Entercom, CBS Radio Agree To Merge

Entercom Communications Corp. (NYSE: ETM) and CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) today announced that the companies have entered into an agreement by which Entercom will combine with CBS Radio in a tax-free merger. The transaction will create a preeminent radio platform, with a nationwide footprint of 244 stations, including 23 of the top 25 U.S. markets, as well as robust digital capabilities and a growing events platform.

“This agreement is great for shareholders and achieves our previously stated objectives by separating our radio business in the best possible way,” said Leslie Moonves, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation. “Entercom is a superbly run company, and together with CBS Radio’s powerful brands and remarkable people, we are creating an organization that will be even better positioned to succeed in this rapidly evolving media landscape.”

David J. Field, President and CEO of Entercom, who will lead the combined company, said, “These two great companies, with their impressive histories, complementary assets, and premier content and brands, are a perfect strategic and cultural fit, enabling us to deliver local connection on a national scale and drive accelerated growth. We look forward to welcoming our talented new colleagues at CBS Radio, and we have the utmost respect for their significant contributions to the industry.”

Mr. Field continued, “Radio reaches more Americans than any other medium, and offers advertisers outstanding ROI and local activation. This transformational transaction creates scale-driven efficiencies and opportunities to compete more effectively with other media to better serve our listeners and our advertisers. The combination of a compelling strategic fit, an excellent balance sheet, and robust free cash flow generation, position us to create significant shareholder value for our investors.”

David Field

Andre Fernandez, who will continue as President and CEO of CBS Radio through the closing of the transaction, said, “I couldn’t be more proud of the CBS Radio team and all of the exciting breaking news, live events, and business initiatives happening every day across the country. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for us as we join with an organization with an equally deep tradition in radio broadcasting. The opportunities for the new company are enormous – thanks to our combined collection of industry-leading stations and brands.”

The merger will create a leading local media and entertainment company with strong, complementary assets on a national scale, including:

• A leading sports platform with the rights to broadcast 45 pro sports teams, including the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs, the New England Patriots, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Golden State Warriors, and 100+ popular local sports talk shows, including the most-listened-to sports talk station in the country, as well as the CBS Sports Radio Network, which is made up of 300 affiliated radio stations across the country
• Leadership in news and news/talk format, with some of the most-listened-to news and talk radio stations nationwide, including 1010 WINS in NY, KNX in LA, and WBBM in Chicago
• A diverse array of music and entertainment formats with popular personalities who are leading influencers of custom curated music and entertainment experiences that drive music discovery
• A leading creator of more than 4,500 live original events per year, from music festivals and large shows to intimate performances with big-name artists
• A growing portfolio of digital content that expands reach and engagement by local on-air talent through original programming and social media
• The ability to monetize the intellectual property of dozens of major-market radio shows across multiple emerging platforms
• Legendary local stations with rich heritage and well-known call letters, which will remain after the transaction

Transaction Details

The combined companies’ pro forma revenue on a trailing 12 months basis was approximately $1.7 billion – which would make it the second-largest radio station owner in the U.S. – and adjusted EBITDA was nearly $500 million, including expected transaction synergies. With pro forma leverage of approximately 4.0x net debt/Adjusted EBITDA, the merger will create a well-capitalized company with a market cap of over $2 billion, a strong balance sheet, significant free cash flow generation, and an attractive dividend, positioned to drive shareholder value.

The combination of CBS Corporation’s radio business with Entercom will be effected through a “Reverse Morris Trust” transaction, which is expected to be tax-free to CBS and its shareholders. As part of the transaction, CBS shareholders will have the opportunity to exchange all, some, or none of their CBS shares for CBS Radio shares. Immediately following the completion of this exchange offer, CBS Radio will merge with an Entercom subsidiary, with the new CBS Radio shareholders receiving Entercom shares in exchange for their CBS Radio shares in the transaction. After completion of the merger, CBS Radio shareholders will receive approximately 105 million Entercom shares, or 72% of all outstanding shares of the combined company on a fully diluted basis. Existing Entercom shareholders will own 28% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis.

The transaction is subject to approval by Entercom shareholders. Entercom Chairman Joseph M. Field, a controlling shareholder of Entercom, has agreed to vote in favor of the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close during the second half of 2017, subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Tucson Radio: Veteran Personality Bobby Rich OUT At KMXZ

Longtime Tucson radio personality Bobby Rich was fired from his afternoon talk show at KMXZ 94.9 MixFM on Wednesday just weeks after moving from the morning drive-time slot to afternoons.

MIXfm officials would not comment except to confirm that Rich was no longer with the station, where he had spent 24 years hosting the morning show.

Just after 2 p.m. Wednesday — an hour before his "Bobby Rich Celebrates Tucson" show was set to begin — Rich posted on Facebook that he and the station, owned by Scripps, were parting ways.


Rich said MIXfm officials suspended him on Monday and fired him Wednesday. He was last on the air Friday, according to tucson.com.

"I didn't see this coming," he said.

Rich said he will continue an internet radio project he has been doing as a hobby for the past several years.

"It will keep me kind of in the air if not on the air for a while," he said, adding that he doesn't really make money off the venture. "I just want to have fun."

SiriusXM Reports Record Revenue, 31M+ Subscribers

SiriusXM today announced fourth quarter and full-year 2016 operating and financial results, including record revenue of $1.3 billion and $5.0 billion, respectively, up 9% and 10% versus the prior year periods.

Net income totaled $205 million and $746 million in the fourth quarter and full-year 2016, respectively, up 52% and 46% from $135 million and $510 million in the fourth quarter and full-year 2015, respectively. Net income per diluted common share was $0.04 and $0.15 in the fourth quarter and full-year 2016, respectively, compared to $0.03 and $0.09 in the fourth quarter and full-year 2015, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA grew 20% and 13% in the fourth quarter and full-year 2016, respectively, to $475 million and $1.88 billion. Free cash flow and operating cash flow in the fourth quarter grew 44% and 47%, respectively, to $429 million and $503 million. Full-year 2016 free cash flow and operating cash flow grew 15% and 38%, respectively, to $1.51 billion and $1.72 billion.

"Last year was a phenomenal year for SiriusXM's business, and we expect continued success in 2017. We finished ahead of our guidance across the board, with record revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. With more than 31 million subscribers, SiriusXM has never had more paying customers. We've issued guidance for continued growth in 2017, and we expect a record adjusted EBITDA of more than $2 billion," said Jim Meyer, Chief Executive Officer, SiriusXM.

Jim Meyer

"We will continue to challenge ourselves to provide our subscribers the very best audio content in an easy-to-use package. We have launched an exclusive 24/7 channel, "FOX Sports on SiriusXM," and we've started a daily show with the wildly popular Barstool Sports. We added a new daily talk show with Craig Ferguson, and launched a new daily music show, "Hits 1 in Hollywood", broadcasting live from SiriusXM's Los Angeles studios. We also provided our subscribers access to one-of-a-kind events, such as Bon Jovi live in Miami. We never stand still in our quest to have the freshest, most relevant content in the audio entertainment industry, from music to sports to talk to comedy and beyond," added Meyer.

SiriusXM Subscribers Exceed 31 Million. The company added over 1.75 million net new subscribers during 2016 to end the year with approximately 31.3 million subscribers. Self-pay net additions were 1.66 million during the year, resulting in self-pay subscribers of nearly 26 million at December 31, 2016.

2017 GUIDANCE

Our full-year 2017 guidance for net subscribers, revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow, originally issued on January 5, 2017, is as follows:

• Self-pay net subscriber additions of approximately 1.3 million,
• Revenue of approximately $5.3 billion,
• Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $2.025 billion, and
• Free cash flow of approximately $1.5 billion.

NY Times’ Profit Hit by Print Ad Decline

Precipitous declines in print advertising rocked the newspaper industry last year. And while The New York Times Company recorded significant growth in subscriptions and promising increases in digital advertising, it nevertheless has not avoided the inevitable.

According to The NY Times, the company said on Thursday that its print advertising revenue in 2016 fell 16 percent, driving a 9 percent drop in total advertising revenue. For the quarter, print advertising revenue declined 20 percent.

The story on the digital side was positive. Digital advertising revenue rose 6 percent last year, to $209 million. The Times added 514,000 net digital-only subscriptions for its news products during the year, bringing its total to 1.6 million. Buoyed by readers’ intense interest in the presidential election, The Times added 276,000 net digital-only subscriptions to its news products in the last three months of the year.

Including print and crossword product subscriptions, The Times now has more than three million total paid subscribers.

Atlanta Radio: WYAY Adds Brian James For PM Drive

Brian Joyce

Cumulus Media announces that it has named Brian Joyce as Afternoon Host on NewsRadio WYAY 106.7 FM in Atlanta, GA. Joyce’s show will air weekdays from 3PM-6PM, and will debut on Monday, February 13, 2017.

Joyce’s addition follows the continued explosion of popularity for WYAY-FM’s entertaining and informative on-air team of Shannon Burke, The Kimmer, Rob Stadler and Cheryl White. Joyce will continue to host his current midday show from 1PM-3PM on Cumulus Media-Chattanooga, TN’s Talk Radio WGOW 102.3 FM (to originate in Atlanta) and will then follow the Kimmer on NewsRadio 106.7 for Atlanta’s afternoon commute.

Before heading south, Joyce grew up in Boston and was on-air talent for several New England stations including WRKO. In Chattanooga, his show regularly outperforms nationally syndicated news/talk personality Rush Limbaugh. Joyce is a regular contributor on Fox News and a featured blogger on Huffington Post. He has been named to Talkers Magazine’s “Heavy Hundred” list and was named one of talk radio’s Top 5 “Rising Stars” at Talk Show Boot Camp.

Sean Shannon, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Media-Atlanta said: “We live in a world where dialogue on matters of substance has become increasingly difficult, with politically-slanted news/talk outlets and social media platforms that feed consumers with stories that confirm their existing political belief systems. NewsRadio 106.7 breaks that confounding and polarizing mold. We are committed to delivering a forum ruled not by any agenda or by an algorithm, but by the unique value we can create for our listeners. We present multiple sides of the story when we’re delivering the news, ensuring we both inform existing opinions and provoke opposing opinions on every side of the story. In the process, we create a rare media experience facilitating respectful and spirited discourse where there is as much value in listening as there is in talking.”

WYAY 106.7 FM (77 Kw) Red=Local Coverage

Greg Tantum, Program Director for News Radio 106.7, said: “From Shannon Burke to The Kimmer to now Brian Joyce, NewsRadio 106.7 provides Atlantans with a diversity of viewpoints. Brian’s background as a truck driver, teacher, bouncer, bartender, comedian and Senior Derivatives Analyst for a Fortune 20 company is a natural follow to the eclectic talents and backgrounds of our diverse news/talk team. No syndicated, one-note political mumbo jumbo here – NewsRadio 106.7 stands as a different kind of place and a stimulating and thought-provoking break from the echo chambers that populate news/talk today.”

Joyce said: “I’m looking forward to joining Shannon, Kimmer and the rest of the team at NewsRadio 106.7! These guys have built a unique and entertaining lineup for the listeners of Atlanta, and it’s my hope that my show will continue to build on the great programming and strong ratings they’re known for. We have tens of thousands of loyal listeners who come to 106.7 for the fun, lively, and entertaining conversation that Shannon and Kimmer are known for. I’m confident the good people of Atlanta will feel the same way about me when they hear my show! Atlanta is a great city with great people and a huge, diverse audience. It’s an incredible opportunity for me, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Cedar Rapids Radio: Sean Strife Named PD For KOSY

Sean Strife

iHeartMedia/Cedar Rapids has announced that Sean Strife has been named Program Director for Top 40 KOSY Y957 FM.

Strife will work with on-air personalities, sales and the digital team to oversee programming content and music for Y957 FM.

“Sean was the obvious choice for this role - he brings his major market experience, format knowledge and industry connections with him to help Y957 FM continue its strong growth in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City markets,” said JJ Cook, SVP/Programming for iHeartMedia Cedar Rapids. “He knows what our listeners want and I know he’ll enjoy his first real taste of winter with the Y957 FM family!”

Previously Strife worked as the Producer for KIIS FM’s On Air With Ryan Seacrest in Los Angeles.

KOSY 95.7 FM (18 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

He also produced the Jesse Lozano in the Morning show and was an on-air personality for iHeartMedia Los Angeles’ Sports Talk station brand, AM 570 LA Sports – Home of the Dodgers. Strife is originally from Boca Raton, Fl. and began his career in the radio industry in Gainesville and West Palm Beach before moving to LA in 2013 -

Facebook Eases Past Wall Street Estimates

By Rishika Sadam and David Ingram

(Reuters) -- Facebook Inc (FB.O) cruised past Wall Street's earnings and revenue expectations on Wednesday with strong growth in its mobile ad business, demonstrating that controversy over so-called "fake news" and inaccurate advertising measurements had little impact on its financial performance.

With quarterly profit of $3.57 billion, more than double the $1.56 billion it reported a year ago, the company showed no signs of slowdown in growth. The results handily beat analysts' expectations, and shares ticked up about 0.2 percent in after-hours trading.

The company had warned in November that ad growth would likely slow "meaningfully" due to limits on ad load - the total number of ads Facebook can show to each user. But there was little sign of that in the fourth quarter as total revenue soared to $8.81 billion from $5.84 billion a year ago.

"I think the rate of growth will decline, but it will remain very high," said analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities. "They grew 57 percent in 2016, and our current model has 'only' 38 percent revenue growth in 2017. That's still pretty impressive."

Facebook suffered a slight setback just before the market close when a jury in Texas ordered Facebook, its virtual reality unit Oculus, and other defendants to pay a combined $500 million to ZeniMax Media Inc, a video game publisher, for violating a non-disclosure agreement.

But the company's core business continued to power ahead as mobile advertising accelerated; it now accounts for 84 percent of ad revenue, up from 80 percent a year ago.

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg told analysts on a call on Wednesday that the company expects a major ramp-up in hiring and other spending during 2017 as it invests in video and other priorities.

Zuckerberg said the focus would be on generating short-form, original videos, especially professionally created "episodic content" produced week-to-week.

Users should come to Facebook "when they want to keep up-to-date on what's going on with their favorite show or what's going on with a public figure," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump used the service for that on Tuesday, when he broadcast his announcement of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch on Facebook Live.

THREAT TO NETFLIX

The video push could ultimately pose a threat not only to YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google, but also to next-generation television companies like Netflix Inc (NFLX.O).

Facebook's strong performance could also throw a shadow on the expected Snap Inc initial public offering. Facebook competes with Snap chiefly through its Messenger service, and also with WhatsApp and Instagram.

The various Facebook apps have all been adding features rapidly to attract more users and retain those already on the network, and some of those features are clearly aimed at Snap.

Facebook has also been building new tools to stem the spread of fake news and partisan propaganda on the network, which emerged as a major issue in last year's U.S. presidential election.

Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg played down the impact of U.S. election spending on the company's finances. She compared it to the soccer World Cup or the Super Bowl and said it was not a "top 10 vertical" for the fourth quarter.

"No one event is that big for our business," she said.

USERS GROWING

The company inched closer to reaching 2 billion users, saying that about 1.86 billion people were using its service monthly as of Dec. 31, up 17 percent from a year earlier.

China apparently will not contribute to that growth any time soon, as Zuckerberg all but ruled out an imminent expansion in the world's most populous country.

"We're only going to do this in a way that we're comfortable with in the long term," he told analysts, adding that there would be "no news at all in the near term."

Mobile daily active users rose 23 percent to 1.15 billion, the company said. More than 90 percent of Facebook's users access the network through mobile devices.

Facebook is expected to generate about $29.71 billion in mobile ad revenue in 2017, according to research firm eMarketer, up about 35.2 percent from 2016.

Net income attributable to Facebook shareholders for the quarter rose to $3.56 billion, or $1.21 per share, from $1.56 billion, or 54 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the company earned $1.41 per share.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of $1.31 per share on revenue of $8.51 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Lady Gaga Takes Super Bowl Spotlight

(Reuters) -- As Lady Gaga prepares to take America's biggest stage at the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, much of country is speculating whether the outspoken singer will grab the opportunity to speak out on women's rights, immigration or U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the past, Gaga's attention-getting performances have ranged from dressing in raw meat to taking sexual assault victims to the Academy Awards. Many viewers are well aware of that history and will watch keenly on Sunday, when Gaga headlines a 15-minute set during the NFL championship game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston.

"People will take note of the lyrics and the political climate and come to their own conclusions," said Nolan Feeney, staff writer at Entertainment Weekly.

When it comes to the Super Bowl's 100 million-plus television audience, the 30-year-old singer may find that the safest way to make a political statement could be following in the footsteps of Beyonce, who let her music do the talking at last year's Super Bowl.

Beyonce sang "Formation," an anthem supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, accompanied by dancers dressed in homage to the Black Panthers Party of the 1960s and 70s.

Her powerful performance drew widespread praise, along with some criticism from people who perceived the song as anti-police. But their call to boycott Beyonce's music fizzled out within weeks and her album became one of the year's best sellers.

Both Gaga and the NFL have kept a tight lid on any details about her performance, which follows her drama-free singing of the U.S. national anthem at the 2016 Super Bowl.

The NFL on Wednesday denied reports that it had asked the singer to avoid political commentary.

"Everyone we work with understands this is a moment for families across America and the world to come together for a great experience. Lady Gaga understands that and we know she will deliver an incredible performance yet again," NFL spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz said.

If Gaga performs "Born This Way," a song about diversity that has become an anthem for the LGBTQ community, it may have larger implications especially in Texas, where lawmakers are pushing to restrict public bathroom access for transgender people.

Gaga has to be careful not to step over the line. When Houston last hosted the Super Bowl in 2004, headliners Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson famously caused broadcaster CBS to be fined $550,000 when her breast was accidentally exposed. The U.S. Supreme Court later overturned the fine for the incident, which gave birth to the phrase "wardrobe malfunction."

Nevertheless, Jackson's career was hurt.

"History tells us artists don't think the Super Bowl is a great place to be particularly provocative," Feeney said.

When Madonna performed in 2012, her guest star, rapper M.I.A., drew complaints for extending her middle finger. Madonna called the gesture "out of place" and the NFL sued the rapper.

Lady Gaga broke into the music industry in 2008 with pop hits such as "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" and her act featured skin-baring outfits and stunts. Over the years, her performances have grown more nuanced, and for her latest album, "Joanne," the singer toned down her physical appearance to showcase her musical prowess.

Lady Gaga has said nothing about her plans for Sunday's show. She did post a photo on social media of herself reclining across the bleachers of Houston's NRG Stadium, with the simple caption, "5 days."

Today 9AM Anchor Tamron Hall Exits NBC

Tamron Hall

Tamron Hall, best known for her time on MSNBC and the 9 a.m. hour of “Today,” will leave NBC News, according to Variety.

NBC recently announced plans to accommodate a new morning program featuring Megyn Kelly.

NBC News said it had been in discussions with Hall, who was nearing the end of her contract. Executives “hopes that she would decide to stay,” the NBCUniversal unit said in a prepared sattement issued Wednesday. “We are disappointed that she has chosen to leave, but we wish her all the best.” NBC News said her broadcasts on “Today” and MSNBC yesterday would be her final ones, and that she is expected to leave formally at the end of February.

The current format of NBC’s 9 a.m. hour, currently part of its “Today” morning franchise, is expected to be scrapped in the fall, part of plans recently disclosed by people familiar with the matter to carve out time for Megyn Kelly. The former Fox News Channel anchor, who recently left that network and will join NBC in May, is expected to take the reins of a new morning program that will air at either 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. If 10 a.m. is the chosen slot, then that hour’s current inhabitants, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, would move an hour earlier.

“The last ten years have been beyond anything I could have imagined, and I’m grateful,” Hall said in a statement provided by NBC News. ” I’m also very excited about the next chapter."

Sony Cuts Annual Profit View

(Reuters) -- Sony Corp on Thursday cut its full-year outlook for operating profit on Thursday after the Japanese TV-to-gaming group took a $1 billion writedown on its struggling movie business.

Sony forecast group operating profit of 240 billion yen ($2.13 billion) for the year ending in March, down from a previous estimate of 270 billion yen.

It also said October-December operating profit fell to 92.4 billion yen from 202.1 billion yen a year earlier.

The company said earlier this week it had cut the goodwill value of its movie business by 112.1 billion yen due to a dimming outlook for earnings from DVD and Blu-ray discs.

But a weaker yen and an image sensor business recovering from April earthquakes at Japanese plants helped partially offset the movie business writedown.

Sony has stressed that the pictures segment overall - including television programs and media networks - would improve through efforts to cut costs and bolster income from intellectual property. The segment "continues to be an important business," it has said.

Sony's pictures segment, which accounts for some 10 percent of the company's overall sales, is regarded as a key growth driver under its current three-year business plan through March 2018, along with image sensors, videogames and music.

Pictures supported Sony's earnings during years of struggle in its core consumer electronics business. Its profitability prompted activist shareholder Daniel Loeb to urge Sony in 2013 to partially spin off the segment as well as the music arm to free up cash to revive the electronics business.

Escanaba Radio: Sovereign To Acquire WYKX, WDBC

Upper Peninsula based Sovereign Communications has reached an agreement with KMB Broadcasting to purchase their Escanaba Michigan radio stations, Country WYKX 104.7 FM and Full Service WDBC 680 AM.

The two station acquisition will give Sovereign a total of seventeen stations in the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan, where the company already owns fifteen radio stations, including stations in Sault Sainte Marie, Newberry, Marquette and Iron Mountain.

WYKX 104.7 FM (100 Kw)

Bill Curtis, President of Sovereign Communications, said: “We couldn’t be more excited about this purchase. We’ve wanted to own these heritage stations for a long time and I’m delighted Mr. Cooke decided to sell them to us. Having WYKX-FM and WDBC-AM in our company will allow us to serve the local communities as well as our advertisers and listeners in even greater ways. I look forward to a smooth transition as we bring the Escanaba staff and operations into the Sovereign family. We’re extremely fortunate to have some of the best people in the radio business on our team. They’re passionate radio professionals that are excited about our growth and are ready to take on additional responsibilities and play an even more important role in the larger company. Personally, as a kid that grew up in the U.P. and started in the radio business at 15 years old, seeing Sovereign Communications continue to grow is a real dream come true for me.”

WDBC 680 AM (10 Kw-D, 1 Kw-N-DA)

James Cooke, President of KMB Broadcasting, commented: “It’s with mixed emotions that we decided to sell WDBC and WYKX. We have owned the stations since 1978 – longer than any other owners in their histories, dating all the way back to 1941 in the case of WDBC. Over the years, our dedicated and talented staffs have enabled both stations to provide the highest quality broadcast service to listeners and advertisers in Delta County and the surrounding counties. The quality of that service has been recognized by both the National Association of Broadcasters (WDBC won its prestigious Crystal Award) and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (WYKX won its Station of the Year Award, two years in a row). We much appreciate the service of those employees over the many years. However, my wife Betsy and I have both reached retirement age and are pleased to have reached an agreement to sell the stations to Sovereign Communications, a respected U.P. broadcaster who we fully expect will continue the station’s award winning service to the Central U.P.”

Nielsen Expands Scarborough to 210 DMAs

Nielsen has announced plans to expand Nielsen Scarborough, the market-leading, in-market consumer insights service, to local markets nationwide. Scarborough provides in-depth consumer behavior data on more than 2,000 categories about local shopping, product purchasing, lifestyle and media usage to give media companies, agencies and advertisers a complete view of the local market consumer. The expansion, which will begin introducing new markets in the second half of 2017, will add 59 designated market areas (DMAs) to the 151 currently measured, providing measurement nationwide of more than 300,000 adults annually. With this expansion, Scarborough will now bring newspaper currency measurement to the remaining markets across the U.S.

“Having Scarborough available in every local market is key for our local media measurement strategy across television, audio, newspaper, out-of-home and sports. Scarborough’s expertise to deliver true in-market, local consumer data will provide consistent qualitative insights making it easier to go beyond age and gender to find specific consumer segments in today’s fragmented environment,” said Megan Clarken, President, Product Leadership at Nielsen. “Delivering on deeper local consumer insights enables buyers and sellers to make smarter decisions about local consumers based on where they shop, what they buy, what they do, and what they watch, read, and listen to.”

Broadcast TV, local cable, audio and newspapers in every DMA will now be able to provide their clients with compelling information about how they influence where local consumers shop and what they buy, while also opening the door to integrate additional third party datasets. This effort will directly combine Nielsen’s TV and radio ratings with the rich local Scarborough behavioral data, enhanced with credit card transaction data from Nielsen Buyer Insights and automotive data from third parties.

Media buyers and sellers will be able to leverage true local buyer indicators to deliver new opportunities based on the buying power of audiences and identifying consumers who are ready to buy across key spending categories. With more consumer buyer insights, enhanced demographic information, and improved analysis capabilities, agencies and advertisers will be able to more effectively identify their audience to deliver on their cross media campaign goals.

“By directly bringing together the local TV and radio currency data with the Scarborough true local market data, we can help our clients demonstrate the unique value of their audiences and enable advertisers to reach those valuable consumers across automotive, financial services, retail, telecommunications and many other spending categories,” said Clarken. “When Scarborough is combined with our plans to bring Nielsen’s best-in-class TV panels including out-of-home viewing with set-top-box data, clients will have unparalleled local TV measurement.”

Shreveport Radio: Cody Welling New VP/MM For Cumulus Cluster

Cody Welling

Cumulus Media has announced that it has appointed Cody Welling as Vice President/Market Manager for the company’s five radio stations in Shreveport/Bossier City, LA.

Welling rises from the Director of Sales role for Cumulus Media’s eight-station cluster in Toledo/Monroe, OH, where he previously served as General Sales Manager. Prior to that, Welling was General Sales Manager and Director of Sales for Great Plains Media in Bloomington/Normal, IL, and was Local Sales Manager for ESPN Radio in Toledo. He holds a B.S. in Economics and Marketing from Ashland University.

Mark Sullivan, Regional Vice President, Cumulus Media said: “This is a terrific move for the company and for Cody. Cody’s strong track record of success and dynamic management style are already paying dividends in Shreveport and I look forward to his success and professional growth as our VP/Market Manager.”

Welling said: “I’m excited to lead Cumulus Media’s legendary group of stations in the Shreveport, Louisiana market. The passion of our team in Shreveport has made this an easy transition. The leadership from CEO, Mary Berner, SVP Jeff Brown, and RVP Mark Sullivan truly represents Cumulus’s goal of individual markets serving their community, listeners, clients, shareholders, and our employees. All great leaders are surrounded by great people along the way.  I would like to thank my former Cumulus team in Toledo, along with Toledo- Monroe RVP Andy Stuart and DOS Dana DiModica for their support in my new role.”

R.I.P.: Former Radio Newsman Bob Benson Has Died

Bob Benson

Former radio newsman Bob Benson (Real Name: Robert Gustav Bengtson) died Sunday January 29, 2017 at the age of 74.

Bob was born December 15, 1942 in Streator, Ill, where his love of radio started at WIZZ while a student at Streator High School.

He was later a staff member at WIRE in Indianapolis, Indiana where he attended Butler University. He went on to KOIL in Omaha, Nebraska to become the National News Director for Star Stations. In 1966 he joined ABC to become News Director of WLS in Chicago, Illinois until 1968 after which he became News Director and later Program Director of KGO Radio, in San Francisco.

In 1974 Benson left ABC and joined the Associated Press where he was the founder and first Managing Editor of AP Radio in Washington, DC. He returned to ABC in New York as Vice President of ABC News where he had a long career in charge of News and Sports for the Radio Networks.

Bob’s career spanned many areas of Radio from disc jockey to covering news and sporting events to management. Of all the national and international events he attended and covered, he often said his most memorable moment was a private audience with Pope John Paul II. Bob moved to Punta Gorda in 1994.

February 2 Radio History

Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll

In 1890...actor Charles Correll, who gave birth to the 1930’s radio sensation ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy’ with co-creator Freeman Gosden, was born in Peoria Illinois.

The two developed ‘Sam & Henry’ in 1926 for WGN Chicao, which they renamed ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy’ when they jumped to WMAQ in 1928. They would be staples of network radio for more than 30 years, with Correll throughout portraying Andy Brown.  Later, for the early TV cartoon show ‘Calvin & the Colonel,’ he was the voice of Calvin.

He died after a heart attack Sept. 26, 1972 at age 82.



In 1940...Frank Sinatra made his singing debut with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

In 1946...the radio quiz show “Twenty Questions” debuted on the Mutual network. Bill Slater was the quizmaster, and newscaster Fred Vandeventer, his wife Florence & son Bobby made up the panel. The latter two adopted different surnames to mask the nepotism. it was a major Monday night hit via delayed broadcast on CKWX Vancouver. The show ran for 8 years on radio & 6 more on TV.

In 1957...In the production studio of KWKH Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana, and with James Burton featured on guitar, Dale Hawkins recorded "Susie-Q."

In 1958...‘Frontier Gentleman‘ starring John Dehner debuted on CBS Radio. Antony Ellis wrote and directed the adventures of London Times correspondent J. B. Kendall as he wandered the American West encountering ordinary folks, as well as historical figures such as Jesse James, Calamity Jane, General Custer and Wild Bill Hickok.  The upscale radio western delighted listeners on Sundays for 41 weeks.

In 1959...At the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper played their final show. Admission was $1.25. The last song of the night was the Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace."

Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly

Holly, Valens and Richardson left The Surf immediately after the show, going to the nearby Mason City airport and chartering a small plane to take them to Fargo, North Dakota to prepare for their next show at the Moorhead Armory in Moorhead, Minnesota.

The plane took off at 12:55 AM Central Time on Tuesday February 3, 1959. Shortly after takeoff, young pilot Roger Peterson, in a combination of spatial disorientation and misinterpretion of a flight instrument, flew the plane into the ground, killing everyone aboard. According to the report, Peterson was not certificated to fly commercially at night, nor was he qualified to fly in the adverse weather (IFR) conditions which prevailed at the time of the flight. Although Peterson underwent formal IFR training, he failed his final checkride weeks before the accident.

A concrete monument was erected outside The Surf, and the ballroom is adorned with large pictures of the three musicians. A street flanking the facility's east property line is named Buddy Holly Place in his honor.

In 1975...Joe McCoy started as a disc jockey at WCBS 101.1 FM in NYC.

He eventually became Program Director.  In his 23 years as Program Director at WCBS-FM in New York City the station was # 1 (12+) 5 times as well as a leader for many years in the all-important 25-54 demo.

He's now retired enjoying traveling, jazz and baseball.


In 1985...FLASHBACK...From The Pages of Radio&Records R&R....

Birch Advances

In 1992...radio/TV host Bert Parks lost his battle with lung cancer at age 77.  He was an early announcer on radio for Eddie Cantor, and hosted both the Break the Bank & Stop the Music game shows on radio & Tv.  But he is best remembered as the singing host of The Miss America Pageant on TV for 25 years. (“There she is, Miss America….”)


In 1995...Actor Willard Waterman, the second person (after Harold Peary) to play the lead in the radio sitcom "The Great Gildersleeve," died at age 80. Waterman was a founding member of the radio union now known as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).

In 2009...Laurie Cantillo started as PD at WABC.  She moved on to  PD at News WTOP-FM in Washington.  As Cantillo told the Business Journals May 2014, "When I was a victim of consolidation after working in New York at WABC, the very first email I got after the story came out in Radio Inc. was from Jim Farley, and he said, “Anything I can do to help?” And I said, “Sure, hire me,” with a smiley-face, kinda just kidding. He wrote back and said, “Well, we may have something, why don’t you come down to see us.” So I jumped on the train. I was so impressed with the team here, and what they told me was a transition plan that would allow him to retire."

Cantillo now works for NASA in DC


In 2009...WODS-FM Boston launches 1,000th HD Radio multicast stream.


In 2016…Radio and television writer/comedian (The Bob and Ray Show, Monitor)/actor (Get a Life, Quick Change, Author! Author!, Cabin Boy, Cold Turkey) Bob Elliott, surviving half of the Bob and Ray comedy duo and father of actor Chris Elliott, died of throat cancer at 92. Ray Goulding died in 1990.

ACM Broadcast Radio Awards Nominees Unveiled

The Academy of Country Music® announced today the full list of Radio Awards nominees for the 52nd Acamdy of Country Music Aqwards™.

The full list of Radio Award nominees will not be televised due to time constraints during the live telecast from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

RADIO AWARDS- The following radio awards will be presented during our ACM Party for a Cause® event at The Joint on Saturday, April 1 in Las Vegas, NV.

NATIONAL ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Big D, Bubba, Patrick Thomas, Carsen   The Big D and Bubba Show
Cody Alan   CMT After MidNite with Cody Alan
Kix Brooks   American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Lon Helton   Country Countdown USA
Tracy Lawrence  Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET

Chris & Nina  KMLE-FM   Phoenix, AZ
George, Mo & Cowboy Dave  KILT-FM  Houston, TX
Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, Geof Knight  WKKT-FM  Charlotte, NC
Rob & Linda Show - Rob Stone & Linda Lee WYCD-FM  Southfield, MI
Tanner in the Morning  WSOC-FM Charlotte, NC

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
(tie within category increased nominees)

Ally & Andy  WDSY-FM   Pittsburgh, PA
Big Dave, Chelsie and Statt  WUBE-FM  Cincinnati, OH
Dave O’Brien  WLHK-FM  Indianapolis, IN
Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt & Kevin Freeman  WFMS-FM  Indianapolis, IN
Marty McFly  WSM-FM  Nashville, TN
Q Morning Crew - Mike, Marty and Janie  WQDR-FM  Raleigh, NC

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET

Andy Ritchie, Alison Mencer, Jimmy Holt WIVK-FM  Knoxville, TN
Jack Ryan  WMYL-FM  Clinton, TN
Scott Wynn & Sarah Kay WQMX-FM Akron, OH
Steve & Geoff   KUZZ-FM   Bakersfield, CA
Steve & Gina in the Morning on Kat 103.7  KXKT-FM  Omaha, NE

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET

Ben Butler and Arnie Andrews WCOW-FM  Sparta, WI
Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton WYCT-FM  Pensacola, FL
Jason and Ashley "The Q Crew" on Q100.3  KRWQ-FM  Medford, OR    
Scotty Cox & Cara Denis  KCLR-FM  Columbia, MO
The Roger & Carly Morning Show  KORA-FM  Bryan, TX

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MAJOR MARKET 
(tie within category increased nominees)

KKBQ-FM                            Houston, TX
KMLE-FM                            Phoenix, AZ
KUPL-FM                            Portland, OR
WIL-FM                               St. Louis, MO
WKKT-FM                           Charlotte, NC
WSOC-FM                          Charlotte, NC

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET

KAJA-FM                             San Antonio, TX
WQDR-FM                           Raleigh, NC
WSIX-FM                             Nashville, TN
WSM-FM                             Nashville, TN
WUBE-FM                           Cincinnati, OH

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM MARKET

CKRY-FM                            Calgary, AB
KAWO-FM                           Boise, ID
KUZZ-FM                            Bakersfield, CA
KXKT-FM                            Omaha, NE
WIVK-FM                            Knoxville, TN

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR – SMALL MARKET

KCLR-FM                            Columbia, MO
KKNU-FM                            Eugene, OR
KTHK-FM                            Idaho Falls, ID
WCOW-FM                          Sparta, WI
WXFL-FM                            Florence, AL