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WASHINGTON, D.C. — They share common ownership, thanks to the Cavell family. Now, a 20-year-old firm providing analytical, strategic and advocacy services to airports, communities and commercial developers is formally merging with one of the foremost companies offering signal contour-focused studies and services to radio and TV broadcasters.

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The sales efforts for six radio brands serving St. Louis are now in the hands of an individual who arrives at the audio content creation and distribution company from a newspaper owner that includes among its titles a 186-year-old daily broadsheet. But, before that, he was associated with the big daily serving the Gateway City.

Charles Mems is now VP of Sales for Audacy Inc. in St. Louis, where he’ll direct sales for such stations as News/Talk KMOX, Adult R&B WFUN-FM 96.3, Adult Contemporary KYKY “Y98,” Hot Adult Contemporary KEZK, Hip-Hop WHHL-FM “Hot 104.1,” and “97.1 FM Talk,” KFTK.

Mems reports to Becky Domyan, Audacy/St. Louis’ SVP/Market Manager, and work cross-functionally with all department leads.

“We are happy to add Charles and his vast experience of media sales and client support to our team,” Domyan said. “I have no doubt that he will drive exceptional results for our collection of brands.”

Mems most recently served as President of the Central Illinois Media group, where he led as the Market President for the daily newspaper serving Bloomington, the Pantagraph — for six months.

What Audacy didn’t share in its press release is that Mems is largely known for his 11 years at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which he departed in May 2023 as Senior Director of Strategic Marketing and Agency Services for the Lee Enterprises daily and its STLToday.com website. He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Kansas.

“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity,” said Mems. “I can’t wait to learn a ton and help my new Audacy family grow!”

A generous donation by the family of the late Bill O’Shaughnessy is supporting an ongoing effort to give more minorities and women a boost into broadcasting ownership.

Bill O’Shaughnessy

When the noted raconteur and former president of the New York State Broadcasters Association passed in the spring of 2022, his family honored his legacy by donating WVOX(AM) to the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC).

O’Shaughnessy acquired the station in New Rochelle, just outside New York City, in 1965. Now, MMTC Media and Telecom Brokers has sold WVOX to Jeff Chang, owner of Chang Media, according to a press release. 

O’Shaughnessy, owner of Whitney Global Media, has left an indelible mark in New York State broadcasting. Known for his distinctive white hair and gregarious personality, he was a vocal supporter of the First Amendment, which he regularly editorialized about on air at WVOX. O’Shaughnessy also owned WVIP(FM). 

Regarding the recent sale of WVOX, Suzanne Gougherty, president of MMTC Media & Telecom Brokers, said: “We are incredibly proud of the donation of WVOX. We are forever grateful and thankful to the O’Shaughnessy family for this kind and generous gift.”

Chang says he is grateful for the opportunity to acquire WVOX, according to a MMTC press release. “I’m excited to be adding WVOX(AM) in New York to Chang Media’s growing portfolio of radio and television stations. It would not be possible without the hard work and direction of MMTC and the generosity of the O’Shaughnessy family,” Chang said.  

O’Shaughnessy was also former chairman of the Guardian Fund of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, former chairman of public affairs for the National Association of Broadcasters and chairman of the first NAB National Radio Conference.

The sale price of the radio station was not disclosed by MMTC. 

The nonprofit organization says transactions such as this one are made possible by media companies who chose to donate their stations to the MMTC, which fights for equal access and representation in tech, media, and telecommunications companies, according to its website.

MMTC says similar donations have been made by Entercom, Lazer Media, Gray TV and iHeartMedia, Inc., among others. “We realize this success is only made possible by such generous donations,” Gougherty said in a press release.

To make a donation, contact Gougherty at sgougherty@mmtconline.org.

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The post MMTC Completes Sale of WVOX(AM) in New York appeared first on Radio World.

 

NEW YORK — It’s been said that “flat is the new up.” For the satellite-delivered audio content creation and distribution company seeking to get more users to connect via a smartspeaker or smartphone app, flat financials were the key takeaway from its Q3 2023 earnings report.

The other issue of concern for Sirius XM and Pandora? Declining subscriber rolls.

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She knew she wanted to get into advertising. What type of advertising? At first, Karolyne Sprague thought it would be in the creative realm. Instead, she went into media. “It was a great place to start my career,” says Sprague, today the SVP of Investment at Havas Media.

Sprague on October 27 shared her thoughts on career development, mentorship, and leadership in a conversation with TVB Chief Communications Officer and TVB NEXT Women Executive Director Abby Auerbach, and this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, is pleased to offer excerpts from the latest NEXT Women: Coffee With … series.

 Listen to “Coffee With … Karolyne Sprague and Abby Auerbach” on Spreaker.

Nestled along the South Platte River, the county seat of Keith County, Neb., has perhaps an outsized role when it comes to local media for a population of roughly 5,000. Thanks to 100kw FMs such as KMCX-FM, iHeartMedia enjoys a three-station operation in the community due west of North Platte.

Here, the daily Ag report, Country music, Christ and Classic Rock dominate. For TV viewing, there’s scant over-the-air options.

The Member of Congress serving Nebraska’s first district is doing something about that lack of local broadcast TV service.

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Radio World has introduced a series of articles titled “Firing Up Frequencies,” intended for readers who may be interested in applying for a low-power FM station license during the FCC’s upcoming window in December 2023 — recently extended by five weeks. The following story is the fifth installment in the series. 

The author is Sharon Scott, president and co-founder of ART FM, WXOX in Louisville, Ky. Sharon is the author of the new book “Low-Power FM for Dummies.”

Courtesy: Kara Richardson / ART FM

Community radio got a surge of energy at this year’s Grassroots Radio Conference (GRC) in Charleston, West Virginia.  Host station WTSQ(LP) 88.1 FM “The Status Quo” welcomed over 100 attendees from college and community stations nationwide to their city from Oct. 19–22, 2023. 

Scholarship opportunities provided by keynote speaker Amy Goodman of Democracy Now opened the conference to a wide range of participants. Full-power stations in attendance this year included the likes of WWOZ New Orleans, KBOO Portland and WBAI New York. LPFM stations were well-represented by stations such as WAYO(LP) Rochester, WSLR(LP) Sarasota and KLEK(LP) Jonesboro.

The energy around this event was heightened by the fact that it was the first in-person conference since Rochester in 2019. The GRC was hosted virtually in 2020 and the attendees have been meeting monthly online ever since. However, as Engineer Michael Brown put it, “doing community via Zoom only goes so far.” After three years apart, it felt better than ever to shake hands, share adventures and celebrate all the amazing things community radio has accomplished in these very challenging times.

WTSQ did an incredible job hosting this year’s conference and Charleston was the ideal place to make it happen! Perfectly walkable and full of local character, it seemed like the city had been built specifically for this event. From the Capitol Theater, to the West Virginia Hall of Fame, to the Underground Cinema, attendees enjoyed getting to know some of West Virginia’s secret attractions. And of course, the October drive to the mountain destination couldn’t have been more beautiful, aflame with red and yellow! Wild and Wonderful to be sure!

The timing of this year’s GRC ended up being perfect thanks to the FCC’s extension of the Low Power Application window — now Dec. 6–13 (see Radio World article “LPFM Advocates Rejoice, Say Application Extension gives Power to the People“). With engineers from REC Networks, the Prometheus Radio Project and Brown Broadcast Services in the house, new applicants got plenty of first-person advice. 

In addition to sessions specifically geared toward LPFM, there were useful seminars for stations of all sizes that included station governance, fundraising and marketing. Distinguished speakers included Pete Tridish of Radio Mutiny, Jim Ellinger of Austin Airwaves, Joseph Orozco of KIDE Hoopa Tribal Radio, Ursula Ruedenberg of the Pacifica Affiliates Network and Alex Sanjenis of the FCC.

[Related: “Taking It LPFM: Finding or Founding Your Nonprofit“]

Photos from the Grassroots Radio Conference (photos courtesy of Sharon Scott).

Amy Goodman’s keynote speech brought a tear to every eye and ignited a passion in every heart. As a product of the Pacifica Network, Goodman made it clear that she understands the important work that grassroots stations do. “It is dangerous to allow people to speak for themselves,” she said, citing that “locals are the experts on what is happening in their area” and “when people speak up, they can affect the government.”

She pinpointed a few salient moments in community radio history (such as the KKK bombing of the KPFT transmitter) and reminded her audience that FM frequencies can be “weapons of mass destruction.” Looking each attendee in the eye, she asked a mesmerized audience, “Will you be the sword? Or will you be the shield?” 

Conference attendees definitely had a lot to think about over the weekend. Ongoing themes included engaging youth, celebrating diversity and building the national grassroots network. It was also fun to get a peak backstage at the new WTSQ studios in the People’s Building in the midst of downtown Charleston.  

A vendor showcase included demonstrations of the latest equipment and software developments from the likes of SCMS, Broadcast Radio and Progressive Concepts. [My book’s] release party —LPFM for Dummies — included a panel of contributors followed by an impromptu yearbook-type opportunity for conference attendees — many of whom are included in the publication — to sign one another’s books.

While minds were blown and fires were sparked during each of the daily sessions, some of the most significant moments happened at social events such as the showcase of local bands which began in the open-air plaza downtown and wound up in the mosh pit at Sam’s Uptown Café.  Sharing escapades while running around the downtown streets of a new city with new radio friends is a bonding experience that no online conference will ever manage to duplicate.   

The community radio quilt that weaves America’s grassroots stations together has been recovered and is now safely in the hands of WTSQ(LP) Charleston. Where it will go from here has yet to be seen, but the fact that this conference, and its decidedly freeform traditions, has been passed on from one community station to the next for over 27 years is its own testament to the ongoing power and perseverance of the national Grassroots radio movement. 

Radio is not always about money, ratings and sponsorships. Again and again this conference proves it! GRC 2023 brought together media advocates and practitioners who recognize the importance of amplifying the sounds of the community and increasing understanding among listeners. Future LPFM applicants became hopeful about their new opportunities and volunteer-powered stations of all sizes were seized by an energy to grow the movement nationwide. 

The WTSQ team made conference attendees feel so at home in their lovely city that, by the end, no one wanted to leave. Board President Damon Cater had a vision for this conference and spent many months bringing the GRC back to life. The WTSQ staff, managed by Station Founder Chris Long, and supported by a team of local volunteers, did an amazing job making it happen. As a result, new bonds were formed, new ideas were hatched and attendees are returning to their stations more energized than ever before.  

The community radio world needed a reboot — well, it got an electric shock!

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The post Grassroots Radio Conference Ignites the LPFM Movement appeared first on Radio World.

Cavell Mertz logo

Technical consulting firm Cavell, Mertz & Associates has merged with Capitol Airspace Group, an aviation consultancy which it has had a long business relationship.

President Garrison Cavell becomes senior director of the Cavell Mertz Spectrum Division of Capitol Airspace. He said Cavell Mertz will expand its services to provide communication systems interference analysis to airports and commercial developers “while remaining committed to providing support to the broadcast and communications industries.”

The merger took place on Oct. 1.

Capitol Airspace is based in Alexandria, Va., and has 45 employees. Its clients include airports, commercial developers and communities. It specialties include air traffic control operations, FAA terminal instrument procedures and air navigation services.

Its founder, owner and president is Ben Doyle, who has worked in aviation technology since serving as an air traffic controller in the U.S. Army.

Cavell Mertz has been in business for 34 years. Its broadcast work includes station planning and transition assistance; FCC licensing; drone measurements; microwave long-haul/backhaul planning and installation; pre-purchase due diligence; technical facility buildouts; and frequency/channel searches.

It had been headquartered in Manassas, Va., but will now be based in Alexandria. Its phone and email info remains unchanged. The FCCInfo.com page and Google Earth plugin offered by Cavell Mertz will remain available.

Also on the Cavell Mertz team and coming over in the merger are Managing Partner Cindy Hutter Cavell, Senior Engineer John Kean, Senior Engineer Bob Clinton, Engineering Consultant Mark Peabody and Principal Programmer Robert M. Clinton. Company Partner Richard Mertz died in 2013.

Gary and Cindy Cavell received the NAB Engineering Achievement Awards for radio and TV, respectively, four years ago. Gary also is a recipient of the IEEE Jules Cohen Award for Outstanding Broadcast Engineering. (Read our 2019 profile of Gary Cavell.)

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Sinclair Broadcast Group has announced a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) and CAST.ERA, a joint venture between Sinclair and SK Square, to enhance ATSC 3.0 services between Korea and the United States and expand the DDaaS (Data Distribution as a Service) platform globally.

Using NextGen Broadcast (ATSC 3.0) network technology, the DDaaS platform provides a broadcast backbone for wireless IP (Internet Protocol) data delivery, increasing the value of spectrum for all broadcasters and providing an IP connection to better serve their communities. DDaaS harnesses a cloud-based local broadcasting management-control platform and real-time datacasting technology to meet the needs of data users.

Sinclair, CAST.ERA and the Korea Radio Promotion Association have developed a “Broadcasting Cloud Demonstration Consortium” and will jointly present their empirical service model at the 2024 NAB Show.

“Soon we will have 30 of our initial NextGen Broadcast stations connected to our DDaaS platform so we anticipate playing a leading role in accelerating the adoption of the DDaaS business model and the continued transformation of local broadcast capabilities and our ability to serve the public, not only in Korea and the United States, but globally,” said Sinclair President of Technology Del Parks.

RAPA Vice Chairman Song Jung-su commented “Through cooperation with Sinclair Broadcast Group, and CAST.ERA, we are determined to promote ATSC 3.0 services that can be utilized in both Korea and the United States. This is a pivotal step in our expansion plans.”

Kevin Gage, COO of CAST.ERA, added, “Through this MOU with Sinclair Broadcast Group, a distinguished U.S. broadcaster spearheading innovation in next-generation broadcasting services via DDaaS, and the Korea Radio Promotion Association, which provides extensive support for the activation of ATSC 3.0 services and the global expansion of DDaaS, we anticipate the realization of innovative next-generation broadcasting services shortly, underpinned by close collaboration between the two countries.”

Is there a recipe for that “secret sauce” that enables some independent and local radio and television broadcasting companies to be competitive, successful, and innovative in an ever-changing media environment?

Forecast 2024 attendees will get the first-hand details as to what goes into the cookbook that has given life to a variety of linear media companies deserving of national attention.

For independent and small broadcast groups, “local” is more than a buzzword: It’s how they operate. These television and radio broadcasters serve their neighbors with news, information, and entertainment every day of the year. To help share the story of local success stories in radio and TV, 12-year Colorado Broadcasters Association President/CEO Justin Sasso will moderate a Forecast 2024 panel discussion aptly titled, “Main Street Media: Where Local Broadcast Survives & Thrives.”

Now in its 21st year, Forecast is broadcast media’s most prestigious leadership conference. Joining Sasso for the discussion are the following leaders:

• Vincent Benedetto — Founder, President, and CEO of Bold Gold Media Group, which owns and operates 14 full-power radio stations and 25 broadcast frequencies throughout Pennsylvania and New York. He is the current Chairman of the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and serves on the RAB’s Sales Advisory Committee.
• Vince Bodiford — CEO and Head of Media for Bridge Media Network. Based in Farmington Hills, Mich., and Cheyenne, Wyo., Bodiford has more than 35 years of experience in media and marketing. He has owned media outlets in Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, and has held leadership roles with Cabela’s, Gannett Co., CommunityMedia Corp.,and GateHouse Media.
• Melody Spann Cooper — Chair and CEO of Midway Broadcasting Corporation, Chicago’s only Black- and female-owned broadcasting company. Its flagship station, WVON, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The company’s assets also include a Spanish-language station, WRLL, and an OTT digital streaming network, VONtv.
• Brian Lilly — CEO of Lilly Broadcasting and SJL Broadcasting, operating television and radio affiliates in New York’s Twin Tiers; Erie, Pa.; Michigan, and the U.S. Caribbean territories. Brian is part of a family business: His brother Kevin is company president, and their father, George, founded the company in 1983.

Presented by Streamline Publishing’s Radio + Television Business Report and Radio Ink, and co-chaired by Catherine Badalamente of Graham Media Group and David Santrella of Salem Media Group, Forecast provides unprecedented opportunities for learning, networking, and conversation with our industry’s top leaders. Forecast 2024 takes place at the Harvard Club in New York City on November 15.  Register online today!

Yahoo has announced a partnership with Xperi to provide video content for drivers that have Xperi’s DTS AutoStage Video Service.

That IP-delivered video service — “powered by TiVo,” part of Xperi — will be deployed in the new BMW 5 series and future BMW models, as we reported earlier this year.

In a press release, Yahoo said the agreement will bring “Yahoo content to the in-car entertainment experience for the very first time.”

Such videos would be accessible only when the car is in park.

Radio World readers know DTS AutoStage for its integration of broadcast radio signals and metadata, but Xperi describes its technology as an in-car platform that provides “an immersive and unified media experience … leveraging radio, audio and video and gaming content worldwide.”

“From taking a break between errands to sitting in line at school pick-up, drivers spend a significant amount of time idle in their vehicles,” said Lara Davis, chief strategy officer of Yahoo, in the press release. She described it as offering “snackable content in a way that fits seamlessly into people’s daily routines, where they already spend time.”

She announced the agreement with Jeff Jury, senior vice president and general manager of connected car, Xperi. Earlier this year, Jury said that “Consumers are evolving to view their car as a meaningful and enjoyable third space, rather than as a simple transportation device. … The automotive industry’s response to add connectivity and larger screens marks a new era for entertainment and in-car experiences, which favors companies such as Xperi and includes the adoption of seamless video streaming, movies, games and more.”

BMW drivers in the United States, United Kingdom, Korea, Italy, France, Spain and Germany will have access to the Yahoo content, which includes finance, sports and “In the Know” streams.

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At 11am Eastern on Friday, October 13, the first offering for the general public to receive an over-the-air 5G broadcast signal on an SDR with downloadable software came to be.

Now, a demonstration of the pioneering technology is scheduled for Thursday afternoon (11/2) at a reception hosted by the law firm that’s home to veteran communications industry expert David Oxenford.

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After 45 years of service, the general counsel at privately held broadcasting company Morgan Murphy Media has announced he will retire at the end of the year.

Ready to fill his shoes is the media attorney who has conducted legal consulting work for the company for decades.

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The New York Stock Exchange will proceed with its plan to delist Audacy Inc.

The media company had appealed the exchange’s intention to delist its Class A common stock, but now the company has announced that the delisting will become effective on or about Nov. 10, 2023.

“Audacy stock has not been traded on the NYSE since May, when the NYSE notified Audacy that it had elected to commence proceedings to delist the common stock from the NYSE based on Audacy’s ‘abnormally low’ price levels,” Audacy said in a brief announcement.

“The common stock will continue to trade over the counter under the symbol AUDA. The NYSE’s determination has no impact on Audacy’s business strategy or operations.”

The company said it “continues to focus on growing and enhancing its capabilities as a leading, multi-platform audio content and entertainment company” and that discussions with lenders to improve its debt situation were continuing.

in June Audacy implemented a 1-for-30 reverse stock split hoping to boost its share price and its standing with the investment community.

[Related: “Audacy Posts Loss of $135.3 Million in Q2” (Aug. 2023)]

The post NYSE Will Delist Audacy Stock as Planned appeared first on Radio World.

The Center for Sales Strategy (CSS) has opened the 2023 Media Sales Surveys, designed to collect data and current insights from sales managers and salespeople in the media industry.

The data will be compiled for publication in the fifth annual Media Sales Report, which will be published in the first quarter of 2024. The surveys close Friday, November 17.

“The Media Sales Report has become a tool and resource for media sales leadership to gauge their team, talent, strategy, and results against industry benchmarks and standards,” said CSS Chief Executive Officer Matt Sunshine. “The more insight we can compile through the surveys, the more this resource can be leveraged to assess, adjust strategies, and improve sales performance.” 

Focused on sales acceleration, sales enablement, and sales talent selection and development, The Center for Sales Strategy invests in research and data to compile the annual Media Sales Report.

“We welcome all media sales professionals to share their insight so we can provide valuable and current benchmarks that help media sales organizations analyze where they are and where they need to be going,” said Sunshine.  

Sales professionals may complete the survey at css.buzz/mediasalessurveys. 

 

The current Media Sales Report can be downloaded at css.buzz/mediasalesreport. 

The latest Spot Ten Cable report is out from Media Monitors, and the amount of activity seen last week from one QSR brand was enormous, putting a big user of Spot Cable in the home improvement category well far behind by play count.

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ENCO has joined forces with Benztown and Compass Media Networks to bring its SpecAI ad creation tool  to the North American radio broadcast market.

According to ENCO, the three companies will work together on initiatives that emphasize how artificial intelligence can help broadcasters create spec ads for sponsors on demand, “alleviating the time, energy and costs of traditional production methods while accelerating the sales process and time to market,” said the company in a press release.

The main initiative, SpecAI, uses generative AI models to create audio content and automate voice tracking for new spots.

ENCO said SpecAI’s workflow is simple. The user, typically an account executive within a media organization, first answers a few questions to determine spot length (30 or 60 seconds), writing style (casual, humorous, uplifting), and sponsor details (company name, address), using a web browser or mobile device.

SpecAI then generates three scripts to choose from, which, according to ENCO, users can manually edit or have re-generated through phonetics to perfect the copy. “The user then selects their preferred sound of the AI voice and music bed underneath before downloading the final down-mixed audio file,” said ENCO. “The process can be completed in seconds.”

Benztown and Compass Media Networks have worked closely with ENCO’s engineering team on SpecAI’s development. Specifically, Benztown has added user-selectable music beds that run underneath the AI voice while Compass Media has contributed to the user interface with its Specbyte and Cash by Creative platforms.

Dave “Chachi” Denes, president and co-founder of Benztown, said the music options will help set the tone for each spot. “The music in SpecAI is categorized by format,” he said. “For example, an account executive for an Adult Contemporary or Rock station has many options to add music that aligns with the client and station’s demographic. There will also be themed music available for holidays throughout the year.”

Compass Media will lead the sales and marketing efforts alongside Benztown employees, who will focus more on international clients.

[Check Out More Product Evaluations in Our Products Section]

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