News

In supplemental comments filed with the FCC, the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council says the Main Studio Rule is bad for minority broadcasters because it imposes a greater disadvantage on broadcasters who entered the industry later and were unable to assemble clusters of stations that each shared the same community license. Here's what MMTC Executive Director David Hong (pictured) told Radio Ink last night about why this rule needs to go.

Tuesday was “Tax Reform Day at the White House,” and the Trump Administration used Talk Radio to get its message out. Salem Radio Network's Mike Gallagher scored the first interview with the President (WATCH HERE). In addition to Salem Radio Network hosts Hugh Hewitt and Mike Gallagher, Chris Plante from Westwood One, Brian Kilmeade of FOX News Radio, David Webb of Sirius XM, Chris Stigall of WPHT/Philadelphia were also at The White House.

The new music competition series is called: THE FOUR: BATTLE FOR STARDOM. Fox Television will work with iHeart to support auditions and assist in the search for talent. As part of the grand prize, the winner will also be part of iHeartMedia’s On the Verge artist development program, which will support the winning talent with airplay across iHeartMedia radio stations.

As he signs a new two-year agreement with Reach Media, 2019 will be Tom Joyner's final year on the radio. From the press release: "Reach Media today announced a two-year agreement that extends the Tom Joyner Morning Show in radio syndication through December 31, 2019, as he culminates his trailblazing career."

iHeartMedia has announced the inaugural iHeartRadio ALTer EGO will be held at the Forum in L.A. January 19. The show will feature the biggest names in Alternative Rock including Mumford & Sons, Cage The Elephant, Beck, Spoon, WALK THE MOON, The National, and Dashboard Confessional, with more bands be announced soon.

The NAB Education Foundation announced Tuesday the 2018 class of the Broadcast Leadership Training program. The BLT is the foremost executive training program for the broadcast industry, for which participants are selected through a competitive application process.

So who are the new co-CEOs now running the company ranked third in terms of number of stations owned behind Cumulus and iHeartmedia? Bill Wilson joined Townsquare in September 2010 and most recently served as EVP and Chief Content & Digital Officer of the company. Prasad co-founded Townsquare in 2010 and most recently served as EVP for Live Events.

As Radio Ink reported last week, Steve DiNardo was let go from his post as Market Manager for Entercom San Francisco. He had been with Entercom since 2012 and held the position of Market Manager in San Francisco since 2014. Entercom confirmed on Monday that former CMG Orlando Market Manager Susan Larkin is now running the San Francisco cluster.

His new title will be VP, Ad Sales. Fitzgerald has spent his entire 21-year career with the Walt Disney Company. He will oversee all aspects of ESPN Radio national network ad sales, including talk programming, event play-by-play, and Audio on Demand, which includes podcasts. 

According to Zenith Media's 2017 Advertising Forecast, smartphones and tablets, are now the primary way users access the Internet. Mobile will account for 73% of time spent using the internet in 2018, up from 65% in 2016. By 2019, Zenith predicts that number to grow to 76%. And, in 2017, 53% of all internet ad spend is taking place on mobile devices with that number expected to grow to 62% by 2019.