Headlines

The Broadcasters Foundation of America has taken a step towards the future, unveiling a new logo (pictured at left), redesigning its website, and launching new social media sites. It’s all part of a rebranding campaign to make it easier for broadcasters to find help and give back.

Back in September, a judge ruled that fractional licensing is permitted under BMI's anti-trust consent decree. The Department of Justice, which has taken the position that the consent decrees for both BMI and ASCAP require 100 percent licensing, has appealed that Second Circuit decision.

(By Radio Ink Chairman Eric Rhoads) Today, and over the following days, you, the sellers of radio, will be faced with some difficult conditions. No matter who won the election, 50 percent of your customers were going to be depressed and upset, and 50 percent were going to be elated.

BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill said in a statement he's "not surprised" that the Department of Justice has filed a notice of appeal against a judge's ruling that BMI has the right to engage in fractional licensing of works. He said, "It is unfortunate that the DOJ continues to fight for an interpretation of BMI's consent decree that is at odds with hundreds of thousands of songwriters and composers, the country's two largest performing rights organizations," and more.

If, as the leaks suggest, radio’s own Laura Ingraham is appointed to the role of press secretary once Donald Trump assumes the presidency, it will be noteworthy for radio. The conservative talk show host would be only the third woman to hold the position – which dates back to 1929 – and the first since Dana Perino (2007-2009).

(By Ron Robinson) Pierre Berton, a Canadian historian, author, and national broadcasting icon, wrote a book in the mid-60s, The Comfortable Pew. It began as a report commissioned by the Anglican Church of Canada. As a book, however, it was a blistering critique of the Anglican Church that rent the fabric off the status quo while accusing the organization of a corrupting form of relativism.

The latest to join the holiday hit parade: iHeartRadio's KLOU/St. Louis has debuted its lineup of "around-the-clock festive music" featuring both standards and contemporary holiday tunes.

Nielsen says the problem took place between November 3 and November 9 and it's being blamed on the company moving to a new audio data collection site. Eight percent of the installed PPMs across the 48 PPM markets lost connectivity and became inactive and this will affect the December PPM monthly survey. Nielsen says it has contacted the homes affected and panelists have been sent new PPMs. Only 49% of the replacement meters are back online so far. Nielsen expects the balance to come online in the next several days. Here is the statement Nielsen sent out to customers...

You may recognize the man in the picture, holding the issue of Radio Ink magazine that he is also featured in. The President-elect attended one of Radio Ink's 40 Most Powerful People in Radio receptions at a previous Forecast in New York City.

The Commission slaps Vasco Oburoni with the hefty fine after repeated warnings about operating the pirate station at 102.3 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The complaint to the FCC started when Beasley's Country station WKLB-FM at 102.5 was being interfered with back in June 2015. Agents found an FM antenna mounted on the roof of Christian Praise International’s church building in Worcester.