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Radio World’s “Guest Commentaries” section provides a platform for industry thought leaders and other readers to share their perspective on radio news, technological trends and more. If you’d like to contribute a commentary, or reply to an already published piece, send a submission to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The author is CEO of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, which has been serving the nation’s community radio stations since 1978. NFCB commentaries are featured regularly at Radio World.

For some of us in public radio, the past few weeks have been tough. The recent resignation of a veteran National Public Radio (NPR) editor who penned an essay alleging liberal bias in the network’s coverage has reignited demands from some congressional members to strip the federal government’s funding from the nonprofit media organization.

If this ever were to pass, it would definitely hurt stations in the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) membership. More than 60% of our members participate in a music licensing agreement between the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and SoundExchange, in which NPR has a critical role in administering.

Rima Dael

In addition, many NFCB stations rely on the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS), managed by NPR, to get many of their programs, not just from NPR but from American Public Media, Public Radio Exchange and others that distribute independent programs. And, of course, we all rely on the PRSS for national public safety since it is an integral part of our Emergency Alert System.

Additionally, the essay of the NPR editor conflated issues of a declining radio audience with a focus on DEI and community representation, which further allows anti-DEI sentiments to flourish in certain spaces.

This is what is most personally exhausting for me and many folks of color in radio, who have to defend our rights to be in certain rooms, and the value of centering our narratives which have been historically marginalized. For all of the above reasons, it has been challenging these past few weeks. 

So, who would have thought that the balm for my soul would come from the Jacobs Media TechSurvey?!! An actual survey with data that presented me with facts over my own perception! Yes, the survey results and data presented by my friend Fred Jacobs centered on commercial radio, but there are a ton of community and public radio take-aways as well! The following are my reflections and musings from this calming survey, and you can download the report at Jacobs Media’s website.

In a world inundated with digital streaming services and AI-driven algorithms, radio continues to hold its ground as a significant medium for connecting people to music and real personalities. The recently published Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2024 report sheds light on the enduring appeal of radio, emphasizing that at its core, people tune in for the connections they feel with radio DJs and personalities; and music trumps all other formats.

[Related: “Techsurvey 2024: AI Is Here to Stay. Not Everyone Is Happy About It“]

One of the standout findings of the report is the strong preference for real human voices over AI personalities and algorithm-generated playlists. Listeners value the authenticity and spontaneity that radio hosts bring to the table, creating a sense of familiarity and connection that cannot be replicated by technology. This human touch serves as a unique selling point for radio in an increasingly digital landscape.

Passing the mic for a quick moment to a couple colleagues articulating the importance of connecting with community around music and the edge we can have in public and community radio: 

“Public media plays a crucial role in music discovery for communities around the world.  The long legacy of trust that stations grow and nurture is fed by the dynamic and meaningful music we play. The vibrancy and diversity of programming, intentional relationships with the artists and their fans, and grassroots music movements creates and fosters a level of community engagement that is so rare and so special.  I continue to applaud the work our community supported stations do to champion the creative community, enrich listening experiences, and provide gathering spaces for exploration and innovation.”

— Nikki Swarn, General Manager, 89.3 KUVO & 104.7 THE DROP, Rocky Mountain Public Media

“Public and community radio are also essential to many artists who rely on us to expose listeners to their music, be they local performers or nationally touring acts, emerging or established artists. Being heard on a public or community radio station (or at a station-sponsored concert) really matters to musicians, as well as concert venues across the country, large and small. And having a musician perform live on the radio is simply magical. I can’t imagine the field of music without public and community radio.”

— Matt Murphy, General Manager, 89.9 FM – WERU Community Radio

One of the most intriguing takeaways from the Techsurvey report is the disparity between the perception of radio’s relevance and its actual listenership. Despite common beliefs about the decline of FM and AM radio, the data paints a different picture. A significant portion of the population still tunes in to traditional radio, underscoring its enduring popularity and influence. FM & AM radio outperforms listening to satellite radio and podcasts!

As we reflect on these findings, it becomes apparent that radio’s strength lies in its ability to foster connections — connections between listeners and music, between listeners and radio personalities, and even between listeners and their vehicles. The medium continues to serve as a bridge that brings people together through shared experiences and shared love for music.

So, to all the skeptics and naysayers who underestimate the power of radio in the digital age, the Techsurvey report serves as a reality check. Radio is not just surviving; it is really doing okay — which means, we, those in radio, are doing okay. Thanks to its unique ability to provide a blend of music, companionship and authenticity that resonates with audiences of all ages — this is important fact-based news. This is not a call to rest on our laurels — we must continue to innovate and connect with audiences of all ages.

Yet, for today, let us appreciate the magic of radio for what it truly is — a timeless medium that keeps us connected in a fast-paced world.

Thank you Jacobs Media for a much-needed reality-check!

[Related: “Techsurvey 2024 Highlights Radio’s Resilience, Impact of Localism“]

The post The Resilience of Radio: Connecting Through Music and Real Personalities appeared first on Radio World.

Asian Americans are spending nearly equal time watching content on their TVs and smartphones, newly released Nielsen data show. Yet, while streaming is undoubtedly the leading platform to connect with Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander audiences, the use of devices widely varies.

Viewership of TV-connected devices outpaces traditional live TV by more than an hour and a half a week. 

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On April 30, RBR+TVBR shared the details about how Sen. Ted Cruz sent a letter to Patricia de Stacy Harrison, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s President/CEO, questioning her about “taxpayer-funded” NPR’s reporting.

Cruz believes NPR is heavily biased to liberal viewpoints in its news and content. So do key House E&C Committee Republicans, who wrote to NPR’s CEO seeking answers.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chair Bob Latta (R-Ohio), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) came together to pen a letter to NPR CEO Katherine Maher regarding reports of political and ideological bias at the taxpayer-funded public radio organization.

In addition to requesting answers to questions, the letter requests Maher appear before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee for a hearing on Wednesday, May 8.

“The Committee has concerns about the direction in which NPR may be headed under past and present leadership,” the three House Republicans wrote. “As a taxpayer funded, public radio organization, NPR should focus on fair and objective news reporting that both considers and reflects the views of the larger U.S. population and not just a niche audience.”

McMorris Rodgers, Latta and Griffith also find it “disconcerting” that NPR’s coverage of major news in recent years “has been so polarized as to preclude any need to uncover the truth. These have included news stories on matters of national security and importance, such as the Mueller report, the Hunter Biden laptop, and the COVID-19 origins investigation. On each of these issues, NPR has been accused of approaching its news reporting with an extreme left-leaning lens.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) is the one who spearheaded the hearing.

“In light of the recent, disturbing revelations about National Public Radio (NPR) and its leadership, I’ve directed Chair McMorris Rodgers and the Energy and Commerce Committee to conduct an investigation of NPR and determine what actions should be taken to hold the organization accountable for its ideological bias and contempt for facts,” he said. “The American people support the free press but will not be made to fund a left-leaning political agenda with taxpayer funds.”

CLICK HERE to read the letter.

Welcome to the era of solid-state lighting, featuring a variety of approaches using light-emitting diodes. 

In December I shared tips about light bulbs, lumens and brightness, upon which retired TV engineer Cliff Kotchka suggested an article about how to choose the correct color temperature with the new LED lamps.

The choices are mesmerizing! These new designs have completely changed what consumers expect of household light! 

LEDs offer a new palette of colors to the world of lighting. First, learn these two basic types: soft white and daylight. Soft white refers to warm golden light at 2700 Kelvin, close to the look of legacy light bulbs. Daylight emulates natural sunlight at high noon with a light blue tint at 5000 Kelvin. 

What is Kelvin? Lighting designers refer to degrees of Kelvin to measure the light’s color temperature. When an old-fashioned incandescent tungsten lamp provides light, its filament heats to a temperature around 2700 Kelvin, which is about 4400 degrees Fahrenheit. Tungsten filaments are not capable of reaching more than about 3300 Kelvin or about 5500 Fahrenheit before the filament melts! Old-fashioned light bulbs are filled with helium, argon or similar inert gases to hinder filament failure at these enormous temperatures. Tungsten filaments will always provide warm orange-yellow light.

A store display highlighting three kinds of typical LED lighting: warm 2700K soft-white, blue-white 5000K daylight and a couple of super white lamps in center.

Tungsten light bulb design progressed over time. Powdery treatments inside the bulb glass gently diffused light and removed harsh shadows from light presentation. Light blue tinting resulted in successful new options for reading and emulating true daylight.

Today’s solid-state LED lighting is very efficient but presents some quizzical new challenges. Clever combinations of LED colors and passive filtering can create quite a variety of colors. Advanced designs allow fine-tuning to exact hues and lighting that can gracefully change color throughout the day, configured via smart phone apps or hand-held remote controls. 

Unfortunately, we are still limited to a finite number of colors that various LED phosphors or doping can provide. Often a variety of different-colored LEDs are used to achieve a specific overall color. Some advanced designs are “tunable” using variable masking and filtering of LED elements to vary the resultant look. 

One color – one ‘wattage’ LED bulbs are incredibly simple and clever in design. Just what is inside? 

I was curious so I dissected a basic Sylvania 60-watt soft white LED bulb. The translucent top bulb shape was made of an easily pierced pliable plastic. I found a small circular PC board inside, complete with eight surface-mount yellow LEDs doped with an orange tint to tune the color to about 2700 Kelvin. 

A clear GE 60-watt tungsten light bulb.

The little system is managed by a single miracle chip, a Bright Power Semiconductor BP5133HC. Only two additional parts were needed to complete the entire bulb: a typical 10uf/200v electrolytic capacitor and a 4.7 ohm current limiting resistor. All of this for 99 cents on sale! Amazing!   

Manufacturers of LED light bulbs also must provide adequate filtering of “blue light.” Studies have shown that raw LED light includes specific blue and green light elements that can affect your sleep patterns, your skin, your eyes and your circadian rhythms. 

Box from a GE LED light bundle. Four bulbs with two matching remotes/

Many current LED light bulbs already include some corrective blue light filtering. Block Blue Light is a company that embraces these concerns and takes them to the next level. Their catalog offers many alternative light sources. Are these harbingers to the future of widely marketed bulbs? See www.blockbluelight.com for a new world of ideas.

Today’s developers of advanced LED formulations yearn to concoct more accurate true-to-life light that conforms with the Color Rendering Index. Any artificial light we create needs to have little or no effect on how objects look to the human eye. Red apples need to look authentically red, not brown or bluish-grey. Bananas need to look bright yellow not grey, green or blue. Whites especially need to look white.

Two Sylvania boxes showing similarities in packaging between soft-white and daylight types.

Look for GE’s Reveal and Sylvania’s Tru Wave Technology product lines for finer-quality LED bulbs that meet the highest standards on the color rendering index.

Important tip: When venturing into the world of solid-state LED lighting, first buy only one light bulb to test the results at home. If you enjoy what you see you can buy as many as you like with confidence. Is the light ugly or harsh to your eyes? Return the one light bulb and try again. 

The round PC board found inside a Sylvania 60-watt equivalent LED bulb.

Be creative: Don’t be afraid to experiment with combining various color temperatures and looks. Do you have four eye-level lamps with warm light but the overall look is just a little too warm together? Try switching a light bulb or two to daylight types to bring up the overall temperature. Or add a couple more lamps fitted with daylight color bulbs. You can also experiment with how brilliant the lights are. You can certainly mix “40 watt,” “60 watt” and “100 watt” lamps to fine-tune your visual end product. 

Be patient and find a bulb you like. Some “soft white” LED lamps produce a color that looks like a blend of mustard and deep orange tones, while I have seen some “brilliant white” light bulbs in action that will make your eyes weep and cry for mercy. Hand me those Ray-Bans! 

Hopefully, you will eventually discover a color and intensity that are just right.

[Check Out More of Radio World’s Tech Tips]

The post Let’s Talk About Color Temperature appeared first on Radio World.

The broadcast radio station ownership group led by Caroline Beasley and CFO Marie Tedesco has announced when it will reveal its first quarter 2024 financial report.

And, it will arrive on a busy day for analysts, with TEGNA and Sinclair Inc. also releasing their Q1 results.

 

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“SuperFrank” Copsidas has dropped two digital multicast networks owned by Get After It Media from a Boston station — a property he removed ATSC 3.0 technology from in late 2023.

For those in the market that still wish to see the offerings, Retro TV and The Heartland Network, they’ll have to tune to another Boston station’s subchannels to view them.

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What jurisdiction does the FCC possess to move forward with the proposed change in FM frequencies for two stations, including a Canadian operation?

Plenty, it turns out, as this Canadian FM is actually licensed to a small Texas town.

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Digital and traditional media channel consumption across the world’s 20 largest markets and the rest of the countries in the four major global regions grew by just 0.3% in 2023 to an average of 56.2 hours per week, according to PQ Media.

This marks a sharp deceleration for growth compared to what was seen globally in the two prior years, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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From the Radio World “Who’s Buying What” page: Siena College FM station WVCR in Loudonville, N.Y., just outside of Albany has put a new Broadcast Electronics AudioVault 11 media management system into service.

The Class B1 noncom station broadcasts on 88.3 and goes by the name “The Saint.” Slogan: “We play anything.” That covers a range of content including variety hits, Spanish, Polish and Irish music, and Siena sports broadcasts. 

“WVCR, the noncommercial, listener-supported public media service of Siena College, operates a professionally formatted station to train Siena’s next generation of multimedia professionals through educational programs and hands-on experience while sharing the Franciscan tradition of Siena College with the public,” said Darin Kibbey, the station general manager.

Kibbey told BE the station liked AV11’s graphical user interface, programming tools and operational reliability.

Radio World welcomes submissions for Who’s Buying What from both users and sellers. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post WVCR Deploys BE AudioVault 11 System appeared first on Radio World.

For the past decade or more, radio and television managers have been dealing with a dilemma: Many veteran engineers are retiring while few skilled young people are stepping in to take their place. 

Leaders of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association are well aware and are taking a proactive approach. Their strategies include working with colleges and vocational schools that have relevant courses, encouraging the use of apprenticeships, and hosting conferences and seminars, sometimes in conjunction with the Society of Broadcast Engineers. 

Their goal is to provide young adults with opportunities to understand the engineering profession while giving them the training, mentorship and guidance they need to succeed. 

MTI

One of WBA’s most popular initiatives is the Media Technology Institute. It was founded in 2012 by veteran engineer Terry Baun, a past president of the SBE. It is a three-day series of seminars to educate attendees about broadcast engineering and technology, held in conjunction with the WBA’s summer conference. 

In 2023 WBA renamed it to become the WBA Duke Wright Media Technology Institute, honoring the late Duey “Duke” Wright, a pioneering broadcaster who owned Midwest Communications, including more than 80 radio properties in nine states, and had a passion for engineering.

Engineer Bill Hubbard assumed the institute’s leadership role in 2019 after spending some 30 years working in the University of Wisconsin system, including a decade at UW-Green Bay. He is a charter member of SBE Chapter 80, which serves central and northeast Wisconsin, and was named SBE James C. Wulliman Educator of the Year in 2019.  

Hubbard and Baun worked together from the institute’s earliest days, envisioning it as a way to train people in the basics of broadcast engineering. But as time passed, Hubbard noticed that experienced engineers wanted to attend too, to enhance their skills. Even some general managers signed up.

As might be expected, many of the institute’s presentations focus on topics like transmitter maintenance or repairing versus replacing equipment. But others are about practical matters like preparing for an FCC inspection or contemporary issues like information security. Given all that today’s engineers need to know, Hubbard now uses the phrase “media technology” rather than “broadcast engineering.”

Hubbard says there is also a focus on helping technical people understand the business of broadcasting and improving their communication skills, especially when talking with non-engineers. 

“Knowledge of technology alone is not a key to success. Engineers need to communicate with all the departments [at the station] in a way that is understandable.” 

Students get familiar with media tools at a student forum held by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association at Lambeau Field in February. Help from the state

Andy Smock, chair and associate professor in the Department of Radio TV Film at the University of Wisconsin’s Oshkosh campus, is developing a program called Media Engineering. He believes the word “broadcast” no longer has much meaning to contemporary students. 

Although his school has award-winning outlets WRST-FM and Titan TV, he says most students who get involved want to focus on sports reporting. Yet students in the department also get hands-on experience working with the equipment, setting up for events, and doing audio and video production. 

Conversations with Bill Hubbard and with Bill Kerkhof, director of engineering for the department, led Smock to conclude that it could play an important role in training the next generation of engineers. Many of the necessary courses existed already, so he believes the new program will be well-received.

Another avenue for developing engineers is a new media broadcast technician apprenticeship program offered through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. 

Amy Phillips is the youth apprenticeship program coordinator there. She said that based on feedback from WBA President/CEO Michelle Vetterkind, Vice President Kyle Geissler, Bill Hubbard and numerous station managers, she identified 16 desired competencies, skills that industry professionals are looking for in the people they hire for media engineering work. 

In 2020 the state debuted a Youth Apprenticeship for Media Broadcast Technicians, a two-year program. Phillips has been recruiting high school students who are enrolled in broadcasting, communications, information technology and science, technology, engineering and mathematics, who might have an interest in a media apprenticeship pathway.

About 400 high school and college students attended the media careers event at Lambeau Field.

Kyle Geissler is working to provide another facet for the WBA approach: reaching out to high school students and encouraging them to consider careers in broadcasting. 

He said WBA has cultivated a relationship with SkillsUSA, which partners students and professionals and focuses on skilled trades. The organization is known for its competitions; when Geissler attended one, he was impressed with the enthusiasm he saw. 

“They have several competitions that are related to media, in which high school students compete. It’s a great opportunity to get those students interested in broadcasting [and] connected with our members.” 

WBA held a student forum in February at the famous Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, to provide information about a variety of careers in media. About 200 high school and 200 college students came to the venue; the event featured a job fair, speed networking and a keynote address from Packers Radio Network broadcasters and WBA Hall of Famers Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren.

Geissler hopes events like this will encourage young people to expand their perceptions of media and “think about engineering, not just sportscasting or news.”

Persistence

WBA’s outreach to students was led for many years by Linda Baun, who was the association’s vice president at the time. She organized an annual WBA Student Seminar, where attendees came from around the state for a day of training, discussion and networking. 

Engineering remains a passion of Baun’s. “That’s where my heart is,” she says. She is an SBE Fellow who continues to promote engineering as a profession, carrying on the work of her late husband Terry. She said he believed strongly in the importance of education and took a learn-by-doing approach, including giving people permission to make mistakes.

She sees WBA seminars as valuable in providing opportunities for engineers to brainstorm and learn new things.

But while the broadcast veterans quoted in this article are excited about the programs and seminars, they acknowledge the challenges. 

Pay for engineers is still low, and Linda Baun notes that over the years, engineering often has not been accorded the respect that other broadcast disciplines have. And even with the expanded outreach, finding new engineers is challenging. 

A group at last year’s Duke Wright Media Technology Institute, held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Summer Conference.

Steve Brown recently retired as director of broadcast engineering for Woodward Community Media. Brown says his company had to do a lot of local and national advertising over an extended period before identifying a good replacement. Broadcast executives around the country often make similar comments to Radio World about the difficulties of filling technical positions.

Brown feels that the WBA and Wisconsin state government “are on the right track” but believes there is more to do. For example, while he likes the idea of on-the-job training, “we need to get to the next step now, and that is actually finding and placing students in these apprenticeships.” 

And that has been slow to occur. Linda Baun and several others told us that stations may be hesitant about internships and apprenticeships perhaps in part because of concerns about liability. 

But Bill Hubbard believes that media technology is a rewarding profession and that it has a bright future. 

“It’s open to anyone, male or female. You just need a curiosity about how things work.” He and his colleagues will continue to take that message all around the state. 

As Linda Baun put it, “We’re not just talking. We’re doing. We’re providing the education, so that students can learn about media technology. And we’re putting out good opportunities for growth to occur.” 

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The post “America’s Dairyland” Works to Grow Engineers appeared first on Radio World.

Bauer Media Audio has completed the acquisition of SharpStream, a streaming platform for live and on-demand audio content. 

The deal had been announced earlier but was pending regulatory approval and closing conditions.

“SharpStream is counted on by some of the world’s biggest brands to stream their audio content live to internet audiences,” Bauer said in a press release, “including high-profile sports broadcasters like the ATP and Le Mans Racing Series, all the way through to niche, ethnic and community audio broadcasters.”

It said it has a longstanding relationship with SharpStream and describes the acquisition as part of its next stage of digital development.

Bauer Media Audio owns commercial broadcast brands such as KISS, Absolute Radio and Scala Radio in the United Kingdom, Radio Norge in Norway and The Voice in Denmark.

SharpStream provides services to seven of Bauer Media Audio’s local markets: Slovakia, Norway, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark and Ireland.

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The post Bauer Media Completes SharpStream Acquisition appeared first on Radio World.

Harry Pappas, one of three brothers who founded Pappas Telecasting Companies in 1971, died April 24. He was 78 years old.

Pappas is survived by his wife Stella, son John F. Pappas and daughters Mary K. Pappas and Destiny Jewell.

(Image credit: Jim Ocon)

The youngest son of Greek immigrants, Pappas as a high school graduate pooled the $5,000 he had saved for college with the funds of his twin brothers Mike and Pete to buy KVEG radio in Las Vegas. Working as a salesman and on-air talent under the name “Harry Holiday,” Pappas and his brothers were able to put the station into the black in less than 90 days.

In 1971, he and his brothers put KMPH (“M” for Mike, “P” for Pete and “H” for Harry) on air as an independent UHF channel serving viewers in the San Joaquin Valley originally from Visalia, Calif., and eventually from Fresno.

Pappas financed the station by issuing stock to 117 local people who knew of the brothers’ success in radio, he said during a 2021 interview with KMPH on the station’s 50th anniversary.

Under Pappas, the station racked up several notable accomplishments, including the launch of local news, which made it the first TV station outside the top 40 markets to air a primetime newscast, the establishment of a small investigative reporting team, which was credited with uncovering financial irregularities at a local savings institution, and the launch of the “Great Day Show,” a local morning program. The station became one of the first Fox affiliates in the country.

In his 2021 interview, Pappas noted that he met with Barry Diller and Rupert Murdoch to convince them that it was feasible for Fox to launch a fourth national broadcasting network. He also helped to pioneer Fox Kids, a children’s network launched as a cooperative with participating broadcasters.

At one time, Pappas Telecasting owned and ran 13 full-power television stations and their “satellites” in “seven or eight states,” he said during the interview. The company grew to be at one time the largest individually owned group of stations in the country.

As a broadcaster, Pappas was focused on serving the local communities of his stations. “I had been raised in the tradition of broadcasters—that a broadcast station is obliged to serve the public in its areas in a meaningful way,” Pappas said in the 2021 interview.

During the recession of 2008, Pappas worked diligently to maintain the financial health of his company’s stations, but ultimately the 13 stations filed for bankruptcy.

Pappas was well-liked by his former employees. “It was always a very special day when Mr. Pappas came to Omaha to visit KPTM, the third TV station he built,” recalls Dale Scherbring former vice president, director of corporate engineering at Pappas Telecasting. “His energy, dynamic personality and vision for the future of broadcasting garnered respect and admiration by so many of us in the TV industry.”

Jim Ocon, who was deputy director of engineering at Pappas Telecasting, says Pappas should be remembered for broadcast innovation. “I wish more people would know how important this man was to our industry, and the innovation he pushed continues to this day. He was a strong proponent of UHF—the new beachfront in broadcasting at the time—and digital television.”

Following his broadcast career, Pappas enjoyed spending time with his family, which “he loved more than anything else,” says his son John. “He was the most genuine person I have been blessed to know. He was loved by hundreds—maybe thousands—of people and will be missed.”

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The post Broadcasting Legend Harry Pappas Dead at 78 appeared first on Radio World.

CHICAGO — The Museum of Broadcast Communications on Wednesday revealed its selection of the Radio Hall of Fame 2024 nominees.

The 24 nominees were chosen by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, with input from the radio industry and listeners.

Voting for inductees begins May 20 and runs through June 3.

The top six vote recipients will gain induction as part of the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame Induction class. The two additional inductees that will make up the eight-person induction class will be selected by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.

More than 900 industry members will receive a ballot on May 20 to cast votes for up to six nominated individuals. The confidential ballot will be conducted by Votem.com, and overseen by Miller Kaplan‘s Andrew Rosen.

The total of eight Radio Hall of Fame inductees for 2024 will be announced on June 17 and will be honored at the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on September 19 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville.

Dennis Green, Co-Chairman of the Radio Hall of Fame, commented, “It is an honor to nominate this amazing class of talented individuals and shows that have made their mark on the radio. The 2024 nominees to the Radio Hall of Fame represent one of the most diverse group of talents we have honored with the highest level of recognition one can achieve from the radio industry. Kudos to the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee for recognizing this year’s class of nominees whose careers only add to the special place radio holds in the hearts and minds of generations of listeners across the country.”

Kraig Kitchin, Co-Chairman of Radio Hall of Fame, added, “Congratulations to our 2024 nominees for induction! I encourage each industry member receiving a confidential ballot to participate in the selection of this years’ inductees. It’s an honor and a privilege to see well-established on-air careers recognized with an induction; every vote makes a difference in the outcome.”

Information on tickets for the event will be available soon.

 

THE 2024 RADIO HALL OF FAME NOMINEES TO BE VOTED ON BY INDUSTRY VOTING PANEL ARE (ALPHABETICAL BY FIRST NAME):

Bert Weiss

Big D & Bubba

Big Tigger

Bob and Sheri

Bob Stroud

Crook & Chase

Dede McGuire

Diane Rehm

Free Beer and Hot Wings

Funkmaster Flex

Jaime Jarrin

John & Ken

Johnny Magic

Kid Leo

Larry Elder

Laurie DeYoung

Lee Harris

Lincoln Ware

Mary McCoy

Matt Siegel

Mojo in the Morning

Phil Hendrie

Richard Blade

Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart

 

The Radio Hall of Fame was founded by the Emerson Radio Corporation in 1988. The Museum of Broadcast Communications took over operations of the Hall in 1991.

The NAB has opened its 2024 Marconi Radio Award nomination window.

Established in 1989 and named for inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the Marconi Radio Awards recognize overall excellence and performance in radio.

The winners of the 2024 Marconi Radio Awards will be announced during a special dinner program on October 9 at the Javits Center during NAB Show New York.

Stations and on-air personalities may nominate themselves in the following categories through May 31:

Radio Station of the Year by Market Size

Radio Station of the Year by Format

College Radio Station of the Year

Personality of the Year by Market Size

Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year

Legendary Station Manager

Legendary Station

Best Radio Podcast

The Marconi Radio Award finalists are selected by an independent task force of broadcasters and will be announced in July.

All nominations must be submitted through the NAB member portal.
The complete list of entry rules and qualifications can be found here.

Nexstar Media Group on Wednesday shared where The CW Network will be moving to in two of the seven markets where The E.W. Scripps Co. announced on April 19 it would be discontinuing affiliations as of August 31. It also shared a major move in the nation’s No. 3 DMA.

But, it gave no hints as to what will happen in the Motor City, where The CW’s fate could rest in the hands of Perry Sook and Kevin Adell. 

 

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It holds a Construction Permit for 2.5kw of daytime power and 45 watts at night from 1 tower in the Rossville Recreation park south of Chattanooga, Tenn., and gets a boost from a pair of FM translators at 94.7 MHz and 94.9 MHz, respectively.

Pending FCC approval, the trio of signals bringing the word of God to this city will have a new owner.

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Keeping kids off “addictive social media” and helping to “protect them from its harmful effects” is the goal of legislation introduced in the Senate by the Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee — Texas Republican Ted Cruz — and a Democratic Senator from Hawaii.

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