Headlines

The final paperwork continues for Cumulus to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and erase half of its $2 billion in debt. A 148 page document has been file by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman confirming Cumulus' reorganization plan.

That's the big question being debated by NAB members as they try to come up with a plan to present to the FCC as part of the Commission's Quadrennial review. With a very friendly FCC, this may be a rare opportunity for radio to get exactly what it asks for -- if it's united, that is -- and we understand the industry has at least one big player who doesn't want any more deregulation.

Total U.S. digital ad spend reached a record-setting $88 billion in 2017. That's according to the latest Internet Advertising Bureau's latest revenue report released Thursday. That increase represents a 21 percent jump over 2016 ($72.5 billion). It marks the first time digital ad revenues have overtaken television (broadcast and cable combined).

At the tail end of his Thursday morning earnings call, Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan said now that his company's debt is "close to zero," he'll be looking at a lot of different things, and not necessarily radio. So what's in Smulyan's future?

On Thursday, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to streamline FM translator interference complaints. Because they are secondary stations, any interference caused by a translator needs to be taken care of by the owner of that translator or shut it down. Because the FCC has opened the floodgates for translators, there's been a rise in complaints.

More paper regulations could soon be a thing of the past. On Thursday, the FCC launched a proceeding to consider eliminating various rules that require the maintenance and posting of broadcast licenses and related information in specific locations. It's a rule that was put on the books back in 1930.

The latest issue of Radio Ink Magazine is out. It includes our Best PDs in America list, which will not be posted online. It will only appear in the print and digital editions of Radio Ink Magazine. If you'd like to become a subscriber and receive the issue with our Best PDs list, our upcoming Most Influential Women in Radio list (6/18), and The 40 Most Powerful People in Radio list (7/23), CLICK HERE.

SupeRadio Networks and CTC Productions LLC have announced an affiliation and sales agreement to syndicate The Bassment, a weekly 2-hour mix show hosted by KPWR (Power 106) Los Angeles mixer DJ E-Rock and mixed by some of the biggest Vegas/NY/Miami club and radio DJs.

Detroit station 94.7 WCSX-FM, the City of Ann Arbor Michigan, and the Ann Arbor School Board are teaming up in an attempt to have a street named in honor of Detroit Classic Rock legend Bob Seger in front of his Alma Mater in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker has consistently been a big fan of David Field and the Entercom management team over the years. In 2016, Ryvicker called Entercom a "hidden gem," and in January 2018 she said Entercom was "a different story," compared to the rest of the radio industry. Did that all change this week?