Headlines

As it reported its Q4 and full-year 2017 earnings, Entravision cited digital, and in particular the acquisition of Headway, a data and digital marketing provider, for a net revenue increase of 5 percent in the fourth quarter, to $73.4 million from $70.3 million in Q4 2016.

United States Traffic Network President Ivan Schulman led the effort to buy out the broadcast-traffic provider, whose products are used by more than 1,100 TV and radio stations, and which has 260 full- and part-time employees. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Local was strong in Q4 of 2017 for the small- and medium-market broadcaster, however tough political comps, a decline in the event business, and a drop in national digital revenue all helped push the company down in Q4. Including all divisions, Townsquare’s Q4 revenue was off by 3.7 percent ($4.4 million) to $114.4 million.

Company executives told investors and analysts on their earnings call Tuesday that Townsquare Interactive was a suggestion from an employee at one of the company’s radio stations in St. Cloud, Minnesota. That idea has resulted in a division that now generates $100 million in revenue for the company.

During the Radio Ink Hispanic Conference in Miami, Tuesday, Entravision SVP Angie Balderas (pictured here with broadcast attorney Frank Montero) told the sold-out crowd that back in 2014, in a political race for California’s 7th Congressional District, $20 million was spent on advertising by the two candidates. Not $1 was spent on Hispanic radio.

The 2018 winners of the Medallas de Cortez Awards were announced Tuesday at the annual Hispanic Radio Conference in Miami. The winners represent an array of industry-leading broadcasters, including Lotus Communications (whose president, Jim Kalmenson, took Broadcaster of the Year honors), Spanish Broadcasting System, Univision, Entravision, and iHeartMedia.

(By Renee Cassis) We know radio has influence with listeners but proving it to advertisers is challenging. At The Borrell Conference Tuesday, Tim Murphy, Entercom's SVP of Business Development showcased how his company is using digital distribution and data to authenticate radio advertising’s effectiveness to clients.

(By Renee Cassis) Steve Goldstein, CEO of Amplifi Media, and Fred Jacobs, owner of Jacobs Media, who formed Sonic AI as a joint venture that focuses on smart-speaker development and strategy, presented “Key Strategies for Future Platforms: Smart Speakers” during Borrell’s Local Online Advertising Conference in New York City yesterday.

The Academy of Country Music has revealed the full list of winners for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards. This year’s event will be held at Topgolf Las Vegas on Saturday, April 14. And here are the winners...

Birmingham, AL, stations WBHK 98.7 Today’s Kiss, WBHJ 95.7 Jamz, and 610 WAGG welcomed the return of Huffman High School students on Friday, March 9, with smiles, hugs, and a balloon release at the ringing of the bell. The students, faculty, and community of Huffman High School are mourning a terrible loss following a shooting inside of the school on Wednesday, March 14.