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(By Bob McCurdy) Last week I had the opportunity to address an agency at their annual gathering. The theme of their meeting was the “pursuit of excellence.” What follows are some of the talking points that I jotted down to discuss during my session, many of which resulted in some good discussion.

(By Laurie Kahn) Change is hard to handle. No one likes to think they need to change or think about what business practices are needed to change for higher success. But, let’s face it, change is an ever-evolving issue and sometimes it’s inevitable.

(By Ronald Robinson) Yes, radio needs to continue telling the story. But, radio also needs to add to that. Radio needs to be/must be/is required to do something else: Radio must create a new reality for itself, its audiences, and its advertisers.

(By Randy Lane) The answer to that question is no! We believe that radio will not only survive, it will thrive in the future. My opinion...The future of Radio is all about talent. Here's why...

Entercom Chicago Country Station US*99 (WUSN-FM) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital joined forces for the US*99 Country Cares For St. Jude Kid’s Radiothon. An eye-popping $723,106 during the two-day event, bringing the total raised locally in 27-years to nearly $27 million dollars.

The Bobby Bones Show raised nearly $1.7 million during its two-day St. Jude Radiothon on December 7 and 8. The annual event aired live and allowed listeners to donate via text, while country music stars and friends stopped by the show’s Nashville studio to perform and encourage listeners to make a contribution.

Kudos to Mega 101.1 in Houston (KLOL-FM). The station raised $400,110 during its 7th annual Radiothon in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. During the 38-hour event, the station raised funds to benefit the Texas Children’s Hospital. The money will help the hospital offer services to children from the local community who would otherwise not have access to medical attention.

When advertisers place ads on real radio stations they know what they're getting. Responsible broadcasters airing respectable content. When advertisers allow algorithms to choose where to put their ads on Internet radio, they really have no idea where they may land. And, sometimes that's a very bad thing.

That's the word from Chris Weil, Chairman and CEO of Momentum Worldwide. Momentum has 36 offices in 27 countries and has done work for Microsoft, Verizon, American Express, and WalMart just to name a few companies. And at Radio Ink's recent Forecast Conference in New York City, Weil had big praise for radio and dropped a bomb about digital.

Disgraced former Denver DJ David Mueller, who a jury believed groped Taylor Swift at a concert meet-and-greet, told the AP he sent the superstar singer a Sacagawea dollar as "a final jab." Meanwhile, Swift landed on the cover of Time, with other women who've been sexually assaulted, and told the story about how Mueller reached under her dress and grabbed her.