Headlines

(By John Garziglia) With a further relaxation of radio ownership rules, an existing local broadcaster will be put into the position of either being bought out by a large radio group, or watching as its competition is bought out and then competing against a national group that owns all of the other radio stations in the market. Unfettered ownership may help large radio groups compete with Google and Facebook, but to the extent smaller broadcasters do not sell out, it will decimate them.

(By Bob McCurdy) I was speaking last week with a client whom I had not previously met, and right after the introduction pleasantries, her first question was, “OK, so tell me something I don’t know.” We ended up having a productive conversation and I believe, at the end, she bought into the fact that she was not speaking with a chipmunk.

Federal judges in Los Angeles and New York have ruled that Ed Stolz, owner of KFRH-FM, KREV-FM, and KRCK-FM in California, must pay ASCAP $1.5 million in license fees, costs, attorneys’ fees and statutory damages. ASCAP says Stolz failed to pay ASCAP license fees over several years.

The third annual Hubbard Radio Talent Institute starts this afternoon at Central Washington University with Hubbard CEO Ginny Morris taking the opening session. “Compelling and relatable on-air talent is what separates local radio from all other audio entertainment services. Our investment in the National Radio Talent System at Central Washington University is an extension of Hubbard Radio’s commitment to do our part to nurture and grow the talent pipeline for the industry."

(By Ronald Robinson) Sometimes, especially when the whining from radio’s ownership and management cranks up an extra 10 dB while taking on the tonality of a horse dentist’s drill, radio’s workforce gets ever more agitated and twitchy. Some are slipping fast, going berserk on occasion — without notice.

(By Mark Ramsey) The Star Wars spinoff Solo: A Star Wars Story was a disappointment in terms of ticket sales — but why? Was it Star Wars fatigue that was to blame, or Disney’s mistakes? Tom Asacker and Mark Ramsey dive right in and discuss.

Another CEO is on record in favor of deregulation. The issue will be voted on by the FCC -- although the time frame is unknown -- when the Commission looks into broadcast ownership rules as part of its 2018 quadrennial review. During his earnings call Thursday, Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan said despite concerns that deregulation lead to some of the challenges radio is now having, he believes the industry needs more consolidation. Here's why...

Pro-forma revenue for Emmis' radio stations was down 5% in March, 6% in April, and  2% in May. The only good news is that markets Emmis operates in was down nearly 6% for the quarter. Also, due to a steady rainfall in New York during Emmis' big Summer Jam event, ticket sales were down, which played a big role in Emmis being off 16% in June to start Q2.

As we reported yesterday, Cumulus' KQRS in Minnesota is gearing up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of rocker KQRS. Today we take a closer look under the hood, at the nuts and bolts of what it takes to create a radio brand that stands the test of time, remains a stable force in the ratings and withstands the quirkiness of the listener. Scott Jameson is the current PD at KQRS. We picked his brain on how and why KQRS is still the king.

And they were given 10 days to shut down...or else. A business in Brooklyn was operating at 93.7-FM. Jaril Garcia is accused of operating an illegal station on 99.3 in Paterson, New Jersey. Michael Costa is nailed for his pirate radio station at 89.9, "The Juice Broadcasting Network," in Providence. And Maglie Plaismond in Cranston, Rhode Island, was told to shut down an operation at 97.9-FM.