Top Radio News

VSiN Adds Key Networks as Ad Sales Representation Partner

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 11, 2024

VSiN

Key Networks has been selected as the ad sales representation partner for VSiN, The Sports Betting Network. Key Networks will connect brands and agencies with VSiN's audio content, featuring the latest in sports wagering news, analysis and data from broadcasters and betting experts. VSiN current;y provides content from the world of sports betting across multiple platforms, including more than 300 stations, iHeartRadio, YouTubeTV, RSNs like Spectrum SportsNet LA, NESN, MASN, Rogers' Sportsnet, and others.

VSiN CEO Bill Adee said, "As we head into our busiest season, we're focused on rapidly expanding advertising and distribution partnerships, while continuing to deliver the most credible sports betting content available anywhere. The team at Key Networks is familiar with our groundbreaking network and innovative solutions for advertisers who want to reach our highly-desirable audience. We look forward to tapping their deep audio knowledge, experience and relationships to help accelerate our growth."

Key Networks Chief Operating Officer Dennis Green added, "Key Networks is excited to announce an ad sales partnership with VSiN which is a brand synonymous with providing the best programming content in the sports betting arena. VSiN continues to build this brand with great talent and an executive team that is widely respected in the world of sports. Key Networks prides itself on bringing the biggest and best brands to the marketplace and with VSiN we continue that practice."

Audacy Podcasts Inks Strategic Partnership with The Moth

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 11, 2024

The Moth

Audacy Podcasts inks a strategic partnership with storytelling nonprofit The Moth to handle sales and distribution for the organization's podcast, including video, social and sponsorships for live events. To date, The Moth's podcasts have been brought to listeners in partnership with PRX. PRX will continue to represent The Moth on public radio, which includes continued distribution of "The Moth Radio Hour" to more than 560 stations.

The Moth podcast feed will move to Audacy on January 1, 2025, and be accessible on the Audacy app and everywhere podcasts are available. The Moth will continue its release schedule with new and encore episodes of "The Moth Radio Hour" on Tuesdays and original episodes of "The Moth Podcast" on Fridays.

"As a nonprofit organization, the opportunity to broaden our reach with Audacy perfectly aligns with our mission of building a more connected world through the art of true personal storytelling. We're thrilled to partner with their talented team to ensure these vital stories are amplified and heard by more listeners -- and help brands connect with our community meaningfully through our audio programming, 600 live events yearly, 1.3MM social media followers, and our digital extensions," said The Moth Executive Director Sarah Haberman.

"Early in my career, I was a producer at The Moth, so I know firsthand how special this storytelling giant is. The Moth is unparalleled in the innovative work they create, and we're thrilled to welcome them to the Audacy family," added Audacy Podcasts EVP Jenna Weiss-Berman. "From the award-winning podcasts to live events and more, our partnership offers tremendous opportunities for advertisers to connect with deeply engaged listeners."

The Moth is represented by WME.

Study Finds Consumers Feel Ignored By Advertisers

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

iHeartMedia and Pushkin Industries

iHeartMedia, in collaboration with Malcolm Gladwell's Pushkin Industries, has released its second annual study, "The New American Consumer 2.0," shedding light on a growing disconnect between American consumers and the marketers trying to reach them. The study found that nearly half of Americans (44 percent) feel overlooked by advertisers, a gap that has significant implications for brands looking to connect with diverse audiences.

The research, conducted by Morning Consult, Advertiser Perceptions and Critical Mass Media, highlights how the personal beliefs and values of marketers often diverge from those of average consumers. This misalignment, according to iHeartMedia CMO Gayle Troberman, can impede marketers' ability to effectively resonate with key audience segments. "We have more data than ever, yet nearly half of American consumers feel ignored," said Troberman. "We need to ensure our marketing decisions are driven by consumer realities, not our personal perceptions."

The study emphasized that consumers are willing to reward brands that share their values. Seventy-two percent said they avoid purchasing from brands that ignore them, and 75 percent stated they would pay more to support brands that align with their beliefs. The report found significant disparities in lifestyle preferences between marketers and consumers. For instance, while consumers enjoy activities such as hunting, fishing, and playing the lottery, marketers favor trends like pickleball and tennis.

A striking insight from the study is consumers' growing discomfort with hyper-targeted advertising. Sixty-seven percent expressed frustration with being "trailed" by targeted ads, and 7 in 10 consumers claimed these ads are often irrelevant. Despite these concerns, marketers plan to spend $9.5 billion on hypertargeting campaigns in 2024.

"Today's consumers are more aware of the social and economic landscape and hold brands to higher standards," said Gladwell, stressing the importance of understanding the biases shaping marketing strategies.

Other key findings from the report include:

• Disconnect in Purchasing Decisions: Consumers take a longer path to purchase, consulting family and friends and saving for weeks or months for items costing $100, while marketers make faster, more independent buying decisions, even for items over $1,000.

• Marketing Misalignment on Lifestyle Trends: While consumers find religious values and law and order important, marketers place less emphasis on these areas, focusing instead on luxury items and wellness trends that may not resonate with the average consumer.

Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia's Digital Audio Group, pointed out another gap in media consumption. He noted that although consumers spend about a third of their media time on audio, including broadcast radio, marketers often underestimate its role in daily life, particularly in commuting contexts.

The findings were presented at iHeartMedia's AudioCon 2024 in New York City, with Byrne and Gladwell delivering the keynote at iHeartMedia's headquarters.

DBC's WCNN Appoints Andy Roth As Director of Programming

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Andy Roth

Dickey Broadcasting Company appoints Andy Roth as Director of Programming for DBC's heritage Sports/Talk WCNN & W229AG (Sports Radio 680/93.7 FM The Fan) in Atlanta. The 30-year industry veteran has been the sole Brand Manager for WKRK (92.3 The Fan) in Cleveland since it signed on in 2011 and currently serves in that capacity. He led the Marconi-winning sports radio staff of WGR in 2009 and also founded MLB Radio, the first ever all-baseball internet radio station.

In his new role at Dickey Broadcasting Company, Roth will be responsible for managing and coaching DBC's prime-time lineup of talk hosts, four regional sports networks (including the Atlanta Braves Radio Network), a growing Digital Department and DBC's Production Department.

"We are thrilled to welcome Andy Roth to the Dickey Broadcasting Company family," said DBC President David Dickey. "His extensive experience and strategic acumen will be instrumental in driving our programming and content-creation strategies forward to provide Atlantans and the region's sports fans with the best shows, insight, and analysis. We are very confident that Andy's experience and leadership will help us achieve new levels of consumption and listener engagement for our listeners, our team partners, and our great sponsors."

"I'm thrilled to join the staff of this heritage radio station," added Andy Roth. "David Dickey's team has been an important part of Atlanta's sports scene for over 3 decades, and I can't wait to experience everything from the Atlanta Braves to the crowning of a college football champion in Atlanta as the calendar turns to 2025."

NAB Releases Radio Station Self-Inspection Guides

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has released a new Broadcast Station Self-Inspection Guide for AM radio stations, marking the third in a series of self-inspection guides. NAB unveiled guides for FM radio and television stations at the 2024 NAB Show in April. These tools are designed to help broadcasters effectively conduct self-inspections and ensure compliance with federal regulations. Guides for low-power and translator stations are expected to be released soon.

NAB joined with the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) to provide broadcasters with up-to-date, standardized guidance on compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and policies. While the FCC previously issued self-inspection checklists, it discontinued updates in 2010, despite many subsequent changes in regulations. These new guides aim to fill the gap and are also available to contract inspectors participating in the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program, which operates in partnership with many state broadcaster associations.

The guides are available as a free resource to NAB members at the member downloads section of the NAB website. SBE members may also access the guides directly through the SBE website.

MIW Announces Free Virtual Digital Sales Webinar

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW)

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW), in conjunction with Beasley Media Group, will hold an upcoming Digital Sales Webinar. The event will feature three industry leaders and innovators in the digital space: Beasley Media Group Chief Revenue Officer Tina Murley, Audacy SVP of Digital Media Sales and Operations Jenny Sutton and Townsquare Media Minnesota Market President Shannon Knoepke. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 at 4pm ET.

The webinar will feature a deep dive into the current landscape of digital sales and management in today's rapidly evolving media environment. Panelists will share their expertise on a range of critical topics, including the growing importance of Digital Audio, with a focus on streaming and podcasting and leveraging social media as a tool for audience engagement and revenue generation.

"This webinar is a unique opportunity to learn from the top minds in digital sales and gain insights that can help navigate the complexities of today's media landscape," said MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff. "We encourage everyone to join us for what promises to be a compelling and educational event, beautifully arranged by Sheila Kirby and generously sponsored by Beasley Media Group."

"We are thrilled to support this important MIW webinar that underscores the vital role digital plays in our business today," added Beasley Media Group CEO Caroline Beasley.

Register for this free Digital Sales Webinar here.

Podtrac Issues Top Podcasts and Networks for August 2024

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Podtrac

The Top U.S. and Global Publishers & Networks and Top U.S. Podcast rankings for August are now available from Podtrac. Highlights of the July, 2024 rankings include: U.S. UMA was up for thirteen of the U.S. ranking participants in August over July, while eleven of the U.S. ranking participants were up on U.S. Downloads month-over-month. Seven of the Top Global Networks were up on Global Downloads, Streams & Views in August over July.

Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholarship Now Accepting Apps

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholarship

CRB and CRS are now accepting applications for the Lisa McKay Women in Radio Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to honor the legacy of of late radio programmer Lisa McKay, who remains an inspiration to aspiring female leaders. The application window is open from now until September 30.

Each recipient will be awarded a package that includes registration for CRS 2025, hotel accommodations and airfare. Additionally, recipients will be recognized during the CRS 2025 week.

For more information, visit CountryRadioSeminar.com and follow CRS on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Audacy's ''I'm Listening'' Broadcast Returns September 25

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 10, 2024

I'm Listening

Audacy's initiative, "I'm Listening," continues with its ongoing mental health dialogue by advocating and elevating stories through its annual broadcast special on Wednesday, September 25, from 7-9pm local time. In partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the program will engage artists, actors and medical professionals in conversations highlighting mental health resources and the lifesaving benefits of open communication.

Audacy's "I'm Listening" serves as a safe space for those struggling with mental health, encouraging them to call in with their experiences and learn about mental wellness tools, showing them that they are never alone.

Radio personality and co-host of NBC's "Today" and host of "The Voice," Carson Daly, and Audacy's syndicated Country host Katie Neal, will return to host the broadcast alongside psychologist, author, scientist and founder of the mental health nonprofit, The AAKOMA Project, Dr. Alfiee "Dr. Alfiee" M. Breland-Noble, and AFSP's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Yu Moutier. The group will set aside time during the special to shine a spotlight on several areas, including adolescents and children, the election and news cycle, veterans and first responders and postpartum depression.

"I'm honored to return as host for Audacy's 'I'm Listening' broadcast and broaden the mental health conversation through their audio network," said Daly. "More so now than ever it is important that we all look for ways to maintain and encourage our mental wellness. 'I'm Listening' provides the audience with critical resources and connects them with the celebrities they know and love by sharing stories from some of the biggest names in music and sports. I encourage everyone to join the conversation on September 25."

"'I'm Listening' is a culmination of our continuous effort to demonstrate how talk saves lives by curating intentional content and asking our guests quality questions," said Audacy Senior Vice President of Programming Dave Richards. "Our digital platform and portfolio of over 220 stations allows us to be a constant companion in listeners' mental health journeys nationwide, giving us multiple channels to offer those struggling an avenue for expression, access to support, candid conversations and a community that actively listens as they courageously share their stories. We welcome everyone to join as we uncover another layer of this discussion together."

"Reaching people with authentic stories that resonate and that highlight resiliency are known to increase help-seeking, connection and save lives. The 'I'm Listening' initiative provides an incredible platform to reach people with the message that they are not alone and that their mental health matters," said AFSP CEO Bob Gebbia. "We are honored to be partners with a media company like Audacy that values our expertise and our voices in shaping our culture's narrative toward uplifting mental health and suicide preventio."

Audacy has raised over $2 million in support of national and local organizations by collaborating with partners like AFSP on events and experiences, including the upcoming annual We Can Survive concert, starring Justin Timberlake, New Kids On The Block, Tate McRae and more at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on Saturday, September 28. A portion of the event's proceeds will benefit AFSP, and listeners can donate to the nonprofit using the digital fundraising platform, Fandiem, for the chance to win tickets to the show.

"We always like to acknowledge our fans for having the strength to get through whatever they were or are going through. Maybe our music helps a little, but they do the hard work," said Donnie Wahlberg, New Kids On The Block, We Can Survive performers. "Musicians getting the word out can help people. If we can deal with it or express our vulnerabilities, it can encourage other people to do the same."

CMA Announces 2024 Broadcast Award Nominations

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

CMA Broadcast Awards

The Country Music Association has announced the nominations of the 2024 CMA Broadcast Awards on Monday morning. Nominated for Major Market Radio Station of the Year is Cox Media Group's KCYY (Y100) in San Antonio, Urban One's KKBQ (93Q) in Houston, Bonneville's KYGO in Denver, Beasley Media Group's WXTU in Philadelphia and Audacy's WYCD in Detroit. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live from Nashville on Wednesday, November 20, from 8-11pm ET on ABC.

The full list of 2024 CMA Broadcast Awards nominations is as follows:

Weekly National

• "American Country Countdown" (Kix Brooks) - Cumulus/Westwood One
• "Country Gold with Terri Clark" (Terri Clark) - Westwood One
• "Crook & Chase Countdown" (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) - Jim Owens Entertainment
• "Highway Hot 30 with Buzz Brainard" (Buzz Brainard) - SiriusXM
• "Honky Tonkin' with Tracy Lawrence" (Tracy Lawrence and Patrick Thomas) - Silverfish Media

• "The Bobby Bones Show" (Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, "Lunchbox" Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, Morgan Huelsman, "SZN Raymundo" Ray Slater, "Mike D" Rodriguez, Abby Anderson, "Kick Off Kevin" O'Connell, and Stephen "Scuba Steve" Spradlin) - iHeartMedia
• "Michael J On Air" (Michael J. Stuehler) - iHeartMedia
• "Nights with Elaina" (Elaina Smith) - Westwood One / Cumulus Media
• "PickleJar Up All Night with Patrick Thomas" (Patrick Thomas) - PickleJar / Cumulus Media
• "Steve Harmon Show" (Steve Harmon) - Westwood One / Cumulus Media

• "The Andie Summers Show" (Andie Summers, Jeff Kurkjian, Donnie Black, and Shannon Boyle) - WXTU, Philadelphia, PA
• "Chris Carr & Company" (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and Sam Sansevere) - KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
• "Frito & Katy" (Tucker "Frito" Young and Katy Dempsey) - KCYY, San Antonio, TX
• "The Morning Wolfpack with Matt McAllister" (Matt McAllister, Gabe Mercer, and "Captain Ron" Koons) - KKWF, Seattle, WA
• "The Most Fun Afternoons With Scotty Kay" (Scotty Kay) - WUSN, Chicago, IL

• "Dale Carter Morning Show" (Dale Carter) - KFKF, Kansas City, MO
• "Heather Froglear" (Heather Froglear) - KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, CA
• "Jesse & Anna" (Jesse Tack and Anna Marie) - WUBE, Cincinnati, OH
• "Mike & Amanda" (Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry) - WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, NC
• "On-Air with Anthony" (Anthony Donatelli) - KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, CA

• "Brent Michaels" (Brent Michaels) - KUZZ, Bakersfield, CA
• "Joey & Nancy" (Joey Tack, Nancy Barger, and Karly Duggan) - WIVK, Knoxville, TN
• "New Country Mornings with Nancy and Woody" (Nancy Wilson and Aaron "Woody" Woods) - WHKO, Dayton, OH
• "Scott and Sarah in the Morning" (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) - WQMX, Akron, OH
• "Steve & Gina In The Morning" (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) - KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE

• "Dan Austin Show" (Dan Austin) - WQHK, Fort Wayne, IN
• "Dave and Jenn" (Dave Roberts and Jenn Seay) - WTCR, Huntington-Ashland, WV
• "The Eddie Foxx Show" (Eddie Foxx and Amanda Foxx) - WKSF, Asheville, NC
• "Hilley & Hart" (Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart) - KATI, Columbia, MO
• "Officer Don & DeAnn" ("Officer Don" Evans and DeAnn Stephens) - WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, KY

• KCYY - San Antonio, TX
• KKBQ - Houston, TX
• KYGO - Denver, CO
• WXTU - Philadelphia, PA
• WYCD - Detroit, MI

• WIRK - West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
• WMIL - Milwaukee-Racine, WI
• WQDR - Raleigh-Durham, NC
• WSIX - Nashville, TN
• WWKA - Orlando, FL

• KXKT - Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE
• WBEE - Rochester, NY
• WIVK - Knoxville, TN
• WLFP - Memphis, TN
• WUSY - Chattanooga, TN

• WCOW - La Crosse, WI
• WKML - Fayetteville, NC
• WKXC - Augusta, GA
• WXFL - Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
• WYCT - Pensacola, FL

SummitMedia Appoints Chadwick ''A.J.'' Hausknecht as SVP/P

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

Chadwick ''A.J.'' Hausknecht

SummitMedia appoints Chadwick "A.J." Hausknecht as Senior Vice President of Programming for Top 40, Hot AC and AC. He comes to SummitMedia from iHeartMedia, where he most recently served as Region SVP of Programming for the company's Carolina Metro, leading programming initiatives across a five-market region encompassing 28 radio brands. Hausknecht joined iHeart in 2012.

In this new role, Hausknecht will oversee SummitMedia's WPYA in Birmingham, WWST (Star 102.1) in Knoxville, WVEZ (Mix 106.9) in Louisville, KQCH (Channel 94.1) in Omaha, KSRZ (Star 104.5) in Omaha, WURV (103.7 Your Variety) in Richmond, KSPW (Power 96.5) in Springfield and KRTR (Krater 96.3) in Honolulu.

"The opportunity to spearhead programming efforts for Summit Media's Top 40, Hot AC and AC formats is an incredible honor," said Hausknecht. "We are entering an exciting new phase, and I'm privileged to be at the helm of these brands' continued growth to maximize our audio capabilities in 2024 and beyond."

"We are growing our programming leadership team, adding incredible experience and innovative knowledge to capitalize on the evolution in the audio space," added SummitMedia Executive Vice President Randy Chase. "With this leadership team in place, we believe we will deliver highly engaging products focused on the consumer and set up every member of the SummitMedia team to perform at their full potential."

PodcastOne Names Steve Lehman as Vice Chairman

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

PodcastOne

PodcastOne appoints Steve Lehman as its Vice Chairman, focusing on helping the company drive both organic and inorganic growth opportunities, as well as advising PodcastOne's senior management with regard to PodcastOne's mergers and acquisitions efforts and overall strategy. Lehman was the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Premiere Networks, which is now the part of iHeartMedia.

"We are pleased to welcome Steve Lehman to PodcastOne. His unique knowledge of content and media, and his successful track record and history in merger, roll-up, and consolidation, perfectly aligns with PodcastOne's strategy and vision for its long-term growth. We continue to launch new revenue channels with high margins atop of our existing strong infrastructure, and we look forward to leveraging Steve's experience, leaning into his expertise and relationships as PodcastOne further builds its global brand," said PodcastOne President and Co-Founder Kit Gray.

Lehman has experience on both boards, and advisory boards, with companies including Vymedic Biotech, Valkyrie Bitcoin ETF, CoFoundersLab, DocuSign, Krach Institute for Tech Deplomacy, Ucode and multiple other start-ups to series A companies. Lehman was a first round investor in Mark Cuban's Broadcast.com, a partner in merchant bank Broadstream Capital Partners, and an investor, entrepreneur and lifelong business leader.

Legendary Utah Broadcaster Jan A. Bagley Dies at 78

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

Jan A. Bagley

Legendary Utah Broadcaster Jan A. Bagley, who was a Senior Marketing Strategist with Redrock Media, has died. He was 78. Bagley passed away on Wednesday, September 4 in St. George Utah from complications following routine surgery. He enjoyed a distinguished 52 years in Utah Broadcasting, holding sales, sales management and general management/executive positions with Carlson Communication's KRSP, C.I.C.'s KALL & KODJ, Bonneville's KSL and Capital Broadcasting's KBZN & KLO.

Bagleyn retired to St. George Utah in 2018 and joined Redrock Media where he served as Senior Advisor and Strategist for KURR, KRQX, KUTQ and KZYN. He was among the first Radio Sales Executives in the country to earn the C.R.M.C. designation awarded by the Radio Advertising Bureau.

Bagley was a graduate of the University of Utah, the Wharton School of Business Broadcast Management Program and served his country in the US Army National Guard. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ann Montgomery Bagley, 3 children and 11 grandchildren.

Report: Advertisers Care About Ad-Supported Audio

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

Cumulus Media and Westwood One

For the last ten years, Edison Research's quarterly "Share of Ear" study has been the authoritative examination of time spent with audio in America. Edison surveys 4,000 Americans annually to measure daily reach and time spent with all forms of audio. The Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group analysis of the just released Q2 2024 data focuses on what advertisers care about -- ad-supported audio.

• Since consumer interest in Pandora Radio hit an all-time high in 2008, its audience and profile have significantly collapsed, according to Google Search trends.

• A brand-new Advertiser Perceptions study conducted in August 2024 reveals marketers and media agencies need to "take the me out of media" as they wildly overestimate Spotify and Pandora audiences and dramatically understate AM/FM radio's shares.

• AM/FM radio represents the dominant ad-supported audio platform with a 69% overall share and a massive 86% in-car share.

• Podcast audiences soar. At a 19% share of ad-supported audio, podcasts now represent one out of every five minutes of U.S. ad-supported audio.

• Among registered voters, AM/FM radio leads in ad-supported audience share (69%), followed by podcasts (19%).

Radio.Cloud Powers Launch of ''TJ98.7: A Pop-Up Station''

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

TJ98.7: A Pop-Up Station

As previously reported, a new station hit the airwaves in New York, powered by cloud technology. TJ98.7: A Pop-Up Station launched on Saturday, August 31, taking over the former frequency of ESPN Radio, WEPN-FM. The station is a collaboration between Radio.Cloud, United Stations Radio Networks (USRN), and Emmis. It marks a new chapter in radio by utilizing Radio.Cloud's cloud-based radio playout studio and programming suite.

The station's launch, achieved in just seven days, was made possible by cloud technology, which eliminated the need for hardware expenses and allowed for localization of all station content. GeminiXIII COO Charles Steinhauer highlighted the teamwork that drove the project, saying, "This was an amazingly collaborative project which came together in seven days or so, and included engineering, programming, imaging, music selection, and marketing."

McVay Media President Mike McVay, praised the efficiency of the platform, noting, "I've been involved with many station launches in my career, but never one that launched at the absolute highest level with about a week to ramp up. Radio.Cloud enabled us to create the first-ever 'Pop-Up' radio station using their cloud-based technology."

TJ98.7 features a blend of music and talk programming, anchored by The TJ Show, with host TJ Taormina, a former Z100 alum, returning to the New York City airwaves. The station also brings in familiar voices, including Steve Kamer from YES Network and Inside Edition, and on-air personality Jai Kershner.

Taormina, reflecting on the fast-paced launch, said, "When this pop-up station was first discussed, my immediate concern was how to get the technical side together with so little time. The moment I connected with the Radio.Cloud team, I was convinced if anyone could do it...it was them."

The technical setup for TJ98.7 was also made seamless by Radio.Cloud's platform. Emmis New York's Chief Engineer, Alex Roman, emphasized the ease of installation, stating, "The server is a small appliance that fits on a rack shelf and integrated easily into our network with minimal configuration required."

Lupe De Los Santos Joins HRN Hispanic Radio Network as CCO

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

Lupe De Los Santos

Veteran Hispanic marketing expert Lupe De Los Santos joined HRN Hispanic Radio Networks as Chief Cultural Officer. Drawing on his 25 years of experience in the U.S. Hispanic/Latinx marketing space at advertising agencies and brands, De Los Santos will help grow the HRN brand. He's worked at New York/Boston and LA based agencies like Walton Isaacson, The Vidal Partnership, Team Enterprises, and DVC Worldwide for brands, such as Miller Lite, Tecate/Dos XX, Nissan, The Home Depot, Heineken, Wells Fargo and others.

"I'm excited to be working with HRN senior leadership, radio affiliates, partner brands, and on-air talent on how to best tap into the beautiful cultures that make up the U.S. Hispanic marketplace," said De Los Santos. "HRN's audio platform features popular on-air talent and content that connect with the Hispanic audience. More great things are coming," he promised.

De Los Santo's first project will be to help HRN position Prisa content for the U.S. Hispanic audience. Prisa, the largest owner of Spanish speaking radio stations worldwide, has an enormous amount of content.

"With Lupe's insights on Hispanic communities, we can delve deeper into the behaviors and habits of the widely diverse U.S. Hispanic population and develop programming for engagement and growth," stated HRN Hispanic Radio Networks President Clark Logan. "We're delighted that Lupe has joined our team, and I look forward to collaborating with him."

De Los Santo has also worked on the client side at both Procter & Gamble and The Clorox Company, where he did similar work for brands such as Old Spice, Olay, Bounty, Crest, Secret, Clorox, Kingsford Charcoal, Hidden Valley Ranch and more, via increased investments in diversity owned and operated media companies to create Music Festivals, Content Platforms, Activate Sports Marketing Partnerships (NFL, Olympics, Indy Car, Major League Soccer, Mexican National Soccer Team, and more), Influencer Marketing Campaigns, as well as Retail Shopper Marketing programs.

Ham Broadcasting Buys Sound Broadcasters Madisonville

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, September 9, 2024

Ham Broadcasting owner Beth Mann

Ham Broadcasting Company has acquired five stations from Sound Broadcasters in Madisonville, KY -- some of which put a signal into Evansville, IN. The FCC granted the license transfer August 29. Included in the deal are WKTG-FM (Power Rock 93.9), Classic Country WFMW-AM (730) and three translators W235AC-FM (94.9), W290CR-FM (105.9) and W299CN-FM (107.7).

Ham owner Beth Mann (pictured) noted that the company has operated the stations under a management agreement for the last couple of months. Mann said the purchase "made sense" for her company -- and not just because of geographical location. This was also about a "value system."