NBCUniversal Invests $200 Million in BuzzFeed

(Reuters) - Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal said on Tuesday it had invested $200 million in online publisher BuzzFeed, the latest move by the media conglomerate to tap into a younger audience.

NBCUniversal invested $200 million last week in Vox Media, owner of tech-focused websites The Verge and Re/code.

BuzzFeed and Vox have built audiences among younger Internet-focused consumers who are less likely to watch traditional TV.

NBCUniversal owns the NBC network and channels including CNBC, Bravo, E! and SyFy.

BuzzFeed, best known for online list-based articles and quizzes, has also expanded into news, video and film.

Re/code said on Tuesday that the investment would value BuzzFeed at about $1.5 billion.

BuzzFeed declined to comment on the company's valuation.

NBCUniversal and BuzzFeed said they would consider "strategic partnerships" in the coming months.

"We look forward to collaborating on television content, movies, the Olympics and joint partnerships with ad agencies and brands," BuzzFeed Executive Chairman Kenneth Lerer said in a statement.

Philly Radio: CBS Radio Names Dave Scopinich VP/Sales

Dave Scopinich

Dave Scopinich has been named Vice President and Director of Sales for the cluster’s six stations, it was announced today by David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, CBS RADIO Philadelphia.

The appointment is effective on Monday, August 31.

Scopinich returns to CBS RADIO to oversee sales efforts for Newsradio KYW 1060 AM, SportsRadio WIP 94.1 FM, Classic Hits WOGL 98.1 FM, Talk Radio WPHT 1210 AM, Country WXTU 92.5 FM, and Top40 WZMP 96.5 FM AMP Radio. Additionally, he will also serve as General Sales Manager of the legendary KYW Newsradio, which celebrates 50 years of broadcasting in September.

“I'm excited to bring Dave back home to CBS RADIO Philadelphia to lead our sales operation,” said Yadgaroff.  “He has earned a reputation as a leader in our industry and will bring that leadership and passion to our iconic brands, CBS RADIO's new media platforms and our valued advertising partners.  Our future is brighter when Dave is on our team.”

Scopinich, a married father of three, is a Northeast Philadelphia native and 1997 Penn State University graduate. He had previously been with CBS RADIO for more than 10 years, most recently serving as General Sales Manager of WOGL and WPHT. In March 2014, Scopinich was named General Sales Manager at Greater Media’s 102.9 WMGK.

“Dave was a key hire of David’s in 2003 who excelled at every opportunity, and proved to be an innovative and forward-thinking executive,” said Scott Herman, Chief Operating Officer, CBS RADIO.  “He will be a key figure in our future as the team executes David’s vision for CBS RADIO Philadelphia’s sales organization.”

“I want to thank David for the incredible opportunity to come back home to CBS RADIO and to work together with such a talented group of colleagues and friends,” Scopinich says. “Radio reaches a larger audience than any medium in the world, and I’m honored to represent the greatest brands in Philadelphia radio. I’m the luckiest person in our industry.”

Report: Radio To Get $1.9B In Political Advertising

Political advertising is forecast to hit a record $11.4 billion in 2016, 20% more than the last comparable Presidential Election year of 2012. But, according to Borrell Associates,  that’s just part of the story. In reality, the games have already begun. Adding what will be spent on next year’s contests in 2015, political advertising still holds a whopping $16.5 billion. While national elections will draw all the attention, almost half of that money will be spent at the local level, delivering messages about candidates and issues concerning governors, state legislative districts, ballot issues, and regional and city governments.

As has always been the case, TV gets the front seat on this roller-coaster. Despite the allure of digital media, things like banner ads and search advertising don’t do as good a job as television commercials persuading the electorate to like or dislike a candidate or a particular issue.

Still, the attraction to digital media is growing and will break the $1 billion level for the frst time in 2016. That’s 9.5% of total spending − a far cry from the 30% to 50% of budgets that other ad categories earmark for digital media.

Borrell projects radio will see about $1.19 Billion of the $16.5 billion spent on political advertising or a 7.2% share of the total. That puts radio fourth on the list behind newspapers at $1.4 Billion (8.2%, cable at $1.5 Billion (8.9%), and Broadcast TV at $8.5 Billion (51.9%).

Some states will see bigger bounties. Media companies in big states such as California and Texas will see $1.2 billion and $896 million, respectively. But smaller states where Senate and other races are hotly contested will see big spending as well.

These include Virginia ($459 million), Florida ($800 million) and Colorado ($295 million).

A year away from the party conventions and 15 months away from the big Election Day of 2016, the party has already started. This report offers forecasts and analysis on that spending, detailing which media will likely beneft the most (and which are losing out) from the impending political show.

CA Radio: Alpha Media Adds Two More Stations To Portfolio

Alpha Media of Portland, Oregon announced Monday they have entered into a definitive agreement to purchase 2 additional California radio stations from RR Broadcasting.

RR Broadcasting owns AC KPSI 100.5 FM in Palm Springs and Classic Hits KDES 98.5 FM in Cathedral City. Alpha Media will begin operating the RR Broadcasting stations under an LMA until such time as the purchase agreement has been completed.

Larry Wilson, Chairman of Alpha Media will add the stations to the two hundred fifty stations currently in the Alpha Media portfolio. When all pending deals are completed, it will bring the total number of stations owned by Alpha Media to 252.

Commenting on the acquisition, Wilson said, “We’re excited to bring these stations into the Alpha family. The extraordinary community involvement of Ric and Rozene Supple has blazed the way for these market leading radio stations making them the perfect live and local addition.”

“Speaking for Ric and myself,” said Rozene Supple, “We are thrilled that MIX 100.5 FM and KDES 98.5 FM will find a new home with Alpha Media. We think this will be a great fit!”

Michael C Green, Senior Vice President of RR Broadcasting added, “The decision to sell the stations to Alpha Media was based in large part on their superior reputation in radio, and on their commitment to LIVE AND LOCAL. The Supples have always believed that radio is at its best when presented as a local medium, and one that is an integral part of the local community.”

This transaction is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission.

NY Radio: Neversink Media To Acquire WALL From Townsquare

Neversink Media Group says it is going to acquire WALL 1340 AM from Townsquare Media.

Although the station is licensed to Middletown NY it has been operating from studios in Poughkeepsie. The station recently dropped popular, local personality Mark West and his brokered oldies show in favor of Spanish Adult Hits. (Click Here for posting.)

That apparently will be changing.

Neversink Media Group, LLC is owned by Bud and Juli Williamson of Orange County NY, also owns Pocono 96.7 T-FM in Stroudsburg, PA, WYNY 1450 AM in Milford, PA and WDLC 1490 AM in Port Jervis, NY. In addition, the Williamsons are principals of Hudson Valley Public Radio, WJZZ JazzFM, serving the Hudson Valley.

“We are thrilled to make this happen and we look forward to working with all of the local businesses that make Middletown and Orange County a good place to live,” said Bud Williamson.

Not only will the legendary WALL Radio be heard on 1340 AM, it will also be heard on on Translator FMs at 94.9 FM, 94.1 FM and 105.7 FM, plus for those with HD radios, WALL Radio will be heard via WPDH 101.5 FM HD2, according to Williamson.

Mark West

Mark West, 35-year veteran of Hudson Valley broadcasting, will be back on the air doing the wake-up morning show, complete with his duck! “Mortimer and I am excited about coming back home. We will be providing great music along with local and regional news and good conversation,” he said.

Williamson also announced that news coverage will be provided by Hank Gross and his powerhouse Mid-Hudson News Network. “Hank has a long reputation of breaking news before it hits newspapers and he will bring that investigative reporting to our WALL family,” Williamson said.

"As part of this transaction, I am providing Townsquare Media another frequency to continue their Spanish language format.” said Williamson.

Milwaukee Radio: WMYX Moves Mike Mason To Morning Show

Entercom/Milwaukee has announced Mike Mason has been moved into the WMYX 99.1 FM The Mix Morning Show with Elizabeth Kay.

He replaces  Kidd O'Shea, who has relocated to Washington DC, where he has accepted the position of Social Media Anchor for local ABC television affiliate WJLA's “Good Morning Washington.

Mason moves from his afternoon drive position at the station.

Program director JoJo Martinez says, “I’m so happy for Mike.  He did an amazing job on the air and on social media to engage listeners in a very short time in afternoon drive.  I expect nothing but the best from Mike & Elizabeth!”

Kay adds, “I’m beyond thrilled to be doing the morning show with Mike Mason!  The creativity and enthusiasm he has shown during his afternoon show here on ‘The Mix’ this past year made it an obvious choice to move him into the morning show spot!  I love his quick wit, his ability to make fun of himself and to talk about his life on the air.  He's an incredible talent and I'm confident that our listeners will enjoy waking up to him in the morning!”

WMYX 99.1 FM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Research: Internet Now Number One For Music Discovery

Tracking data shows that over the course of the last 13 years 'Radio' has been supplanted by 'Internet' as the source Americans turn to first to learn about new music, according to researcher Larry Rosin, writing in his blog "The Infinite Dial".

According to Rosi, in 2002 Radio enjoyed a 7-to-1 advantage over Internet, by this year's most recent study the Internet had blown past Radio by a sizable margin.  The numbers among 13-34 year olds are, no surprise, much more dramatic.

However, what has not changed is artists and labels want nothing more than to get their songs onto the radio.  Even as its place for 'discovery' drops, the importance of getting songs on the radio seems as significant as ever -- or possibly even more so.

Iovine: "Mortal Kombat" Killing Music Business

Music producer/enterepneur Jimmy Iovine thinks the music business is in dire straits — and blames technology geeks for putting it there, according to The NY Post.

Jimmy Iovine

Iovine believes a generation of youngsters didn’t get turned on by live music, but rather by the first time they play “f–king ‘Mortal Kombat.’ ”

Those youngsters, now grown up, work at tech companies “like Google, Spotify and Pandora,” he said in a recent interview.

“You know, the services you use to listen to music,” Iovine lamented.

The music industry veteran, working with colleague and musician Dr. Dre at Apple and trying to lift its nascent Apple Music streaming service to success, said these tech companies are “culturally inept.”

“The last 15 years of the record industry allowing itself to get pounded and not moving the ball forward, I think it’s going to affect popular music,” said Iovine.

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Portland OR Radio: Hunter Hayes To Headline KUPL Santa Jam

The BULL KUPL 98.7 FM announced today that Country Superstar Hunter Hayes will headline the Santa Jam Concert December 6th 2015 7pm at the Theater of the Clouds at the Moda Center. The concert will also feature Maddie and Tae, A Thousand Horses, and James Otto. Tickets are priced at $55, $45, and $37 (prices do not include service charges) and go on sale Friday August 21, 2015 at 10am at Rosequarter.com, the Rose Quarter Box Office, 987thebull.com, all Ticketmaster Locations, and by calling 800.745.3000.

Alpha Media Executive VP of Programming Scott Mahalick commented on the announcement, “Santa Jam has become a Holiday tradition at 98-7 The Bull and we’re proud to celebrate this event with all the country fans in the Great Northwest.”

“This year’s Santa Jam will bring a level of fun and excitement for Country Music fans that has never been seen during the Holiday Season. We’re thrilled to have Hunter Hayes and his “21 Tour” stop in Portland, paired up with two of the hottest new acts of the year with Maddie & Tae, and A Thousand Horses, and the Northwest’s own singer songwriter sensation, James Otto,” added 98.7 The Bull Assistant Program Director/Music Director and Afternoon Drive Host, B-Dub.

HUNTER HAYES

Listen closely to Hunter Hayes as he talks, that million-mile-an-hour voice, all rapid-fire energy and bustling passion. Not long ago he released his second album, the country chart-topping Storyline. But the 23-year-old, mind always churning, ideas jettisoning from brain to hand and voice, can’t help but wonder what lies ahead. “I’m on an unending search to find what it is that I love and how it is that I will do it,” he says of the wide-open, all-options future for a five-time GRAMMY nominee, CMA New Artist of the Year and youngest male act ever to top the Billboard Hot Country song chart. “How am I going to achieve getting the sounds that I love? What is it that I can’t resist?”

MADDIE AND TAE

Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye never intended to strike a nerve when they sat down on St. Patrick’s Day and wrote “Girl In A Country Song.” Merely expressing their honest reaction to the reductive tilt of today’s “Bro Country,” the pair along with co-writer Aaron Scherz, shamelessly skewered its Xeroxed stereotypes. “Girl In A Country Song,” as much a lark as meaningful social commentary, proved they weren’t alone in their feelings of the current state of Country music.

A THOUSAND HORSES

A Thousand Horses is a fresh fusion of classic sounds – a hybrid of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, Black Crowes and Exile on Main Street-era Rolling Stones, wrapped up in a modern-country context. The band’s Republic Nashville album, Southernality, is as wild and free and powerful as the name A Thousand Horses implies. This is the result of years of a road-doggin’ pursuit, determination and an against-the-odds struggle that found its rewards by bringing great music to the people.

JAMES OTTO

There’s a certain chemistry that happens when a great vocalist collides with a hit song. Magic just explodes from the speakers and the impact is undeniable. It’s a phenomenon James Otto knows well. His breakthrough hit, “Just Got Started Lovin’ You,” topped the country chart and was the Most Played Country Single of the Year in 2008, according to Billboard magazine. Otto’s bluesy, muscular voice and dynamic stage presence earned him the respect of industry gatekeepers and the adoration of legions of country music fans.

Apple Music Fest To Be Staged In London

Pharrell Williams, One Direction, Florence + The Machine and Disclosure are among the headliners at the 2015 Apple Music Festival at London’s Roundhouse this September.

The Apple Music Festival replaces the iTunes Festival, which was first held in 2007, and will take place over ten nights from September 19 to September 28.

Apple will broadcast performances from this year’s gigs for free, live and on-demand on Apple Music.

There will also be coverage on Beats 1, alongside backstage news and footage straight from the artists on Apple Music Connect.

“We wanted to do something really special for music fans this year,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.

“The Apple Music Festival is a greatest hits set of ten unbelievable nights featuring some of the best performers on the planet appearing live and interacting directly with their fans on Connect and Beats 1.”

Indy Radio: NowFM Contest Stirs Controversy

NowFM Garage Door Contest

Top40 WNOW 100.9 FM’s garage-door-decorating contest has caused controversy in a Muncie neighborhood.

Hannah Brewer (left) and friend

High school student Hannah Brewer, with her mother’s permission, painted the garage door of their residence in an attempt to prove she is the biggest fan of the pop/punk band 5 Seconds of Summer, aka 5SOS.

The winner will receive tickets to the band’s Aug. 22 concert and get to meet the four members backstage at Klipsch Music Center. The Australian band took the stage at this week’s 2015 Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles.

According to The Star-Press, Brewer, a student at Daleville High School, and a friend got creative, painting images of the band members, a message reading, “5SOS is kinda hot!” a skull, an astronaut and other things on the door.

Soon after that, an anonymous letter. was left in Brewer’s front door. It said, “At first we all thought you had been a victim of vandalism on your garage, seeing how NOTHING like that has ever happened around here before ... In case you haven’t noticed this isn’t LA or Chicago or Mexico and it certainly isn’t south Muncie.

Brewer’s mother, Carrie Mote Craig, a Catholic school teacher, called the police, who told her the painting did not violate any city ordinances.

Though the anonymous letter made Craig think it was from a group of neighbors or the neighborhood association, she learned there is no neighborhood association or any covenants regulating garage door painting.

Craig then wrote and hand delivered throughout the neighborhood a message of her own (also posted on Facebook) reporting that she had received the threatening letter and explaining why the door was painted.

“The garage door painting was meant to be temporary and I would then paint it blue like the rest of the doors on my house,” Craig wrote in the letter.