Category Archives: Syndicators

Talk Radio Network clinging on

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Fred Stiening

— brief unauthorized history — Talk Radio Network used to be a significant syndicator of Conservative talk programming. There is a development today suggesting the network will not regain its former glory. TRN was the creation of Roy Masters, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Radio Biz, Talk Radio Network | Leave a comment

What is a fair rate to stream music?

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Fred Stiening

The Copyright Royalty Board was given the authority by Congress to set the rates that streaming companies have to pay to play music. There are lots of “not very visible” ties between radio and the music business. In order to … Continue reading →

Posted in Radio Biz, SiriusXM, Streaming Royalties | 2 Comments

Steve Deace says adiós to USA

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Fred Stiening

announcement If you don’t know who Steve Deace is, you’re not alone. It probably also explains why his syndication ended last Friday. Deace is a hybrid Christian Conservative talk host. Unlike Rush Limbaugh, he was comfortable justifying his political beliefs … Continue reading →

Posted in Syndicators, USA Radio | 8 Comments

Art Bell gives radio The Bird

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Fred Stiening

By Bird, I mean the Westwood One XDS satellite. What were you thinking? This is a stunning announcement on many levels. For those of you who weren’t around or have moved on to other things, Art Bell was a pioneer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cumulus Media, Premiere (IHeart), Radio Biz, SiriusXM, Talk Radio, Talk Radio Network, Westwood One | 2 Comments

Did your local radio station start to suck this week?

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Fred Stiening

A surprisingly large number of local radio stations still rely on syndicated music formats – that used to be provided by several competing companies. All of those competitors are now owned by Cumulus Media under the Westwood One branding. Those … Continue reading →

Posted in Cumulus Media, Radio Biz, Radio News, Westwood One | 5 Comments

Why stations carry one hour of a syndicated show at 3 AM

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Fred Stiening

This is one of those oddities of radio syndication, made more interesting by technology. Rush Limbaugh offers “exclusivity” to its affiliates. If your station signs with Rush, nobody in your market is allowed to carry the show – it might … Continue reading →

Posted in Radio Biz, Syndicators, The FCC | Leave a comment

Big Eddy not good enough for MSNBC

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Fred Stiening

Former Progressive radio talker Ed Schultz left Westwood One’s liberal gabfest in May 2014 to devote his full effort to his show on MSNBC. He had relocated from North Dakota to Washington DC so he could kiss ass in person. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cumulus Left, Liberal Talk | 2 Comments

Dirk Van gets to sleep in late now

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Fred Stiening

http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n31480 Dirk Van has been the host of First Light for a very long time. First Light and America in the Morning with Jim Bohannon are essentially the same show, but with different hosts and Pedigrees. First Light goes back … Continue reading →

Posted in Cumulus Media, Radio News, Westwood One | Leave a comment

Cumulus swings the axe at Westwood One

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Fred Stiening

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/143560/a-significant-number-of-people-laid-off-at-westwoo Cumulus has moved the old Westwood One 24 hour music formats to its own platform it uses to distribute Nash Country. Who needs to waste money on experts that have been doing a specific genre of music for 30 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cumulus Media, Radio Biz, Westwood One | Leave a comment

Oh God, not this….

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Fred Stiening

There once was an evening show on Premiere Talk Radio called America Now, with Andy Dean. In the event you were lucky enough to have never heard it, Andy Dean was the perky protege of Donald Trump – originally a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016 election, American Politics, Premiere (IHeart) | 16 Comments