Radio News

Call it an "update." Call it a scrub. What's clear is that the 2020 Radio Show, scheduled for Sept. 13-16 in Nashville, has become the latest large gathering to fall victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entercom Communications President/CEO David Field took a moment to reflect on the previous seven days of events impacting the nation -- and many of the markets in which his company owns and operates radio stations -- by way of an internal memo distributed Monday by the audio media company. These locales includes Minneapolis, where Entercom has a trio of stations.

The Entercom Communications-owned app that enables consumers to listen to audio streams of its radio stations and of its partner broadcasters will now be accessible via the independent voice AI platform offered by SoundHound.

With Monday's Closing Bell on Wall Street came the release of first quarter 2020 financial results from Salem Media Group. How did the company best-known for its Christian-themed and conservative Talk radio programming and a publishing arm perform in the quarter? A gigantic net loss was seen, thanks to COVID-19 pandemic-related income challenges.

Nielsen Audio and Westwood One Chief Insights Officer Pierre Bouvard are singing a happy song. It seems a Thursday afternoon client webinar to present an April 2020 analysis of Continuous Diary Measurement markets was held, and in markets ranked No. 50 to No. 100, what was the key finding? "There was no audience impact from COVID-19." It's a reminder that PPM markets are vastly different.

Chicago morning host Amy Jacobson recently gained national attention for being barred from press briefings conducted by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Now, Jacobson and her employer, Salem Media Group, have filed a federal lawsuit against Pritzker for his decision — allegedly prompted by Jacobson's reporting of his family's travel out-of-state during a shelter-in-place order.

In May 2019, a reconstituted post-bankruptcy Cumulus Media sought the FCC’s approval to allow non-U.S. persons or entities to hold up to 100% of its voting stock and capital stock generally in the future. On Friday, the Commission said yes.

The use of a station-specific mobile app has increased since the onset of consumer behavior changes spurred by restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. That's based on new research from a leading provider of such apps, Futuri.

Curious as to how Salem Media Group fared financially during the first three months of 2020? You'll have your answer on Monday, following the Closing Bell on Wall Street.

Loud Media, the recently formed entity forged in Upstate New York between Ricki Lee and Aaron Ishmael, is agreeing to acquire a pair of FM radio stations in the Knoxville market. An asset purchase agreement has been filed with the Commission, and it is expected to be posted May 29. RBR+TVBR has the details on the price for these Class A facilities.

How has Davis Broadcasting sailed through the tough waters caused by the novel coronavirus? What is it doing to compete against a reinvigorated iHeartLatino in Atlanta? Find out in this fresh RBR+TVBR CORONAVIRUS INFOCUS Podcast featuring longtime radio executive Brian Barber, hosted by Radio + Television Business Report Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson. LISTEN HERE

Until midday Tuesday, it was understood that Townsquare Media would be releasing its first quarter 2020 results bright and early on Wednesday, ahead of the company's infamous 8am Eastern earnings call for analysts and investors. By 3pm Eastern, that plan was scrubbed. Thank the COVID-19 pandemic for an earnings release on the last possible permissible date allowed.

In February 2019, longtime radio station owner Dick Gleason lost his battle with ALS. In March 2020, the stations licensed to the company he founded were silenced under a temporary STA request with the FCC. The reason cited? The COVID-19 pandemic clobbered the company's finances. Now, the stations have found a new owner and will resume broadcasting.

Call it a "poison pill." Call it fortifying the moat against an invasion on the C-Suite and corporate castle. Short-term shareholder rights plans have emerged at three of the nation's biggest audio media companies, with the latest one to emerge coming from Cumulus Media. Here's an exclusive look at how the plan signed off by Mary Berner compares to those at Entercom and iHeartMedia.

Two at-large seats and one Radio Board representative for the Hoosier State have been appointed to the NAB Radio Board of Directors. They'll take on their fresh responsibilities at the start of the board's next meetings, set for a virtual format on June 8 and 9.