The Grio

LL Cool J is set to host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. The veteran rapper and actor has been confirmed as the emcee of this year’s edition of the annual awards show, which will take place at New York’s UBS Arena on 7 September. This will mark LL’s first time hosting the show solo. He previously co-hosted the 2022 VMAs alongside fellow artists Jack Harlow and Nicki Minaj. The rapper follows […]

The FCC’s Audio Division has approved the transfer of control of Alpha Media Licensee LLC from Alpha Media Holdings Inc. to Connoisseur Media Holdco, Inc., granting a waiver of the agency’s Local Radio Ownership Rule to allow the deal to proceed without requiring the sale of any stations in the Tyler-Longview, TX market. The August 13 ruling covers Alpha’s five FM stations in the market — Adult Hits KOOI-FM/Jacksonville, KYKX […]

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The 2025 Urban One Summit wrapped last month in Atlanta, marking three dynamic days of culture-shaping conversations, exclusive performances, and high-level industry networking. From curated strategy sessions to showcases, the invite-only experience reinforced its place as a leading force in connecting music, media, and marketing. Hosted by Urban One, the largest Black owned media company, the summit brought together some of the most influential voices in entertainment — including artists, […]

DMR/Interactive and PromoSuite have renewed their two-decade-long strategic partnership, committing to expanded collaboration, increased automation, and continued support for station-level activations aimed at driving ratings and revenue for radio outlets across North America. The alliance, first established in 2005, focuses on delivering listener-focused marketing solutions, particularly targeting employed heavy listeners. The renewed agreement maintains the integration of DMR/Interactive’s database activation and email marketing with PromoSuite’s technology, creating a high-volume communication […]

Lil Wayne cancelled his gig in Toronto with only an hour’s notice on Monday night. The 42-year-old rapper cancelled his performance at the Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Canada, with only one hour’s notice on Monday. Fans already inside the venue were greeted by a message on a screen informing them that the show had been postponed due to “unforeseen illness”. This announcement was made at 8pm, one hour before the rapper was set […]

Urban One, Inc. posted a sharp second-quarter loss as lower advertising sales and substantial impairment charges weighed on results. For the quarter ended June 30, the Silver Spring, MD-based media company reported net revenue of $91.6 million, down 22% from $117.7 million a year earlier. The decline reflected weaker results across its core segments, including Radio Broadcasting, Reach Media, Digital, and Cable Television, with notable year-over-year drops in event revenues […]

Dave Van Dyke, BridgeRatings For decades, radio stations have leaned on short slogans, taglines, jingles, and positioning statements to reinforce their brand identity. Whether it’s a sung hook between songs or a quick voiceover before the news, these elements have been part of the industry’s DNA. But in an age of on-demand listening, are they still effective — or are they starting to irritate listeners? The research says: it depends […]

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