News

After tapering off for a few months SMI is reporting that July was vibrant again for digital advertising. And the firm is also reporting a huge jump in ad revenue for radio in July, mostly thanks to the automotive category.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide is reporting that ESPN Radio host Ryen Russillo was found naked in a stranger’s condo early Wednesday. The owner of the condo first thought it was a family member only to discover it was apparently Russillo lying in a bed with his pants around his ankles.

The Radio Show kicks off Tuesday, September 5 in Austin, and if you're attending, you'll notice in-vehicle demonstrations in the Radio Show Marketplace. A 2017 Ford Fusion will be on display demonstrating the top three solutions for linking a driver’s smartphone to the dash.

An entire track, specifically created for radio, will take place today thanks to the folks at Jacobs Media. Five sessions, panels, and keynotes will be part of day two in Anaheim, from 9am to 3pm.

Podcast technology company ART19 has closed a $7.5 million Series A round led by Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments and DCM Ventures. ART19 provides podcast hosting, distribution, and ad serving technology. The company says its client list includes Midroll Media and iHeartMedia.

According to News4 We Act Radio, a community station based in Southeast D.C., is off the air after being vandalized and burglarized. A GoFundMe page set up to raise money to get the station back on the air says: "Thousands of dollars’ worth of valuable equipment, including a live streaming laptop, were stolen. The robber also severely damaged the property, including smashing the radio studio window and taking the back door off its hinges."

Cumulus has appointed Jesse Kage APD and afternoon driver for Rocker WNNX-FM/Rock 100.5. Kage, the longtime PM Drive host for WXTB-FM/98Rock in Tampa, was most recently PM Drive host at WBRN-FM, also in Tampa. Kage will debut on Rock 100.5 on Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

Beasley Media Group's BEN FM in Philadelphia has figured out a way to have Amazon's Alexa take over the station this Friday from 2pm to 6pm. It's all part of the launch of the BEN FM skill on the Amazon Echo. During that shift the station will also be giving away Amazon Echo Dots.

The hey, girl. podcast was created by author Alex Elle. During each weekly 30-minute episode, Elle sits down with women who inspire her, from friends to family members and anyone else who fascinates her. They share their journeys of struggle and self-discovery. Entering its second successful season, hey, girl. has racked up 180,000 downloads so far.

KDEC Station Manager and Morning Show Host Jeni Grouws (left of Erica Farber) has been awarded the 2017 MIW Rising Star. Back in 2016, the Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group announced an alliance with Marketron to establish the “MIW Rising Star Award. KDEC is owned by Decorah Broadcasting in Decorah, IA.