Headlines

(By Jeff McHugh) To be a successful media star, you must capture the public’s attention. Ninty-three percent of Americans may use radio daily, but our product receives little media coverage compared to television, motion pictures, music, or books. But last week radio made a big splash.

El Zol 107.9 (WLZL/College Park, MD) has raised a record-breaking $357,332 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. That makes more than $800K raised in just three years.

(Ronald Robinson) Casual historians of radio might be interested to know that the culling of personalities began in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s — well before the Consolidation Pandemic completely wiped out the talent corps. Owners came to the conclusion that “more rock — less jocks” (also occasionally referred to as: “more tunes — fewer jaloons”) was the route to even greater prosperity.

In a 14-page forfeiture order, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau imposed a penalty of $144,344 against Fabrice Polynice and Harold and Veronise Sido for operating an unlicensed station on 90.1-FM from the Sidos’ residence in North Miami. The Commission has a long history with these pirates.

Podcast Movement starts this week in Philadelphia. If you're attending the event someone you may run into is Traci DeForge, the CEO of Produce Your Podcast, a company you're about to learn about. Traci began her audio career in radio as an Account Executive in Athens, GA.

Along with David Kurtz and Marlin Taylor, Jerry Lee launched WBEB back on May 13, 1963 (the calls were WDVR at the time) for $28,500. On Thursday, Entercom purchased the station for $57.5 million. While he hasn't been involved in the station for the past two-and-a-half years, Jerry Lee's name has always been associated with WBEB in Philadelphia

How many consultants can say they were with one station for 38 years? We know of at least one...Bill Moyes. He consulted Jerry Lee and his team for nearly four deacdes, including three name changes. Moyes started working with the station in the 1980s when the call letters were still WDVR.

With the addition of Country powerhouse WXTU, Beasley Media Group now has five FMs and two AMs in Philadelphia, strengthening up its cluster to better compete with Entercom which has six stations  (four FMs and two AMs); iHeartMedia which also has six stations (five FMs and one AM); and Radio One (three FMs). Here's what Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley had to say about the purchase of the station it was once the owner of.

It was the fourth year for Amazon Prime Day, which was actually 36 hours this year. Amazon discounts thousands of items with a goal of adding more Prime members, which is a $119 annual fee that includes free shipping, free movies, and an assortment of free music. Westwood One commissioned IPSOS to examine purchasing during the event. Here's what they found out...

WEBL-FM in North Mississippi is being sold by Mighty Media Group to Tom Freeman. Freeman is the current G M of the station. Upon FCC approval, Freeman and his wife Allison will take over ownership of the station they call "The Rebel." Freeman's career includes management positions at 23 stations in Hattiesburg, Jackson, Tupelo, Oklahoma City, Topeka, and Memphis.