Hypocrisy in Radio’s Battle Over Performance Royalties

Historically, record companies, its labels and performers have had a pretty good deal with radio. Radio gives the labels free advertising for their songs, while the labels give radio the tunes to play free of charge, excluded music licensing fees that pay composers. A quid pro quo as they say in Latin. Or as they…

Radio Takes a LONG Holiday Weekend

Each Memorial Day weekend downtown Cincinnati is home to a HUGE gathering of people.  It’s our community’s way of saying adios to winter and kicking off a summer filled with festivals, socializing with friends and neighbors, eating and drinking beer.  Lots of beer. This past weekend “Taste of Cincinnati” celebrated its 36th annual party on…

Darryl’s Memorial Day Speech

I had the pleasure of being the keynote speaker at the Anderson Township, Ohio Memorial Day Observance.  Here’s the text of the speech. I’M HONORED TO BE HERE ON THIS IMPORTANT DAY, ONE THAT IS EASILY MINIMIZED BY A WEEKEND FILLED WITH STORE SALES, COOKOUTS AND OTHER EVENTS. WE’RE HERE TODAY TO HONOR OUR SERVICE…

How Red Lobster is like AM (and Talk) Radio

I am one of the last believers in AM radio.  I love the medium.  It kills me to see the shape it’s in today. It didn’t have to be this way. A number of months ago I wrote a blog that received a lot of positive and negative reaction within the radio industry.  The FCC…

“That’s One Small Kiss for Man…One Giant Smooch for Mankind.”

Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks, recently warned the NFL to watch its overexposure.  Without reeling that exposure in some and understanding its core mission, the league was at risk of destroying itself. The NFL is about football.  Physically freakish men moving a ball up and down a field while pounding on…

“Brought To You By” an Out of Control Sales Department

Rule #1: “Ratings and Revenue.”  You may have heard me say this.  It’s something I really believe. Over the years listeners and special interest groups have accused me of various sins like programming to a certain political bias or producing programs that appeal to the lowest common denominator.  Both very true. The political bias (or…