Headlines

Local Radio Networks has signed with ABC News Radio to bring ABC’s award-winning service exclusively to LRN affiliates. LRN affiliates will have access to the worldwide resources of ABC News and ABC News Radio.

(By Ronald Robinson) It can’t be denied: Radio surely had one hell of a run. Even in the days when radio was third in the Print/TV/Radio hierarchy, there was money to be made – lots of money. I was working for a TV/AM/FM combo that sported the finest of facilities, and where my AMer alone was raking in $5 million a year — in late-‘70s dollars! 

Aaron Leiker's new company 25-7 Media is purchasing KLMR AM &FM in Lamar, Colorado, and KBLJ-AM and KTHN-FM in La Junta, Colorado, from Cherry Creek Radio. It's Leiker's first foray into ownership, although he's been hooked on radio since he was a freshman in high school. We wanted to know why this 35-year-old jumped into radio ownership, when all we hear about these days is how younger people are only interested in digital. So we asked him.

United States Trustee William Harrington has filed an objection with the bankruptcy court over Cumulus' plan to pay out millions of dollars in bonuses while the company is in Chapter 11. And while Harrington is objecting to all of the bonuses being paid out, the objection will not impact a plan to pay out bonuses previously approved by the court on February 8, to hundreds of employees.

Audioboom announced Tuesday morning its intention to purchase Triton Digital Canada, the parent company of Triton Digital for $185 million. The deal will be a reverse takeover, and once complete, the new company will be called Triton Digital Group.

Twenty-seven Detroit and Ann Arbor stations will pause at 9 a.m. Wednesday for a special tribute to a long-time advertiser who passed away Monday after a bout with cancer. Eighty-seven-year-old Art Van Elslander, owner of Art Van Furniture, was a loyal advertiser to radio for many years.

(By Wayne Ens) When you consider all the time and effort that go into prospecting and presenting, it's understandable that some salespeople think of “the close" as the end of a complex selling process. But professional radio marketing consultants understand that the close is really just the beginning of a solid, sustainable relationship with their clients.

(By Paul Weyland) A couple of years ago in this very publication I came up with a new word for little bitty accounts with acorn-sized budgets that run you crazy and take up all of your time. I call them squirrels, and there's a reason for that.

WTPT-FM 93.3 The Planet’s top-rated morning show The Rise Guys, are hosting the largest mass wedding in the Upstate Wednesday, February 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rocky River Plantation in Williamston, SC. The event is called “Numerous Nuptials."

Pro-forma revenue for Beasley's 4th quarter declined 6.9% or $4.9 million. Eighty percent ($3.9 million) of that decline was due to political revenue in 2016 that did not return in 2017. National ad revenue, automotive and retail were weak in the quarter. Consumer Services was a strong category.