Radio News

How did radio industry pure-play Saga Communications perform in the first three months of 2022? Perhaps "superb" is a proper superlative. Net revenue grew by 12%, as net income chugged upward and surpassed $1 million. Plus, there is $52.1 million in cash on hand as of May 2, putting Saga in a positive position as the second quarter reaches its halfway point.

Digital revenues are soaring. Cable TV advertising revenues were up substantially, too. Oh, and radio advertising — ex-political and digital — was up 17.4%. That's the first quarter fiscal health synopsis for the largest media and entertainment company in the U.S. superserving African-American consumers.

The subsidiary of SiriusXM focused on ad insertion and programmatic audio advertising known as AdsWizz has just signed an exclusive global audio advertising inventory agreement with a 10-year old entity that has carved a niche for itself as a streaming and discovery service in the R&B and Afropop space.

In a shareholder letter offering details of its Q1 2022 earnings performance, Cumulus Media made it clear where it stands on an unsolicited bid from a purported consortium led by Jeff Warshaw, the founder and head of Connoisseur Media. In short, Cumulus' board gave it a thumbs down while noting that it is open "to all paths that continue to drive superior shareholder value."

With shares rising by 8.3% in Wednesday's trading, Cumulus Media stockholders are digesting three key topics of interest concerning the radio station owner and Westwood One parent. There's the refusal to consider a buyout offer from Jeff Warshaw. There's a multimillion-dollar share buyback plan. But, how did Cumulus do in the three months ending March 31?

With the release of its Q1 2022 earnings report, Cumulus Media revealed that it is moving forward with a share repurchase program — "a clear reflection" of the Board's confidence in Cumulus' long-term operating plan.

Matt Siegel, after a two-week absence from iHeartMedia-owned WXKS "Kiss 108" in Boston, returned to the Top 40 station at 8am Eastern to make a special announcement. Was this the end of a storied 41-year ride at the station first made famous by Sunny Joe White that eventually ended up becoming iHeart's CHR/Pop jewel of New England? Yes.

A strategic partnership is now in place between the Steve Newberry-headed Quu Inc. and Xperi Corp.'s DTS that's designed to make it easy for Radio "to display and monetize content" in the connected car.

A broadcasting veteran of more than 50 years started 2022 by deciding to retire. He put his AM/FM combo on the market. An active acquisitor came knocking; a deal was struck. Now, the transaction has closed, bringing ownership of the stations to the nation's No. 2 licensee by number of radio stations.

Thanks to streaming audio and Sirius XM, what was once on — and perhaps still on — the AM dial is still accessible. Do drivers know it is there for them? Do they care? What about Spanish-language programming and other content of interest to Hispanics? These questions and more will be addressed in a Hispanic Radio Conference panel discussion devoted to the Connected Car.

He's been the Head of FM Programming in Atlanta and Dallas for the former Susquehanna Radio, as the PD of KDWB in Minneapolis-St. Paul who pushed the Top 40 outlet ahead of WLOL to win the Twin Cities format war, and as the President of cable TV's CMT Network. Now, he's been promoted to Chief Content Officer at Cumulus Media.

The latest Media Monitors Spot Ten Radio report shows some hot new action from two big brands that have found love in the power of national audio spots.

FCC Administrative Law Judge Jane Hinckley Halprin on Friday issued a Discovery Order that compels Roger Wahl, a convicted felon who stands to lose the license to his FM radio station in Central Pennsylvania, to comply to discovery requests from the FCC's Enforcement Bureau in the proceeding.

An attorney in Scottsdale, Ariz., who grew up in Michigan, had always wanted to own a radio station. In December 2018 that dream became a reality with his $285,000 purchase of an AM and FM translator in the heart of the Empire State's Finger Lakes wine region. Now, Tim Stratton has decided to part ways with the properties located one hour south of Rochester, N.Y.

Research conducted in 2021 by Dielectric played a key role in a FCC filing of a Petition for Rulemaking, written with leading broadcast consultancy Merrill Weiss Group. Now, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has teed up an Order that would bring "regulatory relief" to this group of broadcasters using the MHz band.