Industry News

Until now, it has been known as Litton Entertainment. That name is being phased out, as a senior leadership team has been formed to serve on what will now be known as Hearst Media Production Group.

Three executives will take newly created positions at Hearst Media Production Group, which was formed in September 2021 to expand Hearst Television’s original program production and distribution, incorporating existing resources from Litton Entertainment and the weekly syndicated program “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien.”

• Bryan Curb has been named EVP/GM of educational/informational (E/I) programming. He was Chief Creative Officer for Litton Entertainment.  Before joining Litton in 2018, he was founder and CEO of MTO Productions, an independent television and video production company.
• Angelica Rosas McDaniel will serve as EVP/GM of entertainment. She previously served as EVP/Strategy and Creative Development for Litton Entertainment. McDaniel will lead the newly formed entertainment unit, with a focus on unscripted original program development and related marketing, syndication and distribution. She joined Litton in 2020 from CBS Corporation, where she served for nine years, most recently as executive vice president of daytime programs and syndicated program development.
• Serving as CFO is Chris Matthews; he was SVP/CFO for Litton since 2016.

Litton was founded in 1989; Hearst acquired a majority interest in 2017 and the balance in 2021.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has appointed a host of individuals — many of which are broadcast media executives — to serve as members of the three working groups of the Communications Equity and Diversity Council: Innovation and Access, Digital Empowerment and Inclusion, and Diversity and Equity.

The working groups, which will assist the CEDC in carrying out its mission, include members of the CEDC, additional working group members and independent subject matter experts.

The CEDC’s mission is to focus on diversity and equity across the tech sector. The FCC explains, “The Council will provide the Commission with recommendations on advancing equity in the provision of and access to digital communication services and products for all people of the United States.”

The Innovation and Access Working Group will recommend solutions to reduce entry barriers and encourage ownership and management of media, digital, communications services and next-generation technology properties and start-ups to encourage viewpoint diversity by a broad range of voices.

Chair:
Robert Brooks, Digital Solutions Specialist — WHUR-FM 96.3 in Washington, D.C.

Members of the CEDC Appointed to the Innovation and Access Working Group:

• Matthew Bauer, VP/Executive Director of Connected Communities — Wireless Research Center
• Caroline Beasley, CEO, Beasley Media Group
• Milton Clipper, Founder, Clipper and Company — Representing America’s Public Television Stations
• Anna Gomez, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP and ACDDE Chair Emeritus — Representing Hispanic National Bar Association
• Cecelia Gordon, Vice President of Distribution, Starz
• David Honig, President/CEO, JulGlo Productions LLC
• Sherman Kizart, Managing Director and Founder, Kizart Media Partners
• Henry Rivera, Partner, Wiley Rein — Representing Emma Bowen Foundation
• Steven Roberts, President and Principal — The Roberts Companies
• Joycelyn Tate, Senior Policy Advisor — Black Women’s Roundtable, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

Additional Individuals Appointed Members of the CEDC Innovation and Access Working Group:

• Barbara Ciara, Managing Editor, WTKR-TV in Norfolk — Representing the National Association of Black Journalists
• Susan Corbett, Founder — National Digital Equity Center
• Tripp Crouse, News Director — KNBA in Anchorage, Alaska — Representing the Native American Journalists Association
• Monica Desai, Global Head of Connectivity and Access Policy at Facebook — Representing INCOMPAS
• Jorge Figueredo, Executive Director — Edu-Futuro
• Charles Harrell II, President and CEO — The IT Architect Corporation
• C. Howie Hodges, II, Co-founder and Sr. Vice President of Government and External Affairs — Centri Tech
• Jennifer J. Jackson, EVP — Stellar TV and Central City Productions
• Leticia Latino-Van Spluteren, CEO — Neptuno USA
• Eve Lewis, Assistant City Attorney — City of Coconut Creek, Fla.

The Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group will make recommendations for addressing digital redlining and other barriers that impact equitable access to emerging technology in under-served and under-connected communities.

The Diversity and Equity Working Group will propose solutions and approaches on how the FCC can affirmatively advance equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity in the telecommunications industry to address inequalities in workplace employment policies and programs.

Among its Members are Skip Dillard, the recently appointed Brand Manager for Audacy-owned Classic Hip-Hop WXBK “94.7 The Block” in New York.

And, as an “additional individual” appointed to this group is Otto Padrón, President/CEO of Meruelo Media.

Second-generation Shure SRH440A Headphones

Shure has improved its line of SRH headphones. According to the company, the second-generation SRH440A and SRH840A headphones offer enhanced audio quality and are built for long-wearing comfort.

The new models incorporate upgrades for critical listening and studio monitoring with lower harmonic distortion and more precise left-right driver matching. The SRH840A offers a tailored frequency response powered by 40-mm neodymium dynamic drivers for rich bass, a clear mid-range and extended highs. The SRH440A delivers detailed frequency response with audio designed for podcasting, home recording and critical editing and mixing, according to Shure.

Features for both the SRH440A and SRH840A include a closed-back, circumaural design with a lightweight, wide, padded headband that helps reduce background noise for long-wearing comfort, as well as a detachable straight cable standard for both models for better mobility.

The company says both headphones provide unique sound signatures optimized for creating and editing.

The SRH440A retails at £89/$99/€99 and the SRH840A is available for £135/$149/€149. Prices for both include the headphones; a detachable, straight 9-foot locking bayonet cable; and a threaded gold stereo 1/8- to 1/4-inch adapter. The SRH840A also includes a carrying bag.

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The Ranking Member of the influential Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has asked the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) “to work cooperatively to resolve spectrum policy issues.”

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The fate of a 630-watt FM radio station atop Mt. Hunsack, serving Somerset County, Pa., is once again cloudy. Faced with a Hearing Designation Order that will put his continued ability to own the station in the hands of FCC Administrative Law Judge Jane Hinckley Halprin, Roger Wahl was all but expected to participate in a pre-hearing conference scheduled for Thursday (1/13).

That didn’t happen, and Hinckley isn’t pleased. As such, what the future holds for WQZS-FM 93.3 in Meyersdale, Pa., may come quicker than anticipated. And, it is likely not good for Wahl.

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SiriusXM Holdings Inc. has acquired Cloud Cover Media, expanding its offerings for businesses that want music and messaging services.

Cloud Cover Media offers Cloud Cover Music, which offers services that “allow businesses to deliver music, with customized audio messaging if desired, to create the desired atmosphere for their prospects, customers and clients.”

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SiriusXM already serves the commercial music market with SiriusXM Music for Business and Pandora for Business. “Together these services provide comprehensive and complementary offerings for businesses of all sizes,” it said in the announcement.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Cloud Cover Music has an online platform and a large enterprise account team that “offers organizations of any size in any industry a robust selection of ad-free music for their business with full control over what their customers and employees will hear.”

The announcement was made by SiriusXM EVP Joe Verbrugge and Cloud Cover Music team VP/GM Mark Lehman, who remains with the firm.

Submit business announcements to radioworld@futurenet.com.

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He’s a five-year syndicated morning radio host whose resume includes former Miami Rocker “Zeta 4” and Central Florida Top 40 outlet “107-1 A1A.” He’s also a feature film star.

On Friday, Brad Abrell (pronounced A-Brill) will be heard — but not seen — in potentially millions of homes that have access to Amazon Prime. How so? He’s playing Frankenstein … for real.

In this InFOCUS Podcast, Brad turns on the mic and chats with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson by phone from Hollywood to share how his role in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania came to be, and why radio remains a vital part of his life.

Listen to “The InFOCUS Podcast: Brad Abrell” on Spreaker.

With Spotify the go-to in 2022 for consumers who desire high-quality audio-on-demand, Pandora has repositioned itself under the ownership of SiriusXM Holdings Inc. as more of an in-store audio solution than an everyday listener attraction, even with Pandora-powered app-only channels for Sirius XM subscribers.

Now, SiriusXM is taking a bigger step into the music-in-stores arena by acquiring a business known for legal streaming of music.

Sirius XM Radio Inc., has acquired Cloud Cover Media, parent of Cloud Cover Music. It’s an entity known for its “music for business” service and employs business management, music programming, licensing, and software development teams. Cloud Cover Music’s offerings allow businesses to deliver music, with customized audio messaging if desired, “to create the desired atmosphere for their prospects, customers, and clients,” Sirius XM says.

Is it another nail in the coffin for traditional radio at a retail establishment? Perhaps not, given its use in mom-and-pop retailers. However, larger retailers and those in the hospitality area likely rely on ad-free music for their business. In the case of Cloud Cover Music, it is in use at a wide variety of commercial locations across the United States and Canada.

Cloud Cover Music joins SiriusXM Music for Business and Pandora for Business in SiriusXM’s commercial music portfolio.

The Cloud Cover Music team will continue to be led by VP/GM Mark Lehman. He commented, “As one of the fastest growing music for business services, we’re proud of the track record that Cloud Cover Music has achieved with our tens of thousands of customers. We’re excited to have the brand recognition and strength of SiriusXM and Pandora behind us as we continue to focus on delivering the best music and messaging products for businesses.”

SiriusXM was represented by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as counsel. Alkali Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Cloud Cover Media, and David Wohlberg and Ekong Udoekwere represented the company as counsel.

TEGNA has selected the successor to Bruce Cummings, who will be retiring from the company’s ABC affiliate in Corpus Christi, Tex., come March 4.

Rebecca Cantu will take over as President/GM for KIII-3. She officially joins the station on February 7, enjoying a month of training and settling in before Cummings bids farewell and concludes his career in local TV management.

Cantu will be responsible for overseeing the station’s operations across all platforms as well as leading the station’s focus on community service and driving results for local advertisers.

Cantu is shifting from TEGNA sibling KHOU-11 in Houston. There, she held the positions of business development manager and community marketing specialist. During her 14-year tenure at KHOU, Cantu led integrated marketing efforts across sales, content and marketing.

KHOU was her first job in broadcast media. Before that, Cantu was the public affairs special projects coordinator for Randalls Food Markets, an Albertsons brand. There, she coordinated community partnerships, sponsorships and special events for stores located in Houston and Austin.

“Rebecca’s proven track record of collaboration and leadership across departments has been a huge part of KHOU’s momentum in recent years,” said Brad Ramsey, SVP of Media Operations at TEGNA. “I am thrilled she will bring her energy and love of Corpus Christi back home to the community where she grew up and help lead the great KIII team into their next chapter of success.”

Cantu graduated from the TEGNA Leadership Development program in 2019.

DHD.audio DX2 Compact Mixing Console

The new DHD.audio DX2 desktop audio console will be unveiled next week in Germany at Hamburg Open 2022, January 19–20.

The DX2 compact mixing console is intended for use in small, tight spaces, such as newsroom desks, podcast studios, voiceover suites and video editing booths. It provides the same assistive mixing functions as other DHD consoles, including motorized faders, automix and auto level gain, and is designed for integration with DHD processing cores to form a complete system.

The DX2 is fully compatible with all current second-generation DHD cores running version 10 firmware. It comes as a four-fader console, with an optional six-fader expansion unit. A 3.5 mm output jack at the rear of the console doubles as an input, which can be used to connect a smartphone for live telephone interviews.

Also debuting will be the latest additions to DHD’s range of audio production processing cores, which integrate elements such as control surfaces, routing and external-device interfacing into a standalone or distributed system. The new XC3- and XD3-cores provide full support for intrasite as well as multisite IP-based device control and audio-over-IP signal distribution. They also support automated workflows and product virtualization.

The DHD XC3 IP core is designed for use in on-air studios. It comprises two dual-core DSP modules which combine into a compact 1U. These jointly support up to 48 stereo faders, 72 stereo buses and 16 channels of AES67 IP audio. IPx expansion modules can be added to accommodate 128 channels of AES67/Ravenna IP audio I/O and up to 512 Dante channels. A companion module, the new XC3 Concentrator, allows interconnection of multiple DHD IPx modules, control surfaces and I/O modules.

DHD’s new XD3 is an IP core for use with large mixing and routing systems. It includes support for networked operations such as DHD web apps. The XD3 IP core allows fully redundant configuration and can accommodate an optional router. Up to 96 stereo faders, 126 stereo buses and 24 Gigabit Ethernet audio ports are supported by the XD3 router and IP core combination.

DHD will also be promoting the extend feature set of is new version 10 firmware. This includes bolstered security and management features, unified user management based on web apps, expanded fader and bus handling, and refinements to the DHD Toolbox configuration software.

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