News

Not only were the months of September, October, and November disappointing to Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan, the only revenue visibility he provided about 2017 was, "I'd like to be hopeful." That seems to be the norm for radio these days, work hard at grabbing as much revenue as you can and hope for the best at the end of the quarter.

Looking deeper into the numbers from the Emmis quarter, CFO Ryan Hornady said digital revenue at Emmis was up 24%. That big gain still didn't prevent the company from pulling in less revenue from a year ago due to national and local revenue being down single digits. What were the strongest and weakest categories for the company?

SiriusXM says it ended 2016 with over 31.3 million subscribers, adding more than 1.7 million net subscriber additions in the year. Self-pay net subscriber additions in 2016 were 1.66 million, resulting in self-pay subscriptions of approximately 26 million for 2016. The company also announced it expects to meet or exceed its 2016 guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow.

The Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award winner is chosen by the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors and recognizes someone in the Country radio industry who has displayed a magnanimous spirit of caring and generosity in service to their community. Former Greater Media CEO Peter Smyth will be given the award this year. He said, "I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive this distinguished award. I look forward to attending CRS in 2017."

Back on November 3, Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins said about the Classic Hip Hop format BOOM, “We invented the format and we’re the first to exit the format. It is not a sustainable long-term ratings-getter.” Thursday night, Radio One's Houston market blew up its BOOM format, after two years, for Top 40.

And that is Johnnie D, who is promoted from APD and will work closely with Derrick Brown, Director of Urban Programming for iHeartMedia Chicago at the station. Brown was handling WGCI PD duties as a part of his Director of Urban Programming responsibilities.

WABC Radio in New York City is expanding The Bernie and Sid Show by an hour, bumping the last hour of Imus in the Morning. The show will now run 9 a.m.-12 Noon rather than 10 a.m.-12 Noon, following Imus. McGuirk is the executive producer and part of the on-air team of the Imus in The Morning show. Rosenberg continues in his role as sports anchor for Imus. The Sid & Bernie Show launched one year ago.

CBS Philadelphia debuted WZMP-FM as Today's 96.5 Thursday morning. The Adult Contemporary station is promising limited commercial interruptions. WZMP was one of two station CBS radio picked up in the 2014 swap with Beasley. Back then CBS flipped the station from rhythmic CHR “Wired 96.5” to its CHR “Amp.”

Michael Mann will see his duties as Director of Sales in Chicago expand in the new position of Director of Sales Strategy, Broadcast Media. Mann will work closely with the broadcast division’s senior leadership and local managers to create incremental resources, better sales tools, and ultimately more defined sales strategies.

On Thursday, Entercom Boston debuted an R&B format, calling it "The New 97.7." Since 2006, the frequency had been simulcast with the company’s heritage Rock station, WAAF 107.3FM. The PD will be Chris Malone, recruited from Cumulus's WRBO and WKIM in Memphis, and the station launches with 10,000 songs in a row.