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We'll see if this prediction from Magna actually materializes at the end of the year, however, Magna is predicting that due to decreased demand from a variety of ad categories, radio ad revenue will decline 4.4% this year. So what were those categories?

More from the Magna report which says U.S advertising revenue will grow 1.6% ($3 billion) to $185 billion this year. Ad sales growth of 1.6% would be the lowest increase since the recession of 2008-2009, and it's a significant slowdown from 2016’s record growth of 7.7%.

And this factoid from the Magna report will come as no surprise to our readers. Despite the fact that we've heard recent complaints about advertisers not getting results or that their ads aren't being heard or seen, digital ad spending continues to explode. In the U.S., digital media ad sales will increase 14%, by more than $10 billion in 2017, to $83 billion.

The Southern California Broadcasters Association and Nielsen have released a study of vehicle buyers in L.A. and San Diego. The two companies are promoting the study hoping to arm radio sellers with more data and help them close more sales. It includes those in the market to purchase a vehicle and those undecided, and details how radio reaches those consumers better than TV.

The deal between the two companies was announced Wednesday. Westwood One will use Nielsen's advanced data management platform to help advertisers make better buying decisions, aimed more at the customers they're looking for. Here's how this works...

This time the Enforcement Bureau sends a notice to Winston Tulloch in Paterson, New Jersey, for operating an illegal station at 90.9 from his home. Tulloch has 10 days to respond to the Commission with proof that he is authorized to operate the station, which, of course, he is not.

The stations are KKSS-FM, KIOT-FM, KJFA-FM, and KKRG-FM, and in order to comply with FCC ownership rules, AGM will sell KAGM-FM to VCY America, KDLW-FM to BB Broadcasting, KJFA-FM to Vanguard Media, and donate KHFM-FM to KHFM Community Partners, which will convert the broadcasting license to non-commercial.

President Trump intends to nominate Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel to return to the Federal Communications Commission after her term lapsed at the end of last year. She would need to be confirmed by the Senate. Rosenworcel's first five-year term expired in May 2016 but she stayed on until the end of the year.

In his latest blog posting aimed at helping radio sellers tell the story of radio, Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus and Westwood One Pierre Bouvard asks the question. 'How does each media perform against their promise?' His answer: AM/FM radio audiences deliver exactly what is promised: ads are heard.

(This is part 3 of a 3 part series) (By Michael Dudding) My last article focused on "kids and non-professionals" recording bland "it's-acutely-obvious-my-monotone-voice-means-I'm-reading-copy-given-to-me." Effective messages need to have warmth, excitement, believability, sincerity, and honesty.