radio

With a killer hurricane approaching fast, the right-wing provocateur chose to bash TV stations for their weather coverage and suggest to his listeners that the threat of Irma was being overblown. This was right before he fled his Florida studio. You would think the man never sat in front of a live microphone before.

At radio giant Cumulus Media, things have gone from bad to worse. A quick look at the stock price tells the tale. When former Chief Executive Lew Dickey exited in September 2015, the stock was already an anemic $5.45. On Friday, Cumulus shares closed at 52 cents.

MeTV FM’s mix of music that has been on the air in Chicago since 2015, will be syndicated to stations beginning next month.

On his No Spin News podcast Tuesday, Bill O’Reilly announced he’ll be joining Glenn Beck this Friday and “every Friday until Beck gets tired of me,” on Beck’s radio show.

At the same time, over-the-air remains steady in 2016, according to BIA/Kelsey. The news/talk category bumps higher for the year, as Hubbard’s WTOP-FM Washington retains the lead spot among the top 10 revenue generators.

CBS Radio — the operation that launched the entertainment company in 1927 — is about to have a new owner: It has a deal to merge the radio business into Entercom Communications, creating a company with 224 stations accross the U.S., including 23 of the 25 biggest markets.

Spending has increased on political ads on the radio, which may be more effective at targeting a candidate’s intended audience, some strategists say. Television viewers can tune out, and online audiences can scroll by or click “Skip this ad.” But radio listeners, stuck in their cars for long stretches, may be the closest thing to a captive audience for political commercials.

Christian radio broadcaster K-LOVE’s new app eschews audio for discussion forums, gamified elements and weekly “challenges” geared at creating a stickier experience that rewards frequent visits and promotes grassroots marketing.