Country Radio Broadcasters Seeks To Fill Executive Director Position

Nashville-based Country Radio Broadcasters Inc., has opened up the application process for a new executive director, following news that Bill Mayne will be stepping down from his post in May 2019. Mayne has led the organization’s operations since 2011, and before that, he served on the organization’s board of directors.

Resumes for the position are being accepted through June 30.

The executive director’s role includes overseeing the organization and its annual convention, Country Radio Seminar. Interested applicants must have experience and knowledge of the Country music industry, established relationships throughout the format, strong leadership qualities, experience with budgets, management abilities, communication skills, and more.

Country Radio Broadcasters is responsible for the annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS) – a three-day event of educational programming, panels of business leaders in various fields, presentations on new technology, business practices, and personal career development topics, new music showcases, and much more.

The CRB Board of Directors has established a committee to oversee the confidential search process for the hiring of a new executive director for the organization. More information about the position and how to apply is available at countryradioseminar.com/executive-director.

Weekly Chart Report (6/15/18)

Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Bobby Bones Plotting National Radio Show Highlighting Only Music From Female Artists

Bobby Bones

Bobby Bones, host of iHeartMedia’s The Bobby Bones Show, has long been a champion of new music and new artists, particularly female artists. He has featured music, performances and/or interviews by artists including Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Lindsay Ell, and more.

Now, Bones is prepping a national syndicated radio show that will feature music from only female artists. According to Bones, the yet-untitled show will launch across more than 100 iHeartRadio stations, as well as other outlets.

This comes three years after the “Tomatogate” incident of 2015, when radio consultant Keith Hill compared women in country music to garnish on a salad.

Despite ongoing support from some country radio stations and program directors, there remains a large disparity in the number of female artists releasing new music, and the number of female artists being played on country radio. On Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, dated June 2, 2018, the Top 25 entries included songs from two female solo artists, three songs from groups or collaborations with females–and 19 songs from solo male artists (along with one track featuring two male artists).

“I’ve been saying I was going to do this if the environment didn’t change,” Bones said via social media. “Well, it didn’t. Will be launching this show across 100+ iHeartRadio stations and other outlets soon.”

Weekly Chart Report (6/8/18)

Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Cumulus Media Completes Financial Restructuring

Cumulus Media Inc. has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 having reduced its debt by more than $1 billion. The company plans to utilize its enhanced financial flexibility to continue its ongoing business transformation and drive value creation on behalf of all its stakeholders.

The company’s debt was reduced from $2.34 billion to $1.3 billion, entirely in a term loan at LIBOR plus 450 basis points due May 15, 2022. Equity in the pre-bankruptcy company has been cancelled. Former stakeholders are being issued 11,052,211 shares of the company’s Class A common stock, 5,218,209 shares of the company’s Class B common stock and warrants to purchase 3,729,589 shares of common stock in exchange for their prior claims.

Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media, said, “Over the last two years, we have been relentlessly focused on our plans to turn the Company around, and the completion of our financial restructuring process is a monumental step forward on our turnaround path. We emerge today as a stronger and more competitive company, with the financial foundation that we need to move forward decisively with the initiatives that will produce the greatest benefits for the company. With this financial restructuring now behind us, we are excited about what we will be able to accomplish with all of our resources and energy fully focused on our operating business.”

Berner continued, “I want to thank our exceptional team at Cumulus Media for their dedication and tremendous efforts through this process. Looking ahead, our employees will remain the true force driving our success as we continue to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people we reach every week across our collection of stations and Westwood One. We are also grateful for the support of our vendors and affiliates during this process, and we look forward to working together well into the future.”

 

K-LOVE, Air1 Radio Networks Leader Mike Novak To Retire

Mike Novak

Mike Novak, the chief executive of the largest non-commercial contemporary Christian radio organization in the U.S., announced today he will retire as CEO of the organization that operates the popular K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks.

Novak and Educational Media Foundation’s (EMF’s) Board of Directors have been working closely the past couple of years on the timing of his retirement. Novak will continue to serve as CEO, while working with the Board of Directors in their search for his successor.

Mr. Novak, 68, joined EMF in 1998 and became CEO in 2007. He led growth of the networks, now heard on more than 800 stations in all 50 states and streamed around the world online. When he began as CEO, K-LOVE and Air1 were heard on more than 600 stations in 45 states.

“Mike Novak has provided outstanding leadership to our organization for these last 11 years as CEO,” said Dan Antonelli, Chairman of the Board of EMF. “Mike has used his deep knowledge of the broadcasting industry and his passion and commitment to our ministry to create an organization that today reaches more than 20 million people each week.”

Novak’s involvement with K-LOVE goes back to 1982 when he served as the voice of the station and then joined EMF full time in 1998 as an air talent and later program director, network program director, vice president of programming, and senior vice president, before being tapped to be President/CEO in 2007. Prior to joining EMF, he held a number of positions at for-profit radio stations in major markets in California for many years.

Novak, who grew up in the Central Valley of California, has not only been President and CEO but also a familiar voice to K-LOVE and Air1 listeners for years. He has overseen a staff of more than 400 team members, including everyone from on-air staff to an extensive pastoral team for listeners.

 

Weekly Chart Report (6/1/18)

Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Weekly Chart Report (5/25/18)

Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Weekly Chart Report (5/18/17)


Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Weekly Chart Report (5/11/18)

Click here or above to access MusicRow’s weekly CountryBreakout Report.