Industry News

AudioScience has a heads-up for customers that use CobraNet: It’s time to say goodbye.

The company wrote in an email to clients, “We have been notified of the end-of-life date of the Cirrus Logic chip, the main component needed for CobraNet, with the option to make a last-time purchase. AudioScience is asking all CobraNet customers to place a last-time purchase. We ask for your assistance to ensure we are able to cover the quantities your company requires.”

The company said affected users should send purchase orders covering outstanding quotes, including spares for the rest of this year. “If you have longer-term contract commitments for CobraNet product support, these quantities should also be added/included in this purchase.”

CobraNet is a technology from Cirrus Logic that provides distribution of isochronous digital audio, control and monitoring data over Ethernet. It operates at the Data Link Layer, also referred to as OSI Layer 2 or MAC layer.

According to its website, AudioScience developed a variety of CobraNet sound cards and standalone CobraNet interfaces.

The post AudioScience Notes “End of Life” for CobraNet appeared first on Radio World.

LOS ANGELES — It’s known as one of the few live audio streaming platforms to offer direct access to radio stations across the globe. Now, it is augmenting its already rich array of Spanish-language content from across Iberoamérica with the addition of radio stations tied to one of Mexico’s largest spoken word radio broadcasting companies and the regional Mexican-formatted stations held by a U.S. multimedia company based in Southern California.

TuneIn has inked partnerships with Estrella Media and with Grupo Fórmula, respectively.

For Estrella Media, known for such radio brands as “Qué Buena” in L.A., TuneIn will help expand the company’s revenue opportunities by reselling instream advertising outside of the local markets of Estrella Media’s 11 stations, all of which are now on the TuneIn platform.

According to a recent RIAA study, which TuneIn cites, revenue from online radio based Latin content grew 24% in the first half of 2021, which has helped pave the way for TuneIn’s collaborations with Estrella Media and Grupo Fórmula.

“Both Estrella Media and Grupo Fórmula are market leaders in Spanish-language entertainment and news radio content,” TuneIn CEO Richard Stern says. “We are extremely pleased to be expanding our Spanish-language offerings to a new generation of Latin radio fans and listeners around the world through the TuneIn platform. We’re also thrilled to help Estrella Media’s local stations increase monetization outside of their local markets as an added benefit of our partnership.”

René Santaella, EVP of Digital & Streaming at Estrella Media, adds, “Our partnership with TuneIn amplifies our popular shows like Don Cheto Al Aire and our Regional Mexican music stations by being available for free on all streaming platforms including the rapidly growing smart speaker and auto markets. It is a great pairing of our programming expertise with TuneIn’s scale and innovative distribution.”

Isaid Mera, Digital Manager for Grupo Fórmula, comments that the partnership with TuneIn represents an opportunity for the company to amplify the reach of our content and to increase profit for our clients. “We live in a hyperconnected world where we have access to much information, that’s why we need serious and trusted sources,” he says. “Grupo Fórmula achieved our goal of ‘Keep Mexico Well Informed’ by using our multi-platform presence and adding alliances with other important organizations who can help us in moving forward. Here is where TuneIn plays an important role as it lets us reach listeners during all moments of their days.”

Until one week ago, Beasley Media Group stock hovered near the $2 mark, with small fluctuations seen across much of December 2021 and into the first half of January 2022.

This seemed to be a stabilization point for the company’s shares, which began a downtrend to start the fourth quarter of 2021. With Beasley poised to release its Q4 and full-year 2021 fiscal results within the next 2 weeks, BBGI is showing particular weakness on the Nasdaq market. As of midday Wednesday, a new 52-week low is taking shape.

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The CFO Summit, Media Financial Management Association’s (MFM’s) “signature winter event” designed to help the media industry’s financial leaders prepare for the challenges ahead, will return to an in-person experience for 2022.

Additionally, MFM has selected co-chairs and agenda for the annual summit, which will once again be held at the Grand Pelican Resort in Ft. Lauderdale.

The dates of the event at the boutique beachfront hotel on A1A are March 3-4, 2022.

The 2022 CFO Summit co-chairs are Andre Alexander, CFO of GBH; Virginia Hernandez, CFO of Trilith Studios; and Glenn Krieg, CFO of Morgan Murphy Media.

Now in its 16th year, MFM’s annual CFO Summit is an opportunity for senior media finance professionals to exchange thought leadership as they discuss ongoing and future issues facing the industry. The event features expert speakers from across the media landscape who will share best practices and lead in-depth discussions on a range of topics of importance to high-level financial professionals in the media industry.

The sessions in the two-day summit include:

• A keynote address from Jonathan Kozy, Managing Director and Senior Macro Strategy Analyst for the Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Bank of America Corporation
• Cybersecurity and Data Breach with speakers Robert Schechter, principal of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, and James G. Mottola, MS, CPP, CISM, Vice President – Data Privacy, Investigations and Security, Porzio Compliance Services, LLC
• Payment Trends with Kevin Outram, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan; and Steve Bernstein, Executive Director at J.P. Morgan
• A state of the industry presented by Mark Fratrik, SVP & Chief Economist, BIA Kelsey

“As the media industry – and it particular its financial leaders – continues to grapple with the repercussions of the ongoing pandemic, legal and political developments, and other business issues, companies must look to new strategies for growth,” said Dave Bochenek, Chair of MFM/BCCA’s Board of Directors. “The CFO Summit has long been known as the place for high-level media financial professionals to gather and share information vital to keeping their companies moving in the right direction. We’re excited that we can once again meet face to face to exchange ideas, network and be armed with new strategies and tools to effectively address what lies ahead.”

This MFM event is limited to senior financial professionals working for media companies. Attendees can obtain CPE credits over the 2-day summit. For additional details visit https://www.mediafinance.org/cfo-summit

Genelec’s Aural ID software is now available as a DAW plug-in, which the company says delivers a more reliable and headphone-listening experience, providing audio professionals the confidence to switch between monitors and headphones freely.

Using video footage supplied by the user via the free Aural ID Creator mobile app, Genelec will analyze the way the user’s head, external ear and upper body affect and color audio arriving from all directions. Unique to the individual, this effect is called the head-related transfer function (HRTF).

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ID’s cloud-based calculation engine then models the user’s head and upper torso to calculate their personal HRTF, and then renders audio in any direction within the Aural ID plug-in. The plug-in is available in VST, AAX and AU formats for integration into DAWs.

The Aural ID plug-in also allows users of Genelec Smart Active Monitors to import calibration files directly from Genelec GLM loudspeaker manager software.

Suitable for audio professionals, including those working remotely, according to the company, the Aural ID plug-in compensates for the sound coloration headphones can introduce.

The Aural ID plug-in is available directly from the Genelec Cloud platform via a cloud-based subscription service. For more information, visit www.genelec.com/aural-ID.

Send your new equipment news to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Genelec Personalizes Headphone Monitoring appeared first on Radio World.

Cumulus Media has made a series of promotions at its Rhode Island operations, elevating five individuals across its stations serving Providence and its surrounding communities. Among them: the appointment to a key programming post for a well-known industry veteran.

Now serving as Director of Music Programming for Adult Contemporary WWLI-FM “Lite 105,” heritage Top 40 WPRO-FM and rhythmic Top 40 WWKX “Hot 106” is Mary Ellen Kachinske. She was previously Operations Manager and Program Director of Lite 105.

Kachinske is well-known across the radio industry, as she spent eighteen years at WTMX-FM “101.9 The Mix” in Chicago, the Hubbard Radio Hot Adult Contemporary station that recently saw a change in its morning show following a period of instability tied to allegations of sexual misconduct and abusive behavior against longtime host Eric Ferguson.

Kachinske joined Cumulus/Providence in January 2020.

Before taking the WTMX role of Program Director some 20 years earlier, Kachinske was in Cleveland, serving as PD of WQAL “Q104.” She held that role for nearly 6 years, rising through the ranks over a tenure that began in fall 1987, when she joined WQAL as Traffic Director.

Holly Paras, Vice President/Market Manager for Cumulus in Providence, praised the Kent State University graduate. “When Mary Ellen Kachinske came to Providence in 2020, WWLI immediately benefited from her many years of broadcasting in larger markets. Elevating her to a position where she can oversee music programming for the entire cluster will allow all the stations to draw from her successes. In addition, the team of individuals working with Mary Ellen will provide the necessary support to succeed in the ever-changing landscape.”

Among the other moves at Cumulus/Providence, Nick Giuliano adds duties as Assistant Program Director of WPRO-FM. He will continue in his previous roles as an on-air talent in afternoons at WWKX, where he also serves as Asst. PD/MD.

Meanwhile, WPRO midday host Jess Schiano rises to Music Director and shifts to afternoons. Succeeding her in middays is J Buff, who will continue to produce the station’s Giovanni and Kim Show, its wake-up program.

Lastly, Heather Gersten is now MD for Lite 105, adding the role to her Asst. PD duties.

Cumulus Media owns and operates five radio stations in Providence: WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM (News/Talk); WPRV-AM/AM 790 Talk & Business (News/Talk); WPRO-FM/92PRO-FM (CHR); WWKX-FM/Hot 106 (Rhythmic CHR); and WWLI-FM/Lite 105 (AC).

For 22 years, he’s been a top programmer and Brand Manager for stations such as legendary News/Talker KMOX. Now, this Brand Manager is being promoted to Operations Manager for Audacy Corp.‘s St. Louis six-pack of radio stations.

Steve Moore will now oversee Adult Contemporary KEZK-FM, Hot Adult Contemporary KYKY “Y98,” Talker KFTK-FM 97.1, R&B WHHL-FM “Hot 104.1,” Adult Hits WFUN “96.3 The Lou,” and the aforementioned KMOX, which has a nighttime signal bigger than no other in the USA and an FM translator to help attract audiences in St. Louis who do not consume AM radio.

“I am beyond delighted to have Steve ascend into this new role,” said Becky Domyan, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for Audacy in St. Louis. “He has been so instrumental in building operational alignment, collaboration, and synergy across our St. Louis footprint. I am looking forward to Steve helping us continue to grow our incredible brands.”

“I couldn’t be more excited for this new opportunity,” Moore commented. “I appreciate the trust that Becky Domyan and Audacy have shown me and I’m looking forward to working more closely with Derrick, Leo and the talented broadcasters on these incredible music stations.”

Moore officially rises from Operations Director, a role given to him in November 2017 following the merger of CBS Radio with Audacy (then Entercom).

This article is part of our Buyer’s Guide feature on telco and talk show products for radio.

Glory Communications has been using the Broadcast Bionics Caller One talk show system since 2020 at urban inspirational station WFMV(AM) in Cayce, S.C., and the Worship and Word Network, which serves a large portion of South Carolina.

Caller One is a software talk show system that runs on a PC, webRTC and SIP Voice over IP technology to route calls to air without dedicated hardware. It was designed with smaller studios in mind.

Tony “Gee” Green, program director of WFMV and vice president of programming for Glory Communications, said installation and integration was easy. “It’s also a telephone interface that is very easy to learn and use.”

For WFMV, Caller One is used in a variety of ways, he said. “Since it’s a digital application, it has a superior sound for on-site remote broadcast. It’s also used, now more than ever due to COVID-19, as a platform for advertisers both for recording commercial content as well as live programs.”

It’s used to provide audio for artist interviews and for daily interactions with the station’s listening audience.

“As for the Worship and Word Network, its primary use is for talk show interviews and listener interactions. It’s an excellent application for the talk format because it offers you the opportunity to use more than one line at a time. Callers can not only call in to the host but they can hold conversations with each other or a remote host.” Broadcasters General Store is the U.S. dealer for the product.

Info: www.bionics.co.uk, www.bgs.cc

The post Caller One Goes for the Glory appeared first on Radio World.

National radio programming provider United Stations has signed an agreement to sell national network commercial time for the team at KRS Audio Productions and their “Country Music Countdown” package.

The deal is effective immediately.

KRS Audio Productions is the radio group formed by Ken Halford, Roger Ramsey and Shawn Studer, who handle the production and affiliation for Bob Kingsley’s long-running Country Countdown show.

The decision follows a summer 2021 decision by KRS Audio Productions to produce a new Top 30 Country Countdown in a “brown bag” format.

In commenting on the addition of KRS Audio Productions to the company’s ad sales portfolio, United Stations’ Greg Janoff commented, “Country remains the most prevalent format in U.S. Radio, and the KRS team know how to super-serve local stations in that format. We’re happy that we can now include the environment of their programming to our marketing partners.”

KRS Audio Productions’ Shawn Studer added, “The guys at United Stations recognized immediately what we are doing at KRS, and we appreciate their partnership as we roll out and grow our programming.”

United Stations Media Networks was founded in 1994 by the late Dick Clark and Nick Verbitsky.

ATSC 3.0-delivered next-generation TV signals, promising better sound and picture and improved reception, has been launched in the professional home — at least for today — of NFL star Aaron Rodgers.

Now offering NEXTGEN TV signals are five broadcast TV stations serving Green Bay, Wisc.

With BitPath coordinating the launch, as of January 25, 2022, local viewers with a NEXTGEN TV-capable set can watch ATSC 3.0-delivered signals for Gray Television-owned ABC affiliate WBAY-TV, CBS affiliate WFRV-TV, FOX affiliate WLUK-TV, NBC affiliate WGBA-TV and The CW Network affiliate for the northern Wisconsin market, WCWF-TV.

WCWF, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group as part of a duopoly with WLUK, is the lighthouse station for the market.

WFRV is owned by Nexstar; WGBA is a E.W. Scripps Co.-owned station.