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Lazer Broadcasting is purchasing KWNZ-FM, KNEZ-FM, and KZTI FM, and Big Horn Media is buying KRZQ-FM from Times-Shamrock Communications. MVP Capital represented Times-Shamrock in both transactions.

Since Mary Berner took over Cumulus nearly two years ago, one of the company's main goals has been to improve ratings. Cumulus owns some of radio's most recognizable brands, including WPLJ and WABC in New York, WLS in Chicago, KGO in San Francisco, and many others.

The recent successful Alaska cruise celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ministry included a special opportunity for those on board to give back to the people of Alaska by providing a backpack full of school supplies for needy children in the state capitol of Juneau

You could hear the frustration in the Urban One CEO's voice about his company's performance. Alfred Liggins said it was tough all around, lead by a downward trend in the radio business and Reach Media.

At the end of the year, Westwood One will be losing a big-name radio brand. Following the expiration of its distribution agreement with Westwood, CBS News Radio will team with Skyview Networks for distribution, inventory management, and sales. CBS News Radio delivers news, talk, information, and special events coverage to more than 1,000 affiliates, including 13 stations in the top 15 markets.

Entravision's radio segment saw a revenue decrease in the second quarter of $2.4 million. The company says the big drop was due to decreases in local and national advertising revenue, and a decrease in political advertising revenue. Local revenue was down 9% and national dropped 19%.

Meruelo Media has closed on the sale of KPWR-FM, Power 106 Los Angeles from Emmis Communications. The station has been programmed by Meruelo for the last month under an LMA. Meruelo paid Emmis $82.8 Million for the station. 

Bloomberg Radio has begun programming with the intent to purchase WNBP-AM and its translator at 106.1 FM in Newburyport, MA. The stations will be a 100% simulcast of Bloomberg Radio programming that airs on WRCA 1330 AM and 106.1 FM.

Radio's largest advertising category continues to struggle after years of very healthy growth. The annualized pace of U.S. car and light truck sales in July fell to 16.73 million vehicles. That's down from 17.8 million in 2016. Sales of large pickups was also off, by 4 percent. Large SUV's dropped 20 percent. In July, Ford was down 7.5%, Fiat Chrysler dropped 10 percent, Honda was off 1%, Nissan was down 3% Only Toyota was up, with a 4% gain.

(By Michael Botta) I often say to my salespeople, “Nobody woke up this morning wanting to buy an ad schedule, but they did wake up this morning with problems in their business.” And that’s true. Every business across this country has problems, every single one of them; but an ad schedule won’t fix those problems.