Radio

Technology has radically changed how we listen to music, news and stories. Just a century ago, the first commercial radio broadcast in the U.S. delivered the results of the Harding-Cox presidential race. The success of that broadcast would define public radio and the distribution of news for years to come.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. announced that it has launched an offering of $310 million in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). The Notes will be guaranteed on a senior secured basis by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, and secured, subject to certain exceptions, on a first-priority basis by the Notes collateral.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the creation of an advisory committee to the NAB Board of Directors that will provide insights and suggestions on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues.

Yesenia Bello has been selected to serve as iHeartMedia’s first SVP of Diversity and Inclusion. She reports to Chief HR Offier and Chief Diversity Officer Michele Laven, who Bello will work closely with “to drive comprehensive long-term and measurable diversity and inclusion strategies across iHeartMedia.”  By Adam R Jacobson – Editor-in-Chief, Radio + Television Business Report

Searchlight III UTD and ForgeLight‘s acquisition of a majority stake of Univision Holdings formally closed. As such, Searchlight, a private investment firm founded by CEO Wade Davis, and associated entity, ForgeLight — an operating and investment company focused on the media and consumer technology sectors — are now the holders of shares in Univision previously held by Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, TPG, Thomas H. Lee Partners, and Saban Capital Group.  As expected, Davis assumed Univision’s Chief Executive chair from Vince Sadusky.  What wasn’t expected: a major house cleaning in Univision’s C-Suite.  By Adam R Jacobson – Editor-in-Chief, Radio + Television Business Report

As first reported by Inside Radio, Nielsen will no longer include the ratings for non-subscribing radio stations in the summary dataset that fuels the major buying systems used by agencies and advertisers. The new policy goes into effect in 2021 and ad agencies are still figuring out how to deal with not having a view of the total market when placing ad buys.

The medium is a major linchpin for cultivating relationships and serving communities

As the old saying goes, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” This is especially true in radio selling and buying, where a reliance on expensive ratings data and audience demos leads to buys made on the description of an audience rather than the actions of an audience.

Radio’s weekly reach is now 97% of March’s numbers, as fall changes are driving more consumers to tune in. When examining AQH, which benefits from the Headphone Adjustment implemented with October 2020 measurement, listening grew 6% (4% can be attributed to the adjustment and 2% to organic growth).

How have the past seven months changed or refocused Hispanic media’s service to its consumers and its clients?  By Adam Jacobson – Radio TV Business Report

The ability to measure AM/FM radio’s ability to drive viewership to TV premieres and events is now exceptionally accurate. Nielsen’s “Promo Effect” study uses the 80,000-person Portable People Meter panel.  By Pierre Bouvard

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced the launch of new spots recognizing the importance of local radio and TV stations in delivering important news and information to their communities.

Entravision Communications Corporation announced the launch of a new local morning radio program, the Shoboy Show. Hosted by Edgar “Shoboy” Sotelo, the program will premier and air every Monday-Friday 8AM-11:59AM CT / 6AM-9:59 AM PT

Social justice initiatives designed to bring long- needed advancement of positive change to the nation’s African American community have surged to the forefront in the weeks since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police Department officers.

Recently while reviewing an audio media plan with a major client we noted that while they were using a vast array of AM/FM radio programming content, they were not buying Spanish radio. The response was, “We get the audience with a general market buy.”  Was that really true? Can a general market buy with only English language stations do an effective job of reaching Hispanics and Spanish speakers? We turned to Oliver Marquis, VP Media Analytics at Nielsen, for assistance.  By Pierre Bouvard / Westwood One

Radio provides consumers with a reassuring presence in challenging times

HRN Media Network, a Gen Media Partners company, has expanded its platform with recognizable Hispanic personalities and sports programs in its lineup.

English Premier League returns after the season stoppage forced by COVID-19, and UNANIMO Deportes, the official Spanish radio of the Premier League in the United States, will bring all the action and excitement to fans.  The first event to be broadcast by UNANIMO Deportes Radio will be Manchester City vs. Arsenal, on Wednesday, June 17th, with coverage beginning at 2:45 PM ET.

While it is common for many Hispanics in the radio business to dream of owning their own station or stations, historically they have found it to be a path under construction, with many roadblocks.  By Amador Bustos

Entravision Communications Corporation announced the appointment of Chris Munoz to the executive leadership team as the Executive Vice President of National Sales.