Headlines

The Edge Media Group based in Western Kentucky is one of three media organizations in the state to win a journalism project grant from Facebook. More than $16 million in funding was awarded to media outlets for local news coverage of COVID-19.

iHeart's early commitment to podcasting seems to be paying off. CEO Bob Pittman says podcasting revenue for the company grew 80% in the first quarter of 2020 and it's expected to grow 100% in Q2. He also said podcast revenue is growing at a faster clip than listener growth.

Even though he was sure to be cautious, with still so many unknowns, on the iHeart Q1 earnings call Thursday, CEO Bob Pittman did say that "May bookings are slightly up over April and we see June better than May."

Austin's NPR station, KUT-FM News, has been awarded a $100,000 COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund Grant from the Facebook Journalism Project to support its continuing COVID-19 reporting.

As president of The Cromwell Group, Bud Walters has insights in both larger (Nashville) and small (Mattoon, Il, among others) radio stations. He shares how the COVID 19 crisis impact on ad revenues has been different based on market size - and why - in today's podcast. LISTEN

Minnesota Public Radio will explore Asian racism during the pandemic. The hour long event is set for Tuesday, May 12 and is free and open to the public with prior registration.

Across California farm workers are able to get COVID information in their native languages. Radio stations are translating the information into one of several indigenous languages spoken by about a third of the farm workers.

That's what Saga CEO Ed Christian said Wednesday as earnings season begins in the midst of a devastating pandemic that has stunted ad revenue across the country. While hope may not be a strategy, it's clearly the hope of many that businesses get the all clear to open their doors sooner rather than later.

Research just released by Media Monitors details exactly how ugly its been over the past six weeks. Between April 13 and April 19, Department Store spending on radio is down 98%, Casinos and Hotels are off 89% and Telecom declined 78%.

The issue will soon be in the hands of the five FCC Commissioners. Public comment on whether or not to allow broadcasters to air geo-targeted programming is now closed and despite radio's big four companies trying to derail the plan, the majority of comments have been in favor of the idea.