News

It started today at the new b98.7 in Tampa. The station will be playing all Christmas music from now through Christmas Day. Beasley launched the new B98.7 (Mainstream Adult Contemporary) on January 5.

Westwood One and Cumulus Media are the official national radio partners for “The 51st Annual CMA Awards” and will offer radio stations across the country five hours of programming and exclusive content celebrating country music’s best music and brightest stars.

The deal isn't even official yet between iHeartMedia and Entercom for WBZ-AM to change hands to iHeart and the staff at one of the nation's top all news outlets is wondering if they will be pink-slipped. The reason they are nervous...when the deal is complete, iHeart will not assume the SAG-AFTRA union contract put in place by Entercom.

It's time for Entercom CEO David Field and CFO Richard Schmaeling to sell the soon-to-be- larger Entercom to investors. And, they'll do it in a road show featuring this presentation. The 53 page document includes everything from details about the new Entercom to the Power of Radio. CBS and Entercom are expecting this deal to close next week.

The 29th Annual National Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held last week in Chicago. It was hosted by Dave Ramsey who told the crowd “We’re sitting in the midst of greatness tonight.” The inductees were Tom Barnard, Bobby Bones, Joe Field, Bill Handel, Sean Hannity, John Landecker, Robin Quivers, and Bob Sievers.

Gen Media Partners has hired Chuck Bortnick to the newly created position of Senior VP, Integrated Platforms. Bortnick will help GMP grow revenue across all of its platforms -- national, network, digital, and out-of-home. Most recently, Bortnick operated his own business intermediary/brokerage firm.

Hot AC WBQB (B101.5) broadcast the 4th Annual Careathon to benefit Children’s National Health System, October 26 and 27, live at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. During the 28-hour event, B101.5 listeners and sponsors pledged $131,543, exceeding last year’s $118.386.50 total.

It’s criminal that the richest country in history still has a severe hunger problem. But not everybody is taking it lying down. WhyHunger's Hungerthon tradition kicks off Thursday, after a record-breaking year raising $1.1 million to help end hunger in America. And radio is well represented.

Craig Carton has listed his New Jersey mansion for $2.4 million. Carton resigned from the highly rated Boomer & Carton show last month after the feds accused him of being part of a ponzi scheme to pay off millions in gambling debts.

(By Jeff McHugh) The FCC just eliminated the main studio rule. Look for more local studios to close and for more layoffs among local programming staff in the coming year. Change will also create opportunity for talented performers. Here are some ideas to consider...