RadioInsight

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PRX CEO Launches RadioPublic App Platform

Posted: 19 May 2016 12:59 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...-app-platform/



Public media distribution company PRX is losing its CEO as he launches
RadioPublic to focus on creating new app-based listening platforms.

RadioPublic states that they are working to reinvent radio and will develop
an app based mobile listening platform that intends to make listening to
podcasts as simple as tuning to a radio station. Investors in the new
company include many involved in the public radio and print media including
American Public Media, Graham Holdings, New York Times, The McClatchy
Company, Knight Foundation Enterprise Fund, Matter Ventures, and
venture-capital groups UP2398, Homebrew and Project 11 Ventures.

The company will launch with content from PRX and its investors and will be
led by current PRX CEO Jake Shapiro, while Kerri Hoffman takes his place.
RadioPublic and PRX will share technology, data, and revenue models.

PRX Forms RadioPublic, a Mobile Listening Company, with Investment from The
New York Times, Project11, McClatchy, Knight Enterprise Fund, American
Public Media, and Homebrew

Jake Shapiro to Lead RadioPublic as CEO; Kerri Hoffman Becomes CEO of PRX.

Cambridge, MA (May 19, 2016) — PRX, the award-winning public media
company, announced today it has formed RadioPublic, a new company building
a mobile listening platform for on-demand radio and podcasts. A Public
Benefit Corporation (PBC), RadioPublic has secured funding from leading
investors, including Project11, The New York Times, Knight Foundation
Enterprise Fund, UP2398, American Public Media, McClatchy and Homebrew.
Jake Shapiro, founding chief executive of PRX, will lead the new venture as
CEO. Kerri Hoffman, who has also been with PRX since its start, will become
PRX’s CEO.

Built on PRX’s decade of leadership, trusted producer relationships, and
its reach of over 15 million monthly listeners across platforms,
RadioPublic is partnering with PRX to create a new listening experience,
featuring content discovery, exclusive offers, and fan engagement. When it
launches later this year, RadioPublic listeners will have access to top
podcasts as well as PRX’s full catalog, including The Moth Radio Hour, 99%
Invisible, Reveal, the Radiotopia podcast network, and the Remix story
channel. RadioPublic will also integrate with PRX’s dynamic ad product,
Dovetail, which powers Serial and other signature shows. As a hybrid
enterprise, RadioPublic and PRX share founding values of public service and
openness, and will collaborate on technology, data, and revenue models.

“We are at a clear inflection point in the shift to on-demand radio through
mobile devices and the connected car and home,� said RadioPublic CEO Jake
Shapiro. “PRX has been public media’s engine for talent and technology from
podcasting’s earliest days, and now together we’re rethinking radio and
transforming the way listeners connect with the shows they love. �

With Jake Shapiro’s transition to CEO of RadioPublic, Kerri Hoffman will
take the reins as CEO of PRX. Kerri will continue to be a fierce champion
of new voices, new formats and new business models. She played a key role
in the building and evolution of PRX, and headed up the launch of
Radiotopia. Hoffman is a proven advocate for a strong and vital public
media service, and diversity in the industry. Under her direction, more
than 50% of all Radiotopia shows are female produced, engineered and hosted.

“PRX has advanced programming, talent development, and technical
platforms,� said Kerri Hoffman. “We proactively solve problems producers
face, which has led to the strategic formation of RadioPublic. We’ve been
simultaneously pioneering new services and strengthening others to help
producers and stations grow audience and revenue.�

RadioPublic is entering the fast growing market for on-demand audio,
podcasts, and spoken word content. The audience for podcasts has grown 23%
in the last year, to over 57 million monthly listeners in the U.S.

“Podcasting is poised to be the foundation for a major shift in listener
attention as the radio ecosystem becomes increasingly digital and
on-demand,� said Bob Mason, managing partner at Project11 and founding CTO
at Brightcove. “We’re excited by RadioPublic’s ability to be a
transformative force, shifting an industry and creating aligned values
between listeners and producers.�




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FastCompany: With RadioPublic, These Podcasting Pioneers Plan To Reinvent
The Medium

Posted: 19 May 2016 09:56 AM PDT
http://www.fastcompany.com/3060057/h...reinvent-radio





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Sean Ross: Why radio should sell music

Posted: 19 May 2016 08:27 AM PDT
http://rainnews.com/why-radio-should-sell-music/





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Behind The Launch: The 330

Posted: 19 May 2016 07:20 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/blogs/...aunch-the-330/



Last month Akron Public Schools AAA “The Summit� 91.3 WAPS Akron/90.7 WKTL
Struthers/Youngstown OH launched a brand extension focused on local artists
and musicians with a connection to the stations Northeast Ohio base.
Available on streaming platforms and WAPS-HD2, The 330 named after the area
code of the market is the perfect example of the types of ancillary
products radio can launch to expand its digital reach. We discussed the
debut with WAPS Program Director Brad Savage.

Savage joined WAPS/WKTL last Fall following an over two decade career in
commercial radio. Hes worked on-air at defunct Alternative Rev 105 and AAA
Cities 97 KTCZ Minneapolis and programmed in Columbia MO at Rock 100.1 The
Buzz KBBM, Alternative Mad Radio 96.3 WMAD-FM Madison WI, AAA 107One WQKL
Ann Arbor and a decade at AAA 106.1 The Corner WCNR Charlottesville VA.
After a career in commercial radio, what brought you to non-commercial
radio and The Summit?

In the world of Music Discovery/AAA/Alt/Indie formats, many people I
greatly respect and admire had been making similar into Noncomm-land. Most
Noncomm music stations are doing great and growing, building audience, and
taking smart cues from programmers who may have some commercial radio
format structure, but also put the music on a pedestal and bask in the
creative freedom that Noncomm allows. The strongest aspect of Noncomm
stations is that they are focused on the product, people, and local
essence. Theyre the stations that are building smartly for where well be in
3, 5, 10+ years. These stations areasking questions about the medium and
future usage, as we move into a demographic era where radio hasnt
necessarily been their top, favorite option for music. Theyre not kicking
the can down the road for Wall Street; theyre trying to make must-listen
programming that is intelligent and challenging, and indispensable.
What is The 330? How did it come about?

The 330 is our new 24/7 Local Music Channel. It is billed as The Past,
Present and Future of Northeast Ohio Music. So were playing independent,
local and unsigned artists from Akron-Canton-Cleveland-Youngstown Plus a
nod to the rich heritage of artists who have broken out of Ohio in the past
6 decades, across many genres. Its sort of a grand experiment to mix Bobby
Womack, The Pretenders, The Raspberries, NIN, The OJays and The Human Beinz
alongside the local music scene today Artists like The Black Keys, JD
Eicher, The Juke Hounds, Red Sun Rising, Angie Haze Project and A-Minus.
Well also touch on like-minded Columbus or greater Ohio artists who have
seen national success, such as Elle King, Guided By Voices, Afghan Whigs,
Walk The Moon, etc The station came about because when I arrived here I was
pretty taken aback by the quality of local music and the strong heritage of
national acts to break out of Ohio. The Summit has always played local
artists, and its among the strongest positive feedback we receive. So we
decided to push that concept into a super-serve niche, and deliver a
station offering that genre 24/7. Plus this is something that is a great
image for the station, and has also perked up interest among city leaders,
and those in the arts/music/cultural communities in our primary cities of
Akron, Canton and Youngstown. It also gives us a nice first reach into
Cleveland, where weve never officially marketed before. The station is
primarily an Internet offering, but it is also heard on 91.3 WAPS-HD2 in
Akron. (It is not heard on WKTL which is sadly not an HD signal.)
How does The Summit promote The 330 on-air/online?

We are running produced promos about every 60-90mins since launch on 4/22,
along with mentions when we air local artists. Its being branded as an
additional way for us to support local music, now 24/7 in addition to
Airplay on The Summit. The entire imaging campaign and message is built
around being local and supporting local music. The330 is available via our
main website, its own website (the330.net) and is also an option on our
station-dedicated app.
As an HD sub channel and webcaster what has the early response to the
station been?

The feedback has been great. The vast array of genres is a plus and not a
turnoff. I love that Noncomm can try things like that. At its core, its
still a AAA or Alt station but we go in a lot of different directions from
there. I think theres a natural curiosity among the most music-savvy
listeners plus bands and their organic local fanbase and social media
communities. If an unsigned local act on the club scene has a song in
rotation seeing 30-35 spins a week (thats more than top spins on The
Summit) then thats really something. And even some baby artists doing
self-released demos might see 1-2 plays per day. I think its a fun way to
zero-in on one of the top selling points of the main station and just try
it! Additionally, we have several awesome college summer interns and were
going to train them in being on-air on the station. Why not use it as a
training ground of sorts? As long as we position it well, I think it can
sort of be this renegade offshoot and edgy little brother to The Summit.
Has it reached preliminary listenership/donation/sponsorship goals?

We just came off significant growth in our recent Summit Fund Drive
campaign, our most successful in history in fact! We simulcast the launch
of The330 on Friday afternoon of the campaign, and really made local music
and community involvement the focal point, especially that Friday finale
day. And we have seen some new charter members come in specifically in
support of The330. Its bringing in some new ears and new curiosity.
Additionally, we have a primary sponsor of the station, local business
Wayside Furniture. And, it has given us a new narrative to share with local
arts, music, and community/business leaders and theres nothing else like
it. Some key leaders in the arts community are floored at the idea of a
radio station devoted entirely to local music! The PR response is exciting!
Some bands are more excited to be heard on 330 than even our main FM
channel; interesting that to them it makes no difference that its a
streaming/HD2 station only.
How can stations build out digital brand extensions that truly extend the
primary station and not take away from it?

This is one of the main things that attracted me to coming to WAPS/WKTL. We
also air KIDJAM! Radio (HD3/streaming) and Rock and Recovery
(HD4/streaming). R&R is a very thoughtful station devoted to a wide AAA
rock mix of music, plus messages of strength, positivity and encouragement
for those afflicted with addiction issues, mental health and trauma. It
also exists as a nightly specialty show on The Summit. These stations are
programmed by respected programming veteran Garrett Hart
(WAPL-WRQK-WXDX-WDVE) who oversees them full-time and also is heard at
night on The Summit. I was drawn to this forward thinking platform, where
The Summit is the mothership if you will, but we also have off-shoots in
the areas of local arts/music, kids/family, and health/recovery. I think
this is a model where the main brand can SuperServe a lot of areas and
stand for a lot of things, and coincide nicely among them. I also think
listeners are smart enough to understand our creative process and see the
fun in having more than one program offering. We have a great, experienced
team of people who get the mission and we all feel very fortunate to be
here, doing creative programming and planning for the future And watching
from the sidelines as traditional radio tries to sort through some pretty
magnificent struggles.
Is this the type of programming that can be easily duplicated across the
country? What advice would you give to programmers and station managers
looking to launch similar brand extensions?

Yes, and this is also one of the things that drew me to join WAPS. We
believe our Rock and Recovery, KIDJAM! Radio and 330 brands are
customizable for other markets or something that could be syndicated.
Garrett Hart, GM Tommy Bruno & I are brainstorming on this concept
frequently. With regard to The330, I am betting that in almost any city you
could take the top independent local bands plus regional musical history
and create a station. Thinking back to my previous stops in
Charlottesville, Ann Arbor, Madison and Columbia MO, you definitely could
in any of those cities. The quality of music from hard-working local bands
everywhere (plus production quality) is so exciting; its a great time for
music.
What’s next for The 330 and The Summit?

2016 is proving to be exciting for The Summit. We have recently become a
Nielsen/BDS Monitored AAA Reporter, moving up from the Indicator panel.
The330 opens many new opportunities for us, and is being so well received
by musicians and local leaders. Rock and Recovery and KIDJAM! Radio are
present at 100 community events annually. Plus our exciting Music Alive
program continues. This is an on-air community campaign soliciting
donations of used or even damaged musical instruments. We have them
refurbished locally then donate the instruments to music programs in the
Akron, Canton, Struthers and Youngstown city schools. We have a world class
staff dedicated to so many projects and growth for the stations. I am happy
to be here and excited to keep building The Summit + the affiliated
channels and riding the wave of excitement for independent public radio
stations nationally.



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Cleveland Jewish News: Milton Maltz, Norman Wain relay risks, rewards of
radio careers

Posted: 19 May 2016 06:13 AM PDT
http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/n...3bba1a4c1.html





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Miami Dolphins Move To WQAM/WKIS

Posted: 19 May 2016 05:10 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headli...e-to-wqamwkis/



Following a six year run on iHeartMedia Classic Rock Big 105.9 WBGG-FM, the
NFLs Miami Dolphins are moving their broadcasts to CBS Radio Sports 560
WQAM and Country Kiss 99.9 WKIS for the upcoming season.

The new long-term agreement will include all game broadcasts on both
stations, while WQAM will feature expanded pre and postgame shows as well
as Dolphins Friday team centric programming including interviews with
players, coaches and executives. Additional marketing and cross-promotion
will be heard on WKIS and sister Rhythmic CHR Power 96 96.5 WPOW-FM.

Under previous Beasley ownership WQAM served as the Dolphins flagship
station from 1997 through 2004 and again from 2007 through 2009.

The Miami Dolphins and Miamis Sportsradio 560 WQAM today announced they
have entered into a long-term partnership with the station becoming the
official flagship radio partner of the franchise. The Dolphins previously
had their games broadcast on Miamis Sportsradio 560 WQAM during the
1997-2004 and 2007-09 seasons. In addition, all Dolphins games will be
simulcast on Kiss 99.9 “South Florida’s NEW Country� and feature expanded
pre, halftime and postgame shows.

“We are excited that we reached this agreement to return home to Miamis
Sportsradio 560 WQAM,� Miami Dolphins President CEO Tom Garfinkel said.
“This expansive and exclusive programming throughout the week and on game
day will greatly benefit fans that have a desire to consume Dolphins
content on multiple outlets in partnership with CBS RADIO.�

“We have rich broadcast history with the Miami Dolphins and are proud that
the team is returning to Sportsradio 560 WQAM,� CBS RADIO President Andre
Fernandez said. “This further demonstrates our strong and steadfast
commitment to the sports radio format, and making continued moves in
delivering extensive and exclusive programming on our stations. We are
excited to bring premier content to our loyal fans and listeners on
Sportsradio 560 WQAM and Kiss 99.9.�

As part of the agreement, Sportsradio 560 WQAM will have the radio
broadcast rights for all preseason, regular season and playoff games.
Dolphins fans who tune into Miamis Sportsradio 560 WQAM will have the
opportunity to listen to live broadcasts of Head Coach Adam Gase’s
day-after game press conferences and “Dolphins Friday,� a day of Dolphins’
centric-content on the station featuring interviews with players, coaches,
and team executives. Additionally, CBS RADIO Miami will promote Dolphins
community and foundation initiatives across multiple platforms.