Headlines

(By Deborah Parenti) The September 17 issue of Radio Ink profiled the 2018 slate of Radio Wayne finalists and their “secret sauce” for success. It’s the one award that recognizes and celebrates the sales, marketing, and management side of the industry. I'd like to discuss what the awards represent, and the attributes of the folks who get nominated.

The FCC announced that Sergio Plasencia has entered into a Consent Decree to resolve his issue with The FCC, close down his illegal operation and pay a slap-on-the-wrist fine of $2,680. Plasenia was broadcasting at 101.9 and 107.3 in Miami.

Fresh FM in Washington, DC, is now 94.7 The Drive on WIAD-FM in the nation's capital. The Classic Hits format will include rock, pop, and R&B from the 1980s, along with other hits from the 70s and 90s. The station launched with limited commercial inventory and will announce programming updates in the coming months.

The NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and Beasley Media Group have renewed their partnership that includes 97.5 The Fanatic as the flagship station of the Flyers Radio Network, and 93.3 WMMR as a partner broadcast station as part of a multi-year partnership extension.

Wednesday night Skyview Networks, CBS Audio and ABC Radio kicked off the upfront season with an event called “Experience Beyond.” In attendance were some of radio's biggest network radio advertisers.

The CBS News Radio Network is launching a new program called CBS Connect, which will provide news, entertainment, and information for music stations. CBS Connect will also produce a morning show prep service that includes actualities, daily audio features, written stories, and digital content.

The NAB's PILOT innovation initiative will offer up to 10 scholarships of $5,000 each to current college sophomores, juniors, and seniors entering graduate school, as well as graduate students, for pursuit of studies related to broadcast engineering, media technology, and innovation.

Katie Philippi is the Sales Manager for Alpha Media in Lincoln, NE. Last week, Katie took home the Radio Ink Radio Wayne award for top sales manager in the country at the Radio Show in Orlando. Katie tells Radio Ink she felt pure joy when she heard her name called by Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti.

It took two hours for jurors to convict Ferdinand Augello of murder Tuesday. April Kauffman was shot to death back in 2012 and authorities allege that Augello and Kauffman's husband, Dr. James Kauffman, wanted her dead before she exposed their OxyContin drug ring.

(By Gary Berkowitz) To get some solid advice on how to make live testimonial reads more successful, I spoke with Peter Connolly. Peter owns LIVE, The Personality Advertising Specialists in Detroit. He creates and manages live local radio endorsement campaigns all over the U.S.