Faced with growing support for a bill that would require carmakers to keep AM in dashboards, automakers are making some concessions in an effort to try to hold off any legislation. During a hearing Tuesday, Alliance for Automotive Innovation President John Bozzella said the industry is willing to “very conspicuously” disclose if a model doesn’t have AM and provide hand crank AM radios as part of standard emergency kits. Read moreWith AM Radio Bill Gaining Traction, Auto Industry Shifts Gears.
Funding of public radio has long had critics in conservative circles, but the recent controversy involving allegations of political bias at NPR is giving new energy to the effort to cut off taxpayer dollars. Based on what House Speaker Mike Johnson says are the “disturbing revelations” about NPR, he has directed the Energy and Commerce Committee to conduct an investigation. Read moreHouse Republicans Open Probe Of NPR Amid Allegations of Political Bias.
Borrell Associates CEO Gordon Borrell sees opportunity ahead for the radio industry — if it embraces the need to transform its business model to include the pursuit of digital revenues. “The future looks very bright for companies that have made the transition from thinking radio is the be-all and end-all of the business to the understanding that it’s now a very sound steppingstone to the digital future.” Read moreBorrell Associates: Radio’s Push Into Local Digital Advertising One Of Necessity.
Another public radio station is making cuts and programming adjustments to address a budget shortfall. KUOW Seattle is laying off eight employees and will eliminate three open positions, affecting 6% of KUOW’s workforce. KUOW joins WBUR Boston, KQED San Francisco, WESA/WYEP Pittsburgh, and KCRW Los Angeles to enact similar cuts. Read moreWith FY25 Fast Approaching, KUOW Seattle Implements Staff Reduction.
iHeartMedia’s fifth annual “Can’t Cancel Pride,” which recognizes LGBTQ+ organizations’ impact on their communities, will take place June 12, with streaming access throughout Pride Month. The annual event will again feature performances from a lineup of recording artists to be announced, as well as appearances from influential voices in the LGBTQ+ community. Read moreiHeartMedia’s ‘Can’t Cancel Pride’ Event Slated For June.
Audacy talk “98.9 WORD” WYRD-FM Greenville, SC is adding two new voices to its weekday lineup effective Monday (May 6), bringing the nationally syndicated “The Mike Gallagher Show” to middays, and introducing the new “Sunrise Carolina” hosted by local radio veteran Joey Hudson preceding morning drive’s “The Tara Show.” “Having Mike and Joey onboard will enhance our incredible lineup and offer listeners live, locally connected talent,” Audacy Greenville-Spartanburg Senior VP and Market Manager Steve Sinicropi said. Read moreGallagher, Hudson Head Up Weekday Changes On Greenville, SC Talker 98.9 WORD.
The Museum of Broadcast Communications has revealed the Radio Hall of Fame 2024 nominees. The Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, with input from the radio industry and listeners, selected the 24 nominees. Voting begins Monday, May 20 and the inductees will be announced Monday, June 17. The Class of 2024 will be inducted in September in Nashville. Read moreNominees Announced: Radio Hall Of Fame Voting Begins May 20.
The NAB has opened the nomination window for the 2024 Marconi Radio Awards… Audacy posts the “I’m Listening Mental Health Mix” for Mental Health Awareness Month… The Nebraska Broadcasters Association made a $25,000 contribution to the Midlands Nebraska & Iowa Tornado Relief Fund… Entravision launched its “Poder Latino” concert series… The nationally syndicated “Tavis Smiley Show” picks up 11 new affiliates. Read moreNews Bites: Marconi Radio Awards, ‘I’m Listening Mental Health Mix,’ Nebraska Broadcasters Association, ‘Poder Latino.’
A year ago, when religion ranked third in Inside Radio’s monthly format counts, it stood a distant 172 outlets from country, the usual leader. As religion replaced news/talk as the second-ranked format, the gap between its total stations and country’s has gradually shrunk from that 172 to just 122 in April 2024. Over that period, country has lost 20 outlets while religion gained 30. Other formats gaining stations year-over-year include contemporary Christian, Spanish, and classic rock. Read moreApril Format Counts: The Gap Between Country, Religion Grows Narrower.
An all-Black lineup will take to the air later this month when Audacy’s 1270 WXYT Detroit transitions to sports talk “Sports Rap Radio.” According to The Detroit News, the station will be led by Rob Parker, a former host at WDFN, three-time NBA champion B.J. Armstrong, and former college athletes Dave Kenney and Maurice Ways. Read moreDetroit’s 1270 WXYT To Debut As ‘Sports Rap Radio’ On May 16.
Kiana Singh, MD/afternoon host at Cox Media Group CHR WBLI Nassau-Suffolk, NY (106.1), has exited the station. Singh joined the station in 2018 and has been hosting afternoons since 2019 and added MD responsibilities in 2022. Read moreKiana Singh
Pedro Javier Gonzalez is named Senior VP of Programming for iHeartMedia’s eight-station Miami cluster. He succeeds Rob Miller, who remains with the company as a strategic advisor for iHeart’s hot AC stations. Gonzalez will continue as Senior VP of iHeartLatino, a position he has held since 2018. Read morePedro Javier Gonzalez
Ashley “Lux” Mohr has been added to mornings at Cumulus Media’s classic rock “101.1 The Fox” KCFX Kansas City. Mohr joins Matt “Sparks” Sparker for the newly re-christened “Sparks & Lux” morning show. She previously hosted afternoons at Hubbard modern rock “105.7 The Point” KPNT St. Louis, exiting in March 2022. Sparker moved from afternoons to mornings at “The Fox” in December 2023. He joined the station in July 2021. Read moreAshley "Lux" Mohr
Cumulus Media elevates Sarah Hamilton aka “Sarah Lynn” to PD at country “Kix 96” WJCL Savannah, GA-Hilton Head, SC. Hamilton, who also hosts middays, has served as APD since 2014. She can also be heard on weekends at classic rock sister “I-95” WIXV, and she can be heard nationally on Westwood One’s WWO Hits Now/Hot AC channel. Read moreSarah Hamilton
