News

One of the highlights of each Forecast conference is Deborah Parenti’s opening remarks, which set the tone for the day (and by extension, the year). This year’s were particularly powerful, and deserve a wider audience. We asked her to share them again here.

Audacy stations have demonstrated their respective support of community organizations through fundraising drives and radiothons. The efforts seen in December raised funds and collected toys, bicycles, and supplies benefiting children, families, and animals through local and national non-profit partners.

It has served the African American community in Wisconsin's largest market since 1967. Pending FCC approval, it will become the latest property in the Civic Media stable — along with a 61-year-old newspaper serving the Black community of Milwaukee.

(By Buzz Knight) I’ve observed something in the podcast sector that is also critical for traditional radio. It seems that every time you pick up a batch of followers, and a few drop off. For the next two columns, I want to focus on growth versus retention strategies.

The nation's No. 1 of broadcast radio stations by AM and FM count has promoted from within to fill two Division President of Community Markets slots at the company. At the same time, iHeartMedia is promoting its President of the Portland, Ore., market, to Region President of the Pacific Northwest Area.

The push is on to get pending legislation on the floor of the full House of Representatives for key bills that involve radio — including the "American Music Fairness Act." Such efforts could be DOA before 2026 arrives, as a bipartisan majority of the lower body of Congress has signed on to the Local Radio Freedom Act.

Debuting December 29, the new programming lineup features a mix of established voices and rising stars. Importantly, "The Jim Rome Show" will remain in its Noon-3pm PT time slot, remaining a signature offering across the day for affiliate stations.

He was a cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live some 45 years ago and reinvented himself later in his career as a conservative talk host. Today, he hosts the wake-up slot for a Salem Media spoken word AM serving the New York Tri-State Area. He'll be sticking in that time period for three more years.

Between October 13 and November 9, WBBM Newsradio engaged in a "Made In Chicago" small business challenge. A small coffee roaster with a pop-up shop at a Lincoln Park indoor pickleball court took the grand prize, which includes a February ad campaign.

On October 17, Beasley Media Group promoted its Vice President of Financial Reporting, Shaun Greening, to Chief Accounting Officer. Now, Beasley is giving the VP/Treasury of Corporate Controller position to an individual who currently oversees the company's treasury operations, AR and AP and traffic.