Townsquare Media Announces Q4 2016 Net Revenue Up 5.8%

Monday, March 13, 2017 Mar 13th 2017, 12:38, by TALKERS Townsquare Media Announces Q4 2016 Net Revenue Up 5.8%; Up 3% for 2016 on Pro Forma Basis.  Those numbers are for the company as a whole.  Townsquare Media breaks its quarterly financial reports into two segments: Local Marketing Solutions (including broadcast and digital products) and Entertainment (live event experiences and music and lifestyle content directly to consumers, and promotion, advertising and product activations).  For the fourth quarter of 2016, Townsquare Media reports the Local Marketing Solutions segment's net revenue was $119.5 million – an increase of 5.1% on an actual basis.  For all of 2016 on a pro forma basis (pro forma for the acquisition of NAME and the divestiture of 43 of its towers on September 1, 201), the segment's net revenue was $342.2 million – also up 5.1%.  For the company as a whole, 2016 pro forma net revenue was $516.9 million, an increase of 3% over all of 2015.  Townsquare chairman and CEO Steven Price adds, "In 2016, we delivered net revenue, net income and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 17%, 127% and 9%, respectively.  On a pro forma basis, net revenue growth of 3.0% was driven by the strong performance of our local products and offerings within our Local Marketing Solutions segment, where pro forma net revenue increased 5.1% over the prior year.  This year we focused on strengthening our balance sheet; through EBITDA growth and debt repayment we reduced net leverage from 5.5x at the start of the year, to 4.9x at year end." 2017 TALKERS Heavy Hundred of Sports Talk to Be Published Today at 2:00 pm ET.. The fifth annual ranking of the 100 Most Important Sports Talk Radio Hosts in America will be published by TALKERS magazine today (3/13) at 2:00 pm ET. This annual list is compiled and ranked by the editors of TALKERS magazine – with input from industry leaders. As with our publication's "sister list," the 100 Most Important Talk Radio Hosts in America, the criteria are a number of hard factors – including ratings and revenue – as well as such soft factors as talent, recognition, impact, service and more. Executive editor Kevin Casey states, "This annual ranking of the most important sports talk radio hosts is one of the most difficult – but enjoyable – projects we undertake at TALKERS. The reason for that is the partially subjective nature of the criteria combined with the enormous number of talented and successful sports talk hosts working in America. Paring that pool of talent down to 100 is no easy task!" Casey also notes that TALKERS will be publishing the 2017 Heavy Hundred of News/Talk Radio in April. Trump's Obama Wiretapping Accusations, Trumps Fires Preet Bharara, GOP Health Care Plan, the "Deep State" concept, Trump-Russia Connection, North Korea Threats, NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend.  President Donald Trump's accusation the Obama Administration order the wiretapping of Trump Tower; President Trump fires U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara after Bharara refused to resign in accordance with the administration's request that he and 45 other U.S. Attorneys do so; questions about what the GOP-engineered replacement of the Affordable Care Act will entail; talk about the existence of a "Deep State" that operates the government behind the scenes; Democrats' wishes to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the possible connection between Russian agents and the Trump campaign; the growing nuclear missile capabilities of North Korea; and the Sunday afternoon revelation of the teams making the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Saga Communications Reports Net Revenue Up 4.7% in Q4; Radio Segment Rises 2.6%.

Tuesday, March 8, 2017 Mar 7th 2017, 15:45, by TALKERS Saga Communications Reports Net Revenue Up 4.7% in Q4; Radio Segment Rises 2.6%.  The company operates both radio and television stations and the 4.7% net revenue increase on $37.3 million is for the company as a whole.  The radio segment's fourth quarter net revenue was $30.3 million – an increase of 2.6%.  For the whole of 2016, the radio segment was up 6.2% on net revenue of $119 million. Radio One Fourth Quarter Revenue Rises 3.8% on Strength of Television and Political Advertising.  Of the four major categories of revenue that Radio One reports – radio advertising, political advertising, digital advertising, and cable television advertising the latter three saw healthy increases while radio advertising dipped 8.5% in the fourth quarter of 2016.  It's far and away the biggest category with net revenue of $51.02 million.  Cable television advertising was up 18.1% on net revenue of $22.67 million.  For the year of 2016, Radio One's radio broadcasting net revenue was down 1.5% on $194.5 million. Mike Carruthers Guests this Week on Harrison Podcast.  Longtime independent radio syndicator, host and producer Mike Carruthers is this week's guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series "Up Close and Far Out" with Michael Harrison.  Carruthers is widely known as the host and producer of the syndicated short-form radio feature "Something You Should Know,"  a programming staple for the past 37 years on stations across the US and Canada. It features a different guest and subject each week from a wide array of better living tips wrapped in a neat 90-second package and has garnered a legion of loyal listeners.  Tapping into that listenership and building upon it, Carruthers subsequently launched a long-form podcast version of "Something You Should Know" that has rocketed to the higher echelons on the iTunes charts and is generating significant revenue.   Carruthers has been sharing his experience and knowledge about podcasting with other radio professionals as a coach, having launched a comprehensive podcast training program called "Perfect Your Podcast" dedicated to helping people start, grow and monetize their podcast products.  He is also the author of the best-selling Amazon eBook "How to Launch a Perfect Podcast."  (He is presenting a free Master Class Podcasting Webinar for radio pros tomorrow at 1:00 pm ET. To register click here.) On this week's installment of the Harrison podcast, the TALKERS founder and Carruthers discuss how they each originally were attracted to podcasting and explore some of the techniques and media theory that apply to the growing industry.  To listen to it in its entirety, please click here or click on the "Up Close and Far Out" player box located in the right-hand column on every page of Talkers.com. ObamaCare Overhaul, North Korean Missile Threat, Trump's Obama Wiretapping Allegations, Ben Carson Speech Flap, New Travel Ban Signed, Sessions-Russia Case, and NBA-NHL Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (3/6).  The Trump Administration's and the GOP's plans to alter the Affordable Care Act; North Korea's aggressive development of its missile program and the U.S.' moving forward with installing an anti-missile defense system in South Korea; The Trump Administration's continuing charge that President Obama ordered the wiretapping of Trump Tower; the reactions to HUD Secretary Ben Carson's allusion to slaves as immigrants; President Trump signs the new travel order; Attorney General Jeff Sessions statements that he did not mislead the confirmation committee by not disclosing his meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak; and NBA and NHL action were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. Today is the Final Day to Register for the TALKERS-PerfectYourPodcast.com Master Class Podcasting Webinar – But Space is Limited! Don't be shut out! Tomorrow — Wednesday, March 8 – is the day of the webinar, so reserve your spot today. According to Michael Harrison, "A day doesn't go by that I'm not asked by radio broadcasters for basic information about how to effectively add podcasting to their professional repertoires. Many still believe that it is a mysterious, complicated process. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We believe that podcasting is a vital component of the radio practitioner's tool case going forward into the digital era and we will be doing everything possible to be helpful and supportive in disseminating helpful information to our readers. This webinar is a major step in that direction." TALKERS magazine has joined forces with PerfectYourPodcast.com to present a webinar titled "How to Launch and Grow a Successful Podcast," a master class for radio professionals only. It will be a free, live online event scheduled for Wednesday, March 8 at 1:00 pm ET. PerfectYourPodcast.com was founded by well-known broadcaster Mike Carruthers, host and creator of the long-running, successful syndicated radio series, "Something You Should Know" (now also a top iTunes-charted podcast), who will be conducting the webinar. Designed for the professional radio broadcaster who is serious about profiting from podcasting, the event will focus on what radio people must know about this hot, rapidly-growing arena including programming, production, distribution, promotion and monetization. According to TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey, "We are delighted to present this exciting event with our colleague Mike Carruthers who has really established himself over the years as a seasoned practitioner knowledgeable of all aspects of the growing podcasting industry. Radio broadcasters – by the nature of their backgrounds and experience – are perfectly suited to take advantage of the major opportunities to expand their brands and increase their revenues by learning the right ways to engage in podcasting." To learn more and register for the webinar, please click here.     Music Radio News and Career Moves.  By splitting KDEY-FM, Ontario, California off the simulcast of Los Angeles urban signal KDAY, Meruelo Media re-launches hip hop KDEY-FM as "The New Wild 93.5" in the Riverside-San Bernardino market.  Meruelo Media president and COO Otto Padron says, "This much-awaited Riverside metro launch comes after a long process of engineering, design and market studies.  It adds a key radio asset to our growing portfolio of highly recognized media brands in one of the fastest-growing markets.  The saving and growing of heritage Los Angeles radio station KDAY has been a thrilling, three-year ride – we owe it to our music fans to keep innovating and expanding – Riverside is key."  Program director Adrian "AD" Scott adds, "Los Angeles loves KDAY – Riverside will love 'WILD!'  This is the Inland Empire's new home for hip hop and R&B, listeners in the 'I.E.' will know the difference and love the sound that the new 'Wild 93.5' brings."…..Longtime KNCN, Corpus Christi "C101" rock radio personality Dan Rios returns to the iHeartMedia rock station where he had been half of the "2 Guys in the Morning" show with Rex Gabriel from 1996 through 2006, reuniting with Rex for the new "2 Guys" show.  Rios had been hosting afternoons at Withers Family Texas Holdings' crosstown alternative KYRK "106.5 The Shark."…..On the heels of Sean McMasters' recent exit from its Albany country outlet WGNA, Townsquare Media brings market pros Brian Cody and Chrissy Cavotta aboard to host the "Brian and Chrissy" morning drive show.  The pair was most recently at Pamal's crosstown CHR WFLY…..Entravision Communications chief strategy officer Esteban Lopez Blanco is named the recipient of Borrell Associates' 2017 Award of Merit for outstanding leadership and innovation in local media.  The award was presented yesterday (3/6) before the more than 300 media executives at Borrell's 8th annual Local Online Advertising Conference at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan.  Borrell Associates CEO Gordon Borrell comments, "Esteban is one of those internal guiding forces that any company would be lucky to have.  His work with Entravision's TV and radio group has made the company a shining example among not only Hispanic media, but all local media, about how to embrace the future and make it their own."