Radio News

In July 2015, a collection of 9 AMs, an FM and an FM translator were sold by what was left of the former Davidson Media Group. The buyer? A licensee controlled by Mark Janbakhsh. He's now in divestment mode, and has signed off on the sale of one of those AMs acquired nearly six years ago.

The powerful artists and publishers’ rights organization that's tangled with the RMLC for five years is taking a page straight out of the Mafia film "Goodfellas" by handing Radio a "pay up, or else" approach to its new licensing agreements set to commence April 1.

We all do it. In fact, our editor is doing it right now. Music, and spoken word content such as a news report, is more than ever being consumed by U.S. consumers over a smartphone. New data from Edison Research only confirms the trend.

One of Jeff Andrulonis' three FMs in South Carolina is being spun. The buyer? It's a Maryland licensee whose behind an Oldies operation heard on an AM and a trio of FM translators due northeast of Baltimore.

With the Supreme Court considering whether to uphold or toss the Third Circuit decision to remand the FCC's media cross-ownership regulations, Bobby Caldwell is stuck in a holding pattern on whether he can restart the publishing of Stuttgart, Ark.'s daily newspaper, which he agreed to buy in September 2019. In the meantime, he's growing his radio holdings.

The Regional President of Entercom Communications' Gainesville, Fla.; Memphis; Miami; and Orlando markets, where she's the Market Manager, is tacking on Market Manager responsibilities for South Florida. At the same time, Entercom is welcoming a new SVP/Market Manager for its six Boston stations.

In the nation's fourth-largest radio market, Camarillo, Calif.-based Salem Media Group owns and operates three AM radio stations -- two of which offer secular programming. Soon, two more AMs will be added to the mix. And, it is a safe bet the stations will retain their religious focus.

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