(William Pollack) AI is often portrayed as a threat to American workers. But in one struggling industry, local media, it may be part of the solution. I don’t pretend to understand every aspect of AI; I can only discuss what it means for the business I know best: independently owned media.

“The Future Starts Here: A Visionary Closing Conversation” puts the leaders of Hearst Television, Audacy, Gray Media, and Townsquare Media in one conversation you won’t find anywhere but Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR‘s Forecast 2027 on November 12 in New York.

Chris Jones will oversee sales for four CMG Atlanta brands as General Sales Manager. Jones previously worked across the street as SVP of Sales at iHeartMedia Atlanta, and succeeds Scott Kellum, who has held the role since March 2024.

Management stays, the public shareholders are out, and the funded debt is gone. Cumulus Media has completed its Chapter 11 restructuring and emerged as a privately owned company after clearing its last remaining regulatory hurdles after approval from the FCC.

Radio’s equipment suppliers will share Manhattan floor space with AI developers, streaming platforms, and creator-tool makers when NAB Show New York returns to the Javits Center next week. Organizers say the exhibitor lineup celebrates tech convergence in media.

(Randy Lane) Great books flow effortlessly, without speed bumps that pull your attention away from the story. That might be an awkward sentence, unnecessary word, confusing transition, or a detail that makes you stop and reread a passage

Large-scale in-car data is radio’s newest measurement contender, and Nielsen is questioning whether it can stand alone. The ratings company says head-unit data cannot identify listeners or capture older vehicles, with reach and listening share as backdrop.

Podcast audiences have a message for anyone selling audio. Too many ads wear thin, but a trusted host’s voice still gets through. New research on ad fatigue offers radio sellers a blueprint for capping clutter, pricing talent reads higher, and building revenue streams beyond the traditional spot.

(Deborah Parenti) They come in all shapes and sizes. Their disciplines and personalities vary wildly, but the best of them share a few defining traits: tenacity, a genuine love for people, and a sharp knack for problem-solving. They also possess a remarkably thick skin.

NAB’s chief legal officer is stepping away. Rick Kaplan, who led the association through a decade of courtroom and regulatory battles that reshaped broadcast ownership and streaming rates, will depart at the end of 2026, and his responsibilities will move into a new advocacy structure.