RAIN Summit "Must Attend" for Radio Industry
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Are you going to attend the NAB Show 2009 in Las Vegas? My gut instinct says "probably not," though I urge you to go for one reason and one day. Monday, April 20, RAIN will present the Internet Radio Summit 2009. Miss this and you miss your only shot at becoming informed about the current shift in media habits.
I don't endorse many things in this column. Can't remember when there's been an outright call from here for you to attend, do, or abort something (other than ending that dreadful HD Radio campaign the radio industry insists on regurgitating with regularity).
For over a dozen years I've watched and written about the internet and how it's affected radio. I've also been keenly aware of what Kurt Hanson has put together, and the amount of knowledge he's accumulated and disseminated. The RAIN Summits have evolved as the only source of information on how to correctly adjust your thinking to succeed in today's competitive media market.
Monday, April 20, I'll be at the Renaissance Hotel attending the RAIN Internet Radio Summit 2009. Here are some reasons why.
Scan this new radio industry summit agenda; view the speakers list. Digest the amount of information that will be thrown your way in about 8 hours time. If you don't come to the conclusion that the RAIN Internet Radio Summit 2009 will deliver extensive knowledge about current conditions in the radio industry, then you are out-of-the-loop on acquiring the knowledge needed to make it through this next decade.
There's not much education happening in the radio industry. Hasn't been much in that direction for a long time, even with RAB's attempt at pushing account reps through an accelerated course to make each of them a "CDMC: Certified Digital Marketing Consultant." I can assure you that it takes more than the required two one-hour webinars, eight online classes, and successful completion of the CDMC 100-question final exam to know what you are talking about in this field.
Radio must move off the dime, or nickel, or penny, as prices plunge. Its leaders haven't put anything together that sounds like it is going to push the radio industry into this new media age. And, while you may not be recognized by RAB as being competitive simply by attending this one day RAIN event, recognize that it is the one show where you stand a chance of becoming truly informed. Kurt has the right to call it an "internet radio summit."
Through it, radio industry executives have a way of finding out bundles of information that have been left off the table by RAB, NAB, and the radio industry trade publications (some of which so toe-the-line according to industry mandates that they stifle the education of new media's influence).
If you are going to attend NAB Show 2009, pass on walking the convention center on April 20. Spend the day instead at the Internet Radio Summit 2009. There's a special price being offered, and I'll vouch that there's not a better deal to be found anywhere at the convention. (Las Vegas is hurting along with the airlines. Good rates for both are still to be had.)
At the very least, fly in Monday morning and out that night. Or, may I suggest getting a room for the evening as RAIN has earned a reputation for putting on an impressive post-event party.
As outdated as it may sound, the RAIN summit is one of those affairs about which it is apropos to say "be there or be/remain square!"
Attendance is that important if you want to stay competitive in a very tough radio industry.
Kudos to Kurt - his sidekick Paul Maloney - and the "Internet Radio Summit 2009," with its wide array of knowledgeable speakers. These are folks who've been in the new media trenches for a decade. They'll spill more knowledge in this single day than you'll find at any NAB Show.
If your company won't foot the bill, maybe you need to pay for it yourself - and move to a more forward-thinking organization.
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