Radio News

What is the new approximate revenue for Entercom, minus all of its spin-offs, that the radio broadcasting company will see come Nov. 17, when it expects to complete its merger with CBS Radio? We've got the numbers, courtesy of BIA/Kelsey.

“The highlight of Townsquare Media’s third quarter was, without a doubt, the strength of our Local Marketing Solutions segment," co-CEO Bill Wilson noted as the owner of radio stations and festival event marketing company revealed its Q3 earnings results. That's where the good news ends. Both net revenue and net income were down, and Townsquare missed Street estimates with its disappointing report. The reason has nothing to do with its radio stations, and a big corporate review is underway that could see Townsquare become a radio pure-play.

Entercom has followed the lead of CBS Radio by making major announcements via staff memos that eventually make it into the hands of the radio industry trade press. As first reported by Streamline Publishing's co-owned Radio INK, Entercom Market Managers will be adding the SVP title. For industry veterans, the big news involves the naming of a well-known former executive as SVP/Market Manager of Entercom's properties in the nation's No. 3 market.

Greg Ashlock and Hartley Adkins have just been promoted in a big way by the nation’s No. 1 radio broadcaster. In his new role, Ashlock will now manage the entire iHeartMedia Markets Group, including the company’s more than 850 radio stations. Adkins will join the corporate group in New York.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. At first glance, Pandora looks like it's on the comeback trail, thanks to a healthy jump in subscription and advertising revenue. But, as one gets a better look at the streaming audio company's Q3 numbers, the pale reality of the situation Pandora faces fully comes to light. Pandora has some steep acquisition costs, and higher operating costs, and this led to a decline in its gross profit for the quarter.

While the radio division of The E.W. Scripps Co. accounts for a much smaller revenue percentage than its television segment, there's something very noticeable going on with its digital revenue. Scripps' radio revenue was nearly overtaken by its digital segment in Q3.  There's just one problem: Digital profits aren't being realized.

Urban One, the media company formerly known as Radio One, saw a 1.1% revenue increase, to $112.1 million, in Q3. That's the lone bit of good news for the media company superserving African American consumers, however, as its net loss widened considerably from the third quarter of 2016.

Is David Field the radio industry's new King of the Mountain? Many on Wall Street, along with several industry observers RBR+TVBR has spoken with in 2017, say yes. Entercom's Q3 earnings results also suggest that the company's President/CEO is not only a strong leader for the company merging with CBS Radio in less than three weeks, but also a strong industry champion that can loudly tout the enduring ROI abilities of AM, FM and its digital components.

Tired of having to switch streaming audio platforms in order to listen to your favorite iHeartRadio stations and Alpha Media stations via a smartphone, laptop, or tablet? That's no longer a problem. Effective today, all of Alpha's 200-plus stations are available to iHeartRadio users.

A name that's very familiar to Chicagoland media veterans and longtime radio industry professionals has resurfaced on the commercial side of the Windy City's radio dial. Marv Nyren is returning to his old stomping grounds. Only, the stations once owned by Emmis are now owned by Cumulus Media.

Envision Networks has expanded its partnership with Sun Broadcast Group to include additional affiliate sales support for the nationally syndicated shows of Little Steven’s Underground Garage and Slacker and Steve. In addition, Envision Networks will continue handle all affiliations for Sun’s Shazam for Radio platform. 

Beasley Broadcast Group is saying goodbye to a heritage AC in Boston, and in doing so just landed "The Sports Hub." It took a little cash along to get the deal with Entercom done, and CEO Caroline Beasley tells RBR+TVBR why the transaction was consummated.

In a major asset exchange that clears a big hurdle for Entercom in its effort to complete its merger with CBS Radio, the Philadelphia-based pure play broadcaster has agreed to trade stations in Seattle and Boston to iHeartMedia. In exchange, Entercom is getting properties in Richmond and in Chattanooga, Tenn. Seconds later, Beasley Broadcast Group revealed its making an FM-for-FM plus cash exchange in Boston. And, as expected, Bonneville International is getting control of some Golden State stations.

Entercom is moving closer to its Reverse Morris Trust-fueled merger with CBS Radio, and on Tuesday President/CEO David Field revealed in a staff memo that several individuals are adding SVP stripes. Six other staffers were singled out, and are being promoted "for their performance and leadership."

Don't think for a minute that the potential growth in in-home listening from Smart Speakers from makers such as Amazon Echo and Google Home are only for big-city broadcasters? There's gold in them thar hills, valleys and villages for radio broadcasters, and Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker is about to let the nation know all about it.