Price Doubts, AI Wariness Shape Radio’s Ad Pitch to Main Street
Customers suspect businesses padded their prices, and they are wary of AI-made advertising. That combination could shape how local advertisers want to sound in the months ahead, and new research gives radio sellers a read on what customers want.
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BFOA’s Media Mixer Tour Brings Pittman To Chicago
The Broadcasters Foundation of America brought its 2026 Media Mixer tour to a conclusion in the Windy City on October 7 at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, one night ahead of the Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Fairmont Chicago.
NAB’s LeGeyt Brings DC’s Agenda To Forecast With CBA’s Sasso
Big Tech has the reach, the resources, and a relentless appetite for the audiences local stations have served for generations. At Forecast 2027, the NAB's top executive will take on that threat in a candid conversation about what radio and television need from Washington.
Local Isn’t A Location
(Randy Lane) Radio has one advantage no algorithm can copy or streaming service can manufacture: you’re from here. But being local isn’t enough. The goal isn’t simply to talk about the community; it’s to sound like the community.
After The Layoff: A Checklist For Getting Up
(Bob Lawrence) One of the worst events in life that most of us go through is the loss of a job. So many of us value and measure our lives by the success we achieve in business. It seems to be more and more difficult to recover from the shock, disappointment, and fear of a job loss.
MediaCo Wires In A New Engineering Chief
MediaCo is putting a new name in charge of its engineering operation. Ken Wilkey takes the Head of Engineering post at the multicultural broadcaster after leading media operations, engineering, and technology at stops that run from Spanish-language radio and television to cable business news.
Blast From The Past: Ronnie Love
Happy Friday! This week’s Radio Ink Blast From The Past features Ronnie Love. This promo shot takes us back to 1975 at WJBE-AM/FM in Knoxville. Send your photo to Editor-in-Chief Cameron Coats for your chance to be featured.
Our Print Magazine: Radio Ink
2026 Radio Wayne Awards Finalists
Sales Tips for Your Best Q4
Lisa McKay Scholarship Reopens For Women In Country Radio
The Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholarship is back. Female college seniors and early-career programmers can apply for one of three packages covering registration, airfare, and hotel in Nashville for first-time attendees to Country Radio Seminar ahead of CRS 2027.
Global Ad Boom Forecasted to Lift Audio, Led By Online Listening
A rising tide is lifting advertising, and audio is in the boat. A new global forecast shows the overall market climbing sharply on AI investment and major events, with audio advertising growing as online audio gains and radio, still a large category, adjusts at the margins.
52nd Gracies Call For Entries Adds New Radio, Podcast Slots
Radio's community work is getting its own spotlight at the Gracie Awards. A new local radio category honors PSAs and community engagement, joining a podcast division and other additions as the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation opens entries for its 52nd edition.
Mike Horn, Who Put Radio On Cable TV, Dead At 74
Mike Horn, the founder of CRN Digital Talk Radio, has died at 74 after a long illness. The former Los Angeles air personality spent his career finding new places for radio to live, from local cable systems to platforms for talk hosts including Ed McMahon and Robert Conrad.
Radio Hall Of Fame Inducts Class Of 2026 In Chicago
From the NFL huddle to the boardroom, the Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 spans every corner of the dial. Eight honorees, including iHeartMedia’s Bob Pittman and WFAN’s Boomer Esiason, were inducted at a Chicago gala hosted by Bobby Bones.
iHeart Creates Chief Insights Officer Role For Fertick
Data has a new seat at the table at iHeartMedia. Lainie Fertick, who started as an intern in 2004, becomes the company's first-ever Chief Insights Officer and joins its StratCom leadership team, a promotion that puts insights work across the entire company in her hands.
Compass Lands National Audio Rights To Pac-12 Finals
Two Pac-12 basketball championship games will share one day, and one national audio broadcaster, in Las Vegas. Compass Media Networks will carry both as part of a multi-year national audio deal that also adds the conference's football championship, with coverage kicking off this December.
Benztown + McVay Drama Up For Signal Award
Radio-backed scripted storytelling is competing on podcasting's awards stage. A six-episode disaster drama from Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks is a Signal Awards finalist for its voice acting, and fans now have a say in a separate award decided by public vote.
Alice Cooper Joins SiriusXM’s Underground Garage As Host
Alice Cooper is adding a satellite gig. The host of syndicated Alice's Attic and Radio Hall of Fame inductee Alice Cooper will launch his own weekly program on SiriusXM's Little Steven's Underground Garage, the rock channel created by Stevie Van Zandt.
