Ace & TJ Launch The Radio Button Network
Are you a talent looking to secure your future in the audio business? Syndicated hosts Ace & TJ want to help you achieve your goals. They've launched a new platform called "The Radio Button Network." It's a new digital service run by talent, for talent, focusing on "the other 20 hours" you may not be on the air.
More Data For Your Sales Arsenal
As we get closer to the general election, Westwood One has released a deck of slides to help radio sellers push the power of radio. The data shows how radio can target specific voters political campaigns may want to reach. Included in the report is what Westwood calls the "political radio format planner” -- a guide for media planners and buyers to reach voters based on format. The Westwood One Insights team says the data can help both national and local political advertisers.
We Need To Fix Our Spots Problem
Ben Downs is responsible for 10 stations in Texas for Bryan Broadcasting, where he's been for 26 years as Vice President and General Manager. When we asked Downs, as part of our Independent Warrior Special Report, what he'd like to see radio doing better, he said radio has three problems that would improve how the world sees the industry. He details them all here but says none of them are easy to fix.
Moody’s Upgrades Entercom
It's been five years since Moody's last changed its rating on Entercom. The investors service has upgraded its rating on the company. Moody's said the upgrades "reflect Entercom's good, free cash-flow generation, allowing for further improvement in credit metrics and improved leverage since Moody's last rating action at the end of 2011." Moody's says Entercom's outlook is stable and expects the company to generate organic revenue growth in FY2016.
Man Spends Hours on KTLA Radio Tower
The L.A. Times has the details about 55-year old man who caused a stretch of Sunset Boulevard to close because he climbed the iconic 160-foot KTLA radio tower late Wednesday. He was eventually coaxed down after being promised a hug from a member of his church. Police took the man into custody for a mental evaluation. Picture courtesy L.A. Times
iHeart Louisville Rocker Moving To HD
Louisville Active Rocker "The Fox WTFX-FM" moves over to 95.7 WQMF HD 2. All the air-staff at WTFX will remain with the station. The Fox launched on 100.5 in 1991. It moved to moved to 93.1 in 2005. See the next story for the new format.
And The Reason The Rocker Gets Moved To HD…
Because iHeart launched"93.1 The Beat - The Ville’s Hip Hop and R&B" in Louisville to compete with Alpha's WGZB-FM (B96.5) which has been in the market for over 20 years. Alpha carries The Rickey Smiley Morning Show while iHeart plans to launch The Beat with 10,000 songs in a row, with mornings anchored by Premiere's The Breakfast Club, featuring DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne Tha God. That show will launch June 13.
Forever Closes Sale of Two Towers
Broker Michael Bergner tells Radio Ink the company led by Kirby Confer and Donald Alt completed the sale of two towers, one in Murray, Kentucky, and one in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Vertical Bridge Holdings, for somewhere between $1 million and $2 million.
Someone Needs To Step Up And Speak For Radio
That's the advice from Community Broadcasters founder and operating partner Bruce Mittman as we continue our series focused on independent operators. Mittman runs the 10-year-old company with former Pilot Communications executive Jim Leven. Community Broadcasters now owns 44 signals, in Watertown, NY, Ogdensburg, NY, Elmira-Corning, NY, and Olean, NY. They're also in Florence, Sumter, and Orangeburg, South Carolina. Like our other independent operators, we asked Mittman what he believes the radio industry must improve upon in the coming months and years.
Townsquare Q1 Revenue Jumps 6.7%
The company reported performance was solid across all divisions. CEO Steven Price said, "We grew pro forma net revenue 6.7% and saw particular strength in many of our local markets." Local advertising net revenue increased 4.4%, political revenue was $1.4 million in the quarter, and other media and entertainment net revenue increased $3.4 million, or 45.3%, to $11.0 million. Townsquare's other revenue is generated from digital, community fun runs, craft beer events, and community expos. The company's live event business decreased 2.2% due to the timing of specific events.
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