Headlines

Every election seems to set a new record for political ad spending and radio managers across the country hope 2020 will be no different. Don't forget there are rules you need to follow when it comes to dealing with candidates. The good news for you is that Broadcast Attorney David Oxenford has updated his Political Broadcasting Guide. His latest blog has all the details.

From Cannes, France, iHeartMedia and WPP announced the launch of Project Listen. The two companies are hoping this new project will help brands better engage with consumers across all audio platforms: broadcast radio, digital streaming, podcasts, smart speakers, and live events.

“Jammin’ 105.7” KOAS-FM in Las Vegas launched Monday with “Smile” by Li’l Duval & Snoop Dogg. The previous format was Rhythmic AC. The station will also air The Steve Harvey Morning Show.

Trent Ferguson is living a dream. Ever since he started listening to satellite radio when he was very young he has wanted to be on the air. Now 20, Ferguson is the new morning sports anchor and high school football color commentator for WNZF-FM, 94.9 in Flagler County Florida. Ferguson prides himself on calling it like he sees it, even though he has been blind since birth.

(By Bob McCurdy) The following continues the education theme of the past several weeks. These snippets have been culled from various sources. All can help build on a “Why radio” story and are worth knowing and sharing with clients.

(By Randy Lane) When many of us started in radio, dead air was a cardinal sin. I still have the dreaded dream of being on air, the music runs out, I can’t speak, I can’t find a song or commercial, and I can’t find anything to fill the dead air. As it turns out, dead air is actually good!

Former CBS Radio Executive Dan Mason is eager for the new football season to start. The newly named Chairman of Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) is looking forward to an August launch of a radio network featuring all the talent, numbers, and analytics that VSiN is known for on other platforms.

Barrett Sports Media has chosen New York City as the location of its 2020 BSM Summit. The two-day affair focuses on various aspects of the sports media business.

Employees at KCRW in Santa Monica voted to recognize SAG-AFTRA as their labor union. The online vote was conducted according to an election agreement reached between SAG-AFTRA and KCRW.

(By Ronald Robinson) All the canaries, once ensconced in radio’s coal mines, are gone. Talent was inserted instead. Even before the Great Deregulation Apocalypse of the mid-‘90s, radio’s ownership and leadership had stopped paying any attention to the canaries that were passing out.