the HOT List

"As we reach the end of 2021, advertising growth is showing much faster expansion than previously anticipated, driven primarily by growth in the U.S., U.K. and China." That's the highly optimistic conclusion of groupM's Brian Wieser. But, where do television and audio advertising measure up? He's crunched the numbers and for audio industry players, the future isn't so bright.

Despite vocal opposition from such Senate Republicans as Mitch McConnell and John Thune, the FCC has its first official woman to serve as its Chair. In a Roll Call vote convened by the full Senate at 11:30am Tuesday, Jessica Rosenworcel's nomination to remain a Member of the FCC — allowing her to remove the "acting" title from her business cards — was approved.

Once Modern Rock outpost WLIR-FM, and WDRE, a Class A FM with boosters in Queens and Brooklyn is being spun after 18 years of ownership by Univision Communications in a deal that involves Kalil & Co. Serving Spanish-speaking listeners will end for the facility. The bigger takeaway: the extreme valuation difference between the purchase price in 2003 and the sale price today.

Addressable advertising, if you will, at FM radio has just become that-much closer to reality, thanks to a test in the East Bay of the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose market. RBR+TVBR's got something to say about it, and this Observation reminds Radio that it is in the business of "broad"-casting. So why destroy it?

Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey wants answers as to the necessary steps for the “CXR Radio Station Trust," led by Houlihan Lokey broker Elliot Evers, to complete an "orderly process' of divesting the two radio stations. Providing them on behalf of trust administrator Elliot Evers? Respected D.C. communications attorney David Oxenford.

An intriguing new twist in a discrimination case between DuJuan McCoy's television group and Dish Network has emerged. A federal judge has denied Dish from blocking the use of supplemental expert testimony by Circle City in the case. The expert is a key figure at BIA Advisory Services.

The owner of a Class A radio station serving Somerset County, Pa., convicted of a felony and multiple misdemeanors under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code and charged with voyeurism and soliciting men to establish rape of a female, is not losing control of his station just yet. RBR+TVBR has learned a written appearance as required by the FCC's Administrative Law Judge was indeed sent to the Commission in timely fashion.

In May, a whopping $10 billion lawsuit was filed against McDonald's by media mogul Byron Allen in response to what was perceived as an unacceptable level of advertising commitment the QSR giant has given to his broadcast and cable properties. On Tuesday, Los Angeles-based U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin ruled on the matter.

Gigi Sohn's selection by President Biden to fill out the FCC has become one of the most controversial in modern times. On Wednesday, Senate Commerce Committee Members scrutinized Sohn, along with three other nominees for governmental agencies. There were some fireworks, with an Alaskan Senator grilling her on Tweets that saw Sohn slam Fox News.

Global advertising and marketing spending, including traditional, digital and alternative media in all major markets worldwide, is on pace to rise 7.2% to $1.376 trillion in 2021 and grow at an accelerated rate in 2022. That's the big takeaway from PQ Media’s just-released "Global Advertising & Marketing Spending Forecast 2021-2025."

Over 2021, forfeiture notices in the thousands of dollars have been issued right and left by the Bureau. Now, two have been issued to a Mississippi licensee who may have to fork over a total of $38,000 in fines. The stations involved aren't even full-power facilities.

A mysterious advertisement featuring an emergency alert system (EAS) code aired across several FOX stations on Sunday during its live coverage of National Football League action. The spots were immediately shared across social media and with the FCC, which could be moved to immediately draft a proposed forfeiture notice of sizable monetary value.

Broadcast media's biggest voice Inside the Beltway has "serious concerns" about Gigi Sohn. While her nomination is not being opposed by the NAB, it is very disturbed by her involvement in a now-shuttered service that purported to be a non-profit local TV-by-IP service that skirted around retransmission consent accords.

Mark December 1 at 10:30am Eastern on your calendar. That's when Gigi Sohn and Alan Davidson will get their Senate Commerce Committee nomination hearings for roles at the FCC and NTIA, respectively. The two Biden Administration picks are highly polarizing, and Senate Republicans are expected to do everything in their power to stop them from being seated.

A group of plaintiffs have sued the four audio media companies in a Dallas Federal District Court, arguing that they should be held liable, in some way, for airing programming tied to "a known fraud recidivist." Their complaints are tied to the FINRA-barred former broker who is behind the "Smart Oil & Gas Show," a syndicated radio program.