Radio News

Tuesday may be Independence Day, but that doesn't give any ol' person the independence to become an unlicensed radio station operator. Just in time for the Fourth of July, the FCC on Thursday issued no less than five Notice of Unlicensed Operations to a half-dozen buccaneers of broadcasting. Three involve Boston-area pirates. The other two are tied to fake FMs in South Florida.

Radio Vermont has decided to divest its stable of radio stations after 86 years of continuous ownership. Richard Foreman and Associates has been named the company's exclusive broker, and the search for a new owner has begun.

Westwood One and NextRadio have partnered to roll out what they say is "the first and largest interactive audience measurement tool of over-the-air FM radio." This means "old-school broadcast radio" can now deliver the same insights on audience, engagement, clicks to retail, and more as digital advertising, they say.

With literally hours to go before the death of a major satellite that provides a significant amount of music and spoken word programming to radio stations across the U.S., at least one major program supplier is very pleased with the substantial progress seen since the end of May on the need of AMs and FMs to repoint their dishes to the replacement of AMC-8. There's still a way to go, however.

In a move first predicted by Recode on Monday, struggling streaming audio firm Pandora's CEO and co-founder has decided to step down as its chief executive while also agreeing to depart the company's board of directors. Without elaborating, the company also revealed that two other key executives were leaving. Is a man once tied to the Toronto Maple Leafs shaping Pandora's future?

The Media Rating Council (MRC) on Tuesday issued a draft version of its Digital Audio Measurement Guidelines for a 45-day public comment period. The draft was developed in collaboration with a large working group of organizations involved in the digital audio industry, which included digital audio ad buyers and sellers, digital audio content distributors, measurement services, and others.

Sirius XM Radio Inc. has proposed taking on some $1.5 billion in new debt. What does Moody's Investors Service have to say about the satellite radio company's loan endeavor?

Financial institutions from banks to mortgage lenders have been increasing their marketing efforts in recent months as the economy continues to show signs of improvement. But, what about credit card companies? One is using radio, and they are back on the latest Media Monitors Radio Spot Ten report.

One of the most famous voices in the history of U.S. Hispanic radio is back on Southern California's airwaves. Tomorrow marks the second edition of El Cucuy y Mayra Berenice, a Saturday midday talk and entertainment show airing weekly from 10am-2pm on Entravision's Classic Regional Mexican Hits station serving Los Angeles, KSSE-FM 107.1 "La Suavecita."

Add two more Buccaneers of Broadcasting to the list of individuals caught with pirate radio stations in the Borough of Queens. The FCC on Friday issued two new Notices of Unlicensed Operations, or NUOs, to individuals found to be in violation of the Commission's rules on pirate broadcasts. The NUOs are part of a largely intensified effort by the FCC to rid the airwaves of illegal broadcasts, and much of the new activity involves infringers in the New York Tri-State Area.

A little more than five years ago, Fisher Broadcasting forged an agreement that gave it the option to purchase a Class C radio station serving the Seattle-Tacoma market. This was tied to an LMA that allowed Fisher to use the FM as a simulcast partner for one of its Seattle stations. Today, Sinclair Broadcast Group owns Fisher's former Seattle stations, and holds the purchase option. It's now decided to exercise that option.

The Broadcasters Foundation of America has elected three broadcast media industry executives to its Board of Directors. One leads Cox Media Group, while another founded the only African American-owned company to include a FOX affiliate in its stable. The third new member leads Premiere Networks.

A popular syndicated radio air personality self-described as "one of the most influential, engaging radio personalities" may be one step closer to defeat as a jury will ultimately decide a more than three-year-old lawsuit filed in a Texas Federal court against the host by the nation's second-biggest radio broadcasting company by number of stations. RBR+TVBR obtained a copy of the judge's ruling, and we've broken down all of the details for you.

The fight against unlicensed radio stations has undoubtedly received newfound vigor at the FCC thanks in large part to Republican FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly, who has made the abolition of pirate operators a top priority. Who knew that a major Texas-based aerospace company would be cited for being a broadcasting buccaneer?

One of North America's oldest and longest-running News stations will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a star-studded celebration featuring a special interview and closing song from legendary recording artist Tony Bennett.