News

Oklahoma multi-media company Griffin Communications has hired Randy Smith as its Director of Radio Sales. Most immediately, Smith previously served as Director of Sales - Radio for Cox Media Group.

Gambling info outfit Vegas Stats & Information Network has named media industry maven Dan Mason as the company’s Chairman in what could comfortably be called a sure thing.

ASCAP announced on Wednesday that revenue for 2018 topped $1.2 billion, an increase of 7% over 2017. Over $1 billion of that was paid out in royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers. Distributions increased by $102 million, up 10% year-over-year.

Trish Johnson has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Senior VP of Finance at the National Association of Broadcasters.

He’s made his name in radio and now he has an additional gig. The Hollywood Reporter announced this week it will premiere a new video conversation series, Emerging Hollywood, and The Breakfast Club co-host will be hosting.

The NAB is now accepting nominations for the 2019 NAB Marconi Radio Awards until May 31. Finalists will be announced in July. 

On September 26, the winners will be announced during the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show at the Radio Show in Dallas.

CBS News Radio and CBS Audio will launch Security Matters with Paul Viollis, a new daily series of feature segments and a podcast covering safety and security issues facing Americans. The feature launches Monday on the CBS News Radio Network.

The Country Radio Broadcasters has opened ticket sales for the 2019 Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards ceremony, to be held Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University.

Headliner creates social media video for audio creators and has entered into a partnership with Entercom. “Video has become a medium that all audio producers need to take advantage of to drive discovery and engagement,” said Corey Podolsky, Vice President of Business Development at Entercom.

(By Gary Berkowitz) There are a few areas to carefully look at as we enter this new territory. If listeners don't know you're there and if they don't know who to ask for, smart speakers will be just one more technology that radio will compete with versus be a part of.