Radio News

Neither headwinds from slowing auto sales nor the impact of severe weather across the U.S. could deter the nation's satellite radio provider — the longtime home of personality Howard Stern (pictured) — in Q3. SiriusXM enjoyed a robust July, August and September 2017 — so much so that it increased its 2017 guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. 

Cumulus Media has acted on its Jan. 2014 "Put and Call Agreement" allowing it to convert its LMA of two big Chicago FMs to outright ownership. This results in the official end of Merlin Media's foray into radio broadcasting.

Don't think for a minute that Democratic FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn had the backing of multicultural broadcasting companies with respect to the soon-to-die Main Studio Rule enacted in 1939. The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) on Tuesday immediately responded to the Commission's 3-2 party-line vote to kill the rule by offering its congratulations.

Come July 2018, Brigham Young University's broadcast media operations will have completed a major consolidation effort announced today by the collegiate institution based in Provo, Utah. The school announced today that it is merging its three TV entities into one national network, while its radio broadcasting arm will be combining its SiriusXM Satellite Radio channel with its Class C over-the-air property along the Wasatch Front.

Educational Media Foundation gained a significant presence in the Golden State in late September when it agreed to a deal valued at $57,750,000 that gave it entry into L.A. and North County San Diego. The City by the Bay was not noted, as EMF already owns a Class B covering the Bay Area that airs KLOVE. Yet, EMF just secured a translator covering San Francisco for KLOVE. Is another deal in play?

More than seven months ago, iHeartMedia's iHeartCommnications commenced private offers to eligible lenders under its Term Loan D and Term Loan E facilities to amend the existing term loans and exchange them for new securities of iHeartMedia and CC Outdoor Holdings and/or iHeart Communications. The company has had no luck with the exchange offers, offering extension after extension since April 5. The latest extension came late Thursday evening, with none of iHeart's original terms amended.

CBS Corp. has commenced its exchange offer for the separation of its radio business. The exchange offer represents the next step in the planned combination of CBS Radio and Entercom, which will be effected through a "Reverse Morris Trust" transaction.

A final agreement has been put into place that will convert a LMA to outright ownership for the entity that's now overseeing a three FM/two AM (plus translators) cluster in a big Ozark resort town that also includes a local online news hub and cable TV offering The Vacation Channel. The company buying the stations is led Paul Coates, and a former presidential candidate who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas.

Today marks a very special occasion for the Recording Academy. It’s District Advocate Day, which sees the activation of group members across the country to meet with their local member of Congress "to discuss important updates to music legislation." Translation: Lobbying is being done to gain support for presently moribund House bills that would impose more royalty fees on radio stations across the U.S.

Nearly one year ago, a buccaneer in the Heart of Dixie was slapped with a steep fine for operating an FM station without a license. The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has finally reviewed, and adjudicated, on the response to its NAL from the individual found to have been operating an unlicensed radio station in Guntersville, Ala. The message to this radio pirate? Surrender the booty.

Independents and smaller groups may seem to face a different set of challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining a competitive edge and commanding their due share of revenue against the bigger groups. But smaller can be more flexible, nimbler, and easier to maneuver without layers of interference or corporate inertia. Was "economy of scale" a myth? How does the independent maintain the level of talent and creativity needed to compete head-to-head with stations relying on "synergy"? The answers will come at Forecast 2018, in New York.

Entercom Communications shareholders on Nov. 15 will vote on the company's Reverse Morris Trust-fueled merger with CBS Radio, and there aren't expected to be any surprises -- the deal will be all but a fait accompli. Some on Wall Street are already excited over what the merger will mean to Entercom, and financial advisory Seeking Alpha is hot on the radio industry pure-play.

Hearst Stations Inc. enjoys a formidable media presence in Charm City. It's now doubled down on its spoken word presence here by acquiring an FM translator for the AM -- the latest effort by a venerable station to bring a little "revitalization" to itself.

Pandora has just published the 2018 edition of its annual Definitive Guide to Audio. Our ever-skeptical Editor-in-Chief took a look at some of the highlights, and eagerly agreed to share them with RBR+TVBR readers. Why? It shows that radio is "far from dead," but is full of salacious "findings" that paint AM and FM as a home for AARP members and few who didn't grow up watching ALF in prime-time.

A special meeting of Entercom Communications shareholders has been set for Nov. 15 in Philadelphia that will likely serve as one of the final steps in Entercom's Reverse Morris Trust-fueled merger with CBS Radio. The company revealed the details in a SEC filing made late Monday.