Radio News

Radio’s digital ad revenue blasted through the billion-dollar plateau for the first time, now accounting for 10% of total advertising revenue for the industry, according to research released today by the Radio Advertising Bureau and ad-tracking firm Borrell Associates. 

The Hispanic Radio Conference is pleased to present a session that will dive into the details, prep you on the prospects, and share how to best take advantage of the opportunities for maximizing the potential windfall the 2020 election could offer. Here are all of the details — along with registration information for this late March event in Miami.

Consider it a "refi" -- on much bigger terms. The nation's No. 1 owner of radio stations on Monday prepaid $150 million of debt before it needed to, with cash on hand. To do it, it is replacing its lender in a move that significantly trims its annual interest on the billions of dollars of debt iHeart still holds post-bankruptcy.

The Cleveland-based affiliate relations company founded by Danno Wolkoff and Laura Orkin has been purchased by a fast-growing Gen Media Partners-owned national radio network with offices in New York, Boston and South Florida. With the acquisition, Wolkoff and Orkin will become stockholders and join the C-Suite at Sun Broadcast Group.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this ... um ... this day has been one of the most difficult days in recent memory for me, because I've known this moment was coming in the program today." With that, Rush Limbaugh -- perhaps the most famous Talk radio host of the last 30 years -- told his audience, and the world, that he has been diagnosed with "advanced lung cancer."

A Notice of Violation has been issued to a Townsquare-owned station it has owned since 2017. What happened? It may lead some to say "Whoops" instead "Whoopee."

From the office of the Chairman of the FCC to the Please Stop! on Route 9 in Parkville, Mo., fans of Kansas City Chiefs pro football team are reveling in their first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. Local radio largely did its part, with stations across the dial offering various choices in locally originated celebratory programming.

In the final weeks of 2019, LBI Media prepared to enter the next decade with new blood in its executive programming and sales ranks, reporting to a new Chief Executive. Now, the company has shed any ties to its founders, José and Lenard Liberman, by changing its name. 

A pair of radio broadcasting companies that have seen their shares on Wall Street largely underperform in recent months each enjoyed strong trading sessions on Monday. While Entercom Communications enjoyed a strong session, it is Beasley Broadcast Group's late-session surge that deserves close attention.

As of Saturday, a popular Rocker presently using an FM translator to reach Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wisc., will be getting a big boost. It's thanks to a just-reached Time Brokerage Agreement between Twin Ports Radio and the publicly traded multimedia company headed by CEO Bill Wilson.

BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) and the RMLC (Radio Music License Committee) have reached an agreement in principle to settle their ongoing rate dispute, entering into a new multi-year deal covering the 2017-2021 period.

On Dec. 18, Entercom Communications shares reached $5.16, its highest closing price since a huge Aug. 6, 2019, slide in value. It appears ETM is suffering from another dip in share price, with Thursday's opening price poised to be its lowest since November 7.

The January 2011 death of Mississippi radio station owner Frank Rackley Jr. wasn't disclosed to the FCC for more than a year after his passing, in the station's license renewal application. This didn't pass muster with the Media Bureau, which cancelled the station's license. Current management pleaded for the Commission to reconsider, and it's just ruled on their request.

The only radio personality to have worked at former Top 40 WMCA-AM 570 in New York, rival Top 40 WABC-AM 770 in N.Y., and Oldies WCBS-FM 101.1 in the Big Apple has died. Harry Harrison, inducted in November 2019 into the Radio Hall of Fame, had been suffering various health issues.

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau revealed on Tuesday that it has been conducting an investigation into whether Salem Media Group violated the FCC's live broadcasting rule. It appears that Salem was involved in a violation of the Commission's regulations, as the company has agreed to a consent decree.