Top Radio News

Z100 Unveils 2026 Jingle Ball Lineup

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, September 25, 2026 | 11:41am CT

Z100's Jingle Ball 2026

WHTZ-FM (Z100) New York has announced the lineup for its annual iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball 2026 Presented by Capital One, set for Friday, December 11 at 7pm at Madison Square Garden.

This year's lineup includes SOMBR, Alex Warren, Charlie Puth, Hilary Duff, Teddy Swims, SIENNA SPIRO, TOMORROW X TOGETHER & YEONJUN, Stella Lefty and Freya Skye. Bella Kay and The Beaches are slated for special guest performances.

The 2026 event will mark the 30th Z100 Jingle Ball held at Madison Square Garden, where the holiday concert has taken place annually since 1996.

"Z100's Jingle Ball is a holiday tradition in New York City, where we celebrate the hottest artists and songs of the past year," said iHeartMedia VP of CHR Programming and Z100 Program Director Mark Adams. "We're excited to welcome our listeners back to MSG for another iconic night of music, celebration and memories."

The New York concert is part of the national iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One, which will also visit Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Nashville.

A Capital One cardholder presale begins Tuesday, September 29 at 10am local time and continues through Thursday, October 1 at 10am or while presale tickets remain. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, October 2 at noon local time.

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation will serve as this year's official charity, with $1 from each ticket sold donated to the nonprofit, which brings interactive media studios into pediatric hospitals.

Cavaliers Extend Radio Partnership With iHeartMedia

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, September 25, 2026 | 11:34am CT

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have named iHeartMedia Cleveland the team's official exclusive radio home, with Newsradio WTAM 1100 AM/106.9 FM and WMMS-FM (100.7) continuing as the Cavaliers' flagship stations.

Under the expanded partnership, every Cavaliers radio broadcast will air exclusively across 19 iHeartMedia stations on the Rock Entertainment Sports Network. The lineup includes all 82 regular-season games, preseason contests and every playoff game.

The network will reach markets across Ohio and surrounding areas, including Akron, Canton, Ashland, Chillicothe, Columbus, Dayton, Defiance, Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Toledo and Youngstown, along with Erie, PA and Parkersburg, WV. Games will also be available through the Cavs App and via WTAM and WMMS on the iHeartRadio app.

"We're delivering the most accessible broadcast we've had in years," said Cavaliers EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Kaiser. "An enhanced product matches that accessibility, and we are grateful for our partners, iHeartMedia, for helping make this possible."

Tim Alcorn returns for his eighth season as play-by-play announcer for every Cavaliers game. Cavaliers reporter Serena Winters will join Alcorn for select exclusive national broadcast games. Mike Snyder returns for his 35th year as studio host, handling pregame, halftime and postgame coverage, while Brad Sellers begins his 17th season as studio analyst.

Each broadcast will begin with Snyder hosting the "Tip-off Show" 30 minutes before the game. Following the action, Snyder and Sellers will host the "Postgame Show," featuring player reaction, coach Kenny Atkinson's press conference and updates from around the NBA.

WTAM will also continue its weekday "Cavs Update" at 8:25am with Bill Wills and Snyder. Alcorn, Jim Chones and Winters will make regular appearances, with other members of the Cavaliers organization and broadcast team rotating through the Wednesday edition. Alcorn will also host an afternoon drive Cavs update.

The Cleveland Monsters and Cleveland Charge will remain with iHeartMedia as well, with Monsters games airing on Sports Radio 99.1 FM and Charge games on Real 106.1 FM.

Zeb Norris Named KTYD Santa Barbara Program Director

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 4:35pm CT

Zeb Norris

Classic Rock KTYD-FM (99.9 KTYD) in Santa Barbara, CA has named Zeb Norris Program Director and morning host. Norris joined KTYD in March, initially co-hosting mornings with Lin Aubuchon. He took over the morning show following Aubuchon's retirement at the end of July.

The appointment marks a return to where Norris began his radio career. He first worked at KTYD in 1976, hosting the overnight shift.

Before returning to Santa Barbara, Norris spent approximately two decades in Vermont. He programmed Classic Hits WCVT-FM (101 The One) in Stowe/Burlington for six years after a 14-year run with AAA WNCS (The Point) in Montpelier.

Norris' career has also included stops at KZAP Sacramento, KSJO San Jose and KRQR San Francisco, along with AAA outlets WXLE Albany, NY and KUMT Salt Lake City.

"It's been the proverbial long, strange trip and I couldn't be happier to return home to KTYD," said Norris. "Over the years I've kept an ear on the station, and Lin left things in great shape, so it's onward!"

He also thanked Point Broadcasting COO Brian Davis and CFO Lisa Felix for the opportunity.

GeoBroadcast Solutions Rebrands as Aktira

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 12:17pm CT

Aktira

GeoBroadcast Solutions (GBS), developer of technology designed to expand FM coverage and enable geo-targeted radio advertising, has rebranded as Aktira as the company moves to expand commercial deployment of its technology with broadcasters, advertisers and technology partners.

Aktira will house the company's intellectual property, engineering and commercial operations, including its MaxxCasting, ZoneCasting and Lazer products. The existing GeoBroadcast Solutions team will remain in place.

MaxxCasting uses synchronized transmitters to strengthen FM coverage within a station's market and reach areas where the primary signal may be weaker. The company says more than 15 deployments have been completed or initiated, representing an estimated 13 million incremental listeners nationwide.

ZoneCasting uses FCC-approved booster transmitters to divide a station's coverage area into geographic zones, allowing different commercials to air in individual zones during the same commercial break. Aktira says the technology creates additional over-the-air inventory that can be targeted to specific retail trade areas, event venues and other geographic locations.

Lazer provides the attribution component of the platform, adding synchronized visual content and QR codes to compatible vehicle displays. Consumer engagement can then be matched to the geographic zone and radio spot.

The company pointed to a field test involving Dentsu and Jack in the Box on KSJO-FM in San Jose, where commercials were targeted to the Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore area. GBS said the campaign produced a 37% increase in localized ad recall along with higher store traffic in the targeted zones.

During Super Bowl LX weekend in February, the technology was also used on Audacy's KGMZ-FM (95.7 The Game) in San Francisco to deliver RDS-based traffic, parking, weather and venue information to vehicle dashboards within approximately six miles of Levi's Stadium.

"GeoBroadcast Solutions spent years building the technology, intellectual property and regulatory approvals. Aktira turns those assets into a business built to scale," said lead investors Jennifer and Brian White.

Aktira is shifting from individual station deployments toward enterprise agreements with broadcast groups. Existing deployments include markets such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston, and the company says it is in discussions with several of the country's largest radio operators about expanded deployment.

Under a new business model, Aktira plans to provide broadcasters with the equipment required to deploy its systems without upfront capital costs. In exchange, Aktira will share in advertising revenue generated by the platform.

TuneIn to Bring Audio Service to Stellantis Vehicles

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 12:29pm CT

Stingray

Stingray has reached an agreement with global automaker Stellantis to integrate its TuneIn audio application directly into select future Stellantis vehicles. The agreement will give drivers access to TuneIn's catalog of more than 100,000 radio stations, along with podcasts, news, music and programming from local, national and international broadcasters.

The in-vehicle application will include integrated driver controls for functions including playing, pausing and changing audio while on the road.

"Stellantis is an incredible partner that shares our vision for creating exceptional in-car experiences," said TuneIn CEO Rich Stern. "Our teams have been working closely together to create an experience that feels like a natural extension of each vehicle while giving drivers seamless access to the world's best live audio."

Parent company Stingray said the Stellantis agreement is part of its broader strategy to expand distribution of its audio services in automobiles and increase the availability of branded in-vehicle audio experiences.

The companies did not identify which Stellantis brands or vehicle models will initially offer TuneIn or when the integration will become available.

FOX Sports Radio Launches Stugotz College Football Show

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 12:38pm CT

''College Football with Stugotz & The Bear''

FOX Sports Radio is launching "College Football with Stugotz & The Bear," a new twice-weekly podcast hosted by Jon "Stugotz" Weiner and FOX Sports college football analyst Chris "The Bear" Fallica. The iHeartPodcasts series debuts Friday, September 25, with new episodes scheduled for Mondays and Fridays throughout the college football season.

The show will cover the sport's biggest stories along with rivalries, venues, players, game-day traditions and tailgate culture. Weiner will provide his signature humor and commentary alongside Fallica, a veteran college football analyst and sports betting expert.

"They asked me to host a college football podcast, so I did the smart thing and brought along my friend who actually knows college football," said Stugotz. "How 'bout that?!"

"College football brings out the most passionate fans and opinions in sports," added Fallica. "Who thought giving Stugotz a voice here would be a good idea? I promise to keep him in line."

Stugotz signed a long-term multiplatform agreement with iHeartMedia in December 2025 that led to the launch of the national weekday program "Stugotz and Company LIVE!" on FOX Sports Radio and the creation of the Stugotz Podcast Network with iHeartPodcasts.

The new series joins the network's existing lineup of "Stugotz and Company," "God Bless Football" and "With Stugotz & Hochman."

"College Football with Stugotz & The Bear" will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and other podcast platforms. Full video episodes will also be available through iHeart and Stugotz's YouTube channel.

Crooked Media Expands Political Podcast Ad Network

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 6:00am CT

Crooked Media

Crooked Media is expanding its political podcast and digital advertising network, adding "The Adam Mockler Show," "The Argument" and "Weekly Skews" to its roster of shows represented for host-read advertising.

The three shows join "No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen" and "The Joy Reid Show" in Crooked's growing network of outside political programming. Crooked holds exclusive sales rights for host-read advertising across the participating shows' RSS feeds and YouTube channels.

The arrangement expands Crooked's advertising business beyond its owned-and-operated programming, giving advertisers access to political audiences across both podcast and video platforms.

Crooked says its own podcast and digital programming generates more than 30 million monthly views and downloads. Its lineup includes "Pod Save America," "Pod Save the World," "Lovett or Leave It," "Offline with Jon Favreau," "Still Counting," "Runaway Country," "Keep It," "Strict Scrutiny," "Hysteria," "Assembly Required" and "What A Day."

The expanded sales network is available to advertisers immediately, with host-read opportunities offered across the RSS feeds and YouTube channels of participating shows.

The move is part of Crooked's broader expansion across audio and digital media, including subscription offerings, live events, newsletters and streaming video.

Fairing, Podscribe Partner on Podcast Attribution

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 2:53pm CT

Fairing has partnered with Podscribe on a new integration designed to give advertisers more detailed attribution for podcast campaigns, including identifying the individual shows and formats influencing sales. The companies say podcast attribution has become more difficult as consumption expands beyond traditional RSS-based audio to platforms such as YouTube, where IP data used for attribution is not shared.

Under the integration, Podscribe campaign data is connected directly with Fairing's post-purchase surveys. Active Podscribe campaigns automatically appear as response options in Fairing, with the information refreshed daily and tagged according to where the campaign ran.

When customers identify a particular show as influencing a purchase, Fairing sends that response back to Podscribe as a verified conversion. The companies say this provides show- and format-level attribution instead of broader responses such as "YouTube" or "Podcast."

"By connecting Podscribe's exposure data with what customers tell us directly, we can finally attribute the shows and formats that are driving revenue," said Fairing co-founder and CEO Matt Bahr.

Podscribe VP of Partnerships Patrick Schmidt said combining campaign tracking with customer-reported information gives advertisers "a more complete picture of customer behavior and a clearer understanding of which podcasts contribute to conversion."

In an early rollout with personal care brand Mando, the companies said adding auto-suggest follow-up questions to capture podcast and simulcast responses reduced unassigned survey responses by 3.12% and improved blended podcast cost per acquisition by 9.2% without an increase in spending.

"We only get so far with 'podcast' as a response," said Tom Herer, Senior Manager of Offline Performance Marketing at Mando parent Mammoth Brands. "Auto-suggest has been huge -- it gives us show-level insights we just couldn't get before."

The integration is available now to Fairing customers on its Advanced Attribution plan. Podscribe campaign rosters are synchronized with Fairing daily, while customer-reported conversions are automatically returned to Podscribe.

Edison: Mobile Overtakes Radio Receiver in Cars

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 12:26pm CT

Edison Research at SSRS

Mobile devices have surpassed traditional AM/FM radio receivers as the leading device for in-car audio consumption among Americans ages 13-34, according to new Share of Ear data from Edison Research at SSRS. The research shows consumers in the age group now spend 46% of their daily in-car audio time listening through a mobile device, compared with 43% through an AM/FM radio receiver.

The three-point advantage for mobile represents a dramatic reversal from earlier Share of Ear measurements. Edison says there was once a 47-point gap between the two devices in favor of the traditional radio receiver.

The findings measure the device used for listening rather than the source of the audio content. Edison noted that some listening through mobile devices consists of streams from AM/FM radio stations.

The latest data follows Edison's recent finding that AM/FM radio continues to account for the majority of ad-supported in-car audio time among 13-34-year-olds. The new analysis broadens the measurement to all audio listening and focuses specifically on the devices used to consume it.

Edison said the shift reflects the long-term rise of smartphones as a primary audio consumption device, a trend that has now extended to younger listeners' in-car habits.

FOX Sports 1370 Launches in WQLL in Baltimore

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 2:16pm CT

WQLL-AM (FOX Sports 1370 AM) in Baltimore

WCBM Maryland has launched FOX Sports 1370 AM on WQLL-AM in Baltimore, bringing the FOX Sports Radio lineup to the market effective immediately.

The station's weekday schedule begins with "Two Pros and a Cup of Joe," featuring LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn and Jonas Knox, from 6-9am ET. "The Dan Patrick Show" follows from 9am-noon, with "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" airing from noon-3pm.

Afternoons feature "Stugotz & Company LIVE" from 3-5pm, followed by "Covino & Rich" from 5-7pm.

"Sports are woven into the fabric of Baltimore, and we're excited to bring some of the biggest voices in sports broadcasting to our listeners," said WQLL-AM Market Manager Andy Grimshaw.

"From the biggest stories and games to expert analysis and the latest in sports betting, FOX Sports 1370 AM will give Baltimore sports fans something to follow around the clock," he added.

Additional weeknight and weekend programming will be announced at a later date.

Audacy: Podcast Hosts Hold 21-Point Trust Advantage

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 12:12pm CT

Audacy Insights

Podcast hosts have a significant advantage over social media influencers when it comes to authenticity and their ability to influence consumers, according to a new Audacy Insights report. Audacy says 75% of listeners rate podcast hosts as the most authentic, compared with 54% for social media influencers, a 21-point difference. The company attributes the gap in part to the amount of time and attention audiences give podcast personalities.

Unlike social media, where users move among content from numerous accounts, podcast listeners can spend 30 minutes to more than an hour with the same host. Audacy says more than 70% of heavy podcast listeners hear each episode through to completion, while nearly half listen to new episodes on the day they are released.

"If you can get someone to tune in to your conversation and stick around for 30 minutes to an hour, the amount of baked-in persuasion that you have over that individual just grows with each minute they're tuned in -- unlike almost any other creator channel," said Adopter Media SVP of Client Services Adam McNeil.

That attention also carries over to advertising. According to the report, 71% of podcast listeners say they pay more attention to podcast advertising than ads elsewhere, while 84% say a podcaster has changed their mind about something.

More than half say they are more likely to consider products recommended by a favorite host, and nearly three-quarters report purchasing a brand after hearing a podcast creator endorse it. More than half also say they will listen to an advertisement appearing in a podcast they love regardless of the product category.

Audacy says the trust established between listeners and hosts can also transfer to advertisers. Among heavy podcast listeners, 64% say they trust podcast advertising more than advertising in any other medium.

"Today, in an increasingly artificial world, there's an increasing premium on authenticity and on real recommendations, which can be deployed at scale through this channel," said Oxford Road CEO and founder Dan Granger. "That's, without question, its strongest asset."

Audacy said the findings demonstrate how the relationships podcast personalities develop over repeated listening can give advertisers access to an audience already inclined to pay attention to their recommendations.

Read the complete Audacy Insights article here.

Ashley & Brad Expand Partnership With Key Networks

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 0:01am CT

Ashley & Brad

"The Ashley & Brad Show" has expanded its relationship with Key Networks, adding affiliate sales support to the companies' renewed network sales partnership. Under the expanded agreement, Key Networks will work with the Ashley & Brad team to add affiliates and introduce the syndicated program to additional stations and markets nationwide. Key will also continue handling network sales for the show.

The program has also added KLEE in Iowa as its newest morning affiliate.

"We are delighted to work with Ashley, Brad and the team at Skid Trax to help support their growth and bring their unique talent to more markets across the country," said Key Networks' Dennis Green. "The show offers stations tremendous flexibility, with the ability to air in multiple formats while seamlessly integrating into the local markets that carry the show."

Skid Trax co-founders Michael Raffety and Tonya Campos said the decision to expand the partnership reflects Key Networks' support for the program and its continued national growth.

"When you find a partner who believes in the Ashley and Brad show as much as we do, you don't just renew the relationship -- you expand it," they said. "We're thrilled to have their team even more involved as we continue building our national lineup."

AWM Names 2026 Gracies Leadership Awards Honorees

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 12:05pm CT

Alliance for Women in Media (AWM)

The Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) has announced the honorees for the 2026 Gracies Leadership Awards, set for November 16 at Tribeca 360° in New York City.

Zenia Mucha, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at TikTok, will receive the inaugural Gracies Vanguard Award. The new honor recognizes individuals whose foresight and ability to anticipate change help shape the future of media and its audiences.

Kristen Welch, Chief Financial and Operations Officer at Illustrative Mathematics, will receive the AWM Legacy Leadership Award, recognizing her longtime commitment to AWM and its mission of advancing women in media.

Also being honored for their leadership and accomplishments are Marilu Galvez, General Manager of ABC7/WABC-TV; Tina Perry, President of OWN TV Network & OTT Streaming; Julie Talbott, President of Premiere Networks; and Erin Underhill, President of Universal Television.

"The women we honor through the Gracies Leadership Awards have not only achieved extraordinary success in their own careers, they have helped shape the future of media through their vision, leadership and commitment to excellence," said AWM President Becky Brooks.

Brooks noted that AWM is celebrating its 75th anniversary and said this year's honorees have helped open doors, foster innovation and inspire the next generation of industry leaders.

The event will also spotlight emerging media professionals through the AWM Foundation Student Fellowships, which give female students pursuing careers in journalism, broadcasting, digital media, communications, content creation and production an opportunity to attend the luncheon and meet industry leaders. Applications will be accepted September 29 through October 16.

The luncheon will additionally recognize the recipient of the 2026 AWM Foundation/NCTA - The Internet & Television Association Student Scholarship. Applications for the scholarship are open through September 25.

Drew Spears Productions Launches DSP Podcasts

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 5:05pm CT

DSP Podcasts

Los Angeles production house and comedy collective Drew Spears Productions (DSP) will officially launch DSP Podcasts on October 6, establishing a podcast production and distribution arm for the company.

The launch follows a soft rollout of several DSP original podcasts over recent months and will coincide with the debut of "Runiverse Weekly with Ru Anderson." Another new series, "Animalia with Charlie James and Griffin Kelly," is also set to launch soon.

"Runiverse Weekly" will feature Anderson investigating a different thesis each week with expert guests, research and personal stories. "Animalia" is a science-comedy podcast in which James and Kelly spotlight a different animal each week. "Comics Reading Comics with Nick Malis & Shoshanna Green" is scheduled to join the lineup later this fall.

Existing DSP Podcasts include "Help Me Be Black with Skyler Higley," "How Do You Get Through The Day with Will Hines and Ian Roberts," "Mollyworld with Molly Lambert," "No Contact with Hay Beacon," "On God with Matt LeGrande," "All These Wonderful Things" from Cinema Eye Honors and "Paul Cherry's Hidden Gems."

DSP will mark the launch with an invitation-only industry event October 6 at DSP Studios in Los Angeles' Frog Town neighborhood. The event will include an introduction and panel discussion featuring DSP podcast hosts and creators, with comedian Patrick McDonald serving as emcee.

Founded by comedian, actor and screenwriter Drew Spears in 2021, DSP operates a studio and event space and provides livestreaming services for Los Angeles events. The company has worked as a livestream partner for events including a cast reading from "The Pitt" at a Writers Guild Association benefit and Paul F. Tompkins' "Varietopia."

DSP describes itself as a comedy clubhouse and creative collective built around providing comedians and other creators with production resources and a community for developing projects.

"You can either treat comedy like expendable content, or you can treat it like something to be curated and worked for," Spears said. "We treat it like something to be curated and we want to work with people who cannot stop themselves from creating weird, esoteric things, because DSP is just the space to create them in."

92.5 XTU Sets Dolly Parton Day for September 25

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 2:33pm CT

Dolly Day

WXTU-FM (92.5 XTU) in Philadelphia will celebrate the music and legacy of Dolly Parton with "Dolly Parton Day" on Friday, September 25. The date, 9/25, was selected as a nod to Parton's signature hit "9 to 5." Throughout the day, the Beasley Media Group country outlet will spotlight Parton's career, music, stories and personality.

Featured songs will include "Jolene," "9 to 5," "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You," along with stories about the music and Parton's impact on country music and popular culture.

"Dolly Parton is one of those rare artists who managed to make everything feel bigger, brighter and more fun," said "The Andie Summers Show" host Andie Summers. "Her music has been part of so many people's lives, but it's her heart, humor and generosity that made her truly special."

Summers added that the station plans to have plenty of fun with the celebration, including encouraging listeners to "go all-in on the rhinestones."

XTU is also inviting listeners to mark the occasion in Dolly fashion with "a little more kindness, a little more sparkle and a whole lot of country music."

Nielsen Takes Cumulus Ratings Fight to Supreme Court

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 4:31pm CT

Nielsen

The Nielsen Company has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court ruling that upheld a preliminary injunction in its antitrust dispute with Cumulus Media over the sale of national radio ratings data.

Nielsen filed its petition for a writ of certiorari September 15 in The Nielsen Company (US), LLC v. Cumulus Media New Holdings Inc. The Supreme Court has docketed the case as No. 26-370. The petition seeks review of the Second Circuit's July 13 decision affirming an injunction against Nielsen over its pricing and sale of its Nationwide radio ratings product.

At the center of Nielsen's petition is what the company calls a "constructive tie." Nielsen asks the Supreme Court to decide whether a seller that offers products separately and as a discounted bundle can face liability under Section 2 of the Sherman Act because a court considers the standalone price so high relative to the bundle that the buyer effectively has no choice but to purchase both products.

The dispute began after Cumulus sought to continue buying Nielsen's Nationwide product while purchasing Nielsen local ratings in only some markets and using competitor Eastlan in others. The district court found that Nielsen's pricing of standalone Nationwide could effectively force Cumulus to continue buying unwanted local ratings services.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas granted Cumulus a preliminary injunction in December 2025. The Second Circuit affirmed that injunction July 13 and vacated an earlier stay, returning the case to the Southern District of New York for further proceedings.

Nielsen's Supreme Court petition argues that the Second Circuit created a conflict with other federal appeals courts by allowing a constructive-tying claim without an allegation that either the standalone product or bundle was priced below cost. Nielsen contends that courts should not determine whether a standalone price is "too high" relative to a discounted bundle and says the Second Circuit's approach risks turning judges into price regulators. Those assertions are Nielsen's arguments in seeking Supreme Court review; the Court has not ruled on them.

The petition also notes that the underlying preliminary injunction remains in effect during the litigation and distinguishes the Supreme Court proceeding from Nielsen's newer appeal involving enforcement of that injunction. Nielsen says the second appeal concerns only Vargas's September 9 enforcement order and cannot alter the Second Circuit's underlying July ruling.

That separate appeal, No. 26-2516, arose after Vargas concluded Nielsen's latest Nationwide offer to Cumulus was commercially unreasonable and ordered the company to make a compliant offer or face sanctions of $50,000 per day. On September 16, the Second Circuit granted Nielsen a stay of that enforcement order while the appeal proceeds.

The appeals court has expedited that case, with Nielsen's opening brief due September 30, Cumulus's response October 14 and Nielsen's reply October 21. Oral argument is to be scheduled before the next available merits panel.

The Supreme Court is not obligated to hear Nielsen's case. Filing a certiorari petition begins the review process, and the justices must first decide whether to grant the petition before considering the merits of Nielsen's challenge.

Read Nielsen's Supreme Court petition here.

Broadcast Industry Group Sells Arkansas Trio for $2M

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 4:16pm CT

Blacksun Private Equity

Broadcast Industry Group LLC has agreed to sell three Arkansas AM stations and their associated FM translators to Blacksun Private Equity Inc. for $2 million, according to an assignment application filed with the FCC.

The deal includes KLRG-AM/Sheridan, KASZ-AM (formerly KJJI)/White Hall and KCAT-AM/Pine Bluff, along with translators K255AX/Pine Bluff, K233BF/Greenbrier and K224FN/Pine Bluff. The assignment applications were submitted to the FCC on September 21.

A signed asset purchase agreement identifies Broadcast Industry Group as the seller and Blacksun Private Equity as the buyer. The $2 million transaction covers substantially all of the stations' assets, including equipment, towers, buildings, contracts and FCC licenses. The agreement is dated August 18, 2026.

Broadcast Industry Group is headed by Charles Jayson Britlinger, who signed the agreement as CEO, Manager and Member. Blacksun Private Equity is headed by Abidul P. Muhammad, who signed as CEO, Manager and Member.

Closing is contingent on FCC approval and other required transfer authorizations and consents. Under the agreement, closing is scheduled for the last business day of the month in which those conditions have been satisfied, unless the parties agree otherwise.

An engineering exhibit submitted with the applications says the 5 mV/m daytime contours of KLRG, KASZ and KCAT overlap. Because Pine Bluff is not part of a Nielsen radio market, the filing uses the FCC's contour-overlap method to demonstrate compliance with local radio ownership limits.

The study identifies a 58-station market consisting of the three subject AMs plus 11 other AM stations, 11 noncommercial educational FMs and 33 commercial FMs whose city-grade contours overlap all or part of the composite contour. The filing concludes that common ownership of the three AM stations complies with FCC ownership rules.

KLRG operates on 880 AM from Sheridan, KASZ on 1190 AM from White Hall and KCAT on 1340 AM from Pine Bluff.

The transaction adds another chapter to the movement of radio properties associated with Monte Spearman's HPRN Network, with Blacksun emerging as the buyer of the Broadcast Industry Group Arkansas properties. The applications remain pending before the FCC.