If there’s one pundit responsible for President-elect Donald Trump’s stunning electoral college victory, a new poll indicates it’s Rush Limbaugh.
The Washington Times reports a survey by the American Culture & Faith Institute measures which political commentator held the most sway among “SAGE Cons” — spiritually active, governance engaged conservatives — this election cycle.
Limbaugh finishes first in the poll, with 19 percent of the conservative Christian constituency saying the longtime, cantankerous radio host had “a lot of influence” on the way they thought about the presidential race.
Sean Hannity places second with 17 percent, followed by fellow Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly with 14 percent, and radio host Laura Ingraham with 12 percent.
Rounding out the top five is Tony Perkins, who heads the Family Research Council, a Washington D.C.-based think tank.
Mr. Perkins’ selection is something of a surprise. Although the evangelical leader hosts a daily radio program, “Washington Watch,” his audience is dwarfed by those who boasted comparable influence in the survey.
Other media personalities in the single digits include American Family Radio host Tim Wildmon (6 percent), Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly (5 percent), longtime “700 Club” pundit Pat Robertson (5 percent), columnist Todd Starnes (4 percent), Fox News pundit Eric Bolling (4 percent), Glenn Beck (3 percent) and radio host Michael Savage (3 percent).
The poll is a part of the American Culture & Faith Institute’s RightView longitudinal survey, which studies spiritually active, governance engaged conservatives who are registered voters, a group that represents about 12 percent of the population, or 30 million people.
The think tank surveyed 3,000 adults on Nov. 8 to ascertain which pundit held the most sway among the constituency during the election.
WTSN 1270 AM has added an FM signal at W269BA 98.1 FM in Dover, NH.
“A third of people don’t even listen to AM anymore. So we wanted to keep these stations which were so vital to the community in the game,” said Lee Kinberg, President of Binnie Media which recently purchased WTSN.
WTSN has been informing and entertaining listeners for the past sixty years.
“WTSN has been part of the fabric of Dover and The Seacoast for 60 years and Mike Pomp has been part of the last 30. We are pleased to add the 98.1 FM signal so that the station sounds better and can be received on more devices than ever before,” said Lee Kinberg, President of Binnie Media.
WTSN also broadcasts local high school sports and remains the local affiliate for broadcasts of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics.
News/Talk 98.1 WTSN is part of Binnie Media, which owns 16 radio stations in Maine and New Hampshire and is an affiliate of the NH1 News Network.
In 1887...Boris Karloff was born William Henry Pratt in London.
In a 50 year acting career highlighted by four Frankenstein films, he found time to make an impact in horror radio & TV productions. He is still heard today as the narrator of the annual TV cartoon favorite, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
He died at age 81 Feb 2, 1969 from emphysema.
For his contribution to film and television, Boris Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1737 Vine Street for motion pictures, and 6664 Hollywood Boulevard for television.
In 1889…In San Francisco, the Palais Royal Hotel installed
the first coin-operated machine that, by about 1940, was known as a
"jukebox." In the beginning it was a crude slot-machine apparatus
connected to an Edison phonograph which, upon receiving a coin, unlocked the
mechanism, allowing the listener to turn a crank that simultaneously wound the
spring motor and placed the reproducer's stylus in the starting groove. This
was before the time of vacuum tubes, so there was no amplification. The music
was heard via one of four listening tubes. Despite its then-high price of a
nickel a song, the new contraption took in $1000 in its first six months of
operation.
John Dehner
In 1915...actor John Dehner was born in Staten Island NY.
After starting as a Disney animator & radio deejay, he started playing heavies in films & on radio shows such as Gunsmoke, Suspense, Escape and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar. He starred in The Hermit’s Cave and Frontier Gentleman on radio, and was Palladin in CBS Radio’s Have Gun Will Travel. TV series credits include Young Maverick, How the West was Won, Temperatures Rising, the Doris Day Show & the Don Knotts Show.
He died of emphysema & diabetes Feb 4 1992 at age 76.
In 1938…Bob Hope and Shirley Ross recorded his future theme
song, "Thanks For The Memory," for the soundtrack of the motion
picture "The Big Broadcast of 1938."
Also on this date in 1996, Hope set a record for the longest continuous contract in the history of radio and television when his last TV special aired. Hope had been with N-B-C for 60 years.
In 1959…Alan Freed was dismissed from his daily television
show, "The Big Beat," over allegations that he accepted money to play
certain records. Freed denied any wrongdoing.
In 1962…The Beatles did a ten-minute audition for BBC
Television at St. James' Church Hall in London. Four days later, Brian Epstein
received a polite rejection letter from the BBC. They eventually made it on the BBC in 1963.
In 1964…The Rolling Stones were late arriving for the BBC
radio shows, "Top Gear" and "Saturday Club" and as a result
were banned by the BBC for "unprofessionalism."
In 1967…San Francisco disc jockey Tom Donahue, inventor of
"classic rock" and "deep cut" radio, told Rolling Stone
magazine, "Top Forty radio, as we know it today and have known it for the
last ten years, is dead, and its rotting corpse is stinking up the
airwaves."
In 1992...country music legend Roy Acuff died of heart failure at age 89.
Considered the most influential figure in the history of country music, Acuff rose to fame in the 1930’s when radio was more important than records, so his chart hits were relatively few. But he made country standards of songs like “The Wabash Cannonball,” “The Great Speckle Bird,” “Fireball Mail” and “Night Train to Memphis.”
In 1993….FCC makes C-QUAM AM stereo standard. WBZ-AM Boston playing Christmas music on Christmas Eve 1993
in C-Quam AM Stereo. This was recorded via skyway 480 miles from Boston in
Lockport, NY, near Buffalo.
In 2004…pioneering sports radio talk show host Pete Franklin
died at age 76. Franklin's stops included Cleveland and New York with his last job
at KNBR, San Francisco.
In 2014…Veteran radio personality (WEEP-Pittsburgh, KSON and KDEO in San Diego, WJET-Erie) Bob Connors, who spent 33 of his 47 years at WTVN-Columbus, Ohio as the station's morning host, until retiring in 2011, died of mantle cell lymphoma at age 80.
“Loren Owens and I have been together for 35 years, longer than most marriages,” Brine said in a statement.
“He’s been my friend, my teacher, my advisor, my confidant, and my hero. I have been so blessed to have been teamed up with Loren. I will be forever grateful. I just wish there were two of me. One could stay, and the other could sleep in, travel with my wife, and stay up late.”
Wally caught the radio bug at an early age, being the son of well-known radio personality Salty Brine, who hosted the top-rated morning show on WPRO for more than 50 years. His first radio job was in 1968 at WPRO-FM, and he held several other jobs in New England at WGAN, WLOB, WJBQ-FM and eventually WVBF (now WROR) where he teamed up with Loren Owens for “The Loren & Wally Show.”
Said Owens: “I’m happy for Wally because this is what he wants for the next chapter of his life. Love the guy. Always will.”
Loren Owens and co-hosts Lauren Beckham Falcone and Hank Morse will continue in mornings following Brine’s retirement.
Cumulus Media announces that it has named popular Washington, D.C. on-air personality Larry O’Connor as Host of a new three-hour weekday afternoon show on WMAL 630 AM / 105.9 FM.
“The Larry O’Connor Show” will air weekdays from 3-6PM EST beginning January 2, 2017.
O’Connor segues from his current co-hosting duties on WMAL’s “Mornings On The Mall” with Brian Wilson, a position O’Connor has held since 2012. O’Connor has additionally hosted a 5PM EST hour on WMAL-AM/FM since 2014. He also serves as Editor-At-Large for HotAir.com and previously worked with IJ Review, with whom he participated in the New Hampshire Republican Primary debates airing on ABC News.
Jake McCann, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus Media-Washington, D.C. said: “Larry is a super talent in the industry. He’s funny and thought provoking, and his one-hour afternoon show is one of the top-ranked hours in Washington, D.C. It’s a natural progression to expand his afternoon program.”
Bill Hess, WMAL Program Director and Vice President, News/Talk for Cumulus Media said: “Larry’s success, both on our morning and 5pm shows, has positioned him perfectly to re-open the local afternoon daypart on WMAL. He’s smart, entertaining, and an engaging storyteller who will anchor a program built on the stories of the day, with expanded service elements for our busy D.C. commuters.”
O’Connor said: “During this time of unprecedented change and interest in Washington D.C., it's an exciting and humbling opportunity to help facilitate an entertaining and provocative conversation on a station as important and influential as WMAL. During the four years I've been here in the Nation's Capital, I've been so impressed with this community's engagement in not only our government, but with issues that hit our kitchen tables every day – like pop culture, faith, and parenting.”
O’Connor continued: “It's been an honor to engage in discussions on these topics every morning and I'm excited to carry on those conversations while people head home from work and school every day. Although I will miss my talented and generous co-host Brian Wilson, I will admit that I'm looking forward to getting a few hours of extra sleep.”
A search for Brian Wilson’s new co-host for WMAL’s “Mornings On The Mall” is underway. Interested candidates should send resumes to Bill Hess at: Bill.Hess@Cumulus.com.
(Reuters) -- British actor and talk show host James Corden, whose "Carpool Karaoke" segment has become a viral phenomenon, will host the Grammy Awards in February, the Recording Academy said on Tuesday.
Corden's appointment to lead the music industry's most prestigious awards show ends the five-year hosting run of actor and hip-hop artist LL Cool J.
"Thanks to 'Carpool Karaoke,' we've all been on some incredible rides with James, and The Recording Academy couldn't be more excited to welcome his passion and enthusiasm for music, both as an entertainer and a fan, to the Grammy stage," Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement.
Corden, 38, was virtually unknown in the United States before he took over as host of "The Late Late Show" on CBS TV in 2015. But his popularity has soared through the show's "Carpool Karaoke" segment, in which singers ranging from Adele to Britney Spears and Justin Bieber take a car ride with Corden and sing along to their biggest hits.
Corden, already a Tony-winning actor, won an Emmy earlier this year for "Carpool Karaoke," which has garnered nearly 2 billion views on YouTube. He also hosted the Tony Awards in New York in June.
The choice of the popular Corden was seen as a bid to boost declining TV ratings among young adults for the annual Grammy show. The total audience for the 2015 ceremony was the lowest in six years, at 25.3 million, although it rose to 24.9 million in 2016.
The Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on Feb. 12.
Donald Trump scolded media big shots during an off-the-record Trump Tower sitdown on Monday, according to The NY Post.
“Trump started with [CNN chief] Jeff Zucker and said ‘I hate your network, everyone at CNN is a liar and you should be ashamed,’ ” a source told The Post.
“The meeting was a total disaster. The TV execs and anchors went in there thinking they would be discussing the access they would get to the Trump administration, but instead they got a Trump-style dressing down,” the source added.
“The meeting took place in a big board room and there were about 30 or 40 people, including the big news anchors from all the networks,” another source said.
“Trump didn’t say [NBC reporter] Katy Tur by name, but talked about an NBC female correspondent who got it wrong, then he referred to a horrible network correspondent who cried when Hillary lost who hosted a debate – which was Martha Raddatz who was also in the room.”
The stunned reporters tried to get a word in edgewise to discuss access to a Trump Administration.
CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker raised the issue of the pool, according to one of the people with knowledge of the meeting, but Trump appeared disinterested in the topic. Variety reports he kicked the question to Reince Preibus, the former Republican National Committee chairman who will serve as Trump’s chief of staff.
Other Trump confidantes present at the 75-minute meeting included adviser Steve Bannon and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. The president-elect’s wife, Melania Trump, made an appearance, according to the people familiar with the situation.
Kellyanne Conway
After the meeting, Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway told reporters the gathering went well.
“Excellent meetings with the top executives of the major networks,” she said during a gaggle in the lobby of Trump Tower. “Pretty unprecedented meeting we put together in two days.”
The meeting was off the record, meaning the participants agreed not to talk about the substance of the conversations.
It is not unusual for journalists to agree to off-the-record sessions with prominent politicians, including President Obama, as a way to gain insights and develop relationships, according to The NY Times.
The hour-long session included top execs from network and cable news channels. Among the attendees were NBC’s Deborah Turness, Lester Holt and Chuck Todd, ABC’s James Goldston, George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Martha Raddatz,
Also, CBS’ Norah O’Donnell John Dickerson, Charlie Rose, Christopher Isham and King, Fox News’ Bill Shine, Jack Abernethy, Jay Wallace, Suzanne Scott, MSNBC’s Phil Griffin and CNN’s Jeff Zucker and Erin Burnett.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice of experts to focus on new policies at the Federal Communications Commission signals a regime that will have a "lighter" touch on regulation and be more likely to favor large mergers in telecoms industries, analysts said.
Economist Jeff Eisenach and former Sprint Corp lobbyist Mark Jamison were named by Trump's transition team to oversee hiring and policy for the FCC. They both oppose some recent telecom industry regulations resisted by telecom and cable heavyweights such as Comcast Corp and AT&T and have voiced support for mega mergers in the past.
The FCC is composed of five commissioners, including one designated as chairman, who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Only three commissioners can be from the same political party and Trump's pick for FCC chairman would tip the balance in favor of Republicans. The addition of Eisenach and Jamison to Trump's "landing team" on Monday come as the Republican president-elect puts together a team to staff various government departments and agencies after he succeeds Democratic President Barack Obama on Jan. 20.
The two appointments are harbingers of "a more typical Republican FCC that is lighter on regulation and more focused on competition," said Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics. "The focus will be more on reducing regulation than creating new ones."
That would be in stark contrast to the Obama administration's FCC that enacted or proposed a handful of new industry rules and disapproved some proposed combinations, including Comcast's bid for Time Warner Cable and AT&T's attempt to buy T-Mobile. The FCC under Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, has had a rocky relationship with large telecom companies, some of which strongly opposed the agency's 2015 net neutrality or open internet rules.
The rules, which require internet service providers to treat all data equally and bar them from obstructing or slowing down consumer access to web content, were seen as a major victory for internet businesses like Alphabet Inc's Google that offer services but do not own internet networks.
'PRO-BUSINESS POLICY'
Eisenach has supported mergers such as AT&T and T-Mobile as well as Sprint and T-Mobile that were dismissed by regulators during Obama's administration, according to analysts. He is known in telecom circles for having a "pro-business" mindset, New Street Research analyst Spencer Kurn said.
"Whoever gets picked (as FCC chairman) is likely going to implement a similar pro-business policy," Kurn said.
Eisenach, who was previously tapped by the Trump campaign as an adviser on technology and telecom policy, is currently a managing director at consulting firm NERA Economic Consulting's communications, media and internet practice. He previously held advisory roles at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the White House Office of Management and Budget.
In 2014, he testified in the U.S. Senate against net neutrality rules, arguing there was no need for new regulation as existing antitrust rules, while "not perfect," offered safeguards against concerns about the business practices of internet service providers.
Jamison is the director of the Public Utility Research Center at the University of Florida. Like Eisenach, he has strongly disagreed in his publications with Wheeler's rules, including net neutrality and a proposal to open up the market for rented pay-TV set-top boxes.
That measure was aimed at breaking the telecom and cable companies' grip on the $20 billion market and bringing in players such as Google and Apple in an effort to lower prices for consumers.
Some analysts said the appointments also raised questions over whether Trump would carry out his campaign pledge to kill AT&T's $85.4 billion proposal to buy Time Warner.
Matt Wood, policy director of the technology rights group Free Press, said that even as Trump opposes the deal, he picked the pro-business economist Eisenach, who was unlikely to want to block such a merger.
A body which represents approximately 10,000 commercial radio stations in the US, the RMLC, has filed an antitrust complaint against Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights (GMR) – claiming anti-competitive behavior.
Music Business Worldwide is reporting that GMR has drafted in renowned US lawyer Daniel Petrocelli to represent it in reaction.
In a press release, the RMLC (Radio Music Licensing Committee) said that, if left unchecked, GMR would be able “to charge the U.S. commercial radio industry monopoly prices to publicly perform musical works in the GMR repertory”.
What that really amounts to is that fact that GMR declines to submit its copyrights to regulated US royalty rate proceedings – meaning broadcasters have to pay its writers a privately agreed figure, or fail to obtain clearance to play their music.
This is a key part of GMR’s business – based on a mantra of earning songwriters the money they deserve vs. more traditional options in the US.
The approach has lured over the likes of Pharrell Williams and Ryan Tedder from the likes of ASCAP and BMI since it launched in 2013.
ASCAP and BMI are both not-for-profit performance rights organizations.
GMR’s fellow for-profit PRO, SESAC, settled with the RMLC in summer 2015 following similar litigation to that just launched against GMR.
The RMLC claims that GMR has “created a bottleneck to, and artificial monopoly over, the works in its repertory”.
RMLC seeks injunctive relief, requiring, among other things, that GMR submit to a judicial rate-making procedure comparable to what the consent decrees governing ASCAP and BMI impose.
Along with the complaint, the RMLC has also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent GMR from charging radio stations monopoly prices for a GMR license while the litigation is pending.
Radio One Cincinnati announced the return of WIZF 101.1 FM The Wiz alum Don Juan to the company as Music Director and Afternoon Drive Host.
Don Juan, an Ohio native, has 15 years of history with Radio One Cincinnati. He is well known within the community in the club scene and his charity work. His charity work includes hosting the AIDS Awareness Walk and The Dream Is Real Scholarship Presentation. Don Juan got his start in radio in Cincinnati, but most recently his career had him in Montgomery, Alabama as night host.
Regarding the return home, Don Juan said, “I couldn’t be happier to be back in Cincinnati. Anyone who knows me knows that this is the city I love—when I’m on air, I’m not talking to ‘listeners’, I’m talking to my friends and family.”
Station Operations Manager, Kenard “K2” Karter, added, “Don Juan returning to Cincy isn’t just about bringing back a phenomenal talent. It’s about working with a guy whose passion spreads to everyone he meets. You’re not just going to hear him when he’s on-air, you’re going to hear his influence in everything we do.”
WIZF 101.1 FM (2.5 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area
Starting Monday, December 5th, Don Juan can be heard weekday afternoons. He will be on from 3pm-7pm on 101.1 The Wiz or streamed live at WIZNATION.com.
iHeartMedia/Columbus announced Monday the debut of Sports Radio WXZX 105.7 FM The Zone, the new destination for Sports Radio in Columbus.
WXZX 105.7 FM (2.4 Kw)
Sports Radio 105.7 The Zone will broadcast all-day sports programming, featuring the full Fox Sports Radio line up, including The Dan Patrick Show, The Rich Eisen Show and The Herd with Colin Cowherd. The Bruce Hooley Show will feature local on-air personalities Bruce Hooley and Maddie Spielman, daughter of Chris Spielman, former Buckeye All American, NFL All Pro Linebacker and Fox Sports Announcer; the show will announce another co-host at a later date. In addition, the station will include special reports from Matt McCoy, longtime 610 WTVN Sports Anchor, as well as reports on local sports, news, traffic and weather.
“Columbus has one of the best sports fan bases in the country and they finally a have a new destination for Columbus based sports and entertainment radio in the morning, plus the best national line-up available the rest of the day,” said Michael McCoy, Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Columbus.
105.7 The Zone will broadcast Cleveland Cavaliers and Cincinnati Bengals games. iHeartMedia Columbus sister station 105.3 will continue to be home of The Pittsburgh Steelers and Ohio University football and basketball.
(Reuters) -- Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is exploring live sports streaming and has held talks with leagues including the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Football League for live game rights, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.
Amazon has held discussions to create a premium, exclusive sports package with a Prime membership. However, details are still not clear, the Journal reported on Monday.
The e-commerce giant's Prime loyalty program offers original TV programming and access to digital entertainment products such as Prime Music and Prime Video, as well as one-hour delivery of purchases, for an annual fee of $99.
Amazon has also reached out to smaller leagues such as Major League Soccer, the Atlantic Coast Conference, college sports network Campus Insiders, 120 Sports, National Lacrosse League, Major League Lacrosse and World Surf League for game rights, according to the Journal.
The company has also contacted traditional TV networks for game rights they are not using, the report said.
Among those approached include Univision Communications Inc [UVN.UL] for Mexican soccer league games, Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) ESPN and ONE World Sports, the report said.
Amazon, the NBA, the NFL and the Major League Baseball were not immediately available for comment.
"We don't comment on any partnership, potential or otherwise, until appropriate," World Surf League spokesman said.
MLS confirmed the talks with Amazon but declined to comment further.
ACC, 120 Sports, NLL, MLL and Campus Insiders could not be immediately reached for comment.
Amazon's move comes as sports fans increasingly rely on the internet to watch video at the expense of traditional cable and satellite connections.
Tech-giants such as Facebook Inc (FB.O) and Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) have signed up deals to beef up their video services.
Twitter has a deal with the NFL to stream its Thursday night games during the 2016 regular season, while Facebook streamed some U.S. men's Olympic team games in partnership with the NBA.
Proving it’s always possible to evolve and re-invent, Crain’s Detroit has named broadcast pioneer Fred Jacobs as one of Michigan’s “50 Names To Know In Information Technology.”
Known to many in the radio industry as the father of the Classic Rock format, Jacobs Media has launched innovative research projects including its industry Techsurveys, as well as its presence in the connected car space via the DASH Conference. Jacobs has led the radio broadcasting industry into the mobile era with the creation of jacapps, radio’s leading mobile application developer.
In honoring Jacobs, Crain’s Detroit notes, “Jacobs Media is an example of an old-school marketing company adapting to the post-iPhone world.” Founded 100 days after the opening of Apple’s iTunes App Store in 2008, jacapps has developed more than 1,000 apps worldwide for the radio industry, as well as for numerous non-radio clients.
“Back in 2008, our Techsurveys began showing how radio listeners were altering their media consumption,” notes Jacobs. “We saw the iPhone was hot, and had a strong feeling radio’s future was to participate in the smartphone revolution. Eight years later, it’s about ensuring radio apps are adapted to the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ecosystems, retaining radio’s front and center position in car dashboards.”
(Reuters) -- Online media company BuzzFeed, best known for its list-based articles and quizzes, said Comcast Corp's (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal had invested an additional $200 million in the company.
NBCU parent Comcast has pumped heavily into digital-native companies such as BuzzFeed and Vox Media, partly in an effort to better service existing advertisers. The new investment, which gives BuzzFeed a valuation of around $1.7 billion, ups NBCU’s stake to $400 million, following an initial $200 million investment last summer. NBCU also invested $200 million into Vox Media.
NBCU will take a larger role in selling ads for BuzzFeed with the ability to incorporate BuzzFeed’s inventory into its deals with advertisers; BuzzFeed will also have the same option to sell space on NBCU’s inventory to its advertisers.
Additionally, BuzzFeed’s Swarm and NBCU’s Symphony ad products will be offered as one package to advertisers. Both Swarm and Symphony allow advertisers to run campaigns simultaneously across all of their respective properties.
In the past year, NBCU and BuzzFeed have collaborated on several projects, most notably with the Rio Olympics, where BuzzFeed produced the content for NBC Olympics’ dedicated Snapchat Discover channel. In February, the two teamed with American Express to replace 30 minutes of national ad spots during primetime on Feb. 29 with sponsored content that was tied to NBC programming. BuzzFeed created content that was distributed on social media as part of that deal.
BuzzFeed will also take a bigger role in NBCU’s content studio, which produces advertiser-friendly content that is tailored to specific social media platforms, including creating and distributing the content on social media.
BuzzFeed will put more money into its food-themed business, Tasty, and beef up its digital video operations, which is becoming more of an emphasis for the digital media company.
In August, BuzzFeed split itself into news and entertainment divisions amid media companies' struggle for balance between covering news and politics, and lighter fare like social media, entertainment and lifestyle.
NextRadio has launched Newsfeed, an innovative feature designed to further strengthen the bond that radio listeners have with their favorite stations by sharing more radio station content and delivering it in an interactive way that consumers are used to experiencing with apps.
Newsfeed enriches the NextRadio in-app experience by serving up station-centric content, such as trending Tweets from the user's favorite radio shows. Other content pushed by NextRadio Newsfeed is specific to the user's favorite formats and includes artist and song facts, the day's hottest song, and which artists are coming to town with the ability to buy concert tickets through Vivid Seats.
NextRadio also partnered with Global Security Systems to provide ALERT FM emergency messages to users of Newsfeed in the app. Recognizing that a key reason that people turn to FM broadcast is for emergency updates, NextRadio app users can opt-in to emergency alerts that will show up in their Newsfeed.
"We are excited to provide ALERT FM emergency messages to users of Newsfeed. Our partnership with NextRadio will allow us to expand our nationwide footprint in receiving emergency updates and increase our user base," said Matthew Straeb, EVP/CTO of Global Security Systems, maker of ALERT FM.
"The app was built for avid local radio listeners," said NextRadio VP of Product Development Ben Husmann. "We continually look for ways to help our broadcaster partners further integrate their programming into our mobile app. Newsfeed is a natural product evolution to create a more robust radio listening experience."
NextRadio plans to utilize the Newsfeed feature as a tool to continually explore unique types of content tied to radio stations and their listeners.
(Reuters) -- Rapper Kanye West was hospitalized on Monday and reported to be suffering from exhaustion hours after he abruptly canceled the remainder of his tour following a week of no-shows, curtailed concerts and rants about politics.
A source told People that West was "exhausted and currently dealing with sleep deprivation" but that he was "fine." NBC News and other outlets said he was hospitalized in Los Angeles after police responded to a medical welfare call.
Reuters could not independently confirm the hospitalization.
Concert promoters Live Nation said in a statement on Monday that the remaining 21 U.S. dates on West's Saint Pablo tour had been canceled, and that tickets would be fully refunded.
Live Nation gave no reasons, fueling speculation about the state of West's mental and physical health. A source close to the "Gold Digger" singer denied West was having some kind of breakdown, telling celebrity outlets People and Us Weekly that West was a workaholic who was simply worn out.
"He's just exhausted. He's been working around the clock on fashion design, both on his own line and the Adidas line. He's a notorious workaholic, so balancing both that work – which is extremely important to him – and the rigors of the tour every night, it really wore him out," a source told People.
The tour cancellation followed a demanding three months for West, who unveiled the new season of his Yeezy fashion line with an elaborate performance art event in September in New York.
In October, West's reality star wife, Kim Kardashian, was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, forcing the family to reassess their security and their high public profile.
The influential rapper, who is promoting his current album "The Life of Pablo," made headlines last week when he was booed at his San Jose, California concert for declaring his support for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
He canceled a concert in Los Angeles at the last minute on Sunday, and on Saturday walked off stage in Sacramento, California after 30 minutes during which he took aim at Beyonce, Jay Z, the media, and the music industry in general.
West later flooded his Instagram account with dozens of photos of fashion items.
Billboard magazine estimated that the tour cancellation would mean $27 million in ticket refunds and untold amounts in other tour expenses.
West has a history of unpredictable and controversial behavior.
Last year, he declared he was considering running for U.S. president in 2020. In 2009, he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York saying the honor should have gone to Beyonce.
In 2006, he posed as Jesus Christ on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and earlier this year he released a music video for "Famous" featuring portrayals of nude celebrities including Trump, Swift and comedian Bill Cosby lying asleep in bed with him.
