Radio News

Next week, members of the Wall Street financial community will get to enjoy two days full of swanky L.A. accommodations while hearing pitches from a variety of "microcap" companies. Among the companies set to present at the LD Micro Invitational is Camarillo, Calif.-based Salem Media Group.

In an attempt to lure consumers from their favorite sunbathing sites and preferred picnic places, Macy's turned up the heat in its marketing efforts—and used AM and FM radio to do so—into the Memorial Day holiday.

Zacks Equity Research has been quite vocal lately about media stocks it's not particularly fond of at the moment. On May 25, Zacks asked if Entercom is “positioned for a slump.” Now, it's warning investors in Sirius XM "to pay close attention to the stock" based on recent moves in the options market.

The push to activate FM chips in smartphones, which Emmis Communications and its NextRadio arm have taken the lead on in the U.S., has gotten a continental boost thanks to the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA).

Cochise Media Licenses has received a pair of "gifts" ahead of the Memorial Day weekend from the FCC. They're Consent Decrees, with one ordering the operation to donate the license for an FM in the Grand Canyon State to a non-profit organization.

Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee unveiled its two latest staff members. One returns to Capitol Hill after a 13-year career in the private sector. The other individual jumps from the FCC, where this person has served as Chief of Staff and Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner Michael O'Rielly since December 2014.

The agreement gives CBS Radio a license to the Veritone platform, enabling the division of CBS Corp. to integrate artificial intelligence-based cognitive computing to seamlessly and automatically process, transform and analyze audio data.

The No. 2 broadcast radio company by number of stations late Wednesday made a revelation by way of an SEC filing. On May 18, Cumulus Media's Board of Directors shifted to a quarterly incentive plan for its key executives. With the broadcast radio business once again fragile due to soft comps in a non-political year, could other companies follow a similar—yet uncommon—approach to bonus pay?

The role of Digital Program Director has grown in importance for many broadcast radio companies, including iHeartMedia. The nation's top owner of AMs and FMs by station count just appointed another individual to its growing roster of employees bearing this title, as Rob Whiteside will now serve in the role for its Virginia/Carolina Region, effective immediately.

In the Sunshine State, a Class A FM and Class D AM with an FM translator use the branding "I AM Country." Soon, the Class A FM won't be Country. But, that's OK—it's a "joyful" change, as the facility has been sold to the operator of the Christian Full Service network "The JOY FM." The proceeds will likely be used to fund another deal that sees this seller acquire a facility from John Caracciolo's JVC Broadcasting.

The Media Financial Management Association's Distinguished CFO Award pays tribute to a Chief Financial Officer who has made outstanding contributions to the media industry. This year's award goes to an individual that recently departed a pure-play radio broadcasting company that's set to introduce CBS Radio's AMs and FMs to its stable of stations.

A press release distributed late Monday by Spanish Broadcasting System offered a highly abbreviated look at the media company's delayed Q1 2017 results. What was the company's net loss? That information was filed with the SEC, and we found it for you. SBS also shared with the SEC news of a $3.5 million lawsuit in Puerto Rico, and when its expecting its paltry FCC spectrum auction payout.

Has the FCC finally decided to get tough with the buccaneers of broadcasting that have littered the FM airwaves in three major East Coast markets for years? A series of notices of unlicensed operation issued May 17, and made public on Monday (5/22), suggest a sea change is finally underway at the Commission.

"Thanks, Washington." Why would any radio station owner say that? The U.S. Department of Transportation invested a whole bunch of money into radio spots, according to Media Monitors' just-released Spot Ten Radio chart for the week ending May 21.

What began as a tiny FM translator serving downtown Miami and points south and west is set to expand to a regional monster. Don't run ... just dance and enjoy the Revolution.