News

The podcast is called Endless Thread, and will be hosted by Ben Brock Johnson. Johnson and producer Amory Sivertson will guide listeners through the best stories from “the front page of the Internet” and bring them to life in audio form. Each episode will have a thematic approach.

It was perfect timing. On Monday, Entercom CEO David Field launched a pro-radio marketing campaign in several publications read by big advertisers, hoping to start the conversation that leads to more money flowing to radio. Today, BIA Kelsey released its local advertising projections for 2018 and, despite a whopping 5.2% increase in local advertising spend, from $140.9 billion in 2017 to $151.2 billion in 2018, they are predicting a decline for radio.

(By Wayne Ens) I was impressed on three fronts as I read the Radio Ink story about David Field “putting his money where his mouth is.” First, while other broadcasters are looking at ways to cut their way to success, Mr. Field has faith in radio, and is investing in its success not just to benefit his company, but all of radio. Secondly, he believes in advertising.

Perhaps that will change once radio is fully integrated into Home Speakers such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. For now, Nielsen says more than two-thirds of AM/FM listening is done away from the home, when consumers are in their cars or shopping.

Russia’s lower house of parliament has banned Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The Russian government declared the organizations “foreign agents.” It's retaliation for what the U.S. did to the English-language Russian network RT.

Cape Cod Broadcasting Media, which owns and operates WQRC, 99.9 The Q, WOCN, Ocean 104.7, WKPE, Cape Country 104, WFCC, Cape Classical 107.5, and CapeCod.com, won awards for Spot News Coverage, Individual Commercial Production, and Local Program or Special Event from the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association.

Washington, DC, News/Talk station 105.9FM and AM630 WMAL raised the cash bonanza for Fisher House Foundation. WMAL’s two-day live broadcast on Friday and Saturday, December 1-2, was anchored by station personalities Chris Plante, Larry O’Connor, Mary Walter, and Vince Coglianese.

The Beasley Tampa FM’s Freak Show Personality and Program Director will host the station’s 6th Annual Toy Drive Tower event to benefit the Children’s Home Network in Tampa. Beginning Friday, December 8, at 5 p.m. through Saturday, December 16, at 5 p.m., Davis will perch atop the Toy Drive Tower, an outdoor constructed platform 30 feet in the air.

The Charlotte New Country station will host the second annual St. Jude Radiothon on December 7 and 8, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, to help raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The radiothon will be held at iHeartMedia Charlotte, 801 Wood Ridge Center Drive Charlotte, NC.

Envision and The Jim Brickman Show present the special A Joyful Christmas. Available now via download to radio, the free 24-hours of holiday content features celebrity interviews, the hottest gifts for this holiday season, and easy ways to enjoy family time together.