News

Rob Sanchez is iHeartMedia Boston's new Vice President of News, Talk and Sports programming. The iHeart Boston cluster has six stations and Sanchez will be responsible for programming on WBZ NewsRadio 1030, The Newswatch Never Stops, WRKO-AM 680, The Voice of Boston, and Talk 1200, Boston’s Conservative Talk.

Janda Lane has joined Chicago’s WDRV-FM “The Drive.” Roberts will contribute content and information to the station’s afternoon show, hosted by Steve Seaver. She will also provide multifaceted assistance to The Drive’s programming department.

On Wednesday, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology passed the PIRATE Act. The "Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act’’ calls for an increased penalty of up to $2,000,000 for anyone convicted of operating a pirate station. The bill moves to the full House Energy and Commerce Committee for a vote.

Josh Roberts has been named Operations Manager for Neuhoff Media Springfield, which includes stations WCVS-FM, WXAJ-FM, WFMB-AM, and WFMB-FM. Roberts joins Neuhoff from Great Plains Media in Bloomington, Il.

In this latest Hispanic Radio Podcast hosted by RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson, veteran national sales pro Jose Villafañe — recently appointed Head of Sales and an Advisory Board member for MLC Media — discuss the top things a radio station should consider when evaluating syndicated programming for a key daypart. 

Smadex is a mobile programmatic technology company. Smadex will become part of Entravision’s Headway business unit which is a data-driven media buying company for marketers. Headway helps brands optimize and target ad campaigns. Financial details were not disclosed. 

The longest-running federal IT program in the industry, Ask the CIO, now has an expanded Web presence at AskTheCIO.com. The site features audio of the program, as well as an expanded look at federal IT and CIO news, podcasts, and a new feature – “Ask the CIO Insider."

Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is "getting bigger" at PodcastOne, where he currently hosts The BIG Podcast with Shaq.

Buffalo’s WBEN-AM has a special anniversary to celebrate: longtime talk-show host Sandy Beach and his 50-year radio career. To do so, WBEN and Sandy will welcome special guests and members of the local media in studio during his show on June 15.

For the past seven years, iHeart has partnered with Macy's to host the Macy’s iHeartRadio Rising Star music competition, which introduces fans to up-and-coming artists. For the first time, voice voting will be available to vote for the top five finalists.