Headlines

iHeartRadio Communities Spotlight Media Grant Program is an initiative to support organizations that are making a positive impact within the communities iHeart serves. A million dollars in media will be granted to organizations working to positively impact social and racial justice.

WQXR (105.9 FM), New York City, will air five days of special programming to mark the composers 250th birthday. The Beethoven Immortal festival airs December 12 - December 16.

The 14th annual broadcast of An American Country Christmas with Kix Brooks is set. The program provides up to 24 hours of holiday content for stations.

Cox Media Group Atlanta’s radio stations partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to collect food and monetary donations to supply holiday meals for local families in need. 25,816 meals will be provided as a result of the campaign.

Rodney Ho at The Atlanta Journal Constitution (Howard also writes for the paper) broke the story yesterday that Howard will stop doing his radio show at the end of the year. Howard will continue to do his podcast and run his two websites. He's been on the air for over 33 years.

The NAB and the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute have kicked off a nationwide research project to identify effective COVID-19 vaccine education messaging. The research findings will be used to develop tools and resources for local broadcasters.

The FCC will look very different in 2021 following the announcement that Chairman Ajit Pai would be stepping down from the Commission once President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. Commissioner Michael O'Rielly is leaving as well. Both were very friendly to radio.

Not surprising with a Democrat about to take over the White House in January, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced that he intends to leave the Commission on January 20, 2021, inauguration day for President-elect Joe Biden.

Cox Media Group has announced that EVP of Radio Bill Hendrich will retire at the end of the year. Hendrich will  remain in an advisory capacity in 2021. 

Sun Broadcast Group has added "i-News" to roster of services for radio stations. i-News provides "unbiased, news updates at the top and bottom of each hour." The news network features national journalists including: John Hunt, Jessie Paniagua, Chris Barnes and Wendy King.