Radio News

Film producer Jonathan Glickman’s Glickmania Media and iHeartMedia have announced a joint venture that will include a two-year podcast co-production deal, focusing on a slate of original music-driven podcasts. Here's more from our co-owned publication, Podcast Business Journal.

It began broadcasting on Christmas Eve 1925. It may be the only radio station audible, after dark, on a radio in locales as diverse as Los Angeles, Orlando and Hartford. In 2021, however, the might of a 50kw Class A clear channel signal on the AM isn't what it used to be. That explains why, starting March 22, a big Entercom AM is gaining an FM translator.

Veteran communications law expert John Wells King is well versed on the Hagatña radio scene. Why? He's the legal counsel for a licensee that's saying goodbye to a silent AM on the Pacific island. The new operator? A broadcast ministry seeking donations for a new transmitter for its station serving nearby Saipan.

The fate of three FMs licensed to Royce International Broadcasting is far from sealed, even though a U.S. District Court judge seemingly made it so. The stations were assigned to a receiver, Larry Patrick. He struck a deal with VCY America, which very much wants to take control of the trio. For Royce owner Ed Stolz, an appeal arrived after spending a day in jail.

Despite a pandemic, 2020 marked the fifth consecutive year of growth for the music industry. To little surprise, paid subscription services continued to be the primary driver of revenue increases and reached a record number of subscriptions. Revenues from recorded music measured at wholesale value grew 8.9%.

The big news: Dave Richards is joining Entercom’s central programming leadership team as SVP of Programming, segueing from the role of SVP of Programming of Rocker KISW-FM in Seattle. Richards has been there for last 19 years and has developed programs like “The Men’s Room” and concepts like KISW’s annual “Live Day.”

With the Q4 and 2020 financial results for iHeartMedia released following the Closing Bell on Thursday, the company says it is implementing a new operational structure that will now have its financials reported in two separate segments – digital audio and multiplatform, which includes all radio stations.

How is 2021 shaping up for transactions, now that Kagan has analyzed 2020’s dealmaking? Are deals still in a COVID-19 fueled frozen state? Those are just some of the questions Greg Guy, the managing partner for media brokerage Patrick Communications, answers in this latest InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM. LISTEN HERE

One of the nation's largest radio stations owners, one with a big stake in podcasting, has just lured a SHOWTIME Networks marketing pro to take on the newly created position of Head of Marketing for Podcasts.

With iHeartMedia offering "The Best of Rush" for the foreseeable future, is there an opportunity for other radio broadcasting companies -- including Entercom -- to snag some of Rush Limbaugh's listening audience? CFO Rich Schmaeling and CEO David Field answered this question, presented by a top analyst, on Entercom's Q4 earnings call.

During its “Stream On” event, Spotify announced that it plans to launch a Hi-Fi streaming plan offering lossless streaming in CD quality later this year in selected markets. This announcement is significant. But, is it noteworthy and of concern to radio broadcasting companies in the U.S. and Canada?

"Given 2020's extenuating circumstances, I am extremely proud of the company's performance and the efforts of the entire Cumulus team to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19." That statement from Mary Berner set the tone for Cumulus as it released its FY '21 and Q4 results. Just how healthy is Cumulus and all of its divisions, including Westwood One?

Radio station owner SummitMedia has entered into a strategic partnership expected to accelerate growth for both companies in the fast-growing, global podcasting business.

Urban One stock appears to have solidified a "new normal." With Monday's Closing Bell on Nasdaq, UONE is valued at nearly seven times as high as where its shares were before the coronavirus and George Floyd became universally known. And, it comes on a report that Urban One is teaming up for a $517 million Richmond casino project.

Starting March 8, a man who was GM of WGCI-AM & FM in Chicago in the 1980s will be taking his talents a few miles to the west of South Beach. He's been named VP/GM of ViacomCBS's two broadcast TV properties serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Keys.