News

Jerry Blavat, a well-known, fast-talking radio host in Philadelphia, died on Friday at the age of 82. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 28; singer Dionne Warwick will deliver the eulogy, his family told a local television station.

Urban One's hip hop station WFNZ (610 AM, 102.5 FM) and WOSF-HD2 (105.3 FM) will start airing The Amanda Seales Show on Monday. She will be joined by co-host Marc "DJ Nailz" Dixon of WXZX for the weekday show.

Cox Media Group has appointed Elroy Smith as director of urban content. Smith, named by Radio Ink as one of the top programmers in the country, will develop content, programming and brand strategies for R&B and urban stations in four markets.

Amazon's audio division Audible has signed an exclusive agreement with actor Brad Pitt's production company Plan B Entertainment. The first project between the two is A Summer Love Thing by Bradford Young, a love story that was described as "moody, lyrical and ethereal."

Video-centric social media app TikTok is quietly testing a new background audio feature that could be part of a broader move to woo podcast content creators to their platform, according to a report. The test comes after a survey found some consumers prefer to consume podcasts on video platforms.

Premiere Networks personality and Bobby Bones co-host Amy Brown is bringing her 4 Things with Amy Brown podcast to Nashville in late March. The program will come together at the Franklin Theater on Saturday, March 25; tickets go on sale later this month.

The National Association of Broadcasters hosted a virtual town hall Thursday to brief NAB members on the issues it will be fighting for as Congress begins its 118th session and the House of Representatives switches party control.

It is estimated that up to 50% of people who end up at a children's hospital did not expect it when waking up that day. Radio plays a significant role in supporting local member hospitals providing care for thousands of kids.  

The findings of a pair of studies released by Cumulus Media's Westwood One division claims sports fans who listen to play-by-play coverage on AM and FM radio are more engaged and more likely to make major purchases across several key sectors compared to casual fans who watch events on television.

iHeartMedia's iHeartPodcasts has released a new true crime show called Murder in Miami, produced by Lauren Bright Pacheco and Phil Stanford. The show explores the nefarious world of Lamar Chester, who died shortly after being connected to a drug-smuggling ring.