Headlines

The Gracies Luncheon, honoring local and student radio, television, and interactive media Gracies recipients, will be held Tuesday, June 27 in New York at Cipriani on 42nd. Jane Pauley will be acknowledged with the Gracies Lifetime Achievement Award.

Conservative talker Phil Valentine remains in “grave condition” a month after being hospitalized with COVID-19. His family is asking friends and listeners to "pray for a miracle." It was about a month ago Valentine revealed he had COVID. A few days later he was placed on a ventilator.

All week long, beginning today, Veritone is hosting FIVE webinars ranging from content and ad intelligence to ad attribution to intelligent media management to monetization. See what AI can do for you. REGISTER.

Futuri has been honored with the NAB Show 2024 Product of the Year Award for AI/Machine Learning for its artificial intelligence platform, SpotOn. This platform utilizes AI technology to rapidly generate spec spots for both radio and television.

Cincinnati.com is reporting that Hubbard hopes to buy several vacant lots owned by the City of Cincinnati in Oakley, where it would build a new 30,000-square-foot office building and broadcast facility. The property is valued at $522,000.

WXXI Public Broadcasting in Rochester, NY has closed on the acquisition of silent WJZR Rochester from North Coast Radio for $ 1.2 Million. It gives WXXI a second full-market FM signal to augment its NPR news-talk WXXI-AM along with classical-music WXXI-FM.

After much speculation that the Pandora founder and two-time CEO would step down, Tuesday was the day. As the Board begins its search for a new CEO, CFO Naveen Chopra will step in as interim CEO. Westergren is also out as a Pandora board member. President Mike Herring and CMO Nick Bartle are also gone.

On the same day the FDA gave final approval for the Pfizer vaccine, Beasley Media Group became the third major radio company to require employees get vaccinated, following Cumulus and Radio One. Beasley employees have until November first to get fully vaccinated.

On April 8 THIS LETTER was sent by a group of Senators to their leadership, which was followed by THIS LETTER to President Trump by members of Congress. Elected officials realize the critical role local media plays in getting information to the public.

The Radio Advertising Bureau is launching a fresh initiative with the Ad Council that will allow advertisers to sponsor public service announcements. Starting May 22, the Ad Council will offer sponsorable, broadcast-ready PSAs, tailor-made for specific communities.