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From Radio Online: In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, FCC officials are actively visiting North Carolina to evaluate ongoing recovery efforts. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr have scheduled visits to different parts of the state, emphasizing the agency's commitment to More...

From Radio Insight: The fourth and final day of Nielsen Audio’s PPM releases for the month bring Austin, Raleigh/Durham, Indianapolis, Nashville, Jacksonville, Milwaukee, Providence, Norfolk, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, West Palm Beach, Memphis, and Hartford. All the numbers can be found at RadioInsight.com/Ratings. AustinWaterloo Media Variety Hits “103.5 Bob-FM” KBPA rises 11.0 to 11.9. Public News/Talk 90.5 KUT-FM climbs 4.9 – 6.2 – 7.9 – 8.6, which Ratings Expert Chris Huff notes is its largest share since August 2021. Audacy AC “Majic 95.5” KKMJ trends up 5.4 – 6.2 – 6.7 – 7.8. iHeartMedia Country 98.1 KVET-FM is down 6.2 to 5.8, with sister 100.7 KASE right behind 5.1 to 5.2. iHeart CHR “96.7 Kiss-FM” KHFI slides 5.2 – 4.6 – 3.8. Waterloo Alternative “101X” KROX-FM trends up 2.5 – 3.4 – 3.6. Univision Regional Mexican “Que Buena 104.3” KLQB rises 2.7 to 3.3. Waterloo’s competing “107.1 La Z” KLZT drops 3.7 – 3.5 – 3.1. Univision Spanish AC “Amor 107.7” KLJA drops 1.1 to 0.5. Raleigh/DurhamRadio One Adult R&B “Foxy 107.1/104.3” WFXC/WFKX rises to the top of the Research Triangle up 8.4 to 9.4. Capitol Broadcasting AC “Mix 101.5” WRAL-FM is down 9.6 to 8.9. Public News/Talk 91.5 WUNC-FM ties for second up 7.8 – 8.6 – 8.9. iHeartMedia Conservative Talk “Talk 106.1” WTKK rebounds 8.2 to 8.8. Curtis Media Variety Hits “96.1 BBB” WBBB ends its slide 6.2 to 6.5. iHeartMedia CHR “G105” WDCG drops 5.0 to 4.2 as Curtis Media’s competing “Pulse-FM” 96.9 WPLW and translators follows 4.4 to 3.6. iHeart Country “B93.9” WNCB jumps up 2.2 to 3.3. Co-owned Classic Rock 100.7 WRDU drops 4.9 to 3.7, but Classic Hip Hop “95.3 The Beat” WDCG-HD2 gains 0.7 to 1.3. Radio One Gospel “103.9 The Light” WNNL is down 3.4 to 2.6. Curtis Media Regional Mexican “La Ley 101.1” WYMY rises 1.0 – 1.3 – 1.8. IndianapolisRadio One takes the top three spots in Indianapolis. AC “B105.7” WYXB swings 9.5 – 8.5 – 9.6. News/Talk 93.1 WIBC holds at an 8.5 share. Adult R&B 106.7 WTLC-FM rises 7.3 to 8.2. Cumulus Country 95.5 WFMS is off 6.5 to 6.4 and sister Classic Hits 104.5 WJJK dips 6.5 to 6.3. Public News/Talk 90.1 WFYI-FM rises 4.7 – 5.0 – 6.0. Radio One Country “97.1 Hank-FM” WLHK climbs 3.9 – 4.8 – 5.4. iHeartMedia Classic Rock “Q95” WFBQ falls 7.6 to 5.8. Cumulus CHR 99.5 WZPL is down 5.9 to 5.1 and Rock “93.9X” WNDX slides 2.9 – 2.6 – 2.1. NashvilleMidwest Communications Variety Hits “96.3 Jack-FM” jumps up 7.9 to 10.3 to claim the Music City lead over sister AC “Mix 92.9” WJXA as it drops 11.0 to 10.0. iHeartMedia Classic Rock “105.9 The Rock” WNRQ surges up 5.4 – 6.6 – 7.2 for what Huff notes is its best share since January 2021. Cumulus Sports “104.5 The Zone” WGFX rises 5.2 to 6.8, but co-owned News/Talk “99.7 WTN” WWTN slides 6.7 – 6.5 – 5.9. iHeartMedia Country “The Big 98” WSIX drops 6.5 to 5.7. CHR “107.5 The River” WRVW slides 6.3 – 5.9 – 5.5 – 5.2. Cumulus’ “103.3 Country” WKDF falls down 5.5 to 3.5. Hope Media Group Christian AC “88.7 Way-FM” WAYM jumps up 3.1 to 4.5. Cromwell Media Sports “102.5 The Game” WPRT-FM rises 1.8 to 2.5. Classic Hits “Totally Hits 93.3” WBUZ-HD4’s stream rises 0.3 to 1.6 following its mid-July rebrand and addition of morning hosts Woody & Jim, while the AM/FM signal does not appear. Ryman Hospitality Talk/Classic Country 650 WSM appears with a 0.5 share. JacksonvilleRenda AC 96.1 WEJZ maintains its lead despite continuing its slide 11.4 – 11.1 – 9.9 – 9.2. Cox Classic Rock “96.9 The Eagle” WJGL drops 9.6 to 8.1, but its stream soars 0.2 to 1.5. Cox News/Talk 104.5 WOKV-FM trends down 9.4 – 9.0 – 8.3 – 7.6. iHeartMedia Adult R&B “V101.5” WSOL rebounds 6.4 to 7.4. Cox Soft AC “Easy 102.9” WEZI maintains a 5.5 share with its stream adding a 1.3 share.. iHeart Hip Hop “93.3 The Beat” WJBT grows 4.0 – 4.6 – 5.0. Cox Hip Hop “Power 106.1” WJGL-HD2 climbs 1.9 – 2.3 – 2.9. iHeartMedia CHR “97.9 Kiss-FM” WKSL gains 2.3 to 3.1 to tighten its battle with Cox CHR 95.1 WAPE as it dips 4.1 to 3.9. Renda’s “99.9 Gator Country” WGNE slips 4.5 – 4.3 – 3.9. Norsan Media Spanish AC “Latina 92.1” WJXR falls 1.7 – 1.4 – 0.6. MilwaukeeiHeartMedia Conservative Talk 1130 WISN rises for the sixth straight survey 14.1 to 14.4 for what Ratings Expert Chris Huff says is its largest share since OCT/NOV 1967. Saga Classic Rock “Hometown Rock 96.5” WKLH dips 9.4 to 9.2. iHeartMedia Classic Hits “95.7 Big-FM” WRIT-FM rises 6.9 to 7.3, while sister Country “FM 106.1” WMIL falls 6.5 to 5.1. Saga Rock “102.9 The Hog” WHQG inches up 4.3 to 4.4. Milwaukee Radio Alliance AC “B93.3” WLDB drops 5.0 to 4.3. Saga Adult R&B “Jammin 98.3” WJMR rises 3.0 to 3.6 and sister “Pure Oldies 106.9” WRXS-FM is up 2.2 to 2.9. Public News/Talk 89.7 WUWM-FM rises 2.4 – 2.7 – 3.4 – 4.0. iHeartMedia Sports “97.3 The Game” WRNW-FM is up 1.5 – 1.7 – 2.4. ProvidenceHall Communications’ “Cat Country 98.1” WCTK jumps fourth to first as it rises 7.2 to 9.0. Cumulus AC “Lite 105.1” WWLI trends up 7.1 – 7.9 – 8.6. iHeartMedia Rock 94.1 WHJY is up 7.8 to 7.9. iHeart Hot AC “Now 93.3” WSNE gains 7.1 to 7.6, which Huff notes is its best share since December 2013. Cumulus News/Talk 630 WPRO/99.7 WEAN holds at a 7.3 share. Cumulus CHR “92 Pro-FM” WPRO-FM drops 7.1 to 6.2. iHeart Classic Hits “B101” WWBB falls 7.1 – 6.5 – 4.9. Cumulus Hip Hop “Hot 106” WWKX is down 2.3 – 1.9 – 1.7. Public News/Talk 89.7 WGBH-FM Boston rises 2.2 to 3.1. Norfolk/Virginia BeachAudacy Adult R&B “95.7 R&B” WVKL rises 9.0 to 10.0. Saga Rock “FM 99” WNOR climbs 6.0 – 7.2 – 8.4 for its best since September 2019. Sinclair Communications Variety Hits “93.7 Bob-FM” WNOB is off 7.5 to 7.4. Saga Classic Rock “106.9 The Fox” WAFX drops 7.1 to 6.0. Max Media AC “92.9 The Wave” WTWV-FM rises 5.1 to 5.6. iHeartMedia Hip Hop “103 Jamz” WOWI is down for the fourth straight month 6.0 to 5.4. Max Media Adult R&B “100.5 The Vibe” WVBW gains 2.8 – 3.1 – 3.8. Audacy AC “101.3 2WD” WWDE falls 6.0 to 4.7. Co-owned Hot AC “94.9 The Point” WPTE climbs 2.1 – 3.0 – 3.4 – 3.8. Max Media Country “97.3 The Eagle” WGH-FM drops 4.7 – 4.1 – 3.5 as Sinclair’s “US 106.1” WUSH holds at a 3.8 share. Audacy Rhythmic CHR “Z104” WNVZ drops 3.1 to 2.1. Greensboro/Winston-SalemAudacy takes the top three spots in the Triad. Adult R&B 97.1 WQMG dips 12.3 to 12.2. Hip Hop “102 Jamz” WJMH is down 10.3 to 9.8. Variety Hits “98.7 Simon” WSMW rises 8.3 to 9.2. Public News/Talk 88.5 WFDD climbs 4.2 – 4.7 – 5.9 to set a new station record high share. Dick Broadcasting Classic Rock “Rock 92” WKRR rises 4.9 – 5.3 – 5.7. iHeartMedia AC “Mix 99.5” WMAG drops 6.2 to 5.4. iHeart CHR “Hits 100.3” WMKS rises 2.0 – 2.2 – 3.2. iHeart Classic Rock “Real Rock 105.7” WVBZ is down 2.8 to 2.2. Public News/Talk 91.5 WUNC-FM Raleigh is up 1.5 – 2.0 – 2.2. West Palm BeachHubbard’s duo of Hot AC 97.9 WRMF (7.7 to 7.4) and Adult R&B “X102.3” WMBX (7.6 to 7.4) tie for the top spot. iHeartMedia AC “Kool 105.5” WOLL trends up 5.4 – 6.3 – 6.5. Hubbard’s “New Country 103.1” WIRK climbs 3.7 – 4.4 – 4.7. Hubbard Classic Hits “Sunny 107.9” WEAT drops 5.5 to 4.4. Hope Media Group Christian AC “88.1 Way-FM” WAYF rises 3.7 to 4.2. iHeartMedia Classic Rock “98.7 The Gator” WKGR and Public News/Talk 91.3 WLRN Miami via 101.9 translator are both down 3.7 to 3.2. iHeartMedia Hot Talk “Real Radio 92.1” WZZR drops 2.4 to 1.8. MemphisiHeartMedia Adult R&B “V101” KJMS-FM rises 12.6 – 14.0 – 14.9 for its largest share ever. iHeart Hip Hop “K97” WHRK is up 7.8 to 8.0 with Gospel “95.7 Hallelujah-FM” WHAL-FM up 6.6 – 6.9 – 7.5. Audacy AC “104.5 The River” WRVR is down 7.9 – 7.6 – 7.3. Audacy Sports “ESPN 92.9” 680 WMFS/92.9 WMFS-FM jumps up 3.0 – 3.4 – 4.6 for its best share since January 2022. iHeart R&B Oldies 1070 WDIA drops 4.1 – 3.7 – 3.3. Hot AC “Kiss 102.7” WEGR is up 2.3 – 3.0 – 3.1 and Classic Rock “Rock 102” KWNW is up 1.1 to 1.6. Public News/Talk 91.1 WKNO-FM is up 0.7 to 1.3. iHeart Conservative Talk 600/92.1 WREC is down 1.7 to 1.3. Cumulus Media and Flinn continue to not subscribe in Memphis. HartfordAudacy’s trio take the top three spots with AC “Lite 100.5” WRCH down 10.3 to 9.5. Hot AC 96.5 WTIC-FM rebounds 7.5 to 9.3. Hip Hop “Hot 93.7” WZMX is off 9.0 to 8.9. iHeartMedia Classic Hits “105.9 The River” WHCN holds at a 7.8 share. Full Power Radio Classic Rock “102.9 The Whale” WDRC-FM inches up 6.7 to 6.8. iHeartMedia CHR “Kiss 95.7” WKSS rises 4.3 to 4.9. Full Power Radio Adult R&B “102.5 Hartford’s R&B Station” 1470 WBOM rises 2.1 to 2.7. more

From Radio Online: iHeartPodcasts has announced the launch of a new weekly women's sports podcast series, "Levels To This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby." The show, set to premiere on October 10, will feature candid conversations with influential women, and occasionally men, about the journey to becoming the More...

From Radio Online: WGTS/Washington, DC President and CEO Kevin Krueger was the host for the celebration of the end of the "Feds Feed Families" government food drive hosted at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters in DC. For the campaign, different departments of the government compete More...

From Radio Online: This week, The TJ andamp; Riggins show jumped into action to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The show is seeking help from around the country and can accept donations for at TJRiggins.com. "This is the exact reason we created Payton's More...

From Radio Online: KROQ-FM in Los Angeles is launching a new show dedicated to the best in electronic music, entitled "KROQ EQ." Airing Saturday nights from 11pm-2am PT, the show will deliver a mix of styles -- including house, future bass, electro and big beat, among others -- for fans of Coachella's Sahara Tent, HARD Summer, More...

From Radio Online: iHeartMedia appoints Joe "Crash" Albrecht as Senior Vice President of Programming for Alaska, effective immediately. The 35-year programming veteran will oversee local programming of the company's ten stations in both Anchorage and Fairbanks. Albrecht has been a part of the iHeart Alaska team for more than More...

From Radio Insight: Audacy Alternative 106.7 KROQ-FM Pasadena/Los Angeles is debuting a new show dedicated to electronic music. “KROQ EQ” will air on Saturday nights from 11pm to 2am featuring a mix of styles?including house, future bass, electro, and big beat, among others?for fans of Coachella?s Sahara Tent, HARD Summer, Portola, and EDC hosted by KROQ Music Director ‘Miles The DJ? Anzaldo. Artists to be included on the show include Justice, Fred again.., R?f?s Du Sol, LP Giobbi, ODESZA, Jamie xx and Jungle, Daft Punk, The Crystal Method, LCD Soundsystem, Fatboy Slim and The Chemical Brothers. Justice will do a guest DJ set on the launch episode on Saturday, October 5. The show’s name ?KROQ EQ? is a nod to equalization (EQ), a technique used in music production to adjust the frequency balance of an audio signal. more

From Radio Insight: iHeartMedia has promoted Joe ‘Crash’ Albrecht to SVP/Programming for its Anchorage and Fairbanks AK stations. Albrecht has been with iHeart Anchorage for over 25 years most recently serving as Program Director of Sports “550 The Zone” KTZN, News/Talk 650 KENI, and Classic Rock “100.5 The Fox” KBFX, the latter of which he also hosts afternoons. He also has worked at Ingstad Broadcasting Anchorage. Albrecht stated, “I?m beyond excited to embark on this new chapter with iHeart Alaska. Having started my career here in Anchorage over 35 years ago, it?s a full-circle moment. I look forward to working with the talented team here to take these longstanding, heritage brands to even greater success. I?m grateful for this opportunity and can?t wait to get started,” iHeartMedia Alaska/Hawaii Area President said, “I?m thrilled to have ?Crash? step into this pivotal role. He brings tremendous local market knowledge, a proven track record and an unmatched work ethic to the team. I?m confident Joe will lead these strong Alaskan markets to even greater heights.” He fills the opening created by the recent retirement of Mark Murphy, who also hosted mornings at AC “Magic 98.9” KYMG Anchorage. more

From Radio Insight: Dick Broadcasting has relaunched Regional Mexican “La Pantera 105.5” WXQR-FM Jacksonville/New Bern NC as Spanish Rhythmic “Candela 105.5“. The station is featuring artists such as Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Enrique Igelsias, J Balvin, and Karol G. It continues to feature the syndicated “El Bueno, La Mala y El Feo” in mornings and “El Show de Chiquibaby” in middays along with local afternoon host ‘La Roja’. more

From Radio Online: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, alongside Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, has urged Congress to support the continued inclusion of AM radios in new car models, amid growing concerns that car manufacturers are phasing them out. Bird and Moody co-authored a letter to Congress, emphasizing the More...

From Radio Online: Lemonada Media has announced a new scripted comedy podcast, "Hildy the Barback and the Lake of Fire," starring actress Melissa McCarthy as Hildy. Written by Ben Falcone and Steve Mallory, the 8-episode fictional series will premiere on October 25, with new episodes airing every Friday. The new podcast More...

From Radio Insight: The first thing I heard when I turned on iHeart?s WKSF (99.9 Kiss Country) Asheville, N.C., on Wednesday morning concerned the goats. The caller raised goats for petting zoos and to take to nursing homes. The goats were unhappy about being inside, especially because she hadn?t bought enough diapers before Hurricane Helene. Another caller agreed to host the goats for a while, but only after it was established that they wouldn?t need an electric fence.* On Wednesday morning, iHeart Asheville was being hosted by WKSF?s Eddie Foxx along with Mark Starling and Tank Spencer from N/T sister WWNC. The broadcast was being heard throughout the seven-station cluster.* Like many of the callers that morning, this one told the team, ?If it wasn?t for you guys, nobody would know anything.? Like many of the callers that morning, her voice started to break as she told listeners, ?We are going to be OK.? ?There?s no other choice,? said one of the hosts. ?You know it?s OK not to be OK now,? they told another caller. The news followed. FEMA rescue teams had helped rescue 500 so far, but also continued to identify fatalities, such as the family that made it to their roof, only to have the house collapse. President Biden was arriving in Western North Carolina. Elon Musk was sending Starlink devices throughout the area. Motel owners talked about the damage to their properties room by room and the catastrophe of losing foliage season. Most of the calls were about connecting people with supplies, meals, and services. An EMT for the Buncombe County Rescue Squad encouraged listeners to request wellness checks via its website. Troyers Amish Store in Fairview had chargers available. ?If you?re going to one of these places, try to be neighborly,? the team told listeners. They were headed out to help deliver supplies after the shift, adding, ?If you see us, don?t be afraid to ask for a hug.? WUSY (US101) Chattanooga, Tenn., PD Justin Cole called in. He was Foxx?s former morning producer and stuntman. Cole had just established his own mom?s safety, having been called from a National Guard aid station. US101 was doing a relief drive from three locations, and Foxx allowed how weird it felt after years of such events for his town to be the one in need of help. A listener called to talk about all the offers of help she had received. ?We are loved from across the country,? she told the team. ?We are not alone.? Before the morning team left, they introduced Episcopal bishop Jose McLachlan, who had called to offer prayers before, and was now going to end the show each morning, He offered prayers for first responders and for the departed, including ?those we do not know by name.? On noncommercial Triple-A WNCW, midday host Martin Anderson had a suggestion I hadn?t yet encountered elsewhere. Listeners who had the ability to leave the area should consider doing so, rather than taxing resources for those who could not, or at least consider going to a shelter. ?Don?t be overly brave,? he said. On WNCW?s local news, one of the lead stories was about Asheville?s Mission Hospital, where 20 water tankers were now arriving daily, along with 100 medical personnel coming from sister hospitals. Until now, Mission had been forced to send its instruments to Charlotte for sterilization. Some of the information being shared on WNCW was for benefit concerts. The station?s own fundraiser was supposed to be taking place now; instead, listeners were being asked to donate to emergency relief. WNCW was playing music Wednesday morning. Many of the songs were from local musicians, many of whose own safety had just been established. Some of the songs were mountain themed; a few were aspirational about better times ahead, including a version of Robert Earl Keen?s ?Feeling Good Again? recorded at WNCW. That afternoon, when I turned into Saga?s Classic Rock WTMT (The Mountain), the first thing I heard was a press briefing from Asheville?s city manager, Debra Campbell. Questions included how much water the city had (enough to get through Friday at the moment) and whether, that being the case, she would encourage people to leave if they could. ?That?s totally a personal decision that a family has to make on its own,? she said.* The afternoon team I heard was also taken from stations around the cluster: the Mountain?s Skip Richards joined by WOXL (Mix 96.5)?s Shannon Steele and WOXL-HD-2 (The River)?s Jordan. Perhaps because the station content was following the press conference, one caller asked for her problems to be relayed city officials. She had received her Social Security check but didn?t have the gas to get to a bank that still had cash and thus couldn?t buy food at stores that weren?t yet able to take credit cards. That particular caller seemed to think the Saga team had some connection to the city manager and could pass along her feedback.* But many of the calls were along those lines. In ways, it was like hearing a customer-service hotline (a good one, anyway). When a woman with no immediate prospects for having her power restored declared, ?It?s OK, because I love to camp,? the hosts thanked her for her positivity. Western North Carolina radio has been deservedly praised on social media for its post-Helene efforts. One of the most meaningful Facebook comments I saw about iHR/Asheville was from a small-market owner whose take on major-group clusters is usually much less charitable. Some of the efforts of local radio have been national news.* As we ponder radio?s role in the community, and whether Congress should protect it, it was eye-opening to realize that radio?s function wasn?t just news, it was, essentially, a more urgent version of ?Swap Shop? ? the feature that some small-market stations can?t get rid of, even in good times.* Hearing Asheville radio made me oddly wistful for New York?s recently departed WCBS-AM. I hope not to hear a New York-area disaster reported anywhere in the near future, but coming across the ad hoc news teams of the two clusters did remind me of what was lost. I?m also newly resolved that broadcasters have to find some way to offer their communities 24/7 locality, despite their cash crunch. As has been pointed out before, ?wait until they need us during the hurricane? is not a strategy for fighting Spotify, and it?s not the only time I want to hear great radio. (And having heard Asheville radio in happier times, with ample localism and appropriate sense-of-place, I?m not making that claim about these particular stations either). Hearing ad-hoc teams assembled from throughout two different clusters has, however, sent me back to one of my recent contentions, just in time for NAB New York. If seven stations can afford only one local talent, it is better to network seven stations, each contributing one local jock, rather than seven different ?local? stations with only one jock. That wouldn?t have been the answer for Asheville this week, but it would be more satisfying radio without having to wait for a crisis. It was also clear here that radio?s public service efforts are a good reason for the industry to advocate for keeping all of broadcast radio in cars, not just AM. WKSF is a three-state powerhouse signal. The market?s News/Talk leader is not WWNC, but FM WCQS (Blue Ridge Public Radio),which I also heard represented via the press conference. It?s also a reminder both that broadcasters should not stop trying to put physical radios back in homes, and that our device promos should also include a smart-speaker skill for getting emergency info from radio. * more