News

Doug McIntyre is the host of McIntyre In The Morning on KABC in L.A. He'll continue in that capacity for at least another two years.

Longtime WBAL Baltimore talk show host Allan Prell has passed away at the age of 79. Prell, a two-time Edward R. Murrow award winner, had undergone surgery several months ago. He worked at WBAL from 1982 to the early 2000s.

Cox Media Group in Atlanta has hired Michael Baisden as afternoon drive host on KISS 104.1 FM. He starts January 16. SupeRadio is syndicating the program starting in January. KISS in Atlanta will be the flagship station. An earlier version of this story incorretly stated that Cox would be syndicating the show.

Yesterday's flurry of financial activity and lawsuits all has to do with legacy notes and a disagreement over a Springing Lien. On Tuesday, iHeart announced an independent special committee decided not to repay $57.1 million in legacy notes due on Thursday that are being held by Clear Channel Holdings. iHeart has $725 million in legacy notes.

December 13 sees the tip-off of University of Kentucky hoops coach John Calipari’s new weekly podcast, Cal Cast. The show will feature a variety of topics and high-profile guests from the world of sports, leadership, business, and entertainment. Calipari’s first guest is fellow Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charles Barkley.

In a Tuesday afternoon press release, iHeartMedia announced the company had decided not to repay $57.1 million in senior notes due Thursday, held by Clear Channel Holdings. While $192.9 million of legacy notes held by other holders will be paid in full, the $57.1 million balance held by affiliate CCH will remain outstanding. Here's what CEO Bob Pittman and CFO Richard Bressler told iHeart employees about this decision

Apparently JP Morgan Chase is not happy with Cumulus' plan to refinance. Cumulus says it needs to refinance and it needs to be done quickly, by January 27. In a 21-page lawsuit filed Monday, Cumulus is accusing JP Morgan Chase of thwarting its refinance plan by breaching a 2013 credit agreement and unreasonably withholding consent to the refinance.

Despite the daily barrage about the strength of radio delivered from Cumulus-owned Westwood One and other research companies, Cumulus revealed a few details about how the radio industry, at least from its perspective, is hurting and why it needs this refinance.

The station beat its original goal of providing 800,000 meals for the needy in Ann Arbor area during the holiday season, raising well over 1 million meals with partners Food Gatherers and Kroger through the 28th Annual Rockin' for the Hungry. The food and fund drive benefits Food Gatherers, the area's food rescue program and food bank.

Thanks to St. Louis’ 106.5 The Arch, a lot of troops will be hearing that this Christmas. The Arch’s Morning Show Spencer’s Neighborhood actually belied the name of their “2,000 Cards for the Troops” program – they collected over 13,000 holiday greetings for hospitalized veterans at St. Louis’ two Veteran’s Administration hospitals!