Radio News

Two FM radio stations serving Spanish-language audiences in greater Las Vegas could soon be gone from the radio dial, even as a Nevada federal judge has blocked a subsidiary of American Tower Corporation from tearing down the stations' broadcasting structure.

Less than one month after promoting from within to select a new leader for its Markets Group, iHeartMedia is realigning the division for the second time in two years by restructuring several leadership roles to streamline national functionality and creating new regions of operation.

Earlier this week, RBR+TVBR first shared the news that Amador Bustos had struck a deal to acquire a big FM radio station serving a wide swath of the Seattle-Tacoma DMA's southern tip, including the Washington state capital of Olympia. Now, his Bustos Media Holdings is selling an AM further south in the Rose City.

In the distant past, it was Southern California's top-rated spoken word station. Today, KABC-790 is seeking to rekindle some of the magic it enjoyed when Michael Jackson — the talk host, not the singer — brought listeners by teaming up with the University of California, Los Angeles. 

It is a Class C3 FM serving the Alexandria, La., market. Pending FCC approval, it will become the property of the entity behind "97.7 The Cajun" in nearby Marksville, La. Could a simulcast be in the works, once the transaction closes?

He's described as "a celebrated media strategist, programmer, talent coach and industry leader" and is also the individual who helped make Stephen A. Smith one of the most popular sports commentators in the U.S. today. Come October 21, this radio industry icon will be honored with the 2025 NAB National Radio Award in New York.

With the new deal, iHeartMedia's KPOJ-AM in Portland, branded as "Rip City Radio 620 AM," will continue providing pre-game and post-game coverage, game broadcasts, and ancillary content throughout the year as the station enters its 13th season as the team’s flagship station.

As part of what the company said in an internal memo obtained by RBR+TVBR are "ongoing efforts to align our operating structure with current and emerging opportunities in the marketplace," the Multi-Market Partnerships Group (MMP) is evolving, resulting in a fresh name for a unit under a new leader.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Salem Media Group shared that its Executive Chairman will be exiting the role at the end of 2025 — concluding an 18-year tenure for Ed Atsinger III, a chief architect of the Christian-focused and conservative News/Talk media company headquartered in Ventura County, Calif.

The new agreement, which is retroactive to January 1, 2022, represents what the groups call "a historic rate increase for BMI that reflects the company’s superior market share in the radio industry."

It is formally known as Marquee Broadcasting West, and it is led by COO Gene Steinberg on a day-to-day basis. Owned by Brian Lane and CEO Patricia Lane, this bicoastal radio and TV station owner has just agreed to purchase the radio properties of Bicoastal Media in Southern Oregon.

The passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025 defunded the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and left the organization without operating funds for the next fiscal year. This led to a wind-down of CPB operations. Now, the CPB says it can't absorb the costs and manage the Next Generation Warning System grant program.

The publicly traded parent company of Hispanic consumer-focused Estrella Media and of venerable New York radio brands WBLS and "HOT 97" has a new Chief Revenue Officer, reporting to CEO Albert Rodriguez.

"As radio stations nationwide grapple with AI adoption in creative departments, we're seeing a troubling trend in commercial quality," said Yaman Coskun, founder of yaman.AI and a former creative director with more than two decades in radio creative.

The Audio Division Chief within the FCC's Media Bureau has granted the request from the owner of a Class A FM at 97.9 MHz to move it a little closer to greater San Antonio.