Radio News

Keller "is expected to help" ESPN through a transition period before stepping away from his day-to-day duties as the SVP of ESPN Audio and as head of the ESPN Talent Office in February. It marks the latest major shift for ESPN's audio properties in the last five months. Who will now lead ESPN Radio? An internal memo offered details -- including a new leader in Los Angeles.

For the second time in nearly six years, the license for an AM radio station in the Phoenix market is heading to a court-appointed receiver. It's the latest chapter in a hard luck story involving an operation that in April 2017 claimed a full-power FM's interference claims against its first-adjacent FM translator were "invalid" and, in February 2019 shut down due to the loss of a tower lease.

Matt Sunshine, managing partner at the Center for Sales Strategy, is traveling to Miami in late March to channel his energies and sales prowess in a Hispanic Radio Conference session focused on one of the biggest challenges faced by radio reps — reaching decision makers. Here's why you may want to travel to South Florida for an educational Spring Break.

On Tuesday, RBR+TVBR offered commentary from Futuresource Consulting's Luke Pearce on how esports is "edging its way into mainstream consciousness." Today, Pearce offers his analysis on the demand for consumer music hardware -- and the rise of smart speakers.

Some 60 million people in the U.S. aged 18 and older own at least one smart speaker device. That's the biggest takeaway from the latest Smart Audio Report survey, conducted after the December 2019 holidays, by NPR and Edison Research.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday gave an affirmative nod to the "Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act," legislation that would greatly increase the maximum fine imposed on an individual found to be a pirate radio operator. It's a big step toward ridding the Miami airwaves of a big buccaneer that continues his illegal FM broadcasts today.

Bar Nunn, this transaction will certainly make fans of Jeremy Camp and Worship music in Wyoming's second-largest market a bit pleased. Educational Media Foundation's AIR1 Christian-themed music network will soon shift from a 10-watt translator to a presently silent FM with a construction permit for 9kw -- from 8,156 above sea level.

Emmis says it is in the midst of transitioning to investments with significantly higher growth potential. With that, the performance of the media company's most recent fiscal quarter will be known as of Thursday. There won't be a conference call for analysts, however, who may want to know a little about the new holder of some 1.38 million shares of Emmis stock.

Venture to the Central Hall of the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center through Friday, and you just may find yourself spending a little extra time at CES 2020 Booth No. 13518. That's the display center for an Orlando-based consumer electronics company founded as Audiovox Corp. in 1960, and for the John Malone-controlled satellite radio operation reportedly seeking control of iHeartMedia.

The provider of tools to radio stations for online contesting, marketing, revenue and promotions has affirmed a company wide multi-year agreement with the broadcasting entity led by Ed Christian and Sam Bush. As a result, all of this company's stations will be able to use Aptivada’s platform for its online promotions and related activities.

America's favorite tabloid, the New York Post, recently reported that the Justice Department may scrutinize a plan by Liberty Media -- parent of Sirius XM and Pandora -- to gain majority control of iHeartMedia. Investors appear to be energized by the suggestion.

In August 2016, a series of events led to the transfer of a highly valued FM translator from Educational Media Foundation to a single individual who then spun the facility to Cumulus Media for a nearly 600% profit. The translator was used to bring Cumulus' big New Mexico News/Talker some "AM revitalization." As of today, an even bigger FM home has come for KKOB.

In a deal consummated July 24 but not filed with the FCC until Sept. 10, The Erie Radio Company agreed to sell a Class A CHR/Pop station serving the Erie market to SJL of Pennsylvania. "SJL" is a licensee tied to the owner of TV stations serving Hawaii, the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's just closed on the Erie radio station, and boy is it "Happi."

The 2010s were a decade of transformation for music consumption, and new RIAA decade-end data shared on Twitter offers an eye-opening glimpse of the disintegration of music sales. Is there also an impact on the consumption of music radio?

The North Carolina corporation led by President Jeff Andrulonis has completed its purchase of an FM radio station in Bolivia.  But, we must clarify that his company has not opted to compete against Dueri Media Group or Grupo Central Universal by entering the Santa Cruz or La Paz markets.