Robin Szabo has served as President of Szabo Associates since 2006. If you’ve never heard of this company, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, go chat with your CFO or the collections department!
Szabo Associates began life as a media collection services operation in 1971. Why? Was Radio plagued with a collection of deadbeats?
That’s just one of the questions Robin answers in this latest InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM.
The start of the comment period for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on a bold plan to modify the FCC‘s rules governing the operation of FM booster stations by radio broadcasters has come.
And, it saw the company behind ZoneCasting state its case while noting that the filing of comments “marks the beginning of an active debate on innovation in the radio industry.”
You can say that again. The NAB also filed comments on Wednesday regarding the NPRM. In its view, enabling geo-targeting “will depress Radio advertising rates and revenues at
a time when broadcasters already face enormous economic and competitive challenges.”
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Starting February 12, a Beasley Media Group FM previously owned by Greater Media will begin what amounts to a year-long fete celebrating its 50 years of serving “Detroit Rock City.”
The party will reach its crescendo on Sunday, as WRIF-FM 101.1 formally celebrates its life as a Rock station.
It’s all part of what Beasley is billing “The Riff’s Legends Weekend.”
The fun begins Friday (2/12) with morning hosts Dave & Chuck The Freak highlighting their favorite moments from their successful seven years at WRIF. Throughout the day, WRIF will then air vignettes paying tribute to legacy WRIF personalities — including “Big Daddy” Arthur Penhallow, Ken Calvert, Karen Savelly, and Steve Kostan.
The following “Legends” are scheduled to be in studio on Friday, Feb. 12 at WRIF-FM:
1pm Hour: Jim Johnson and George Baier from JJ and The Morning Crew with Jade Springart
2pm Hour: Ken Calvert and Karen Savelly with Jade Springart
4pm Hour: Steve Kostan with Meltdown
Detroit native and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Alice Cooper commented, “You can’t really talk about Detroit music without talking about Riff. Detroit was easily the hard rock capital of the United States and WRIF supported all those bands. I’ve dropped their name in a couple of songs over the years because it was so Detroit and everyone know what that means.”
What about Drew & Mike, a 22-year morning show that cemented WRIF’s popularity in a market that saw the demise, and return, of WLLZ as a Rock competitor?
At 7pm on Friday, WRIF will air the “Best Of Drew & Mike”, highlighting classic moments from the duo’s time at the station.
The celebration of WRIF comes after the February 4 death of notable local radio personality Jerry Lubin, at the age of 80. Lubin worked at WRIF, although he is largely remembered for his time as an “Air Ace” at another former competitor, WABX. WABX signed off the air in January 1984.
Meanwhile, WRIF successfully outlasted a third Rock station of note in Detroit: WWWW (W4), where Howard Stern was the morning host on the day it changed to Country.
While WRIF’s history dates to Valentine’s Day 1971, its time as a Rock station actually began in 1970. Under previous call letters WXYZ-FM, it was one of ABC’s “Love” network properties, airing a progressive album-oriented Rock format. From 1966, WXYZ-FM had attempted Middle-of-the-Road and, later, Top 40 programming.
Interestingly, WRIF-FM could have ended up at 95.5 MHz in New York — the home of WPLJ. Those calls were requested for the former WABC-FM. In Detroit, the WDAI call letters were sought; they infamously ended up in Chicago at WLS-FM, with a Rock-to-Disco move a catalyst for Steve Dahl’s 1979 “Disco Demolition.”
The WRIF call letters, of course, would not end up in New York. And with Lee Abrams in command, WRIF in its early days wasn’t shy of Top 40 product. That changed in 1975, when it decided to focus solely on rock ‘n’ roll — a formula that continues to this day.
WRIF’s corporate history saw it move from ABC to Capital Cities in 1986, and then to “Silver Star Communications.” In 1987, Great American Broadcasting obtained WRIF; it declared bankruptcy in 1993, and WRIF in 1994 was purchased by Greater Media.
The first of the fourth quarter and full-year 2020 earnings reports from the radio broadcasting industry quietly arrived on Wednesday morning, as Beasley Broadcast Group shared its fiscal report card for the final three months of last year.
How did the audio media company with an investment in eSports perform? Its earnings per share shattered the analysts’ consensus estimate by eighteen cents.
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The Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) Group has just released its 2020 Annual Gender Analysis study.
It tracks the career progress of women in radio broadcasting rising to the ranks of management.
“Even with the unpredictability of 2020, you will still see glimmers of hope within the findings,” they say.
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NORTHVILLE, MICH. — In August 2019, a Class A FM playing country music’s greatest hits, serving such Michigan towns as St. Helen and Skidway Lake, in August found itself in a tussle over its future ownership.
A family trust filed an objection with the FCC against the station’s transfer from its licensee to a new 50/50 partnership driven by the station’s manager. “Misrepresentations” were noted by the trust.
Nearly 18 months later, the trust has secured ownership of the station.
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Travel to the Champaign-Urbana area of downstate Illinois, and you’ll find a quartet of radio stations licensed to Stevie Jay Broadcasting.
Until now, it’s been a three-way partnership involving an investment group and two individuals.
As of today, Stevie Jay himself is poised to be the sole owner of these FMs.
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One of the world’s largest manufacturers of AM and FM radio broadcast transmitters has struck a deal that effectively expands its Digital Radio offerings to broadcast customers.
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It’s been a busy few months for The E.W. Scripps Company. It completed its purchase of ION Media, with integration of its properties ongoing. Its conducting a “special virtual investor presentation” on March 3 to help attract more Wall Street dollars.
Now, with its share price on fire, the company with Brian Lawlor at the helm of its local TV stations has shared when it will share its Q4 and full-year 2020 results.
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A top daily local sports podcast network was recently acquired by one of the biggest broadcast TV companies in the U.S.
Now, TEGNA is teaming with the owner of Cadence13 and Pineapple Street to bring content from that podcast operation to a wider audience.
Entercom today confirmed that it has inked a content agreement with Locked On Podcast Network, purchased in late January by TEGNA.
As part of the partnership, Locked On’s lineup of professional and collegiate sports podcasts, which feature premier analysis from local experts, writers, reporters and insiders, will be heard on Radio.com.
Additionally, the partnership will see the development of new content including co-produced and co-branded podcasts; a daily sports news podcast featuring hosts from leading Radio.com sports stations and local experts from Locked On; and two weekly one-hour programs, produced by Locked On, available on select Entercom radio stations and on radio.com.
Entercom will also promote the podcasts across its local Sports Talk stations.
Locked On Today is the first podcast of at least four new series that will be released in a co-production under the partnership.
Hosted daily by Peter Bukowski (Locked On Packers), Locked On Today is a described as a “fast-paced take on the biggest sports stories of the day,” offering insight and perspective from the local experts of the Locked On Podcast Network and Entercom sports radio stations.
Locked On Podcast Network was created in June 2016 by Locke, the radio voice of the Utah Jazz. Originating with a single podcast, Locked On Jazz, the network today produces more than 160 different podcasts – providing in-depth coverage of every NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL team plus major college sports teams.
Locked On publishes over 600 podcast episodes every week – generating more than eight million listens a month and growing.
She’s had a career that includes a well-remembered role as Exec. VP of Programming for the former Nassau Broadcasting, where she oversaw all aspects of programming and digital content, strategy, marketing, and brand management for 75 stations including big regional Top 40 leader WPST-FM in Trenton, N.J.
In May 2019, she took a position assisting the programming team for two big Entercom Communications stations in the Big Apple.
Now, Michelle Stevens is heading to Miami to serve as Brand Manager for a pair of Entercom stations targeting adult listeners across South Florida.
RBR+TVBR OBSERVATION: Our editor-in-chief’s station of choice upon graduating college: WPST-FM, serving Trenton and Philadelphia. Congrats, Michelle, and bienvenidos a Miami.
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As Market President for an iHeartMedia group of stations, one works closely with the programming, business and sales teams and oversees the stations’ on-air and digital programming as well as create new revenue opportunities.
In Philadelphia, that role is going to an individual who has spent the last decade in the station group’s top sales role.
Taking the top role for a group of stations comprised of WDAS-AM “FOX Sports The Gambler” and Adult R&B WDAS-FM, WRFF-FM “ALT 104.5”, Top 40 WIOQ-FM “Q102”, Soft Adult Contemporary WISX-FM “106.1 The Breeze”, and Hip-Hop/R&B WUSL-FM “Power 99” is Jeff Moore.
Moore began his career as the Sales Manager for iHeartMedia Philadelphia 10 years ago, most recently serving as the Senior Vice President of Sales.
He will report to Scott Hopeck, Division President for iHeartMedia.
Moore began his career as the Sales Manager for iHeartMedia Philadelphia 10 years ago, rising to General Sales Manager and Regional Senior Vice President of Sales since then.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this great team of successful sales and programming professionals in Philadelphia while representing some of the most iconic brands,” said Moore, a graduate of Temple University.. “My mission is to continue to build a winning culture that attracts the best talent and has a positive impact on our employees, brands and the community we serve.”
Christopher SquireWith Moore’s promotion, Chris Squire assumes his former SVP/Sales role. He will report to Moore. Squire previously served as General Sales Manager for Townsquare Media in Trenton, N.J., a group of stations heard across much of the Philadelphia market.
From 1989, Squire served as Station Manager for Adult R&B WDAS-FM. He would later hold roles at Radio One and at legendary Adult R&B station WBLS-FM in New York under Emmis Communications and its previous ownership, YMF Media and, before that, Inner City Broadcasting.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia Philadelphia,” said Squire, who is a NAB Leadership Training graduate. “To have the chance to work under a talented and inspiring leader like Jeff as well as a team of experienced and dedicated managers and account executives is a recipe for success.”
Hopeck added, “I’m thrilled to promote both Jeff and Chris. It’s especially rewarding to find the best candidates for key leadership roles within your own division. They’ve collaborated under the most difficult circumstances in 2020 and clearly demonstrated their creativity and resilience. I’m confident this duo will continue to lead our Philadelphia operation to new highs.”
Haystack TV‘s ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) streaming service focused on newscasts is widening its content by signing a distribution agreement with Bloomberg Media.
It increases the number of live streaming channels on Haystack News to 18.
This is in addition to newscasts from nearly 350 local, national and world TV news channels.
The agreement sees Haystack News add Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg Quicktake to its recently launched portfolio of live viewing options.
Haystack News launched in November 2019 with ABC News Live and CBSN, in addition to Al Jazeera, Euronews, Newsmax, Yahoo Finance and a portfolio of live local news broadcast stations across the U.S. It enjoys partnerships with ABC Owned Television Stations, CBS Television Stations, Cox Media Group, Fox Television Stations, Gray Television, Hearst Television, Hubbard Broadcasting, Meredith Corporation, and The E.W. Scripps Co., among other broadcast TV station ownership groups.
“Bloomberg is very pleased to deepen our relationship with Haystack News via our 24/7 live networks, Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg Quicktake,” said M. Scott Havens, Global Head of Digital and Media Distribution at Bloomberg Media. “New platforms such as Haystack News extend our reach and help Bloomberg be everywhere viewers look for the news they need.”
Haystack News is available on multiple platforms and all leading Smart TVs worldwide including the Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku streaming platforms; Hisense, LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and Vizio Smart TVs; Android and iOS mobile devices; and online at www.haystack.tv.
The audio media company’s shares have enjoyed a slow, steady rebound since sinking to $3.35 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic some 11 months ago.
Now, Cumulus Media will reveal its fourth quarter and full-year 2020 results in exactly two weeks.
The company led by CEO Mary Berner will host a conference call on Tuesday, February 23 at 8:30am Eastern to discuss those results.
But, there won’t be much time for analysts and investors to digest the results prior to the call. That’s because a press release containing a summary of the Cumulus results will be issued approximately 30 minutes before the call starts.
What can those who own CMLS or wish to buy it anticipate? Berner on the Cumulus Q3 earnings call said that as the company moved into the fourth quarter, “positive momentum in bookings, driven largely by political,” was being seen.
Still, overall improvement across all categories was a factor — even though pacing was down in the mid-teens on a year-to-year basis.
“While we hope for continued improvement, our performance will remain highly sensitive to the shape and pace of external events,” Berner said.
CMLS finished Tuesday’s trading at $10.34, up 2.8% from Monday. That pushes Cumulus shares ever-closer to the all-important $11 mark – last seen nearly one year ago.
Diverse representation matters.
That’s been the mantra across the advertising industry and all facets of Corporate America for the last 8 to 10 months, and rightfully so, says Louis Maldonado, partner and Managing Director of multicultural advertising agency d expósito & Partners.
“The challenges and atrocities that we’ve collectively experienced in that timeframe have led to a social awakening,” he says.
Why, then, were the Super Bowl LV spots such a letdown?
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Travel an hour south of Norfolk via U.S. Highway 17 and you’ll end up in Hertford, N.C. — a major agricultural town in the Elizabeth City region.
Here, you can listen to “The Bull” if you don’t see one, thanks to its presence at 99.3 MHz on a Class A based in Gatesville.
At least, that’s the case today. The FM has just been sold.
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BOCA RATON, FLA. — In 1972, West Palm Beach saw the arrival of its own NPR Member station. On May 25, 2011, West Palm Beach lost its own NPR Member station, as Barry University sold what was then WXEL-FM 90.7 to Classical South Florida.
Today, that signal is WFLV, the home of Educational Media Foundation‘s “K-LOVE” and, on its HD4 signal, a unique feed from the NPR Member station based in Miami is rebroadcast on an FM translator EMF owns, filling the void left by WXEL’s demise.
Soon, this NPR station will own the translator outright. And, it will be shifting its originating digital multicast station to an iHeartMedia property in the market.
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He’s no stranger to Wedel Software, as he had a hand in several company projects over the last few years.
Perhaps that made him a top candidate for the role of Director of North American Sales, a position that he’s now accepted.
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Mark Cuban is famous for many reasons. He first gained notice as a streaming audio pioneer. Later, he earned fans through ABC (and, later, CNBC) airings of the show Shark Tank. He’s also the owner of the Dallas Mavericks National Basketball Association franchise.
Now, Cuban says he will be investing in a brand-new podcast platform — one that sounds a lot like News/Talk/Sports radio at its best.
In an interview with The Verge, Cuban revealed that he’s investing in Fireside Chat.
It’s described as “a socially responsible platform” on a placeholder website.
Importantly, it appears to be different from Fireside — a podcast service that dates to 2016, with metrics and analytics alongside hosting capabilities available. That similarly named company was founded by Dan Benjamin and is headquartered in Austin, Tex.
Rather, Fireside Chat is a project Cuban is co-founding with Falon Fatemi.
In an email obtained by The Verge, Cuban describes Fireside Chat as a “next-gen podcast platform” that facilitates live conversation.
Possible creator partners received the electronic communication.
As The Verge notes, Fireside Chat is similar to Clubhouse, backed by such social media and marketing stars as Gary Vaynerchuck.
The key difference is the Fireside Chat ability to natively record conversations.
A launch is in the works for sometime this year.
As Fatemi sees it, Fireside Chat creators “will be able to broadcast, record, and monetize conversations while using Fireside’s built-in analytics tools to figure out what content performs best,” The Verge says.
A source tells The Verge that creators “will be offered various deals and ways to monetize, and the app won’t let just anyone speak publicly. It’ll be a highly curated experience.”
Cuban and Todd Wagner in 1999 pocketed $5.7 billion from the sale of streaming audio innovator Broadcast.com to Yahoo!
On December 16, 2020, concerned Comcast customers who receive broadcast TV stations through Xfinity in one Massachusetts county breathed a sigh of relief. There, Hearst Television‘s biggest station, ABC affiliate WCVB-5 in Boston, was set to be replaced with a Rhode Island ABC affiliate. Among those offering words of frustration: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.
It appeared that a fresh retransmission consent arrangement keeping Hearst stations from “neighboring designated market areas” where citizens desired the station more than a closer, albeit out of state, choice was reached.
Now, Comcast has confirmed that “some TV stations” from neighboring markets will “soon no longer be available.”
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