Headlines

iHeartMedia had one more surprise up its sleeve to complete its week at Cannes Lions: the broadcaster is deepening its relationship with one of Big Tech's biggest players, expanding its deal with Amazon Ads to position iHeart as a local reseller of audio and video inventory.

Hackers broke into Emergency Alert System equipment at radio stations in Texas and Virginia late last year, injecting fake alert tones and obscene language into live broadcasts. This week, the FCC made its response official, adopting mandated cybersecurity standards.

The Broadcasters Foundation of America launched its 2026 Summer Sessions in style on Thursday evening, drawing a full house of broadcast executives, talent, and emerging industry professionals to iHeartMedia New York City for the annual Giving Day Media Mixer.

(Erik Cudd) This week's iHeartMedia layoffs should not be treated as a "told you so" moment, a punchline, or another round of industry blood sport. People lost jobs. Families were affected. That should not be discussed lightly. But it should be discussed honestly. 

(Dave Ryan) I’ve seen it happen. A Program Director keeps you under their thumb, never supports the show, and only contacts you with bad news. Too many times, these people are jealous that you’re you and they have to be on corporate conference calls about budget cuts.

iHeartMedia's executive team was in the South of France this week for three days of sessions, summits, dinners, and parties at activations across the iHeartCafé, festival mainstage, and Hotel du Cap for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Beasley Media Group's 102.9 WGMK rallied listeners for the 20th Annual Veterans Radiothon, raising over $138,900 for the Veterans Multi-Service Center in Philadelphia, surpassing 2025's total by nearly $18,000. The event featured the return of MGK personality and Radio Hall of Fame inductee John DeBella.

Today is the Broadcasters Foundation of America's annual Giving Day. Your donations to the BFOA are turned into disaster relief and medical grants, and, as one of Radio Ink's inaugural Christian Champions would tell you, something more life-changing than either.

Beasley Media Group Chief Business Officer Kevin LeGrett doesn't think radio has a reach problem. He thinks it has a storytelling problem. In part two of his conversation with Radio Ink, LeGrett makes the case for a more confident industry and lays out what a real reset demands.

Four national radio industry advocates from three continents walked onto the Cannes Croisette this week with 17 years of data and a single argument: campaigns that include audio don't just perform better, they outperform on every metric that matters to a client.