News

AirKast announced Thursday night that it has developed and will be providing free Alexa skills for all its customers -- including over 800 North American radio stations, syndicated radio hosts and podcasters.

Caren Berry is the Market President for Townsquare in SE Minnesota. How she got into radio is quite unique. She was working as a marketing director for a local newspaper in Salinas, CA. and had an appointment with the station owner Don McCoy of Magic Broadcasting. She was pitching the market's top-rated station a paid promotional idea. McCoy told her he was not going to buy her promotion, but said it was the most creative idea he had ever seen.

It's quite surprising more markets are not copying what radio is doing in Chicago. If this kind of approach to promote the power of radio, and drive results for advertisers, is succeeding in the 3rd-largest market in America, you would think the same approach would work in many other markets.

The mystery about Hall of Fame host Kathy Hart was in the news again Thursday. Hart is co-host of the Eric & Kathy morning show on Hubbard's WTMX in Chicago and she's been off the air since April. Hart's contract is up in December and she's been negotiating with the station to bring the matter to some sort of conclusion.

On Thursday The board of directors of the New York State Broadcasters Association announced that iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman has been named its “Broadcaster of the Year.” NYSBA President David Donavan said, “Bob Pittman is a true industry leader and perhaps the most creative, visionary and dynamic executive in broadcasting. His views not only shape the radio industry, but the future of all media in this country.” Pittman has been named Radio Ink's Most Powerful Person in Radio for 7 consecutive years.

That's the total so far according to Entercom Market Manager Phil Zachary. The 16th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon to strike out cancer is a joint effort between Entercom's WEEI and local TV station NESN and includes the local WEEI on-air talent and appearances from local politicians and sports stars from all the major Boston sports teams.

Cumulus has hired Chris Clare to program WNNF/NASH-FM 94.1 in Cincinnati. He's leaving 99.9 The Wolf/WTHT-FM in Portland, ME, where he was PD. It's Clare's second stop in Cincinnati, having previously been on-air at Star 96.5/WFTK-FM. He’s also programmed and worked at stations in Indianapolis, Denver, New Orleans and Pensacola.

WNBM-FM was honored by the Bronx Borough President’s Office with a proclamation recognizing the station’s commitment to community service. The station worked with the Office of Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr. to present a free event for the community, “New York Salutes America”, back in June. 50,000 people attended.

PodcastOne has promoted Jim Ballas to VP of Technology and Operations. In Ballas’ expanded role, he will oversee network digital initiatives and sales operations, including the website, app, ad insertion, virtual reality and reporting metrics. He'll report to CEO, Jim Berk.

Keith Hotchkiss has been named Region President for North Ohio. iHeartMedia North Ohio includes 30 stations in Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Lima, Ashland, Mansfield, Marion and Defiance. Hotchkiss joins the region from iHeartMedia’s Virginia-Carolina Region, where he most recently served as Regional Senior VP of Sales. Hotchkiss replaces Gary Mincer.