The Conclave Gets Underway In Minneapolis

Today And Tomorrow

CONCLAVE 39, The Learning Conference gets rolling in chilly MINNEAPOLIS TODAY (11/13), with a full slate of events scheduled.

The event opened FRIDAY afternoon with a presentation by EMMIS President/CEO JEFF SMULYAN touting the NEXTRADIO app for FM tuner-enabled cell phones, who joked that having to talk about the app makes him "the single most boring man in the UNITED STATES."

"We need to win the portability battle," SMULYAN said, narrating a PowerPoint showing the app's features, adding that his goal is to get the tuners activated in "every single smartphone."  He discussed the need for portability, noting that Walkman sales have gone from 45 million to zero in 20 years and added that the app helps profitability because Internet bandwidth costs stations and data usage and battery drain cost consumers.  He claimed that his company "lost $410 million streaming" last year before music licensing despite WQHT (HOT 97)/NEW YORK being TUNEIN's top station, and emphasized that radio has no competition in over-the-air audio but unlimited competition in streaming.  Progress, he said, showing off Version 2 of the app, is being made with carriers, Congress, the FCC, and FEMA regulators, but most importantly with consumers, who he said call the app "cool" when they see it.

"We can change the perception of radio (and) make it cool again," SMULYAN said, adding that NEXTRADIO will boost total listening and open up new avenues for advertising.  And he displayed how the app will work on dashboard systems, adding interactivity to FM stations on in-car systems.  Closing with a pitch for NEXTRADIO's emergency service capabilities when the power grid or cell phone networks fail, "We are convinced," he insisted, "that this is something whose time has come."  And he previewed a "massive ad campaign" with the NAB promoting the app.

Remaining Agenda For Friday

• 1-6p Registration open
• 6-7:30p Opening reception/scholarship presentations (SANFORD-BROWN COLLEGE, SPECS HOWARD SCHOOL OF MEDIA ARTS, MCNALLY-SMITH COLLEGE OF MUSIC, KEAN UNIVERSITY).

Saturday Morning Agenda

• 7a Registration Open
• 8a Networking Breakfast Presented By BMI
• 8a MBA Member Breakfast Meeting
• 9a CONCLAVE 2014 ROCKWELL AWARD Presentation: GINNY MORRIS/HUBBARD BROADCASTING
• 9:15a Keynote: NAB Pres. GORDON SMITH
• 10a Programming – The “New” Fundamentals: The Things Every Player In Our Game Should Learn Or Know (Presented By RCS)
• 10a Sales Track - Leveraging Mobile & Digital To Increase Your Revenue
• 10a Management Track - Legal And Regulatory Update
• 11a Programming - Socially Unacceptable (Presented By RCS)
• 11a Sales Track - “Stop Selling And Start Helping” How To Create Un-Commercials That Sell
• 11a Management Track - Legal And Regulatory Update (Continued From 10a)

Saturday Afternoon Agenda

• Noon Laughtime Luncheon With Radio’s Air Talent All-Stars* Presented By Nineball Radio (Bring Your Lunch Ticket)
• Noon MBA Television Luncheon
• 1:30p Programming – Finally, A Production Panel (Presented  By RCS)
• 1:30p Sales Track - Pandora’s Box:  What You Don’t Know About Changing Media Consumption Habits Can Hurt You
• 1:30p Management Track - Management Versus Leadership: The Differences And How To Be Good At Both
• 2:30p Programming Track - Penciling In Promotions: Fill Your Calendar With Promotions, No Matter Your Budget (Presented By RCS)
• 2:30p - Sales Track - Defending Your Digital: Why Banner Ads Don't Work
• 2:30p – Management Track - Broadcasting During Community Emergencies
• 3:30p – Programming Track – The Battle Plan: How To Deal With And Beat Your Competition (Presented By RCS!)
• 3:30p- Management/Sales Track - Back To The Basics
• 4:30p – Programming – Training Camp: The Two-A-Day Workout For Programmers And Personalities (Presented By Rcs!)
• 4:30p – Management/Sales Track Concurrent Session – State Of The Media: Audio Spotlight
• 5:30-7:30p – Closing Reception

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