Cadence13, the leading creator of premium, on-demand audio entertainment, Thursday announced new programming and sales leadership team members, a brand integration division, an expanded studio footprint, and a new brand identity. The company, formerly known as DGital Media, continues to grow the team and operations to keep up with the rapid pace of on-demand audio programming and audience growth.
Cadence13 recently added a roster of new leadership team members, including
Bill Schultz, EVP of Content Development
Serena Kodila-Regan, SVP of Programming
Rich Boerner, SVP of Programming and Operations
Chris Colbert, VP of Programming
Richard Cooke, VP of Programming
Dave Easton, VP of Audience and Business Development
These individuals are leading the development of premium-quality audio content and audio documentaries, a new category for the company, at the company’s flagship studios in New York City, at the new Cadence13 Studios in Los Angeles and through access to studios across the country.
In addition, Nick Freeman joined Cadence13 as EVP of Brand Partnerships. His responsibilities include building and leading the brand integration and sponsorship team that will work alongside and with the company’s sales team to generate additional revenue streams for the company and its partners. This includes building a bridge to web, social, and video. Formerly, Nick was at Fox Sports Digital where he was responsible for the development and execution of the digital ad sales business across all Fox Sports properties, developing the social media sales strategy that included video program development and brand integrations.
“Our new brand identity, Cadence13, reflects our focus on the unique character of our company and our commitment to ensuring that we take a creative approach to making each show successful,” said Spencer Brown, CEO of Cadence13. “As our company continues to grow, our partners and the shows we publish are always our number one priority.”
Spotify said on Thursday it has renewed its global licensing partnership with a third major label, Warner Music Inc, the last big music royalty deal it needs before pushing ahead with a U.S. stock market listing, reports Reuters.
“It’s taken us a while to get here, but it’s been worth it, as we’ve arrived at a balanced set of future-focused deal terms,” Warner Music Group chief digital officer Ole Obermann said in an Instagram post.
A Spotify spokesman confirmed the renewal in an email, without disclosing financial terms of the agreement.
Earlier this year, Sweden’s Spotify signed licensing deals with two for the largest labels - Vivendi’s Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.
Spotify has fended off competition from rival Apple Music, with more than double the number of paying subscribers.
Spotify said in July it had 60 million paying subscribers, adding 10 million subscribers in less than five months. Apple reported 27 million music subscribers in June, up from 20 million in December.
L-R: Brad Tursi, Geoff Sprung, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers Credit: Dove Shore
CBS RADIO’s 12 country stations are offering listeners an exciting opportunity to hear directly from the bandmates of Old Dominion about their highly anticipated sophomore album, “Happy Endings,” which drops today. KMPS-FM/Seattle Program Director, Kenny Jay, sat down with the band to talk about the inspiration for the album and little-known facts behind several songs.
“Old Dominion has proven already to be a major force in country music and CBS RADIO is proud to be part of their much anticipated ‘Happy Endings’ album release which will be a huge event for the country radio format,” commented Tim Roberts, Vice President, Country Programming, CBS RADIO and Vice President, Programming, CBS RADIO Detroit.
Debuting this evening on KMPS and then across CBS RADIO’s country portfolio over the next few days, the 30-minute Impact special will uncover what the band was watching on TV when they wrote the lead single “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart.” The band also debated if the song “So You Go” has a happy ending, what their favorite Fleetwood Mac songs are in “Not Everything’s About You,” recording “Stars in the City” with Little Big Town, and the desire to push their boundaries as a band with the album’s second single, “Written in the Sand.”
Throughout the interview, the band also shared stories of the somewhat creepy making of their debut hit “Break up with Him,” and recording the chorus to “Snapback” in a hotel room.
The Impact special will air commercial free and is customized for each local market, offering the band’s take on what they love about that city and where they like to play, as well as future concert dates in applicable markets. Impact is a CBS RADIO program that supports the launch of new albums.
The special’s full air schedule is as follows. All times are local.
KMPS-FM/Seattle: August 24 @ 9:00 PM; August 27 @ 6:30 PM
The Nashville-based “Pickler & Ben” Show, daytime television’s newest “go-to” destination for the best in lifestyle and entertainment, launches nationally on Monday, Sept. 18.
Hosted by country music star Kellie Pickler and Emmy-winning television personality Ben Aaron, this highly anticipated talk show will premiere in 38 local television markets across the country.
The show features Kellie and Ben hosting segments with top celebrities, tastemakers and experts on everything from entertaining and home design to cooking, DIY and more. The show will be recorded in front of a live audience at a studio in one of America’s hottest cities — Nashville — on an expansive, modern farmhouse-styled set.
“This show truly feels like home — it’s like spending time with a bunch of good friends who just stopped by to trade stories on the back porch,” said Kellie. “We have a little something for everyone. We’ll laugh, get inspired and meet some very talented and extraordinary people.”
“When Kellie and I get together, it’s anything but predictable,” said Ben. “We have an incredible team of creative minds behind this show, and I can’t wait to deliver our country-city combo to viewers across America.”
Through a partnership with leading entertainment and lifestyle retailer, HSN, “Pickler & Ben” will feature a unique interactive format inviting viewers to “shop the show” by purchasing items featured on air from the comfort of their homes. Fans can shop items directly on PicklerandBen.com and HSN.com.
“Pickler & Ben’s” live studio audience will include a mix of Nashville locals and out-of-towners seeking the best in entertainment. Nashville is one of the country’s fastest-growing cities, with nearly 100 people each day moving to the city made famous by country music, all-American food, Southern charm and world-class hospitality. Fans are invited to join a taping by requesting tickets through the show’s website.
“Pickler & Ben” is produced by Grammy Award-winning superstar Faith Hill; co-founder of Happy Street Entertainment, Lisa Erspamer; and president and CEO of Sandbox Entertainment Jason Owen; in partnership with The E.W. Scripps Company. Award-winning director Joe Terry (“The Oprah Winfrey Show”) will direct “Pickler & Ben.” Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution is distributing the show in national syndication.
MTV’s annual Video Music Awards are often the biggest spectacle of the awards season, offering up some of the wildest performances and zaniest getups from the most popular entertainers of the day.
This year, Katy Perry will host while fan faves like Lorde, Kendrick Lamar and Fifth Harmony will hit the stage to perform.
When to watch:
MTV begins its broadcast at 6:15 p.m. EST starting with red carpet arrivals and a pre-show hosted by Lil Yachty and MTV’s Charlamagne Tha God, Terrence J and Gaby Wilson, with performances from Bleachers, Khalid and Cardi B.
Livestream begins on their website at 7 p.m. with official kickoff at 8 p.m. from the Forum in Ingleside, Calif.
Who to watch:
Lamar’s “HUMBLE” is up for eight awards. Bruno Mars, with “24K Magic” trails with four nominations.
Also look out for wins from Rihanna with “Wild Thoughts,” Alessia Cara with “Scars to Your Beautiful” and Ed Sheeran with “Shape of You.”
Observers are betting on Lamar for Video of the Year.
What to watch for:
This year, MTV abolished gender-specific categories. Instead, nominees will go head-to-head in categories like Artist of the Year. This year MTV is also introducing a new award: Best Fight Against the System, for music that is shaking things up.
Potential drama:
Many say Taylor Swift will appear as she did come out with a new song Thursday night. Her new album is set for release in November. Lots to promote.
There’s also the potential for a dramatic show down with host and legendary frenemy Perry. (Perry recently said it was time to make up but Swift has yet to publicly respond).
P!nk will be on hand to accept the night’s highest honor, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and celebrate her 17-year-long career.
Top40 WPRO-FM 92 PRO-FM leads the local market by a wide margin in Fans and Actions Per Post, and is a top performer among radio stations nationwide.
According to data released this week by the social content analytics firm Shareablee, 92 PRO-FM leads the Providence-New Bedford, RI, media markets in Fans by a margin of nearly two-to-one to that of its closest competitor, Sinclair Broadcast Group NBC affiliate WJAR-TV Channel Ten. The data also shows that 92 PRO-FM leads the market in the critical Actions Per Post statistic, indicative of the popularity of each individual social post. 92 PRO-FM’s five hundred three Actions Per Post eclipsed the entire market, garnering more Actions Per Post than the rest of the Top 10 media outlets combined.
“The fluid social media strategy of 92 PRO-FM is both proactive and reactive,” said Social Media Moderator and Morning Show Producer Jay Buff, adding, “demographics, trends, and algorithms all change, but our commitment to quality and timely content is unwavering. Our curated material gives Fans a feeling of community and trust in our brand.”
Patrick Austin, Digital Marketing Director, Cumulus Media-Providence, said, "Ensuring our stations are empowered to create platform specific content that is relatable to the lifestyle of the listeners and where they are consuming the content is always the goal. By leveraging the enormous traction 92 PRO-FM has made with social, it not only cements our relevance in the market but also allows us yet another great marketing channel to lead people back to our station web site, live events and set on-air and online listening appointments."
Aside from being a local market leader, 92 PRO-FM consistently leads Cumulus Media nationwide as a top Interactive Facebook Page, as well among other major market competitors such as iHeartMedia, Inc. Los Angeles powerhouse 102.7 KIIS-FM, Z100 in New York, Y100 in Miami, and Beasley Media Group top social performer Hot 96.9 in Boston. 92 PRO-FM lead these pages this week in total page likes and engagement based on reactions, comments, and shares.
The Media-Nxt 2017 Report is the inaugural compendium from Newhouse's Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship providing overview and additional resources on six emerging technologies that are already beginning to change the media industry, plus four other technologies that are not here yet, but are coming.
"So much is changing in the world of media: new creation tools and environments, new delivery and distribution channels, new devices for media consumption and interaction, and new business models," says Sean Branagan, Director of the Center.
"Because media is becoming a high-tech industry, both industry professionals and students of the craft need to move faster, jump in and actively shape the future of media, rather than just adapt and adopt."
"We wanted to give a quick read to busy media executives so they can learn fast and be apprised of what's coming," Branagan said. "Unlike other articles and reports on emerging technologies, ours stays laser-focused on media, breaking down the impact we think we will see in three main areas: news and information, entertainment and positioning (namely advertising, branding and public relations)."
All these media areas are represented by top-ranked academic departments at the Newhouse School, according to MediaVillage.
Jay Thomas, a comic actor and radio personality whose work on the television series “Murphy Brown” won him two Emmy Awards in the early 1990s, died on Thursday at his home in Santa Barbara, Calif.
He was 69-years-of-ag and he cause was cancer, his agent, according to The NYTimes.
Thomas was a morning radio personality in New York in the mid-1970s on Top40 WXLO 99X (now WEPN 98.7 FM), and in Los Angeles beginning in 1989 on KPWR "Power 106". He also had stintds at WAPE in Jacksonville, WBSR in Pensacola.
In 1979 when he was cast in a recurring role on “Mork & Mindy,” the ABC sitcom about a space alien played by Robin Williams. Mr. Thomas played Remo DaVinci, co-owner of a deli, and appeared in dozens of episodes during the run of the show, which ended in 1982.
After that, the work came fairly regularly, often in the form of smaller TV roles but also the occasional movie appearance, most notably in “Mr. Holland’s Opus” in 1995.
Between “Mork & Mindy” and “Murphy Brown” his most prominent role was a recurring spot on “Cheers” in the 1980s as Eddie LeBec, an ice hockey player who was married to Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman), a waitress at the Boston bar of the show’s title.
Thomas was one of the main characters in “Love & War,” a CBS sitcom that ran for three seasons beginning in 1992. His other television credits included the ABC ensemble series “Married People” in the early 1990s and the recent Showtime series “Ray Donovan.”
His quick tongue also served him well on the talk-show circuit. Thomas made his annual Christmastime appearance with David Letterman for the first time in December 1998. Letterman and one of his other guests that evening, then-New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde, took turns tossing footballs at the Christmas tree across the stage, atop which sat a large meatball. As the two tried to knock off the meatball and failed repeatedly, Thomas came out, decided to join in the festivities, and knocked the meatball off of the tree. Thomas had played quarterback on his college football team.
When Letterman talked with Thomas later on, Thomas told a story about when he was a young disc jockey at Top40 WAYS 610 AM (now WFNZ) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thomas had been making a promotional appearance at a local car dealership which had also booked Clayton Moore to make an appearance, dressed in his Lone Ranger costume.
Thomas was born Jon Thomas Terrell in Kermit, Tex., on July 12, 1948, and raised in New Orleans. During college — he attended several universities — he started dabbling in sportscasting and also did stand-up comedy.
On the radio, he honed skills with stunts like inviting callers to do imitations to win some nominal prize. Most of them were terrible and he would let them go on just long enough so he could say so with some fanfare.
“When New York called I was making six figures in Charlotte and was part owner of the station,” Peter Kanze’s reelradio reported Thomas writing on his website. “I was married and the owners all but told me that one day the stations would be mine. But I needed to know what it was like at the Big Show. So, for less money, I went to 99X in NYC. I couldn’t believe there was so little competition. Imus was in the market, but he was either drunk or drugged out and ended up in Cleveland. So I just went nuts.”
His timing was impeccable. Radio stations in the ‘70s were going through the often-misnamed “shock jock” phase and looking for morning hosts who could, well, go nuts.
Jay Thomas
The Huffington Post reports after Mork and Mindy Thomas returned to New York as morning host at WKTU, where he was bumped when the station changed call letters and hired a guy named Howard Stern for mornings.
One of his producers at WKTU was a young Freddie Colon, who went on to his own long career in New York radio.
“This one hurts deep,” Colon posted Thursday on the New York Radio Message Board. “I was blessed to have been Jay’s producer on his morning show at 92WKTU. The way he would interact on phone calls with listeners was magic.
“Jay was funny, a great actor and mostly a great human being. I will never forget his walk. He waddled. One day I asked him, ‘Why do you waddle when you walk?’” He answered, ‘It’s because of all the money I have in my pockets.’ God bless you, Jay.”
After a decade at KPWR, Thomas started a weekly show in 2005 on one of Stern’s Sirius, now SiriusXM, channels.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Michelson, whom he married in 1987, and their two children, Samuel and Jacob. In recent years he reunited with a son he had fathered in his 20s who was given up for adoption, the country singer J. T. Harding.
➦In 1949…NBC Radio debuted the sitcom "Father Knows Best," which ran for four years before making the transition to television in 1954. Robert Young was the only cast member to continue with the show on TV.
Dick Clark
➦In 1962...The radio bug bites Dick Clark again - as he announces plans to record a “syndicated” radio series for top-40 stations.
The two-hour programwould be broadcast five days a week and would be produced and distributed byDick Clark Radio Productions and Mars Broadcasting Inc.
Dick Clark says the show will feature artist interviews and records and will be taped at MarsBroadcasting in Stamford, Conn. Clark was a Disc Jockey at WFIL Radio in Philadelphia when he landed the job as host of TV's “American Bandstand.
➦In 1962...Fred Wolf celebrates 12 years as the morning man on Detroit’s WXYZ 1270 AM
He started with the station in 1950 and stayed until 1965 when he left the after refusing to play some rock and roll records.
➦In 1962...Paul Sherman, 1010 WINS, New York replaced Bob (Bob-A-Loo) Lewis on the outlet’s Saturday and Sunday “Freedomland” remote broadcasts. Lewis was days away from joining rival 77 WABC
➦In 1966...WNBC 660 AM New York canceled the syndicated “Joe Pyne Show” after debuting last March. Billed as “fist-in-the-mouth” radio, WNBC gives no reason for the cancellation
R. Peter Strauss
➦In 1966...R. Peter Straus, president of radio station WMCA 570 AM New York - appears on aprogram on rival station - WNEW 1130 AM. He was interviewed by Richard Doan on a weekly series titled “The Truth About Radio.”
Straus was told that he probably was one of those broadcasters “who peddles rock ‘n’ roll all day and who refuses to call it by that name,” that maybe he was ashamed of the practice. Mr. Straus denied he was ashamed and asserted that WMCA programmed for the largest possible audience so that its commercials and community messages ofsubstantive content would be exposed to the largest number of people. Straus that if the most popular music next year were say Chamber music or Chinese madrigals “we will be playing them".
➦In 1971....Former 93 KHJ Los Angeles night DJ Humble Harve Miller,who affirmed his guilt in court, is sentenced for a term of five years to life for killing his wife, Mary. He pled guilty to second-degree murder – the unlawful killing of a human being with malice, but without premeditation on Aug 2. His seven-year marriage was described as “stormy and tempestuous” and Mrs. Miller as “domineering and literally a witch.” Miller could be paroled in as little as 3 ½ years.
➦In 1977....It was announced Record executive Irving Azoff would be serving as executive producer on a movie called “FM.” Azoff will coordinate the soundtrack – to include a blend of rock standards, current hits and original compositions written for the movie and take charge of a live rock concert which will be filmed for inclusion in the film.
The movie is about the going’s on - at a major market FM rock music station and the music business.
➦In 1989...Former WMCA 570 AM talk host Alan Colmes is now doing mornings at classic rock WZLX Boston.
➦In 1989...KLOS Los Angeles morning show hosts Mark and Brian do a no-no. Equipped with hidden mics, they took listeners on an aural Graceland tour for the 12th anniversary of Elvis’ death, but they were caught. Graceland says you’re not supposed to be broadcasting from the premises. They called the duo incredibly rude and distasteful.
➦In 1994...Radio stations across the country started experimenting with Digital Audio Tape (DAT). Unlike a CD, DAT allows a user to record in crystal-clean digital.
➦In 1994...Rush Limbaugh was not amused with a parody by the ABC sketch comedy show – “She-TV.” The premiere show – cast member Nick Bakay does a parody of the newly married Limbaugh in which he joked abut Limbaugh’s wedding being performed by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Limbaugh has filed a complaint with ABC. Limbaugh says the skit made him out to be racist.
➦In 1999...KLOS Los Angeles apologized for a Mark & Brian stunt after they announced plastic gardening tools called “Black Hoes” would be given out.
➦In 2009...Glenn Beck returned to Fox News Channel after a vacation with fewer companies willing to advertise on his show than when he left, part of the fallout from calling President Barack Obama a racist.
A total of 33 Fox advertisers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., CVS Caremark, Clorox and Sprint, directed that their commercials not air on Beck's show, according to the companies and Colorofchange, a group that promotes political action among blacks and launched a campaign to get advertisers to abandon him. That's more than a dozen more than were identified a week ago.
While it's unclear what effect, if any, this will ultimately have on Fox and Beck, it is already making advertisers skittish about hawking their wares within the most opinionated cable TV shows.
Sinclair Broadcast Group defended its proposed acquisition of Tribune Media as being in the public interest and vital to the health of broadcast television, amid a flood of criticism that the deal would consolidate too much power into one media giant, reports The Hill.
In a 173-page filing submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday, Sinclair wrote that such consolidation is necessary as broadcast companies grapple with a changing media industry that has been upended by online streaming services.
Chris Ripley (Baltimore Sun photo)
“Sinclair firmly believes in the mission of local broadcasting and this filing fully explains the public interest benefits that this transaction will provide as a result of the efficiencies and scale created by the combination of Sinclair and Tribune,” Chris Ripley, Sinclair’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “This acquisition will help to ensure the future of the free and local television model for both Tribune and Sinclair’s local communities.”
Critics of the deal include Democrats, public interest groups, the cable industry and even competing conservative media outlets.
The Coalition to Save Local Media, which represents groups on that side, said that Sinclair's filing did little to ease their concerns.
“Sinclair-Tribune’s response today leaves too many questions unanswered about the public interest harms caused by the proposed merger," the group said in a statement. "There is no basis for the FCC to allow this merger to proceed. The FCC and Department of Justice should reject this merger.”
Sinclair owns 173 local television stations across the country, serving an estimated 38 percent of U.S. households — the largest reach of any broadcast station operator. If its deal with Tribune goes through, the combined broadcasting juggernaut would reach 72 percent of the nation’s households.
Opponents argue that such concentrated media power would stifle smaller, independent outlets.
Newsmax Media CEO Chris Ruddy said that while he does think the proposed Sinclair/Tribune deal could limit competition and diversity on cable—in addition to a conservative web site he runs a similar TV network looking for shelf space—that is not his principal objection to the merger.
Newsmax joined with other deal opponents, including from associations and progressive groups, to tell the FCC the deal was not in the public interest, an opposition Sinclair countered in a lengthy filing with the FCC late Aug. 22.
Ruddy told Broadcasting&Cable that he was concerned with the FCC allowing the merged companies to potentially reach over 70% of the country. That is thanks to the decision by the new FCC Republican majority to reinstate the UHF discount that allows a UHF station owner to count only half of its audience toward the 39% national audience reach cap.
He said allowing one broadcaster access to over 70% of the national audience is a "very dangerous situation" given that ownership caps were instituted to prevent an owner from controlling local news. "I think the Trump administration likes the idea of having Sinclair—Trump-friendly conservatives—getting this access," he said, but doesn't think the Administration realizes the implications of opening the barn door for others to do the same.
Ruddy said that the ownership caps are still needed. He said arguments that over-the-top has rendered them meaningless are specious. "[T]here is no real competition for local television news on the internet and in local markets," he said. "Local TV news is still the main way most Americans get their news."
