Radio

Spanish Broadcasting System announced that it had reached an agreement with Grupo Radio Centro (“Grupo”) to settle the parties’ long-standing lawsuit. SBS filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit in February of 2016 immediately after Grupo hired an on-air radio personality from SBS’s KLAX-FM in Los Angeles, alleging tortious interference and unfair competition.

Entravision Communications Corporation announced format and programming changes to its radio stations in the Los Angeles market. La Suavecita enhances its programming lineup to align the station’s talent to enhance its reach across the greater Los Angeles metro area and Entravision introduces its proven La Tricolor format to Los Angeles.

Entravision has made format changes in twelve markets this morning as it has eliminated the Spanish Adult Hits “José” brand from its portfolio along with its final Spanish CHR “Super Estrella” station.

There’s no question that video is and will continue to be the preeminent media format; all media types, regardless of where they began, now play in the video space, and consumers’ collective appetite for it isn’t slowing down. 

iHeartMedia announced that Pedro Javier González has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartLatino. González will report to Enrique Santos, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino and Brad Hardin, Executive Vice President and General Manager for iHeartMedia’s National Programming Group. He will be based out of Miami.

Less than a decade ago, most consumers could not have imagined the plethora of ways they’d have to engage with content. But the rise of technology and smart devices has opened the media option floodgates and consumption and old habits have changed accordingly. Engagement with AM/FM radio has not been immune to these changes. Now, with the click of a button, consumers can access their favorite radio station in sunny San Diego, listen to weather updates in New York or listen to pop music walking to school in Denver.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. announced the leadership appointments of Elisa Torres as EVP, Aire Radio Networks and National Radio Sales and Michelle Marino, SVP, Aire Radio Networks and National Radio Sales, effective immediately.

Music is a big part of daily life and special occasions for most Hispanic consumers. According to our annual Music 360 report, 93% of the Hispanic population (age 13+) in the U.S. listened to music in the past year, and 59% consider music important, compared with 51% of the general population.

What impact do new devices such as smart speakers and new ways of listening to music like Spotify have on radio’s long-standing role of introducing the latest new music to listeners?  Do smart speaker owners now turn to Alexa to find out what’s new instead of their local CHR personality?

In aggregate, the Hispanic and black radio audience totals 74.7 million people 12 and older, up 6.25% from 70.3 million just five years ago. While tune-in has grown across both black and Hispanic audiences, growth among Hispanic listeners has been notably higher than among black listeners between 2013 and 2017.

The African-American and Hispanic listening audience now accounts for one-third of the listening audience, and that number continues to grow.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (“SBS”) released a statement repudiating the recent claims made by SAG-AFTRA regarding alleged anti-union actions purported to have been undertaken at its radio facilities in Los Angeles.

Highly respected music industry expert, and head of the Steinhardt Music Business Program at New York University, Larry Miller, released a special report today, titled PARADIGM SHIFT: WHY RADIO MUST ADAPT TO THE RISE OF DIGITAL, which details the current state of terrestrial radio in the United States.

Univision Deportes, the multimedia sports division of Univision Communications Inc. (UCI), announced  that it has sublicensed from beIN SPORTS, the radio rights for some of Europe’s top football clubs from Spain, Italy and France including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, AS Roma, and Inter Milan. 

GLR Media Networks and international sports radio brand talkSPORT announce that they have launched an exclusive partnership for broadcast radio distribution and ad sales representation of the hugely popular English Premier League (EPL) in Spanish.

Univision Dallas announced the launch of a new format on its KFZO radio station—Zona MX 99.1 FM, bringing Dallas-area listeners the latest and best banda, a widely popular style of Regional Mexican music.

Entravision Communications Corporation announced the premiere of El Cucuy y Mayra Berenice, which marks the second new show for El Cucuy after his return to radio in January. The show will air on La Suavecita KSSE 107.1 FM in Los Angeles, and feature El Cucuy as host and Berenice as co-host.

Azteca America announced that its Atlanta affiliate WUVM Channel 4 has formed a sales and marketing partnership with WAZX 101.9 FM, “La Que Buena Radio.”

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. announced that Donny Hudson has been named General Manager and Vice President of SBS Miami supervising all operations at WXDJ-FM (EL NUEVO ZOL 106.7FM), WRMA-FM (RITMO 95.7FM), WCMQ-FM (ZETA 92.3FM), and the LaMusica app.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (‘SBS’) announced the launch of ‘SBS Portafolio’ a cross-platform content development division designed to create and expand brand strategies utilizing all of SBS’ assets including Digital, Mobile, Television, Radio, Social Media and live experiences.