Radio News

As part of its detailed annual 10-K filing with the SEC, Cumulus Media on Thursday (3/29) offered financial details on its full-year performance for 2017, offering comparisons for the previous four years. While Cumulus' net loss is considerably lower than that seen in 2016 and in 2015, the company's net revenue is heading in the wrong direction.

Beasley Broadcast Group shares enjoyed a welcome move in the right direction on Wednesday. At the Closing Bell, the radio industry pure-play saw its shares finish at its highest level since March 5. Still, with Q1 2018 coming to a close, shares are down -- albeit slightly -- from where they were on New Year's Day.

In this latest Hispanic Radio Podcast from Streamline Publishing, Skyview Networks National Hispanic Audio Sales Manager Blanche Joesten talks with RBR+TVBR's Editor-in-Chief about the potential to bring in more revenue while building a brand-new connection to an underserved — and very passionate — audience. How can your radio station tap into this fervent fan passion? The answer could come in just seven minutes.

Streamline Publishing's Radio Ink has named her one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio” since 2005. Now, she can be called President of Katz Radio Group.

With a 1-year target estimate of $13.67 and the recent addition of the former CBS Radio stations, one would think investing now in Entercom Communications stock would present shareholders with strong long-term value. That's not exactly happening. In fact, Entercom shares are poised to end Q1 on a significantly downbeat note: Prices haven't been this low since September 2014.

On Monday RBR+TVBR shared details on new legislation introduced Thursday (3/22) in the Senate by Iowa Republican Charles Grassley that would amend U.S. copyright law to provide for the payment of performance royalties to "certain producers, mixers, and sound engineers of sound recordings, and for other purposes." The NAB has been watching this bill brew on Capitol Hill closely. Their assessment of this latest federal push for increased royalties? Don't fret, FM and AM.

SBS on Monday revealed that "certain transfers of the company's outstanding Series B Preferred Stock may, when attempted, have had no effect as a legal matter and were void and remain void today." As a result, the company says, "there are genuine questions regarding valid ownership, or good title, to these shares." This is tied to questions regarding SBS's foreign ownership compliance that arose in fall 2017 and continue today.

The efforts of a Michigan-based broadcaster with a presence in the Lone Star State to get the FCC to reconsider the expiry of a 100kw FM's license and subsequent call letter deletion have proven to be for naught. The Commission on Friday adopted a Memorandum Opinion and Order that effectively kills a Class C station along the Texas Gulf Coast. 

"Our work in traditional media has seen its challenges," notes broadcast leadership expert Kelly Orchard. "The recent bankruptcies of two of the largest radio broadcasters, as well as mergers, acquisitions, and transitions, are main topics as I continue to engage in conversations with my colleagues. Their opinions are as varied as the size of their radio markets." In this column, Orchard reviews "the good, the bad and the ugly" of the radio industry, while reviewing today's top concerns for smaller markets and, in particular, family owned stations.

A few weeks ago, RBR+TVBR offered readers a scholarly Media Information Bureau report on U.S. digital TV proliferation and its implications for advertisers. The author was Head of Television for Cambridge Analytica — the data firm that's at the center of a furor over its cozy relationship with Facebook and controversy tied to the election team of President Trump. Questions about brand safety on Facebook have again been raised by those questioning the digital media giant. Why hasn't the radio industry shouted, "We're Safe! Come to us, CMOs"?

The Mentoring & Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) Group has selected the four mentees that will participate in its 2018 Mildred Carter Mentoring Program. Now in its 17th year, the MIW Group’s signature mentoring program matches up-and-coming women in the radio industry with female professionals recognized as leaders in all aspects of Radio.

An auction of cross-service FM translator construction permits is scheduled for May 15 and to help aid participants, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Media Bureau on Friday formally established the procedures, terms and conditions, together with the minimum opening bid amounts, for the upcoming event.

Beasley Media Group has entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC's Media Bureau that settles concerns tied to the company's formerly owned radio stations in Miami and Philadelphia. To resolve the matter, Beasley is handing thousands of dollars to the U.S. Treasury.

A Texas Radio Hall of Fame inductee known for bringing KHFI-FM's long-running Top 40 format to life in Austin and for running one of America's legendary R&B stations in Houston has died. Dick Oppenheimer, who owned nine radio stations across three states in the mid-1980s and more recently headed the Austin-based REO Radio Group, died suddenly on Wednesday (3/21). His funeral is planned for Friday (3/23), son Michael Oppenheimer, Local Area Director for Comcast Spotlight in Washington, D.C., tells RBR+TVBR.

On Sept. 22, 2017, the FCC deleted two agenda items from its September Open Meeting, giving unanimous consent and negating the need for discussion and debate. One of these agenda items was a report and order that would have relaxed or eliminated certain rules tied to “revitalization of the AM radio service.” This R&O relaxes or eliminates “certain rules pertaining to AM broadcasters employing and maintaining directional antenna arrays,” and it has just become effective.