NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1942)

radio transcriptions after provision has been made for filling war orders. We believe that there will be sufficient “Vinylite” for the radio transcription industry for some time to come, re¬ quiring very little, if any, new “Vinylite”, provided the radio stations will return the transcription discs to the manufacturer for refabrication after they have served their purpose. It is essential that all stations return transcription discs to the manufacturer in order that “Vinylite” may be con¬ served and the flow of transcriptions maintained. The various transcription manufacturers have given stations instructions on minimum quantities of transcriptions to be i-eturned and whether by express or otherwise. Station operators are urged to comply strictly with these instruc¬ tions. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FLY’S PRESS CONFERENCE Questioned at a press conference early this week as to whether or not the FCC intended to try and unfreeze vari¬ ous materials chairman James Lawrence Fly of FCC said. “I don’t know whether they will succeed in doing so or not.” Discussing the conservation of equipment Mr. Fly told the newsmen, “that’s in the hands of Industry Committees and I think they will be out with that in the course of a few days, and we ought to have some outward progress on that pretty soon.” The Chairman said he thought it a matter of real im¬ portance and should be gotten through the Board of War Communications to the WPB, “because after all we do have a serious situation on the conservation of materials, and I think it is of real interest to have a record of co¬ operation with the WPB in terms of conservation.” The question of manpower Mr. Fly told the conference is in the hands of industry committees and, “I would guess that industry itself is pretty well informed on the status of it since their representatives are working on the matter. I imagine they will present it to the Board within a week or so.” Mr. Fly said this will include definitions and classi¬ fication and when completed will be turned over to the other agencies. “As you know,” the chairman said, “that is being w’orked out by the Industry Committees themselves and I think they are moving right along with the work, and it is my impression that it’s in good shape and I guess they will get it before the Board and move along.” ARMY RADIO LISTENERS FAVOR DANCE MUSIC, NEWS AND COMEDY The average soldier prefers radio programs of dance music, news broadcasts, comedy programs and sports events, and doesn’t care too much for serial dramas, operas, symphonies or hill-billy music, according to a survey con¬ ducted in Army camps throughout the United States by the Research Branch, Special Service Division, the War Department announced today. Approximately one soldier out of six owns a j-adio, the survey disclosed, and slightly more than half of the men listen to a program at some time during a typical weekday. Forty per cent said there are certain programs they would like to hear but cannot, the chief reasons being that there is no radio convenient, that programs come through when they are unable to listen, or that they have difficulty in get¬ ting the stations that carry them. For some reason, more soldiers listen on Thursday than on any other weekday, and of those who listen on this day, 26 per cent tune in on morning programs, 29 per cent dur¬ ing midday hours and 52 per cent in the evening. The listening peak on a typical weekday morning is from 6:15 to 7:00 o’clock; at midday from 12:15 to 12:45, and in the evening from 7:00 to 8:30 o’clock. The majority listen to programs in their barracks. Popular music, sweet and dance music, is the favorite program, the survey showed, with 87 per cent of the sold¬ iers questioned expressing a like for this type of broad¬ cast, 3 per cent expressing dislike and 10 per cent express¬ ing no opinion. Second in popularity are news broadcasts, reports and comments on current happenings, liked by 86 per cent, dis¬ liked by 3 per cent and 11 iDer cent expressing no prefer¬ ence. Comedy programs, gags, skits and funny plays are liked by 85 per cent, disliked by 4 per cent, and 11 per cent voiced no opinion. Sports broadcasts, news and reviews of athletic activities are liked by 69 per cent, disliked by 10 per cent, and no opinion from 21 per cent. Variety programs, offering several different kinds of entertainment, are favored by 66 per cent, disliked by 9 per cent, and no opinion from 25 per cent. Popular music of the swing type, hot, scat and jive, are approved by 62 per cent, disapproved by 16 per cent, and 22 per cent expressed no opinion. Radio plays, complete in one broadcast, are also ap¬ proved by 62 per cent, disliked by 13 per cent, and 25 per cent voiced no opinion. Old familiar music, ballads, folk songs and tunes of long ago, are liked by 57 per cent, disliked by 15 per cent, and no opinion from 28 per cent. Quiz programs are also liked by 57 per cent, disliked by 17 per cent and no preference by 26 per cent. Hill-billy and western music are approved by 42 per cent, disapproved by 33 per cent, and no oi)inion from 25 per cent. Special event programs, including on-the-spot descrip¬ tions of ceremonies and other events, ai-e favored by 39 per cent, disliked by 22 per cent, and no opinion from 39 per cent. Classical music, broadcasts of symphonies, opera and other “serious” music are approved by 32 per cent, disliked by 35 per cent, and 33 per cent expressed no preference. Serial dramas, stories that are continued from one broad¬ cast to another, are approved by only 16 per cent, while 57 per cent disliked such broadcasts and 27 per cent ex¬ pressed no opinion. FCC STATION LICENSE RENEWALS Inquiries are reaching NAB as to the reason for many renewal licenses being issued for periods of less than tv/o years. In some instances 8 months, 6 months, 4 months, etc. We are informed that in general t’nese short-term re¬ newals are not significant. The Commission is merely staggering the next renewal date in accordance with the order establishing the new license periods by frequencies, as amended on October 11, 1941, by action of the Com¬ mission. BILL LEWIS IN CLOSED CIRCUIT TALK William B. Lewis, chief of the radio bureau. OWI, is to address broadcasters on closed circuits on Friday, October 2, on the subject of OWI Regulations No. 2. From 12:45 to 1:00 p. m. he will speak over NBC and MBS from 4:15 to 4:30 p. m. over CBS and Blue. October 2, 1942 — 581