Radio News

Today, people around the world rely on the internet and television. But, AM and FM radio is "far from dead," says National Today — a self-declared authority on holidays that's also observing Aug. 20 as National Radio Day. In fact, it surveyed 1,000 people about their radio consuming habits. Here's what they found.

In mid-April, with the COVID-19 pandemic at full tilt, RBR+TVBR's Editor-in-Chief penned a column focused on potential news burnout. "Thankfully, there is local radio, which, at one station in Detroit, has done an exemplary job of demonstrating just how valuable it is in a time of emotional need and national emergency." Today, we revisit Cumulus Media's WDVD-FM.

Thursday, August 20, marks the 100th anniversary of that very first broadcast for what is today WWJ-AM 950, an Entercom all-News outlet that remains integral to Detroit's media landscape. To commemorate the event, dignitaries including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai were on the air.

With a Class C2 facility licensed to Terrebone, Ore., KICE-FM 94.9 has a signal that blankets the popular outdoor recreational cities of Bend, Redmond, and Sisters, Ore., to the southeast of Portland. Until now, KICE has been a FOX Sports Radio affiliate. That will soon change, as the station is being sold.

With more than 600 views within just four hours of its live transmission via Facebook Live, RBR+TVBR's Black Media Symposium had the attention of many in the radio and television industry who offered comments across the hour-long event. Among those chiming in: An Urban One sales manager and the VP/Programming at WLIB-AM & WBLS-FM in New York.

In a first, one of the most popular Spanish-language radio programs in the U.S. is being imported to Mexico City. It's thanks to a freshly signed pact between HRN Media Network and MVS Radio, and begins Saturday with a grupera-formatted radio station serving the sprawling metropolitan region -- home to nearly 23 million people.

Sandwiched between the Louisiana cities of Shreveport and Monroe are such towns as Ruston, and Arcadia. It is here that two FM stations serve the small communities located near Interstate 20. They're being spun to a new owner, a Ruston resident who is grabbing a facility awarded in 2012 in the FCC's "Auction 93," and its Class C2 sibling.

Frontier Media in February 2017 became the first licensee of a radio station in the U.S. to be 100% foreign owned. Now, Frontier head Richard Burns is a proud -- and successful -- station owner. What’s this Australian's perspective on ownership today? Find out in this fresh podcast! LISTEN HERE

In these COVID-19 times, a little feel-good nostalgia could provide some new inspiration and ways to propel growth, even when you think the worst. This involved listening to one of the most-revered Top 40 stations L.A. ever saw. No, it's not 93KHJ. Rather, it's the Rick Dees-era KIIS-FM. Why it was so successful could bring big riches to you in 2022, our editor-in-chief says.

Want to invest in one of the hottest media companies on Wall Street today, thanks largely to social justice-fueled ad dollar commitments from the likes of Procter & Gamble Co.? Your opportunity may be coming soon, as Urban One has filed a prospectus supplement with the SEC outlining an "at-the-market" equity offering program. But, timing of any share offering is uncertain.

As RBR+TVBR reported on July 30, former Beasley Media Group VP of Corporate Sales Bob McCurdy lost his battle with cancer -- a fight that saw legal action for alleged medical malpractice, contributing to his death. Now, friends of McCurdy are organizing a memorial event.

In April 2016, Lotus Communications agreed to part ways with a Class B AM, selling it for $50,000. Now, it is buying back the regional Mexican station. How much is it paying for the Northern Nevada facility that's been known most recently to locals as "La Mexicana"? That could be a lesser question than asking why Lotus is doing the deal with Lazer Broadcasting.

On June 23, 2012, a locally focused hip-hop format made its debut in Atlanta. Today, the facility is core, if you will, to Core Radio Group's commitment to the African American community through its "Streetz" brand. With "Streetz" now also in Charlotte, the entity run by R&B radio veteran Steve Hegwood has formally added the brand to another big market in the South.

All will be honored on October 29 during a live radio broadcast from multiple locations, and across multiple audio platforms — another nod to the evolution of audio content delivery since its fully developed start 100 years ago. As such, the public has voted for a satellite radio personality.

In late June, the FCC put a stop to allowing a U.S.-based broadcast entity from using a Mexico-based mega-watt AM to target Chinese-speaking audiences across Southern California. The move came under pressure from leading Senate Republicans who say the operator uses it as a propaganda tool, with Chinese government funding from Beijing. A reboot is now being sought.