Fine-worthy offenses

The FCC has slapped WSKQ, a Spanish-language station in New York, with a $16,000 fine for “willfully and repeatedly” violating the Commission’s regs by recording and playing back on the air a telephone conversation without telling the caller about it…

The industry responds to Nadler

NAB Executive VP/Media Relations Dennis Wharton jumped on Rep. Jerrold Nadler’s proposed legislation, saying, “It fails to recognize the unparalleled promotional value of local radio airplay and kill jobs at America’s hometown radio stations.” Wharton continued, “We continue to support…

With friends like these …

This week, Congressman Jerrold Nadler floated the idea of a law requiring radio stations to pay a fee directly to artists for playing their music – in addition to the fees we already pay to music licensing organizations like BMI,…

R. Peter Straus, 89

Straus, whose father bought WMCA/New York in the early 40s, and who later built a broadcast group in New York using WMCA as its flagship, died early last week at his Midtown Manhattan home. In the late 70s, Straus was…

Michael Powell in the running?

The political rumor mill has the former FCC Chairman seeking the Washington, DC mayoral spot, although the current National Cable Telecommunications Association CEO denies it, saying, “Washington is an exceptional city, but contrary to published reports, I am not considering…

Survey says: Radio trails TV in social media

According to the latest RTNDA study of broadcast newsrooms by Hofstra Professor Bob Papper, “Radio continues to make strides in social media, but remains well behind TV.” According to the study, 42% of responding radio stations are “covering the topic…