News

Texarkana’s Classic Hits GM Terry Thomas sure did get a lot of national media coverage Wednesday, when he announced his station would no longer be playing Madonna after comments she made during a women's march. He said it was a matter of patriotism, not politics. He was hoping to get other stations to follow. So we contacted a few executives and programmers to get their opinion.

iHeartMedia and podcast technology company ART19 today announced a new partnership to bring ART19 podcasts to iHeartRadio and to provide podcast publishers with new insights – including data around how many listeners heard a specific advertisement and when they heard it. ART19 provides tools for hosting, distribution, and monetization of podcasts.

On the heels of the NAB's announcement that it had secured 115 signatures for its Local Radio Freedom Act, musicFIRST Coalition Executive Director Chris Israel is mocking the organization. Israel said, "Big Radio is rolling out the exact same non-binding resolution, defending the same government subsidy they have been protecting for decades."

NextRadio's TagStation is launching a new campaign measurement tool called The Dial Report. According to the team at NextRadio, this report will provide analytics and insights about radio ROI, by measuring campaign results and listener behavior for advertisers regarding their radio campaign using the NextRadio app.

WGN Radio has launched its new traffic app, Traffix Chicago, which calculates the three quickest routes for any destination. Users get real-time data and tips coupled with audio traffic reports pertaining to the roads within a given journey.

Much like we've seen from iHeartRadio hoping to get buy-in from all their bondholders, Cumulus continues to extend the early tender date for its exchange offer for its 7.75% senior notes, due in 2019, to February 13 from January 23.

NASCAR enthusiasts will be excited to know that Hall of Fame Crew Chief and NASCAR analyst Larry McReynolds debuts his new weekly show, Larry Mac: America’s Crew Chief, this week on PodcastOne. A new podcast is posted every Wednesday on PodcastOne.com, the PodcastOne app, and iTunes.

The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show is hosted by Gregg “Free Beer” Daniels, Chris “Hot Wings” Michels, Joe, Steve, and Justin. It started out as an afternoon show at noncommercial KIWR in Omaha back in 1997, when Daniels and Michaels were roommates at Central Michigan University.  In 2017, The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show turns 20. Here’s our interview with the players who make up that syndicated team.

Another Classic Hip Hop station bites the dust. Cumulus launched "The Vibe" in Salt lake City in September of 2015 using a 24-hour format syndicated by Westwood One. On Wednesday, The Vibe was replaced by "Utah's New Hit Music." The Top 40/CHR format will now feature "the biggest hits from today’s hottest artists."

Westwood One host Jim Gray will interview the president one-on-one, and it will air in the network’s Super Bowl LI broadcast on Sunday, February 5. Gray last interviewed President Trump during the Monday Night Football game on November 7, the night before the election.