One of radio’s iconic radio stations is now one very big step closer to having its first new owner since signing-on nearly a century ago. Chicago’s WGN (720) is part of the massive $4.1 billion buyout of Tribune Media by Nexstar Media Group, a deal that the FCC on Monday announced it has approved by a party-line 3-2 vote. It removes the last big hurdle before a closing. The Dept. of Justice gave its blessing in July. Read more

Entercom “610 Sports Radio” KCSP Kansas City will remain the flagship radio station of the Kansas City Royals through the 2024 MLB season with the signing of a new five-year contract extension. KCSP has been the broadcast home of the Royals since 2008. Under the new agreement, select weekday afternoon games will air on sports sister “1660 The Score” KWOD. Read more

Cumulus Media has recruited veteran media finance exec John Toohey as VP of Finance. Toohey will work on financial planning and analysis, budgeting and special projects, reporting to John Abbot, Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer. Based in New York City and at Cumulus headquarters in Atlanta, Toohey replaces David Elrod who was Senior Director of Finance since May 2017. Read more

Triton Digital, the technology and advertising platform company working with digital audio companies, including podcast publishers, is adding some research knowhow to its team. Daryl Battaglia has been recruited from Nielsen to Triton where he becomes Senior Vice President of Market Development and Strategy, Audience Research. Read more

Tom Tolbert, the former NBA forward turned radio host, has signed a new multi-year contract with Cumulus Media sports KNBR-AM/FM San Francisco. Tolbert, who joined the station in 1996, is one-third of “Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks,” with Larry Krueger and Rod Brooks, heard 2-6pm weekdays on “The Sports Leader.” Read more

Entravision names two new Senior VPs of Integrated Marketing as Erin Voden rejoins the company’s Washington properties and Robert McCauley is recruited to the group’s Palm Springs cluster. Both executives will be responsible for sales management and growth of the company’s television, radio and digital media properties in their respective markets. Read more

Jon Pardi to headline WIL-FM’s “JingleFest” on Dec. 7… CBS News Radio to participate in “Covering Climate Now” project through the news network’s “Eye on Earth” series… KTTH is the new flagship of the nationally syndicated “America’s 1st News” with Matt… Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta joins Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley on her latest podcast. Read more

Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim expects the DOJ will take some action on the consent decrees governing how radio licenses music from ASCAP and BMI by year-end. In a possible trial balloon, NAB President Gordon Smith has said broadcasters may be willing to go with a “transitional decree” proposal as long as Congress puts a new framework into place to take their place for the long-term. Read more

Black Americans are 48 million strong and command $1.3 trillion in spending power. But their sway extends well beyond their financial muscle. Despite this growth in economic clout, advertising spend designed to reach black consumers declined by 5% between 2017 and 2018. “The decrease on a variety of media is at odds with the demonstrated economic power of black consumers,” Nielsen says in a new report entitled, “It’s In The Bag: Black Consumers’ Path To Purchase.” Read more

Entravision names two new Senior VPs of Integrated Marketing as Erin Voden rejoins the company’s Washington properties and Robert McCauley is recruited to the group’s Palm Springs cluster. Both executives will be responsible for sales management and growth of the company’s television, radio and digital media properties in their respective markets. Read more