Radio News

In the past 14 months, William Langer Gokey arranged a series of transactions that would ultimately lead to his departure as a radio station licensee in the Michigan market of Petoskey. Now, Gokey has moved forward with the last of these six deals.

Thanks to technology developed by GeoBroadcast Solutions, the company behind Maxxcasting — which brings "fringe" FM signals a city-grade contour — has developed a scheme that splits, if you will, an FM station by zones. Opponents voiced their opinions to the FCC on the proposal, as did the company behind the plan.

Saga Communications, the owner of radio stations in mid-sized and small markets across the U.S., can't be included in the list of fourth-quarter media industry fiscal success stories. Net Revenue and Net Income both declined, despite lower station operating expenses. Free Cash Flow was also down year-over-year.

Add Entravision Communications to the roster of media companies lighting it up in the final three months of 2020. The owner of Hispanic-targeted radio and TV properties, which has a heavy digital presence, saw its revenue and net income surge on a year-over-year basis.

Entercom, which this week amended its October 2016 credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, has priced $540 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.750% senior secured second-lien notes due  in eight years. It also quietly disclosed to the SEC on Wednesday that one of its board members will not stand for reelection.

As 2018 came to a close, three radio industry veterans came together to purchase four FMs in Northern Arizona. Of late, two of those three radio pros held equity interest in the quartet. Now, paperwork has been filed with the FCC that gives full equity interest in Stone Canyon Radio and Marketing to Dana Withers.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) will present Howard University's commercially licensed Adult R&B station serving the Nation's Capital with the Crystal Heritage Award as it salutes all of the finalists for the 34th annual Crystal Radio Awards. The celebration, which this year will be a virtual affair, is scheduled for April 13.

Andrew Curran, President/COO of DMR/Interactive, has penned an "open letter" to radio that takes aim at the industry's unfulfilled opportunity to attract women between 18 and 49 years of age who are struggling to hold their families and careers together. And, he's provided RBR+TVBR with an exclusive addendum to his widely distributed comments.

Jinny Laderer, the co-founder and Chief Executive of vCreative, is moving to the role of President Emerita -- giving her and her husband, co-founder John Laderer, more time to devote to weddings, grandchildren, "exploring the world" and perhaps enjoying their lakeside home in Central Florida a little bit more.

Based in the Los Angeles area, Bill McCutchen in January 2010 acquired two Spanish-language FMs for $1.95 million from the now-defunct Border Media Partners. It was added to an FM in Sherman, Tex. An Abilene property was also added to the mix. Now, the FCC has given its blessing on its sale.

The audio media company that owns podcast companies Cadence13 and Pineapple Street Studios has acquired a third podcast-related business. However, it is not a content creator. It's an online advertising marketplace designed to connect brands with "the most relevant podcasters" to create native advertising and branded content -- a.k.a. on-demand infomercials.

The deal includes such all-News stations as WINS-AM in New York, KNX-AM in Los Angeles, and WBBM-AM & WCFS-FM in Chicago — all former CBS Radio stations. It extends a relationship that dates "several years," Bloomberg Radio syndicator Key Networks notes.

Entercom Communications on March 5 signed off on Amendment No. 6 to an October 17, 2016, credit agreement it struck with JPMorgan Chase Bank. Specifically, Entercom is amending the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.09 of the agreement. What will this accomplish?

Legions of former listeners are joining members of the radio industry across the U.S. in remembering the life of the man known as "Kane," as he has died "after a long illness" at the age of 43. "The Kane Show" aired on iHeartMedia-owned "Hot 99.5" in Washington, D.C., and on WFLZ in Tampa, in addition to Premiere Networks affiliates, until its April 2020 cancellation.

You never know where one can find the freshest ideas that can truly spark a radio station, making it vitally important -- and fun -- for its listeners. One successful FM serving Canada's biggest market has one that every AC, Classic Hits or Rhythmic "Old School" station should consider. Now.