NPR Plans Conservative Budget

 NPR is planning for a relatively flat budget for the upcoming fiscal year after falling short of revenue projections this year due to a decline in sponsorship income, according to a posting at Current. 

The network is “budgeting conservatively as we get past some of the economic uncertainty that’s happening right now and keeping a tight control on costs to be responsive and flexible to any changes throughout the year,” CFO Daphne Kwon told the NPR board’s finance committee Wednesday. 

NPR responded to the sponsorship shortfall with drastic cuts that have included a 10% reduction in staff and canceling podcasts such as Louder than a Riot and Invisibilia.

NPR is forecasting to end the current fiscal year $22 million below budget for revenue, with corporate sponsorship income more than $30 million below FY22. The current fiscal year ends this month. 

But because of the cuts, it plans to end the year nearly break-even in operating cash, Kwon said. It had budgeted for a deficit budget of more than $5 million in operating cash. 

In its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, NPR is planning for revenue and expenses to be roughly flat compared to FY23, Kwon said. 

Income projections are flat “partially because of the uncertain economic environment for the next 12 months,” Kwon said. “Sponsorship, our largest contributor, has been especially difficult to predict as sponsors are holding back dollars until the last minute, giving us less visibility into the future.”

Kwon said she anticipates slight revenue growth in two categories in FY24: 2% growth in sponsorship revenue and a 3% increase in station fee revenue.

NPR plans to leave in place “a number of cost-saving practices from fiscal ’23,” Kwon said. It will not increase its workforce above what has already been approved, she said. No “material capital initiatives or investments” are budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year, she said. 

If NPR encounters additional budget shortfalls, Kwon said, it can turn to “non-people areas … for expense relief.”

NPR’s capital expenditures budget will remain in maintenance mode for the upcoming fiscal year. However, the network is tracking “some end-of-life deadlines coming up for some of our equipment as the headquarters building and data center pass their 10th anniversary,” she said. 

'Margaritaville' Returns to Billboard's Hot 100

Jimmy Buffett’s signature song “Margaritaville,” among his many classics, returns to the Billboard Hot 100 this week, re-entering at No. 38 on the Sept. 16-dated ranking. It reached No. 8 in July 1977 and had last appeared on the chart dated Aug. 27, 1977.

Meanwhile, Buffett posthumously boasts the week’s top-selling song with the single, as well as the top-selling album, Songs You Know By Heart: Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hit(s).

The singer-songwriter died Sept. 1 at age 76. As announced on his website and social media accounts, “Jimmy passed away on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” the Sept. 2 post reads. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

“Margaritaville” contributes to Buffett’s big week on multiple Billboard charts, as fans flocked to his trademark feel-good sound following his death. In the Sept. 1-7 tracking week, his song catalog surged by 1,476% to 78.6 million official on-demand streams and 7,022% to 103,000 paid downloads in the U.S., according to Luminate. His albums collectively soared by 2,378% to 109,000 equivalent album units in that span. Further, his all-format radio airplay audience bounded by 338% to 21.2 million.

9/12 WAKE-UP CALL: Biden Deals To Free Americans

The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. In addition, as part of the deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on the sanctions waivers late last week, a month after U.S. and Iranian officials said an agreement in principle was in place. Congress was not informed of the waiver decision until Monday, according to the notification, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The outlines of the deal had been previously announced and the waiver was expected. But the notification marked the first time the administration said it was releasing five Iranian prisoners as part of the deal. The prisoners have not been named. The waiver drew criticism of President Joe Biden from Republicans and others who say the deal will boost the Iranian economy at a time when Iran poses a growing threat to U.S. troops and Mideast allies.

BREAKING: Biden reaches deal to get 5 Americans Released from Iran.

I already see some people trying to claim that Biden is giving Iran $6 Billion in cash in addition to releasing Iranian prisoners.

This is false.

Biden is waiving sanctions and allowing international banks to… pic.twitter.com/L7FLSPVn0U

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) September 11, 2023

➤UKRAINE FEARS DEADLOCK: Kyiv is contending with slow battlefield gains and a cautious West; even if Russian President Vladimir Putin were open to a cease-fire, he has a history of breaking deals. The current military and political standoff looks set to continue until one of those elements changes. Ukraine has the manpower and the determination to fight for a long time, provided the U.S. and its allies continue supplying aid. The West’s priorities are to weaken the Kremlin’s military and economic ability to pursue expansionist ambitions, keep NATO countries united and avoid World War III. The current deadlock ticks those boxes.

Biden expected to make final decision soon on sending long-range missiles to Ukraine https://t.co/Sksc0nrp8f

— CNN (@CNN) September 12, 2023

➤KILLER STILL ON THE LOOSE: The convicted murderer who busted out of a Pennsylvania prison last month allegedly broke into a house Monday night and was shot at seven times by the homeowner after stealing a rifle, according to a report. State police warned that Danelo Cavalcante may now be armed after he reportedly ran off with a .22 caliber rifle he snatched from the home, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia.  Cavalcante was spotted in East Nantmeal Township, where the homeowner fired at someone matching his description, Action News reported. The man fitting the convict’s profile fled and it’s unclear if he was hit, as no blood was found at the scene, according to the local ABC station. Hundreds of police — including SWAT officers in armored trucks — flooded the neighborhood after a helicopter caught a glimpse of the dangerous escapee in South Coventry Township.

NEW: Pennsylvania authorities warned that escaped convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante was armed, as they pursued in him through the town of South Coventry in the early hours of Tuesday. https://t.co/XSZtD6SLLW

— ABC News (@ABC) September 12, 2023

➤CHICAGO WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY UNLEASHING AGGRESSIVE DOGS ON POLICE OFFICERS: The Chicago Police Department announced the arrest of the suspect who allegedly unleashed two violent dogs on police officers Sunday.  Chicago resident Vernia Jones, 31, was charged with one felony count of aggravated battery of a peace officer, the Chicago Police Department said. She also faces two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is facing harsh criticism from both sides of the aisle over her recently issued order temporarily suspending certain gun rights in Albuquerque and its surrounding county. https://t.co/Df22vDZW2b

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 12, 2023

➤NEW COVID BOOSTER SOON: The Food and Drug Administration approved a new round of Covid boosters on Monday, that will arrive alongside the seasonal flu vaccine and shots to protect infants and older adults from R.S.V., a potentially lethal respiratory virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to follow up on Tuesday with an advisory meeting to discuss who should get the new shots, by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. After a final decision by the C.D.C.’s director, millions of doses will be shipped to pharmacies, clinics and health systems nationwide within days.

➤WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER? 

Las Vegas Radio: Tom Humm Is Back With Beasley

Beasley Media Group announces Tom Humm has been named Vice President of Business Development at Beasley Media Group’s Las Vegas-based radio properties.

In his newly created position, Humm will be responsible for working closely with Vice President and Market Manager Michael Cutchall in developing new business relationships for the market, creating new revenue streams, and increasing revenue with existing clients.

The veteran media executive served as Vice President and Market Manager of the company’s Las Vegas-based radio properties from 2008 – 2018.

Tom Humm

Prior to joining Beasley, Humm served as General Manager for CBS’ Las Vegas radio cluster, a position he attained in 1998 when the company acquired stations under his management.

A Las Vegas native and widely respected local broadcaster, Tom Humm received the Nevada Broadcasters Association’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 1999.

Humm entered the broadcast field as an account executive with KLUC in 1978 and was promoted to Local Sales Manager before assuming the role of GM of KXTZ in 1984; a position he held until 1991 when he departed for the GM position of KEYV/KFMS. Coming full circle, he returned to KLUC as GM in 1993, overseeing that station as well as KVEG (now KXNT) and KXNO (now KSFN).

The 1998 CBS purchase added KMZQ & KMXB to his managerial duties. His early Las Vegas days include graduation from Bishop Gorman High School, where he returned as a teacher and football coach following his own football career at the University of Nebraska.

“Tom brings with him an extensive and profound network of relationships with individuals and businesses in Las Vegas, alongside an unwavering passion for our industry,” said Beasley Media Group Vice President of Operations Kevin Rich. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome him back home to Beasley Las Vegas.”

“I am honored and grateful to be returning to Beasley Media Group,” said Humm. “Having previously worked for the Company for over 10 years I had the pleasure of working directly for Brian Beasley and with the local staff. As I started my career in Las Vegas Radio in 1978, I look forward to bringing a little local flavor to already great Sales and Programming teams.”

Buck, Aikman Pass Summerall, Madden In On-Air Longevity

Last night , with Monday Night Football’s season debut featuring Week 1’s most anticipated match-up, ESPN’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman embark on a record-setting 22nd season, becoming the NFL’s longest-tenured network broadcast team ever.

When the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets kicked off from the MetLife Stadium, Buck and Aikman surpassed the legendary duo of Pat Summerall and John Madden, who worked together for 21 years (1981-2001).

Buck and Aikman first teamed up at FOX for the 2002 NFL Season and remained until prior to last season, when they debuted as the voices of ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

During their partnership, Buck and Aikman:

• Have called over 300 regular season and 50 postseason games
• Were lead voices for Six Super Bowls(XXXIX, XLII, XLV, XLVIII, LI and LIV).
• Will call Super Bowl LXI (On ESPN and ABC, in their 25thseason together to conclude the 2026 season).

Cleveland Radio: Browns' Sports Voice Jim Donovan On Medical Leave

Longtime Voice of Cleveland Browns Jim Donovan

Earlier this year, Jim Donovan — longtime sports anchor at WKYC-TV4 Studios and the play-by-play voice of the Cleveland Browns — revealed that he is again battling leukemia.

Following this afternoon's Browns-Bengals game, Jimmy announced that he will be going on medical leave from WKYC and his Browns Radio Network duties as part of the next step in his treatment. However, Jimmy will anchor Monday's "Front Row" on 3News to recap the Browns-Bengals matchup prior to starting his leave.

Temporarily handling play-by-play duties on the Browns Radio Network will be Chris Rose, being joined by regular commentators Nathan Zegura and Je'Rod Cherry.

"I promise I'll be a listener, and I'll be back as soon as I can," Jimmy declared Sunday.

After being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2000, Jimmy began a decade-long battle with the disease that ultimately resulted in a bone marrow transplant in the summer of 2011. Since then, he has been closely monitoring his condition.

About a year and a half ago, Jimmy said he noticed something was amiss with his health. "My concerns were confirmed to me and it was told to me that I had a relapse of leukemia," he said this past May.

As he began a more aggressive treatment plan earlier this year, Jimmy decided to announce his leukemia relapse once his hair began falling out.

Atlanta Radio: Legendary Moby Discloses Stage4 Cancer Fight

Moby

James “Moby” Carney, once a popular country radio host for Atlanta country station Kicks 101.5 (now New Country) in the 1990s, has been hospitalized with stage 4 liver cancer.

The 69-year-old Moby has been bedridden for several weeks but is moving to rehab this week, according to his friend and fellow former radio host Steve Mitchell.

Moby, in a brief text Sunday, said he is in pain and noted that doctors had also found lesions in his esophagus.

“It’s pretty bad,” Mitchell said.

His son Jonah said “it’s difficult for him but he’s facing it with a sense of humor and as much positivity as I can imagine a person having in this situation.”

Moby’s heyday in Atlanta in the 1990s at Kicks included five years in syndication. He was a big personality who knew his rural audience well. But in 2002, Kicks program director Dene Hallam dropped Moby, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Moby was too cornpone for the suburban moms he was seeking.

Rock station Z93 picked Moby up soon after, but he didn’t last long there. Moby returned to his country roots and started his own syndicated radio operation, airing on small town radio stations across America, including many stations around metro Atlanta. His slogan: “The biggest small town in America!” For years, his favorite catchphrase to say on air was “Yeah baby!”

Moby, who is in both the Country Radio Hall of Fame and Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, retired in 2016.

Radio History: September 12

➦In 1932...Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 'Tarzan of the Apes' began as a 15-minute show on WOR NYC and several other stations.  The series had Burroughs' daughter, Joan, in the role of Jane.

H.V. Kaltenborn

➦In 1938...While with CBS Radio, commentator H.V. Kaltenborn made broadcasting history on this day.  Kaltenborn was one of the first news readers to provide analysis and insight into current news stories. His vast knowledge of foreign affairs and international politics amply equipped him for covering crises in Europe and the Far East in the 1930s.

His vivid reporting of the Spanish Civil War and the Czech crisis of 1938 helped establish the credibility of radio news in the public mind. Kaltenborn reported on the Spanish Civil War "while hiding in a haystack between the two armies. Listeners in America could hear bullets hitting the hay above him while he spoke."  He was so devoted to his work that he slept in the studio for 18 days while bringing broadcasting updates.

➦ In 1958...electrical engineer Jack S. Kilby was a newly employed engineer at Texas Instruments (TI). Lacking vacation time off, he spent the summer working on the problem in circuit design that was commonly called the "tyranny of numbers", and he finally came to the conclusion that the manufacturing of circuit components en masse in a single piece of semiconductor material could provide a solution.

On September 12, he presented his findings to company's management. He showed them a piece of germanium with an oscilloscope attached, pressed a switch, and the oscilloscope showed a continuous sine wave, proving that his integrated circuit worked, and hence he had solved the problem. U.S. Patent 3,138,743 was granted for a"Miniaturized Electronic Circuits", the first integrated micro-chip circuit, was granted the next year.  Along with Robert Noyce (who independently made a similar circuit a few months later), Kilby is generally credited as co-inventor of the integrated circuit.

➦In 2001... XM Satellite Radio was scheduled to start service on this date.  But because of the terrorist attacks of the previous day XM’s debut was postponed to Sept. 25th.

The company had its origins in the 1988 formation of the American Mobile Satellite Corporation (AMSC), a consortium of several organizations originally dedicated to satellite broadcasting of telephone, fax, and data signals. In 1992, AMSC established a unit called the American Mobile Radio Corporation dedicated to developing a satellite-based digital radio service; this was spun off as XM Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. in 1999.

On July 29, 2008, XM and former competitor Sirius Satellite Radio formally completed their merger, following FCC approval, forming SiriusXM Radio, Inc. with XM Satellite Radio, Inc. as its subsidiary. On November 12, 2008, Sirius and XM began broadcasting with their new, combined channel lineups. On January 13, 2011, XM Satellite Radio, Inc. was dissolved as a separate entity and merged into Sirius XM Radio, Inc.  Prior to its merger with Sirius, XM was the largest satellite radio company in the United States.

Detroit Radio: WOMC's Jim 'JJ' Johnson Plans Retirement

Detroit broadcast veteran and host of 104.3 WOMC's “JJ and JoAnne Morning Show” Jim “JJ” Johnson announced he will retire after 52 years in Detroit radio. Johnson's last day on air will be December 1, 2023.

Jim Johnson

“Growing up, I was the kid hiding under the covers with a pocket transistor radio, so my parents couldn't hear, listening to the greats on CKLW and Keener 13, dreaming that one day I might be able to do that,” said Johnson. “I have been so fortunate to have realized that dream and have been able to live it in my hometown my entire career. It's really the people I have worked for and worked with that made it possible and most importantly, our loyal listeners. To quote a friend, ‘Detroit audiences are the greatest rock and roll audiences in the world" $%*#, I've known that for 52 years!’”

WOMC Vice President of Programming Tim Roberts said, “Not only has Jim been a fixture in Detroit morning radio who woke us up to laughter every morning, but JJ was instrumental in the careers and launch of many of Detroit's superstars, including Bob Seger, The Romantics, Grand Funk Railroad, and countless others. His contributions to Detroit radio are legendary, and his work in the community is unmatched. JJ has also helped to raise millions for the American Lung Association, Children's Miracle Network, and Children's Leukemia Foundation. His impact on Detroit radio will never be forgotten.”

Audacy Detroit Senior Vice President and Market Manager Debbie Kenyon said, “I can't express what a privilege it has been to have worked with Jim Johnson for 13 years. Growing up in Detroit, I have listened to Jim on Detroit radio since I was a teenager. His impact on the listeners, the community, and those he has worked with will never be duplicated. It has been a true pleasure knowing and working with a legend like Jim. We thank him for 52 years of entertainment and wish him well as he travels and finds new adventures in his retirement. His voice on Detroit radio will be missed every day.”

Is Nielsen Still The Gold Standard in Radio Ratings?

With over 25 years of radio experience, Steve Allan has programmed a variety of radio formats, with winning radio stations in Washington, DC, Boston, Detroit, and Cincinnati, He has also held a number of corporate programming positions and is now Programming Research Consultant for the Research Director, Inc.

Allan is a self-proclaimed 'data-geek' who is on the bleeding edge of the needs and challenges of programmers in today's radio/audio environment, and the best ways to crack the ratings code for measurement and performance.

Some key questions Steve addresses:

• What are the limitations of Nielsen ratings, and what other metrics should you be looking at?
• Why is it important to focus on trends over time?
• What is total line reporting and why is it important for streaming?
• Why smart programmers should use a variety of metrics to get a complete picture of listenership?

Allan talks with David Martin and Kipper McGee on their Podcast:  Bandwidth on Demand

📻Allan breaksdown the August Ratings: HERE

ESPN Called Out For Whitewashing Prayer

NY Daily News (9/10/23)

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and legendary NFL coach Tony Dungy had some choice words for ESPN and its flagship program, “SportsCenter,” over an apparent attempt to avoid using the term “prayer.”

On Saturday, SportsCenter’s X account put out a post sharing a video of Coco Gauff.

For the unaware, Gauff, the 19-year-old American tennis sensation, captured the first major of her career with a scintillating U.S. Open win.

Not only did Gauff get the win, she did so against a player that many people presume will be the No. 1-ranked player in the world, and the reigning Australian Open champion, Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

So yes, the precocious American teenager had quite a bit to be thankful for and she showed it in the immediate aftermath of her victory with some immediate prayer, reports The Western Journal.

But when SportsCenter shared that moment, they used some peculiar language to describe Gauff’s prayer.

Charter-Disney Feud Ends, ESPN, ABC Restored To 15M Households

The blackout fight between cable giant Charter Communications and Disney is over.

Disney and Charter Communications have reached an agreement that will restore popular channels including ESPN and ABC to the cable operator’s nearly 15 million subscribers, ending a blackout that lasted for more than a week.

The agreement comes just hours before ESPN’s coverage of the first “Monday Night Football” game of the season—a highly anticipated matchup between the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

Under the terms of the agreement, Charter has agreed to higher rates for Disney’s channels in return for being able to provide the Disney+ and ESPN+ streaming services to its pay-TV subscribers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Charter has agreed to higher rates for Disney’s channels in return for being able to provide the Disney+ and ESPN+ streaming services to its pay-TV subscribers. according to the Wall Street Journal.

Specifically, the ad-supported version of Disney+ will be included in Spectrum’s TV Select video packages, which are among the cable operator’s most popular. The ad-supported ESPN+ will be available to Charter customers who subscribe to a tier that includes other sports channels such as regional sports networks. 

In addition, when Disney releases its much-anticipated direct-to-consumer version of its ESPN cable channel—which is separate from ESPN+—Charter pay-TV customers will be able to get it as well.

The fight between Disney and Charter was being closely watched by the rest of the industry, because the dispute wasn’t primarily about money. 

Reuters reports if a deal was not reached before the kickoff of "Monday Night Football", Spectrum subscribers in New York City and Los Angeles would have been unable to watch the game between Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets.

Charter pays Disney more than $2.2 billion annually for the right to distribute the media giant's channels to subscribers. Companies like Charter say rising distribution fees are forcing cable companies to increase prices, causing consumers to leave.

Disney counts on fees companies such as Charter pay to partly cover rising programming costs, including the rights to air sports such as the NFL and NBA.

It wants to keep as many cable subscribers as possible while it prepares to offer ESPN directly to consumers on an app.