Headlines

Are marketers and advertisers still gun-shy about placing a media buy with a regional Mexican station, given the "sexiness" of reggaetón and "trap" artists and the global pop stars more universally known by CMOs and brand managers? Not in California.

(By Rick Fink) The first murder suspect was TV. Then it was Walkmans, iPods, satellite radio, streaming, and even social media and Spotify and Pandora. All were supposedly poised to kill off radio. But radio is still here and not going anywhere.

As the company winds down its bankruptcy proceeding, it has been filing monthly operating reports with the court. The latest report shows $326 million in revenue for December 2018. That's down from $343.7 million in November and $349.4 million in October.

(By Ed Ryan) Lee's column about AM being dead woke up quite a few of our readers late last week. Comments flooded our website through the weekend, and, while I did have to delete a few due vulgarity, most of them made excellent points. I thought it would be a good idea to get Lee on tape to respond to some of them The interview HERE is about 10 minutes long.

NuVoodoo Media Services is out with new research that suggests radio is losing ground as the biggest source of music discovery among most listeners, the majority of whom discover music through YouTube, with Spotify and Pandora following YouTube’s lead.

The Jammin 101.5 promo van was stolen over the weekend and used by the thieves in a second crime. Not exactly a vehicle you want to be driving around in if you don't want to be seen.

(By Peter Smyth) A PWC study from last year ranked how we use smart speakers. The top response was “ask a question,” followed closely by “listen to a streaming music service." “Listening to radio” was down the list in fifth place with 26% daily usage. As an industry, we need to address this.

Detroit station WJR/NewsTalk 760 AM was honored at the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Excellence Awards, winning Station of the Year for the third time in four years.

Back in 1979, in Houston, Tag Borland (pictured) and Scott Hochberg founded audio console manufacturer Logitek. A lot has been achieved in the intervening four decades.

A new fundraising record was set at the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s 2019 Golden Mike Award gala last week, which was attended by over 300 people at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.