Radio News

In a fictional world, "WKRP In Cincinnati" was a 5,000-watt AM that had a cast of characters, but was hardly dominant. In the real Cincinnati, Jerry Thomas dominated the ratings — not at WKRP but at WKRC-AM 550. Now, many across the Ohio market are remembering Thomas, who retired in 2006. The longtime morning show host died Thursday morning (12/9).

Orlando is again towering over WestShore Plaza in Tampa, as the Beasley Broadcast Group morning star at its WLLD "WiLD 94.1" is eating, sleeping — and doing everything he else he needs to do — from atop a toy tower that's also serving as his on-air remote studio across eight days of fundraising.

There's perhaps nothing more unique than the Burning Man Project, and the annual event it stages in the Black Rock Desert of Northwest Nevada.  Now, Burning Man is getting its own radio station.

From the early 1980s through 2014, it was a Westchester County, N.Y.-focused Adult Contemporary FM. Since then, it had a tenure as an FM targeting African-American listeners in key New York DMA ZIP codes and today is a simulcast partner of an all-digital AM Talker. Soon, this FM will convert to noncommercial status and shift to Christian Talk & Teaching programming.

The CRTC, Canada's equivalent of the Federal Communications Commission, has amended its Canadian content rules. It also approved a small thawing of local ownership restrictions, something the NAB wants the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to engage in.

As word surfaced that Audacy Corp. conducted a mandatory all-staff meeting at 3pm Eastern, the company's beleaguered stock further withered on the NYSE, falling nearly 7% in trading on Wednesday. This put Audacy shares at roughly $0.27 per share. That Town Hall, as it turns out, was just a regular affair.

It was agreed to by the Urban One board on Monday and submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. How big is the authorization?

Now led by Chris Forgy, Michigan-headquartered Saga Communications on Wednesday declared a quarterly and special cash dividend, shared details of a new variable dividend policy, disclosed changes to its Board of Directors, and even offered an update on the company’s strategic initiatives. That update includes details of a takeover bid the Saga board ultimately said no to.

The telecommunications category is an important one for radio stations when it comes to advertisers, and growth opportunities. How big is telecom, or cellular services, or internet providers? It works for radio, the RAB says. That's why the next live presentation in the radio sales advocacy group's "Radio Works" initiative is devoted to the category.

Getting the "American Music Fairness Act," which would impose new royalty fees on radio airplay of recorded music, this far is an achievement. But, getting it passed in the House is a whole other matter. Even with a new push that sees 40+ "prominent music artists and creators" seek Congressional approval of the proposed law, the likelihood of that happening is slim.

There are two less stations serving the Honolulu radio market. That's because SummitMedia has voluntarily surrendered the licenses of its pair of AM radio stations covering the Hawaiian island of O'ahu.

Today, retired former NJBA head Paul Rotella is focusing on his health from a home not far from Lake Wallenpaupack, Pa. The NJBA? It is moving on by outsourcing its management to a privately owned company dedicated to providing such services to advocacy-based organizations.

An Iowa Class C AM with 1 tower putting out 420 watts during daylight hours and 840 watts when it is dark. It enjoys some "FM revitalization" thanks to an FM translator. The facilities are now set for an ownership evolution of sorts, and it sees David Oxenford of Wilkinson Barker Knauer in the role of legal counsel for this transaction.

He was there when Salem Media Group purchased WAVA-FM from Emmis Communications in late 1991, taking over the former Top 40 station on a snowy Valentine's Day 1992.  Now, Tom Moyer is set to retire after three decades overseeing all of Salem's stations serving the National Capital Area. His successor was revealed by Salem on Thursday.

Borrell Associates on Thursday resumed its "Chart of the Week" feature, and in doing so it offers radio industry sellers a big boost of confidence. Why? Some 22% of local ad buyers went overbudget in 2022, and they spent more on Radio.