Headlines

The iHeart CEO was asked a question about localism during the Thursday night earnings call. Pittman frequently talks about radio as the listener's companion. An analyst asked if companionship meant being local, and did iHeart's emphasis on technology get away from being local, harming audience levels. 

Broadcast revenue declined 2.7%, network revenue was up 2.2%, and digital revenue, including podcasting, was up 33.6% for iHeart in the quarter. Excluding political revenue, overall revenue grew 4.3% compared to Q4 2018.

On March 25-26, Hispanic radio broadcasters, along with experts from everything from political revenue to podcasting, will gather in Miami for the 11th Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference.

It would be interesting to see national Entercom numbers for this category. On Thursday, ESPN Audio circulated a press release that stated its network accounted for 54% of all sports listening.

Entercom is making some changes to management in its Los Angeles Cluster. Two SVPs, along with several Brand Managers, are part of the changes announced Thursday.

In addition to welcoming its 300th station, Today's Homeowner Radio is celebrating its 10th year on the air under the direction of host and national home improvement expert Danny Lipford.

Mix 106.5 (WWMX-FM) in Baltimore held its 31st annual radiothon for Johns Hopkins Children’s Center recently. The results were outstanding. $1.4 million was raised for the center, which is a member of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Baltimore.

The Porterville Library in California was struck by arson last week, and in their attempt to save people and property, two firefighters, Cpt. Ray Figueroa and firefighter Patrick Jones, lost their lives. Local stations stepped in to help.

The National Association of Broadcasters announced the 50 finalists for the 2020 NAB Crystal Radio Awards. The awards recognize stations for outstanding year-round commitment to community service.

Mistress Carrie, as she is known by fans, started as an intern at Boston rocker WAAF back in 1991. Three years later she made the payroll in the promotions department, and in 1998, she was on the air covering the night shift.