Conclave Learning Conference Concludes For 2011

The Conclave Has Left The Building

SATURDAY's sessions at the CONCLAVE LEARNING CONFERENCE's final day for 2011 in MINNEAPOLIS kicked off with a look at the job of morning show producer's job.

EMMIS Top 40/Rhythmic WQHT (HOT 97)/NEW YORK's JAKE RAY, PREMIERE RADIO NETWORKS' ELVIS DURAN show producer and co-host T.J. TAORMINA, syndicated ACE AND T.J. producer YANKEE PETE HERRICK, and UNITED STATIONS RADIO NETWORKS' ANDY DENEMARK talked about the challenges and the status of the producer's role in a successful morning show.  The panel was moderated by ALL ACCESS News-Talk-Sports editor PERRY MICHAEL SIMON.  At the same time, a session moderated by ARBITRON's BILL ROSE and featuring COLEMAN INSIGHTS' WARREN KURTZMAN and consultant MIKE MCVAY offered a look at what qualifies as "normal" ratings performance for different formats.

The "Talent Free for All 2.0" session, moderated by ALL ACCESS' own JOEL DENVER, featured LOS ANGELES radio legend CHARLIE TUNA, HUBBARD Country WIL/ST. LOUIS morning man CORNBREAD, CBS RADIO AC WIAD (94.7 FRESH FM)/WASHINGTON host TAYLOR SHAY, and syndicated HARDDRIVE host LOU BRUTUS bantering about the radio business.  Topics included the PPM, pedicures (really), influences, and several stories from their careers.  Meanwhile, COX MEDIA GROUP's CRAIG ASHWOOD and SMARTSITE SYSTEMS SANDY DAVIS hosted a panel on hyper-local websites.

RAIN Summit Sponsored By All Access And knowDigital

The afternoon featured the RAIN SUMMIT MIDWEST, hosted by KURT HANSON and presented by ALL ACCESS and knowDIGITAL.  The latest edition of RAIN's gathering, the second attached to the CONCLAVE, kicked off with HANSON's "state of the industry address" setting forth his argument that radio is entering its fourth "golden age," offering variety, personalization, and other improvements that consumers are embracing.  He noted that Internet radio listening, by AQH, is doubling every two years and said that music will migrate to streaming while talk migrates to FM.  He declares PANDORA the industry's "first winner" after its Initial Public Offering and having reached roughly a 2.8 share in every market, mostly comprised of 18-34-year-olds.  Asked about SPOTIFY, HANSON said that he characterizes music listening in two groups, music one owns and music one hears on the radio; SPOTIFY, he said, is a replacement for the former group.

A panel on "creating compelling programming" included ACCURADIO.COM's PAUL MALONEY joined by last-minute substitutes KURTZMAN, LINCOLN FINANCIAL MEDIA's JOHN DIMICK, and NEXT STAGE BUSINESS RADIO's PAMELA MULDOON.  KURTZMAN noted that Internet streaming has made significant inroads into in-car listening, and advised stations to develop brands to stand out on the dash against Internet-delivered options, and DIMICK echoed the need to build brands and exclusive content.  MULDOON discussed her content marketing company and how she used the Internet to launch and immediately monetize a radio show.  The following panel, on promotions, features, and apps, included HANSON with REALTIME RADIO Director, Business Development FRANK NEILL and TOTALLY INTERACTIVE WEATHER NSM SEAN BARNARD.

Monetization continued to be the theme of the afternoon with a panel including MULDOON, SENECA COUNTY RADIO's KEITH HODKINSON, ABACAST's MICHAEL DALFONZO, and RADIO ONE/CLEVELAND and COLUMBUS's TIM HALL, with HODKINSON showing off his website, aimed at returning localism through Internet streaming with a local morning show and music throughout the day interspersed with news.  

Lee Abrams Wants 'Rock And Roll Thinking'

LEE ABRAMS keynoted the proceedings with a talk about "some pretty basic things that I think affect all media," decrying how radio's playbook "hasn't been updated for 40 years."  The speech repeated the points ABRAMS made in his speech at the WORLDWIDE RADIO SUMMIT in APRIL, including the observation that phone companies are beating radio in innovation, the characterization of FACEBOOK as "the new ELVIS," and the need for "rock and roll thinking."

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