HuffPost Leads Digital-Only News Sites

From State of News 2015 report, a Pew Research Center analysis of digital traffic data provided by the analytics firm comScore reveals a mix of legacy (websites and associated apps of news organizations that have non-digital arms like newspapers) and digital-only news entities ranking among the most visited news organizations by U.S. digital audiences.

SLC Radio: Alpha Media Acquires Final Adelante Stations

Alpha Media of Portland, Oregon has announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to purchase radio stations from Adelante Media Group.

The Adelante stations are:

Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo:

• Spanish Oldies KTUB  1600 AM
• Regional Mexician KDUT 102.3 FM (Randolph, UT)

Evanston, WY:

• Spanish Hits KBMG  106.1 FM

Alpha Media will begin operating the Adelante stations under an LMA starting May 1, 2015.

When all pending deals are completed, it will bring the total number of stations owned by Alpha Media to ninety-nine.

KDUT 102.3 FM (89 Kw) Red=60dBu Local Coverag Area

KBMG 106.1 FM (89 Kw)

Chairman of Alpha Media, Larry Wilson commented on the acquisition, “We are so pleased to join forces with Mary Lee Robinson and her fine staff who deliver beautiful entertainment to the Latino community of Salt Lake City.”

Jay Meyers, CEO of Adelante Media Group, LLC said, “Mary Lee Robinson and her team have built a brilliant operation in Salt Lake City poised for spectacular growth in the coming years, truly the Crown Jewel of Adelante’s holdings. As we go through our liquidation phase, I’m so very pleased to be doing a deal for our Salt Lake stations with Larry Wilson, Bob Proffitt and the Alpha crew. Not only are they fantastic broadcasters, but also great friends.”

This transaction will be filed with the Federal Communications Commission shortly and is subject to their approval. Bill Fanning of Media Venture Partners is the broker for Adelante Media Group.

Miami Radio: Cox Media Promotes Rosario, Punjabi

Angelina Rosario

Cox Media Group/Miami has named AJ Punjabi and Angelina Rosario as its new General Sales Managers for the cluster, which includes WEDR-FM, WFEZ-FM, WFLC-FM and WHQT-FM.

“We are very excited to have a proven innovative performer like AJ join our team, and we are equally thrilled to promote our hard-working, talented LSM Angelina to GSM,” said Ralph Renzi, CMG Miami’s Director of Sales. “These two talented professionals will lead our results oriented media consultants to be better prepared to compete in today’s media environment.  Today is a great day for CMG Miami and our future is very bright.”

“I am extremely excited to see two talented individuals promoted from within Cox Media Group,” said Rob Babin, CMG Miami VP and General Manager. “Their work ethic, hunger and determination have earned them these promotions.”  

Punjabi, a native of Chicago and a graduate from Indiana University, started his media career at CMG Atlanta’s WSB-TV as an Account Executive. Since then Punjabi has managed Digital Strategy at CMG Atlanta’s newspaper and most recently has been serving as the Digital Sales Manager for the Atlanta radio cluster. While in this role, he helped generate millions of dollars with significant year-over-year growth.

A-J Punjabi

"It’s an honor and a privilege to be given this great responsibility,” said Punjabi. “Rob and Ralph have put together an all-star team across departments who are all dedicated to the audience and customers in South Florida.  I'm also very excited to have Angelina as my co-pilot to help CMG Miami soar even further."

Rosario, a native of Miami and a graduate of Barry University, joined CMG Miami as media consultant where she worked for seven years and became a two-time winner of CMG Miami’s President’s Circle for her outstanding sales performance.  For the past two years, Rosario has served as Local Sales Manager where she has had a successful track record of coaching, recruiting and maximizing top sales talent.  

Rosario added, “I’m extremely thankful and grateful to be given the opportunity to become General Sales Manager for CMG Miami. I have an incredible, supportive management and sales team, and I am truly grateful to my peers, Ralph and Rob for recognizing my leadership strength.  I look forward to my new chapter as GSM and working with AJ to help CMG Miami Sales Team maximize their talent and growth.”

DC Radio: Dan Zampillo New PD At WTEM

Dan Zampillo

Red Zebra Broadcasting, which operates WTEM ESPN 980 AM) and SportsTalk WSPZ 570 AM, on Wednesday announced the hiring of Dan Zampillo as the station’s new program director.

Zampillo previously served as the director of programming for Bleacher Report and NBA Radio at Sirius XM Radio. He replaces longtime WTEM program director Chuck Sapienza, who resigned in March amid the fallout of a bizarre series of events that delayed the debut of “The Man Cave” on ESPN 980.

“When it comes to sports, we have the best on-air talent in the area,” Red Zebra Broadcasting CEO Rick Carmean according to The Washington Post. “We look forward to having Dan join our team. He brings great leadership, experience and fresh insight.”

Zampillo’s radio resume also includes stints as Assistant PD at News/Talk WGN 720 AM in Chicago and Program Director for WXYT 97.1 The Fan in Detroit.

He starts on May 4.

Twin Cities Radio: NFL Vikings, iHM Extend Broadcast Deal

The Minnesota Vikings and iHeartMedia’s KFAN 100.3 FM and KTLK 1130 AM have announced a five-year extension renewing broadcast rights of the Vikings preseason, regular season and postseason games.

“Our focus as an organization is always to provide the best fan experience possible, regardless of whether those fans are attending games at the stadium, watching on television or listening on the radio,” said Vikings Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Steve LaCroix.

“Reaching this agreement means we can continue to offer Vikings fans the best radio broadcast team in the NFL as we open the new stadium in 2016 and beyond. We are excited to extend and grow this partnership with not just KFAN but all iHeartMedia Minneapolis stations.”

The 2015 season will mark the 15th consecutive year KFAN will serve as the Flagship for the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network, one of the largest radio networks in the NFL. The extension will also include continued co-produced Vikings-related football programming on KFAN and the incorporation of promotional events and game coverage across all of the iHeartMedia Minneapolis brands and platforms, including on-air, online and via iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music and radio service.

KFXN 100.3 FM (98 Kw) Red=60dBu Local Coverage Area

“iHeartMedia-Minneapolis is proud to continue the tradition of Minnesota Vikings football on KFAN and all of our brands,” said iHeartMedia Market President Jeff Tyler. “We’re excited to provide content and promotional support to all Vikings fans as the anticipation for the new stadium grows.”

To celebrate the continued partnership, iHeartMedia will broadcast live from the New Stadium Preview Center this Friday, May 1. KFAN’s Paul Allen will go live from 9:00-noon, followed by KOOL 108’s Lee Valsvik from noon-2:00 p.m. and K102’s Muss from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Vikings fans can join the festivities by visitingvikingslegacy.com and booking an appointment to tour the Preview Center on Friday.

NBC Sports Radio, WWOne Sports Provide Triple Crown Coverage

NBC Sports Radio and Westwood One Sports are proud to present live play-by-play coverage of The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing-- the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.

The networks are first out of the gate with the 141st Kentucky Derby, live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, this Saturday, May 2, 2015.  Exclusive “Run for the Roses” audio coverage is being provided in conjunction with NBC Sports and Horse Racing Radio Network.

Coverage will be carried on 144 radio stations around the country—including WEPN-FM/New York, KTCT-AM/San Francisco, KGOW-AM/Houston, WXKS-AM/Boston, and WTEM-AM/Washington, DC-- and streamed live on NBCSportsRadio.com, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports Radio mobile app, and WestwoodOneSports.com.

NBC Sports Radio kicks off the first jewel in the Triple Crown with a pre-race show hosted by Anita Marks from 2:00-5:00 pm ET.  Marks will be joined by special guests including super horse trainer and three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, who has the top two favorites in this race—Dortmund and American Pharaoh—plus, racing analyst Hank Goldberg, and racing analyst and former Major League Baseball catcher Paul Lo Duca.

NBC Sports Radio and Westwood One Sports grab the reins from 5:00-7:00 pm ET, in tandem with Horse Racing Radio Network, with a Derby broadcast featuring pre-race ceremonies, interviews, predictions, celebrity red carpet comments, the play-by-play call of the race, post-race interviews, and more. HRRN’s Mike Penna anchors the coverage of all three Triple Crown races.  He will be joined by analysts Jude Feld and Kurt Becker.  Former jockeys Sean Clancy and Jeff Bloom serve as paddock and trackside reporters, and reigning Miss Connecticut Acacia Courtney rounds out the broadcast crew. Larry Collmus handles the play-by-play for all three races.

On Saturday, May 16, the second jewel of the Triple Crown occurs at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, with the 140th Preakness Stakes.  The 147th Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, and will be run on Saturday, June 6 from Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.  There has not been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Jack Silver, Program Director for NBC Sports Radio, said “We are elated to be a part of this iconic sporting event for the first time.  We look forward to sharing all the behind-the-scenes hoopla leading up to the ‘Run for the Roses’ to millions of listeners across all of our platforms.”

“We are thrilled to extend NBC Sports’ award-winning coverage of the Kentucky Derby to the radio airwaves,” added Rob Simmelkjaer, SVP of NBC Sports Ventures.  “NBC Sports Radio’s coverage of the 141st Run for the Roses will rivet fans all across America.”

Bruce Gilbert, SVP Sports for Cumulus and Westwood One, said, "NBC Sports, Westwood One, and Horse Racing Radio Network are the Trifecta of Triple Crown coverage!  We’re proud to present the pageantry and majesty of these longstanding events to fans across the nation."

Horse Racing Radio Network’s Mike Penna said, “Having the opportunity to showcase horse racing’s signature events to listeners around the globe is a tremendous privilege. Being able to partner with the teams at NBC Sports and Westwood One is a great honor and it will significantly enhance coverage.”

For more information on programming, visit NBCSportsRadio@westwoodone.com.

CBS Radio Adds Content To Play.It Podcasts

CBS RADIO and CBS Local Digital Media Wednesdayday announced the addition of new Podcasts to its Play.it® podcast network including podcasts from SHOWTIME Boxing Commentator Paulie Malignaggi, ELLE Style Correspondent Alia Ahmed-Yahia, and five-time TED.com speaker Julian Treasure.

Launched in January, Play.it offers more than 400 premium content podcasts by bringing together digital-exclusive programming from major brands and publishers as well as content from CBS RADIO shows on demand.

“Podcasts are an extremely compelling medium in today’s always-on, always-movng culture,” said Ezra Kucharz, President of CBS Local Digital Media. “By bringing more talent across myriad interests to Play.it we hope to satisfy people’s needs across every category – news, sports, comedy, entertainment and culture – while also making it simple for them to find new podcasts to enjoy across platforms.”

New Play.it Podcasts include:

• News & Information: “CBS Local News Headlines;” Former CNN Senior Executive Producer Michael Schulder’s “Wavemaker Conversations”
• Sports: “Jayson on the Rebound,” with former New Jersey Nets player Jayson Williams; “Heated Conversations” hosted by WWE’s Booker T; “The B&V Podcast” with David Boreanaz and Joey Vendetta
• Entertainment & Lifestyle: “The Marilu Henner Show;” “Gamertag Radio;” men’s lifestyle expert Josh Mathews
• Comedy: “The Funny Don’t Stop with Alex Thomas;” “Sorta Kinda Funny” with Royale Watkins
• Health & Wellness: sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus
• Science & Education: “Improbable Research” with Marc Abrahams, creator of the Ig Nobel Awards; “Sound Affects with Julian Treasure” a five-time TED.com speaker
• Business: “Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken;” “The Ultimate Entrepreneur with Jay Abraham”; “Boomer & Carton” Producer Al Dukes interview series with media moguls in “Al’s Boring Podcast”
• Society & Culture: “Style Scouting” with ELLE Style Correspondent Alia Ahmed-Yahia; fashion bloggers Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez; “Vanderpump Rules” star Stassi Schroeder; former “The Challenge” star Susie Meister; and “Word Gang,” a weekly series about words and the people who use them, hosted by Rives, a six-time TED.com speaker.

Play.it also offers podcasts from CBS RADIO’s Boomer Esiason & Craig Carton, Carson Daly, and Kevin & Bean, as well as well-known web personalities like Tom Joyner, Jeffrey Hayzlett, former WWE Champion Taz, in addition to content from leading news, lifestyle, sports and media brands including 48 HOURS, 60 MINUTES, CBS Sports Radio, Deadspin, Simon & Schuster and Foursquare.

Play.it is advertising supported and uses the latest in dynamic ad insertion technology as well as native and sponsorship advertising. Brands are able to buy campaigns across platforms in a simple one-stop-shop manner including over-the-air, live streaming and podcasts. Additionally, brands are able to deliver targeted messaging to specific fans of a particular show or across the entire network of hundreds of programs.

For more information, visit Play.it.

Westwood One News Goes Far Out To Get The Story

Dirk Van

One month into a record year-long stay on the International Space Station (ISS), American Astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko joined Westwood One News anchor Dirk Van for a live interview from space.

An extended interview aired Thursday during Van’s First Light program.

Kelly and Kornienko blasted off from Kazakhstan last month.  During their extended mission, the two men will act as NASA test subjects for several experiments, including the long-term effects of weightlessness.



During the interview, Kelly:

• Says he is hopeful that a manned mission to Mars will occur in his lifetime.
• Says he favors space tourism, noting the Russians have hosted "tourists" aboard the ISS. He says he'd love for it to be more frequent.
• Says NASA is tracking his physiological changes during a year in space in comparison to his earthbound twin, retired Astronaut Mike Kelly, which gives his brother an opportunity to continue to make contributions to the space program.

AM/FM Royalty Exemption Called Embarrassing

Maria Pallante

The top official at the U.S. Copyright Office told a U.S. House committee on Wednesday that AM/FM radio stations not paying sound recording royalties is "indefensible" and "embarrassing."

U.S. Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante addresses the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.  Testifying in the final hearing of the House Judiciary Committee's two-year review of copyright law, Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante forcefully urged lawmakers to create a full performance right for sound recordings, as the office has advocated before.

Currently, broadcasters pay a blanket license to music rights groups, but argue that airplay is a fair exchange, and valuable compensation, for individual performances.

“When their songs are played on radio, they’re subsidizing the profits of broadcasters,” she told the panel.

The House Judiciary Committee was a sympathetic venue.  Its members have long pushed for a performance royalty on radio, even passing a bill to create one in 2009, only to see the rest of the House reject the idea.  Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is trying again, introducing legislation this month that would force stations to pay for airplay as well as for streaming services for recordings made prior to 1972.

Nadler told his fellow lawmakers that his bill would “create a technology neutral system” that ensures artists are “fairly compensated regardless of where their music is played.”   Nadler’s bill has so far added just three co-sponsors, although Pallante said it provides an “excellent legislative framework.”

Pallante also says changing the law to make it harder for online pirates to distribute content is "warranted and overdue."

Broadcasters Join New Music Coalition MIC

Industry groups — including commercial broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, digital media services and retailers, restaurants and hotels — have formed a coalition to, in their words “protect the music economy.”

According to RadioWorld, the new “Music. Innovation. Consumers. Coalition” is calling on policymakers to “to ensure that upcoming decisions on copyright are grounded in rationality, affordability and predictability so that the music economy can continue to thrive and grow.”

The coalition forms as music streaming copyrights are at a crossroads, with Congress considering more music royalty legislation, the Copyright Royalty Board beginning a Webcasting rate-setting process and the Department of Justice reviewing music royalty consent decrees for ASCAP and BMI. The MIC Coalition calls the next 24 months “pivotal” for this reason, with decisions coming that have the potential to determine where and how music is played and what costs consumers and users will bear.

NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith says of the group: “Make no mistake: American music is the most successful in the world, aided in part by intellectual property laws that do not tilt in favor of record labels over the millions of daily listeners who consume music.”

Other radio members of the group include broadcasters such as Cox, iHeartMedia, EMF's K-Love network, NPR and Salem, as well as Internet streamer Pandora.

Report: Chew Gum To Forget A Catchy Song

A new study suggests that if you want to get an annoying song out of your head, chewing a piece of gum might help.

It turns out that just the mechanical act of moving one's jaw up and down can reduce the number of times people think about a catchy song, as well as how often they "hear" that song playing in their minds.

According to The LA Times, researchers found that volunteers who were given chewing gum and instructions to "chew vigorously" after hearing particularly "sticky" music experienced fewer phantom memories of the songs, but not zero.

Still, the researchers say chewing gum is a tactic worth trying if you can't stop singing a song such as  "It's a Small World After All" to yourself after a visit to Disney World.

"If you are trying to rid yourself of an unwanted tune, it is less likely to pop up involuntarily when chewing," said Philip Beaman, associate professor of cognitive science at the University of Reading in England, and the lead author of the report.

Tunes that get stuck in your head are known as earworms, and they have been plaguing humanity for a long time.

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