Category Archives: Radio Biz

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

Chinese Bluegrass

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Fred Stiening

Radio is always looking for the next big thing – I think I just found it. 你怎么说“我要你尖叫像猪！”普通话？

Posted in Radio Biz | 3 Comments

Translator Overhaul

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Fred Stiening

FM translators have become really big business – because the rules are relaxed for non-commercial licensees, it is fairly easy for them to relocate a translator as long as it doesn’t interfere with an existing station. In a major market, … Continue reading →

Posted in About the Guide, Radio Biz | Leave a comment

Non-Commercial encroachment

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Fred Stiening

This topic has been gaining momentum and became more visible when George Beasley started complaining about a new Low Power FM station in Tampa that sounds too much like a Commercial radio station, other than the lack of “formal” commercials. … Continue reading →

Posted in The FCC | Leave a comment

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

FCC computer systems held hostage!

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Fred Stiening

The FCC’s computer systems will be down for almost a week – probably related to implementing the FCC’s move of their systems “to the cloud” in the Robert Byrd Confederate memorial data center in West Virginia. The systems will be … Continue reading →

Posted in About the Guide, The FCC | 1 Comment

Zombie watch in Lakeland Florida

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Fred Stiening

WWAB-AM slipped off the Internet – It’s an AM radio station in Lakeland Florida playing Gospel Music. The owner died earlier this year, but the story takes an unexpected twist. legacy of Richard Hughes Richard Hughes lived to age 87, … Continue reading →

Posted in Talk Radio, Unique Stations, Zombie Watch | 1 Comment

Bob Wilson is dead

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Fred Stiening

This isn’t breaking news. Bob Wilson died in 2008. If you ever heard of him, it was because he did a syndicated show promoting Country Gospel music. He bought a radio station in Texas in 2004. The radio station web … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Radio Events, Radio Biz, Unique Stations | Leave a comment

Welcome the new Alpha in town

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Fred Stiening

Larry Wilson was the guy behind the original Citadel Broadcasting. After the 1996 Telecom reform act lifted the national cap, he used borrowed money to buy up several hundred radio stations but only stations in small markets that don’t rely … Continue reading →

Posted in Station Sales / Transfers | Leave a comment

Radio Engineer Porn

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Fred Stiening

WLW-AM in Cincinnati is a one-of-a-kind radio station for a lot of reasons. It still dominates the ratings in Cincinnati and its entire programming lineup is live and locally produced. The station was acquired by Jacor in 1992, 4 years … Continue reading →

Posted in IHeart Media, Radio Biz | 4 Comments