Amazon Reports Strong Q1 Results

Amazon.com on Wednesday posted higher first-quarter revenue and profit, driven by robust growth in its AI-powered services and cloud computing business.

Revenue climbed 17% to $181.5 billion, while net income jumped 77% to $30.3 billion. Both figures exceeded Wall Street expectations. The profit surge was partly fueled by pretax gains from the company’s investment in Anthropic.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s most profitable segment, saw revenue rise 28% from a year earlier.

For the current quarter, Amazon forecast revenue between $194 billion and $199 billion and operating profit of $20 billion to $24 billion.

The results come as Amazon’s aggressive expansion appears well-timed. The company added more server capacity than any other firm in 2025 and has pledged to accelerate data center construction this year to meet surging demand for AI tools. That demand is currently outpacing supply of chips and storage, leading to outages and higher prices.

Amazon’s $200 billion capital spending plan announced in February — a 60% increase from the prior year — initially drew skepticism and sent shares lower. It now looks prescient amid the AI boom.

“I’m very optimistic about what’s ahead for our customers and Amazon,” CEO Andy Jassy said in the earnings release.

Appeals Court Halts The Onion’s Acquisition of Infowars

A Texas Appeals Court issued a stay Wednesday blocking the transfer of Infowars to The Onion, dealing a significant setback to the satirical outlet’s plan to convert the far-right conspiracy website into a satire platform.

Infowars founder Alex Jones announced the ruling Wednesday evening on X, describing it as the second court victory preventing The Onion from taking over the site.

“For The 2nd Time, A Major Court Has Blocked The Onion’s Attempt To Fraudulently Take Over Infowars,” Jones wrote. “We Give Thanks To God and Infowars’ Supporters For Standing Against These Pathetic Weasels. 

In a video message posted to X, Jones called the decision “a massive victory” that renewed his faith in the American legal system. “I have breaking exclusive news that just warms my heart and still gives me faith in America and our legal system,” he said. “The Onion backed by the Democrats and Bloomberg for the second time in the year and a half, after fraudulently claiming they own and run Infowars, another giant hoax, has had their attempt to take us over slapped down by the Third Texas Court of Appeals. This is a massive victory.”

The court order prevents The Onion from assuming control of Infowars while appeals continue.

Radio History: April 30

➦In 1908....actress Eve Arden was born Eunice Quedens in Mill Valley Calif. She won an Emmy for her star-making turn as “Our Miss Brooks”, which she introduced on CBS Radio in 1948 and on CBS-TV in 1952.  It continued  weekly on television through 1956 and on radio through 1957.  She died from arteriosclerotic heart disease Nov 12, 1990 at age 82.

➦In 1917...Beatrice Ruth Wain born in the Bronx (Died at age 100 – August 19, 2017).  She was a Big Band-era singer and radio personality.

Bea Wain had a number of hits with Larry Clinton and his Orchestra. After her marriage she and her husband became involved in radio, helming a show titled "Mr. and Mrs. Music". Wain made her debut on radio at age six as a "featured performer" on the NBC Children's Hour. As an adult, she sang regularly on The Larry Clinton Show (NBC 1938), Monday Merry-Go-Round (NBC Blue 1941-1942), Starlight Serenade (Mutual 1944) and Your Hit Parade.

She was married to radio announcer André Baruch. They were married for 53 years. Baruch died in 1991.

Following her musical career, the couple worked as a husband-and-wife disc jockey team in New York on WMCA, where they were billed as "Mr. and Mrs. Music". In 1973, the couple moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where for nine years they had a top-rated daily four-hour talk show from 2 PM to 6 PM on WPBR before relocating to Beverly Hills. During the early 1980s, the pair hosted a syndicated version of Your Hit Parade, reconstructing the list of hits of selected weeks in the 1940s and playing the original recordings.

➦By April 30, 1930...radio was firmly entrenched in American life, with about 12 million households owning radios at the start of the decade, a number that would more than double by 1939. The Golden Age of Radio (roughly 1930–1940s) was underway, characterized by the rise of commercial broadcasting, network programming, and diverse formats like soap operas, comedies, and news. Events like the Academy Awards broadcast reflect how radio was becoming a primary medium for real-time entertainment and information, uniting listeners across vast distances.

L-A Radio: Fans Getting 97.1 FM, KNX News Simulcast Moving To HD2

Audacy is flipping its 97.1 FM frequency in Los Angeles to an all-sports format called The Fan, launching May 11 as the market’s first all-sports FM station.

The New York-based company announced Tuesday that it is ending the simulcast of its all-news station KNX on 97.1 FM. KNX will continue its news format exclusively on its longstanding AM signal at 1070 and on 97.1 HD2.

The move gives Audacy a dedicated sports talk presence in the nation’s second-largest radio market, where it previously lacked an FM sports outlet.

FCC Starts Early Renewal Review of Disney/ABC Licenses

Federal regulators on Tuesday ordered a sweeping review of all station licenses owned by ABC, an extraordinary step widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to pressure the network over its programming.

The FCC announced the review in a filing tied to an investigation of ABC’s diversity and inclusion policies. The move comes amid a public feud this week between President Trump and ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, after Trump demanded the network fire Kimmel.

Cumulus Media Reports 12 Percent Drop In Revenue

Cumulus Media Inc. today reported first-quarter net revenue of $164.4 million, down 12.2% from the same period last year, along with a net loss of $16.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $2.7 million.

The company said the results come as it advances through a prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization. On April 15, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas confirmed the company’s Modified Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. 

Cumulus expects the plan to become effective once it receives FCC approval and satisfies other remaining conditions.

For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company reported net revenue of $164.4 million, a decrease of 12.2% from the three months ended March 31, 2025, net loss of $16.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $2.7 million.

"We are pleased to report first quarter earnings," said Mary G. Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Court’s recent approval of our reorganization plan marks a pivotal milestone in strengthening our financial foundation and positioning the Company to compete in the evolving media landscape. While we await FCC approval of the plan, we remain focused on leveraging our core strengths to drive long-term value creation."

Print Newspapers Running Short Of Newsprint

Newspapers across the U.S. are confronting a severe newsprint shortage and sharply higher prices, accelerating the industry’s shift away from print editions.

The supply chain crunch is forcing publishers to cut pages, reduce printing frequency, or speed up plans to go fully digital, according to a report early this week by Brier Dudley, editor of the Seattle Times Free Press.

“If these conditions persist, cost and supply challenges may lead more newspapers to reduce pages, as The Seattle Times is doing temporarily until supply improves, cut print frequency or accelerate plans to become entirely online products,” Dudley writes.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and many other publications have already taken similar steps.“It’s kind of a double-whammy for publishers,” said Kevin Craig, CEO of Page Cooperative, a North Carolina nonprofit that buys materials for about 1,200 newspapers.  “It’s not only expensive, it’s really hard to find newsprint right now.”

Craig added that newsprint prices “have gone haywire, they’re as high as I’ve seen in many years.”

One major U.S. mill has already stopped production. NORPAC in Longview, Washington — one of only two remaining domestic newsprint mills, produced its last roll of newsprint on Tuesday after being acquired by International Paper, which is prioritizing packaging products.

The last surviving U.S. newsprint mill, Inland Empire Paper, is fully booked and cannot accept new orders until June or July. Its owner, the Cowles Company, is also shifting more production toward packaging materials such as bags.

Good Day! The Pulse Has Your AM Briefing For Wednesday, April 29

Radio Broadcasting

Audacy Launches First All-Sports FM Station in Los Angeles:  Audacy is flipping its 97.1 FM frequency in Los Angeles to an all-sports format called The Fan, launching May 11 and becoming the market’s first all-sports FM station. The New York-based company announced Tuesday it is ending the simulcast of its all-news station KNX on 97.1 FM. KNX will continue its news format exclusively on its longstanding AM signal at 1070 and on 97.1 HD2.

Scoot Paisant Returns to WWL New Orleans:  Scott “Scoot” Paisant, longtime host of Audacy’s news/talk station WWL-AM/FM (870/105.3) and its popular afternoon show “Scoot in the Afternoon,” returned to the airwaves Monday after a seven-week absence recovering from open-heart surgery to repair a congenital valve defect.

SiriusXM and iHeartMedia Explore Major Merger:  Early-stage talks are underway for a merger between SiriusXM Holdings and iHeartMedia that would create the largest advertising and podcasting company in the U.S. The deal would combine their extensive radio footprints and popular podcast libraries as both companies seek to slow audience and revenue declines amid the shift to streaming platforms. Analysts view the potential combination primarily as a defensive move, noting it would likely do little to fully counter competition from Spotify, Apple Music, and video platforms like YouTube.

ABC Confident of FCC Compliance

The FCC has ordered Disney’s eight local ABC television stations to immediately file for early renewal of their broadcast licenses, a rare and aggressive step that escalates government pressure on the network while President Trump demands it fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

In a letter sent Tuesday, David J. Brown, chief of the FCC’s video division, directed Disney and ABC to submit the renewal applications for all eight stations within 30 days — by May 28, 2026.“The FCC determines that calling in Disney’s ABC licenses for early renewal, at this time, under the Communications Act’s public interest standard is essential,” Brown wrote.

The stations are located in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Durham, North Carolina, and Fresno, California.

Disney and ABC said they received the letter and strongly believe their stations have operated in full compliance with FCC rules.

“We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels,” the company said. “Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”

Report: Disney Decides To Keep ESPN In Portfolio

Disney has decided against spinning off ESPN and will keep the sports media powerhouse as a core part of the company, according to sources cited by Business Insider.

The decision comes as Josh D’Amaro prepares to take over as Disney’s new CEO from longtime leader Bob Iger. 

Sources say retaining ESPN will strengthen Disney’s ongoing shift toward streaming, allowing the network to be distributed across both traditional cable and streaming platforms, including bundles with Hulu+ and Disney+.

Coalition Pushing For FCC Decision on News Distortion Policy

A coalition of former FCC officials and leading broadcast journalists has asked a federal appeals court to force the FCC to rule on a petition seeking to repeal its long-standing News Distortion Policy.

The group, which includes former FCC Chairs and Commissioners as well as the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), filed a petition for a writ of mandamus Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. 

The filing aims to compel the FCC to formally respond to a petition submitted in November 2025 calling for the elimination of the policy.

If granted, the writ would require the agency to decide whether to keep or repeal the decades-old rule, which prohibits broadcasters from deliberately distorting news. Petitioners argue the FCC’s prolonged inaction, coupled with public statements from current FCC Chair Brendan Carr suggesting he has no plans to repeal it,  creates uncertainty and risks the policy being weaponized against media outlets.

The coalition warns that the unresolved policy could chill independent journalism and influence news coverage, especially as midterm elections approach. They contend that government delays in clarifying the rule threaten voters’ access to unbiased information and raise serious First Amendment issues.

BMG to Create World’s Fourth-Largest Music Company

Bertelsmann announced on Tuesday that it will combine its music division BMG with rival Concord, forming the world’s fourth-biggest music company behind Universal, Sony, and Warner.Under the cash-and-stock deal, Bertelsmann will own 67% of the enlarged group, while Concord shareholders will receive a 33% stake plus a one-time cash payment of $1.16 billion.

The combined company is projected to generate pro forma revenue of $2.2 billion and core profit of $730 million in 2026. The transaction ranks among the largest in music industry history.

BMG and Concord are two of the biggest independent music firms. BMG represents artists including Bruno Mars and Kylie Minogue, while Concord holds catalogs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, R.E.M., and others.

Philly Radio: WXPN To Celebrate America's 250th With Music

WXPN is marking America’s 250th anniversary with an ambitious year-long music celebration honoring Philadelphia’s past and future.

As the country prepares for its Semiquincentennial, the Philadelphia public radio station has launched four major initiatives that will serve as the city’s soundtrack for the milestone.

NOLA Radio: Scoot Paisant Returns to WWL Radio

Scott “Scoot” Paisant, the longtime host of Audacy’s news/talk station WWL-AM/FM (870/105.3) and its popular afternoon show “Scoot in the Afternoon,” returned to the airwaves on April 27 after a seven-week absence recovering from life-saving open-heart surgery.

Paisant underwent the procedure on March 6 to repair a congenital valve defect, a leaking heart valve he had since birth that had worsened to a critical level. He described the surgery as successful, telling listeners and WWL-TV that his heart is now “running perfectly” and performing better than before.

“It feels so great to be back on the air, and to be back with you,” Scoot said during his first show back. “I define my life by this show. This show was missing from my life. I lost a big piece of who I was.”

The veteran radio personality, a fixture in New Orleans broadcasting for more than 50 years, faced a tough recovery. He spent 12 days in the hospital, dealt with post-surgery pain, brain fog, and initial weakness that made even standing with a walker a milestone. His voice was temporarily raspy from intubation during the four-hour operation.

Despite the difficulties, Paisant has regained strength and resumed his regular sunset walks. His first public outing after surgery was attending Jazz Fest to see Rod Stewart perform.

Radio History: April 29

➦In 1903...singer Frank Parker was born (Died at age 95 – January 10, 1999). Parker debuted on radio as a substitute singer on The Eveready Hour, and he was a regular on radio and television in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s with personalities including Jack Benny, George Burns and Arthur Godfrey.

Frank Parker

An October 30, 1930, newspaper listing shows Parker singing on the Van Heusen Program on WABC in New York City. Also, in the early 1930s, he was a featured singer with Donald Voorhees and his orchestra on the Bond Sunshine Program on WEAF in New York City.

Beginning September 14, 1935, he had his own program, That Atlantic Family on Tour, with Frank Parker, which was heard on 36 CBS stations.

In September and October 1936, Parker and Ramona were featured on a 15-minute weekly program on WEAF in New York City and WMAQ in Chicago. Beginning June 30, 1937, In the early 1940s, he sang with Andre Kostelanetz on broadcasts over WABC in New York City. He was the featured male singer on Your Home Front Reporter, which was broadcast on CBS in 1943.

➦In 1904...Thomas Edison received a patent for the alkaline battery, which indirectly influenced radio technology by improving power sources for early wireless devices.

➦In 1940...The radio show "Young Dr Malone" moved to the CBS Radio Network. It was an American soap opera which began on the NBC Blue Network on November 20, 1939.

The producer was Betty Corday who later was a co-creator with husband Ted Corday of NBC-TV  Daytime's Days of Our Lives.

The radio program ended on November 25, 1960, known as "the last day of radio soap opera" because CBS cancelled several other series on that day, including Ma Perkins, The Second Mrs. Burton and The Right to Happiness.

➦In 1953...Coke Time with Eddie Fisher began a run on NBC-TV and Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS).