Mobile Radio Simplified. Accessible. Relevant.

Well, we decided I should go after all.

I think I made my vacillation on the issue a bit of a public discussion, but on balance, the words of encouragement to attend outweighed the value of working the phones, product and marketing contracts sitting on my desk. I just can’t help wondering out loud through this decision process, and I thought I was alone in my public musing, until I ran across Perry Michael Simon’s open rant in his newsletter. He sums up my thinking pretty well, and articulates it better as you will agree:

These shows always seem to go like this:

1. Financial forum in which group heads issue general platitudes about how prosperity is just around the corner and things will stabilize once the economy is better.
2. Presentations along the lines of “How Your Station Can Profit From (Podcasts/Streaming/Websites/NTR/Sending Your Promotions Director To The Corner With A Tin Cup And A Cardboard ‘Please Help’ Sign).”
3. Speeches from invited “visionaries,” most of whom avoid talking specifically about, um, radio.

Mix in a bunch of guys in suits and there you have it. The last few Fall shows have been increasingly depressing. Last year, you’ll recall, the NAB unveiled “Radio 2020,” pitched as a major public relations offensive and revamping of the industry to boldly march into the future. At the time, I was unaware that the “2020″ part meant that nothing would come of it until the year 2020. Anybody see anything about “Radio 2020″ since then?

Here here Perry! I do think however that with each year and each wave of new ideas bolstered by the gradual shift in listener habits, there will be more progress over posturing where these shows can be a place to close deals. Let’s just hope more people are willing to lead through a broadening of partnerships and sincere quests for emerging revenue channels.

We intend to oblige.