THE 2019 NON-COMMvention IS READY TO (ROCK &) ROLL & “THE WEAKEST LINK” GETS EVEN WEAKER

Public media’s most enjoyable and most affordable conference – the 2019 NON-COMMvention [link] – happens about five weeks from now. 

Folks from noncommercial AAA stations, artists, music industry representatives, and media with gather May 14-17 at WXPN’s World Cafe in Philadelphia.

Morrissey

Legendary indie musician Morrissey will kick off the NON-COMM with a showcase performance on Tuesday evening (5/14). 

Among the other artists who are schedule to appear are The National, Bruce Hornsby and KT Tunstall. 

More performers will be announced. You can keep track of who will be playing here.

REGISTRATION & LOGISTICS

Early registration prices are available through April 21, 2019. During this period, Music/Media Industry folks can register for $200 per person. Radio Industry people pay $120 for the first attendee and $60 for additional people from the same station. The $60 is only available through April 21^st.

Regular registration is in effect from April 22 – May 6, 2019. Music/Media Industry people pay $250 and Radio station folks pay $150. Walk-up fees are slightly more and Day Passes are $125 for all attendees.

There are several hotels within walking distance of WXPN’s World Cafe. Complete information is available here.

SESSION SCHEDULE

Karen Durkot (image: The Top 22)

FEATURED: The NON-COMMversation with Karen Durkot

Thursday (5/16) 1:45pm

WXPN/Philadelphia’s Dan Reed talks with radio promotion vet Karen Durkot. 

She recently retired from the Concord Music Group. 

Earlier this year, blogger and industry vet Paul Marszalek wrote on The Top 22 [[ink]:  

“Not a single week in 2018 went by without Karen Durkot having a song in The Top 10 at Triple A. In fact, she had at least two songs in The Top 10 in 42 of the 52 weeks in’18.”

Durkot has been associated with hit-makers such as Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, The Record Company, The Revivalists, Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs and Tedeschi Trucks. She retired after 40 years in record and artist promotion biz.

The 19^th annual NON-COMM is offering an expanded number of panels. Here is the tentative schedule:

WEDNESDAY (5/15)

• 9:30am - The Value Proposition

A close up look at the role and impact of NON-COMM radio and companion platforms on the development of artists that are core to the AAA format. Why are these artists worth supporting and sustaining?

KT Tunstall

• 10:45am - When Headlines Affect The Playlist

How does noncommercial music stations handle allegations of misconduct by artists who music is heard on the station? For example, recent accusations regarding Ryan Adams led some stations to drop his music from the playlist.

• 1:45pm - On or Off Platform: Branding, Revenue or Neither

Noncommercial stations are building big audiences on platforms such as Youtube, Spotify and Apple Music. Though multi-versioning content on outside platforms is popular, stations typically don’t get revenue or branding opportunities. How do programmers decide where to play what?

• 3:00pm – Breakout Sessions

            • Leveraging Music Podcasts for Station Success

• Music Station Fundraising

• Community Radio Roundtable

THURSDAY (5/16)

The National (Pic by Graham MacIndoe

• 9:30am - Women Pursing and Achieving Success in Radio and the Music Industry

Discussion of the unique opportunities and challenges that women face when pursuing and achieving success in the music industry.

• 10:45am - Stronger Together

Station collaborations and partnerships in the system are important steps towards building our scale and impact. This session will feature ways in which stations can work together with each other and with VuHaus, NPR Music and the noncomMUSIC Alliance.

• 3:00pm - World Cafe recording session with host Talia Schlanger

FRIDAY (5/17)

• 10:00AM - Music Meeting

Bring us your ears and opinions. Hosted by Sean Coakley of Songlines. Hear new tunes and rate them along  with your peers. Then compare your opinions with a group of devoted public radio listeners.

FEBRUARY PPM RATINGS: TWO STRONG LINKS & ONE REALLY WEAK LINK

Minnesota Public Radio’s (MPR) flagship News/Talking station – KNOW – continues to set the pace for radio news and talk in the Twin Cities. 

According to Nielsen’s February 2018 PPM ratings, KNOW is the undisputed top News/Talk station.

Not that many years ago WCCO-AM was the top station in the market.

However, CBS Radio pissed it away. 

The new owner, Entercom, has been hiring new air-staff lately. Plus ‘CCO is the home of the Minnesota Twins, so things might get better. Or, not.

Keep an eye on KTMY a/k/a myTalk107.1 [link] and talk station that targets Women ages 25-54.There is a lot dishing going on.

You might say the KUT is the top radio news source in Austin because they are the ONLY radio news source in Austin, Texas. 

KUT leaves iHeart and Cumulus conservative talkers in the dust.

NPR News/Talk KUT and sister station AAA KUTX have a combined 11.3% AQH share and over 400,000 estimated weekly listeners.

It does get much better than this.

Meanwhile The Weakest Link in public radio got a tad weaker according to the February 2019 Nielsen PPM ratings. 

Though it is nice to see WKNO’s AQH share go up a little bit, the station’s estimated weekly listeners hit the lowest point in three years.

And, what is going on with WKNO’s HD2. It has a 24/7 NPR News/Talk format but it doesn’t have enough listeners to even be listed in the “book.”

NPR would do better nationally if WKNO would pull its weight. That is why we call WKNO The Weakest Link in public radio.