News

Are you a talent looking to secure your future in the audio business? Syndicated hosts Ace & TJ want to help you achieve your goals. They've launched a new platform called "The Radio Button Network." It's a new digital service run by talent, for talent, focusing on "the other 20 hours" you may not be on the air.

As we get closer to the general election, Westwood One has released a deck of slides to help radio sellers push the power of radio. The data shows how radio can target specific voters political campaigns may want to reach. Included in the report is what Westwood calls the "political radio format planner” -- a guide for media planners and buyers to reach voters based on format. The Westwood One Insights team says the data can help both national and local political advertisers.

The Detroit News reports that for the second time since the Greater Media station flipped from AC to sports less than three years ago, WMGC-FM is looking for a new PD. Dave Shore, who hired as PD and afternoon co-host in February 2015, was let go this week, according to the paper. Shore replaced PD Jason Dixon who was the program director when the station went sports in 2013.

Ben Downs is responsible for 10 stations in Texas for Bryan Broadcasting, where he's been for 26 years as Vice President and General Manager. When we asked Downs, as part of our Independent Warrior Special Report, what he'd like to see radio doing better, he said radio has three problems that would improve how the world sees the industry. He details them all here but says none of them are easy to fix.

More nationwide growth for The Breakfast Club. Hip Hop station JAM'N 94.5 in Boston will begin piping in the syndicated morning show beginning Thursday. iHeart says former morning team Frankie and Ashlee will remain with the company and more details on what they will be doing will be announced soon.

New Jersey Broadcasters Association President & CEO Paul S. Rotella, Esq., has announced the names of the newest inductees into the New Jersey Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame. The inductions will take place at the 69th Annual NJBA Convention and Gala in Atlantic City on June 22-23.

The L.A. Times has the details about 55-year old man who caused a stretch of Sunset Boulevard to close because he climbed the iconic 160-foot KTLA radio tower late Wednesday. He was eventually coaxed down after being promised a hug from a member of his church. Police took the man into custody for a mental evaluation. Picture courtesy L.A. Times

Louisville Active Rocker "The Fox WTFX-FM" moves over to 95.7 WQMF HD 2. All the air-staff at WTFX will remain with the station. The Fox launched on 100.5 in 1991. It moved to moved to 93.1 in 2005. See the next story for the new format.

Because iHeart launched"93.1 The Beat - The Ville’s Hip Hop and R&B" in Louisville to compete with Alpha's WGZB-FM (B96.5) which has been in the market for over 20 years. Alpha carries The Rickey Smiley Morning Show while iHeart plans to launch The Beat with 10,000 songs in a row, with mornings anchored by Premiere's The Breakfast Club, featuring DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne Tha God. That show will launch June 13.