Once Again, BIA Lifts 2026 Radio Ad Outlook On Midterm Bounty
Another quarter, another upward nudge. BIA Advisory Services has again revised its 2026 local advertising outlook for radio, and the driver hasn't changed since its last update: a heated midterm election cycle continuing to funnel big dollars into local media.
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Audacy: Trusted Hosts Drives Podcast Ad Performance
Podcast advertising is delivering better returns than social media, display, video, or search, and the gap keeps widening. A new report lays out the numbers behind podcasting's climb from experimental ad channel to what Audacy says is a top performer on the media plan.
Beasley Deploys AI Sales Platform Across All Markets
Beasley Media Group Business Officer Kevin LeGrett is betting big on AI for the company's newest sales initiative. Beasley has deployed Futuri's TopLine Enterprise AI platform across every market in a multiyear agreement, with LeGrett personally leading the training.
Katz: Storm Sponsorships Build Trust For Radio Advertisers
When a hurricane cuts power and cell service to a coastal region, radio becomes the final lifeline that people rely on to keep them safe. The advertisers funding that coverage are buying something no other channel can replicate: a direct line to a community's trust.
What Radio Networks Need To Know Before 2027 C-Band Auction
(Sponsored) In July, the FCC approved a plan to auction off more C-band spectrum by 2027. Anyone using it now has to clear out first, in the top 75 markets by the end of 2030 and everywhere else by mid-2031. Here's what that means for a radio network's planning.
I Was On A Plane The Morning of 9/11
(Steve Goldstein) Twenty-five years ago, I boarded an early-morning flight from New York to Chicago. It was a routine flight on an ordinary Tuesday. When we landed, the pilot taxied the plane to a remote section of O’Hare. His voice was shaking when he came over the PA.
Zimmer Hits FCC For Three Commissioner Cap Repeal Blitz
Call it John Zimmer's grand tour of the FCC. The Missouri broadcaster met with Chairman Brendan Carr and advisors from the remaining two commissioners all in one day this past week, making his case for deregulating local radio ownership caps at every stop.
Our Print Magazine: Radio Ink
Lifetime Leadership Award Honoree Harvey Nagler
The $250 Question: Inflation and Contesting
Cruz Sets DC Hearing On FCC Nominee Thumann Severs
A Senate hearing set for next week could move the FCC closer to a full bench. The Commerce Committee has scheduled consideration of several nominees from President Trump, including Chairman Brendan Carr's senior counsel, Danielle Thumann Severs.
Looking Back, After 25 Years
Radio Ink Chairman Eric Rhoads was building the future of radio in 2001 when September 11 intersected with his own story. Twenty-five years later, he looks back on a fateful phone call and the providence that shaped everything that came after.
For Tech-Forward Drivers, Radio Wins In The Connected Car
The most tech-obsessed drivers on the road turn out to be radio's biggest fans, too. Audacy's newest connected-car research finds that drivers eager for AI-powered vehicle features listen to AM/FM and radio apps at far higher rates than other drivers.
Hope Media Group’s Dukes Departs For Collective Heads
After 11 years in Christian radio's C-suite, Tim Dukes is leaving his post as President of Hope Media Group for media consulting and marketing firm Collective Heads, where he'll join as a partner working across programming, revenue, and marketing strategy.
Masteller To Retire From Beasley Media Philadelphia’s Fanatic
Scott Masteller is stepping away from the programming chair at 97.5 The Fanatic (WPEN) in Philadelphia at the year's end. His retirement caps a career that included stops at ESPN Radio and WBAL NewsRadio in Baltimore before he joined Beasley three years ago.
It’s Deja Vu, As NAB Marconi Awards Ready for NYC Return
Radio's biggest night has its host. Deja Vu Parker of WBLS will lead the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, joined by DJ Scratch and presenters Ryan Fox and Anne Kramer, as the industry gathers in New York City this October to celebrate the year's honorees.
Audacy Signs Smosh For Podcast Sales, Distribution Deal
One of YouTube's earliest breakout comedy brands is expanding its audio business. Smosh has tapped Audacy to handle sales and distribution across its podcast slate, starting October 1, in a partnership aimed at growing the creator company's advertising reach.
Audacy To Close Its Creator Lab Podcast Platform
Audacy is shutting down Creator Lab, the free podcast hosting and brand-sponsorship marketplace it built for independent creators, effective November 1. The company notified partners, calling it "a difficult decision" and thanking them for their partnership.
After 13 Years, Music 1 and Aiir Go Separate Ways
Music 1 and Aiir are going their separate ways, with the two radio software companies ending their commercial relationship at the close of 2026. Music 1 Pro will keep integrating with Aiir's PlayoutOne automation system for stations already using both.
