Radio News

For 16 years, the Harvard Club has been the site of Forecast, the radio industry’s exclusive financial conference that brings together radio owners, CFOs, group executives, private equity and Wall Street investors, as well as industry analysts, to discuss conditions and predictions for the coming year. If you are a radio industry decision-maker or your business depends on the decisions that will be made in the coming year by those who are attending, please consider attending on Nov. 14.

Tongues were wagging across Radioland on Thursday in response to a report in Financial Times that claims "Apple is turning to traditional broadcasting to boost its streaming service, exploring a tie-up with iHeartMedia, the largest U.S. radio group that is attempting to claw itself out of bankruptcy." The report -- and subsequent coverage in CNBC and across the radio industry's trade publications -- helped iHeart stock rise 32.4% on Thursday, to 49 cents.

With leverage closing in on the low six-times range and political revenues at a non-presidential year high, Urban One President/CEO Alfred Liggins III is "very pleased" with the results. But, TVOne has its challenges, as do some key markets where Radio One operates.

When veteran financial analyst Marci Ryvicker exited Wells Fargo Securities, many radio industry observers openly questioned what Wall Street shop would be picking up the ball on covering Entercom Communications. Introducing Curry Baker, a Guggenheim analyst who initiated coverage of Entercom on Thursday. His words lit a fire with investors, sending Entercom shares up 13.6%.

For three years, a member of the national association for amateur radio has been evading the FCC with illicit broadcasts at 90.9 MHz in a New Jersey city close to New York. The Commission in April was finally able to act on the matter by issuing a hefty Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to the individual determined to be running the pirate radio stations. On Wednesday, the Enforcement Bureau moved forward with a Forfeiture Order.

In cities such as Toronto, a 24/7 FM radio station targeting the LGBTQ consumer has been a reality for more than 10 years. In the U.S., not so much -- until today. Entercom is recharging its efforts to attract LGBTQ listeners by not only rebranding its audio offering for this important consumer group, but also bringing it to a fully licensed Class A station in a key gay and lesbian region of the U.S. 

The compensation of a CEO for a publicly traded company is usually shared in SEC filings. But, comparisons to other broadcast media leaders aren't. That's why "Simply Wall St." has taken the initiative to determine whether the head of Entercom Communications is "paid enough relative to his peers."

A legendary media executive. A top authority on communications industry business values. A 30-year corporate banking veteran. An expert analyst on media and tech transactions. Think they might have some interesting perspective and insight on the state of Radio?  You would be thinking correctly, and they are all set to appear at a Forecast 2019 session all investors or deal makers need to attend.

Here's a news item we fully thank NAB voice Dennis Wharton for bringing to the attention of RBR+TVBR. Hipster news organization VICE took a bold step forward in trying out something on Facebook that has mushroomed into a potentially major problem that only extends the problem of fake news -- and ad manipulation -- on the social media Goliath. It's great news for radio and TV.

What did the physical therapist say to the Main Street guy? The correct answer, based on an Asset Purchase Agreement filed Tuesday with the Commission, is, "Let's make a deal!" The station being traded is a heritage Class A serving the east end of Long Island, N.Y.

Until now, the iHeartRadio app had been limited to the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Starting November 3, the app will be made available to oyentes across Mexico, widening a pact with one of the nation's biggest radio broadcasting companies forged in 2014.

Until now, Syracuse, N.Y.-based Galaxy Media's public face has been Ed Levine, its President/CEO. Now, Levine is getting a little help in the C-Suite for the company's Central New York radio stations, as well as its events division, which this individual presently oversees.

For a generation of New York radio listeners, Larry Berger served as the man behind the scenes of a radio station that, through two different eras, was a revered leader -- even when buffoonery from Scott Shannon at this station's crosstown rival came in to play. Berger died Sept. 25; word of Berger's death reached the radio industry late Thursday via the New York Radio Message Board.

How many times does one need to be told "no" in order to put an end to a long battle? For Edward R. Stolz II, asking this question may be fruitless. Stolz has been on a quixotic 22-year quest to annul the transfer of control of the station formerly known as KWOD-FM in Sacramento to Entercom. He's just been handed another "no" -- this time from the FCC.

Some 14 years after a noncommercial religious broadcast ministry filed approximately 1,700 applications for FM translators across the country, it is calling it quits. The transfer of licenses for several unbuilt and up-and-running facilities heated up on Friday with the sale of an FM translator in Montana. Now this entity that's winding down operations is selling another translator in Big Sky country.