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From Radio Online: Dave Russell, a longtime figure in radio, has departed from his roles as Program Director and afternoon host at Cumulus AC WARM-FM in York, Pennsylvania. His exit comes after a nine-year tenure, prompted by recent budget reductions at the station. Russell's radio career spans several decades and includes More...

From Radio Insight: Skyview Networks has announced the first batch of affiliates for its newly launched weekly “Classic Rock U” hosted by Adam Reader and based at Hubbard Radio Classic Rock ?97.1 The Drive? WDRV Chicago/96.9 WWDV Zion IL. The show launched on October 5 on WDRV/WWDV as well as Hubbard’s 94.7 KSHE St. Louis and 100.7 KSLX Phoenix. Since then, the show has been added at Cox Media Group’s “97.1 The River” WSRV Atlanta, Bonneville’s “98.5 K-Fox” KUFX San Jose, American General Media’s “Coyote 102.5” KIOT Albuquerque, Signal Media’s “94.1 The Point” KKPT Little Rock, Cumulus Media’s 94.9 KGGO Des Moines, Mid-West Family Broadcasting’s “Z94.3” WZOC South Bend IN, and Sanpete County Broadcasting “95.7 The Boss” KUTC Gunnison UT. Reader commented, “From growing up being raised on radio to connecting with millions of people on YouTube, and now connecting with just as many on radio stations all over the country, it really feels like I?ve come full circle. Interviewing hundreds of my favorite artists and bringing their music to these mass audiences is a dream come true. I am thrilled to be able to bring Classic Rock U to such an excellent and growing list of stations.? Skyview SVP/Business Development and Communication Andrew Kalb said, “We are very proud of Classic Rock U and the tremendous work that has gone into making its first month a success. Adam Reader is an incredible talent, and his unparalleled knowledge and passion of Classic Rock makes the show a standout across the industry. We are thrilled to see that several key markets have recognized this unique talent and look forward to continuing to grow the show?s network.? more

From Radio Online: Cox Media Group's Hot AC KSMG (Hits 105.3) in San Antonio has announced the departure of morning hosts Jenny Lee and Tony Cortez. Lee, who had taken on roles as Assistant Program Director and Music Director, joined KSMG in 2013. Initially working in the afternoon slot, she quickly transitioned to the morning More...

From Radio Insight: After stunting with Halloween music as ?The Haunt? since October 26, Milwaukee Radio Alliance launched Country “Froggy 100.3/107.3” at noon today. Airing on 100.3 W262CJ Milwaukee, 107.3 W297BY Franklin, and 93.3 WLDB-HD3 Mlwaukee, the move creates competitor to iHeartMedia?s ?FM 106.1? WMIL and Magnum Media?s pair of suburban signals ?92.5 Buzz Country? WMBZ West Bend and ?92.1 VTY Country? WVTY Racine. Before stunting, the two translators rebroadcast Oldies “The Fonz” 1290 WZTI. The first hour of Froggy consisted of: Chris Young – Young Love & Saturday Nights Cole Swindell – Forever To Me Dasha – Austin (Boots Stop Workin’) Tyler Childers – In Your Love Darius Rucker – Wagon Wheel Drew Baldridge – She’s Somebody’s Daughter (reimagined) Dustin Lynch ft. MacKenzie Porter – Thinking ‘Bout You Dylan Marlowe & Dylan Scott – Boys Back Home Cody Johnson – The Painter Eli Young Band – Drunk Last Night George Birge – Cowboy Songs Eric Church – Cold One Corey Kent – Wild As Her Bailey Zimmerman – Holy Smokes Dustin Lynch ft. Jelly Roll – Chevrolet Chris Stapleton – You Should Probably Leave Parmalee – Gonna Love You Dustin Lynch – Stars Like Confetti more

From Radio Insight: The ongoing Cumulus Media layoffs have reached their Central Pennsylvania stations in Harrisburg, Lancaster and York PA. Dave Russell exits as Program Director/afternoon host of AC 103.3 WARM-FM York after nine years. Russell is in his third stint in that building as he began his career with an eleven year run at 910 WSBA from 1988 to 1999 where he would rise to APD and Promotions Director. After programming WEZQ Bangor ME and then WCTO and WLEV Allentown PA, he would join WARM-FM as PD in 2007 while also spending time as afternoon host and morning co-host. Following a budget cut in 2009, he would then spend the next two years as a fill-in host across Cumulus’ clusters in Pennsylvania until joining Forever Media to program Oldies “The Pickle” WPKL/WKPL in suburban Pittsburgh from 2011 until joining WARM-FM in 2015. WARM also has dropped John Tesh’s syndicated show at night. AJ Cobain departs afternoons at Country “I105” WIOV-FM Ephrata/Lancaster. Cobain joined the station in 2018 after spending a decade at iHeartMedia where he served as Traffic/Sales Assistant, Public Service Coordinator, and hosted nights at Variety Hits “Y102” WRFY Reading. Cobain wrote, “I was informed this morning that my position in Afternoons at I105 has been eliminated. After 6 years, that’s a wrap. I’ve been lucky to talk on the mic for the past 16 years, and doing what I love, but hey, it happens! It was an honor working with everyone in the York and Harrisburg buildings throughout this time. Huge thanks to everyone who believed in me. And a huge thanks to everyone who listened to me every afternoon, and for making me a part of your day. Not sure what’s next after this, but I’m gonna process this and figure all that out.” Venetia Stephenson is out as APD/MD/afternoon host at Rhythmic CHR “Hot 106.7” WWKL Hershey after two decades. She previously spent time as APD/MD of “Hot 101” WHOT-FM Youngstown OH after starting her career as Promotions Director at Sunbury Broadcasting in Sunbury PA. She has also served as the national midday host for Westwood One’s Hot AC network. Gary Sutton departs mornings at News/Talk 910/93.9 WSBA York. Sutton had been with WSBA since 1991 and a full-time host at the station since 1997 starting as co-host of its Sports show. He is also a longtime high school basketball coach in York where he was inducted into the local Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. more

From Radio Insight: Following the layoff of ‘Mean Jean’ Fremont from mornings at Beasley Media Classic Hip Hop “105.1 The Bounce” WMGC-FM Detroit last week, his co-host Shannon Renee is following him out the door on her own accord. Renee shared on Instagram that she “made the very difficult decision this week to step away from my on-air role at The Bounce.” She followed that it “would put me in the position to have to navigate what would technically be a 5th morning show for me on the station & that in & of itself is just a lot. Never in a million years did I have winning a contest nearly 4 years ago to be on-air on my bingo card, but I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have had that platform to spread awareness for breast cancer, my amazing interactions with our awesome listeners & for all of the fun memories along the way. I look forward to continuing my business and am also open to other opportunities as well. I?ve done lots of things over the years in different job sectors.” Renee joined WMGC-FM in May 2021 as the winner of the “Bounce Big Break”. Prior to joining the station she served as Entertainment Manager at Motor City Casino, but had previous radio industry experience as Promotions Director for ABC Radio/Citadel?s 93.1 WDRQ and 96.3 WDVD from 2006 to 2010 and Clear Channel Detroit from 2011 to 2013. Beasley Media has not yet announced plans for mornings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shannon Renee (@shannonreneeonair) more

From Radio Insight: For a while, radio programmers weren?t supposed to care much about what happened on their radio station at the top of the hour, or attach any particular importance to it. Listeners, after all, could come aboard at any point during the hour; they weren?t all getting in their cars at 6:59 a.m. or 4:59 p.m. Even using the words ?top of the hour? was an anachronism.* Then came the studio sponsorships. Then the group owners? own tags ? particularly the iHeart or Audacy app plugs. Then :00 became the focal point of national contesting (even those stations that give a keyword elsewhere during the hour often tease to it at :00). The top of the hour, by necessity, became a station?s policy statement again.* We haven?t yet attached the same importance to what we play at the top of the hour; that one is still part of the old didacticism for many PDs. Sometimes the song that follows the :00 ID keeps the energy going. Sometimes it?s ?Creepin?? or ?Saturn.? Now that it?s OK to talk about what happens at :00 again, I?d like to talk about what happens next at :03. Specifically, whether the on-air personality does a break, or waits for the third song or even longer. I sometimes hear first breaks of the hour that don?t come until nearly 20 minutes in. By that time, I?m not sure if I?ve tuned into a hosted hour or not. And I?m listening to radio for relatively long stretches. For a listener who has come to the station for a code word at :00, the now-typical nine-minute listening occasion may not include a host. For some stations, the response to the bombast of :00 is for the next song to be preceded by a calls-only sweeper or something low-key. I like hearing the personality as soon as possible because it keeps up the momentum. Not hearing a jock for another 10 minutes feels to me like the station is untended. While no non-industry listener is likely to articulate it this way, it still feels like inviting a crowd into a store with no salespeople on the floor.* Recently, I went back and looked at the notes from my radio listening in recent weeks and noticed a pattern. A station that led earlier with personalities was often a station doing more of the other things I liked: making me smile, advocating for the music, giving me some sense of the market. The station that brought the host on at :20 was more likely to sound more canned, less connected to the music. It was the station where I was more likely to hear about yesterday?s celebrity news, randomly inserted between songs. Sometimes, bringing the host on at :03 means there will be more content throughout the hour. WHYA (Y101) Cape Cod, Mass., middayer Billy Teed, featured in a recent Ross on Radio listening roundup, did talk over every other song. More often, it might portend that a station will have 5-6 jock breaks that hour, rather than just four. Either way, the personality feels like more of a presence. I often listen to stations at 10 a.m., as soon as I can hear the regular day?s pacing instead of mornings. The first jock content I hear might be the ?handshake break.? Teed thanked the audience for the opportunity to ?work together.?* Sometimes it?s still a billboard for three upcoming songs. That can sound rote, but WOBM Monmouth/Ocean, N.J.?sChelsea Corrine made me smile when she teased a (non-Christmas) Mariah Carey song and added, ?It?s almost Mariah?s time!? Sometimes the :03 break is to repeat the hourly keyword, although there are just as many stations where I hear nothing until the next keyword. Just as often, I hear about anything in the first break of the hour: something about the artist playing, a setup for an upcoming longer topical bit, a teaser for a local contest ? the one you?re more likely to hear about during the course of the hour. It would be a return to an old didacticism to prescribe content more precisely. If you have six breaks an hour, I have an idea about what to talk about. But I?m not hung up on the order. Over the last two years, broadcasters have come to understand personality as their point of differentiation. It has been gratifying, even in recent weeks, to encounter a little more personality that does not sound like generic, randomly inserted content. (At the same time, coming across a major-market station that does sound generic, or is jockless at random hours, rankles even more now.)* How a station places its jock breaks only seems arcane; it?s a matter of making our calling card work better for us.* more

From Radio Online: Benztown has released two fresh episodes of its podcast, "Chachi Loves Everybody," hosted by Dave "Chachi" Denes, the company's president. The new episodes spotlight conversations with notable media figures Al Roker and Patsy Smullin, both of whom are set to be honored at the upcoming Giants of Broadcasting More...

From Radio Online: Heather Jennings joins Marc Radio's WPLL (I Am Country 106.9 FM) in Gainesville-Ocala, FL for mornings, weekdays from 6-10am. Gainesville is no stranger to Heather. She's spent more than 20 years in the area and is a multi-year broadcast veteran. "Country music is hands-down the soundtrack of my life, and More...

From Radio Online: iHeartMedia reported robust growth for the third quarter with a 5.8% rise in consolidated revenue to $1,008 million, aligned with its mid-single-digit growth forecast. Digital Audio Group stood out with a 13% increase in revenue, reaching $301 million. This surge was spearheaded by an 11% rise in podcast More...

From Radio Online: Saga Communications disclosed a decrease in its financial performance for the third quarter ended September 30. The company reported a 3.5% reduction in net revenue, down to $28.1 million from $29.1 million in the same period last year. This decline was accompanied by a 21.2% drop in More...

From Radio Online: Townsquare Media reported slight increase in its third quarter net revenue for 2024, with figures slightly up by 0.2% compared to the same period last year. Net revenue rose marginally to $115.3 million, despite a challenging market environment. Net income saw a notable improvement, rising by $47.8 million More...

From Radio Insight: Cumulus Media CHR “98.3 The Vibe” KWQW Boone/Des Moines IA has revamped its on-air lineup. After running jockless in middays and afternoons since its May 2021 flip to CHR, the station is adding a pair of personalities. Country 95.5 WFMS Indianapolis APD/midday host Taylor J will track 9am to 2pm from 10-3pm. Prior to joining WFMS in April 2023, Taylor J spent five years at iHeartMedia’s “107.5 Kiss-FM” KKDM Des Moines as APD/midday host and then Program Director. Jake ‘DJ Sweezy’ Swesey will add afternoon hosting duties from 2-6pm in addition to his role as APD of KWQW and Sports “The Champ” 1700 KBGG/101.3 K267CY. Swesey had also been serving as a Programming Assistant and night host on Westwood One’s now-discontinued Classic Hip Hop network. Westwood One’s Elliot remains in nights, while the station has dropped The Bert Show from mornings. more

From Radio Insight: iHeartMedia announced this morning that it has entered into agreements with the lenders and holders of approximately 80% of the aggregate principal amount of its existing debt including 77% of the aggregate principal amount of its outstanding senior secured notes due 2026, 79% of the aggregate principal amount of its outstanding senior secured notes due 2027, 38% of the aggregate principal amount of its outstanding senior secured notes due 2028, 71% of the aggregate principal amount of its outstanding senior unsecured notes due 2027, and 92% of the aggregate principal amount of its outstanding term loans. The deals will extend the maturity of the company’s existing debt by three years through one of two transactions. The first will bee structured that if certain thresholds of holder participation are met, iHeart will issue new secured debt in exchange for the existing debt held by participating holders. The second says if certain thresholds of holder participation are not met, newly-formed subsidiaries of the company holding certain transferred assets and an intercompany note (to be issued by iHeartMedia + Entertainment, Inc.) will issue new secured debt in exchange for the existing debt held by participating holders. President/COO/CFO Rich Bressler said in the company’s earnings report, “We?re happy to announce that we have entered into a Transaction Support Agreement with a group of debt holders representing, on an aggregate basis, approximately 80% of the Company?s outstanding debt to support an exchange of approximately $4.1 billion of debt for new notes and term loans. The exchange offers will extend maturities by three years; keep consolidated annual cash interest essentially flat; and provide debt reduction ? all of which will strengthen the Company?s financial flexibility, and provide us with the runway to accelerate our strategic growth initiatives. This marks a significant step in iHeart?s strategy of disciplined balance sheet and capital structure management.? iHeart also confirmed the company’s ongoing restructuring and staff cuts as part of a “cost program” expected to generate $150 million of annual cost savings in 2025. Cost reductions from earlier this year will generate another $50 million in savings in 2025, but ffset by $50 million of cost increases for 2025. Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman said, “We?re pleased to report that our third quarter results were in line with our previously provided Adjusted EBITDA and Revenue guidance ranges. We continue to see evidence that this is a recovery year for advertising revenues, and the strong momentum in our podcast business, our digital ex-podcast business, and the sequential improvement of our Multiplatform Group?s year over year revenue performance reflect the power of our unparalleled reach, consumer relationships and range of assets.? Pittman continued, ?Technology is the key to increasing our operating leverage because it allows us to speed up processes, streamline legacy systems, and enables us to take another significant step in our modernization journey. We have flattened our organization, eliminated redundancies and broken down silos, which will have a major impact on costs, expected to generate $200 million of annual savings in 2025 compared to 2024, and benefiting full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA by $150 million on a year over year basis.? The company’s earnings report showed. Q3 2024 Consolidated Results Q3 Revenue of $1,008 million, up 5.8%; within guidance of up mid-single digits Excluding Q3 Political Revenue, Q3 Revenue up 2.0% GAAP Operating income of $77 million vs. $69 million in Q3 2023 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $205 million, within previously disclosed guidance range of $200 million to $220 million, compared to $204 million in Q3 2023 Cash provided by operating activities of $103 million Free Cash Flow of $73 million Cash balance and total available liquidity 2 of $432 million and $858 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2024 Q3 2024 Digital Audio Group Results Digital Audio Group Revenue of $301 million up 13% Podcast Revenue of $114 million up 11% Digital Revenue excluding Podcast of $187 million up 14% Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $100 million up 7% Digital Audio Group Adjusted EBITDA margin of 33.2% Q3 2024 Multiplatform Group Results Multiplatform Group Revenue of $620 million down 1% Excluding Multiplatform Group Q3 Political Revenue, Multiplatform Group Q3 Revenue down 3% Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $130 million down 20% Multiplatform Group Adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.0% Guidance Q4 Consolidated Revenue expected to increase in the high-single digits Full Year 2024 Consolidated Revenue expected to increase in the mid-single digits Q4 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA 3 expected to be approximately $290 million, up approximately 39% Full Year 2024 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA 3 expected to be approximately $750 million, up approximately 8% Full Year 2025 Consolidated Revenue expected to be approximately flat in a non-political year Full Year 2025 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA 3 expected to be approximately $770 million, up approximately 3% in a non-political year Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as counsel and PJT Partners served as financial advisor to the Company. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as counsel and Perella Weinberg Partners served as financial advisor to an ad hoc group of certain of the Initial Supporting Holders. more

From Radio Insight: Cox Media Group Hot AC “Hits 105.3” KSMG Seguin/San Antonio has cut ties with morning hosts Jenny Lee and Tony Cortez. Lee, who also served as APD/MD, had been with KSMG since 2013 spending four months in afternoons before moving to mornings. The Wisconsin native previously worked at Mid-West Family Broadcasting Madison as a producer and host and then spent two years hosting nights at iHeartMedia CHR “Z104” WZEE. Cortez has spent the majority of his career in San Antonio with time at CHR ?Mix 96.1? KXXM and Tejano 107.5 KXTN-FM before a seven year run as APD/afternoon host at Alpha Media CHR “Energy 94.1” KTFM from 2011-18. He joined KSMG in May 2019 as evening host before moving up to afternoons and then hosting mornings with Lee since December 2020 through its rebranding from “Magic 105.3” to “Hits 105.3” last December. He has also worked at KHFI-FM Austin. KSMG became the defacto CHR in the San Antonio market last week following iHeartMedia’s flip of “96.1 Now” KXXM to Bilingual AC “Mix 96.1“. Interestingly, KSMG made a public post acknowledging their exit from the station: more

From Radio Insight: Joel Denver and Seth Resler are launching a bi-weekly virtual event for radio professionals. The Radio Rendezvous will debut on Wednesday, December 4 at 1pm ET/10am PT with guests “103.5 Kiss-FM” WKSC-FM Chicago morning host Fred and iHeartMedia Chicago SVP/Programming James Howard. The events will feature five questions from the hosts followed by all viewers to connect directly with them or mingle with other broadcasters in real-time for an hour. Radio Rendezvous will return in 2025 on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. more

From Radio Insight: YEA Networks’ Greg Beharrell Show will continue to helm evenings on Meruelo Media Classic Rock 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles, after collaborating with Clippy on a new contract. Beharrell has been with KLOS since 2017. He has also hosted afternoons at ?Live 105? KITS San Francisco and worked at multiple stations in Canada including Alternative ?102.1 The Edge? CFNY Toronto and 99.3 CFOX Vancouver. Meruelo Media senior VP of programming and content, Pio Ferro said, ?I was so happy to read Greg Beharrell resigns, then I saw the hyphen between re and signs.? Meruelo Media president and CEO, Otto Padron stated, ?Wisdom is always chasing Greg, but he?s far too fast.? Beharrell added, ? Never have I been more excited to put finger to Docusign. I can?t see myself on any other radio station in Los Angeles, and those stations confirmed they feel the same. The best is yet to come for TGBS, and then once the best is achieved, the worst is also yet to come. LET US GO!!!!!? To add Beharrell to your on air lineup, contact YEA Media Group Director/Affiliate Sales Scott Kerr. If mention you saw this press release, receive a Greg Beharrell Show oven mitt (while supplies last, shipping and handling extra, not available in corporeal form). more

From Radio Online: Greg Beharrell will continue to host the evening slot on Meruelo Media's Rock 95.5 KLOS in Los Angeles. The decision follows a successful renegotiation of his contract, facilitated by YEA Media Group. Meruelo Media Senior Vice President of Programming and Content Pio Ferro humorously commented on the More...

From Radio Insight: Nielsen continues its releases of the October 2024 diary surveys today. Today’s markets include monthly ratings for Birmingham, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Greenville/Spartanburg, Richmond, and Rochester. The next three releases will feature: On Thursday, November 7: Monthly ratings for Albany/Schenectady/Troy and Syracuse. On Friday, November 8: Monthly ratings for Dayton, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Metro Fairfield County, Tucson, and Tulsa. On Tuesday, November 12: Monthly ratings for Albuquerque, Allentown/Bethlehem, El Paso, Fresno, Honolulu, Knoxville, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. more

From Radio Online: October in Chicago marked a significant month for breast cancer awareness, driven by WTMX-FM (101.9 The Mix). The Hubbard Radio Hot AC outlet's initiative, "The Men of the Mix," now in its fifth year, has continued to support the American Cancer Society through the Men Wear Pink More...

From Radio Insight: Emerging mega-star Gracie Abrams, updated analysis of new Lady Gaga “Disease”, early passion for Christmas music and two massive Golds that are overlooked by CHR. Gracie Abrams – That’s So True: She?s 25 years old from Los Angeles and opened for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour. Right now, Gracie has two songs in the Spotify Top 30 with “That’s So True” being #4, yet nowhere on Top 40 radio. Her song “Close To You” is #20 in radio airplay, though only #89 on Spotify and we’ve had no requests for it. From the same album is “I Love You, I’m Sorry” which is #26 on Spotify, with very little CHR airplay. We’ve had a dozen requests for the two big streaming hits, but none for the one that a majority of Pop stations (and our affiliates) are playing. This girl is HUGE and clearly on-track to become the next Olivia Rodrigo. Seem like her label and radio are not supporting the ones music lovers prefer. Lady Gaga – Disease: Adding onto our comments from last week,*I said that we would report of any new streaming or request numbers, as many Program and Music Directors questioned the passion and power of this song. In this past week, “Disease” still didn’t crack our Top 20, though it received a handful of requests. While many radio people love the song, it’s dropped to #90 on Spotify and is best-performing on streaming in Ukraine at #25. The weak numbers may suggest it’s not gonna happen. Christmas SongsIt’s that time of the year again, so here’s a real quick observation. We are only a few days into November, and multiple Christmas songs appeared in the Spotify Top 100, the day after Halloween. As you could assume, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is the most-streamed of them all (#21) and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Wham!’s “Last Christmas” turns 40 this year and is the second best-performing at #39. So far, we’ve only had one request for a Christmas song. That should change drastically next week as it usually does for us in the second week of November. Buried Treasures of the WeekEminem – The Real Slim Shady:*Released in 2000, this was his mainstream introduction, having been the first of his many songs to top a chart, and his oldest to still receive significant airplay today. Even though he put out his first release in 1996, only “My Name Is” (1999) and “Forgot About Dre” (2000) received any Top 40 attention. A few weeks ago, we mentioned “Lose Yourself”, “Without Me” and the unexpected “Mockingbird” as three of our most-requested Golds of all time, with “The Real Slim Shady” being in there as well. Funny enough, ?Lose Yourself? only peaked at #13 on CHR, though #4 on Billboard and #1 Rhythmic. It’s an all-time Hip-Hop classic and still gets multiple requests from men and women of all ages every week. Luckily, it’s generally now not overlooked by Pop radio, where it receives a good deal of airplay in major markets (and on Liveline of course). Taylor Swift – Love Story:*I’ll keep this one short, because it’s Taylor and she doesn’t need to be hyped or sold to anyone. We don’t*really*learn what a major “hit song” is until years later. Released in 2008, ?Love Story? receives more requests on Liveline than any of her other songs (also in our Top 20 all-time Golds) with “You Belong With Me” and “Shake It Off” being close runner-ups. It’s romantic, nostalgic and sung by everyone when it plays at every party and club. Plus, it’s by the biggest artist of this century. Peaked at #4 on Billboard, #1 on Top 40, Country and Adult Contemporary radio. It was the fifth biggest song of the year in 2009.*The shocking part:*Only 7 Top 40 stations in America have played it in the past two weeks, none of which were in the Top 100 markets, and none played it* more than once. When researching this I honestly expected more recognition for Taylor! more

From Radio Online: The Broadcasters Foundation of America has launched its annual Year-End Giving Campaign, seeking to raise donations from tax-deductible personal contributions to the Guardian Fund and corporate contributions to the Angel Initiative. The Broadcasters Foundation is the only charity devoted More...

From Radio Online: Kadie Daye exits WYRK-FM in Buffalo after three years as co-host of the "Clay andamp; Company" morning show. She exits the Townsquare Media Country outlet over budget cuts. Daye joined WYRK in July, 2021 following two years in nights at CHR WNDV-FM (U93) in South Bend, IN. She was also the morning show host at More...

From Radio Insight: The Broadcasters Foundation of America has launched its annual Year-End Giving Campaign, which seeks to raise donations from tax-deductible personal contributions to the Guardian Fund and corporate contributions to the Angel Initiative. The Broadcasters Foundation, a 501c3 charity, is the only charity devoted exclusively to helping colleagues who are in dire need of monthly or emergency financial assistance due to life-altering illness or a disaster. ?We are devoted exclusively to providing aid to colleagues in broadcasting who are suffering from extreme illness, or hardship from a devastating disaster,? stated Tim McCarthy, President of the Broadcasters Foundation. ?We also take care of colleagues who have retired. Grants are supported solely by contributions from individuals and companies within our industry and offer a ?hand-up? to our colleagues during trying times. We?re asking everyone in broadcasting to please consider including the Broadcasters Foundation in your 2024 charitable giving.? Over the past 20 years, the Broadcasters Foundation has distributed over $15 million in aid to colleagues nationwide, across all states and territories, who need it most. ?Requests for aid continue to grow exponentially as more of our peers and their families are affected by severe illness or disasters, such as the recent flurry of destructive hurricanes,? explained Scott Herman, Chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation. ?Whether it?s a monthly grant or one-time aid in response to an emergency, the Broadcasters Foundation is often a refuge and beacon of hope for colleagues whose lives have been upended by unforeseen and tragic circumstances. Please consider a donation. Donations go directly to helping our colleagues who are in desperate need.? For more information about the Broadcasters Foundation, including how to apply for aid or make a donation, visitwww.broadcastersfoundation.org, or contact 212-373-8250 or info@thebfoa.org. more

From Radio Insight: I?ve stepped up my radio listening in the last week or two. On Monday, I had a list of 50 stations I?d been meaning to get through. By Wednesday, I?d been through about a third of it. Sometimes hearing a lot of generic radio slows my roll, so it says something about this week that I was energized by what I was hearing ? even if the most prominent listen was prompted by one of last week?s biggest bummers. Here are 10 great listens in a row. 1. Andre Gardner?s Final Top 10: Of all the layoffs in the radio industry, broadcasters have been particularly disheartened by the departure of Classic Rock WMGK Philadelphiaafternoon host Andre Gardner, a beloved DJ at a consistently successful radio station. Coming on the heels of other Beasley station and personnel losses, Gardner?s firing prompted hundreds of comments from listeners, broadcasters, and even PD Eric Johnson. Beasley allowed Gardner to do a final WMGK show, but I managed to hear him on the afternoon before, including counting down the top 10 albums of 1981. What stood out was Gardner?s ability to be enthusiastic about songs played hundreds of times, and to say something different about them. He came out of ?Werewolves of London? with ?Oh, Warren, we miss you every day.? He backsold Journey?s ?Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)? with ?ah, the drama that is Journey 2024! back in the better days.? Later, during the countdown, Gardner set up ?Don?t Stop Believin?? by asking, ?Is there no end to how many copies this album is going to sell?? He noted that Stevie Nicks?s ?Bella Donna? got to 4 million copies faster than any Fleetwood Mac album. He played a montage of hit pop singles from 1981 (?Endless Love?! ?Theme from The Greatest American Hero?!) and reacted to them. Through it all, he was your buddy in the passenger seat, never the guest lecturer.* I hope I?m taking a Fresh Listen to Gardner on a new station soon. If you?re in the same position, I hope that goes for getting to hear you back in action, too. There was some consolation in knowing that Gardner was not the only personality I enjoyed that week 2. Two small-market Country giants. I?ve always enjoyed CFCW Edmonton,the Canadian equivalent of WSM-AM Nashville in terms of heritage and a yesterday-and-today mix. I may have been hearing heritage Country KRRV Alexandria, La.,for the first time.* I came away from both feeling that I had heard more spontaneous-sounding personality (CFCW p.m. driver A.J. Keller and his KRRV counterpart Scotty Mac) than usual, and that I knew something about the markets by the time I left. (Terri Clark is still a major presence on CFCW, but last week she was playing Alexandria.) 3. Two great medium/small-market CHRs. WHYA (Y101) Cape Cod, Mass.,is home base for syndicated LiveLine nighttime personality Mason, but it was middayer Billy Teed that I heard this week. Like column favorite KMVQ (99.7 Now) San Francisco, Y101 does a great job of riding Chappell- and Sabrina-mania. (?She?s been on a roll lately,? Teed said in setting up Carpenter?s ?Bed Chem.?) It?s also very reminiscent of classic ?80s/early-?90s CHRs like Z100 New York or Kiss 108 Boston in its pacing. (Teed talked seven times that hour.)* WXLK (K92) Roanoke is a heritage CHR that has rebounded 4.2-7.8 during the last year. It?s playing up its ?more than 40 years? legacy. Like great medium-market CHRs, it managed to sound adult-friendly without ever sounding too adult. (I heard Olivia Rodrigo?s ?Get Him Back,? Jelly Roll?s ?I Am Not Okay,? and Ludacris? ?Stand Up.?) Middayer Freddy Mac reported on Roan changing managers. He also backsold Mark Ambor?s ?Belong Together? as ?bluegrass, but pop.? 4. WOCM (Ocean 98) Ocean City, Md.When I told reader Stewart Riegler that I had listened at his suggestion last weekend, he encouraged me to go back during the week, when it was hosted. I need to do that, but I was still pretty happy hearing The Dare?s ?Perfume? into Freya Riding?s ?Castles? on a station that bills itself as ?The Best of Rock,? but goes well beyond that, including a considerable reggae component. Co-owned with a local venue, WOCM had a ton of local spots, as well as both club and concert calendars. 5. KXOJ Tulsa, Okla.,is the longtime Christian AC that, atypically, became the flagship station of the expanding Stephens Media Group. It?s always been, for me, one of the showplace stations of the format, and in September it was the format leader. The best break from middayer Kevin Davis was on behalf of Megan Woods?s ?The Truth? ? ?an outstanding new song from a brilliant new artist? that was, on first listen, not unlike hearing Lauren Daigle?s ?You Say? for the first time. 6. WRLT (Lightning 100) Nashvillewas a harbinger of Nashville?s rise in the non-Country music community, but also a stealth influence on Country songwriters and musicians. When I last heard it a few years ago, WRLT had been buffeted by two new non-commercial competitors, whom it had joined in soliciting listener donations. It felt back in stride this time, still with a significant amount of industry-targeted advertising. There was also a sense that you could hear any song from the history of the station at some point. (In this case, it was the Dandy Warhols? ?Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth? in between James Bay and Catfish & the Bottlemen.)* 7. KDGS (Power 93.5) Wichita, Kan.,could have been in a recent article about Hip-Hop/R&B stations that had resisted the format?s travails. The Audacy outlet is No. 1 in Wichita under longtime PD/morning co-host Greg Williams. It has interesting, intense-but-not-snarling or screaming imaging from Joe Cruise. It remains aggressive on new music from both the Hip-Hop and Rhythmic AC charts.* 8. Caravan Radio? In recent years, I?ve heard stations for the Australian trucking industry and the UK?s builder-oriented Fix Radio. This online station was launched recently to target British motor-home owners with a deeper mix that spans ?80s to now and Blur to the Jonas Brothers. There are promos soliciting listeners? favorite travel locations. There was a feature about why it was better to buy your RV at a dealer, and other shoppers? tips; e.g., make sure you?ll be able to easily access the bathroom in the middle of the night. I?m usually looking for sense of place from my radio tourism; this one was particularly geared to wanderlust. 9. KIOA Des Moines, Iowa,not from its current incarnation in Classic Hits, but in its original Top 40 incarnation from September, 1964, about five weeks ahead of a presidential election. (VP candidate Hubert Humphrey was in town campaigning, according to the unedited newscast.) An unscoped 30-minute listen to a great moment in hit-music history from a station that remained musically distinctive for years. I also liked coming across Chicago R&B legend Herb Kent on an early 1965 tape of R&B powerhouse WVON. 10. Catching up with two morning shows. I got to know Country KNCI Sacramentomorning co-host Tom Mailey first through his social-media presence (in case you?re wondering if that really works), but enjoyed hearing him in action with the station?s Pat, Tom & Cody, a two-person show recently because Sacramento radio vet Pat Sill is out on medical leave. That hour was the ?Minute to Win It? ? the contestant swept all the questions ? and a teaser from Cody about an upcoming ?Red Flag Warnings? feature about men who tell inappropriate jokes on dates. I listened during the 6 a.m. hour, heard 13 songs and still felt like I was hearing a full-service morning show. I went back to WSB-FM (B98.5) Atlanta?sTad, Drex & Karaat the suggestion of talent guru Tracy Johnson. Their showcase phone feature that hour was not ?Second Date Update,? but ?Forgive & Forget? ? featuring a newly divorced woman who not only wanted to revert to her maiden name, but change her kids? names as well ? and subsequent listener calls. The show (actually a best-of episode) was a great showcase for B98.5?s especially bright version of bright AC. (If you?re reading this on Thursday, Johnson and Radio Content Pro are hosting a ?Lunch and Learn? at 1 p.m. today.) Bonus: Richard Phelps?s ?Hitradio KKHV? gets a plug every year for his pop-up tribute to Back to the Future?s fictitious radio station, as imagined during both 1955 and 1985. That happens to coincide with the oft-reviled ?We Built This City? by Starship being a hit. Here?s what Phelps did with the famous Les Garland jock break in the middle of that song. more

From Radio Online: Jacobs Media has officially launched the registration for its annual Techsurvey 2025, inviting commercial radio stations across the U.S. and Canada to participate in what is recognized as the largest research survey in the radio industry focusing on media and technology usage. The More...

From Radio Online: This Sunday marks not only the crowning of the NASCAR Premier Series Champion at Phoenix Raceway but also the end of an era for Motor Racing Network (MRN) as lead anchor Jeff Striegle calls his final race, concluding a 27-year career. Since joining MRN, Striegle has been a firsthand witness to some of the More...

From Radio Online: The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) has released a rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner." This release aims to honor U.S. service members, veterans and their families. According to TSO's music director Al Pitrelli, the gesture is deeply personal. "Coming from a military family, with a tradition of service More...

From Radio Online: In continuation of the Radio Mercury Awards webinar series, Audio Milkshake and Radio Mercury Awards will host a new presentation, entitled "10 Creative Tips You Probably Never Heard of to Make Radio Ads That Work Harder." During the presentation at noon CT on Wednesday, November 20, Audio Milkshake owner More...

From Radio Insight: P1 Media Group has released its annual study of the the appeal of the 100 most-played Christmas songs from the 2023 Holiday Season. P1 says ?Jingle Bell Rock? by Bobby Helms remains America?s #1 best-testing Christmas song for seven of the past 8 years. P1 Media Group Partner/co-founder Ken Benson said, “Christmas music?s appeal remains as strong as ever amongst American radio listeners who listen to All Christmas stations ?frequently? or ?sometimes? and personally enjoy Christmas music on a local radio station during the holiday season. Other key findings include: The Holiday standards dominate the Top 100 with five versions of ?Santa Claus is Coming to Town, ?Sleigh Ride,? and ?Winter Wonderland? making the list. Three Artists, Amy Grant, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams, have four songs in the Top 100. Women score Christmas music on average four points higher than Men. Mariah Carey?s ?All I Want for Christmas is You? is the #1 tester for Women, while Jose Feliciano?s ?Feliz Navidad? is #1 for Men. Kelly Clarkson?s ?Underneath the Tree? from 2010 and Ariana Grande?s ?Santa Tell Me? 2014 are the two highest-testing original Christmas songs from the 2000s, ranking #51 and #54, respectively. The favorability of Christmas music remains strong. Seventy of the Top 100 songs tested with an appeal score of 75 or higher on a 100-point scale, and 95 songs tested 70 or higher. By demographic the top testing songs by age are: 18-24 ?All I Want for Christmas is You? Mariah Carey 25-34 ?Have a Holly Jolly Christmas? Michael Buble with Burle Ives version a close second. 35-44 ?Ring Christmas Bells? Ray Conniff 45-54 ?It?s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year? Any Williams. More say Christmas Music should begin in early November this year than last with 31% saying Early November (up from 23% last year), 17% mid-November, 28% Thanksgiving, 22% early December, and 2% mid-December. Most Christmas music lovers, 52% (60% in 2023 and 48% in 2022), want Christmas music programming to stop on New Year?s Eve. 14% say Christmas Day, 22% December 26, 7% December 27, and 3% some other time. Rank Title Artist Year 18-54 Score 1 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms 1957 82.70 2 Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives 1963 82.36 3 It?s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Andy Williams 1963 82.34 4 Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Brenda Lee 1964 82.22 5 Santa Claus is Coming to Town Jackson 5 1970 81.74 6 Feliz Navidad Jose Feliciano 1979 81.70 7 Holly Jolly Christmas Michael Buble 2011 81.35 8 The Christmas Song Nat King Cole 1960 80.80 9 Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Leann Rimes 2004 80.77 10 It?s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas Bing Crosby 1945 80.75 11 Carol of the Bells Mannheim Steamroller 1984 80.62 12 All I Want for Christmas is You Mariah Carey 1994 80.35 13 Santa Claus is Coming to Town Frank Sinatra & Cyndi Lauper 1992 80.27 14 Sleigh Ride Ronettes 1963 80.20 15 Ring Christmas Bells Ray Conniff 1962 80.03 16 Sleigh Ride Amy Grant 1983 79.95 17 You?re a Mean One Mr. Grinch Thurl Ravenscroft 1966 79.89 18 We Wish You a Merry Xmas Bing Crosby 1992 79.86 19 Winter Wonderland Amy Grant 1963 79.79 20 Jingle Bells Frank Sinatra 1957 79.49 21 Linus and Lucy Vince Guaraldi Trio 1964 79.29 22 Carol of the Bells David Foster 1997 79.25 23 Last Christmas Wham 1986 79.21 24 Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow Andy Williams 1965 79.10 25 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Dean Martin 1959 79.06 26 Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 Trans-Siberian Orchestra 1996 78.94 27 Jingle Bell Rock Brenda Lee 1964 78.83 28 Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson 1952 78.77 29 Sleigh Ride Air Supply 1987 78.72 30 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Frank Sinatra 1963 78.55 31 Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow Frank Sinatra 1967 78.54 32 Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow Harry Connick Jr. 1963 78.52 33 Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) Darlene Love 1963 78.47 34 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Burl Ives 1950 78.46 35 It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas Perry Como 1951 78.32 36 Jingle Bell Rock Hall & Oates 1984 78.21 37 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Gene Autrey 1949 78.16 38 Winter Wonderland Andy Williams 1965 78.15 39 Sleigh Ride Johnny Mathis 1958 77.95 40 Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) Mariah Carey 1994 77.80 41 Deck the Halls Percy Faith 1954 77.68 42 O Tannenbaum Vince Guaraldi Trio 1965 77.63 43 Run Rudolph Run Chuck Berry 1958 77.57 44 Frosty the Snowman Ray Conniff 1959 77.45 45 It?s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas Johnny Mathis 1986 77.41 46 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas The Carpenters 1978 77.39 47 Jingle Bells Ray Conniff 1959 77.29 48 It?s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Amy Grant 1992 77.28 49 Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree Amy Grant 1992 77.15 50 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Harry Connick Jr 1993 76.92 51 Underneath the Tree Kelly Clarkson 2023 76.61 52 Frosty the Snowman Willie Nelson 1979 76.44 53 Deck the Halls Nat King Cole 1960 76.41 54 Home for the Holidays Perry Como 1954 76.24 55 Santa Tell Me Ariana Grande 2014 76.16 56 Santa Claus is Coming to Town Mariah Carey 1994 76.15 57 This Christmas Train 2015 75.99 58 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Jackson 5 1970 75.97 59 Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) Michael Buble 2011 75.85 60 Here Comes Santa Gene Autry 1948 75.78 61 White Christmas Bing Crosby 1942 75.68 62 Last Christmas Taylor Swift 2007 75.60 63 Let it Snow, Let it Snow,Let it Snow Dean Martin 1964 75.47 64 The Little Drummer Boy Harry Simeone Chorale 1958 75.45 65 Santa Claus is Coming to Town Crystals 1963 75.25 66 Winter Wonderland Air Supply 1987 75.25 67 Wonderful Christmastime Paul McCartney 1979 75.23 68 Do You Hear What I Hear? Carrie Underwood 2007 75.11 69 Santa Claus is Coming to Town Bruce Springsteen 1981 75.09 70 Frosty the Snowman Jimmy Durante 1952 75.04 71 Happy Xmas (War is Over) John Lennon 1971 74.96 72 Up on the Housetop Gene Autry 1957 74.94 73 O Holy Night Kelly Clarkson 2003 74.93 74 Winter Wonderland Johnny Mathis 1958 74.91 75 Do You Hear What I Hear? Martina McBride 1999 74.72 76 Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree Jessica Simpson 2000 74.66 77 Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season Andy Williams 1963 74.36 78 It?s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas Michael Buble 2011 74.09 79 Home for the Holidays Carpenters 1970 73.57 80 Here Comes Santa Claus Elvis Presley 1957 73.24 81 This Christmas Donny Hathaway 1968 72.96 82 Santa Baby Taylor Swift 2007 72.88 83 Holly Jolly Christmas Lady A 2012 72.86 84 Blue Christmas Elvis Presley 1957 72.28 85 Santa Baby Madonna 1987 71.98 86 Last Christmas Backstreet Boys 2022 71.81 87 White Christmas Drifters 1954 71.77 88 Where Are You Christmas Faith Hill 2000 71.40 89 Chipmunk Song Chipmunks 1958 71.32 90 Little St. Nick Beach Boys 1964 71.22 91 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays ?N Sync 1998 71.17 92 Do They Know It?s Christmas Band Aid 1984 70.92 93 Christmas Canon Trans-SiberianOrchestra 2001 70.87 94 Winter Wonderland Eurythmics 1987 70.54 95 Please Come Home for Christmas The Eagles 1978 70.28 96 Wrap Me Up Jimmy Fallon & Meghan Trainor 2023 67.05 97 All I Want for Christmas Vince Vance 1990 66.73 98 Someday at Christmas Stevie Wonder 1967 66.55 99 Step into Christmas Elton John 1973 63.49 100 DJ Play a Christmas Song Cher 2023 60.78 Top 100 Averages 1978 76.21 WP Data TablesP1 Media Group conducted the online survey from November 1-3, 2024 sampling 400 18-54-year-old radio listeners from the Top 50 American Radio Markets. Participants were required to listen either ?Frequently? or ?Sometimes? to an all-Christmas Music local radio station during the holiday season and rate their enjoyment of Christmas music on a local radio station during the holiday season a ?7? or higher on a 1 to 10 scale. We identified ?Heavy Streamers? by asking each respondent, ?How frequently do you listen to music on your smartphone, computer, or other listening device from a streaming service such as Pandora, Spotify, or Apple Music.? 60% of the sample responded they stream ?every day,? and 28% answered a ?few days? a week. * The test list was compiled from the most-played Christmas Songs on American radio in 2023. The full results are available at http://p1mediagroup.com * more