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| Before news breaks, it must bend... and that’s where we come in. |
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More Towers Down After Michigan Ice Storm
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| • Last week we told you about that devastating Northern Michigan ice storm that cut power to some 90,000 area residents and took down the tower of Macdonald Garber Broadcasting Top 40 WKHQ (106 KHQ)/Charlevoix-Traverse City, MI.
At the time, Macdonald Garber VP of Programming Peter Garber explained that accessing the tower site was a bit dicey. On Friday, he checked in with this update: "We're now up to six towers down in the area due to the ice storm, two of which are ours." Garber explained that, in addition to the loss of WKHQ's tower, the tower of AC sister WLXT (Lite 96.3) was discovered lying on the ground Thursday morning when they finally gained access to the transmitter site, navigating around downed trees and power lines. Garber added, "They appear to have buckled under the weight of the ice, which causes them to break somewhere in the middle and collapse on themselves. I've never seen anything like it in my life."
While WKHQ's tower fell sometime between Sunday, March 30, and early Monday, March 31, the company believes Lite 96.3's tower collapsed sometime on Wednesday, April 2, and was discovered on Thursday. "Both stations are still off air," Garber said, "but at least we're able to stream now that power and internet have been restored to our studio location."
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| • Elsewhere in the great state of Michigan... MacDonald Broadcasting has put out the nationwide call for "a dynamic leader with a proven sales track record to drive growth and innovation."
This is a rare opportunity to lead a 10-station, debt-free radio group in Saginaw and Lansing. As a third-generation, family-owned broadcaster, we value leadership, vision, and results.
Interested? Qualified candidates are invited to email Michigan.radio.jobs@gmail.com or call retiring owner Mac MacDonald at 989-798-8092 to discuss this exceptional role. EOE.
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Final thoughts on spring contesting, a caveat about streaming, and the availability of a free Country OMT -- all from NuVoodoo. Learn more in the latest installment of NuVoodoo's weekly "Moneyball for Radio" column, "Ca$h Is King, But Fun Is Infectious," now posted at RAMP247.com.
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Flagship Extensions For Braves & Giants
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| • Dickey Broadcasting Company announced a monster 12-year extension of WCNN (680 The Fan)/Atlanta's partnership with the Atlanta Braves, continuing its successful 16-year run.
David Dickey, President of Dickey Broadcasting Company, commented, "We are incredibly proud to extend our relationship with the Atlanta Braves. Our shared passion for baseball and dedication to delivering top-notch content to our listeners has been the cornerstone of our success. We look forward to many more seasons of exciting Braves baseball on 680 The Fan."
Derek Schiller, Braves' President & CEO, said, "The partnership with Dickey Broadcasting has been instrumental in connecting our fans with the team. 680 The Fan's exceptional coverage and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our goals. We are excited to continue this journey together."
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| • And in San Francsico, Cumulus Sports-Talk KNBR (104.5/680AM), "The Sports Leader" has inked a multi-year extension with the San Francisco Giants to remain the club's radio flagship as it has since 1979.
Larry Baer, San Francisco Giants' President & CEO, said, "We are excited to continue our incredible partnership with KNBR, and thrilled KNBR remains our flagship station for Giants fans at least through the 2028 season. Led by the best broadcast team in all of Major League Baseball, KNBR offers our fans unique and insightful coverage not only throughout the season but the entire year."
Larry Blumhagen, RVP/Market Manager, Cumulus San Francisco/Los Angeles, commented, "All of us at KNBR are elated to know we are committed having Giants baseball through our 50th year together in 2028. We look forward to providing Giants fans with gameday coverage on all our platforms from AM/FM to streaming."
KNBR PD Mike Hohler remarked, "Growing up listening to Giants baseball on KNBR, I have vivid memories of childhood summer days spent listening to Hank Greenwald paint the picture of Will Clark hitting a ball into the upper deck at Candlestick Park. It means a great deal to me to be at the helm of KNBR when signing an extension that keeps these two legendary brands together through the 50th year of our partnership. It's a proud moment for me, not only as the Program Director for KNBR, but as a lifelong Giants fan."
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Hybrid Podcast Usage Now A Thing
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| Coleman Insights and Amplifi Media just released findings from the landmark research study "The State of Video Podcasting 2025," delivered during the keynote session at Podcast Movement Evolutions last Thursday, April 3 at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center
A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. podcast consumers aged 15 to 64 reveals that 77% alternate between audio and video, a major shift toward a hybrid usage of the medium. Less than a quarter of consumers (23%) exclusively use just audio or video.
Jay Nachlis (below, left), Vice President/Consultant at Coleman Insights, and Steve Goldstein (below, right), Founder/CEO of Amplifi Media, presented this data point and more findings from their study, "The State of Video Podcasting 2025," which additionally notes that there is little difference in the podcast consumption habits of younger and older users. Nachlis said, "When we look at Gen Z podcast consumers between the ages of 15 and 29, 83% use audio and video interchangeably, only slightly higher than the general population. Video podcasts is not a young-leaning phenomenon."
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| The research also reveals a notable shift in how podcast consumers are accessing content on YouTube. Goldstein explains that in Coleman/Amplifi's study just 18 months ago, most YouTube podcast consumption happened on smartphones, followed by computers, with Smart TVs trailing far behind. Today, Smart TV usage has climbed significantly and is tied with computers for second place.
As Goldstein explains, "It's not enough to say lots of people use YouTube for podcasts. The way they are using YouTube is also changing."
Nachlis and Goldstein will host a follow-up webinar to discuss their findings and answer your questions on Thursday, April 17 at 2pm ET. Register HERE. The full report will be available at ColemanInsights.com and AmplifiMedia.com following the webinar.
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Learfield & SportsBug: Great Teammates
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| Learfield, leading media and technology company powering college athletics, has partnered with SportsBug to deliver play-by-play radio streaming broadcasts in real-time with no delay to fans watching live sports in stadiums and arenas.
In conjunction with Learfield's Varsity Network App and its local radio partners, SportsBug will provide a seamless user experience for fans to hear their favorite radio play-by-play announcers, while at the venue with no delay. This fan engagement and sponsor benefit will be provided at no cost to the fans. All they need to do is download the free Varsity Network app and then listen to the game on the app when watching in the stadium or arena. Typical play-by-play streaming audio is delayed from around 30 seconds to over a minute and a half.
Now, using any mobile device from any carrier, fans will hear Learfield's broadcasts with a delay of under one second, eliminating the frustrating delay that makes it very difficult to watch live sports in the venue and listen to play-by-play.
"College sports fans have a deep connection with their local play-by-play broadcasters, and this partnership with SportsBug allows us to deliver that familiar voice directly to their ears, with no delay, while they’re in the stands," said Chris Ferris, Learfield SVP for Broadcast. "We're thrilled to provide this seamless experience in conjunction with our local radio partners, ensuring that fans can feel even more immersed in the game as it happens."
"SportsBug is thrilled to be working with Learfield to bring our technology to college sports fans throughout the country," said Chuck Bortnick, SportsBug Chief Operating Officer. "As a result, fans can now have a reason to listen to radio play-by-play streaming while attending live sports. It is a win for the fans, schools, and sponsors. SportsBug looks forward to working with Learfield and its school partners on this game-changing opportunity for radio play-by-play streaming broadcasts."
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| Radio.Cloud, the world's leading cloud-based radio operating system, announced it can now push metadata directly to Quu, which empowers radio stations to schedule and publish dynamic programming and sales messages on screens. The companies made the announcement of this partnership during the 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas.
"This is a very innovative development for the radio market, and we're proud to fully integrate with Quu" said Christian Brenner, CEO & Founder of Radio.Cloud. "We always pride ourselves on aligning with other forward-thinking companies." This collaboration means Radio.Cloud partners can now drive dynamic programming and synchronized advertising messages on screen.
"As radio evolves, the industry is increasingly embracing visual content and Radio.Cloud's technology," said Steve Newberry, CEO of Quu. "Our collaboration gives broadcasters maximum flexibility to deliver exceptional visual displays that engage listeners and drive new revenue."
For more information about Radio.Cloud, contact andrew@radio.cloud or visit him at NAB booth W3334. Visit myquu.net to find out what Quu can do for you. And while you are wandering the convention floor, make sure you grab a photo with RAMP's own Steve Resnik!
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CBA's Excellence Adventure
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| The Colorado Broadcasters Association (CBA) hosted its Annual Awards of Excellence Gala on Saturday, April 5, at the pretty damn swanky Ritz-Carlton Denver. A crowd of over 400 radio and television pros gathered to celebrate the pinnacle of Colorado's broadcast achievements in 2024, recognizing the dedication, innovation, and impact of the state's broadcast community.
A record-breaking 933 entries were submitted this year -- 513 from radio and 411 from television. These submissions were meticulously reviewed by more than 200 volunteer broadcasters from across the country.
Among the standout winners of the evening, Casey Wren of KKCO-TV/Grand Junction was honored with the prestigious Rex Howell Broadcaster of the Year Award, recognizing his exceptional service to the broadcast industry, and in a heartfelt tribute, Captain Dan, a beloved radio legend from Colorado Springs, received the Harry W. Hoth Public Service Award, acknowledging his remarkable dedication both on and off the air.
The CBA also unveiled an exciting new initiative: the Colorado Broadcasters Hall of Fame, set to launch this fall, celebrating the contributions of Colorado's most influential broadcasters.
The CBA also recognized the "Stations of the Year" in various market categories -- Here are the 2024 Radio Honorees: Small Market: KBVC-FM/Buena Vista • Medium Market: KYSL-FM/Frisco • Major Market: KUNC-FM/Northern Colorado • Metro Market: KOA-AM/Denver.
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| • Tim Leary and Chelsea Taylor, co-hosts of the popular Tim & Chelsea Morning Show on Hubbard Radio's WIRK (New Country 103.1)/West Palm Beach were magically transported to that mythical land known as "Flavortown" recently when celebrity chef/restauranteur/Food Network host and philanthropist Guy Fieri came to town.
As Leary relates to RAMP, "We were so honored to be on hand for the Guy Fieri Foundation presentation of the new East Coast Disaster Relief Trailer for our first responders here in Palm Beach County! When disaster strikes and our first responders are helping those in need in the community, this trailer will help supports and feed the first responders!" The original Disaster Relief Trailer is on the West Coast, and this one is is dedicated to the East Coast.
Leary exclaimed, "Guy Fieri is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet! To see him give so much for our first responders is so incredible!" He added, "I managed not to fan-girl too hard... but if you look at the banner in the background you'll see I may have dyed my mohawk to match the color of his foundation's logo..."
Pictured, (l-r) Tim Leary, Guy Fieri, co-host Chelsea Taylor, and Sergeant Jeremy Campbell of the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, with his son Jaxon.)
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| • During a recent appearance in lovely Spokane, WA, Galaxy Label Group's own LOCASH celebrated their single, "Hometown Home," reaching No. 1.
How can you tell? Look no further than the telltale "No. 1" index fingers proudly held aloft by LOCASH's Chris Lucas (left) and Preston Brust (right), forming human bookends to Tim Cotter, OM/PD, and Jamie Patrick, APD/MD of Stephens Media Group Country KDRK (93.7 The Mountain)/Spokane, WA.
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| Services were held Saturday in Union City, PA for a beloved friend and colleague of many in our industry -- Fred Shade, 58, who passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 31.
Perfectly described as an "Innovator, Talent Agent, Talent Manager, Advisor, Accelerator, Marketer, a Development Specialist, and Mid-Century Modern Enthusiast," Shade grew up in Union City, PA, but had called Cleveland home for the past 20 years.
Shade got his first industry break at WZZO/Allentown, PA, before transitioning to the label side, joining A&M Records in 1993. He continued his career trajectory through subsequent stops at Epic, Virgin and Wind-up Records before joining Glassnote Records in 2013 as Director of Promotion. In 2020 Shade established Long Story Short, an artist development and promotion company, and he most recently used his years of experience and prodigious skills as a talent agent at King's Queens Entertainment.
Lorraine Caruso, a longtime colleague of Shade, said, "Fred was a lifelong friend and co-worker. I have had the joy of working with him from our early days at A&M Records, Wind-up, and recently until his passing, as a consultant at Mascot. He was an unwavering confident to me and others. He was brilliant, and had a kind soul. His passion and love for all the artists he worked with, his friendships with them, along with his friends at radio, and his co-workers, gave him joy and purpose."
Shade is survived by his mother, Mary Ann Shade, sister Melody Shade of Columbus, OH, brother Terry (Traci) Shade of Edinboro, PA, and nieces Taylor Regan (Jeffery) of Richmond, VA, and Allison Shade of Edinboro.
In lieu of flowers, you are humbly asked to think of Fred when you attend any performance or listen to any genre of music. As Fred would say, "THE SHOW MUST GO ON!"
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