Auto Availability A Big Edge For Radio Over Pandora ...

(Friday - Sunday, May 18 - 20, 2012)

When asked what makes radio better than Pandora, the former's auto availability leads the list. That - according to a new study conducted by Mark Kassof & Co. The study was the third in a ListenerThink survey conducted by the firm. The final episode of Kassof & Co.'s Pandora Trilogy "explored how the radio 'empire' can 'strike back." The specific question asked of respondents was "What Is It About FM/AM Radio That Makes It Better Than Pandora?" ... 

Thirteen percent of respondents said "Available In Car/Truck." Rounding out the top 5 responses was "Nothing" (12%), followed by "More Variety Of Stations/Music" (7%), "Weather/Traffic/News/Info" (6%). "More Convenient/Easier To Use" and "Local" were tied for 5th place at 6%. When asked "What Do You Dislike About Pandora?", the top 5 "Dislikes" mentioned by respondents were "Nothing" (35%), "Commercials" (9%), "Limited Skips" (5), "Pay/Fee If No Commercials" (4%) & "Need Internet Access/Usage." Of all the advantages traditional radio currently has over Pandora, "Availability" will eventually be eliminated as the internet gains full auto availability. So too will "More Convenient/Easier To Use" but radio's biggest advantages will still hold true. That list includes "More Variety Of Stations/Music" and "Local", which will not eliminate "Weather/Traffic/News/Info". The other big advantage for radio is and always will be - it's "Free"...

Kassof & Co. conducted its online survey May 1-3, 2012 netting 751 Pandora listeners (those who have ever listened to it) who are also radio listeners, age 18-64...

Donna Summer was a Boston girl. Born in Dorchester 63 years ago. She may have lived elsewhere during her lifetime but she was a Boston girl at heart. I remember one occasion when Donna paid a visit to WCBS-FM, where I was working. Donna told me that she was a steady listener of WRKO before she left home to pursue what turned into an iconic singing career. Having programmed that station when the format was Top 40, it was a thrill to hear Donna say that. At the time of her visit, she would call her parents in Boston weekly. She and her parents still rooted for the Red Sox. Donna Summer was 63 when she passed away yesterday morning from breast and lung cancer at her home in Key West (FL). My memories of Donna will always have a special place in my heart. So too, will her music...R.I.P. Donna Summer (1948 - 2012)...

Timeline Memories:

1932] Winging it: Amelia Earharttakes off to fly solo across the Atlantic becoming the first woman to achieve the feat (5/20)...1939] Pan Am begins regular service from New York when a "Yankee Clipper" takes off from the harbor in Port Washington (LI) (5/20). This Clipper takes off from LaGuardia...

1958] Released on this date: "Splish Splash" - Bobby Darin (5/19) (Released as the first 8-track master recording pressed on a plastic 45 rpm disc)...1968] "Tip Toe Through The Tulips - Tiny Tim (5/18)...1973] "Kodachrome" - Paul Simon (5/19)...

1959] Number One on this date: "Kansas City" - Wilbert Harrison (5/18)...1960] "Cathy's Clown" - Everly Bros. (5/18)...1963] "If You Wanna Be Happy" - Jimmy Soul (5/18)...1969] "Get Back" - Beatles (5/18)...

1962] Marilyn's bithday gift: Marilyn Monroe performs a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Pres. John F. Kennedy with Jackie by his side at a fund raiser at Madison Square Garden (5/19)...

1977] Beatlemania breaks out: The musical "Beatlemania" opens at the Winter Garden Theater in Manhattan (5/20)...

1980] Blowing its top: The Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington State explodes, leaving 57 dead or missing (5/18)...

1993] Curtains: "Cheers" closes its doors for the final time with 40% of the population or nearly 100 million watching at home (5/20)...

1994] Happy Trails: Former First-Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis passes away from cancer at 64 (5/19)...

1998] Curtains too: "Murphy Brown" starring Candice Bergen ends its 10-year run (5/18)...

RADIO STATION CRITIQUES: Radio Station GMs interested in getting a fresh Radio View of their station are welcome to contact me for information about my critique service (including rates.)  CLICK HERE for more...  

Youk's Kids Charity: Youk's Kids Third Annual Harpoon Brewery Event will be held Thursday night, May 24, 2012 at the Harpoon Brewery, 306 Northern Ave. in Boston from 6 pm - 9 pm. Red Sox Nation's newest reporter Jenny Dell will host the evening including a live musical performance from local artist Kathleen Regan. There will also be live and silent auction items and you'll have a chance to tour the Brewery and do some beer sampling. Food and wine will also be served...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (5/18) Tina Fey (42), George Strait (60), Rick (Yes) Wakeman (63), Reggie Jackson (66), Albert Hammond (68), Dwayne (Dobie Gillis) Hickman (78), Robert ("Mad Men") Morse (81), Jack Whitaker (88) & Bill ("Maude") Macy (90)...(5/19) Kevin Garnett (36), Grace Jones (64), Pete Townshend (67), Nora Ephron (71), David Hartman (77), Jim Lehrer (78) & Dolph Schayes (83)...(5/20) David Wells (49), Ron Reagan (54), Comedian Dave Thomas (63), Cher (66), Joe Cocker (68) & Japan's Sadaharu Oh (72)...

Timeline Countdown: Memorial Day (5/28), Father's Day (6/17), Summer (6/20) & July 4 (7/4)...