News

The ongoing debate about the way advertising agencies treat radio, and vice versa, started by Roberty Christy and expanded upon by Brian Winnekins, caught the attention of our good friends at the Radio Advertising Bureau. We spent some time on Tuesday discussing the issue with RAB CEO Erica Farber.

Total local ad spend in Los Angeles will come in at approximately $9.1 billion this year, according to BIA. That's half of all the advertising money spent in the entire state, according to BIA's California market intelligence report. A total of $18.8 billion will be spent in California’s 12 media markets with radio bringing in $1.66 billion.

San Antonio’s KXTN 107.5 -- “Tejano & Proud” -- celebrates 30 years of serving its listeners and community on June 15 and 16 with a free, family-friendly festival. It will include tributes to three of the genre’s biggest stars as well as a concert with top performers.

The Johnjay and Rich #LoveUp Foundation and the Arizona Department of Child Safety surprised a group of graduating eighth-grade foster kids with new Chromebook laptop computers through a new pilot program that aims to put technology in the hands of kids in Arizona’s foster care system.

In Pensacola, FL, Greg Tillotson is the new Operations Manager for Cumulus stations WMEZ-FM, WJTQ-FM, WCOA-AM, WXBM-FM, and WRRX-FM. Tillotson will also serve as PD for WMEZ-FM, WJTQ-FM, and WCOA-AM.

Back in December of 2017 we interviewed veteran Cox Media Group news reporter Jamie Dupree who lost his voice and had no idea why. Dupree has been covering politics for over 30 years. While on vacation with his family in 2016 he got sick and eventually lost his voice. Thanks to new technology Dupree will be back on the air next week.

Steve Bearance is Alpha's new Louisville Market Manager where he'll be in charge of the company's five stations in that city. Bearance joins Alpha from Cumulus in Buffalo, where he also held the position of Market Manager. D.O.S. Dale Schaefer was acting Market Manager before Bearance came aboard.

There’s a new morning show on 98.7 AMP Radio (WDZH-FM/Detroit) to be hosted by Chris Cruise and Julia Lepidi. The Morning Show with Cruise and Julia will air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. ET., beginning Monday, June 18. They are replacing Rat and Puff.

Karen Altieri has been named the new Director of Development at 88.7 WMVY-FM/Martha’s Vineyard, MA. The listener- and local business-supported station also serves much of Cape Cod, MA, and Newport, RI.

Comedian Jeff Dye has a new podcast called Jeff Dye’s Friendship Podcast. Celebrities, athletes, even Uber drivers — Dye wants audiences get to know his whole friendship family in these comedic podcasts on reVolver Podcasts.