US

Taylor Swift didn’t even seem interested in having the Song of the Summer for many years. It could have happened more than a decade ago, but “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “Shake It Off” were both released in mid-August, back when that was a more-regular superstar strategy to prepare for Q4 sales. […] […]

Bustos Media and Gusar Telecomunicaciones have partnered to launch Bustos’ Spanish Rhythmic “Urbana” brand on Gusar’s 104.3 XHAZE-FM Nogales, Sonora. XHAZE-FM had previously been Grupera “La Sonora de Nogales”. It will continue with its morning news segments Con Valor and Con Verdad and El Intermedio hosted by Enrique Gomez. The remainder of the programming will […] […]

Cumulus Media Hot AC “Q105.5” WQQO Sylvania/Toledo OH made the move to 90s/2000s Hits on Friday, September 1. Like sister “Hot 93.3” KLIF-FM Dallas, WQQO is still featuring a small handful of currents and recurrents. WQQO had a 2.2 share in the July 2023 Nielsen Audio ratings well behind iHeartMedia CHR “92.5 Kiss-FM” WVKS’s 8.1 […] […]

Key Networks has announced it will take over ad sales for Bernadette Productions’s weekly “The House of Hair with Dee Snider” and “Daily House of HairCut”. Key Networks, a next generation radio syndication company, announces that Bernadette Productions, a broadcast radio entertainment company specializing in Rock music programs, has selected Key Networks to manage ad […] […]

License Cancellations
For the Love of the Game Broadcasting has turned in the licenses of Classic Country 1330 KSWA Graham and Conservative Talk 1430 KROO Breckenridge TX. Owner Terry Slavins told the FCC, “Effective August 29, 2023 I have made the difficult decision to turn off KSWA-AM and KROO-AM. Due to the continued rising expenses to operate and the limited availability of revenue it is not financially feasible to operate these rural AM stations.”

FCC Actions
The FCC has launched FCCFees.com allowing licensees to look up their regulatory fees owed for the 2023 fiscal year. Those fees are due to be paid by September 20, 2023, to avoid a 25% late payment penalty and interest due. Requests for waivers or reductions must be received by September 20 as well with supplemental financial documents proving financial hardship must be received by January 31.

The rule changes allowing the fourteen LPTV allocations on channel 6 given permission to operate on 87.7 as an FM station without an STA will take effect on September 28. Requirements of the stations to maintain online public files, notify the FCC of their intent to continue FM operations, provide FM operational parameters, and notify the FCC of any changes to their operational parameters still await approval from the Office of Management and Budget. The notice also reminds WVOA-LD Westvale/Syracuse NY that it has until December 22 to commence FM operations.

WorthRome LLC’s Rock “K-Hitz” 1430 KVHZ Wasilla/107.1 K296FP Willow Creek AK has entered into a Consent Decree and will pay a $4000 fine (with potential to be increased to $7000) for multiple violations. Between September 29, 2021 when the company acquired the stations and the end of its license term on February 1, 2022, responses to FCC inquiries proved that KVHZ had been off-the-air approximately 18 days within approximately eight periods, the translator continued to operate during those periods, there were two additional periods when WVHZ at reduced power due to transmitter issues, but no STA’s were filed for anything until April 18, 2022 after the FCC’s first inquiry to the station.

Silent Notifications
Langer Broadcasting Group’s 650 WSRO Ashland MA (Death of owner)
Langer Broadcasting Group’s 1410 WZBR Dedham MA (Death of owner)
Holmes County Broadcasting Company’s 1000 WXTN Benton MS (Technical problems)
97.5 Licensee TX’s 920 KQBU El Paso TX (Moving antenna to build CP)

FM Changes
Three Iowa stations propose contingent moves. […]

Grant County Broadcasters has flipped “Classic Country 106.7” WNKR Williamstown KY to Oldies “106.7 The Oasis“. The flip comes as Grant County Broadcasters prepares to sell 105.9 WNKN Middletown OH/Cincinnati to Relevant Radio for $4.5 million. WNKN had previously dropped its Classic Country format for “The Oasis” in July 2022. The brand focuses on music […] […]