Headlines

Following the news that the RMLC was concerned Irving Azoff's organization was contacting radio stations "making misstatements" about an interim license to play GMR's recordings, GMR has sent a follow-up letter to stations, basically calling out the Radio Music Licensing Committee for being liars. And one high-level radio executive told Radio Ink Tuesday, "If what GMR says is true, then we are being poorly represented by the RMLC. Unfortunately, there's enough detail here to make one wonder."

(By Buzz Knight) Nowhere else in our country is the blur of messaging so apparent than in Las Vegas. To suggest that there is a lot of marketing noise would be an understatement. Brand differentiation must be a major obstacle within every product category. So, hot on the heals of my visit to the Consumer Electronics Show 2017, I'm here to reflect on what I feel is happening within many sectors represented  at the show and how it has created a fragmentation conundrum. 

Alpha Media Mason City, IA, raised $13,000 with their 19th Annual Polar Bear Swim on December 4 at Clear Lake City Beach. More than 3,000 brave souls took the frigid plunge into the lake to raise the funds for Toys for Tots and Make a Wish of North Iowa.

That's what iHeart CEO Bob Pittman told Bloomberg in an interview from CES on Friday, when asked by a reporter about the company's debt. He said there's probably not many other media companies that can make that claim. "The operating business has been doing very well. From the standpoint of transferring it from an old media company to a new media company with digital plays, events, social, etc. and this company has always had a lot of debt."

The $24 Million deal between Entercom and Beasley in Charlotte has closed. WBT-AM/FM, WLNK-FM & WFNZ-AM are now officially in the hands of David Field's company. Beasley spun the stations to Entercom as part of the $240 million merger with Greater Media that closed at the end of 2016. Michael Bergner of Bergner & Co. was the broker for the Entercom Charlotte deal.

(By Bob McCurdy) Does big reach or heavy frequency produce a better ROI? It’s a question that’s been asked for decades. The answer we've uncovered just might surprise you!

(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.