Audacy To Use Grace Period In Cash Crunch

Audacy, Inc. today provided an update on its ongoing discussions with lenders to refinance its debt and optimize the Company’s balance sheet to position the Company for long-term growth, capitalizing on its scaled leadership position across the audio market.

To continue to facilitate its discussions with lenders, Audacy has elected to utilize the 30-day grace period for the cash interest payment in the amount of approximately $18 million, due on September 30, 2023 (and payable on October 2, 2023, the next succeeding business day), to holders of its 6.75% senior secured second-lien Notes due March 31, 2029. Audacy intends to utilize the 30-day grace period to continue its dialogue with lenders regarding a potential plan to strengthen its capital structure to support Audacy’s strong operating business and position Audacy for long-term growth.

David Fields

Audacy’s decision does not impact any of its business operations or obligations to advertisers, employees, suppliers or other stakeholders. Audacy continues to focus on growing and enhancing its capabilities as a leading, multi-platform audio content and entertainment company.

“We continue to engage in discussions with our lenders as we execute on our overall growth strategy and remain focused on investing in our people, platform, content and technology capabilities to serve our listeners and customers,” said David Field, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Audacy. “We continue to drive progress across our key performance metrics, meaningfully advance our ad tech and product roadmap and enter new partnerships to enhance content, distribution and monetization opportunities.”

The decision to utilize the grace period will not trigger an event of default under the indenture governing the Notes, and the Company retains the right to make the interest payment to the holders of the Notes through the end of the grace period.

Kansas Police Chief Suspended After Newspaper Raid

Marion, Kansas Police Chief Gideon Cody, under fire for raids on the Marion County Record newspaper, has bee  suspended by the city's mayor, according to KSHBTV 41 citing a story from the newspaper.

The newspaper reported Friday on its website that City Administrator Brogan Jones circulated an email to the city council informing them of Cody's suspension.

Chief Cody

The police department conducted a raid Aug. 11 at the Marion County Record newspaper that has drawn criticism from freedom of the press advocates and legal experts across the country.

On Thursday, KSHB 41 I-Team's Jessica McMaster reported a key witness in the case said she was directed by Cody to delete text messages.

Restaurant owner Kari Newell told McMaster earlier this month Chief Cody told her in a text message she was the victim of crime.

Newell is a local restaurant owner whose driving record Cody used as a premise to raid Marion County Record and two homes.

The day of Newell’s interview, Newell said she no longer had the text messages between her and Cody.

The I-Team asked Newell for the text messages between her and Cody, but according to Newell, she deleted the text messages at the chief's behest.

“I did make mention that I didn’t know the necessity of that because there was nothing inappropriate in the text messages,” Newell said in an interview this week.

Newell said the chief’s request came after the raids as rumors began to circulate about Newell and Cody’s relationship, which Newell insists is platonic, according to McMaster's story, which ran on KSHB 41 and kshb.com on Thursday.

Cody, who was named as Marion’s police chief in the spring, was widely criticized for pursuing and executing a search warrant in August on The Marion County Record, a family-owned newspaper with a circulation of about 4,000 that reports on the city of roughly 2,000 residents about 50 miles north of Wichita.

San Antonio Radio: Terry Fox Named Director of Talk Programming

iHeartMedia announced today that Terry Foxx has been named as Director of Talk Programming for San Antonio & Austin overseeing News/Talk 1200 WOAI San Antonio and Sports duo “Ticket 760” KTKR San Antonio and “1300 The Zone” KVET Austin.

As Director of Talk Programming, Terry Foxx will be responsible for redefining News Radio 1200 WOAI, Ticket 760, and AM 1300 The Zone’s on-air experience by synergizing with local talent to deliver unparalleled talk, news, and sports broadcasts. As the flagship broadcast partner for the San Antonio Spurs, University of Texas and “The Joe Pags Show,” among others, Terry will deepen these partnerships to offer exclusive content, ensuring the stations remain the region’s primary touchpoint for sports, news, and insightful commentary. He will report to Jason McCollim, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia San Antonio & Austin.

Terry Fox

“In Terry Foxx, we’ve found more than an expert; we’ve embraced a true team player who values respect as deeply as we do. His commitment to bettering our processes is evident, but it’s his unique blend of diplomacy, empathy, and patience in every interaction that truly sets him apart. With Terry, it’s not just about work; it’s about building lasting relationships.” said McCollim.

Terry Foxx joins the San Antonio & Austin markets from KUT-FM, University of Texas, where he most recently served as the Director of Programming & Audience. He also served as Program Director for WLNK-FM & SportRadio WFNZ in Charlotte, N.C.; Program Director for SportsRadio 92-9 The Game, CBS Radio in Atlanta, G.A.; and Program Director for KDKA-FM, SportsRadio 93-7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, P.A. He began his career at KZFM 95.5 Corpus Christi, T.X. and is a graduate of Del Mar College.

“I’m very excited to work with iHeartMedia and its group of stations in Austin and San Antonio, along with the great people that help make it successful. As a native Texan, I grew up listening to WOAI. I’d like to thank Jason McCollim, Chris Berry, Brian Gann and Brad Hardin for this incredible opportunity,” said Foxx.

D/FW Radio: The Spot Welcomes Bonnie-Jill Laflin For PM Drive

Audacy welcomes Bonnie-Jill Laflin as afternoon drive host for Classic Hits 98.7 The Spot (KSPF-FM) in Dallas. Laflin will be heard weekdays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT beginning October 9.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bonnie-Jill to The Spot to take over afternoons,” said Brian Purdy, Regional President and Market Manager, Audacy Dallas. “Her energy, charisma, and passion for our industry will undoubtedly resonate with our listeners, and we can't wait to see her shine in her new role.”

Bonnie-Jill Laflin

“I'm excited and honored to be on the airwaves with 98.7 The Spot,” said Laflin. “Even more, to be home in the great state of Texas where you can feel the music in the air and excitement of Dallas Cowboys football and Texas Rangers playoff baseball!”

Laflin is a trailblazing sports broadcaster, philanthropist, and TV personality. The first and only female NBA scout holding the front office executive position with the Los Angeles Lakers, Laflin has many “firsts” throughout her career. She’s the first woman to dance professionally for three teams in two sports, starting with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and moving to the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. She is the first female to be awarded six championship rings in two professional sports, earning a Super Bowl ring while cheering for the 49ers and five NBA championship rings as an executive for the Lakers. 

Most recently, she co-hosted the brand-new “Women’s Western Sports Roundup” on the Cowgirl Channel. Beyond her accomplishments in sports, Laflin ventured into the world of broadcasting, working as a reporter and host for various high-profile networks, including ESPN, NBA TV, NBC/NBC Sports, NFL Films, Westwood One, CBS, E!, BBC Sports, SiriusXM, NFR Live, and FOX Sports.

Laflin is the founder of Hounds and Heroes and Horses, a non-profit that pairs rescue dogs as service and therapy dogs with wounded warriors and veterans, as well as rescue horses as equine therapy for service members and sponsored retreats.

📻Listeners can tune in to 98.7 The Spot (KSPF-FM) in Dallas on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.

Buffalo News Printing Moves To..Cleveland!

The Buffalo News is laying off 160 production employees as it moves its printing operation to Cleveland in a shift announced earlier this year by owner Lee Enterprises.  

MediaPost reports the move was denounced by the Buffalo Newspaper Guild, which said it is “devastated” by the job loss.  

“We believe The Buffalo News should be printed in Buffalo, not in Cleveland or any other city outside of the Western New York region that we serve.”

The Guild also charged that, since buying The Buffalo News 3 ½ years ago, “Lee has invested little in the Western New York community and has spent more time extracting resources from The Buffalo News.”  The statement adds that the closure “paves the way for Lee to sell the property and funnel the sale proceeds elsewhere.”

This is occurring as Lee reduces the number of print days at publications in favor of digital, while selling some publications.   

According to station WGRZ, John Fletch, the president of Buffalo Local Mailer Union #81, is one of those losing his job.  

Fletch comments that the reporters’ deadlines “are even shorter now, and the news will be even older now.” 

Raleigh Radio: It's Cancel Time for Operas

A North Carolina radio station announced it will not air six contemporary operas from New York’s Metropolitan Opera this season due to its “inappropriate” content — citing “language,” LGBTQ themes and “non-biblical sources” among its reasons.

WCPE, a listener-funded classical music station that serves the Raleigh-Durham area, is protesting the Met’s decision to showcase recently written works by composers from a wide variety of racial and social backgrounds, according to The NY Post.

In a letter to listeners on Aug. 31, the WCPE’s general manager Deborah S. Proctor said the station took issue with seven operas in particular — six which are scheduled for the 2023-2024 season, and one that aired earlier this year. She asked listeners for feedback.

Proctor’s letter gained widespread attention after circulating on social media.

Most of WCPE’s objections relate to depictions of violence, language or the presence of LGBTQ subject material.

In one opera, Proctor said she objects to a composer’s “non-biblical” interpretation of the birth of Jesus.

“All age groups listen to our stations; we want parents to know that they can leave our station playing for their children because our broadcasts are without mature themes or foul language,” Proctor wrote in the letter.

Proctor told NPR that the letter was sent via mail to 10,000 of WCPE’s supporting members, of which about 1,000 responded. Of those who responded, 90% approved of keeping the contemporary operas off of the airways. She said she’s hoping to announce a decision after she receives 2,000 responses.

“If the Met wants to put these out as a ticketed organization with people coming to sit in their venue, for people who choose to be there, that’s one thing,” Proctor told the outlet on Thursday. “But to broadcast these things to anybody who might happen to tune in, that’s something else entirely.”

One of the controversial Met productions on that station’s list is the critically acclaimed “Dead Man Walking” —  which is based on a true story and opens with a graphic depiction of rape and the murders of two teenagers and ends in another brutal, according to NPR. It’s reportedly the most widely performed opera written in the 20th century.

Others on the list are: “The Hours” (2022) by composer Kevin Puts, which features a suicide;  John Adams’ opera-oratorio “El Niño” (2000) which retells the nativity; Terence Blanchard’s opera “Champion” (2023), about real-life gay boxer Emile Griffith; Anthony Davis’ and Thulani Davis’ biographical “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” (1986); and Mexican composer Daniel Catán’s opera “Florencia en el Amazonas” (1996).

10/2 WAKE-UP CALL: Gaetz Gets In McCarthy's Face

Gaetz and McCarthy

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faced a direct threat to his leadership a day after crafting a deal to avoid a government shutdown, as his most prominent Republican critic said he would seek to oust him from the post. The challenge Sunday from Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) sets up an unpredictable and fast-paced political fight in the Capitol this week between McCarthy and a band of GOP rebels who have threatened for months to topple him if he brought up legislation that required Democratic support to pass. McCarthy, having gotten Democrats to support his short-term funding bill, may need their help again to remain in his post.

Kevin McCarthy fires back at Matt Gaetz: He’s planned this since the beginning | https://t.co/fU52WoElJZ

— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) October 2, 2023

In stunning weekend developments, McCarthy pushed aside Gaetz and other GOP hard-liners, opting instead to pass bipartisan legislation funding the government through mid-November, with the support of more than half of Republicans and all but one Democrat. 

➤BIDEN 'SICK AND TIRED': U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday pressed congressional Republicans to back a bill to provide more aid to Ukraine, saying he was "sick and tired" of the political brinkmanship that nearly led to a government shutdown. Biden spoke after Congress passed a stopgap bill on Saturday that extended government funding for more than a month and avoided a shutdown that would have left most of the federal government's more than 4 million employees without a paycheck and cut a wide range of services. 

The bill, which passed with broad Democratic and Republican support, sparked hardline Republican Matt Gaetz to pledge to oust the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. The bill, which lasts through Nov. 17, did not include aid for Kyiv. The United States has been a major supporter of Ukraine after Russia invaded it last year, and Biden has sought to rally the world, as well as his own country, to maintain that support.

➤MOMENT OF PANIC: AOC told CNN 's Jake Tapper on Sunday that Bowman's actions occurred in a 'moment of panic,' exacerbated by the pressure and chaos of attempting to avert a government shutdown - which Congress successfully did late on Saturday. 'I think there's something to be said that the government's about to shut down, there's a vote clock that's going down, the exits that are normally open in that building were suddenly closed,' said Ocasio-Cortez. Tapper responded, 'So he pulled the fire alarm?'

➤NEWSOM FILLS SENATE SEAT: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has chosen Laphonza Butler, the president of EMILY’s List, to fill the seat of the late Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the governor’s office confirmed to NBC News. Feinstein, the longest-serving woman in the Senate, died Thursday at the age of 90. In California, the governor has the power to appoint a senator to serve until the next regularly scheduled statewide general election. That means that Butler will serve until the next senator, whom voters will choose in the November 2024 election, is sworn in. Butler has led EMILY’s List, which works to elect Democratic women, since 2021, when she became the first Black woman to lead the organization. On Friday, she posted a tribute to Feinstein on social media, calling her “a titan in the Senate” and “a legendary figure for women in politics and around the country.”

Report: Heavy Radio Listeners Have Plenty of Brand Conversations

Word-of-mouth is a powerful purchase influencer, said to drive almost one-fifth of consumer sales. Identifying everyday consumer influencers is important for brands, and as recent research [download page] from Engagement Labs and the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) reveals, heavy radio listeners have an above-average likelihood to be such influencers.

An “everyday influencer” is defined in the study as “the one in 10 consumers who are sought out for their advice and whose recommendations are heeded.” Heavy radio listeners (2+ hours per day on weekday or weekend) are 25% more likely than the average person to be everyday consumer influencers, per the study’s findings, while also being 23% more likely than heavy TV viewers and 4% more likely than heavy social media users to be influential in this way.

What’s more, heavy radio listeners tend to have plenty of conversations about brands. In analyzing a cross-section of consumers ages 13-69 from August 2022 to July 2023 – and in so doing collecting roughly 38,000 interviews – Engagement Labs projects that heavy radio listeners have an aggregate of 4.7 billion brand conversations per week. That outpaces the aggregate number projected for heavy social media users (3.8 billion), heavy TV viewers (2.6 billion), heavy newspaper readers (2.6 billion) and heavy magazine readers (2.4 billion).

Perhaps it’s something about audio? Previously, Engagement Labs has found that heavy podcast listeners have the highest per-person average conversations about brands each week.

Jacobs Media Celebrates its 40th Anniversary. So Now What?

Four decades ago, Fred Jacobs headed to the NAB Radio Show to announce the launch of a new research and consulting firm, following a successful five-year stint with ABC Radio.

Still-wet business cards in hand, Fred flew to San Francisco, camped out on the floor of Tom Bender’s spacious hotel room in the St. Francis, and proceeded to network his new venture. And Jacobs Media (then known as Media Strategies) was off and running.

Since those humble beginnings, Jacobs Media has developed innovative formats, strategies, and products for radio broadcasters:

• The creation of the Classic Rock format (1983) with Tom Bender
• The launch of the Edge™ Alternative format (1988) with a push from Max Tolkoff
• The first all-industry email database-driven research study, Techsurvey, is the largest radio research undertaking in the world (2004)
• Radio’s first ethnographic studies, including the innovative “Bedroom Project” (2007) and “Goin’ Mobile” (2010), both in collaboration with Arbitron and Dr. Ed Cohen
• The jacapps mobile apps startup (2008) under the leadership of the late Tim Davis
• The DASH Conferences (2013-15) bringing radio and the auto industries together in collaboration with Radio Ink
• Broadcasters Meet Podcasters sessions at Podcast Movement (2018)
• Jacobs Media’s CES Tours for radio execs (2017)

Over the years, Jacobs Media has worked with just about every noteworthy company in radio, umpteen personality shows, and many radio and TV networks.

Study: News Consumers 'Conditioned' To Expect Special Offers

Discount offers are effective in attracting new subscribers to newsbrands, but many consumers are reluctant to move onto a full-price subscription once the trial ends, according to the Press-Gazette citing a new report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ).

At least one-third of news subscribers cancelled or renegotiated their subscription price in the last year, according to the research based on survey data from 20 countries and interviews in the UK, US and Germany.

Tightened budgets in the context of the cost-of-living crisis as well as a feeling among some consumers that they did not use their subscription regularly enough were responsible for cancellations.

Young people in particular were more likely to prefer accessing news from different sources. Almost a third (29%) of US subscribers under 35 are subscribed to Apple News+, compared to 13% of those over 35.Despite the downturn the report noted that the overall number of subscribers has remained broadly steady, and some brands have continued to grow their subscribers albeit at a slower rate.

Report co-author Nic Newman, researcher at RISJ, said: "This research shows how price-conscious many consumers have become amid the squeeze on household spending and how new approaches will be needed to attract reluctant subscribers.

Des Moines TV: Jodi Long Joins KCCI-TV8

Former WHO TV13 morning anchor Jodi Long is set to join local CBS affiliate KCCI.

The announcement comes after KCCI teased recently that an anchor with a decade of experience on central Iowa local TV news would join its staff.

Long will anchor the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts on the station starting Tuesday, Oct. 3. She'll join newly promoted anchor Laura Terrel and meteorologist Anne Campolongo for the evening newscasts.

She announced her departure from WHO, where she worked for almost 10 years, and TV news last September. Following her exit, Long became health equity director at Des Moines-based stillbirth prevention organization Healthy Birth Day Inc.

“Jodi is a perfect fit for our news team,” KCCI News Director Allison Smith said in a statement announcing Long's hire. “She is a light within our community and is passionate about sharing people’s stories. These are the values we celebrate as 'Iowa’s News Leader.'”

CRTC to Review Non-Canadian TV Content After Fox News Debate

The CRTC will hold public consultations on its regulatory approach governing non-Canadian TV services, following a review of over 7,000 submissions in response to Egale Canada’s application to remove Fox News from Canadian airwaves, reports Broadcast Dialogue.

In April, the 2SLGBTQI advocacy organization sent an open letter to commission chair Vicky Eatrides calling for removal of Fox News from the list of non-Canadian programming authorized for distribution in Canada. The group’s complaint maintained Fox News’ programming is in clear violation of Canadian broadcasting standards.

“People in Canada deserve to know that the news broadcast on Canadian airwaves is reliable and objective, and marginalized groups must be protected from malicious propaganda,” stated the letter. “The public interest clearly demands a consultation on the appropriateness of the continued inclusion of Fox News on the List.”

The commission informed Egale Canada this week that after carefully considering the thousands of interventions submitted, “it has become clear that the current decades-old regulatory approach for overseeing non-Canadian television services requires a review.”

“As evidenced by the more than 7,000 interventions filed in response to its publication, the application raises issues of great importance to Canadians. While many of the interventions shared Egale’s concerns, others expressed opposing views. Almost all agreed that the application raises serious concerns relating to the protection of and respect for fundamental Canadian rights and freedoms,” the commission letter stated, going on to say that a review would ensure its determinations on non-Canadian services are “consistent, fair and transparent.”

Following the public consultation, the CRTC would then assess Egale’s specific application under an updated approach.

Egale is urging the CRTC to move the process along sooner, rather than later.

“We ask the CRTC to proceed with urgency, as the lack of an effective framework to address violations of Canadian broadcasting law by non-Canadian programming services means that these violations can continue indefinitely,” the organization stated.

MC Radio History: Oct 2

➦In 1890...Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx born in New York City (Died – August 19, 1977). He was a comedian, writer, stage, film, radio, and television star. A master of quick wit, he is widely considered one of America's greatest comedians.

Groucho Marx

"The one, the only" made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born. He also had a successful solo career, most notably as the host of the radio and television game show You Bet Your Life.

You Bet Your Life debuted in October 1947 on ABC radio (which aired it from 1947 to 1949), and then on CBS (1949–50), and finally NBC. The show was on radio only from 1947 to 1950; on both radio and television from 1950 to 1960; and on television only, from 1960 to 1961. The show proved a huge hit, being one of the most popular on television by the mid-1950s. With George Fenneman as his announcer and straight man, Marx entertained his audiences with improvised conversation with his guests.

Since You Bet Your Life was mostly ad-libbed and unscripted—although writers did pre-interview the guests and feed Marx ready-made lines in advance—the producers insisted that the network pre-record it instead of it being broadcast live. There were two reasons for this: pre-recording provided Marx with time to fish around for funny exchanges and any intervening dead spots to be edited out; and secondly to protect the network, since Marx was a notorious loose cannon and known to say almost anything. The television show ran for 11 seasons until it was canceled in 1961.

He died from pneumonia Aug 19, 1977 at age 86.

Bud Abbott

➦In 1896...William Alexander "Bud" Abbott born (Died – April 24, 1974). He was an actor, best known for his film comedy double act, as straight man to comedian Lou Costello.

Groucho Marx declared Abbott "the greatest straight man ever."  Bud outlived his partner by 15 years, succumbing to cancer Apr 24, 1974 at age 77.

➦In 1900...Radio actor William Barton Yarborough born (Died – December 19, 1951).  He had worked rked extensively in radio drama, primarily on the NBC Radio Network. He is famous for his roles in the Carlton E. Morse productions I Love a Mystery, where he played Doc Long, and One Man's Family, where he spent 19 years portraying Clifford Barbour. In addition, Yarborough spent three years as Sgt. Ben Romero on Jack Webb's Dragnet.

He started work on the Dragnet TV series in 1951, but the day after he filmed the second episode, he suffered a heart attack and died four days later Dec. 19, 1951 at age 51.

➦In 1928...DeFord Bailey made the first professional recordings in Nashville at the Victor Records studios.