The legal challenges to the FCC’s plans to restart data collection about station employees will be consolidated into a single case. At the request of the Commission, and with the blessing of the religious station operators and the Texas Association of Broadcasters, the challenges will be merged into a single legal docket. Read moreCourt Consolidates Suits Opposing FCC’s Revived Employee Data Collection.
In a biannual assessment of advertising trends on the open internet — where the leading 500 digital publishers account for approximately half of advertising revenue — The Trade Desk says digital audio is “set for takeoff” as the medium has grown to account for more time than social media. It says audio will also benefit as fewer ad dollars are being spent with the big tech companies at any point in the last decade. Read moreAs Marketers Look Beyond Big Tech’s Walled Gardens, The Trade Desk Sees Audio As A Winner.
All 50 state broadcast associations, as well as trade groups representing stations in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are getting behind a measure they say will improve rates of media ownership for women and minorities. The VOICES Act, introduced in April, aims to encourage investment in radio and TV station ownership, with the goal of building a local media landscape “that reflects our communities on the air.” Read moreState Associations Urge Congress To Pass Bill Reviving Tax Certificate Program.
Spanish Broadcasting System says revenue may have declined during the fourth quarter, but in releasing its delayed quarterly and year-end results for 2023, CEO Raúl Alarcón says the results reflect “the beginning of an extensive refocusing” for the company’s operating units. As for the revenue, SBS says fourth quarter revenue declined 7% from a year earlier to $42.3 million. And year-end revenue declined 6% to $147.3 million. Read moreAlarcón: “Extensive Refocusing” At SBS Is Beginning To Boost Results.
Dan Lothian, Executive Producer of the long-running public radio daily global news program “The World,” is appointed to the newly created role of Editor-in-Chief of GBH News and “The World.” The elevation of Lothian follows the resignation of GM Pam Johnston, who officially departs Friday, May 31, and last week’s 4% staff reduction at the public media group. Read moreWGBH Boston Elevates Dan Lothian To Succeed Pam Johnston.
Inside Radio salutes the 2024 nominees for induction to the Radio Hall of Fame — and reminds our readers of their legacies of excellence. Today: “The John & Ken Show,” which drew an estimated weekly listenership of 1.2 million people, and Funk Flex, an evening fixture at “Hot 97” WQHT in New York for more than three decades. Read moreMeet The Radio Hall Of Fame Nominees.
The nomination window opens this weekend for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame’s 2023 Induction Class. The nominations portal will be accessible to voting members from June 1 through June 30. Up to 50 candidates will be selected by the Review Committee. Voting will determine the 20 inductees who will be honored on Nov. 2 at TRHOF’s Induction Ceremony and Radio Reunion Weekend. Read moreTexas Radio Hall Of Fame Nominee Process Begins.
WCCO Minneapolis raised $85,000 during the “Cure Blood Cancer Radio Auction.” … “The Connie Club” debuts on WXPN Philadelphia on Saturday… WTOP Washington, D.C. won six Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards… Cumulus Media Buffalo, NY raised over $430,000 through the first-ever “Giving Day for OCH Radiothon.” … WHAV Haverhill, MA signs on as an affiliate of CBS News Radio. Read moreNews Bites: WCCO, ‘The Connie Club,’ WTOP, Cumulus Media Buffalo, WHAV.
A group advocating on behalf of a pro-marijuana measure in Florida is getting some support from a familiar voice — one that’s particularly well known to radio listeners. John Morgan of the law firm Morgan & Morgan, known for its “For The People” radio spots, has cut a trio of spots Promoting Amendment 3 in the Sunshine State. Read moreA Familiar Voice (And Major Radio Advertiser) Promotes Marijuana Decriminalization.
Nielsen is notifying its clients that it has delisted regional Mexican “Que Buena 105.7” KQMX-FM in the April 2024 Bakersfield (CA) Radio Market Report after discovering that the household of a staff member obtained and returned survey diaries. The diaries, as a result, “did not meet Nielsen’s quality standards, and were not included” in the report, which was released Wednesday. Read moreNielsen Delists Station From April Bakersfield, CA Market Report.
iHeartMedia Cleveland promotes Cindy Hunter to Senior VP of Sales and Lauren O’Brien to VP of Digital. A 30-year Northeast Ohio radio and marketing veteran, Hunter previously served as VP of Sales and will continue as iHeartMedia’s political sales lead for Ohio. O’Brien has been with iHeartMedia Cleveland since April 2019, and the Director of Agency & Digital Partnerships since 2022. Read moreCindy Hunter
Afternoon co-host Bill Doyle exits Townsquare Media talk “New Jersey 101.5” WKXW Trenton, NJ. Doyle has been partnered with Jeff Deminski since 1994. The duo was in their second stint at the radio station and also hosted afternoons and mornings in Detroit. Deminski remains with the station. Read moreBill Doyle
Tony Luna joins Hope Media Group’s Spanish language network Vida Unida as Network Program Director, a newly created position. Luna most recently served as PD of Audacy Spanish AC “Mega 101” KLOL Houston, exiting in April amongst company-wide cuts. He previously programmed SBS’ “Mega 97.9” WSKQ and “Amor 93.1” WPAT in New York. Read moreTony Luna
Becky Sullivan is joining the National Desk at NPR as a sports correspondent. Sullivan has worked at NPR for 12 years. She started as an Arts Desk intern, worked the weekend shows, and spent many years as a producer on All Things Considered. Most recently, she has been a digital reporter on the Newshub. Sullivan will start her new role at the network on June 3. Read moreBecky Sullivan
Alli Ali (Alexandra Ali), morning co-host at Cox Media Group CHR WBLI Nassau-Suffolk, NY (106.1), has signed a new contract extension, where she will continue in her co-host role of “The Syke Morning Show with Ally Ali,” with Andrew “Syke” Sykora. Ali has been with the station since 2018, joining as an intern and rising to morning show producer and eventually co-host in 2021. Read moreAlly Ali
