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(By Jeff McHugh) Across the US, Mexico, and Canada, radio shows use a wide variety of news. Some air in-depth five-minute newscasts twice an hour, while others do quick 45-second updates. We have observed seven things that all great newscasts have in common, regardless of geography, format or style.

(By Ronald Robinson) There are many small- and medium-market radio stations that are doing quite well. They are, I presume, thoroughly engaged in their communities while maintaining worthwhile relationships with local advertisers. Genuine human beings manage many of these organizations. Some have staffs that proudly fly the station’s colors. And yet, they have not begun to realize their own potentials.

Copyright could be one of radio's biggest issues of 2017. In the fight between Irving Azoff's GMR and the radio industry, two days ago, the RMLC withdrew its motion for a preliminary injunction against GMR. The injunction was withdrawn due the temporary agreement that was announced between the two organizations in late December.

Not only were the months of September, October, and November disappointing to Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan, the only revenue visibility he provided about 2017 was, "I'd like to be hopeful." That seems to be the norm for radio these days, work hard at grabbing as much revenue as you can and hope for the best at the end of the quarter.

Looking deeper into the numbers from the Emmis quarter, CFO Ryan Hornady said digital revenue at Emmis was up 24%. That big gain still didn't prevent the company from pulling in less revenue from a year ago due to national and local revenue being down single digits. What were the strongest and weakest categories for the company?

SiriusXM says it ended 2016 with over 31.3 million subscribers, adding more than 1.7 million net subscriber additions in the year. Self-pay net subscriber additions in 2016 were 1.66 million, resulting in self-pay subscriptions of approximately 26 million for 2016. The company also announced it expects to meet or exceed its 2016 guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow.

Back on November 3, Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins said about the Classic Hip Hop format BOOM, “We invented the format and we’re the first to exit the format. It is not a sustainable long-term ratings-getter.” Thursday night, Radio One's Houston market blew up its BOOM format, after two years, for Top 40.

CBS Philadelphia debuted WZMP-FM as Today's 96.5 Thursday morning. The Adult Contemporary station is promising limited commercial interruptions. WZMP was one of two station CBS radio picked up in the 2014 swap with Beasley. Back then CBS flipped the station from rhythmic CHR “Wired 96.5” to its CHR “Amp.”

On Thursday, Entercom Boston debuted an R&B format, calling it "The New 97.7." Since 2006, the frequency had been simulcast with the company’s heritage Rock station, WAAF 107.3FM. The PD will be Chris Malone, recruited from Cumulus's WRBO and WKIM in Memphis, and the station launches with 10,000 songs in a row.

First Beasley dumped Bubba The Love Sponge from morning drive on WBRN. The No Rules Rock format quickly became history after that and Beasley stunted with "Donald-FM," which featured a menu of songs about money. Thursday night the new format was officially launched...