Activity Stream

From Radio Insight: After flipping Spanish CHR ?Latino 97.1? K246BD Austin/KLZT-HD2 Bastrop TX to Bilingual AC in late October, Waterloo Media has returned the station to its prior format. The “Latino” brand has always been in a state of flux within the Waterloo Media cluster. The brand originally debuted in the cluster in May 2013 on 102.7 K274AX and KLZT-HD2 where it would remain until flipping to Rhythmic Hot AC “102.7 The Vibe” in May 2021. Seven months later the former format would return as “Mega 102.7“, but that would only last six months when the translator was flipped to Sports. The Latino brand would reappear on 93.3 KGSR in July 2023 where it remained until moving to 97.1 last August in order for “The Vibe” to be resurrected. Since the move to Bilingual AC, K246BD has slid in the Nielsen Audio ratings from a 1.1 in its final monthly to a 0.6 in December and 0.4 in the Holiday 2024 monthly. more

From Radio Insight: Strong Tower Christian Media will launch “Hope 88.3” WHRN Newark OH on Monday, February 24. The new station will simulcast Contemporary Worship “Hope 100.7” WEEC Springfield/Dayton, whose coverage reaches into the western side of the Columbus market. WHRN adds coverage on the eastern fringes of Columbus with the organization noting they will at first be on a temporary tower with limited coverage, but the main tower being built they believe will cover all of Columbus. The organization intends to expand across the I-70 corridor in Ohio launching the “Hope” programming on its 103.3 W277BV Zanesville. more

From Radio Online: Radio Advertising Bureau's (RAB) upcoming One Voice for Radio presentation, entitled "The Ad Perspective," will explore the evolving role of audio and radio in agency media strategies, with a focus on the impact of Nielsen Audio Measurement Modernization on advertisers. The event will be hosted by RAB More...

From Radio Online: San Diego FC (SDFC) has secured broadcast partnerships with iHeartMedia's KGB-AM (San Diego Sports 760 AM) for English-language coverage and Grupo PSN's TUDN 1700 AM for Spanish-language coverage. The multi-year agreements will provide live match broadcasts, expert analysis, and club content for fans across More...

From Radio Online: Gow Media has upgraded its automation system to Broadcast Electronics' (BE) new AudioVAULT 11, enhancing its ability to manage and deliver programming across its diverse media platforms. Gow Media operates three Houston-area stations -- KFNC (ESPN 97.5 FM andamp; 92.5 FM) and KGOW (1560 AM) -- along with digital More...

From Radio Insight: Four non-commercial stations in the New York metropolitan area have created the Tri-State Public Radio Music Collaborative to work together to create content, build audiences and generate revenue. Newark Public Radio Jazz 88.3 WBGO Newark NJ, Fordham University AAA 90.7 WFUV New York, New York Public Radio Classical 105.9 WQXR New York and Sacred Heart University’s network based at 91.1 WSHU-FM Fairfield CT will use a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to develop a comprehensive, five-year business model, including a structural outline for staffing and management that could become the model for similar collaborations between stations across the country. WBGO President and CEO Steven A. Williams said, “This project is an unique opportunity to leverage our geographical proximity and exceptional influence we share as four of America?s most influential broadcasters. For the first time, we?ll work together to develop initiatives that will benefit public radio listeners in the nation?s largest media market and the public media system as a whole, and at the same time we?ll build a foundation for similar collaborations between stations in other cities.? New York Public Radio President/CEO LaFontaine E. Oliver added, “WQXR is proud to unite with our fellow music format public radio stations in the tri-state region to find new, inventive ways to collaboratively serve our audiences. At WQXR, we are committed to making classical music inviting and available to everyone and joining forces with other stations who share our values of accessibility and service can demonstrate the unique value we bring to our communities. We are grateful to WBGO for spearheading this work and convening this collective, and to the CPB for supporting this effort.? Public Media Compan will work with the stations to help to develop their strategic focus, and Paragon will conduct digital audits of each station and a comprehensive membership data analysis. The audits will analyze the current state of each service?s digital marketing presence and utilize industry-specific research to provide suggestions for improvement and identify areas to target to enhance content distribution while expanding digital reach. WFUV General Manager Chuck Singleton said, “The idea of collaboration among the New York area?s music stations has been informally discussed for more than a decade. We?re excited to see it advance with our great colleagues, thanks to CPB?s generous support, and we look forward to exploring paths to strengthening our connections.? WSHU President & General Manager Brad Dance commented, “This historic collaboration of public media stations represents a significant step forward in understanding and enhancing the relationship between public media and its supporters. We could not be more excited to be part of this endeavor and explore new opportunities to help each other grow. We will learn so much more together.? more

From Radio Online: NASCAR's Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Speedway Motorsports' Performance Racing Network (PRN) have announced the formation of the NASCAR Racing Network (NRN), a collaboration that aims to expand NASCAR's radio reach and enhance coverage for race fans across the country. The newly established network More...

From Radio Insight: NASCAR?s Motor Racing Network and Speedway Motorsports? Performance Racing Network have teamed together to launch the NASCAR Racing Network for coverage of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The network launched on Friday, February 15 with the annual series launch and will carry all races through the final race on October 31. Chris Schwartz, President of Motor Racing Network said, “Working side by side, MRN and PRN have built one of the largest radio networks in sports, delivering the excitement of NASCAR racing to hundreds of thousands of race fans coast to coast. The NASCAR Racing Network builds on each other?s strengths and creates a new path for us to elevate the NASCAR Radio landscape for fans and stakeholders of the sport.” PRN SVP/General Manager Gerry Horn commented, “Longtime fans of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series may notice new voices but will hear the same great coverage they have come to expect over the years. We are thrilled to formalize a partnership that will strengthen both networks allowing us to continue providing award-winning NASCAR coverage to fans nationwide.” more

From Radio Insight: First Class Radio Corp. Classic Hits “101.3 My-FM” 1490 WMRC/W267CD Milford MA has announced the appointment of Chris Caraballo as Operations Manager and morning host. Carballo joined the station last May as sales and marketing specialist after graduating from Dean College where he served as Music Director of Rock “Power 88” WGAO. He commented, “I’m excited to be a part of MyFM Media’s future. This station is uniquely positioned to create deeper connections with our audience.” First Class Radio Corp. President/CEO Tom McAuliffe said, “Chris understands and embraces MyFM Media’s mission of delivering the most local content across our airwaves, website and social media platforms.” more

From Radio Insight: Aaron Ishmael’s Loud Media NJ will purchase AC “Pop-FM 99.9” 1240 WSNJ Bridgeton, 99.9 W260BW Swedesboro, and 105.7 W289CY Millville NJ from the Kenneth Pustizzi led SNJ Today LLC for $225,000. An immediate Time Brokerage Agreement was part of the deal. Ishmael is a partner in Loud Media that owns stations in Knoxville TN and upstate New York and Mid-Century Radio that owns stations in Fort Collins CO and Rapid City SD. Kenny and Morgan Beckman’s Richland Broadcasting acquires Classic Hits 1420 WKSR/107.7 W299CW Pulaski TN from Roger Wright’s Radio7Media for $330,000 and 100.9 W265AQ Pulaski from Wright directly for $20,000. Radio7Media retains its three stations in Lawrenceburg TN. Kenny Beckman is Program Director of Country “Goober 95.1” WGGC Bowling Green KY and 2024 Kentucky Broadcasters Association On-Air Personality of the Year, while Morgan Beckman is a TV news anchor at WNKY-TV. Both are natives of the Pulaski area. After acquiring 1450 WELY and 94.5 WELY-FM Ely MN for $130,000 in November 2022, Mike Oberg’s Zoe Communications sells the Silent pair to Sage Weil’s Civic Media for $70,000. The deal marks Civic Media’s first acquisition outside of Wisconsin where the company owns 20 stations. Dockins Broadcast Group sells Country “Power Country 92.5” KFDS-FM Mountain Grove and Classic Hits “98.1 K-Hits” KOZX Cabool MO to Amy & Douglas Driesel’s A&D Incorporated for $185,000. In a =AZW3Lq1oJPj4UO0FCMPlvgUGrNPoqYCYBmu_f8yvWNzmCwebhG7MWtTE0mbuxreJSkdMQgdedz8T041tJg0H8JaD3SrnJ3zHcB4h1pHYMENdyYjwSagOhJSvd-wvBe3C-rg6hFld5sN9cBZlD_PYm7g2WIrLHzFDIN8Vn-W3SWAD59zkDbmEksY_VEeJZHQWEy1NG8W3OeGLL4gKg5J5GPt4&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R"]Facebook video announcing the purchase, Doug Driesel stated that KFDS-FM will flip to Variety Hits as “Ozark Mountain Groove“, while KOZX will be Red Dirt Country “The Hoss“. Albert Stratton receives controlling interest in Bardstown Radio Team as Bob Manning donates his 33.3% stake in the company to Stratton giving him a 66.6% stake. Alaska Harston and Adam Smith each retain their 16.6% shares. Bardstown Radio Team owns AC “Rocket 102.7” WOKH Springfield and Country 1320 WBRT/97.1 W246AT Bardstown and 94.9 W235DB Lebanon KY. Bott Radio Network continues its growth in Wyoming as Bott Communications Inc. purchases Christian 830 KUYO Evansville/Casper from Wyoming Christian Broadcasting for $200,000 and 106.5 KLLM Wheatland WY from Vic Michael’s Michael Radio Company for $25,000. Bott filed last month to acquire 88.1 KIHI Cheyenne and 88.1 K201HM Laramie from companies of Michael. Stephen Denny’s Brazos TV Inc. purchases 88.3 KOUI Mount Pleasant TX from Joy Christian Ministries for $25,000. The buyer’s stations air programming from the Christian 3ABN network. St. John Bosco Academy sells 89.5 KGVI-FM Grangeville ID to Salt & Light Radio for $1000. Radio 74 Internationale will acquire the CP for 91.3 KCLJ Clinton OK from Missions Unlimited Of Oregon for no consideration. The University of Arkansas-Cossatot sells its Classic Hits “Ed 88” simulcast of 88.5 KBPU De Queen and 88.7 KTYC Nashville AR to local non-profit Feed Local Inc. for $30,000. more

From Radio Online: KQED/San Francisco, a NPR and PBS member station, has implemented a MaxxCasting system under a license agreement with GeoBroadcast Solutions. The system, which operates with four MaxxCasting nodes, is designed to improve FM signal coverage in the East Bay, particularly in areas More...

From Radio Insight: Alpha Media’s ?Tejano 95.7? KLEY-FM Jourdanton/San Antonio has dropped its in-city simulcast of 103.3 K277CX San Antonio and cut afternoon host Bo Corona. K277CX flipped back to a simulcast of Sports “ESPN 1250” KZDC at the start of February. The translator previously rebroadcast K277CX from February to June 2022. The station exists as a flanker to sister “94.1 The Sports Star” KTFM airing ESPN Radio programming 24/7. Last week afternoon host Bo Corona exited the station. Corona, who previously worked in the market at 107.5 KXTN-FM and 102.7 KTFM, joined the station following its flip to Tejano in February 2022. He is also heard on Tejano formatted stations in Dallas, Houston, Laredo, Midland-Odessa and Victoria TX. Corona told the San Antonio Express News that his exit was related to budget cuts. He said, “I just wanted to say thank you to them*just having fun with my listeners and interacting with them, that?s what I’m going to miss the most.” KLEY-FM registered a 1.2 share in the Holiday 2024 Nielsen Audio ratings. KZDC had a 0.1 share flanking ‘s 0.9 share. more

From Radio Online: The use of artificial intelligence in broadcasting has surged over the past year, according to Haivision's newly released 2025 Broadcast Transformation Report. The report, based on a survey of 874 global broadcasters and media professionals, highlights AI as a rapidly growing force in the industry, with More...

From Radio Online: Four public radio music stations in the New York City area are joining forces to form the Tri-State Public Radio Music Collaborative (TSPRMC), a partnership aimed at increasing audience engagement, content creation, and revenue generation. The collaboration brings together WBGO More...

From Radio Online: KHTQ (Rock 94 1/2) in Spokane is bringing back a familiar voice to its airwaves. Veteran rock radio personality Tripp Rogers is rejoining the station as Assistant Program Director and morning host, taking over for Scott Steele, who is stepping down. Rogers' first show is set for Monday, March 3. Rogers More...

From Radio Online: "Country Top 40 with Fitz" (CT40) is celebrating five years with Fitz at the helm, continuing the legacy of the long-running country music countdown. The milestone marks Fitz's tenure as host after stepping into the role previously held by the late Bob Kingsley. Through syndication partner Skyview Networks, More...

From Radio Online: SourceAudio, the parent company of Alpha Libraries for Radio, has announced that its AI-powered platform, "SongLab," is helping the "Wolfman Jack Archive" repurpose and monetize content from the legendary radio host while safeguarding ownership and copyrights across digital platforms. Utilizing its More...

From Radio Online: NPR has announced the election of Stephen George to its Board of Directors as a Public Director. George, who currently serves as Head of Emerging Markets for the American Journalism Project, was elected by the Board on November 14, 2024, and later confirmed by NPR's Membership on February 7. He fills an More...

From Radio Online: A new analysis by Katz Radio Group of MRI-Simmons data reveals that affluent consumers -- traditionally targeted through print and television -- are heavily engaged with radio, presenting a significant opportunity for advertisers. Despite a long-standing focus on luxury magazines, More...

From Radio Insight: Part of the reason that we stopped having panels on the radio/record label relationship was because it usually ended up in the same dead end. Somebody from radio would declare that radio was in the business of listener retention, not breaking records. Even in the communications business, our businesses could not communicate.* There were a few flashes of that old contentiousness on a Feb. 19 panel at Country Radio Seminar called ?Why Can?t We Be Friends: The Label, Radio, and Streaming Relationship.?* The first half of that title has probably been used for similar panels at some point since the band War?s hit of that name in 1975. The second half reflects the wariness of Country PDs to streaming data, a topic at CRS for a decade now. This year at CRS, there are five panels suggesting that Country radio needs to both pay more attention to streaming, as well as shatter the chart paradigm that moves some songs glacially to No. 1 but speeds them through a revolving door when they get there. One of those panels, set for this Friday is called ?F*#@ the Format.? Last week in my pre-CRS coverage, ?Does Country Still Need to Flush the Format?? I suggested that much of the change has already taken place. In a few months? time, Country radio has embraced songs that emerge from streaming such as Zach Top?s ?I Never Lie,? Riley Green?s ?Worst Way,? or Ella Langley & Green?s ?You Look Like You Love Me,? and labels have followed suit, even when an existing chart priority is upstaged. On the first day of CRS, there was a morning panel on the breaking of ?You Look Like You Love Me.? During that session, artist manager Daniel Miller thanked Green?s label, Nashville Harbor, for their willingness to let the duet overshadow a priority single.* Later that day, though, at the ?Friends? panel, Cumulus VP/Country Travis Daily urged close scrutiny of streaming numbers, saying that just because a song is top 5 streaming still doesn?t make it necessarily viable for Country. Labels have made it clear that they look to streaming to set promotional priorities now. Daily replied that he was glad that labels now ?throw s**t against the wall? at streaming first, rather than radio.* Daily also assailed the rotating door of ?fake No. 1s? at Country radio and their quick disappearance thereafter, which he termed responsible for ?why the format continues to decline, even at what seems like a good time for Country radio, at least by the standards of other current based formats. The flip side of the Langley/Green story is Cole Swindell?s ?Forever to Me,? now a top 10 single at 39 weeks on the chart. That song had initial acceptance from both streaming and radio. Eventually, streaming cooled, and the song settled into a long mid-chart stretch, made worse by the end of the streaming story. Eventually, both Daly and Kristen Williams, Warner Music Nashville?s SVP/radio, noted that the song had eventually been re-energized by strong callout research. Daly also added that he now regards Swindell as a ?real No. 1? candidate. CRS 2025 kicked off with a panel called ?Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork: Capitalizing in the Country Moment in Streaming,? which promised to delve into outside artists making Country albums as well as the greater interest of coastal labels in signing Country artists or setting up shop in Nashville. That panel didn?t take audience questions and the one that I really wanted answered ?what from the current Nashville way of doing business? never came up. In the late ?10s, Country was beset by AC-flavored ?boyfriend country??songs that had a lot of the same lyrical clich?s as the ?bro country? that came before, but without the same energy or excitement.* After Morgan Wallen re-set the paradigm by having multiple streaming-driven hits at once, the slowly developing passive hits rankled a lot less.* That?s why I like the combination of active and passive titles at Country radio. When there are fast-breaking reaction records like Langley & Green or Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph?s ?High Road,? it?s nice to see that a ?Forever to Me? still exists as balance, that radio can still develop hits, and that callout can identify songs listeners care about that would otherwise get lost.* The precautionary tale is Top 40. There are fewer records in play. Radio departments are shrinking. Songs linger indefinitely. Late spring?s ?Espresso?-fueled excitement lasted only a few months without a wave of equally interesting titles in the wings. Few hits are identified by a slower-than-ever callout, but one that did, the David Guetta/Ava Max/Alphaville remake of ?Forever Young? has peaked at No. 10. I want Country radio to find the most possible hits from streaming. I don?t want them to hand the decision-making process over entirely to streaming. Daily complained about ?TikTok Country,? and I can attest that ?TikTok Pop? finds some songs that are great radio records. (Lola Young?s ?Messy?) and some that are merely daunting. A lot of the discussion about Country?s reluctance to acknowledge streaming has been about one artist, Zach Bryan. Two years into his stardom, Bryan still lives between Country and Top 40, fully accepted at neither (but hardly dependent on either.) In Thursday morning’s “What is Mainstream Country” panel, much of the discussion was about Bryan and Tyler Childers. That said, you hear Bryan?s influence on other Country hits these days. You also see Country?s most streaming conscious PDs more willing to draft artists from the format fringe who might or might not have ended up there through more traditional routes. Spotify’s Rachel Whitney assured panelists at the “Mainstream Country” panel that any song that made it to the Hot Country playlist worked with her core Country listeners. She also noted that the playlist had remained successful with an increased female artist component. There are a growing number of Country PDs who are aggressive about identifying streaming stories. After last week?s story, a reader asked why I hadn?t said more about the role of Country PDs using their ears to find potential hits. Daily assures me it still happens. (Mike Moore, PD of Cumulus? WKHX Atlanta, is one still known for going off the menu.) But I?d like to hear about that more, too. Ironically, Amazon head of Country Music Michelle Tigard Kammerer praised her ?talented curators who use their gut,? and who have lots of data to quickly know when they are right. I?ve been coming to CRS since the discussion was about PDs like the late Dene Hallam who upset label plans by, say, playing Alan Jackson?s ?Chattahoochee? before the label was ready. I want radio to intelligently embrace streaming and augment it with all the tools at their disposal. More from CRS to come in days ahead. Check this page for updates. more

From Radio Online: Red Apple Audio Networks is broadening its lineup with "The Rev andamp; The Rabbi," a one-hour weekend program airing Sundays from 7-8am. The show, hosted by Reverend A.R. Bernard and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, aims to foster discussions on religion, faith, and culture by featuring a diverse More...

From Radio Insight: “Live At The Bop Stop” has reached 66 affiliates with the show’s launch on Jazz 90.5 WICN Worcester MA and 88.3 KCCK-FM Cedar Rapids IA. KCCK-FM is airing the program on Wednesdays at 10pm and WICN on Thursdays at 10pm. The show launched in 2021 and is an hour-long jazz performance program featuring contemporary jazz artists recorded live in concert. Live At The Bop Stop is hosted by Daniel Peck and produced at the Robert Conrad Studios at the Bop Stop in Cleveland. more

From Radio Online: PURE Jingles has named Ilja Volkers as its new Chief Commercial Officer, bringing experience from major media companies such as BMG, Bertelsmann, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. In his new role, Volkers will focus on strengthening client relationships and advancing innovation through the More...

From Radio Online: Podcast advertising spending continued its upward trajectory in the fourth quarter of 2024, increasing 19% year-over-year, according to Magellan AI's latest benchmark report. Monthly spending throughout the quarter outpaced the Q3 average, with the most significant surge occurring in December. Eight of More...

From Radio Online: Triton Digital has released its January 2025 U.S. Podcast Ranker, covering the period from December 30 to February 2. For another consecutive month, the iHeart Audience Network secured the #1 position in the Top Sales Networks Report, with 64.4 million Average Weekly Downloads and More...

From Radio Insight: After company-wide layoffs earlier this month, a number of Radio One stations have made lineup changes to fill the gaps in the schedule. Reports earlier this month pegged the cuts at affecting five percent of all employees at parent Urban 1. Starting in Dallas at Hip Hop “97.9 The Beat” KBFB where Peter ‘P-Skillz’ Dorsey has exited as host of “The Flight Zone” in afternoons after seven years at the station. Dorsey joined KBFB in 2018 as night host before moving to afternoons in 2023. Reach Media’s “Posted On The Corner” hosted by Incognito and DJ Misses moves from nights to afternoons, while “Toxic Boy Radio With Hollywood Zay And Dj Papa Ron” moves from weekends to nights. At Hip Hop “97.9 The Box” KBXX Houston, morning co-host Keisha Nicole has also added middays replacing the cancelled “Amanda Seales Show”. Jessica Jeanz, who was also part of the morning show and hosted “The Power Hour” from 11pm-12am, is no longer listed on the schedule. Keisha Nicole will also add middays at “Hot 100.9” WHHH Speedway/Indianapolis IN. It marks a return to the station, where she hosted afternoons until moving to Houston in 2017. She succeeds Shayna Sawyers, who exited but continues in middays at LM Communications “107.9 The Beat” WBTF Lexington KY. At Sports “107.5/93.5 The Fan” WIBC-HD2 Indianapolis, a pair of hosts have been let go. Andy Sweeney exited as co-host of “The Wake Up Call with KB & Andy” alongside Kevin Bowen. Sweeney joined the station in August 2023 after serving as PD/afternoon host of Union Broadcasting’s “ESPN 680” WHBE Louisville. Jimmy Cook exited as co-host of the 12-3pm “Query & Company” with Jake Query. “101.1 The Wiz” WIZF Erlanger KY/Cincinnati makes changes in three dayparts. The WRNB Philadelphia based Rodney ‘Supreme’ Maybin, who had been a producer/co-host for The Amanda Seales Show replaces WCKX Columbus’ DJ Nailz. “Posted On The Corner” moves from nights to afternoons to fill the opening created by Tropikana’s departure last August. ‘Nella D’ Allen, who most recently had been filling-in afternoons with weekend host DJ EZ, moves to nights. Moving up Ohio to “Power 107.5” WCKX Columbus, the station debuted “The Morning Hustle” in January to replace Amanda Seales. APD Marc ‘DJ Nailz’ Dixon, who co-hosted Seales’ show and afternoons locally moves to midday’s replacing Leah Henry’s “Leah’s Lemonade” as she was affected by the layoffs. Posted In The Corner moves up from nights to afternoons, while evenings are vacant on the station’s website. “Z107.9” WENZ Cleveland sees APD/MD Rochelle ‘Ro Digga’ Frazier move from afternoons to middays as Micah Dixon exits. Posted In The Corner rises from nights to afternoons, while evenings are vacant. Lastly at Hot AC “Mix 107.9” WLNK Charlotte, Holly Haze returns to the midday slot she held prior to the station’s rebrand in April 2021 from nights. Drew Parham, who had joined the station then, moves to weekends. Program Director Neal Sharpe comes on air to host nights. more

From Radio Insight: In a speech at The Media Institute?s 2025 Communications Forum on Wednesday, NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt reopened the push to expand or eliminate the current ownership caps in a market. Discussing the state of the radio industry, LeGeyt commented, “For local radio, outdated rules limit the number of stations a company can provide to each community, depending on the size of that market. This severely limits consumer choice, as well as investment in local radio stations, hindering our ability to innovate, grow and provide more choices for listeners. But streaming services, like Spotify, SiriusXM, Amazon and Apple, have no limits. They can offer as many channels as they like. The trade-off: it will cost you a subscription fee. Meanwhile, a local radio group, which offers a product that is locally-focused and freely-available to all, is restricted in its ability to offer more than five FM stations in many markets.” What LeGeyt fails to take into account is that our radio industry had every opportunity to be what Spotify, SiriusXM, Amazon and Apple are. iHeartRadio does offer what SiriusXM does, just not in a way the consumer wants. Spotify launched in the United States in July 2011. The iHeartRadio app launched in September 2011 just months after Spotify. Why didn?t their premium subscription service to listen to all music take off the way Spotify did with the way they aggressively push obscure podcasts now on their listeners? At least iHeart saw early on the need to launch a streaming app for the still new iPhone and Android ecosystems. Many other of the big radio group owners are still trying to find streaming strategies that work in 2025. Other nations worked together to ensure all licensed radio stations were on an even playing field on a digital platform with services like Radioplayer. The same thing happened at the turn of the century with the opportunity to create a unified digital broadcast experience. While most of the world went with DAB, the NAB helped push the use of what became HD Radio. Simply to prevent what were then mostly independently owned 1kW AMs from being on the same playing field as 100kW FMs that companies had just spent tens of millions to acquire during the late 90’s consolidation, everything was done to hinder that. Even the proposal by then Cox Radio CEO Bob Neil, to virtually map subchannels to virtual frequencies like HDTV has done, was shot down to enable the original station to maintain control of the “stations between the stations”. Now over two decades later, it is still a novelty when an HD subchannel not feeding an analog translator (opening another loophole to avoid the ownership caps) shows up with any measurable ratings. LeGeyt continued, “These national and local ownership rules were crafted to promote competition, but in practice they give Big Tech a free pass to dominate and serve audiences with content based on algorithms that reinforce our biases and divide us rather than bring us together. In contrast, local stations deliver content that is meant to serve our collective community. Yet, we are competing with both arms tied behind our backs. The consequences of this are alarming.” Most local stations aren’t delivering “content that is meant to serve our collective community”. For every exception to the rule, there are dozens of stations with zero local output. The big operators are racing each other to create national music logs and programming lineups across formats. The smaller ones do not have the resources to keep up. The issues we’re facing are also not unique to the United States. Canada and the United Kingdom are also seeing massive cutbacks and nationalization of commercial radio programming. When given the opportunity to listen to “Madcap Mike and Morning Madhouse” or someone like Howard Stern or Joe Rogan, listeners are going to choose the better program regardless of where it is based. Especially when they can listen on-demand to nearly anything anywhere. Radio as a whole failed to adapt and invest in the future when it needed to. That has now come back to hurt it. When station X in a market does something to drive a P1 listener to other platforms, it’s also going to hurt the rest of the market where they were P2 or P3’s. We’ve seen the year-over-year CUME drops over the past decade prove that. And how will further consolidation help in the big picture? Most of the big operators are already struggling with debt load, valuation write-offs, and a lack of viable buyers due to financing not being available to those seeking to acquire stations outside of mostly non-commercial Christian network operators. Even with the caps reduced or eliminated, those problems don’t go away. Instead it will just lead to mergers of companies creating higher debt loads leading to even more job cuts preventing the ability to create what LeGeyt says will “allow broadcasters to compete will give local stations the ability to invest in our journalists, our highly valued content, our weather technology and our newsrooms”, while also eliminating in-format competition giving listeners yet another reason to abandon radio for another platform when their favorite station or show goes away. Radio in 2025 cannot be done the way it was in 1965, 1985, or 2005. There are too many other options for advertisers and listeners. But creating local commercial FM monopolies is not the solution. Radio has stopped creating the most compelling content for listeners EXCEPT in emergencies such as during a Hurricane or the Los Angeles wildfires. If it wants the audience back, we need to figure out how to provide that all the time and on platforms people want to use. LeGeyt’s full speech follows: Good afternoon. It is an honor to be here today to discuss the critical role of local television and radio stations, the challenges our industry faces, and the opportunities that lie ahead for broadcasters and the audiences we serve. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Rick Kaplar, Dick Wiley and the Media Institute for giving me the opportunity to join you today. I also want to thank all of you for being here. Your presence underscores the vital role we all play in ensuring a vibrant and innovative media landscape. I feel incredibly fortunate to represent America?s broadcasters. They are beacons of our democracy. Every day, they exercise their First Amendment right to report, inform and help citizens understand the issues that affect their daily lives. And let?s just address the elephant in the room here ? this is a challenging time to be a broadcast journalist. It?s not easy to report on the deluge of information (and misinformation on social media) that is shaping our world. Especially in cutting through polarized rhetoric to find the truth. And yet, there has never been a more critical time to arm Americans with the facts and let them make their own decisions. To fulfill this mission, our newsrooms must be able to report without fear or favor. This isn’t just a constitutionally protected right ? it is fundamental to serving our communities. And it?s a right we?ve had to defend time and time again since our country?s founding. Efforts to limit the ability of broadcasters to report the facts hinders the public?s right to know and chills free speech. Americans deserve the full and fair reporting that broadcasters provide and NAB strongly defends our members’ First Amendment rights and their vital role in maintaining an informed public. Our democracy relies on journalists? ability to report the news without the risk of government retribution. In a media environment flooded with social media misinformation and cable news politicization, this role has never been more important. With this backdrop, I am incredibly proud of the hard work being done by our local newsrooms around the country. Many other media companies and platforms make important contributions to the economy, yet, no other industry can do what local broadcasters do. We provide an essential public service that is freely-available and accessible to everyone. In an age when newspapers continue to shutter at an average of more than two a week, and media companies are not just national, but global, only local broadcasters are committed to the needs of the communities we serve using our First Amendment rights to inform the public. No Big Tech algorithm will ever replicate this vital service. During times of emergency, when people don?t know where to turn, they look to their local broadcasters. During national events when Americans want news they know they can trust, they look to local broadcasters. And for the moments that we all want to experience together ? whether it is the Super Bowl or election night returns ? they look to local broadcasters. While I feel fortunate to wake up each day knowing the work of our members is a fundamental bedrock of American democracy, at the same time I am worried. The government?s failure to adapt its regulations to a changing media landscape has pushed local broadcasting to a precipice; one that looks eerily familiar to the neglect that led to newspapers? demise. And the alarm is so significant that last year, then FCC Commissioner and now Chairman Brendan Carr implored his colleagues and Congress to act because, in his words, broadcasters are at a ?break glass moment.? Chairman Carr was signaling that if we don?t act quickly, the future of local broadcasting is at great risk, and I agree. So how did we get here? What can we do about it? And importantly, what could we lose if we don?t act now? First, How Did We Get Here Local broadcasting is a highly regulated business in a rapidly evolving sector of the economy. Rapid evolution and government regulation are words that historically do not go together. As broadcasters, we have lived through that disconnect. For years, the FCC has treated TV and radio broadcasting as though it exists in isolation, ignoring the rise of cable, satellite, streaming and social media platforms that dominate today?s media consumption. These new competitors are not bound by the same public interest obligations as local stations, nor do they face the same regulatory burdens. And so, while broadcasters are restrained by regulations, Big Tech continues to get bigger, dominating the media landscape and consumers? attention. They extract advertising revenue from local communities, only to concentrate that wealth in Silicon Valley, all while operating free from the ownership restrictions placed on local broadcast stations. The result? A playing field that is anything but level. While streaming services like Netflix, YouTube and Spotify reach all Americans, broadcasters are held back by complex ownership regulations that don’t give stations a fighting chance. And meanwhile tech platforms like Google and Facebook offer businesses an advertising proposition that is unlimited in its scale either locally, nationally, or globally. An offering that broadcasters simply cannot match because the government won?t allow us to. Times have changed*drastically. And these regulations?broad, strict regulations that were imposed before the internet even existed?must also change to keep up with the times. Two data points stand-out that reflect the current state of the media marketplace: YouTube now accounts for one-tenth of all the TV that Americans watch, the most of any video service ? broadcast, cable or streaming; and According to Pew Research, one-third of adults under 30 more

From Radio Insight: Core Radio Group’s recently launched Adult R&B/Southern Soul “87.7 The Vibe” WTBS-LD Atlanta has added Compass Media Networks’ DeDe In The Morning from 5-10am. Based at Service Broadcasting’s “K104” KKDA-FM Dallas, the show is led by DeDe McGuire and also features comedian JJ Williamson, J-Kruz, Tre G, and producer Traci Thomas. McGuire said, “I am beyond thrilled to be part of The New 87.7 The Vibe. I can’t wait to connect with my new listeners and become a part of their mornings. Get ready for laughter, engaging conversations, and a whole lot of fun. Atlanta, let’s make mornings your favorite part of the day together! This is a dream come true.” Core Radio Group President/CEO Steve Hegwood said, ?Atlanta has been waiting for DeDe in the Morning. I?m a big fan of her show?she is a world-class talent with success all across the country, and we are excited to have her wake up the city of Atlanta on 87.7 The Vibe.? more

From Radio Online: Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW) has announced the continuation of its mentorship program in partnership with Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB). Now in its second year, the Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Country Radio initiative aims to support female leadership in the Country radio More...

From Radio Online: Syndicated morning show "DeDe in the Morning" is expanding its reach to Atlanta, joining "87.7 The Vibe," the new Randamp;B and Southern Soul outlet operated by Core Radio Group. The show, hosted by DeDe McGuire, brings its signature energy and humor to Atlanta listeners starting this week. "I am beyond More...