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The FCC's mission of shutting down pirate broadcasters continues. Anslo Alezy of Irvington and Lawrence Mason of East Orange were both warned to turn off their stations by the Commission on Friday. Alezy is accused of operating an illegal station at 88.1 from his home in Irvington and Mason is accused of operating his pirate radio station at 107.9 from his building in East Orange. Both have ten days to respond to the government and shut down the stations.

(by Bob McCurdy) Have you ever wondered how radio stacks up against other advertising options when it comes to positively influencing oft-stated ad campaign objectives such as “awareness”, “trial” and “consideration”? No need to wonder any more as Nielsen’s Commspoint, the widely embraced channel and communication planning tool has been updated with 2017 data.

Radio Ink is proud to announce that the 9th Hispanic Radio Conference is set for March 13-14 at the Intercontinental at Doral in Miami. The Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference brings together leaders in the Hispanic radio community and experts in Hispanic advertising and media for a comprehensive overview of opportunities and strategies within this rapidly transforming sector.

Over $1 Million raised by the station for the "Eric & Kathy" annual fundraiser for the Ann and Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. It was the 18th year the station has held the event to benefit the hospital. Pictured here is the entire staff of the radio station and the check for over $1 million.

Here's something you most certainly want to keep an eye on. Back in September of 2016, federal Judge Louis Stanton issued an order rejecting the D.O.J.'s interpretation of the BMI consent decree, allowing BMI to continue its longstanding practice of fractional licensing. The DOJ appealed that decision, and now BMI filed its brief in response to the Department of Justice.

Caren Berry is the Market President for Townsquare in SE Minnesota. How she got into radio is quite unique. She was working as a marketing director for a local newspaper in Salinas, CA. and had an appointment with the station owner Don McCoy of Magic Broadcasting. She was pitching the market's top-rated station a paid promotional idea. McCoy told her he was not going to buy her promotion, but said it was the most creative idea he had ever seen.

It's quite surprising more markets are not copying what radio is doing in Chicago. If this kind of approach to promote the power of radio, and drive results for advertisers, is succeeding in the 3rd-largest market in America, you would think the same approach would work in many other markets.

The mystery about Hall of Fame host Kathy Hart was in the news again Thursday. Hart is co-host of the Eric & Kathy morning show on Hubbard's WTMX in Chicago and she's been off the air since April. Hart's contract is up in December and she's been negotiating with the station to bring the matter to some sort of conclusion.

On Thursday The board of directors of the New York State Broadcasters Association announced that iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman has been named its “Broadcaster of the Year.” NYSBA President David Donavan said, “Bob Pittman is a true industry leader and perhaps the most creative, visionary and dynamic executive in broadcasting. His views not only shape the radio industry, but the future of all media in this country.” Pittman has been named Radio Ink's Most Powerful Person in Radio for 7 consecutive years.

That's the total so far according to Entercom Market Manager Phil Zachary. The 16th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon to strike out cancer is a joint effort between Entercom's WEEI and local TV station NESN and includes the local WEEI on-air talent and appearances from local politicians and sports stars from all the major Boston sports teams.