Copyright Office Opens Formal Inquiry Into Music Streaming Fraud
The U.S. Copyright Office is seeking evidence on bot farms, artificial intelligence, royalty diversion and potential legal or regulatory responses to music streaming fraud.
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Michael Smith Gets 18 Months in Prison for $8 Million Streaming Fraud
Michael Smith was sentenced October 6 to 18 months in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $8 million after pleading guilty in an AI-assisted music-streaming fraud case.
Read MoreK-LOVE Completes $2 Million San Jose FM Purchase; 94.5 Becomes KJNV
SAN JOSE, Calif. — K-LOVE Inc. has completed its reported $2 million acquisition of the 94.5 FM signal licensed to Gilroy, California, extending its nonprofit Christian radio operation into the San Jose market. The 44-kilowatt...
Read MoreJim Bakker, ‘PTL Club’ Televangelist, Dies at 86
Lori Bakker confirmed the television evangelist died October 5. The family’s announcement did not disclose a cause of death.
Read MoreFreddie Jackson, Voice of “You Are My Lady” and “Rock Me Tonight,” Dies
Freddie Jackson’s family announced his death October 6. The singer helped define adult R&B radio with “You Are My Lady” and “Rock Me Tonight.”
Read MoreNAB Names Erik Hellum Radio Board First Vice Chair; Dave Santrella Joins Board
Townsquare Media’s Erik Hellum and Salem Media Group’s Dave Santrella take NAB Radio Board leadership seats effective immediately.
Read MoreEmmy Awards Leave Broadcast Television for Prime Video in 2027
The Television Academy’s six-year deal with Amazon ends the Emmys’ seven-decade run on U.S. broadcast networks, while keeping the ceremony free to watch.
Read MoreParamount Completes Warner Bros. Discovery Takeover, Creating Skydance
Paramount has completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating Skydance and bringing CBS, CNN, HBO Max, Paramount+ and major film and sports operations under one company.
Read MoreAudio Treehouse Expands From Advertising Into Audio Acquisitions
Audio Treehouse is expanding its ambitions beyond advertising sales and into audio ownership, investment and operations. On October 5, former Nueva Network CEO José Villafañe and former TelevisaUnivision and Spanish Broadcasting...
Read MoreSupreme Court Leaves DirecTV Antitrust Case Against Nexstar Alive
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Nexstar Media Group’s appeal seeking to end DirecTV’s antitrust lawsuit over alleged coordination of television retransmission fees. The October 5 order leaves...
Read MoreFCC Releases Order Ending 39% National TV Ownership Cap
The FCC has released its order replacing the fixed 39% national television ownership ceiling with case-by-case public-interest review, opening the door to larger station-group combinations while legal challenges remain unresolved.
Read MoreDisney Licenses Disney+ and Studio Titles to Netflix
BURBANK, California — The Walt Disney Company has agreed to license a selection of movies and television programs to Netflix, including content made for Disney+ and titles tied to Disney’s broadcast and studio businesses. The...
Read MoreTony Romo Exits CBS Sports; J.J. Watt Stays on Lead NFL Team
NEW YORK — CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways, ending Romo’s nine-year run with the network and making J.J. Watt the continuing analyst on CBS’s lead National Football League broadcast team. CBS confirmed...
Read MoreWIN Sets October 9 End for Network 10 Broadcasts in Three Regional Markets
GRIFFITH, New South Wales — WIN Television will stop carrying Network 10, 10 Drama and 10 Comedy in Griffith and two South Australian markets — the Riverland and Mount Gambier — after final broadcasts on Friday, October 9. WIN...
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Independent Mix Country 106 Ends Its 24/7 Stream—but Keeps the Brand Alive On Demand
KMXC–Mix Country 106 has ended continuous Internet broadcasting and moved its interviews, podcasts and station history into an on-demand archive.
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When Does Internet Radio Become Interactive Streaming? Pandora’s Royalty Fight Heads Toward Trial
A federal judge declined to end the Mechanical Licensing Collective’s royalty lawsuit against Pandora, leaving a trial to examine whether Pandora Free’s on-demand features make the service interactive.
Read MoreJohn Goforth Named President of Hubbard’s Gamut Podcast Network
Hubbard has named John Goforth president of Gamut Podcast Network, effective immediately. Goforth has led Gamut since 2024 and continues overseeing content, sales and growth. The company says revenue increased 47% over two years and its portfolio includes more than 250 national and local shows. Those are company-reported figures. The promotion does not come with an announced immediate staffing change or a detailed change to his day-to-day responsibilities.
Read MoreScott Davidson Returns to Sunny 101.7 in Canton After June Exit
CANTON, Ohio — Scott Davidson has returned to middays on iHeartMedia’s WHOF/Sunny 101.7 and weekend work on WMJI/Majic 105.7 in Cleveland after leaving during the company’s June reductions. His return marks a third stint at WHOF. The confirmed assignments restore music-radio roles, but the cited report does not establish that his previous iHeart Sports Network or WTAM duties are returning. The company’s reasons for bringing him back were not detailed.
Read MoreAri Hoffman Moves to Morning Drive at Seattle’s 570 KVI
SEATTLE, Washington — Ari Hoffman is moving from afternoons to the weekday 6–9 a.m. slot at 570 KVI as Lotus Seattle revises the station’s lineup. The locally hosted program replaces Fox News Radio programming in that period. The Brian Kilmeade Show moves to 9 p.m.–midnight. Zach Wildfang will serve as executive producer while retaining his role as Lotus Seattle’s digital content manager. The reported announcement does not explain the business reasons behind the daypart change.
Read MoreJeff Pohjola Named News and Programming Director at Northwest Newsradio
SEATTLE, Washington — Lotus Seattle has appointed Jeff Pohjola director of news and programming at Northwest Newsradio, effective immediately, after four months in the role on an interim basis. He will oversee newsroom operations and programming strategy. Kevin Dodrill adds assistant program director responsibilities while remaining program director of sister station KVI. The appointment accompanies a midday schedule change adding Bloomberg Radio from 10 a.m. to noon and The Ramsey Show from noon to 2 p.m. The announcement does not establish whether Pohjola’s reporting and podcast duties will change.
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