Emmis Fiscal Q4 Revenue Down 6%.  The Indianapolis-based company functions on a fiscal calendar and its 2015 fourth quarter ended on February 29 of this year.  Emmis Communications reports its radio net revenue was $36.4 million, down 6%.  For the full fiscal year of 2015, radio revenue was $169.2 million, compared to $176.3 million in the prior year, a decrease of 4%.  President and CEO Jeff Smulyan states, “Emmis’ fourth quarter was weak, mostly due to expected underperformance in Los Angeles.  The good news is our first quarter is much improved and currently pacing flat to the prior year.  New York’s performance has been stellar, ratings in LA have begun to grow again, and ratings across our other radio markets are very strong.  NextRadio is coming off a fantastic National Association of Broadcasters convention, and momentum is building.  At NAB, it was announced that PRSS, the distribution network for public radio, is being integrated into NextRadio.  Carrier and handset conversations are robust, and advertiser interest is high.  In addition, we will launch in our first international market, Peru, in the coming weeks.  I couldn’t be more pleased with the efforts of Paul Brenner and his team in bringing NextRadio to our industry and to listeners everywhere.”

Salem Media Group Broadcast Revenue Rises 4.2%.  It was a quarter of increases all the way around for Salem Media Group.  Its total revenue increased 4.4%.  The broadcast segment saw revenue rise 4.2%.  Digital media was up 4.6% and publishing revenue increased 6.5%.  CEO Ed Atsinger says the 4.2% broadcast sector increase “compares favorably to the market generally which was up about 1.7% at least in the markets in which we operate according to Miller Kaplan.  Our block programming had another solid quarter, up 7.1%, local spot revenue grew 3.6%, network revenue grew by 16.7%. And geographically, we had a strong market performance in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, while facing some weakness in the Dallas market.”

Radio One Reports First Quarter Revenue Hike of 3.1%.  Company president and CEO Alfred Liggins III says the good first quarter news is continuing into the second quarter.  For Q1 of 2016, Radio One net revenue was approximately $109.1 million, an increase of 3.1% from the same period in 2015.  Station operating income was approximately $39.6 million, an increase of 10.1% from the same period in 2015. Liggins states, “We saw a sequential monthly improvement in our radio revenues as the first quarter progressed, and that positive momentum is continuing into Q2 where we are pacing up low single digits.  Political revenues were strong, which augurs well for the fourth quarter when we historically receive the bulk of political radio advertising. TV One had a strong first quarter, with growth in both advertising (+3.5%) and affiliate revenues (+12.3%).  All four of our reportable segments posted year-over-year, double-digit adjusted EBITDA growth.  Overall I was pleased with our 13% growth in consolidated adjusted EBITDA, the stabilization of our radio revenues, and growth of radio cash flow.”

Ramsey, Rich Headlining Radio Show. In a vCreative-sponsored session, financial expert/radio host Dave Ramsey will keynote this year’s Radio Show. Part of his “Cutting Edge Trends in Marketing” address at the confab, produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau and the National Association of Broadcasters, will include a conversation with country music artist John Rich (right) of the duo Big & Rich. According to RAB president and chief executive officer Erica Farber, “We are delighted and honored that Dave Ramsey and John Rich will join us at this year’s conference. These two incredible innovators will share some great ideas. Radio Show attendees will walk away with tremendous takeaways they can then put to use immediately.” NAB executive vice president of radio John David comments, “The power of radio has contributed to the successful careers of both Dave Ramsey and John Rich. We are pleased to present these talented and engaging individuals at the Radio Show.” Ramsey’s daily syndicated eponymous radio program is heard on more than 550 stations, while his “Financial Peace” and “Total Money Makeover” books have sold more than a combined 10 million copies.  He was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2013 and into the National Radio Hall of Fame two years later. The Radio Show will be held in more than four months (9/21 – 23) at Nashville’s Omni Hotel; The Ramsey-Rich session takes place the first day of the conference, Wednesday, September 21.

The Presidential Race, Hillary Clinton Email Server Case, Battle Against Islamic State, North Korea Nukes, Russia-NATO Tensions, California Ups Legal Cigarette Purchase Age, and NBA-NHL Playoffs Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (5/4).  GOP candidate Donald Trump secures the nomination with a victory in the Indiana primary election; allegations by Romanian hacker Guccifer that he accessed Hillary Clinton’s private email server; the death of a Navy SEAL in Iraq and the ongoing battle against Islamic State; the reported build-up of nuclear weapons by North Korea; Russia’s military posturing and threats against NATO; California becomes the second state to make tobacco purchases legal for those 21 and older; and the NBA and NHL playoffs were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Tags: Alfred Liggins III, Big & Rich, Dave Ramsey, Ed Atsinger, Emmis Communications, Erica Farber, fiscal Q4, Jeff Smulyan, John David, John Rich, NAB, NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Nashville, National Association of Broadcasters, National Radio Hall of Fame, net revenue, Omni Hotel, RAB, Radio Advertising Bureau, Radio One, radio show, Salem Media Group, Talkers Magazine, TV One, vCreative

Category: Front Page News, Industry News