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From Radio Online: Audacy inks a multiyear extension with morning host Boomer Esiason to remain at WFAN-FM andamp; AM in New York. He'll continue to be heard on "Boomer andamp; Gio" alongside co-host Gregg "Gio" Giannotti, weekdays from 6-10am ET. This new extension will bring Esiason past 20 years as morning host at WFAN, making him the More...

From Radio Online: Beth Bacall joins the Salem Music Network (SMN) based in Nashville. She'll host afternoons on the Today's Christian Music (TCM) Network. SMN will also produce Bacall's four-hour show for daily syndication (Monday through Friday) beginning May 6. "The Beth Bacall Show" content is available for stations to air More...

From Radio Online: "Profit Ability 2: The New Business Case for Advertising," a new study on marketing effectiveness from measurement firms Gain Theory and Ebiquity, along with media agencies EssenceMediacom, Mindshare and Wavemaker UK, was released last week. The study reveals how advertising drives profit over time. This More...

From Radio Insight: Audacy Sports 660 WFAN/101.9 WFAN-FM New York has announced it has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with morning host Boomer Esiason. Esiason joined WFAN in 2007 and has been teamed with Craig Carton and Gregg ‘Gio’ Giannotti during his tenure with the station. During his new contract term, Esiason will surpass predecessor Don Imus as the longest-tenured morning host at WFAN. Esiason also anchors the “Audacy Sports Minute” on the company’s Sports stations across the country and Infinity Sports Network along with the weekly syndicated NFL preview show ?Kick-Off with Boomer & Valenti? with WXYT-FM Detroit’s Mike Valenti. “Boomer & Gio” also airs nationally on the CBS Sports Network. Concurrently with the announcement of his contract extension, Esiason announced he will depart CBS’ “The NFL Today” after 22 years as co-host of the NFL pregame show. He began his broadcasting career with two years on ABC’s Monday Night Football in 1998 and called every Monday Night Football game and Super Bowl on radio for Westwood One from 2000 through September 2018 following a fourteen year NFL career as a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets. ?Boomer has become a true cornerstone in the long, storied history of WFAN,? said Chris Oliviero, New York Market President, Audacy. ?He was already the highest-rated morning show in the FAN record books, and now, with this new extension, he will add longest-running to his accolades. And most excitedly, we are certain the best is still yet to come as Boomer begins this new chapter in his career by making a long-term commitment to the FAN, along with a creative vision for elevating the brand together to new heights.? ?For the last 17 years, it has been an honor to be the voice that New York sports fans wake up to,? said Esiason. ?I could not be more excited to continue delivering four hours of entertaining conversation at the most vibrant and storied sports radio station in the country, working alongside the morning crew. I would like to thank Audacy, Chris Oliviero, and, most importantly, our passionate listeners for the opportunity to continue on this incredible ride.? more

From Radio Insight: The nearly 34 year run of the “CD” Alternative brand in Columbus concluded on Sunday evening when owner Randy Malloy shut down the last vestige of the station. Operating online as “WWCD Radio” since the station lost its lease to operate on 1580 WWCD/92.9 W225BS Columbus and 1550 WQCD/92.9 W225CM on February 1, Malloy shut down the stream with zero fanfare ahead of time on Sunday, April 28. Malloy shared the following note: Radio Friends, It has been a great adventure serving our beloved community, but the time has come that we must announce with heavy hearts that WWCD Radio has played its last song. It has been an incredible journey, one that legend can be told of with memories and cherished moments shared with you that will never be forgotten. Thank you to each and every one of you. The end of operations is not due to any one factor, but a number of reasons that others wil undoubtedly speculate on forever, and we wish you the best in doing so. It si not a decision that we wanted to make, but, as with life, sometimes you have ot make difficult choices. So with that said, we reflect on the joy and happiness that (as many have aptly named it) the soundtrack of our lives has given all of us and place ti back in your control. It has been said before, but we can never express our deepest gratitude enough to the fans, musicians, staff,f advertisers, collaborators, and families tor letting us be part of your lives these past 34 years. RIP WWCD 8-21-1990 /4-28-2024 With heartfelt gratitude, Randy Malloy The “CD” brand operated on 101.1 Grove City OH from 1990 until 2010 when its then owners sold its frequency to Ohio State University and began leasing Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting?s 102.5 Baltimore OH. Malloy, who was previously General Manager, acquired the intellectual property in 2017 after a dispute between the former owners and 102.5 licensee Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting. When that lease came to an end in 2020, the station would move to the two AMs and 92.9 translators through January of this year. Delmar Communications briefly then operated those signals as a competing Alternative brand “93X“, but flipped to Oldies just five weeks later. While attempts were made to bring the WWCD IP to iHeartMedia’s “Columbus Alternative 105.7” WXZX, a deal was never completed. Weird not being with you this morning. The station had a great run thanks to you. What's next? I'll let you know. — WWCDRadio.com Mornings/Former Blues Explosion (@CD929Morning) April 29, 2024 more

From Radio Online: Skyview Networks' syndicated Dana Cortez, Auto and Anthony exit the KKFR-FM (Power 98.3) morning show in Phoenix, effective Monday, April 29. "The Dana Cortez Show" began their time at the Desert Vally Media Group almost five years ago. KKFR will not replace the show in morning drive as it "works to More...

From Radio Insight: Pacifica Foundation’s 99.5 WBAI New York has entered a Consent Decree with the FCC over claims that several programs “purportedly aired over the Station that contain comparative and qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, and inducements to buy products or services provided by program guests” between June 2014 to April 2022. The programs, including “The Gary Null Show”, “Christine Blosdale Special” and “Off The Hook”, promoted these products and services without proper sponsorship identification. In the Consent Decree, WBAI acknowledged that it has violated the FCC’s Underwriting Laws and Sponsorship ID Rules, agreed to a $25,000 penalty, and a limited two-year license renewal to ensure future compliance. The $25,000 fine will be paid in five monthly installments of $5,000, but should WBAI miss any payment by one day they will be considered in default and the remainder of the penalty will accrue interest using the U.S. Prime Rate in effect on the date of default plus 4.75%. On a show this week, members of the station’s Advisory Board discussed the Consent Decree and other issues facing the station. They noted that they station expects a 35-40% deduction in revenue from no longer being able to use the programs that caused the issues. The station is over $200,000 in debt owed for its transmitter site lease and to a call center and would have owed more if not for their former studio landlord forgiving their back rent when selling the building. The FCC has rejected the Petition For Reconsideration for Common Frequency Inc. over the cancellation of the license of 88.1 KQCF Chiloquin/Klamath Falls OR after determining that the station operated from an unauthorized facility for over 12 months. KQCF was licensed to operate from an antenna attached to a tree in the yard of a residence but learned in September 2021 that the owner of the property sold it and required KQCF to vacate. The station filed via STA in November 2022 to operate from another tree 540 meters away and granted a CP authorizing the permanent move to a cell site. In May 2023, KQCF stated to an FCC staffer that it had resumed ?normal licensed operations? on November 1, 2022. Noting the inconsistency, the FCC sought clarification whether operations from that date onward were from the authorized site or the STA location, and again noted it was ??back at the authorized site.? contending that because where it moved was less than three seconds latitude or longitude it was not required to file a modification application, which the FCC states was a misunderstanding as that is only for when a station is not physically moving to a new location or changing licensed parameters. As KQCF moved its antenna to a new tree it was required to file a modification application making the license expired on November 1, 2023 since that was the last time it broadcast from licensed parameters. The Audio Division affirmed the decision following Common Frequency’s argument that the tree it was operating on was “close enough” to the licensed site to be rule-compliant due to the three second rule stating, “the filing of applications for approval of site changes is important even for relatively short moves because the Bureau needs the opportunity to consider any resulting changes in spacing, compliance with international agreements, and terrain shielding.” Pirate ActionsSix Massachusetts pirate operators have been proposed fines by the FCC in violation of the PIRATE Act. Jean Marius’ “Radio Tele Planet Compas” was issued a proposed penalty of $597,775 for operating on both 105.3 in Brockton and 89.3 Mattapan MA. The FCC notes that their Boston Field Office has been aware of Marius’ operation since 2004 on 89.3 in Randolph MA which led to a proposed fine in 2005 for $10,000 and was later given a Notice of Unlicensed Operation in 2017. Following FCC agents visits in June and July 2023, Marius stated he ceased operation on-air. A $120,000 fine was proposed against Renaldo David’s “Lotnivo FM” on 101.9 in Brockton. FCC agents first visited the site in July 2023 when David agreed to cease operation, but the station was then visited as operating in December 2023. $40,000 fines were proposed against Joao Vieira’s “Brockton FM” on 102.1 in Brockton, Djovany Pierre and Mario Turner’s “Radio Tele Brockton” and “Brockton Heat” 96.5 Brockton, and Robert Bellinger’s “Three Bays Radio” 93.1 Cotuit MA. All three operators were penalized for the FCC noting the stations operating in both June and July 2023. A $20,000 fine was proposed against Shane Kelly’s “87.9 The Test” in Hyannis MA for operating in June 2023. Kelly admitted to running the station as a hobby and immediately shut down the operation. The Federal Communications Commission today proposed fines against seven pirate radio operators under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (PIRATE Act) for operating six pirate radio stations. These pirate radio stations, investigated during the Enforcement Bureau?s sweep in the Boston area under the PIRATE Act, now face proposed fines totaling $857,775. Pirate radio is an unauthorized transmission of radio signals on the frequencies in or adjacent to the FM and AM radio bands. Pirate radio operations pose public safety risks, including causing harmful interference to licensed radio stations which transmit public safety emergency alert messages. Operating a pirate radio station is illegal under the Communications Act of 1934 and subject to the FCC?s enhanced enforcement capabilities enacted by Congress in the PIRATE Act in 2020. Under the PIRATE Act, the FCC can fine pirate radio operators up to $119,555 per day and a maximum of $2,391,097, as adjusted for inflation. The PIRATE Act increases possible penalties for illegal broadcasting, requires the FCC to conduct periodic enforcement sweeps, and grants the Commission authority to take enforcement action against landlords and property owners that willfully and knowingly permit pirate radio broadcasting on their properties. Today, the Commission proposed a $597,775 fine under the PIRATE Act against Jean Marius, the operator of the pirate radio station ?Radio Tele Planet Compas? in Brockton, Randolph, and Mattapan, MA. Renold David, operator of the pirate radio station ?Lotnivo FM? in Brockton faces a $120,000 fine, and Shane Kelly, the operator of the pirate radio station ?The Test 87.9 FM? in Hyannis, MA, faces a $20,000 fine. In addition, the following pirate radio operators each face $40,000 in fines: Joao Vieira, operator of the pirate radio station ?Brockton FM? in Brockton; Robert Bellinger, operator of a pirate radio station, known as ?TBR Radio? in Cotuit, MA; and Djovany Pierre and Mario Turner, operators of the pirate radio station, known as ?Radio Tele Brockton 96.5? or ?Brockton Heat?, in Brockton. The proposed actions, formally called Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, or NALs, contain only allegations that advise the parties on how they have apparently violated the law and may set forth proposed monetary penalties. The Commission may not impose greater monetary penalties in these cases than the amount proposed in the NALs. Neither the allegations nor the proposed sanctions in the NALs are final Commission actions. The parties will be given an opportunity to respond, and the Commission will consider the parties? submissions of evidence and legal arguments before acting further to resolve the matter. License CancellationsTownsquare Media has surrendered the license of 1460 KUTI Yakima WA. This content is for Premium Annual and Premium Monthly members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. more

From Radio Insight: The FCC granted with conditions Cumulus Media’s remedial petition for declaratory ruling to seek specific approval for certain named foreign investors to hold more than 5% of the equity and/or voting interests in Cumulus and advance approval for those foreign investors to increase their equity and/or voting interests in Cumulus up to any non-controlling amount not to exceed 14.99%. The filing follows Renew Group Private Ltd. increasing its stake in Cumulus from 5.15% to 10.01% in January and stating its intent to acquire 20% of the company. That move was the impetus for Cumulus adopting a Poison Pill Maneuver to prevent any person or group becoming the holder of 15% or more of their Class A Common Shares without the prior approval of the Board to ward off a hostile takeover of the company. Cumulus was granted permission from the FCC in 2020 to exceed the 25% limit on foreign investment. That ruling required Cumulus obtain specific approval for each investor that would hold more than 5% of the company within 30 days of knowing it was no longer in compliance. Cumulus complied filing in February that Renew Group Private Ltd. had acquired a 9.8% equity stake and 10.01% of voting interest. Pending action on a forthcoming public comment period regarding the increased stake, the FCC has required conditions that would suspend all voting rights of more than 5% of Cumulus?s outstanding voting stock by Renew Group Private Limited; IR Investments, LP; the IR Charitable Trust; and Indu Rawat, or any of their affiliates. The conditions state: No Renew Investor shall have the right to do any of the following, and Cumulus shall not allow any Renew Investor to do any of the following, until and unless the Commission releases a declaratory ruling granting specific approval for the Renew Investors to hold, directly and/or indirectly, more than 5% of the equity and/or voting interests in Cumulus: Designate, appoint, nominate, or serve as a member of the board of directors of Cumulus; Attend any meeting of the board of directors of Cumulus; Receive any non-public materials from Cumulus, including any non-public materials distributed to the board of directors of Cumulus; Have any role in or communicate with Cumulus concerning the day-to-day management or operations of Cumulus?s radio stations; or Have any role in or veto right with respect to a decision to buy or sell a radio station. No employee, agent, or affiliate of the Renew Investors shall be an officer, director, employee, or consultant of Cumulus (including subsidiaries and affiliates of Cumulus) until and unless the Commission releases a declaratory ruling granting specific approval for the Renew Investors to hold, directly and/or indirectly, more than 5% of the equity and/or voting interests in Cumulus. Cumulus shall not permit any employee, agent, or affiliate of the Renew Investors to be an officer, director, employee, or consultant of Cumulus (including subsidiaries and affiliates of Cumulus) until and unless the Commission releases a declaratory ruling granting specific approval for the Cumulus Investors to hold, directly and/or indirectly, more than 5% of the equity and/or voting interests in Cumulus. Cumulus must ensure that any and all dividends and/or distributions payable to the Renew Investors are placed in escrow and that no such dividend or distribution is made to the Renew Investors until and unless the Commission releases a declaratory ruling granting specific approval for the Renew Investors to hold, directly and/or indirectly, more than 5% of the equity and/or voting interests in Cumulus. Within seven days of the date of grant of the assignment application, Cumulus shall submit a declaration to the Chief, Audio Division, Media Bureau, confirming that Cumulus is in compliance with each of the preceding conditions and that Cumulus will exercise its rights under its organizational documents to remain in compliance with each of the preceding conditions until and unless the Commission releases a declaratory ruling granting specific approval for the Renew Investors to hold, directly and/or indirectly, more than 5% of the equity and/or voting interests in Cumulus. Pursuant to section 1.5004(f)(3)(iii) of the Commission?s rules, if the petition is denied, Cumulus must come into compliance no later than 30 days following the Commission?s decision, unless the Commission determines under such rule that immediate remedial action is required. more

From Radio Online: KEGL-FM (97.1 The Freak)/Dallas has reportedly jettisoned Sports/Talk and reverted back to its previous Rock format. The move comes less than two years after the station relaunched with much fanfare, led by radio veteran Mike Rhyner, who famously came out of retirement to spearhead The Freak's launch in More...

From Radio Insight: Desert Valley Media Group Rhythmic CHR “Power 98.3” KKFR Mayer/Phoenix and 96.1 K241BQ Fort McDowell AZ is counting down to a relaunch on Monday, April 29 at 12pm. Sweepers are promoting the station getting a facelift and “The New Sound of Power 98.3”. KKFR had a 1.2 share in the March 2023 Nielsen Audio ratings. With the upcoming changes, Skyview Networks’ Dana Cortez Show will depart mornings on the station. Cortez stated, ?The Dana Cortez Show has enjoyed entertaining listeners on KKFR Phoenix since 2019. In recent months, we have been talking with the Desert Valley Media Group President/CEO Jeff Trumper about changes he intends to make to the sound of the station. During these discussions, we determined our energies are best focused on having fun every day on our growing nationally syndicated radio show! We wish DVMG well and especially want to thank our amazing loyal listeners and advertisers in Phoenix who have been so supportive of our show.? more

From Radio Insight: Sadie Black has announced her departure as Music Director of LM Communications Rock “98 Rock” WYBB Folly Beach and AAA “105.5 The Bridge” WCOO Kiawah Island/Charleston SC. She also hosted middays on WYBB. Black shared on Instagram, “It?s with a heavy heart that I announce that I am leaving radio after 11 amazing years. Today will be my last midday shift. As I bid farewell to the airwaves, it?s with a heart full of gratitude and nostalgia. Over the past 11 years, radio has been my world, my passion, and my joy. But now, as the time comes to explore new horizons and embrace fresh opportunities, I step away with fond memories and endless appreciation. To the loyal listeners who?ve tuned in faithfully, you?ve been the heartbeat of my journey. Your support, your stories, and your energy have fueled every broadcast. Thank you to everyone in Columbia that listened, loved and supported me. You were the best, and I?m so glad I still keep in contact with many of you. To the vibrant community of Charleston, thank you for embracing me with open arms during my tenure on 98 Rock. Though this may be the end of one chapter, I?m excited to see what the future holds. Stay tuned, and until we meet again, keep rocking. Signing off with love and gratitude, Sadie Black.” Black had joined LM Charleston in May 2022 after working at Golden Isles Broadcasting Country “104.1 The Wave” WRJY and Hot AC “Magic 105.9” WXMK in Brunswick GA from 2020-22. She also spent five years at Alpha Media Columbia SC where she was cluster Promotions/Digital Content Manager, APD of AAA “94.9 The Palm” W235CH and Alternative “Alt 99.7” W259CL, and spent time in overnights, middays and afternoons on Rock “Fox 102.3” WMFX. more

From Radio Online: Audacy recently announced another round of layoffs, impacting nearly 100 employees across various stations including WBBM in Chicago, WTIC-AM in Hartford, and others. Notable departures include WBBM afternoon news anchor Keith Johnson, where five of the eight digital news staff positions were also More...

From Radio Insight: Nielsen continues its release of the February 2024 diary surveys today. Today’s markets include monthly ratings for Monthly ratings for Birmingham, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Fort Myers, Greenville/Spartanburg, Richmond, and Rochester, and Tucson. Coming on Monday, March 29: Monthly ratings for Albany/Schenectady/Troy, Allentown/Bethlehem, Dayton, Fresno, Grand Rapids and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. more

From Radio Online: iHeartPodcasts together with best friends Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington, announce an all-new weekly podcast entitled "Call It What It Is." The premiere episode will debut on June 3. As all besties do, they navigate the highs and lows of life together. When one of them sends out the distress signal, More...

From Radio Insight: The Sports/Hot Talk format of “97.1 The Freak” KEGL Fort Worth/Dallas TX looks to be coming to an end. Staffers were informed this morning in a meeting that a format change is imminent for the station. KEGL had flipped from Active Rock to Hot Talk/Sports in October 2022 bringing in many well-known talents in the market including KTCK co-founder Mike Rhyner to anchor afternoons. The flip was done to give a more compatible programming to the station’s coverage of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. The station’s ratings have hovered in the low 1 share range at a 1.3 in the past two monthlies. We have not confirmed the status of any of the station’s staffers yet. The midday Ben & Skin Show is running best-of today. KEGL is scheduled to carry Game 3 of the Dallas Mavericks playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers at 7pm tonight. We will update this story as more details become available. DOMAIN INSIGHT: What is next for KEGL? This content is for Premium Annual and Premium Monthly members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. more

From Radio Online: FOX Sports Radio joined forces this week to provide sports fans with coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft. FSR featured live, wall-to-wall coverage of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25. More than 300 stations across the country aired the network's 24th annual "Draft Night Live" More...

From Radio Online: RAB launches a unique training certification program tailored to content creators in broadcast radio and audio. The new course is built upon the fundamentals and hallmarks of RAB's certified Radio Marketing Consulting course. Developed and produced by RAB's Professional Development team, the course focuses More...

From Radio Insight: Chavez Radio Group flipped Bilingual Rhythmic “Forge 103.9” KBDS Taft/Bakersfield CA to Hip Hop “Fire 103.9” earlier this month. The station is very current intensive and running commercial-free. With the change the station has also added Skyview Networks’ “Ed Lover Experience” for middays from 10am-3pm. The 4pm hour on Thursday, April 25 featured: Drake – You Broke Me Heart Flo Milli ft. Lil Yachty – Never Lose Me Kehlani – After Hours 2Pac & Dr. Dre – California Love Future & Metro Boomin – Like That Sza – Saturn Rema & Selena Gomez – Calm Down YG Marley – Praise Jah In The Moonlight Bossman Dlow – Get In With Me Usher ft. Pheelz – Run Don Toliver – Bandit Travis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – FEIN Nicki Minaj – FTCU Sexyy Red – Get It Sexyy Too $hort ft. Lil Jon – Shake That Monkey more

From Radio Insight: After beginning to operate the stations via Time Brokerage Agreement in January, The Voice Radio Network will purchase 1460 WIFI Florence NJ and translators 92.9 W225CJ Burlington and 98.5 W253DG Trenton for $950,000. Byrne Acquisition Group acquires “Q Rock Radio” 1240 WLSQ/106.7 W294CW Loris SC from Banana Jack Murphy Productions for $250,000. The station will join the company’s Conservative Talk “Talk 94.5” WTKN Murrells Inlet and Soft AC “Easy 105.9/100.7” WEZV North Myrtle Beach/WYEZ Andrews in the Myrtle Beach market. A.T. Moore’s Family Life Education Foundation sells 90.9 KFLO-FM Minden and 90.7 K214BE Shreveport LA to Isaac and Robin House’ Spring Quest for $125,000. Edward Baker’s Big River Radio sells Country “C98.3 The Bull” WCEF Ripley WV to Brandon Scott Northcraft, Clay Perkins and Clinton Perkins’ Hometown Radio LLC for $375,000. Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland County transfer the CP for 91.7 WLWG Mount Pleasant PA to Grace FM for no consideration. Sales WithdrawalsKeith Baldwin’s KBaldwin Media Group has withdrawn their $100,000 purchase of Gospel 970 WRCS Ahoskie NC from James Watford?s WRCS-AM 970 Inc. Translator SalesBroadway Media trades 94.5 K233DI Provo UT to San Pete County Broadcasting Company for 92.1 K221GK Salt Lake City. K233DI will rebroadcast San Pete’s 1400 KIXR Provo, while K221GK will continue to rebroadcast Broadway Media’s “ESPN 700” KALL North Salt Lake City. Freddie and Ana Cruz’ Power 102.1 FM LLC acquires 103.7 K279CU Thibodaux LA from GAP Broadcasting for $70,000. The translator will rebroadcast the buyer’s 910 WUBR Baton Rouge. more

From Radio Insight: The syndicated “Good Day Show with Doug Stephan & Jai Kershner” will end its run in daily syndication on Friday, May 3 after 36 years. Coinciding with the shut down of distributor Genesis Communications Network, the show will be replaced by a pair of four hour weekend shows available via FTP distribution. ?Good Day Saturday? and ?Good Day Sunday? will be distributed by United Stations Media Networks. The two weekend shows are modular so that they can be carried in one to four hour blocks. Stephan states, “This isn?t goodbye, but it is changing when and how we will deliver our program. Weekends are a vast wasteland of infomercials and reruns. The content on this new show aligns with the same positive approach, features and friends that listeners have become accustomed to from ‘Good Day’. This new program is deliberately formatted so each hour stands on its own and can be used in any daypart on the weekend or weekdays, and it can be aired more than once, should you want to do that.” During its run, the show has also been known as “Good Day with Doug Stephan” and “The DJV Show”. For more information on the show reach out to Mike McVay at mikemcvay@mcvaymedia.com or Doug Stephan at doug.stephan@gmail.com. more

From Radio Online: In celebration of 20 years on the air at KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, the "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" morning show is hitting the road to meet listeners at some of the meaningful small businesses that have been a part of the show throughout the years. It all started Thursday, April 25 as Seacrest began his tour More...

From Radio Online: "The Good Day Show with Doug Stephan andamp; Jai Kershner" will end its long run as a morning program with its final program via Wegner/Echobox on May 3. The program will be replaced with two weekend offerings -- "Good Day Saturday" and "Good Day Sunday" -- featuring new content that are More...

From Radio Online: Benztown releases two new episodes of "Chachi Loves Everybody," an original podcast featuring Benztown President and audio brand builder Dave "Chachi" Denes. The episodes feature Chachi's recent sit-down at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas with RAB CEO Mike Hulvey, and his chat with Epic Media Founder Brad More...

From Radio Online: As the world grapples with economic uncertainties and ongoing digital transformation, Nielsen's 2024 Annual Marketing Report provides crucial insights into the evolving landscape of media and advertising. Amidst fears of a recession and challenges like inflation and supply chain More...

From Radio Insight: Nielsen begins its releases of the March 2024 diary surveys today. Today’s markets include monthly ratings for Baton Rouge, Louisville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Puerto Rico. Other markets coming this week include: On Friday, April 26: Monthly ratings for Birmingham, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Fort Myers, Greenville/Spartanburg, Richmond, and Rochester, and Tucson. more

From Radio Online: The FCC has taken a strong stance against illegal broadcasting by proposing hefty fines totaling over $850,000 against operators of six pirate radio stations. This action comes as part of a broader effort under the PIRATE Act to curb unauthorized radio transmissions that have been identified in the Boston More...

From Radio Online: iHeartMedia is named the Webby Podcast Company of the Year, a Special Achievement Award for podcast companies with the largest body of Webby-winning, nominated and honored work across all Podcasts categories. In 2024, iHeart was recognized with 18 Webby Awards, 38 nominations and 16 More...

From Radio Online: The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced the results of the 2024 NAB Radio Board of Directors elections. The two-year terms of the elected board members will begin in June. New board members include Beasley Media Vice President and Market Manager Mary Menna for District 2 (NY, NJ), More...

From Radio Insight: After 100 years and a drastically changed landscape, it is interesting how radio is still so easily explained, but how rarely it benefits from a modifier. That?s especially true when you?re looking to differentiate the product originating on AM/FM from other like services. Not everybody who reads Ross on Radio regards ?terrestrial radio? as a pejorative. ?It sounds futuristic, like it?s out of science fiction,? says Jeff Berlin. ?It feels special and magical, like we are,? says Lauren Pressley of New Jersey?s WOLD.* Mostly, though, ?terrestrial radio? still comes across as satellite radio?s attempt to position itself as the space-age service, and everybody else as something lesser. That was certainly why the consumer press so enthusiastically adapted it in the early ?00s, and why radio advocates like Erica Farber have campaigned against it.* Edison Research, in its studies, uses AM/FM radio to signify stations originating there, even if those stations are consumed on another platform. In this column, I?ve mostly used the term ?broadcast radio? in the same way. As a proud broadcaster, I know that term is easily understood among us, but there?s no sizzle there for a consumer. In the first segment of Point-to-Point Media?s recent What Workers Want study, Strategic Solutions Research asked listeners about ?your local radio station.? It was a term that many respondents viewed favorably, and one that Strategic?s Hal Rood encouraged radio to embrace, particularly since there was no consumer benefit to ?terrestrial.? Part I of the What Workers Want trilogy of webcasts found that ?local information? was still valuable to 48% of respondents, third after non-stop music and ?funny content.? Even traffic, the thing still on most stations because it?s sponsored, but thought to have been made redundant by your phone, is still an attraction for 33% of listeners. ?I like ?local radio,?? says veteran PD Monica Starks. ?It?s where it?s originating from and hopefully not lost on programmers.? I agree that ?local radio? is a great thing to offer people. As Starks notes, being ?local radio? carries with it the responsibility to deliver ?local? rather than just talking about it. Even when an air personality is sitting in a station?s studios, and even if they?re speaking in real time, they may still be talking about entertainment news or what doctors in Sweden have discovered. When I listen to client stations, ?I need to learn more about the market? is usually among my notes.* ?Local radio? doesn?t cover everything, or have to. I?ve said before that not all radio needs to be local. Part of my vision for a more compelling radio dial is the creation of more ?real national? or ?real regional? to replace ?faux local.? I?ve also suggested that some of that national (or regional radio) could have some of the benefits of local just by being more transparent about where content is emanating from, something that works well for SiriusXM.* ?Traditional radio? reinforces the notion of radio as hidebound. ?Classic radio? means radio with the values that have always made radio great, but it also doesn?t provide for an ongoing evolution, and it?s easily confused with Classic Hits radio. For myself, I think of those stations that still do the right things as ?real radio.? That wouldn?t be a bad way to differentiate ourselves for listeners, but that one also carries a burden of proof.* Some readers make distinctions with friends depending on what exactly they?re referring to. ?I usually make it as specific or vague as necessary,? says Country Insider?s Brian Mansfield, who will use ?local,? ?terrestrial,? ?satellite,? or ?broadcast? as applicable. But he uses radio ?if it?s just delivered audio. Then I count on the reader to go, ?wait, what?s the difference between ?terrestrial radio? and ?radio??? And that sets up a teaching moment.? ?When I?m talking with people about how they listen to music, they usually don?t give a generic answer ?I stream,?? says Bruce Cole. ?They answer with brand specificity: Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, etc. My takeaway is to talk brand more than delivery message ? not radio but WXRT, CBS-FM, V103, etc.? For many readers, like Alan Sells, the answer is just ?radio, that?s what it is. You would have to waste too much time trying to rebrand any other term for 99% of potential users, who wouldn?t know why you were trying to rebrand the project.? It?s not news that streaming pureplays still often find ?radio? to be the easiest way to explain what they do. ?We don?t have to explain what we are,? says syndicated morning host Jerry Broadway. ?We are radio. Satellite and internet ?radio? are derivatives of a well-established brand. We don?t have to explain, they do.? When I?m asked about the survival of ?radio,? a question poised even by some broadcasters themselves at the National Assn. of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas earlier this week, there?s no grim determination required when I tell people that I believe there will be a franchise for ?radio? forever. The only issue is who will provide it and on what platform. Despite its initial publicity, SXM has always been for me a bastion of ?real radio,? although some of its expanded offerings, particularly following its merger with Pandora, are less so. “Free radio” is a popular and valuable talking point at the moment, but I?m still in favor of SiriusXM being thought of as radio and counting towards radio?s ?Share of Ear? in Edison?s studies, and in the perception of the media and advertisers. It would also help broadcasters in the perception of the media and advertisers if there were a way to make their presence in podcasting better known and recognized. According to Edison, four of podcasting?s top 10 networks and two of the top three are part of the radio industry; (again, I?m including SiriusXM here). Sharing that story would help reinforce the notion of “radio everywhere.” For those listeners on which that distinction might be lost, it would help broadcasters if just a fraction of the inventory of those podcasts went toward directing listeners to real-time radio, some likely for the first time. If broadcasters were able to target podcast listeners, they would have to offer both a compelling message and a product. That would require the same improvements, particularly in both quantity and quality of spots, that would improve radio for the existing audience. They might indeed do better to market specific brands or shows, and whatever they market will have to be available on multiple platforms, including the one they?re listening to at that moment. We won’t necessarily have to explain what real radio is; but it will be necessary to deliver it.* more

From Radio Insight: The Lindsay Cochrane hosted “Life with Lindsay” will join the lineup at Lee Family Broadcasting Country ?Kat Kountry 106? KKMV Rupert/Twin Falls ID on Wednesday, May 1. KKMV will add the show for overnights replacing Premiere Networks’ After Midnite with Granger Smith. KKMV Program Director Scotty Cameron states, “Kat Kountry 106 KKMV is a local radio station that focuses on our community and independent country music. I had a chance to meet Lindsay in Nashville and loved her personality. After listening to her I knew she would make the perfect addition to the Kat Kountry family. She focuses on real life and has the Country Music tea everyone wants to hear.” Cochrane commented, “I’m so excited to add KKMV to the Life with Lindsay affiliate list. They have such a loyal country audience that has already started to welcome me on social media, I can’t wait to invite them to be a part of the show! Scotty has done such a great job having the station be a big part of the community and I am honored that he believes in my content on Life with Lindsay and wants me to be a part of the Kat Kountry family.? Life with Lindsay is available via barter to air in any daypart. Those interested in the show are asked to reach out to Cochrane at Lindsay@lifewithlindsayradio.com or Virtual Jock’s Jason Kidd atjkidd@virtualjock.com. more