Headlines

(By Curt Kraft) It is safe to say that radio has embraced the digital age. I know, I know. More stuff for the sales department to deal with. UGH! More coffee, please. Anyway, we supposedly now have more ways for our clients to advertise in addition to the traditional over-the-air audio method.

(By Bob McCurdy) In a recent issue of Admap there was a thought-provoking article written by two high-level MEC execs that focused on over 250,000 individual purchase journeys across 36 categories. The two authors identified four stages of the purchase journey.

This is not a negative story about Nielsen. Nielsen is the ratings system, the currency radio uses and advertising agencies and local businesses rely on to make purchases and funnel millions and millions of dollars into the radio industry. Many would argue that since Nielsen purchased Arbitron, the bigger company is making more of an effort to improve its product for the industry. But those discussions are for another day.

Broker Dick Foreman is on the hot seat today as we continue to grill brokers about the wheeling and dealing they expect to see at the Radio Show in Austin in two weeks. Things have been relatively quiet since the blockbuster deal David Field put together with CBS that will end up bringing CBS Radio under the Entercom umbrella later this year. We asked Mr. Foreman what he's hearing and who he's expecting to see deals from when the industry gathers in Texas beginning September 5.

The Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group will present “Growing Your Talent, Growing Your Revenue,” Thursday, September 7 at the 2017 Radio Show in Austin. The panel: Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley, Hubbard CEO Ginny Morris, Entercom COO Weezie Kramer, and NRG CEO Marry Quass. Beasley (#6), Morris (#8), and Kramer (#17) were all on Radio Ink's 40 Most Powerful People in Radio list. Quass was voted radio's #1 leader by Radio Ink readers.

Thomas was a star of both radio and TV. He started his radio career at WAPE in Jacksonville, which was followed up by WAYS-AM and WROQ-FM in Charlotte. He then moved to New York City, where he hosted mornings at WXLO-FM and WKTU-FM. Thomas followed a short run at WKIS-FM Boston with a decade run on KPWR-FM in Los Angeles.

(By Buzz Knight) The passing of Jay Thomas leaves an incredible void for those of us who knew him and an audience that loved him as an entertainer. Jay defined the concept of multi-talented. Actor, comedian, radio host, and a career that spanned decades of memorable moments. I'm proud to have observed his illustrious career and even more proud to call him a friend.

Sports Illustrated, citing staffers at ESPN, says the radio host who was arrested for being drunk and wandering into someone's condo, will likely be suspended but not fired. SI says Russillo has supporters in upper management, including ESPN executive VP of content Connor Schell, and his contract is also not immediately up.

In a press release announcing the name change, CEO Spencer Brown said, “Our new brand identity reflects our focus on the unique character of our company and our commitment to ensuring that we take a creative approach to making each show successful. As our company continues to grow, our partners and the shows we publish are always our number one priority.” Earlier this month Entercom purchased a 45% stake in the company.

With a goal of helping radio prove ROI, the folks at NextRadio say this new report is the first radio data management platform to accumulate and measure over 250 demographic, behavioral, and listening data points in near real-time. Here are the details...