Radio Advertising

The airwaves are getting more grown-up, and it's not just the shows. The Absolut Vodka commercials that aired in Los Angeles and 14 other cities during Sunday night's Grammy Awards marked the first time in years that liquor ads ran in prime time on network-owned stations. Also crowding the airwaves during heavy viewing hours are infomercials once reserved for the middle of the night and ads touting extramarital affairs and the intimate uses of K-Y Jelly.

Continuing its retreat from traditional media, Google Inc. is bowing out of the radio advertising business. It plans to keep trying to sell ads for streaming audio on the Web. The cutback reflects a general belt-tightening at the Internet giant, which is trying to curb its big spending by shutting down businesses that aren't working.

God will be right back -- after this commercial message. Vatican Radio, the official voice of the Roman Catholic Church, has begun airing advertisements for the first time in its nearly 80-year history, injecting a bit of the profane into its otherwise unwavering lineup of sacred programming.