Audio equipment dealer ProAudio.com, sometimes referred to by its former name Crouse-Kimzey, has been sold to SoundPro. 🎧 It is now integrating its operations under the Sound Productions brand. Elle Kehres has the details: 👇

The recent College Broadcasters Inc. NSMC convention in Denver spread some good vibes for college radio. 📻 I enjoyed talking with the winner of the Dave Black Advisor of the Year honor, Dan Schumacher at Texas State University's 89.9 KTSW(FM), for his perspective.

The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has launched a new grant program to help support the preservation, digitization and public accessibility of America’s broadcast history. Recipients of the Preservation Grant Initiative could be awarded up to $2,500 each.

Advertising is at the core of radio’s DNA, says Gary Begin. 🧬 Radio has been telling stories, constructing brands and building powerful campaigns for decades, and that's why advertisers should turn to the medium, he writes.

Our latest free ebook is about smart spending for radio technology managers. 💻 How can engineers efficiently create budgets, operate their plants, manage equipment lifecycles and get the most out of their transmission investments?

I love visiting Chicago, and on a trip to the Windy City in October, I got to see the impressive facilities of @wbez.org, the nonprofit Chicago Public Media, which includes the @chicago.suntimes.com. 🌆 My October morning on the Navy Pier for @radio-world.bsky.social. ⬇️

Our editor in chief Paul McLane appreciated reader sentiments on his reflection on the romance of broadcast towers. 🗼 Paul even heard from the man who gave him his first paying job in radio, Al Campagnone, formerly of WNRK(AM) in Delaware.

Orban's first audio processor for FM broadcasting, the Optimod 8000, was introduced 50 years ago. 🎵 Radio World is partnering with Orban on a series of conversations between Bob Orban and Radio World's Paul McLane. Read about Bob's childhood interest in audio and how the first Optimod came about.

Wheatstone founder and owner Gary Snow will retire from the company by the end of next year. Snow, 77, started the manufacturing firm with his wife Kathy in 1974. Its brands include Audioarts, Wheatstone and Voxpro. Since 1998 it has been based in New Bern, N.C.

The recent influx of inexpensive portable receivers and SDRs, combined with social media spotlighting what they can do, have young people interested in the hobby of radio and — by extension — radio again, writes Mark J. Fine. 👂

"There is no reason to be the loudest station on the dial if people can only listen for a few moments before becoming fatigued," engineer Jeremy Preece says. 👂 What's right for you when it comes to audio processing? Check out this feature from our Paul McLane.

I've followed the Philly radio scene for quite a while, and Wednesday was as tough of a day as it gets. We lost both Harry Donahue of KYW and the legendary Pierre Robert of WMMR. They each spent decades on the air in the Delaware Valley. My story on Robert's legacy for @radio-world.bsky.social:

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is defending its decision to grant nearly $58 million to a new entity to handle distribution of public media content in the U.S. CPB says National Public Radio’s court argument to stop the transaction amounts to an “over-caffeinated conspiracy theory.”

Don't scrap that old antenna hardware! In the latest Workbench, Frank Hertel and his colleague Jeff Oestreich shared their creative use for antenna mounting brackets. ⚒️

Frank and Dave Hertel were recently honored by the Kentucky Broadcasters Association. 🏆 Readers are no doubt familiar with Frank’s frequent contributions to John Bisset’s Workbench, from his more than 60 years of experience in radio engineering.

Military radio stations, writes Paul Hughes, chief of regional radio for AFN Europe, are more than just entertainment providers for their bases. 🪖 "By embracing innovation and collaboration, they can remain vital to audiences worldwide."

This impressive assortment of microphones belongs to Pete Williams, retired correspondent and reporter for NBC TV network news. 🎤 Which model is Williams' favorite?

For engineer and Radio World friend Jeremy Preece, the climb to Keddie Peak comes with divine views. 🌄 Check out his photos from the FM antenna atop the northeast California mountain.

On Halloween week, I decided it was time to ask: What's the story behind the 6 AM "graveyard" frequencies? 👻 While they may be frightening to listen to after dark, DX'ers like Finland's Jim Solatie don't find them so spooky! My @radio-world.bsky.social story:👇

With radio broadcasters hyper-focused on cost-cutting, some are consolidating or outsourcing their traffic and billing functions. 💳 Cumulus disclosed on a quarterly investor call that it was outsourcing its entire traffic function.

"Remember how one airline started charging for baggage?" reader Hal Kneller asks of Tesla's recent decision to remove FM tuners from its 2026 base models. "I hope this isn’t something other car makers will see and think it’s a good idea."

Wendell Lonergan joined Nautel nine years after the company’s inception in 1969. ⚓ In 2017, he helped the broadcast manufacturer negotiate a 2 MW AM transmitter purchase for Antenna Hungária. Elle Kehres profiles a career Lonergan looks back on proudly.

Tesla's 2026 entry-level Model Y Standard and Model 3 Standard trims will not come with either an AM or FM radio. NAB said in response that removing broadcast radio from vehicles is a "disservice to millions of drivers." My story for @radio-world.bsky.social. ⬇️

The annual Marconi Awards ceremony took place yesterday evening at the Edison Ballroom, prior to the start of NAB Show New York. 🏆 It was quite the night for Beasley Media's WMMR(FM), which takes back to Philadelphia three awards. My story @radio-world.bsky.social 👇

Saga Communications has sold 22 of its broadcast tower sites to GTC Uno for a total of $10.7 million. GTC Uno is an offshoot of GTC Towers, a Florida-based company that builds and acquires broadcast and digital towers to lease out. Elle Kehres has the story. 👇

San Francisco's @kqednews.kqed.org experienced a steep audience drop in 2023. 📉 The dip, KQED's Ernesto Aguilar writes, forced the organization to confront how radio, still one of its most important platforms, was utilized.

Cumulus Media says Nielsen is violating federal law. ⚖️ In a suit filed Friday, it alleges that the ratings company has used coercive conduct and strong-arm negotiation tactics to harm radio broadcasters.

John Kean's research suggests that good AM radio reception is still possible in large metropolitan areas. In a Q&A with James O'Neal, Kean explains his investigation of common sources of noise that may drive listeners away. 🔕

Chapter 37 of the Society of Broadcast Engineers brought together more than 50 attendees to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of shared antenna system. 🗼 “AntennaFest 2025: Shared Signals” was a first-time event held on Oct. 7 at the headquarters of WETA(FM).

Randy Stine writes that public radio outlets are facing existential questions. 💸 Some stations, like WBGO(FM), are placing a greater emphasis on fundraising, with a "clear, calm, succinct veracity" in communication campaigns.

Several radio industry publications are reporting that @iHeartMedia is again cutting costs within its broadcast division. Randy Stine summarizes the latest. https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/reports-mount-of-cuts-in-staff-at-iheartmedia

In the Oct. 8 issue of Radio World, Randy Stine explores the impact of the loss of federal funding on local public radio broadcasters. 💵 James Careless reports on the joys of tuning into shortwave via remote radio tuners. https://radio-world.visitlink.me/4Ph3ol

Many transmitter sites use big floodlight bulbs, typically mounted deep in their fixtures. 💡 A Workbench reader asks what's the best way to change them? https://radio-world.visitlink.me/k02IiN

The format clock wheel has long been an essential part of any radio station. 🕐 Now, free software is allowing program directors to generate an hourly clock on demand. My @radio-world.bsky.social story on a cool little tool:

Crawford Broadcasting Director of Engineering Cris Alexander can identify with Paul McLane's love of towers. 🗼 For Alexander, it all started in 1977, working 4 p.m.–midnight at KWAS(FM) in Amarillo.

Should you put a broadcast processor on your online streams? ❓ Learn what Wheatstone's Jeff Keith and other experts have to say about trends in processing in your latest free ebook.

As the FCC considers the future of the nation's alerting systems, HD Radio developer Xperi is pointing to the benefits of its digital radio system and touts the heightened role it should play in any EAS modernization. Global Security Systems is advocating for its satellite-fed alerting platform.

Connoisseur Media is adding some heritage San Francisco FMs to its growing portfolio. 📈 It is acquiring Bonneville's KOIT, KUFX, KMVO and KBLX, which will bring the total number of stations Connoisseur owns to 220 across 48 U.S. markets.

When it comes to attacks on communications, you might think cybersecurity. But FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty says far less high-tech vandalism through copper wire theft is an increasing danger. My story on her remarks at yesterday's telecom industry summit for @radio-world.bsky.social.👇

The Jacob Javits Convention Center will welcome the NAB Show New York on Oct. 22–23. Winners of the Marconi Radio Awards will be announced during a dinner program the evening before the convention. 🏆 Paul McLane previews the festivities.

Information Station Specialists was "roped" into setting up a 1700 AM TIS station at the recent Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota. 🦬 The temporary TIS station provided information for visitors who watched 1,300 bison thunder in to receive their vaccinations.

Ted Nahil is the U.S. sales rep for 2wcom, with years of radio engineering experience. Along with changing trends in delivery methods, he says radio is also seeing the beginnings of a shift toward centralized, cloud-based air chains. ☁️

For Johannes Rietschel, the CTO at Barix, protecting devices that communicate over the internet is akin to basic kitchen safety. 🧑‍🍳 I spoke with Rietschel after a round of radio AoIP device breaches last month in my latest @radio-world.bsky.social.

The two largest EAS product suppliers, Digital Alert Systems and Sage Alerting Systems, have filed comments in the FCC's review of national alert systems. Randy Stine summarizes their filings. 📢

With the U.S. federal government shutdown now into a sixth day, I've got an updated look at the FCC-related deadlines and services in my latest @radio-world.bsky.social. 👇

Recording professionals have a new resource to help prepare their studios for natural disasters, emergencies and business interruptions. 🎙️ It’s called Studio Emergency Preparation Recommendations.

Jacob Daniluck is Tieline’s VP Sales for the Americas. He says the ability to connect over the internet at low bitrates with µMPX is a game-changer for broadcasters.

Through connected receivers, shortwave radio listening is alive and well again, writes James Careless. 🌍 He highlights one supercharged remote station operated by Wolfgang Sidler (HB9RYZ) and Fredric Furrer (HB9CQK) on Mount Rigi in Switzerland.

In July, China adopted the @drmdigitalradio.bsky.social standard for its AM radio bands. 📻 The DRM Consortium's chairman, Ruxandra Obreja, says it's a coming of age moment for the digital mode.

The 15th annual World College Radio Day is tomorrow! 👩‍🎓 Around the globe, college stations will be participating, highlighted by the World College Radio Day global marathon, which begins streaming at 6 p.m. ET today.