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Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer of Westwood One and its parent, Cumulus Media, is well-known for being the radio industry’s biggest cheerleader. Every week, his blog posts illustrate the continued strength of a business that continues to lose dollars to digital media and lacks respect among many Madison Avenue decisionmakers.

Perhaps that will soon change, as he’s now taking the lead position of Cumulus’ newly created “audio media and creative advisory group for marketers and agencies.” 

Introducing the Audio Active Group (AAG), described as a “natural evolution from a sponsor-focused research and insights group to a true comprehensive marketing advisory.”

How so? The Audio Active Group seeks to partner with clients to measure the impact of the entire audio campaign — not just the Cumulus/Westwood One investment.

It will specialize in audio creative best practices, media planning, strategic allocation within radio, and measurement of the entire radio investment.

“One-third of brands in audio today are new to the medium. As major brands discover audio, they have lots of questions about audio creative strategy, media planning, and campaign measurement, and we have a deep understanding of what audio campaigns can accomplish,” said Suzanne Grimes, EVP, Marketing for Cumulus and President of its Westwood One national radio arm. “Under Pierre’s deft leadership, we are the only company that measures the impact of the entire audio investment and uses our trove of creative-testing and campaign-effectiveness data to help guide clients’ media investments and creative strategy.” 

The Audio Active Group publishes weekly audio insights, advertiser case studies, and sales videos:   ·        The Audio Active Group’s weekly reports and the latest up-to-date audio insights are available here.  ·        The Audio Active Group’s library of weekly sales videos is available here. 

During the 2020 Christmas season, a well-known brand of TexMex-style food products integrated some of its offerings into a Lifetime yuletide yarn. The products also found their way into one of Food Network’s top cooking programs.

Did those product placements translate to a bump in sales? TV measurement and analytics firm 605 and the company that handled the product integration agreements teamed up to find the answer.

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For two generations of Top 40 radio listeners, Saturday evenings may have involved tuning in to a syndicated program that was never shy to play a European dance track or take requests from those tuning in across the U.S.

John Garabedian‘s “Open House Party” was a fave from Poughkeepsie to Eureka, with its roots at iHeartMedia-owned WXKS-FM “Kiss 108” in Boston, where Garabedian first found success with the program.

Garabedian sold “Open House Party” to United Stations in 2012, and retired as host on January 28, 2017. But, he was still active in radio, thanks to his ownership of four FMs and two FM translators on Cape Cod.

That ownership is about to end, thanks to a deal brokered by Kalil & Co.

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On September 17, RBR+TVBR readers first learned about some of the key findings in the just-released study, “The Future of Audience and Revenue,” produced by Futuri, with the assistance of SmithGeiger. On September 24, a White Paper with further details from the study was released.

With many insights for radio and for television, we asked Daniel Anstandig, founder and CEO of Futuri Media, to summarize much of the 36-page report. He obliged and is our guest on the latest InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Daniel Anstandig” on Spreaker.

SWANSEA, WALES (U.K.) — With the announcement this month of the cancellation of NAB 2021, Quicklink has announced a series of virtual NAB 2021 webinars.

They’ll occur on October 5 and 6, during which the Quicklink team will announce and give a first-look at the Quicklink Virtual Event Production Solution.

The product gives users “professional, high-quality guest contributions, build and create a professional production, and broadcast to multiple physical, digital and social destinations – all on your own hardware or cloud instance.”

Quicklink will also offer details on its Quicklink Manager remote contribution management platform.

The 40-minute live webinar will include discussions on language localization, contributor session termination, and triggered notifications.

Registrations will have access to watch live and receive an on-demand version after the events have taken place.

To register for Quicklink’s Virtual NAB webinars, click here.

TM Studios is welcoming an industry veteran who has been charged with representing the company’s radio industry products to clients across the Western United States.

It’s an individual with on-air experience at Smooth Jazz stations in Cleveland and Denver, and for Jones Radio Network and Dial Global.

Taking the position is Greg Allen. 

“TM Studios presents the perfect opportunity for me to collaborate with stations all over the country,” Allen said. ‘Under the leadership of Greg Clancy, Dave Bethell and Chris ‘UK’ Stevens, TM is poised for great success. I look forward to partnering with our clients to solve their audio branding challenges while helping to increase ratings and revenue.”

Clancy, co-owner of TM Studios added, “We are thrilled to have someone with Greg’s passion and experience join our team.”

Allen is based in Cleveland, where he once was a host for WNWV “107.3 The Wave.” He later worked at the former KHIH-FM in Denver, under Adams Communications ownership.

TM Century in late 2020 was acquired by Reatro Ventures-owned Media10, joining the ARC Software family of products for Radio. ARC was developed by Sun Broadcast Group founder and former CEO Jason Bailey.

Simplifying cloud-based production.

That’s a key focus of a virtual technology portal that will serve as a primary connectivity point for learning about the latest enhancements to Evertz‘s BRAVO Studio cloud-based control room.

The scalable BRAVO Studio is a collaborative live switching platform that gives broadcast operators an environment that simulates a traditional control room, allowing users to produce shows in the cloud.

It incorporates web-based interfaces that can be accessed from anywhere.

And, BRAVO Studio allows staff to collaborate with any number of team members to produce live events from their own homes, regardless of the size or complexity of the projects they are working on, Evertz notes.

The platform encompasses such Evertz products as MAGNUM OS Orchestration and Control, which provide signal routing solutions.

Other useful functionality includes multiviewing, VUE user interfaces for operations and access to the DreamCatcher suite of live production tools.

Evertz will introduce the latest additions during its Evertz Connected 2021: Fall Edition. It is scheduled for October 1-15. Registration is free and is now open at connected.evertz.com.

In other product news, Evertz has integrated its Ease Live graphics engine into BRAVO Studio. “This means that program creators can deliver many more interactive options to consumers, allowing them to make bets, select players, view statistics, view highlights, or take part in quizzes – all of which will keep viewers engaged in the live production,” Evertz says.

Evertz is based in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Sierra Wireless‘ 5G New Radio (NR) module has been integrated by AVIWEST, a provider of live and recorded video contribution systems, into its mobile video encoders.

This, the companies say, is designed to help broadcasters remotely stream HD video from live sporting and other events.

The encoder with 5G module has already been used by broadcasters to live stream video from the Tokyo Olympics, as well as professional football and basketball tournaments to remote video production facilities.

The benefits: Simplified operations and lower production costs, Sierra Wireless promises.

“5G will fundamentally transform live video production, making it simpler and less expensive, while eventually enabling new, more entertaining, immersive, and exciting viewing experiences with additional mobile, Point of View (POV), and other cameras,” said Ronan Poullaouec, CTO at AVIWEST. “With the Sierra Wireless EM9191 module, AVIWEST’s mobile video encoders can use 5G networks to stream high-definition video from live events to broadcasters’ production facilities, allowing these broadcasters to realize the cost, simplicity, and other benefits of 5G-powered remote video production today.”

The EM9191 module for the broadband edge is currently available globally, from Sierra Wireless’ global network of partners.       For more information, visit:    www.sierrawireless.com/products-and-solutions/embedded-solutions/5g-iot/   www.sierrawireless.com/EMSeries      To contact the Sierra Wireless Sales Desk, call +1 877-687-7795 or visit http://www.sierrawireless.com/sales.  

A company widely known for its radio imaging, voiceover, programming, podcasting and jingle services has inked an agreement with a web design and development company serving radio for 20 years that will extend its tech platform to Benztown clients.

Envisionwise presented by Benztown delivers to users three technology products that deliver and maintain station websites, Alexa Skills and Text Messaging services for radio: LinkedUpRadio, Pivot Radio and TextMeMan.

Stations can activate one, two or all three products, with the convenience
of one log-in for multiple stations. Envisionwise presented by Benztown also offers
continuous live concierge support.

“The platforms are scalable and give stations more capabilities for less money, with no long-term commitments with both cash and barter options,” the company says.

LinkedUpRadio is a custom-designed website platform that allows individuals or groups to manage all station websites, ads, content, and social networking in one system, with no coding or special skills required.

LinkedUpRadio websites are designed for radio stations housing  blogs, image sliders,
schedules, photos, and custom forms, among other items. “A variety of premium add-ons
available for unlimited digital revenue opportunity,” Benztown notes.

Pivot Radio develops custom Alexa Skills for radio stations that integrate with Amazon
smart speakers. Benztown comments, “Stations can schedule pre-rolls and outro advertisements while managing the Alexa voice and the visual display graphics through a simple admin interface. Pivot Radio handles all development, submissions and establishes an Amazon Alexa skills store presence for each station’s skill. Custom banner graphics are
provided help promote skills and analytics are available to share with station advertisers. Pivot Radios newest skill feature provides an opportunity for stations to take client requests over Alexa.”

Lastly, TextMeMan connects stations directly to listeners through texts for contests, giveaways, song requests, and local updates, including news, events, and advertising promotions. Listeners can receive both SMS or MMS messages, with options to opt in and out at any time.

The iHeartMedia owned radio network focused on news and insight for African American listeners has struck a content distribution and marketing agreement with a Detroit-based entity focused on Black consumer needs.

BIN: Black Information Network, the 24/7 network that launched in June 2020, will see Real Times Media (RTM) share and distribute news created by the iHeart entity under the direction of Tony Coles.

The deal also allows iHeartMedia to source and distribute news stories from RTM publications across BIN radio stations and sites.

In return, RTM will source and distribute BIN news, entertainment and sports stories and place BIN’s audio widget on their digital properties. Opportunities for iHeartMedia to convert RTM stories into audio reporting also will come from the agreement.

Real Times Media is the parent company to The Atlanta Daily World, Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, The Chicago Defender, The Michigan Chronicle, and The New Pittsburgh Courier, all of which focus on African American audiences.

BIN can be heard in 32 markets.

Private companies, communities and institutions of higher learning are rejoicing over the decision by a nation’s president to grant nearly 160 operating licenses for radio and television stations.

The new broadcast properties are coming to Nigeria.

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In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) addresses three petitions for reconsideration of the 2017 Report and Order in this proceeding, which reorganized and updated the Personal Radio Services rules. Cobra Electronics Corporation (Cobra), Motorola Solutions, Inc. (Motorola), and Medtronic, Inc. (Medtronic) each filed a petition for reconsideration of particular aspects of the Report and Order regarding specific services. In the Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, the Commission finds that the public interest will be served by granting the petitions and making some additional rule corrections.

Issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $3,000 to he School Board of Broward County, Florida for public file violations for Station WBEC-TVBoca Raton, Florida

Issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $3,000 to Nexstar Media Inc. for public file violations for Station WYCW, Asheville, North Carolina

WZRH’s downed tower in Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Ida.

This year’s hurricanes and wildfires are prompting the FCC to closely examine the protocols it uses to gather communications infrastructure information from broadcasters and others following a natural disaster or unpredictable disaster.

The FCC this week will consider an item that could make it mandatory for broadcasters to report outages following natural disasters, according to a draft of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. That would be a change from the current Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), which makes such submissions voluntary.

The draft notice seeks comment on ways to improve DIRS and the overall reliability and resiliency of communications networks during emergencies.

[Read: Rosenworcel Gives CSRIC Its New Charge]

The FCC established the web-based DIRS in 2007 following Hurricane Katrina. During times of emergency, DIRS enables broadcasters to report service degradations and request assistance if necessary. Typically the FCC compiles the data and provides network status information to federal emergency management officials as well as publishes reports of restoration information without company-identifying information.

The commission uses the information gathered through DIRS and the Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) to develop situational awareness during communications outages and analyze outage trends, such as an increasing trend in network disruptions caused by power outages.

Some of the questions the draft rulemaking proceeding asks are whether DIRS reporting should be made mandatory, what kind of burden that mandatory reporting would place on broadcast stations and whether the burden of mandatory reporting would impede a station’s coverage of the emergency.

Other questions posed in the draft proposal ask if the FCC has the legal authority to mandate such reporting and consideration of what penalties could be imposed for failing to report.

The draft notice, which specifically mentions Hurricane Ida and the damage it did to the Gulf Coast region in late August, also seeks comment on ways to mitigate the effects of power outages on communications network operations in the aftermath of disasters.

The loss of power following Hurricane Ida in is specifically addressed in the draft proposal. The FCC says especially hard hit were cell tower sites that lacked backup power infrastructure.

“NORS and DIRS data collected by the commission in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and other recent disaster events reveal that a lack of commercial power at key equipment and facilities is the single biggest reason why communications networks transmitting 911 service and related emergency information fail in the aftermath of disaster events,” the draft proposal say. “For example, the commission’s DIRS data show that the majority of cell site outages in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ida’s central disaster region were due to a lack of commercial power availability.”

[Read: Big Louisiana Radio Tower Comes Down in Ida]

In fact, the FCC is considering backup power requirements for DIRS and NORS participants, according to the proposal. “To the extent that the commission were to adopt backup power requirements, providers subject to them, potentially including cable providers, direct broadcast satellite providers, satellite digital audio radio service, TV and radio broadcasters, Commercial Mobile Radio Service and other wireless service providers,” according to the FCC release.

The commission says it is mindful that providers subject to any new rules will incur costs should the proposals be adopted,” according to the draft notice.

The FCC believes the increasing frequency of natural disasters is reason enough to examine the resiliency of the communications grid across the country, according to the draft proposal.

“If the current trend continues without corrective action, the frequency of outages will worsen in coming years as the nation experiences disaster events of increasing severity, duration, and impact, including hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires,” the draft NPRM says.

FCC Acting Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel is visiting Baton Rouge, La., on Wednesday to survey firsthand Hurricane Ida recovery efforts.

Supporting resilient infrastructure has never been more important. The FCC is committed to supporting recovery efforts and doing all we can to help restore communications networks as quickly as possible,” Rosenworcel said in a press release. “I look forward to traveling to Louisiana to learn firsthand what worked, what didn’t, and where the FCC can do better.”

The FCC will consider the draft NPRM at its Sept. 30 open meeting. A comment period will commence following publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register.

The post FCC Suggests Revisions to Disaster Information Reporting System appeared first on Radio World.

Following a V-shaped recovery in 2021, growth rates are bound to slow down somewhat in 2022.

That said, MAGNA on Monday revealed that it still anticipates double-digit growth, bringing the market above the $300 billion mark for the first time.

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A veteran local media executive has been named President and GM of CBS News and Stations’ local businesses in Los Angeles.

It’s a role that puts the person presently in charge of Hearst Television‘s NBC affiliate in New Orleans in the top position at two of ViacomCBS’s biggest owned-and-operated stations.

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LOS ANGELES — Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has signed off on a definitive agreement to acquire one of the world’s biggest entertainment and sports agencies, putting the wheels in motion on a major merger designed to “drive broader and more inclusive representation as their clients, their work, and their brands shape culture.”

Upon closing, ICM Partners will be absorbed by CAA — effectively eliminating a competitor in the world of artist management.

The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

In a joint statement released Monday, CAA executives Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, and Richard Lovett said the strategic combination of CAA and ICM “bolsters our collective resources, expertise, and relationships to deliver even more opportunities for our world-class clients to build their careers and their brands across multiple disciplines and platforms in an evolving marketplace.”

The trio also pointed to CAA’s “strong financial position,” which enables it to continue to expand and diversify our businesses, “with service and representation remaining central to what we do and who we are.”

They said, “We’re fortunate to have a partner in ICM who shares our commitment to the widest and most inclusive vision possible for what our clients and company can accomplish together.”

ICM’s Chris Silbermann will join CAA’s shareholder board. He said, “Together, we will build upon our accomplishments and entrepreneurial spirit, and continue to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the best interests of our clients, as well as empowering new, diverse voices within the industry.”

ICM brings to CAA a global roster of artists in film, television, music, comedy, theater, games, politics, and podcasting. ICM’s books division “superbly complements” CAA’s content-driven motion pictures, television, and podcasting businesses, in addition to its speakers arm, and other divisions, CAA noted.

Further, ICM’s London-based ICM Stellar Sports, serves more than 800 clients around the globe and maintains offices in 10 countries, is seen as a key addition to CAA.

CAA is a leading entertainment, media, and sports enterprise, with global expertise in motion pictures, television, music, sports, theater, digital media, publishing, endorsements, media finance, consumer investing, fashion, podcasting, speaking, games, and philanthropy.

In fact, CAA was the first entertainment talent agency to build a sports business, create an investment bank, launch a venture fund, found technology start-up companies, and establish a business in China, among other industry innovations. A subsidiary of CAA, Entertainment Benefits Group (EBG) is a leader in corporate entertainment and travel, with more than 40,000 clients and 60 million users. Founded in 1975, CAA is headquartered in Los Angeles.

Originally founded in 1975 as International Creative Management, then rebranded as ICM Partners in 2012, ICM has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and London.

Advisors Allen & Company LLC served as financial advisor for CAA, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as legal advisor. Lazard served as financial advisor for ICM, with Sheppard Mullin and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as legal advisors.

Fred Weinberg and friend in a photo from LinkedIn.

Broadcaster Fred Weinberg has died at age 69.

The CEO of USA Radio Networks passed away on Thursday, according to his obituary, which described him as one of the industry’s “more colorful” owners.

He or his company owned or operated stations in Oklahoma, Nevada, Texas, Arizona and Minnesota. He purchased USA Radio Networks in 2018; the company produces and syndicates radio programming.

Born in New Mexico, Weinberg grew up in Illinois, where he flew with the Civil Air Patrol and worked as a stringer for the Peoria Journal Star. According to the obituary he got involved with WCBU, the campus radio station at Bradley University, and became station manager.

His friend Janet Bro, COO of USA, wrote in an email that Weinberg’s father was dean of engineering at Bradley University and fired his son from the position of station manager, saying he should go buy his own station. “So he did and never looked back.”

According to his obituary, “He took a detour from broadcasting in 1975 for careers at the Penny Press Peoria Newspaper, EF Hutton and ownership of Three Worlds Disco. He tried his hand in the oil business and did a stint with ABC TV before deciding to get back into the business he loved: radio. Fred also published the Penny Press Nevada, a conservative weekly online newspaper, and worked with the Nevada Republican Party in his spare time.”

The obituary recalls that Weinberg “stood up for the rights of small station owners. One of his proudest moments was successfully defending a lawsuit from Arbitron.”

The post Fred Weinberg Dies, Was CEO of USA Radio appeared first on Radio World.

Sanford Williams

At the FCC, Sanford Williams will take a senior leadership position in the Office of Managing Director as its deputy managing director.

He most recently was director of the commission’s Office of Communications Business Opportunities.

Succeeding him in the latter role is Joy Ragsdale, who currently is field counsel in the Enforcement Bureau.

The announcement was made by FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. She said both have put in years of service at the commission.

Joy Ragsdale

As head of OCBO, Williams “spearheaded work to promote digital empowerment, inclusion, equity and diversity in the tech sector.”

At the Enforcement Bureau, Joy Ragsdale worked with field agents on various investigations including broadcast station operations, EAS regulation and pirate radio.

Williams will also continue as a special advisor to Rosenworcel.

The post Williams, Ragsdale Promoted at FCC appeared first on Radio World.