Headlines

As Gordon Smith heads into his eighth year as president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, many in our industry are glad that position carries no term limits for the former Senator. Smith is very popular among the NAB radio membership and his calmness, stability, and professionalism serve the radio industry very well (in addition to the great team he has working for him). Smith is among Radio's 40 Most Powerful People and has been ever since he took the NAB leadership job eight years ago. His official ranking on the list will be revealed next week when our Top 40 issue mails.

(By Eric Rhoads) Here’s a news flash, in case you missed it: Madison Avenue advertisers are mostly not enamored of radio. Yes, there are some loyal ones who continue to spend, but, right or wrong, most believe the world has moved on and that things like radio are antiquated.

(By Georgia Beasley) Technology has allowed for more sharing in all aspects of Millennials’ lives. We share photos on the “cloud,” we ride-share in Ubers, and we share our once-personal moments through social media. This approach is no different in the workplace and exactly the environment that allows Millennials to excel.

(By Curt Krafft) A radio station that contradicts itself. A station that does one thing but promotes just the opposite. A station that sends out a signal reassuring the listeners that it's giving them what they want. A station with a tower, a transmitter, and a license to broadcast....from the Twilight Zone.

The multi-Grammy Award-winning country band will perform at the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show, on Thursday, September 7. The event is part of the 2017 Radio Show, held September 5-8 at the JW Marriott Austin and produced by the National Association of Broadcasters and Radio Advertising Bureau.

Grant County Broadcasters, owners of WNKR-FM in Northern Kentucky, is purchasing WNKN-FM, in Ohio, from Northern Kentucky University. WNKR CEO Jeff Ziesmann said, “Our company is pleased to maintain this heritage station as locally owned and operated. Our goal is to provide stable, high-quality, locally produced programming to the greatest number of listeners in the WNKN coverage area.

Congressman Darrell Issa (pictured) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee for Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet introduced legislation they say will "close a long-standing gap in federal copyright law."

We've heard from more Country PD's about our story on Billboard Magazine writer Jon Freeman calling Country Radio sexist for not playing enough female artists. 36 year radio vet Sue Wilson (pictured) is the VP of Operations for Rubber City Radio's WQMX in Akron. Wilson says this touchy subject was discussed at a recent CRS Agenda Meeting.

The reason the FCC is levying this big fine against KIBH-FM is for numerous alleged violations of FCC rules, including "actions that undermine the effectiveness of the Emergency Alert System."