the HOT List

A major copyright infringement case involving Nicki Minaj and Tracy Chapman also involves a famed DJ at a tastemaker radio station in the Big Apple. Could this air personality be a guilty party? Not in this case, a noted entertainment attorney notes. But, he easily could have -- and the legal bills could have added up.

Onika Tanya Minaj is in hot water. She sampled a song released 30 years ago this month in a single that landed on one New York radio station. Only, the woman professionally known as Nicki Minaj did so without permission -- and after being told no many times. While her record label deleted the song from her new album, a "Hot 97" air talent played it on his show.

The nation's No. 1 owner of broadcast radio stations is anxiously awaiting a decision by the judge considering its petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to give a thumb's up to a fee examiner in place since October 1.

As expected by MVPD operators and the American Cable Association, among others, the FCC at its October Open Meeting adopted an Order that relieves broadcast stations of the obligation to submit paper copies of certain contracts to the FCC. However, the Order also bolsters broadcaster obligations to disclose these contracts online. The ACA is pleased.

A 24-hour excursion to New York inspired RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson to pen a column about his latest Uber, Lyft and hired driver experience when it came to the audio entertainment of choice each ride provided. In every instance, for the first time, a local radio station was playing. It led Adam to two conclusions: Radio is alive in New York, and marketers need to know this.

One year ago, some were wondering why Veritone shares had fallen to below $37, after a quick rise to $58.65 in late September 2017. Today, some may be asking what the financial health of this AI-powered attribution company may be. It has a new member of its Board of Directors, but that announcement didn't stop the bleeding on Wall Street.

Nielsen, in partnership with the Southern California Broadcasters Association, recently measured the effectiveness of local auto dealer campaigns in Los Angeles and San Diego. You think the published results point to problems regarding effectiveness, ROI and the overall dissatisfaction of radio stations in the two markets? Of course not, and that's why we've got an RBR+TVBR Observation to share.

Are you among the group of individuals who believe the FCC incubator program is destined to fail? You may want to read this. The Southern Journal of Policy and Justice this week published a 61-page law review article with the salacious title, "How The FCC Suppressed Minority Ownership, and How the FCC Can Undo The Damage It Caused?" We've perused the article and offer up its key points.

What's the future for Sinclair Broadcast Group now that it will not be merging with Tribune Media? That question was most likely on everyone's minds at the second and concluding day of sessions at NAB Show New York. In a candid midday conversation Thursday, company President/CEO Chris Ripley shared Sinclair's strategy for long-term success in a media landscape that is drastically expanding. 

With their sights on the future and, without a doubt, the Next Generation broadcast TV standard, some of the industry's leading CEOs on Wednesday morning confirmed their commitment to the technological advancements that — combined with live and local — will propel the medium into the future. The comments were delivered to a packed room of NAB Show New York attendees.

On July 16, Tribune Media shares nosedived after it became known that it would not be proceeding with its planned merger with Sinclair Broadcast Group. One month later, investors reassessed the situation -- and became believers in Tribune once again as it seeks a new suitor. On Wednesday, Tribune officially closed at its highest point since that unfortunate summer's day.

Just because they didn't want to own radio stations anymore doesn't mean they don't see the continued value of audio content delivery to listeners across the globe. The E.W. Scripps Company is purchasing Triton, a top tech provider serving the audio media industry. While $83.5 million was earned from the sale of its radio division, Scripps must still dive into its piggy bank for $66.5 million in additional funds to fund the purchase.

The battle between Univision and DISH has heated up in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, as Unvision has filed counter-claims against the DBS provider, which is the plaintiff in this legal matter. Why? We reviewed the 36-page filing made October 12, and have some of the details.

Some seven weeks after a group of broadcast TV stations were dropped from DISH Network in the absence of a new retransmission fee agreement, a resolution has finally come. Each of the impacted channels are now restored to DISH's systems, while terms of the new deal were not disclosed.

In April 2012, four FM radio stations in the nation's 224th-largest rated market were sold to a diversified Baton Rouge-based company with its roots in food distribution and agriculture. On Friday, faced with the decision to invest in the substantial reconstruction of its most recent radio acquisitions or to abandon them, Powell Broadcasting chose the latter.