News

iHeartMedia has announced special guest appearances from Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, Martha Stewart, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, Paris Hilton, Shonda Rhimes, Will Ferrell and Wilmer Valderrama during the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. The event is virtual due to COVID.

The deal for Chicago Public Media to purchase the Chicago Sun-Times has officially closed. The new organization becomes one of the largest non-profit news organizations in the country, with pledges of $61 million from nearly a dozen philanthropies and donors.

The Independent Broadcasters Association has opened sign-up registration for its fourth bi-annual IBA National Cash Contest. Deadline to register is February 14th. The full contest details will be released on February 15. 

Galaxy Media and Twitch are teaming up with Syracuse University to give students a hands-on sports programming experience. The Newhouse Sports Media Center has created “Newhouse at Night,” a daily sports radio broadcast hosted by students.

SiriusXM’s SXM has introduced a new product called AudioID powered by AdsWizz, a listener identity solution that will allow marketers to target listeners across multiple SiriusXM platforms; satellite radio, streaming music, and podcasts.

The House Judiciary Committee has set a hearing for tomorrow on the American Music Fairness Act. Former Congressman Joe Crowley, musicFirst Chairman, will host a virtual press briefing today to discuss a national survey he claims shows growing public support for the legislation.

Veteran radio broadcasters Jim Harrington and Bill Knight have partnered to launch a new podcast called It’s Another Day. The podcast, which runs about 30 minutes, releases Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Jim and Bill discuss the news of the day.

Adriana Rizzo has been named Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing for Audacy. Her most recent job was with Discovery+ where she took the company into the streaming realm, and she also launched a couple of ESPN streaming products.

Colby Tyner is the new Senior Vice President Programming for Radio One and Reach Media. Tyner moves up from VP Programming Radio One. He has been part of the company for 20 years.

WRVQ-FM in Richmond has put Binky Lee into the 3PM - 7PM weekday slot. The program will also air on Audacy sister station WNVZ-FM in Norfolk. Lee joins Audacy from iHeart in Grand Forks, ND, where she hosted afternoons on KKXL.