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Three times proves it for WRIF-FM Detroit’s morning personalities Dave and Chuck the Freak. For the third consecutive year, the pair have been named “Detroit’s Best Radio Program” by Hour Detroit magazine. The morning show will be featured in the publication’s June issue, which also includes the results of its annual readers’ survey.

In its spring "Local Advertising Forecast" update for 2016 BIA/Kelsey is forecasting consistent growth in local ad revenue over the next four years, which the company says will hit a total of $172.2 billion by 2020. Growth will be driven by big increases in mobile and social advertising, strong political advertising and an improving economy. So how does radio stack up against the other media? Let's find out.

Last night in New York, the RAB crowned the 2016 Radio Mercury Awards winners. This year’s $50,000 Best of Show award was given to Fitzgerald + CO for their Long Story Short Campaign for Quikrete. Chief judge, Chris Smith from The Richards Group said, "Long Story Short took home Best of Show because it expressed Quikrete’s mission so creatively and succinctly. The execution mirrored the product benefit perfectly, and made it far and away the most entertaining and effective campaign we heard."

mlive.com is reporting that veteran jock Reese Rickards, a constant at B-93 and WOOD Radio for 24 years, has been let go from the Grand Rapids-based iHeartRadio-owned properties. Rickards made the announcement himself on social media, Thursday. Here's what he wrote...

NAB's Joint Board Chairman Dave Lougee and President and CEO Gordon Smith will break ground on the NAB's future home in Washington D.C. on Monday, June 20 at 12:45p.m. The new 10-story building, at the corner of South Capitol and M Streets, is expected to be completed in fall 2018. It will have a curved facade facing M Street, a rooftop terrace with a view of the Capitol, and a 100-seat theater.

On Thursday, the staff at Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul, Minn., voted to join SAG-AFTRA, with 39 voting yes for SAG-AFTRA representation, 17 voting no and 18 challenges. The result means staff will join the union. The new bargaining unit will cover the employees who create content for MPR News, American Radio Works, and the newly formed Investigative Unit. The election allows them to move forward to negotiate a first contract.

Known as Stuttering John on the Howard Stern Show, John Melendez launched a new podcast, Thursday, with PodcastOne. In the first episode, Melendez interviews America’s Got Talent judge and comedian Howie Mandell. You can listen to that episode HERE. Picture courtesy Twitter.

Red Zebra Broadcasting made the announcement late Thursday that Tony Kornheiser would be leaving the Washington, D.C., sports station. Kornheiser says he'll be launching a podcast in September. His final show will be in late June. The station will be announcing plans for his 11-1 shift shortly.

Veteran Arkansas broadcaster Bobby Caldwell adds a trio of stations to his Russellville, Arkansas group. Caldwell is purchasing KARV-AM & FM and KYEL-FM from Kermit and Diane Womack of Springdale, Arkansas. The sale price is $800K.

Owen Grover has been promoted to Executive VP & GM of Content Development & Distribution for iHeartMedia. He'll oversee the creation and distribution of content across the iHeartMedia network of station and personality sites, and third-party social platforms.