Radio News

Pat Roberts, President/CEO of the FAB, discusses the vital importance of live and local broadcasters to Florida in this conversation we share as the 2024 hurricane season nears its close, and our Fall 2024 magazine readies its completion with a feature on two Florida TV stations' efforts during Hurricane Milton.

The Mike Hulvey-led Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) has finalized its new slate of officers and directors, approved unanimously last week during its Fall Board of Directors meeting in Maryland. Named Chair of the RAB Board is the Chief Operating Officer at Townsquare Media. 

He began his career at KBRG in San Jose, Calif., some 50 years ago and in the 1990s teamed with Amador Bustos as VP of Programming for Z Spanish Radio, a pioneer among regional Mexican-focused Hispanic-owned broadcast media companies. Now, the industry is pausing to remember Homero Campos, who has died.

The company that is led by David Field and is now majority-owned by Soros Fund Management says it is "strengthening" its addressable audience and identity capabilities through a collaboration with Experian.

In mid-August, Georgia Association of Broadcasters President Bob Houghton announced his retirement. This led the former President/CEO of Tri-State Communications, an ex-NAB Radio Board President, to step into the GAB post. Now, he's moved ahead with the sale of a group of radio stations he'd been associated with.

Broadcast software provider Mr. Master is adding three new tools designed to give radio operators greater control and flexibility over their advertising systems to its AIM platform. The products - Traffic Control, The Tracker, and On Demand - are available as AIM add-ons.

SiriusXM subscribers have until now enjoyed audio access to three NBCUniversal News Group channels. As of today, they are getting two more choices, thanks to an expanded agreement between the two companies.

In mid-August, Howard Greiner was named Metro President for iHeartMedia in Nashville, leaving Upstate N.Y. Bob Morgan was named its area leader. Now, the Market President for the company's Mid-Hudson Valley and Sussex County stations is adding New York's Capital District to his duties. 

Paperwork has been filed with the FCC that seeks its approval for a legal settlement that sees 50% ownership in a North Texas AM and FM translator serving Hindi-language audiences go to the other 50/50 partner.

Educational Media Foundation, the parent of the two biggest noncommercial Christian music networks in the U.S., is growing again with the proposed acquisition of a Class B facility offering coverage of populous northern San Diego County and the neighboring Temecula Valley.

Cox Media Group, majority-owned by Apollo Global Management, is moving forward with a lender offer that would see it push out its debt by two years. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the plan is that the interest rate will not go up, or down, if debtholders say yes.

After almost 30 years with iHeartMedia and its predecessor company, Clear Channel Communications, Tom McConnell — a Division and Region President who has led several markets for the nation's No. 1 owner of radio stations — is retiring. This will see two company veterans each take Division President roles, as the company prepares for McConnell's formal exit.

It has played an outsized role in the aftermath of the devastation to Asheville, N.C., caused by Hurricane Helene and its remnants between September 27 and 28. On Friday, a Premiere Networks air personality found himself at the iHeartMedia-owned News/Talk radio station, co-hosting his daily syndicated program while raising needed funds for a significant recovery effort.

One of the world's most renowned investors sees value in the satellite radio company looking to gain more ears through smart speakers and smartphone apps. With his investment firm's acquisition of Sirius XM stock, a big comeback was underway in Monday's trading after reaching lows not seen for 12 years.

Take one look at what brand is the most active at national radio by play count, and there's an obvious leader for the week ending October 13. And, the big win comes even as the auto insurance specialist category begins to heat up once again.