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(By Bob McCurdy) Taking a different approach to make the same point is often effective. Frequently in sales it is necessary to communicate the same thing, only differently, so that the message remains fresh, registers, and is not ignored.

Congrats to Entercom's WLZL-FM "El Zol" in Washington, DC for raising $442,578 during its annual Children’s National Radiothon. This is the 11th year that El Zol 107.9 has partnered up with Children’s Hospital, raising over 4 million dollars.

Chaz & AJ — 99.1 PLR/Connecticut’s morning team — hosted their annual “Chaz and AJ McDermott Chevrolet and Lexus Toy Drive” on Friday, from 5:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., at Jordan’s Furniture in New Haven. And they gave Santa a run for his money, raising $192,638.56 in toys and cash.

This advertiser success story is from KCLR-FM, a Zimmer Radio Group station in Columbia, MO. According to Megan Black at Second Street, the company that helped KCLR execute the idea, the client took in $9,000 from the idea, over 75 hot leads and 240 opt-ins. And for KCLE it was a $2,500 sale. (Our weekly Advertiser Success Stories are sponsored by Sun & Fun Media).

A Maryland marijuana panel has approved a ban on all cannabis advertising. The Baltimore Sun reports that The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission was unanimous in its vote Thursday to eliminate all advertising on radio, TV, billboards and most digital.

That's what iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman and CFO Rich Bressler want employees of radio's biggest company to know. In recent weeks, there have been reports that both Apple and Liberty Media are kicking the iHeart tires.

Everyone loves a list, especially when it involves taking a peek at someone else's salary. Forbes is out with its annual list of radio's highest paid hosts. Combined, the top five, all men, made nearly $300 million. The King-of-all-media is still number one.

As if making the Forbes list of highest-paid hosts wasn't enough, Mediaite has named Sean Hannity the most influential figure in the news media.

More than 200 small to medium markets will benefit from monthly reporting by Nielson Audio, as quarterly and twice-a-year diary reports are phased out. Details about those changes, first revealed this fall, were the focus of a Thursday webinar hosted by Nielsen.

And Westwood One News is offering affiliates a series of 20 Year in Review reports featuring one-minute vignettes showcasing many of the year’s biggest stories. Also being offered up to affiliates will be two long-form Year in Review programs.