DAVE CHENEY SIGNS OFF “TRIPLEARADIO.COM”

Dave Chaney, editor and publisher of the music news blog TripleARadio.com called me last Monday and left a voice mail message. I put his message into a stack of similar ones.  Now I wish I’d called him back.

Then Wednesday morning I went to TripleARadio.com, one of a number of sites I visit frequently, and was greeted by these words:

TO ALL OUR FRIENDS IN TRIPLE A RADIO:

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!

This is the end of an era that Dave Chaney helped make possible.

TRIPLEARADIO.COM’s ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NONCOM TRIPLE A

I first got involved with noncommercial Triple A format in 2003.  Dave started TripleARadio.com in late 2001. Things were different then.

Triple A was not thought of as a visable public radio format in most markets.  There were exceptions such as WXPN’s pioneering work in 1990s (with financial help from CPB), WFPK in Louisville and KCRW was using its perch in West LA.

At that time nobody could imagine Bill Kling at American Public Media investing several million dollars for a station that became The Current or Neil Best at KUNC in Colorado basing the business plan for a new station (105.5 The Colorado Sound) on the proven track record of other Triple A stations.

Now Triple A is one of public radio’s four established formats along with NPR News, Classical and Jazz.

Two factors made noncom Triple A visible and viable: The annual NONCOMM-vention and TripleARadio.com. Both were so effective because they were based on a sense community, common ground and the belief that the music matters.

TripleARadio.com offered a new platform for stations, artists and labels to get the word out about what they were doing. “The Panel” – TripleARadio.com’s  airplay reporting vehicle – included noncom stations of all shapes and sizes. It was a list where WSYC in Shippensburg PA had the same status as WXPN. This made folks in places like WSYC feel they had a stake in the success of music.

In the early years of the NONCOMM-vention, TripleARadio.com “welcomed” the conference in the way stations welcome a concert, with passion, inclusiveness and a bit of hype. I went to my first NONCOMM-vention in 2003 because Dave Chaney invited me. When I attend I felt like I was at home with folks who had a common sense of purpose and sensibility.

“IT IS TOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING IN NONCOM TRIPLE A”

TripleARadio.com brought in much of its revenue from banner ads purchased by music labels, artists and promoters. As you know the music industry is a shadow of what it was in pre-Napster days.  In 2001 an independent music publication could count on label support. Not so now.

I spoke to Chaney Wednesday afternoon.  He is doing fine, thank you.

What happened to TripleARadio.com was that it ceased to be financially sustainable. Chaney said the downturn started with the 2008-2009 recession:

“Promotional spending by the music industry never recovered after the recession. As an indie with no other major revenue source, our existence was always on the edge. I am proud of what TripleARadio.com accomplished.  We had lots of fun and heard great music.  I have no regrets and wish continued success to all of our many friends at Triple A radio and in the music business." 

PRAISE FROM THE COMMUNITY

Here is a sample of praise for Dave Chaney and TripleARadio.com from folks in the biz:

• From Paul Marszalek, publisher of a competing site The Top 22 [link]:

Dave's done a considerable amount of great work over the years, with an unquestionable amount of passion and a collaborative attitude. His decision is completely understandable. TheTop22.com is far from being my day job, instead a passion side project -- which is the sole reason it still exists. In our collective current state, it's virtually impossible for more than one or two people to make a full-time job out of writing/reporting on the format.

• From Bruce Warren, head guru at WXPN:

Dave and his site was a super super advocate for the format and provided a lot of useful information for our part of the music industry. We are grateful for his work.

• From consultant Mike Henry of Paragon Media Strategies:

Dave Chaney is a great champion of our format and his website will be missed.  It provided a place for those in our format to virtually meet and to follow its evolution.  I hope Dave finds ways to stay involved.

• From Mark Abuzzahab of VuHaus:

For over a decade I've depended on Triplearadio.com to know what's going on in the format, especially with smaller market stations.   First we started to lose trade magazines, then commercial stations, and now websites.   What's next?

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INSIDE “PUBLIC RADIO TECH SURVEY 8”

Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media Strategies [link] has released the Executive Summary and presentation slides of Public Radio Tech Survey 8 (PRTS 8). The results were presented last month at the PRPD Content Conference in Phoenix. You can download the complete info at [link].

I find these reports fascinating because they are “snapshots in time” of the changing media environment specifically by public radio listeners. I’ve included portions of the Jacobs’ key findings below along with several slides from the presentation.

BTW – I don’t know if anyone says thank you to Fred Jacobs for his important work.  Public radio is better because Jacobs Media is involved. I know Fred totally gets “the public radio sensibility” and we in the biz are grateful for his insight.

My own observations come from a chart I created from the Jacobs data that compares results of PRTS 8 by format, plus a breakout of millennial-age respondents.  First, here is my comparison chart:

My observations about PRTS include:

• Radio listening is still robust by respondents in all categories, even by folks of millennial-age. People are still listening to radio, particularly in vehicles. Keep in mind that most respondents who participate in PRTS 8 are recruited from station lists.

• Podcast listening is most often determined by the age of the respondent and the particular type of content they like. Of the three formats in PRTS 8 (there was not a breakout of Jazz listeners), news listener podcast usage far exceeds Triple A and Classical music listeners. Take a look at yesterday’s post showing Podtrac’s top ten podcasts.  I don’t see a music-based podcast on the list.  Perhaps the cost of music rights are prohibitive for many podcast producers.

• Is there more information about millennial-age folks and their relatively low use of SiriusXM satellite radio? Are millennials who aren’t public radio listeners also avoiding SiriusXM?

• Question for Fred Jacobs: The millennial portion of in-tab respondents is around 8% but millennials make up a much larger percentage of the total population.  Is the relatively low proportion of millennials included in PRTS 8 too low to be reliable?

CHARTS FROM PRTS 8

 Jacobs Media Observation:

Across the entire sample, the mobile revolution kicks into an even higher gear. More than eight in ten (83%) respondents now own a smartphone; nearly two-thirds (64%) carry a tablet. Overall radio listening is up a tick. Nearly nine in ten (88%) listen to broadcast radio one hour a day or more often. In the new study survey, nearly one-fifth (18%) say they’re listening to more public radio in the past year, while only 7% indicate listening less.

Jacobs Media Observation:

The election is driving listening. Overall, one-fifth agree/agree strongly with the notion the Presidential race has led to an increase in public radio listening, especially fans of the News/Talk format, as well as Millennials. 


Jacobs Media Observation:

As is the case for all of broadcast radio, the car represents the top radio listening location, but “connected cars” provide options that are used often at broadcast radio’s expense.

Jacobs Media Observation:

In PRTS 8, 40% of respondents are News/Talk fans, while the composition of Triple A & Classical has increased.

Jacobs Media Observation:

Millennials are different. Gen Y public radio listeners are deep into podcasts, mobile phone usage, and social media connections. 
 More so than older generations, they are more likely to access news from digital sources rather than radio. They are also less likely to own a radio where they live. Millennials are most likely to interact with their favorite public radio station via podcasts and mobile apps. 


Jacobs Media Observation:

Public radio’s health is strong, but more and more consumption is moving to digital platforms. The core values are intact. For the total sample more than half say key drivers supporting public radio listenership include learning new things, credible and objective programming, a deeper news perspective, respect for the listener’s intelligence, and a balanced perspective.

This is my favorite slide of PRTS 8!

WILL LPFM STATIONS “EAT NPR NEWS STATIONS’ LUNCH?” • APM ZOOMS UP IN PODCAST RATINGS

Mike Henry

My friend and respected consultant Mike Henry opines in his most recent blog commentary [link] that “…the growth of Low Power FM (LPFM) stations…should serve as yet another wake-up call for local NPR News radio stations.”

Henry cites a New York Times article from last Friday (10/14) that spotlighted the growth of Low Power FM (LPFM) stations [link]. Henry’s conclusion is:

The Times’ hypothesis is that, along with being the sole outlet for ethnic and community groups, LPFM stations are quickly finding ground and a path as a true hyper-local news outlet in the vacuum being created by NPR News stations that do not cover the local ground.

While there is merit in Henry’s op-ed, he is missing the big picture.  LPFM stations and NPR News stations exist in two different worlds.

ARE NPR NEWS STATIONS IGNORING LOCAL NEWS?

Henry focuses on a quote by Michael Lasar, co-founder of Radio Survivor [link] from the NYT article:

“There’s still a need for local news and information, which many public radio stations have abandoned,” he said. “There’s a lot of stations that just go on automatic pilot and play NPR and satellite downloads. That’s Low Power FM’s ace in the hole.”

Lasar is smart fellow who literally wrote the book about the history of Pacifica Radio but his work primarily covers NFCB-ish community radio, not NPR News Stations. I believe that Lasar and Henry’s notion that, as a group, NPR News stations are simply repeaters of nationally syndicated NPR content that have abandoned local news, is not true.

Yes, there are NPR News stations that do little more than repeat network programming but there are lots of stations that are doing much, much more. In fact, increased local and regional content by NPR News stations is one of public radio’s brightest new developments: Consider:

• Station-based talk and interview programs are increasing in number and quality. We’ve reported about On Second Thought, at WRAS, Atlanta [link]; Boston Public Radio at WGBH [link]; Essential Pittsburgh at WESA [link]; and Where We Live at Connecticut Public Radio [link]. These programs typically out-perform NPR News magazines and are sources of considerable pledging and underwriting revenue.

• CPB-sponsored Regional Journalism Centers (RJC) are creating new regional and local content. We have previously reported on RJCs such as the Fronteras Desk (based at KJZZ, Phoenix) covering border issues from San Antonio to San Diego [link]; the Texas Station Collaborative based at KERA and KUT [link]; and the New England News Collaborative based at WNPR [link].

• Many NPR News stations cover hyper-local news on their websites, via social media and podcasts.

• NPR ONE allows listeners to build there own menu of news whenever, wherever they chose including plenty of local news.

Mike Henry ends his op-ed with this thought:

“If LPFM stations can now eat your lunch, then your lunch deserves to be eaten. I relish the opportunity to help any broadcaster, mighty NPR News stations or nimble LPFM stations, serve their local audiences the way they deserve.”

Holy hyperbole Mike!

Yes, there are some LPFM stations doing a terrific job covering local communities and interest groups, but they aren’t the norm. The average NPR has an annual budget of around $2.5 million and I have seldom seen a LPFM station with an annual budget of more than $50,000.  NPR News stations and LPFM stations operate of two very different levels.

NONCOM PRODUCERS CONTINUE TO DOMINATE PODCAST METRICS

Podtrac [link] just released their September list of the top ten podcasts, ranked by the number of estimated Unique Monthly Audience. Seven of the ten are sponsored by noncommercial or nonprofit orgranizations. http://analytics.podtrac.com/

American Public Media is new on the top ten, likely powered by podcasts from Marketplace. This American Life had the biggest month-to-month decline perhaps because Serial is out of season. Below is our custom chart comparing Podtrac data from August and September.