News

(By Buzz Knight) Chances are, you've heard about The Council for Research Excellence(CRE). However, after just returning from a quarterly members meeting, I am convinced it is important to highlight the mission and purpose of this great organization. Following, are a few facts radio industry professionals should know about the CRE.

Phoenix Alternative Music station ALT AZ 93-3 has announced that midday personality MO! is the new morning show host, 5:30-10 a.m., beginning Monday, April 3. The Mesa, Arizona, started in radio as an intern in 2011 before moving to ALT AZ’s sister station 98KUPD in 2013.

Country Rebel is reporting some very sad news for the radio world. After a courageous seven-month battle with cancer, Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee Linda Lee has died just days before receiving her first Academy of Country Music award. Lee had planned to travel to Las Vegas to accept the award for Major Market Personality.

Philanthropist and owner of Pennsylvania's WBEB-FM/101.1 More FM, Jerry Lee, is to receive the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Gold Medal Award. It’s the Association’s highest award and it will be presented to Lee on May 7.

iHeartMedia Nashville debuted ALT 97.5, “Nashville’s Alternative station,” at noon on Friday, March 31. Artists listeners will hear include Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Cage The Elephant, and U2.

It’s a piece of proposed legislation that all of radio is keeping an eye on. And now three more members of the House have joined as cosponsors. Adding their support for the Local Radio Freedom Act in the House are Reps. Ted Budd (NC-13), Liz Cheney (WY-AL), and Austin Scott (GA-8). The Act now has 168 cosponsors in the House and 21 in the Senate.

The morning personalities for Lonestar 92.5, Dallas/Fort Worth’s Classic Rock station, have shown their compassion for a Cowboy in need – even if only with their tongues in their cheeks. The guys have offered Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo a job with their show, seeing as how his current position under Jerry Jones is more than a little shaky.

According to Interpublic Group's Magna, while advertising growth around the globe is expected to grow at a pace just under 4% to $511 Billion, digital will continue to boom, as advertisers move money from other budgets, online. Digital is expected to grow double-digits and become the top advertising category this year, passing Television.

This goes back to our March 27 story (Reporter Gets Fired After Lawmaker Complains). 32 year old Jacqui Helbert says she was fired from her job as a reporter at WUTC after a lawmaker complained she did not properly idenitify herself as a reporter. Now she's fighting back.

Two items that will be favorable to non-commercial radio stations will come up at the FCC's next Commission meeting on April 20 and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has written about them in his latest blog. Here are the specifics...