The Conference Board Leading Economic Index has predicted economic downturns in the U.S. with a 100% hit rate – and it is predicting one for 2023. But instead of triggering an advertising downturn, could a recession actually cause an advertising boom? The notion is based on the belief that the pandemic taught businesses that advertising in tough times produces results. Read moreAn Advertising Boom In A Recession? It May Not Be As Far-Fetched As You Think.
Urban One first tipped two weeks ago that it planned to do more in the podcast space when it announced it was working with Sounder on an initiative aimed at improving brand safety. Now it is formally cutting the ribbon on the Urban One Podcast Network. The move expands on the radio broadcaster’s audio portfolio as it looks to connect with listeners of color and broaden its appeal to advertisers who want to connect with the Black community. Read moreUrban One Podcast Network Launches With Ten Original Shows.
Station owner and producer of audio and video content Estrella Media has tapped Gerardo Vergaza as Director, and Alejandro Garza Producer, for its Estrella Media Music Entertainment division. Vergara will oversee managing the artist roster, catalog and business opportunities, along with new artist signings and development, while Garza will oversee music production and publishing and be an in-house music producer for EMME. Read moreEstrella Media Strengthens Music Division With Pair Of New Hires.
The Nominating Committee of the Radio Hall of Fame is accepting suggestions for nominees for the Class of 2023 now through March 31. The committee will select 24 nominees to be voted upon by industry personnel later this year. The 2023 Radio Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies will take place this fall. Read moreSuggestions For Radio Hall Of Fame Class Of 2023 Now Being Accepted.
SoundCloud and Pandora have renewed their ad sales agreement that was first formed in 2019. SXM Media, the combined sales group of SiriusXM and Pandora, will continue to serve as the exclusive advertising representative for SoundCloud into 2024. The extension allows brands and advertisers to continue purchasing SoundCloud’s U.S. advertising inventory through SXM Media. Read moreSXM Media Continues As Ad Rep For SoundCloud Under Renewed Agreement.
Brian Wieser, the well-regarded former media analyst who just left ad agency giant GroupM, is launching his own media and advertising consultancy for investors, private equity firms and other industry groups. Focused on the intersection of advertising and Wall Street, the aptly named Madison and Wall will also include a Substack newsletter from Wieser, whose weekly newsletters from GroupM and research notes from Pivotal Research were widely read. Read moreFormer Agency Exec And Media Analyst Brian Wieser Opens ‘Madison and Wall’ Consultancy.
Benztown is offering radio stations a free “Top 10 Now & Then” Black History Month special… Luke Bryan will headline the WXTU Philadelphia “Anniversary Show.” … Lindsay Cochrane joins the roster of personalities available via New Generation Radio’s Virtual Jock service. Read moreNews Bites: Benztown, WXTU, Lindsay Cochrane.
A new report shows Black podcast listenership grew to 43% in 2022, an increase of seven points from a year earlier. The Black Podcast Listener Report – based on data collected by Edison Research in partnership with SXM Media and Mindshare – shows Black listeners have closed the gap and are now outpacing the total U.S. population in podcast consumption. And Black podcast listeners spend five hours a week on average listening to podcasts. Read moreClosing The Gap, Black Listeners Now Outpace Population Overall For Podcast Listening.
Any hesitancy that was in the radio deal market due to the pandemic disappeared last year as the number of stations that traded grew by 16%. BIA says 486 stations changed hands last year. And the overall radio deal volume rose to $295.2 million last year, a 64% increase from what was spent during 2021. But BIA says the deal market has been “sluggish” for the past two years. Read moreBIA: Radio Deal Volume Jumped 64% In 2022 As More Stations Were Sold.
Any hesitancy that was in the radio deal market due to the pandemic disappeared last year as the number of stations that traded grew by 16%. BIA says 486 stations changed hands last year. And the overall radio deal volume rose to $295.2 million last year, a 64% increase from what was spent during 2021. But BIA says the deal market has been “sluggish” for the past two years. Read moreBIA: Radio Deal Volume Jumped 64% In 2022 As More Stations Were Sold.
For the past several years Wall Street has rewarded Spotify for its mix of streaming music and podcasting. Last week’s layoffs and strategy shift may have cast doubt on that for investors, but it’s a different podcast combination that Conal Byrne says remains strong. The CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group says “there are few stronger” than podcasting combined with broadcast radio. Read moreiHeart’s Conal Byrne Pitches The Podcast Plus Broadcast Bundle.
It’s hard to avoid reading about AI, particularly ChatGPT. Posts range from how it can be used to examples of its skill at writing, with authors revealing only at the end of their piece that it was written by AI instead of themselves. For fun, I took ChatGPT for a test drive, asking it three radio-related questions. Read moreMike O’Malley On Using ChatGPT as a Programming Tool.
American Urban Radio Networks has promoted William “Andy” Anderson to Chief Revenue Officer, following four years serving as AURN's President of Sales. As CRO, Anderson will continue to oversee new business development, and be in charge of maximizing revenue opportunities, product acquisitions and original content creation. Read moreAndy Anderson Upped To Chief Revenue Officer At AURN.
It’s hard to avoid reading about AI, particularly ChatGPT. Posts range from how it can be used to examples of its skill at writing, with authors revealing only at the end of their piece that it was written by AI instead of themselves. For fun, I took ChatGPT for a test drive, asking it three radio-related questions. Read moreMike O’Malley On Using ChatGPT as a Programming Tool.
American Urban Radio Networks has promoted William “Andy” Anderson to Chief Revenue Officer, following four years serving as AURN's President of Sales. As CRO, Anderson will continue to oversee new business development, and be in charge of maximizing revenue opportunities, product acquisitions and original content creation. Read moreAndy Anderson Upped To Chief Revenue Officer At AURN.
Marc Bertrand, one-half of the “Zolak & Bertrand” midday show on Beasley Media Group sports “98.5 The Sports Hub” WBZ-FM Boston, inks a multiyear contract extension. Bertrand, or “Beetle” as he’s affectionately known, was named Scott Zolak’s co-host in February 2015. The highly-rated program also features Rob “Hardy” Poole. Read moreMarc Bertrand
Jay Hicks adds APD responsibilities at Cox Media Group hip-hop “Power 106.1,” which airs on Jacksonville-licensed translator W291CI at 106.1 with programming originating on WJGL-HD2. Hicks continues to serve as APD of adult R&B “Star 94.5” WCFB Orlando. He reports to Elroy Smith, who was recently elevated to Director of Urban Content, overseeing the company’s R&B and urban stations in Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Read moreJay Hicks
Kenny J exits his role as PD of Beasley Media Group urban contemporary “Foxy 99” WZFX and urban AC “107.7 Jamz” WUKS Fayetteville, NC. He joined the stations in October 2018 after serving as PD of Cumulus Media urban AC KMJK Kansas City (107.3). Tee Gentry, VP of Brand Strategies, and Augusta/Fayetteville Regional OM will oversee the stations. Read moreKenny J
Beasley Media Group Philadelphia names Rachel Pitts Digital PD of the cluster, which includes rock WMMR (93.3), classic rock WMGK (102.9), country WXTU (92.5), sports WPEN (97.5), and adult hits WBEN-FM (95.7). Pitts transfers from the company’s Tampa cluster, where she served in the same role. Read moreRachel Pitts
Ramona De Breaux, the longtime midday host at Audacy urban contemporary “V-103” WVEE Atlanta, has exited. De Breaux has been with the station since 2007. Read moreRamona De Breaux
Nielsen last month unveiled its Podcast Listener Buying Power Service, a qualitative measurement service that shows insights into podcast listeners’ buying habits. Just six months after the project was hatched inside Nielsen, five podcast companies are just weeks away from getting their hands on the first data. Podcast News Daily caught up with Nielsen’s Bruce Supovitz to get an inside look at the service and what may be next for Nielsen in the podcast business. Read moreThe Inside Story On Nielsen’s New Podcast Listener Buying Service.
Civic Media has been on a buying spree during the past year throughout Wisconsin and its latest deal will give it a second AM in the Madison market. It already has a pending deal to buy another AM there. Also this week, a Reno FM is sold. And a pair of religious broadcasters make some engineering moves as part of FM translator sales. Check out the details in this week’s Deal Digest. Read moreDeal Digest - February 2, 2023
