Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan has written a book, with a November 8th release date.
Never Ride A Rollercoaster Upside Down: The Ups, Downs, and Reinvention of An Entrepreneur will revealed some of the most enjoy experiences of the business owner’s life.
“I think you will enjoy many of the stories and hopefully you’ll even laugh out loud at a number of them,” Smulyan said. “I also hope that some of the lessons I’ve learned (many of them painful) will be helpful to you in navigating your careers and your family life.”
According to publisher Matt Holt, Never Ride a Rollercoaster Upside Down details Smulyan’s journey: from taking over his cousin’s failing country music radio station and founding his own company, to purchasing and then selling ownership of the Seattle Mariners and guiding his company through the Golden Age of Radio. Alongside his humorous, eventful, and dramatic stories, Smulyan presents valuable pointers and tips—for anyone else brave enough to try their own hand at starting a business.
A report from Sara Fischer of Axios claims Audacy has hired bankers to explore a sale of Cadence13, one of its two podcast studios.
The company faces potential delisting by the New York Stock Exchange if its price remains at under $1 per share. The NYSE gave Audacy notice that it had six months to increase its price or face the delisting. Shares closed Friday at an all-time low of 39 cents.
Audacy purchased a stake in Cadence13, then called DGital Media, in 2017. It then purchased the remaining shares of the company in 2019, placing its valuation at approaching $50 million.
Fischer reporters Audacy would seek to sell Cadence13 at nearly double that $50 million valuation.
Cadence13 has recently launched several new podcasts, including shows by Stephen A. Smith and former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media.
In addition to Cadence13, Audacy also owns two other podcast studios, 2400Sports and Pineapple Street Studios.
An Audacy spokesperson told Axios “we don’t comment on rumors of this nature”.
As ESPN prepares for the upcoming NBA season, the network unveiled a new graphics package and theme song Tuesday.
The network unveiled a new scorebug, with colors for each team corresponding to what uniform they are wearing.
“Leading creative initiatives like this one are exactly what we envisioned when we created ESPN’s groundbreaking in-house Creative Studio almost two years ago,” said Carrie Brzezinski-Hsu, Vice President, ESPN Creative Studio. “We take sports from game to experience. It takes a dynamic collective of creative capabilities and storytellers to make fans feel like they are part of the game.”
“Like everything involving the NBA on ESPN, this has been a total team effort,” said Tim Corrigan, Vice President, Production. “We were thrilled to collaborate with our ESPN Creative Studio group to bring this new look and feel to life. It’s big, bold and contemporary and we can’t wait for fans to see it.”
The network has also unveiled new theme music for the upcoming season.
ESPN partnered with Made Music Studios for “the next evolution” of the NBA on ESPN’s sound. The network says “Made Music created a hip hop-based concept with the power and energy synonymous with ESPN’s NBA Productions”.
Kayla Anderson has been added to the 104.5 The Zone morning show, newly titled Ramon, Kayla, and Will, joining Ramon Foster and Will Boling on the Nashville station.
Anderson will begin hosting Wednesday morning. She has previously worked as a sports anchor, reporter, and digital contributor on WKRN-TV in Nashville. A graduate of Washington State University, she has also worked at television stations in Spokane, Missoula, Tucson, and Columbus in addition to her time in Nashville.
“After spending the last 15 years in local TV covering sports, I’m thrilled to venture into Sports Talk radio, joining 104.5 The Zone in the mornings with Ramon, Will and producer Jonathan Shaffer,” Anderson said. “I’m truly looking forward to hanging with this talented crew, talking sports, interacting with the listeners, and having lots of fun doing it!”
Anderson said on Twitter she is “so excited to join this group!”
Boling had been the interim host of the morning show after the August departure of Jason Martin.
Ramon, Kayla, and Will will be heard from 6:00 AM-10:00 AM each weekday morning.
Former NFL defensive lineman Derek Wolfe is joining 104.3 The Fan in Denver as Darren “DMac” McKee’s co-host on The Drive With Derek Wolfe and DMac.
Wolfe announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this year after signing a one-day contract to retire with the Denver Broncos. He was the franchise’s top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, spending eight seasons with the team, including a win in Super Bowl 50.
“To the listeners in Denver, ‘The Fan Wolfe-pack,’ I am so insanely pumped to talk with you every afternoon on The Fan. We had a special connection when I was playing for the Broncos that’s only going to grow stronger every day on The Drive,” said Wolfe. “DMac and I are going to fight sometimes, maybe we’ll fight a lot of the time, but we’ll always be working together to entertain you. I’ve always kept it 100 with you, and that’s not going to change one bit.”
“Derek is one of the most popular players in Broncos history, with the iconic image of his sack celebration in Super Bowl 50 forever etched in Denver sports lore,” said 104.3 The Fan program director Raj Sharan. “What’s so exciting about adding Derek is his connection with the audience goes far beyond his production on the field. He’s never been afraid to mince words and is unapologetically authentic. Those characteristics drew Denver sports fans to fall in love with Derek, and we’re thrilled to help Derek build on that relationship everyday as he entertains his ‘Fan Wolfe-pack!’”
Wolfe enters a role previously occupied by former Bronco Tyler Polumbus, who departed the station in September. The Drive with Derek Wolfe and DMac will be heard weekday afternoons from 2:00 PM-6:00 PM.
Seven women are getting an award from the Alliance for Women in Media. The Gracies Leadership Awards will be presented November 14th at Tribeca 360 in New York. According to a news release, this year’s honorees are:
In a statement, Alliance for Women in Media President Becky Brooks said she’s excited.
“It is an exceptional honor to recognize and celebrate this strong lineup and powerhouse of women leaders in our industry. Soledad O’Brien as our keynote speaker will undoubtedly create an unforgettable event for everyone in attendance.”
Broadcast news veteran Soledad O’Brien will deliver the keynote address. The Alliance for Women in Media was established in 1951 as American Women in Radio & Television.
