Headlines

As the NFL season comes flying up, Philadelphia’s SportsRadio 94WIP is set and ready to cover every minute for denizens of the city of the Steak & Cheese. As the team’s flagship station, every game will be aired on WIP with additional live pre- and postgame shows.

Those are the words of John Fixx, Analyst/Manager for Procter & Gamble North America (pictured here with Nielsen's Brad Kelly and Lana Busignani). Fixx is someone everyone in radio should get to know. He calls himself the voice of reason at P&G and he is a huge advocate for radio inside that massive company, and here's why...

Yesterday, you read an op-ed piece from Neal Portnow who claimed artists are no longer thanking radio for playing their music, now that there are so many other outlets that help make them stars and sell albums. Well, BMI recording artist and songwriter Jack Ingram doesn't quite agree with that.

Reps. Bill Flores (R-TX) and Gene Greed (D-TX) on Thursday introduced the Radio Consumer Protection Act, which would establish a fund to reimburse radio for costs associated with the broadcast TV spectrum repack. NAB EVP/Communications Dennis Wharton said the bill would "help fulfill the promise to hold local broadcasters harmless during the incentive auction."

We've been hearing from a number of radio companies with word of how their Florida stations are preparing for Hurricane Irma, and what services they will be providing. Beasley Media Group sent us the following thorough rundown...

Radio’s invaluable service in an emergency is about to shift into high gear yet again. With Texas still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, Florida is bracing for Hurricane Irma. iHeartMedia got in touch with Radio Ink to tell us how they’re preparing.

The five-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and CBS Radio have agreed to a multi-year contract extension to keep Patriots games on Boston’s WBZ-FM, 98.5 “The Sports Hub.” The partnership began in 1994. Bob Socci and Scott Zolak will continue as play-by-play host and color analyst, respectively.

BMI brought in $1.13 billion in its 2017 fiscal year, and — for the first time — distributed more than $1 billion in royalties. The $1.023 billion that went out to songwriters, composers, and publishers was up 10 percent from last years's figure.

Cumulus and WideOrbit have made a new licensing agreement under which Cumulus will install WO Traffic and other WideOrbit products companywide. WideOrbit is expected to begin replacing Cumulus' proprietary Stratus system before the end of the year.

iHeartMedia has launched 104.5 KISS FM --  “Houston’s Best R&B.” The station will feature Urban Adult Contemporary hits, including artists like Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind and Fire, Anita Baker, and Usher.