Hooping for LPFM
Today the Prometheus Radio Project is leading a circus-themed protest in front of the National Association of Broadcasters. Urging supporters to “bring juggling pins, unicycles, tricks, and costumes,” participants will be celebrating low-power FM while chiding the NAB for its dishonest campaign to get Senate republicans to put holds on the Local Community Radio Act. […]
Howard Stern is staying with Sirius for another five years
So much for the drama. Howard Stern announced this morning that he signed a new five-year contract with Sirius satellite radio, ending a protracted negotiation. He did not indicate how much the contract is for, only saying that it is “very fair.” The end of this contract will be a different sort of drama since […]
Paul’s Recommended Radios for Holiday Gifty Time
Radios make great gifts, especially for someone who is dedicated listener. Whether your favorite listener is into all-news, NPR, talk, college, community, music or even shortwave, a nice radio can really enhance the listening experience. I own and use all of the radios I’m recommending here, so my comments on each one come from actual […]
Is Howard Stern still worth $100 million a year? He thinks so.
Tuesday morning on his radio program Howard Stern reportedly discussed his ongoing contract negotiations with Sirius satellite radio, announcing that, “I am not taking a f—ing paycut.” His tirade was in response to comments made by Sirius CFO David Frear at a UBS investor conference where he hinted that a new contract with Stern might […]
Free Speech Radio News: help it or lose it
Free Speech Radio News, the independent progressive news service heavily relied on by 114 community based radio stations, has posted an appeal to all its supporters. Send financial assistance now or the show will suspend production on December 21. “This is the situation,” FSRN writes: The majority of FSRN’s income comes from the Pacifica network, […]
NAB still using misinformation to defeat low-power radio expansion
The National Association of Broadcasters has never been a friend to low-power community radio. Back in 2000, when the FCC first created the service, the NAB did everything it could to try and keep it from becoming a reality. While the broadcast lobby failed to stop it outright, the NAB did succeed in getting Congress […]
Radio as Survival Tool in Sudan
Although many of us are fixated on radio crises in the United States, from stations getting shut down to favored radio hosts being fired, to college radio stations getting sold off; it’s rare that we talk about the important role that radio can play in keeping citizens informed and engaged. As I wrote in my […]
Classical, jazz, and world music on public radio declined by up to 30% over last decade
A survey of 505 public radio stations from 2001 through 2010 indicates that a fifth of them abandoned classical music formats during those years. Many also let go of jazz, and even more discarded world music during the same time period. The statistics were submitted to the Federal Communications Commission by National Public Radio in […]
Media tweek: Should Rush Limbaugh’s supporters be allowed to vote?
Should Rush Limbaugh’s supporters be allowed to vote? Given the amazingly mean spirited and stupid things Limbaugh says, should the dittoheads who mindlessly applaud him receive the franchise? Could you imagine the elevated difference in the political makeup of this country if they didn’t? For example, on December 3, Limbaugh noted that hundreds of unemployed […]
Congressman: Rush Limbaugh wants to extend tax breaks for himself
As Capitol Hill debates whether to extend the Bush era tax cut for millionaires, Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL) pushed back on prominent talk radio hosts in favor of the provision, especially Rush Limbaugh. “They tell us that extending the tax cuts for the rich will somehow create jobs,” declared Grayson on the floor of the […]