Programmatic Audio to Capture $1.2B as Advertiser Access Grows
New forecasts point to accelerating programmatic automation and advertiser access across audio in 2025 and beyond, as the $36 billion US programmatic market expands and major tech platforms position themselves as partners to traditional radio and its digital offerings.
Two NYC Morning Shows Come To Shock Ends In One Day
Major changes appear to be underway in New York City radio, as two of its biggest Hip-Hop morning shows have gone silent. It started at MediaCo’s Hot 97 (WQHT), with the apparent end of Ebro in the Morning and quietly spread to a competing station before the day's end.
RMLC To Begin New Chapter With Dowdle and Sutor at the Helm
Two of the longest-serving figures in radio’s music licensing negotiations are stepping aside, marking a generational handoff for the Radio Music License Committee as Executive Director Bill Velez and Chairman Ed Atsinger relinquish their roles.
WZID and TSO Raise A Little TLC for New Hampshire Seniors
Saga Communications’ 95.7 (WZID) has raised $29,415 during its Hope for the Holidays campaign supporting elderly residents across New Hampshire. The effort focused on seniors who often spend the holidays alone and aimed to provide support through community contributions this season.
Conservative Group Calls for FCC to Strip NPR Broadcast Licenses
A conservative advocacy group is urging the Federal Communications Commission to strip NPR affiliates of their broadcast licenses, arguing the network no longer fulfills its public-interest obligations after losing federal funding earlier this year.
APM Pays The Price After BBC Program Airs Emergency Tones
American Public Media has received a particularly costly reminder of the FCC’s zero-tolerance stance on improper Emergency Alert System tone use after tones were inadvertently aired across nearly 550 public radio stations in the US in a BBC program.
Get In The Zone
(Randy Lane) There are times I sit down to jot down a few notes on a column idea. An hour later, I look up to find that two pages are finished! We know this psychological state as “being in the zone” or “flow.” You’re not thinking, you’re in the moment doing.
Blast From The Past: Dick Van Dyke; WDAN, 1940s
Happy Friday! This week’s Radio Ink Blast From The Past features American pop culture icon Dick Van Dyke on the eve of his 100th birthday. Long before the stage and screen, Dick got his start on the airwaves of his hometown station, WDAN in Danville, IL.
Life 88.5 Turns Terrific Tuesdays Into Ten Tons of Food In KC
Northwestern Media's Life 88.5 (KJNW) and its listeners across Kansas City turned faith into action this fall, collecting more than 20,000 pounds of groceries during the station’s annual Terrific Tuesday food drive series. The eight-week initiative doubled last year’s total.
Audacy Dallas Raises A ‘Grande’ Total for Two Children’s Hospitals
Audacy’s La Grande 107.5 (KMVK) has raised more than $200,000 during its 13th annual radiothon supporting Cook Children’s Hospital and Children’s Medical Center Dallas. The event, held December 4 and 5, was hosted by El Chiquilín Todas Las Mañanas.
Funkmaster Flex To Take Mornings On Hot 97 After Ebro Exit
Funkmaster Flex is taking over mornings at New York City's Hot 97 - at least for now. Following the abrupt end of Ebro in the Morning, MediaCo confirmed to Radio Ink that the Hip-Hop radio icon will hold the daypart down "until further notice," starting on Monday.
FCC Veteran Michael O’Rielly to Lead The Media Institute in 2026
After more than forty years with The Media Institute, Richard Kaplar will step down as President and CEO on January 31. Former FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly will succeed him in leading the First-Amendment-forward communications policy organization.
Women to Watch: Natalie Jansen; WIXX, Green Bay
(Charese Frugé) For Natalie Jansen, radio wasn’t part of the plan. In fact, her entire career began in what she calls “the most unexpected way possible.” By winning the 102.9 The Hog’s Rock Girl competition in 2015. “That experience made me fall in love with how radio worked."
Knight’s ‘Music Saved Me’ Podcast Added to Rock Hall Archives
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has added episodes of the Buzz Knight Media Productions podcast Music Saved Me to its official library and archives. The inclusion follows the Rock Hall’s previous addition of Knight’s Takin A Walk podcast.
Report: Spotify To Raise US Prices in 2026 After Label Pressures
Spotify is preparing to raise US subscription prices in early 2026, according to a Financial Times report, marking the platform’s first domestic increase since July 2024. The move follows rumors around record industry pressure on music streamers to increase prices.
SiriusXM Renews Damon Amendolara for Mad Dog Sports Radio
Former CBS Sports Radio host Damon Amendolara has signed a contract extension with SiriusXM that will keep him on Chris Russo's Mad Dog Sports Radio and NFL Radio, continuing his run on the national satellite platform.





















