on..how are they gonnah do it with such a limited opportunity for commercial breaks. especially in small and medium markets. I know that the new idea is to do this programming cutback and spot load limitation in the large markets only, but still....Its a loosing propostion with a few exceptions.

And then there is all the competition from cable/satellite TV and radio. Thier reach is far greater. The advertising dollar much greater in the case of TV particularly. Music Television or something very much like it is a major venue for selling new music to the consumer.

I am having visions of Corporate terestrial radio centralizing thier programming from one studio complex, like a Network facility. Easy to do now with our technology. Say 10 music formats with Talent provided sent out to the corporate markets. 6 or 8 AM type formats availiable as well all with Talent provided at the central studio. Several local programming people hired to perform production type duties, only a couple of local people who produce local promotional inserts, maybe some news and weather or traffic and Voice tracking in key day parts to supplement or enhance the Talent provided from the central Network Studios. Perhaps a local talk show person on an AM. Then you hire a full compliment of Sales staff and management to sell the stations and take care of the 'due dilligence'.

This is either happening in some manner or degree now, or has been tried before, and failed because of logistic problems, which in the 21 st century can now be fixed with digital automation systems on the local level that can be successfully networked.

This isnt something I like, but it sure seems 'likely' to me....

> This [network programmed approach] is either
> happening in some manner or degree now...

This is how "La X" and most of Bustos' formats (i.e. La Grande, Magia, etc.) seem to operate.