News

The Justice Department has given John Malone's Liberty Media the OK to increase its stake in iHeartMedia to 50%. Liberty now has a 5% stake in iHeart. Liberty already controls SiriusXM and Pandora and appears to be interested in owning a massive chunk of the audio space.

When Larry Michael quit his radio play-by-play job of 16 years with the NFL's Washington Redskins this week, he said he was "retiring from his position." Turns out there could be a lot more to the story.

After more than four years, Ed Cohen has left his position as VP for Ratings and Research at Cumulus. Cohen has also held VP positions at Arbitron and Nielsen and was also VP for Research at Clear Channel. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] 

50 State Associations have sent a letter to House and Senate leaders to let them know broadcasters have continued to inform the public and about the pandemic while their revenue dwindles. They want lawmakers to make sure broadcasters get PPP relief and they want the feds to buy advertising. Read the letter HERE.

On July 1, NAB Leadership Foundation President Michelle Duke was appointed to the newly created role of chief diversity officer for NAB. Michelle outlines her new position, discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in broadcasting and details NAB's upcoming diversity initiative. LISTEN

Apple jumps into the daily news business with a short-form news podast hosted by Apple News editors Shumita Basu and Duarte Geraldino. New episodes, which will be seven to eight minutes long, will be released Monday through Friday.

Detroit's 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM) is adding Rico Beard to its line-up. Beard, with years of experience covering Detroit sports, will team up with afternoon drive host Mike Valenti.

Interactive streaming service Twitch and Entercom's Radio.com will be hooking up users with live video simulcasts of sports talk programs. Initially, live video streaming of Radio.com sports stations from six markets will be accessible to Twitch users via individually tailored, branded station channels.

SiriusXM and BMW have announced that SiriusXM with 360L will be available to BMW customers for the first time in most of the 2021 BMW model year. The first models equipped with the platform are expected to be available later this summer.

Amy McGovern, most recently midday host of KOOL 105 (WKOL-FM) died in a motorcycle crash Wednesday evening. The Franklin County Vermont Sheriff's Department is continuing the investigation.