News

If you think Borrell's prediction of 37% growth in digital ad spend in 2016 is crazy, consider this: In 2015, local digital ad spend grew by 35% and Borrell is making that bold prediction for 2016 based on a survey that showed nearly 60% of SMBs plan to increase digital advertising. Borrell projects that in 2016 local businesses will spend nearly $66 Billion on some form of digital advertising.

And this revenue will come from Run of Site Display, Targeted Display, Email, Paid Search and Online Audio according to Borrell. New York City will scoop up $3.5 Billion of the $65 Billion Borrell projects will come from 53 markets the company surveyed in its latest report.

STRATA announced Thursday that all of iHeartMedia's digital audio inventory is now available to ad buyers through STRATA's systems. It now gives over 1,000 advertising agencies the ability to access iHeartMedia's digital inventory using STRATA's media buying system. Ad buyers and agencies can now view iHeartMedia's digital audio inventory in STRATA's systems, including data on local markets, audience, and ratings.

Christopher “Matthews” Wagnon will take up the co-host position of the New KMLE @ 107.9 morning show, effective immediately. He joins Nina D. who has been with the morning show since November 2012.

Cox Media Group has named Jodi Rainey its new Director of National Sales for its Radio Division. Rainey will now oversee sales strategies for all 60 CMG stations. She'll retain her position as Regional National Sales Manager for Jacksonville and Tampa. Rainey’s career with CMG includes GSM at Tampa’s WSUN/97X and AE in both Tampa and Atlanta. She's been on Radio Ink's MIW list and was a Radio Ink Radio Wayne finalist in 2014 and 2015.

The company recently promoted both Tami Honesty (Dallas) and Marsha Landess (Richmond) to Station Managers of their markets. On Thursday, both were promoted again, now to VP/GM with full operating accountability for their markets.

Jay takes over programming duties of the country outlet as of Monday. He replaces Ed Hill who exited in April of 2015 and Carey Curelop. Curelop remains on as Vice President/Programming of CBS Seattle and Program Director of 102.5 KZOK-FM, 96.5 JACK-FM and 1090 KFNQ-AM.

In this newly created position, Jorge “Pepo” Ferradas will be responsible for the development of an integrated music strategy for all music-focused efforts across the company, including UCI’s music tentpole events and working with the company’s radio programming team.

Radio's lobbying arm has found a way to get the FM Chip in front of the FCC Commissioners once again. This time it's in a joint-filing with NPR. The FCC is seeking input on how to improve the Wireless Emergency Alert service, which notifies Americans, via text message, during times of emergency. The NAB says many times the alert tells residents to get in their car and turn on their radios for more information. The two organizations argue that one way to improve upon emergency notification is to have all FM Chips in cell phones activated.

Granary Way Media has announced that its casino and poker industry talk radio show House of Cards® and its gaming news flash the House of Cards® Gaming Report will now be syndicated on over 100 broadcast radio stations.