Paramount Global is reportedly considering removing longtime CEO Bob Bakish and replacing him with a group of executives as the entertainment giant inches closer to a deal with Skydance Media.
The Wall Street Journal reports, Bakish, who has been privately critical of the company’s talks to merge with Skydance, would be replaced on an interim basis with an “Office of the CEO,” comprised of the company’s division heads.
Bob Bakish
No decision has been made about Bakish’s future, however, and he may remain in place, but the speculation comes at a pivotal time for the conglomerate, which is controlled by media heiress Shari Redstone through her family business National Amusements. Paramount — home to Showtime, CBS, MTV, movie studio Paramount Pictures, and the streaming service Paramount+ — has been hammering out details for a merger with Skydance that it hopes to finalize next month.
But Redstone and some of the board members have “soured” on Bakish, questioning whether the CEO pursued strategic opportunities for the company “aggressively enough,” including a potential sale of the Showtime channel.
Spokespeople for the Paramount Global special committee, Paramount Global, and Skydance declined to comment. Bakish, who had been viewed as Redstone’s right hand, was named CEO of Viacom in 2016. He was elevated to the top job after the daughter of the late Sumner Redstone merged the company with CBS in 2019.
Shari Redstone
Bakish’s critics pointed to Paramount’s eroding TV business, loss-making streaming business, and debt-laden balance sheet. Redstone has blamed Bakish for the company’s overall predicament and what she views as missed chances to strike sound deals.
People close to Redstone said the mogul was open to selling premium channel Showtime, home to “Billions,” “Dexter,” and “Yellowjackets,” but that Bakish turned down bids — even rejecting a $3 billion offer from former Showtime CEO David Nevins last year.
Instead, Bakish folded Showtime and its content into Paramount+. Bakish supporters beg to differ, saying that the exec put the company on the map with streaming via its Paramount+ launch, acquisition of Pluto TV (an ad-supported TV streaming service), as well as maintaining CBS’s strong industry position, among other things.
Paramount’s market value has plunged to $8.4 billion from $25.3 billion in 2019. Removing Bakish could add more chaos to an already turbulent time for Paramount as it explores the deal to merge with Skydance, run by David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
President Biden said on Friday that he would participate in a general-election debate with former President Donald J. Trump, a striking shift after months in which he and his campaign declined to commit to appearing onstage with his Republican rival.
Biden’s announcement, made in response to a question from the radio host Howard Stern on SiriusXM, comes after pressure from television networks and Trump’s campaign for the president to agree to participate in debates.
When Stern asked Mr. Biden if he would debate Trump, the president replied: “I am, somewhere, I don’t know when, but I am happy to debate him.”
Biden’s remarks appeared to be off the cuff, rather than a planned announcement of a shift in his campaign’s strategy, according to a top Democratic official familiar with its thinking. The Biden campaign directed questions on Friday about whether its stance on debates had changed to Biden’s comments on the Stern program.
On Stern's Show Friday, Biden made the following claims...
On Howard Stern's show today, Biden claimed...
- He saved 6 people from drowning as a lifeguard (Lie) - He received "salacious pictures" from women in the 70s that he handed to Secret Service (Definitely a lie and senators don't have secret service protection) - That he was… pic.twitter.com/1SKlIAT88i
This month, the five major TV news networks and The Associated Press wrote an unusual letter to the Biden and Trump campaigns urging them to debate. Some of Mr. Biden’s top aides and closest advisers have been longtime critics of the presidential debate system, which is organized by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.
➦In 1791...Samuel Morse was born Samuel Finley Breese Morse (Died – April 2, 1872). He was an American painter and inventor.
After having established his reputation as a portrait painter, in his middle age Morse contributed to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs. He was a co-developer of the Morse code, and helped to develop the commercial use of telegraphy.
In 1825 New York City had commissioned Morse to paint a portrait of Lafayette in Washington, DC. While Morse was painting, a horse messenger delivered a letter from his father that read, "Your dear wife is convalescent".
The next day he received a letter from his father detailing his wife's sudden death. Morse immediately left Washington for his home at New Haven. By the time he arrived, his wife had already been buried. Heartbroken that for days he was unaware of his wife's failing health and her death, he decided to explore a means of rapid long distance communication.
While returning by ship from Europe in 1832, Morse encountered Charles Thomas Jackson of Boston, a man who was well schooled in electromagnetism. Witnessing various experiments with Jackson's electromagnet, Morse developed the concept of a single-wire telegraph. The original Morse telegraph, submitted with his patent application, is part of the collections of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. In time the Morse code, which he developed, would become the primary language of telegraphy in the world. It is still the standard for rhythmic transmission of data.
➦In 1927..In Pacific Coast Biscuit Company launched KPCB in 1927 from Seattle. Queen City Broadcasting took over the station in 1935, changing the call letters to the KIRO. The station boosted its signal to 1,000 watts in 1937, and CBS soon moved its Seattle affiliation to KIRO. On June 29, 1941, KIRO's new 50,000-Watt transmitter on Maury Island became operational.
During the radio’s golden age in the 1940s and 1950s, KIRO recorded countless hours of CBS programming for time-delayed broadcast. Many of these discs are the only extant recordings of CBS’ news coverage of World War 2, according to Faded Signals.
Bonneville International purchased KIRO-AM-FM-TV in 1964. By this time, KIRO-AM was carrying a full-service format of news, talk and middle-of-the-road music. In 1973, it dropped CBS and affiliated with Mutual. The station became “KIRO Newsradio 71” in 1974, replacing most music programming with news and talk. The station spent the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s at the top of Seattle’s radio ratings.
On August 12, 2008, KIRO began simulcasting their programming on sister station KBSG-FM, which dropped their long-running classic hits format. This began the transition of KIRO Newsradio from AM to FM. To complete the transition, KIRO switched to a sports radio format (as 710 ESPN Seattle) on April 1, 2009, and began carrying Seattle Mariners games, beginning in the 2009 season. KIRO also simulcasts the Seattle Seahawks games with KIRO-FM, and has extensive team-related programming throughout the year. KIRO-FM continues the news/talk format.
Bonneville sold KIRO-TV to Belo in 1995 and then sold KIRO-AM-FM to Entercom. Bonneville bought back the stations in 2007.
➦In 1932...Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem born in Detroit (Died at age 82 – June 15, 2014). He was the host of several music radio countdown programs, notably American Top 40 from 1970 until his retirement in 2009. He also provided the voice of Norville "Shaggy" Rogers in the Scooby-Doo franchise from 1969 to 1997, and again from 2002 until 2009.
In the 1940s, "Make Believe Ballroom" reportedly inspired Kasem to follow a career in radio and later host a national radio hits countdown show. Kasem received his first experience in radio covering sports at Northwestern High School in Detroit. He then attended Wayne State University, where he voiced children on radio programs such as The Lone Ranger and Challenge of the Yukon. In 1952, Kasem was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Korea. There, he worked as a DJ/announcer on the Armed Forces Radio Korea Network.
After the war, Kasem began his professional broadcasting career in Flint, Michigan. From there, he spent time in Detroit as a disc jockey for radio station WJBK-AM, WBNY in Buffalo, New York and a station in Cleveland before moving to California. At KYA in San Francisco, the general manager suggested that he tone down his delivery and talk about the records instead. At KEWB in Oakland, California, Kasem was both the music director and an on-air personality. He created a show that mixed in biographical tidbits about the artists and songs he played, and attracted the attention of Bill Gavin, who tried to recruit him as a partner. After Kasem joined KRLA in Los Angeles in 1963, his career began to blossom and he championed the R&B music of East L.A.
Kasem earned roles in a number of low-budget movies and acted in radio dramas. While hosting "dance hops" on local television, he attracted the attention of Dick Clark, who hired him as co-host of a daily teenage music show called Shebang, starting in 1964.
Casey Kasem on 1110 KRLA
Kasem's voice was the key to his career. At the end of the 1960s, he began working as a voice actor. In 1969, he started one of his most famous roles, the voice of Shaggy on Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! He also voiced the drummer Groove from The Cattanooga Cats that year.
Kasem co-founded the American Top 40 franchise in 1970, hosting it from its inception to 1988, and again from 1998 to 2004. Between January 1989 and early 1998, he was the host of Casey's Top 40, Casey's Hot 20 and Casey's Countdown. From 1998 to 2009, Kasem also hosted two adult contemporary spin-offs of American Top 40: American Top 20 and American Top 10. He helped found the American Video Awards in 1983 and continued to co-produce and host it until its final show in 1987.
Between January 1989 and early 1998, he was the host of Casey's Top 40, Casey's Hot 20, and Casey's Countdown. Also beginning in 1998 Kasem hosted two adult contemporary spinoffs of American Top 40, American Top 20 and American Top 10. Kasem retired from AT20 and AT10 on July 4, 2009 and both shows ended on that day.
In October 2013, Kerri Kasem said her father was suffering from Parkinson's disease, which a doctor had diagnosed in 2007; a few months later, she said he was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, which is often difficult to differentiate from Parkinson's. Due to his condition, he was no longer able to speak during his final months.
On June 15, 2014, Kasem died at St. Anthony's Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington at the age of 82.
➦In 1965...the legendary CBS journalist & news executive Edward R Murrow, succumbed to lung cancer at age 57.
➦In 2008...Radio Personality Big Ron O'Brien died from complications of pneumonia at age 57.
O'Brien grew up in Des Moines, IA, and worked at the high school radio station. Ron worked at KBAB in Indianola, IOWA and then in May of 1970, he arrived at KUDL (1380 AM) where he did the 6 PM to 10 PM shift. KUDL-FM (98.1 now KMBZ-FM) was automated with a MOR format but did simulcust KUDL-AM at 9 each night. Ron left KUDL to go back to Des Moines (his hometown) in February of 1971 where he did afternoons at KYNA-FM.
During the ensuing years,he worked for many stations, including KTLK in Denver, WCAR in Detroit, WQXI in Atlanta, WCFL (now WMVP) in Chicago, WOKY in Milwaukee, WFIL in Philadelphia, KFI and KIIS in Los Angeles, KWK (now WARH) in St. Louis (where he stayed for nine years), KZDG in Denver, WYXR (which became WLCE during his tenure and is now WRFF) in Philadelphia, WNBC (now WFAN) and WXLO (now WRKS) in New York, WPGC in Washington, D.C., and WRKO in Boston.
Big Ron had been the host of the syndicated radio program "On the Radio" from 1985 until 1992. WOGL 98.1 FM in Philadelphia was his employer for the final six years of his life.
Ace Frehley is 73
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Anouk Aimee (“A Man and a Woman”) is 92.
Singer Kate Pierson of The B-52′s is 76.
Singer Herbie Murrell of The Stylistics is 75.
Actor Douglas Sheehan (“Knots Landing”) is 75.
Guitarist Ace Frehley (Kiss) is 73.
Singer Sheena Easton is 65.
Actor James Le Gros (“Ally McBeal”) is 62.
Bassist Rob Squires of Big Head Todd and the Monsters is 59.
Singer Mica Paris is 55.
Actor David Lascher (“Sabrina, The Teenage Witch”) is 52.
Actor Maura West (“General Hospital”) is 52.
Actor Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water”) is 48.
Drummer Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket is 46.
Singer Jim James of My Morning Jacket is 46.
Singer Travis Meeks (Days of the New) is 45.
Bassist Joseph Pope III of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats is 45.
Guitarist John Osborne of Brothers Osborne is 42.
Actor Francis Capra (“Veronica Mars”) is 41.
Actor Ari Graynor (“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”) is 41.
Singer-guitarist Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy is 40.
Actor Sheila Vand (“24: Legacy”) is 39.
Actor Jenna Coleman (“Victoria,” ″Doctor Who”) is 38.
Singer Nick Noonan of Karmin is 38.
Actor William Moseley (“The Chronicles of Narnia”) is 37.
Singer Lizzo is 36. Actor Emily Rios (“Breaking Bad”) is 35.
✞REMEMBRANCES
In 1965..Edward R. Murrow, American newscaster (Person to Person), dies at 57
In 1982..Tom Tully, American radio, stage, and screen actor (The Caine Mutiny; Shane), dies at 73
In 1999..Al Hirt, American jazz trumpeter (Greatest Horn in the World), dies of liver failure at 76
In 2000..Vicki Sue Robinson, American stage and screen actress, and pop singer ("Turn the Beat Around"), dies of cancer at 45
In 2015..Suzanne Crough, American child actress (The Partridge Family), dies at 52
In 2023..Jerry Springer, German-American politician (Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1977), and television tabloid talk show host (Jerry Springer, 1991-2018), dies of pancreatic cancer at 79
Paramount Global and Skydance Media are reportedly making significant strides toward a merger. The two media companies are actively working on a deal that would not only combine their forces but also involve the buyout of controlling shareholder Shari Redstone.
Here are the key details:
Valuation and Equity: Paramount Global’s special committee, along with David Ellison’s Skydance Media (supported by private equity firms KKR and RedBird Capital Partners), is currently focused on determining the value of Skydance’s assets as part of the merger. Additionally, discussions are underway regarding how much equity to inject into the company through recapitalization.
Agreement on Value: The sides are close to agreeing on a value for Skydance. The entertainment company is expected to be valued at approximately $5 billion and will merge with Paramount Global. To facilitate this, Ellison and the private equity firms plan to raise approximately $4.5 billion to $5 billion in new equity.
YouTube, the Google-owned video giant, continues to dominate the advertising landscape. In the first quarter of 2024, YouTube’s ad sales reached an impressive $8.1 billion, marking its highest Q1 total to date. This figure represents a 21% year-over-year increase in ad revenue. Notably, this amount doesn’t even include subscription revenue generated by YouTube.
Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, reported overall revenue of $80.54 billion, a significant 15% growth, and net income of $23.66 billion (up 57%). These robust results exceeded Wall Street expectations, driving Alphabet’s stock up by 12% in after-hours trading.
YouTube creation has also seen a lift. “In 2023, more people created content on YouTube than ever before,” Phillip Schindler, chief business officer for Google, said on Alphabet’s earnings call.
Additionally, its YouTube Partner Program has paid out “more than any other creator monetization platform,” Schindler said. In the past three years, the creator monetization platform has paid over $70 billion to creators, artists and media companies.
Media Mogul Soo Kim has filed a lawsuit against the FCC, alleging racial discrimination.
The lawsuit stems from the FCC’s decision to derail an $8.6 billion deal to purchase Tegna Inc. Kim claims that he was not considered the “right type of minority” for the FCC’s diversity goals.
Soo Kim
Here are the key details: Soo Kim, is a Korean American raised in New York, and his company, Standard General, won a public bidding auction to buy Tegna and its 60-plus television stations in 2022.
Kim intended to install a female chief executive, and the transaction was poised to be a historic leap forward for both minority ownership and female leadership of broadcast stations.
FCC’s Decision: However, the FCC nixed the deal in favor of Black media tycoon Byron Allen. The complaint alleges that the FCC believed Allen’s black-owned company deserved greater solicitude than Kim’s Asian American-owned company.
Byron Allen
Racial Discrimination: Kim’s lawyers argue that the FCC’s diversity policies and practices did not consider being Asian as a factor. They assert that Kim’s race was used against him with pernicious stereotypes.
Equity and Fair Treatment: Kim seeks accountability and equitable treatment, emphasizing that every person appearing before the FCC deserves to be treated fairly.
Kim accused the FCC of dragging its feet by taking over 300 days to take action on Standard General’s license-transfer applications for the Tegna stations before the deal was "killed" without notice.
"Standard General was one of the largest shareholders, losing nearly $85 million based on its 10.6 million shares owned when the deal died," the complaint said. "The FCC chairwoman and her personal staffer blocked the deal at the behest of Mr. Allen, who used business allies and six-figure political donations to destroy Mr. Kim’s chances of acquiring TEGNA – to the tune of over $200 million in losses to Standard General and Mr. Kim and nearly $2 billion in losses to TEGNA shareholders."
Nielsen has released its sixth global Annual Marketing Report, revealing marketers’ priorities and plans to improve ROI in 2024 and beyond.
The report, which surveyed nearly 2,000 global marketers, found that marketers continue to view social media, search, online/mobile video, and online/mobile display as the most effective marketing channels for ROI, but could miss out on key revenue opportunities without a cross-media strategy and approach.
The 2024 Annual Marketing Report surveyed marketers on topics including budget allocations and spending optimism, brand building strategies, media balance, and overall confidence.
Some of the key findings globally include:
Marketer spending optimism is up in 2024: Despite the presence of inflation, consumer spending, and supply chain uncertainties as key planning considerations, 72% of global marketers expect bigger ad budgets this year, up from 64% on a year-on-year basis.
Marketer tactics may not drive top KPI results: Marketers’ top KPIs are long-term ROI and full-funnel ROI. At the same time, however, 70% of respondents plan to prioritize performance marketing over brand building initiatives. A shift to performance marketing, without supporting brand-building marketing, could limit long-term ROI and may cause brand decay.
The Federal Communications Commission Thursday proposed fines against seven pirate radio operators under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (PIRATE Act) for operating six pirate radio stations.
These pirate radio stations, investigated during the Enforcement Bureau’s sweep in the Boston area under the PIRATE Act, now face proposed fines totaling $857,775.
Pirate radio is an unauthorized transmission of radio signals on the frequencies in or adjacent to the FM and AM radio bands. Pirate radio operations pose public safety risks, including causing harmful interference to licensed radio stations which transmit public safety emergency alert messages. Operating a pirate radio station is illegal under the Communications Act of 1934 and subject to the FCC’s enhanced enforcement capabilities enacted by Congress in the PIRATE Act in 2020. Under the PIRATE Act, the FCC can fine pirate radio operators up to $119,555 per day and a maximum of $2,391,097, as adjusted for inflation.
The New York Times has issued a scorching statement, criticizing President Joe Biden for avoiding questions from independent journalists during his term.
The Times finds it troubling that Biden has actively and effectively sidestepped interviews with major news organizations.
They argue that this behavior not only undermines an important norm but also sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents to evade scrutiny and accountability.
The statement came following a report from Politico about escalating tensions between the Times and the White House.
New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger reportedly confronted Vice President Kamala Harris over Biden's decision to avoid interviews with major newspapers. After Sulzberger questioned Harris on why Biden had not done sit-down interviews with major newspapers, including his own, Harris told him to get in touch with the White House press office. She later "grumbled" to her aides, Politico reported, about the exchange being a waste of time.
Some on Biden's team believe the Times has not adequately covered the importance of the 2024 election, which they view as "a matter of democracy's survival," according to Politico Magazine's report on the tumultuous relationship between The White House and the paper.
The people closest to Biden reportedly see the newspaper as "arrogant," and reluctant to give the president "his due."
Slowing economic growth and firm inflation spells trouble for Wall Street. Gross domestic product expanded at a 1.6% seasonally- and inflation-adjusted annual rate in the first quarter the Commerce Department said. The pullback from last year’s quick pace lagged behind the 2.4% projected by WSJ-polled economists. The data also suggested inflation, using the Fed’s preferred gauge, was likely firmer than expected in March. That gives investors another reason to stop expecting the central bank to cut interest rates in the coming months.
Individual readings on growth and prices so far this year haven’t been enough to dramatically change the Fed’s outlook, but the cumulative effect has been notable. Investor concerns drove broad-based declines across U.S. stocks and government bonds.
NY Post 4/26/24
➤WEINSTEIN CONVICTION OVERTURNED: New York’s highest court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for sex crimes. The court, in a divided ruling, said that a trial judge committed fundamental errors, including admitting testimony that shouldn’t have been allowed. In a leading case of the #MeToo movement, jurors found the Hollywood producer guilty of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sex act for incidents with two women.
In a stunning reversal, Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction in New York has been overturned by the state’s highest court, citing "egregious errors." The case galvanized the #MeToo movement, which targeted celebrities' sexual misconduct. @EvaPilgrim reports. pic.twitter.com/K8aqIalN6R
Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison, isn’t a free man, though. In a separate case, a California jury convicted him in 2022 of rape and other offenses, earning him a 16-year prison sentence. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it will “do everything in our power to retry this case.” A Weinstein representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
➤SCOTUS SEEMS OPEN TO TRUMP IMMUNITY DEFENSE: The Supreme Court appeared open to some of Donald Trump’s immunity claims. The justices considered whether former presidents should be granted immunity from being prosecuted for alleged crimes committed while in office, and specifically whether Trump could be prosecuted on charges that he conspired to steal the 2020 presidential election. He denies any wrongdoing, but has argued that if he broke the law, the Constitution’s framers preferred to let a president get away with crimes than worry about the potential of future prosecution.
U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared to focus on a potential middle ground regarding presidential immunity as they heard arguments on whether former President Donald Trump should be granted immunity from prosecution on criminal charges of interfering in the 2020 presidential… pic.twitter.com/Ji7CPEqZst
The Supreme Court, which spent little time discussing the specifics of Trump’s case, signaled an interest in broadly protecting the presidency for the future. Any high court decision embracing that position could further delay or end Trump’s trial.
WATCH: @TulsiGabbard calls out MSNBC: "You look at the kind of stuff that Morning Joe says, they’ve never known a greater president, 'Joe Biden’s at the top of his game'. It’s become comical at this point, because the truth is staring us all in the face.” pic.twitter.com/xj89u5u5ZI
➤PECKER TALKS: David Pecker testified about deals to bury stories that could be damaging to Trump. Here's what he said. Longtime tabloid publisher David Pecker was questioned by the prosecution and cross-examined by Donald Trump's attorney in the former president’s criminal hush-money trial.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified again in court today, detailing the alleged scheme to quash negative stories about Trump and make up negative stories about his opponents during the 2016 presidential campaign. @VaughnHillyard reports. pic.twitter.com/ipWyAtYDwu
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) April 25, 2024
During the prosecution’s questioning on Thursday, the longtime tabloid publisher told jurors about the practice of buying stories that could be damaging to Trump and refusing to publish them. His testimony included references to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Saga Communications, which owns and operates Qfm96 (96.3), Rewind (103.5/104.3), Sunny 95 (94.7 WSNY), and Mix 107.9, is making some significant changes, and with those changes comes numerous lay-offs.
According to the 614Now.com website, Dino Tripodis and Stacy McKay, the talent behind Sunny 95’s morning show, Sunny This Morning, have both departed the station. Tripodis hosted this morning show from 1994 to 2018, then returned in 2021, totaling almost 27 years of experience at the station. McKay hosted alongside Tripodis for 13 years, then after a brief stint elsewhere, returned again in 2010 to spend almost 14 more years hosting Sunny This Morning.
News Director Clark Donley and producer Greg Hansberry have also been let go of their positions. Donley spent 31 years at this station, and Hansberry served as a producer from 2012-2014, then again starting in 2016.
These cuts also applied to ‘Miss Lisa’ Bryant, who was on-air in the afternoons on Sunny 95, and mornings on Classic Hits Rewind 103.5/104.3. Bryant joined WSNY in 2016, becoming popular
Last, but certainly not least to be let-go, is Andre Styles Friederich, who was the events director and host at Mix 107.9 WVMX Westerville. He spent 14 years with Saga and Mix 107.9, and he shared with 614Now that he’s absolutely shocked. “The amount of years, days, and hours I put in…It came as a big surprise,” he said.
Andre shared that Saga Communications told them that they were looking to go a “different route” and “do some restructuring within the building.” And unfortunately, that meant his event director position was eliminated, and he was told he would no longer be doing the morning show.
These radio station personalities have been ingrained in our community for decades, and the public seems sad to see them go. People took to social media to share their frustration. One person commented on Sunny 95’s Facebook, “If the rumors about Dino, Stacy, Clark & Greg are true, then I’m out. I didn’t listen for the music. I listened to the morning crew’s banter and Clark’s news…horrible decision…” Another person expressed, “What a slap in the face for loyal listeners. I’m done with everything Sunny 95. Wishing success for those let-go.”
Matt Malone, co-host of "Mornings with Deb, Kevin and Matt" on Country WFMS 95.5, reflects after someone fired shots toward his house this week.
Malone doesn't think he was the intended target. Even so, two days later, the sight of bullet holes in his home are unnerving.
Malone said he moved to a duplex a year and a half ago, because it was an affordable place to live. But he has decided to leave after what happened Tuesday night.
He shared the experience with his co-hosts and listeners Thursday morning.
"It was an experience I've never been through before," Malone said on the radio, playing for them the sound of gunfire captured on his Ring doorbell camera Tuesday.
Malone talked with 13News..
"I stepped out of my room towards the hallway. I started stepping on glass," he recalled. "That's when I found out that the bathroom window had been shot through."
When he went downstairs, Malone found bullet holes through his front door, which is made of steel and the outside glass door was shattered. The couch he sometimes works and falls asleep on was also shot up. The couch cushion where he usually lays his head had a bullet hole right through it.
"If I had worked like I normally do, that would have killed me and that's a hard thing to think about," Malone said.
When Malone looked at his doorbell camera, 20 minutes before the gunfire, video showed two people in ski masks walking around the duplex where Malone lives.
According to Malone, you can hear his neighbor yelling at them before they disappear off camera.
"Let's face it. We need Indianapolis and central Indiana to be safe and if my circumstances can help in any way to do that, I want to be a part of that solution," Malone said.
Even so, he's not taking any chances and has decided to move somewhere else. But Malone recognizes that not everyone who deals with gunfire where they live can do that.
During Thursday's webinar, Techsurvey 2023 revealed fascinating insights into the current state of radio, especially in the post-pandemic era. This annual survey, conducted by Jacobs Media, involves 434 radio stations and over 30,000 surveys from core radio listeners. Let’s delve into some key findings:
In-Car Rebound: Despite the rise of streaming services and podcasts, radio remains resilient in the car. The connected car continues to shape the media landscape, and radio holds its ground as a trusted companion during commutes.
AM Radio’s Fate: The future of AM radio has been a topic of discussion. While it faces challenges, it still resonates with certain audiences. Understanding its role and relevance is crucial for broadcasters.
Generational Listening: Younger generations, including Gen Z and Millennials, exhibit varied listening habits. Some embrace radio, while others explore alternative platforms. Radio professionals must adapt to these shifting preferences.
Smart Speakers: After a period of stagnation, smart speakers are making a comeback. Their impact on radio consumption is significant, and broadcasters need to leverage this trend.
Podcast Strategies: Radio stations can optimize their podcast strategies. As podcasting gains popularity, integrating it effectively can enhance overall engagement.
Radio Personalities: Personalities have taken the lead over music as the primary reason for tuning in to the radio. While melodies and beats still resonate with listeners, it’s the charisma, wit, and relatability of radio hosts that keep audiences engaged. These personalities weave stories, share insights, and create a sense of connection, making the radio experience more than just a playlist.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is accusing liberal billionaire George Soros of trying to fast-track his acquisition of a major radio company through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
"I write today regarding Soros Fund Management’s acquisition of over $400 million in debt held by Audacy — the second-largest broadcast radio station owner in the country. Of particular concern, the Soros groups are asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve a change in ownership in Audacy without the FCC running its normal, statutorily required process," Roy said in a letter.
"This transaction, which affects radio stations that reach millions of listeners across the U.S., including in Texas’ 21st congressional district, should — at minimum — be subject to rigorous FCC oversight to ensure U.S. radio stations are not subject to undue influence."
Chip Roy
Soros’ investment firm became the largest shareholder of Audacy last month, which owns local radio stations across the country. Audacy filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.
Soros Fund Management was involved in a similar corporate restructure last year when it was one of the companies that acquired Vice Media after its bankruptcy filing last year.
Now, however, Roy raised alarm over Audacy also requesting that federal officials grant it a temporary exemption to existing FCC rules that forbid foreign company ownership of U.S. radio stations to exceed a 25% share, which would normally slow down the approval process.
"But instead of going through the usual petition for declaratory ruling process, which would enable the FCC to review and assess those foreign ownership interests as part of its transaction review, the Soros group has asked the FCC to waive that process and put it off until sometime down the road — indicating that those foreign stakeholders will be given ‘special warrants’ in the meantime," Roy wrote.
"The Soros group says that skipping the foreign ownership review at this time will enable the FCC to expedite its approval of the Soros applications and thus allow them to more quickly realize their ownership interests in, and take the reins at, these hundreds of local radio stations across the country."
Roy told Fox News Digital that he heard from constituents who "reached out and raised issues and concerns about the extent to which it's very clear that Soros is, you know, making a move in the radio world.".
Meanwhile, The NY Post is reporting Soros is paying anti-Israel protestors . . . George Soros and his hard-left acolytes are paying agitators who are fueling the explosion of radical anti-Israel protests at colleges across the country.
The protests, which began when students took over Columbia University’s Morningside campus lawn last week, have mushroomed nationwide.
Copycat tent cities have been set up at colleges including Harvard, Yale, Berkeley in California, the Ohio State University and Emory in Georgia — all of them organized by branches of the Soros-funded Students for Justice in Palestine — and at some, students have clashed with police.
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