Westergren Steps Down As Pandora CEO
After much speculation that the Pandora founder and two-time CEO would step down, Tuesday was the day. As the Board begins its search for a new CEO, CFO Naveen Chopra will step in as interim CEO. Westergren is also out as a Pandora board member. President Mike Herring and CMO Nick Bartle are also gone.
Pandora Turns Off Australia And New Zealand
The changes keep coming from the pure-play streamer. On the same day Pandora made it official CEO and founder Tim Westergren was leaving, the company announced it was winding down operations in Australia and New Zealand. Pandora had been serving those two countries with its curated music service since December of 2012. Here's the official company statement...
Radio Gets $1 Out Of Every $14 In New York
According to BIA/Kelsey's updated 2017 U.S. Local Advertising Forecast, radio stations in New York will receive about $992.2 million of the $13.7 billion spent on local media. Direct mail will receive the most ($3.57 billion), digital came in second ($1.78 billion), followed by TV over-the-air ($1.73 billion), mobile ($1.54 billion), then radio ($992.2 million).
Do Advertisers Buy on Facts or Feelings?
From Borrell & Associates' most recent 12-week study of small businesses, this question: Do local businesses buy advertising on feelings or facts? This week's chart illustrates what 2,293 of them are doing. Using a sliding scale of "100% Gut" to "100% Data," Borrell asked the business owners to indicate how they decided to buy media.
Kay Olin is Radio Ink’s 2017 MIW Legend
Kay Olin's long and extremely successful radio career started by accident. She had just graduated from Agnes Scott College as a political science major and was working as a receptionist down the hall from RKO TV/Radio Reps in Atlanta. One day she asked what they did because they looked like they were having so much fun. The response was: “Do you want to work here?” She said yes and was hired.
A Gathering Of Radio All Stars
Radio was well represented Tuesday at the annual Gracie's Luncheon in New York City. At this all-star table were the NAB's John David, ABC Radio's Steve Jones, talk show host Joan Hamburg, Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti, CBS Radio's Chris Oliviero, the recently retired Harvey Nagler from CBS News Radio, Heather Cohen from the Weiss Agency, and Broadcast Attorney Frank Montero.
Beasley Boston Wins A Gracie
WMJX-FM in Boston won a Gracie Tuesday for MAGIC 106.7’s Exceptional Women radio show. Show host Sue Tabb (pictured right) and producer Kendra Petrone received the Gracie in the “Soft News Feature” in honor of their “Then You Stand” submission. Exceptional Women has now earned 25 Gracies, in addition to 20 local and national awards.
Making Mornings Sunni
The highly rated midday personality and host of WPGC95.5’s Sunni In The City is moving to mornings as part of the Joe Clair Morning Show. Sunni has been on-air for WPGC since January 2011. Prior to joining WPGC, she enjoyed success as a #1-rated air talent in Detroit as well as New York and Miami.
SCBA: Southern Cal Economy – And Traffic – Exploding
The Southern California Broadcasters Association has published its Quarterly Market Guidance Report for the third quarter of 2017. The organization says Southern California’s estimated gross domestic product will exceed $1.5 trillion in 2017, making it the 16th largest economy in the world with Los Angeles County alone ranking 21st with a gross domestic product of $644 billion.
Cromwell Promotes Nickerson
Tara Nickerson has been named GM for Cromwell's eight stations in Decatur, replacing Chris Bullock. Nickerson has been with Cromwell for 14 years as PD and Operations Manager. Cromwell President Bud Walters said, "We're thrilled that Tara can accept this position. There were 35 applicants. She's been interim manager since mid-may and doing a wonderful job."















