U.S. Attorney Files Objection To Inner City Bankruptcy Sale.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has filed an objection in bankruptcy court to the proposed sale of the assets of Inner City Broadcasting Corporation. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says the sale is being pursued to avoid taxes without cash flowing to the estate. The filing alleges that the Inner City Chapter 11 petition doesn’t “appear to have been maintained in good faith.” The filing adds, “Debtors have no intention of even attempting to reorganize under chapter 11. Nor do they intend to even seek to file a liquidating plan under chapter 11. Rather, the only purpose of this chapter 11 proceeding appears to be to allow the Senior Lenders to foreclose upon their collateral – an action which they could have pursued outside of bankruptcy – while obtaining the benefits of the ‘free and clear’ provisions that are unique to chapter 363 sales.”
KHKS-FM, Dallas, Temporarily Becomes ’106.1 Laura FM’.
Clear Channel’s “106.1 Kiss FM” KHKS-FM, Dallas, temporarily changes its name to “106.1 Laura FM” in support of Laura Diosdado who is fighting for her life with Cystic Fibrosis, and to help raise awareness of CF as the station works to raise funds for research to find a cure. Laura Diosdado is a freshman at Boyd High School in McKinney, Texas, who is in a life-and-death battle with complications from CF. KHKS-FM Program Director Patrick Davis tells us that Thursday (Feb. 16) the station becomes “Laura FM” from 9am until midnight. “For 15 hours, to honor all 15 hard fought years, ’106.1 Laura FM’ will take over the airwaves,” says Davis. “The best tribute we can give is to raise enough money to keep advancing medical research so no other child has to suffer the way Laura has.”
Report: SESAC Again for Sale.
The owners of SESAC, the performing-rights firm that licenses the music of songwriters and publishers and collects royalties when that music is played in public, are looking to sell the firm after lowering their asking price, reports the New York Post, citing sources. “Boutique media investment bank Allen Co. and hedge fund Och-Ziff are among the owners seeking about $500 million for the Nashville-based company and have hired Goldman Sachs to shop it,” writes the Post, again citing its sources. SESAC has been for sale on and off again in recent years, and most recently tried to get $700 million in a failed auction.
Mediaguide Ending Radio Monitoring.
Mediaguide is ending radio monitoring operations. Mediaguide CEO Steve Lubin tells us, “Effective March 1, Mediaguide Inc. will no longer provide radio data monitoring services. Mediaguide has decided to cease radio monitoring operations and will focus on leveraging its proprietary content-recognition technologies in other venues.” Lubin says, however, Mediaguide has made an arrangement with Media Monitors to continue providing “the high-quality data services you have come to expect.” Media Monitors President Philippe Generali says, “We look forward to welcoming all the Mediaguide customers and will do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible. Our goal is to make sure all the subscribers continue to get the data they need for businesses.”
Michael Gay Named JBG VP of Interactive Media.
Michael Gay is named VP of Interactive Media for Journal Broadcast Group, leading the design and implementation of digital initiatives across all of Journal’s television and radio properties. Gay, who will report directly to Chairman and CEO Steven Smith, joins Journal from Hearst Television where he was Corporate Executive Producer for Digital Media.
“Our Broadcast digital business is growing and is an important priority for us,” says Smith. “Michael’s experience at Hearst Television, WBBM-TV, and other stations will help us sharpen our focus on this strategic objective.”
Mike Kelly Joins Honolulu Stations as President/GM.
Veteran Hawaii radio manager Mike Kelly joins Sports “ESPN 1420″ KKEA-AM and Sports Talk KHKA-AM, Honolulu, as President and General Manager. Kelly, who retired as GM from Cox Media Group in Hawaii after 26 years last November, has been in a consulting role with Cox Media following his retirement.
NPR Music Launches New iPad App.
NPR Music launches its own NPR Music iPad App, featuring “exclusive public radio live performances, interviews, signature programs, original reporting and commentary, advance album listens, and live station streams,” as well as “a groundbreaking visual playlist that can be saved for offline listening.” On March 7, NPR Music will present an exclusive in-app concert with The Shins, who will perform songs from the anticipated new album Port of Morrow. The special invite-only event in New York City will stream live exclusively in the NPR Music iPad App, beginning that evening at 10 pm ET. The concert will replay on NPR.org beginning March 8.
Houston Astros Broadcaster Milo Hamilton to Retire.
Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Milo Hamilton, who has called baseball games for 57 seasons, is ready to retire.
Hamilton, 84, has been the radio voice of the Houston Astros since 1985, and previously did the same for other major league teams. He says 2012 will be his final year. “The news never seemed the same without Paul Harvey, and the Astros won’t be the same without Milo,” says former Astros owner Drayton McLane.
Deborah Norville to Host Golden Mike Awards.
The Broadcasters Foundation of American tells us that Deborah Norville will return to host its annual Golden Mike Award, February 27 at the Plaza Hotel in New York. The annual black-tie fundraising event benefits the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation, which provides financial aid to broadcasters in desperate need. Dennis Swanson,
President of Station Operations for Fox Television Stations,will receive the 2012 Golden Mike Award. For more information on the Broadcasters Foundation of America, to make a donation, or learn how to apply for a grant, visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org.
TM Studios Appoints Ryan Drean Director of Creative.
Dial Global’s TM Studios appoints Ryan Drean as Director of Creative, responsible for creating and managing TM Studios New Country branding service. Drean joins TM Studios in Dallas from KSCS-FM, Dallas, where he was Imaging Director.
Says Drean, “The relationship that exists between country artists and country radio is unmatched by any other format. I hope to further extend that connection to the listeners of great country stations with TM Studios. I am very excited for this opportunity.” TM VP of Creative Ricky Roo tells us, “Ryan is well known and respected as one of the most creative producers in country radio. He has interviewed virtually every top level creative producer on the planet and has deep rooted connections across country radio.”
Indecency Complaints Up in Q4 2011.
During the fourth quarter of 2011 the FCC received an increased number of consumer complaints concerning broadcast licensees, including an increase in indecency complaints. The FCC reported receiving 723 indecency complaints during Q4, up from 538 in the third quarter. Still that’s considered a low number of such complaints. During the final quarter of the year, 602 additional programming complaints came under the heading of general criticism and another 751 fell into the “other programming” category. The FCC says 97 complaints have to do with broadcast service and 233 were about interference.
Melissa Krahnke Named ‘Tour Bus’ Co-Host.
Envision Radio Networks names Melissa Krahnke as co-host of “The Tour Bus,” a three-hour Rock show, joining 11-year host Ralph Sutton. Krahnke co-hosts and produces the morning show on CHR-Top40 WKRZ-FM, Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA. Prior to being recruited for radio, she toured with her former rock band Bad Side and opened for many of the groups that are played each week on “The Tour Bus” — including Alice Cooper, Triumph, and Britny Fox.
MIW Mentoring Program 2012 Mentees Selected.
The Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group has announced the mentees chosen to participate in the 2012 Mildred Carter MIW Group mentoring program. They are Danielle Outlaw, VP Sales and DOS at Neuhoff Media in Springfield, IL; Erica Pefferman, DOS at Zimmer Radio Group, Columbia, MO; and Jacquelyn Rose Bullerman, Digital Media Manager at Arbitron. This is the tenth year of the mentoring program, which matches women in the radio industry with female professionals who are leaders in all aspects of radio. To date, the program has successfully worked with a total of 23 mentees. “We had an outstanding diverse group of women apply this year, which made the decision to narrow to only 3 very difficult,” said MIW Radio Group spokesperson Lindsay Cerajewski, the General Sales Manager of CBS Radio’s WUSN-FM, Chicago. “This program would not be possible without the MIWs’ commitment and dedication and should serve as an inspiration to everyone in the radio industry.”
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