Radio News

Take a peek at the 30-day stock trajectories for many broadcast media companies, and you may get queasy. That's not the case for those who take a closer look at the performance of Saga Communications shares. Yes, SGA is down from where it was prior to mid-March. But, it isn't down that significantly -- even with a rollercoaster month on Wall Street.

In the last month, companies large and small have had to implement furloughs, temporary pay cuts and, in several instances, permanent job losses. The latest COVID-19 pandemic-fueled move involves Alpha Media. At the same time, it noticeably doesn't involve a woman-owned broadcasting company in largely smaller markets across the nation's bread basket.

Like most audio media companies, the novel coronavirus pandemic has given way to a weak economic environment that, after one month, shows no sign of an immediate spark. That's led iHeartMedia to move forward with "certain proactive initiatives" that helped its shares move ahead on Tuesday while progressing with "cost savings initiatives" and a business update.

On December 10, 2019, Hubbard Radio's Seattle station group selected Jeff Dubow to serve as the new Executive Producer for the highly successful Brooke & Jubal syndicated program, mostly heard in mornings across the country. Now, Dubow will be co-hosting the program heard on KQMV and on more than 50 stations through Premiere Networks.

Beasley Media Group's VP of Corporate Sales, a veteran media executive, is departing, as he has announced his retirement. It's tied to an undisclosed health issue this individual has been battling for two years.

Seven Mountains Media, the radio station operator with a heavy presence in Pennsylvania, is agreeing to purchase a tiny FM translator serving a small town in the central part of the Keystone State. What's the plan? It is slated to be relocated, where it will be used to bring a little "FM revitalization" to one of two AMs the company is acquiring.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, many small market and independently owned radio stations struggled to stay on the air. Now, it's even more of a worry. Yet, columnist Ken Benner says some tiny AMs and FMs are doing "remarkably well." Why? They continue to focus on the one thing radio has always done best.

Townsquare Media did not timely file its 2019 Annual Report with the SEC due to a delay in the completion of its annual audit. Then came the novel coronavirus pandemic. By March 31, the 10-K filing was still forthcoming. Now, the New York Stock Exchange is giving the locally focused media company a warning.

Small and mid-sized broadcasting companies, like small business owners, could be particularly challenged through the novel coronavirus crisis. For one Long Island, New York-based radio station owner, offering free air -- as in free on-air time -- to impacted businesses has served as one way AMs, FMs, and mom-and-pop shops are getting through the COVID-19 pandemic together.

A Danville, Illinois-based radio broadcasting company is moving forward with an initiative designed to connect Central Illinois students, teachers and parents for the balance of the school year. The Louise Neuhoff Educational Access Project, named in honor of the company co-founder, will provide educators daily access to stations in communities served by Neuhoff Media.

A Class A FM serving the city that's home to legendary American rock artist John Mellencamp, bearing the slogan "Total Rock Radio," is changing hands. A social butterfly -- seriously -- is taking on ownership of this station.

Tuesday, April 7, was also a day full of temporary downsizing for the nation's premier media company superserving African American consumers. Urban One has enacted furloughs and layoffs for "many employees" at its radio stations, and at its national radio arm, Reach Media.

Thanks to a new pact announced Wednesday, non-commercial stations that are members of the Radio Research Consortium (RRC) now have access to Nielsen  Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) tools. 

Joy Broadcasting has carved a niche in the Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) world with a hard rock format steeped in Christ-themed songs from acts such as Big Daddy Weave. Now, the Class A noncomm serving as the main home for what is branded as "Truth That Rocks" is being sold.

The NAB on Monday filed Reply Comments with the FCC in support of a rulemaking that would allow AM radio stations to voluntarily broadcast an all-digital signal. The concept has been pioneered by a Hubbard Broadcasting property serving Frederick, Md., and much of the western half of the National Capital Region.