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(by Bob McCurdy) In the past I've written about dealing with many of the largest and most sophisticated marketers and agencies in the country, but over the past several years I've re-discovered that dealing with the local business owner is equally rewarding and in some ways, even more challenging. Here's why...

Two local guys in Columbia, SC, both with more than 20 years of radio industry experience, have partnered to purchase country radio station WWNQ 94.3 The Dude. Kirk Litton and Keith Stover of Midlands Media Group and have purchased WWNQ. The format will remain Country.

This is a follow-up to a story we reported on Friday. John Mason and Angie Starr, hosts at Radio One's 105.9 in Detroit, were ordered to jail last week for not paying back over $4,000 they borrowed for a 2008 party they threw on New Year's Eve. Mason told WDIV-TV they avoided jail time by paying the money back last week. He said both he and Starr had been making payments through wage garnishment.

Undeniable with Joe Buck is back for a second season beginning August 11. The show features Buck in a series of one-hour interviews with sports stars. The series is produced for radio by AT&T/DIRECTV and Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Television.

In Q2 Cumulus owned radio stations actually saw a slight increase in revenue, up $466,000 or 0.2%, with revenue of $210 Million. Westwood One had a horrible quarter, down over $12 million, or 13.8%, compared to the same quarter in 2015.

CEO Mary Berner says it is and its moving in a positive direction. Berner said 94% of Cumulus employees now believe the company is changing for the better, 92% are proud to work at Cumulus and 86% are excited about the future.

Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins reported that it's been a choppy revenue year for radio. "We started off slow, things improved, then we hit a rough patch and there's been very little political so far." Radio One is $3.5 million ahead of last year so far and Liggins remains bullish about the radio business overall.

Net revenue increased $2.8 million (2.1%) to $137.2 million, up from $134.3 million in Q2 2015. Those numbers exclude Townsquare's live entertainment company NAME, which was purchased in September 2015 and the divestiture of 43 towers. CEO Steven Price said the weakness on the radio side was national business which is "out of our control."

Revenue increased less than 1% to $28.6 million for Saga's radio division in Q2. CEO Ed Christian said he feels like things are stuck in third gear. "It's not the driver. We just seem to have trouble getting into fourth gear. There are some wicked winds pushing against the radio industry and the economy. We're all having trouble inching forward."

This news has been circulating for weeks and on Thursday The Department of Justice made it official. DOJ has decided no modifications should be made to the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees. Here's what you need to know...