Headlines

The station went on the air in 1919. It will go off the air in two weeks. Owner Robert Dickey told his staff on Friday the all-news station will end its run at the end of the year. Dickey told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "It’s fair to say we’ve been trying to provide a community service. The bottom line is I just can’t sustain the business model."

The Copyright Royalty Board has announced new rates for satellite-delivered services, which includes SiriusXM, for 2018 to 2022. The 2018 rate will jump to 15.5% of gross revenue, that's up from the current rate of 11%. That will certainly have an impact on SiriusXM's expenses and will most likely be passed on to its customers and result in a higher subscription cost.

(By Bob McCurdy) When it comes to the success of radio campaigns, little things can make a big difference and “sequential” commercial integration might be one of those little things. By sequential, I am referring to the rotating in of commercials of various duration at different stages throughout a multi-week flight.

(By Jeff McHugh) Several morning shows around the U.S. are having success with a regular feature in which personal quarrels on social media are reenacted on the air by the cast. If you are not familiar with Facebook Fights, I've linked to a couple you can listen to.

(By Ronald Robinson) There came a moment, although it was over 30 years ago, when I had what can only be described as a radio epiphany. This came in the form of a personally significant realization. I describe that particular realization in the following ways: Radio, as it was then, was a powerful and influential medium.

iHeartMedia mobilized 26 radio stations across the nation and collectively raised more than $5.6 million during the annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids national radiothon, December 7–8. The event encouraged listeners to pledge $20 per month to become “Partners In Hope” with St. Jude.

99.1 PLR/Connecticut morning team Chaz and AJ took their show to Jordan’s Furniture in New Haven Friday morning and raised $109,852.78 in cash and toys. It was their annual four-and-half-hour Chaz and AJ McDermott Chevrolet and Lexus Toy Drive. The toys were immediately distributed to five organizations.

In what is clearly one of the most impressive groups of broadcasters to ever join forces to buy a radio station, Larry Fuss (pictured here with John Tesh) has put together a team of rock stars to purchase KZZV-FM in Hanapepe Hawai’i, on the island of Kaua’i.

That's the conclusion Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker came to after meeting with Entercom CEO David Field and CFO Rich Schmaeling this week. The CBS stations have taken a beating in the press over the past 18 months, since the merger was announced. Ryvicker tells investors not to worry...Field and Schmaeling have a plan.

(By Rebecca Jacobs Goldman) You have likely heard of the FCC’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) Amber Alert, but what you may not know is that a new hue of EAS alert will now be implemented – the Blue Alert (code BLU). As the keeper of the Emergency Alert System at your station, do you know what you need to do about the new Blue Alert system?