U. S. Radio (Oct 1957-Dec 1958)

The first convention was held the year following the organization of NAB — October 11, 1923, at the Hotel Commodore, New York. It is perhaps doubtful that any broadcaster at that first annual meeting could have envisioned "Radio-1958" — 140 million radios in 18.5 million homes with what amounts to almost 100 percent national saturation, 3,769 stations supplying the listening public with entertainment, information, public service, music and news around-the-clock. In all, the delegates to the 1958 meeting can pick and choose among some 30 speakers and 50 panel members discussing more than 40 subjects. This is a long jump from October 1923 — that one-day meeting when broadcasters were concerned primarily with their need for more air space and a desire to see a Federal Radio Commission established. Delegates Ironi ihc radio side will be jjarticularly interested in Tuesday afternoon's radio management conference led by John F. Meagher, NAB vice president for radio. Leading a discussion of "This Business of Radio — Inventory 1958" will be F. Merrill Lindsay Jr. of WSOV Dccatin-. 111., chairman ol the .\ AH Radio Board. .Also participating will be F. C. Sowell of W LAC .\ashville, Tenn.: Frank M. Headley, president of the Station Representatives .Association, and Maithe\v J. Culligan, head of the NBC Radio network. .\nd on Wednesday afternoon, radio delegates will hear \\'ortli Kramer of WfR Detroit, chairman of NAB's Committee on Radio Standards of Good Practice, speak on the relationship of good j^ractice to good business. That same day RAB's presentation, "Your Future is Sound," will feature Kevin B. Sweeney, RAB president, and John F. Hardesty, RAB vice president. Also, E. K. Hartenbower of KCMO Kansas City, Mo., chairman of the N.\B Radio Research Committee, will moderate a panel discussion on "Measuring the Radio Audience." A Thursday morning session for radio management will be devoted to an .All-Industry Radio Music Licensing Conference. • • • MAY IS NATIONAL RADIO MONTH May marks the observance of National Radio Month. For the first time it has been extended from a week to a month, and promotion plans are proportionately bigger than ever before. Scheduled to tie in with the N.\B convention, National Radio Month will s]j()tliglu the sound medium throughout the country. Sponsoring the observance are the National .Association of Broadcasters, the Radio .Advertising Bureau, the Electronic Industries Association and the National .Appliance Radio-Tv Dealers .Association. Coordinator lor the promotion is |ohn F. Meagher, N.AB's vice president lor radio. Mr. .Meagher reports that major trade and civic organizations have ijeen notified ol the industry's plans and that many have pledged cooperation with local stations. Congressmen have also expresseil willingness to help by sending special recorded messages to stations in their constituencies. Radio set manufacturers and dealers are planning advertising support. Individual stations must bear the major iesp()nsii)ility lor the success of National Radio .Month, however, Mr. .Meagher points out. To aid broadc asters, a special promotion kit has been prepared and mailed to all N.AB members. Non-member stations have received part ol the material in order lo make the oI)servance as widespread as possible. The thcnic loi the moiitli and lor the kit is "Radio is close to vou ... at home ... on the move ... in your conununiiy . . . radio is close to all .\merica." r I I I I I I at home . . . on the move I radio is close to all america I I MAY IS NATIONAL RADIO MONTH I is close |o you in your community I J Newspaper mat in NAB l;i: Ihe promotion material is built around these aspects ol radio's service to the American people, Mr. Meagher says, and is one ol the most comprehensive ever distributed. It includes a series of more than 70 spot announcements, a list of 72 promotion and program ideas and designs for reproduction of tangible jMonioUon items such as bumper strips, matchbooks and decals. Other items are a specially-written speech which can l)e adainec! to local use, news releases for on-the-air use and lor newspapers, a fact sheet on radio, a sample proclamation for Radio Month, quotes from national leaders, a compendium of excerpts from letters from major civil and fraternal organizations and trade groups ard a s ;ecially-designed mat for use in printed material and newspapers. Mr. Meagher believes that this kit contains most of the tools needed for making National Radio Month the best radio pro-iiotinn in NAB history. 38 , {Supplement p. 4) 4 HIS IS RADIO MOM H U. S. RADIO May 1958