2019 Obama Foundation Summit Recap

The third Obama Foundation Summit took place in Chicago on October 28 and 29, 2019 in Chicago. President and Mrs. Obama took part in the event, which brought together participants from across the Foundation’s programs—Obama Foundation Fellows, Scholars, Africa Leaders, Community Leadership Corps members, representatives of the Girls Opportunity Alliance and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance communities, as well as the Chicago community.

SiriusXM Gets $8.25 Million In Settlement Of Contested Stock Buyback

Story by Inside Radio

SiriusXM will collect $8.25 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit brought against its board of directors over contested stock repurchases it made from Liberty Media. The suit argued that the satcaster overpaid when it bought $500 million of its stock back from Liberty, which owns a majority stake in the company. The defendants admitted no wrongdoing in settling the complaint, which was made on behalf of the satcaster in what’s known as a derivative action.

The proposed settlement, which still requires court approval, stems from a stock repurchase plan in October 2013 under which the satcaster set out to buy back $2 billion in shares on the open market and in private transactions. As part of the buyback, the SiriusXM board approved a $500 million repurchase of its stock from Liberty Media. In November 2013, in the first portion of the buyback, the satellite broadcaster paid $160 million to Liberty for 43,712,265 shares at a 1.5% discount to the stock’s trading price. But the second transaction, set for January 2014, never happened. That’s when Liberty announced a deal to buy all of the SiriusXM stock it didn’t already own and asked the satcaster to defer on the share buybacks. SiriusXM agreed but two months later, Liberty withdrew its merger bid and said it wanted to push ahead with share repurchases. So the satcaster repurchased $340 million of its shares from Liberty for the final portion. But this time, instead of a discount, it paid $3.66 per share for stock that was trading at $3.12 per share.

That prompted shareholder Thomas V. Rux to sue SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer, Liberty CEO Greg Maffei and other current and past SiriusXM board members, as well as Liberty Media and its chairman John Malone. In what’s known as a shareholder derivative complaint, the action claimed the directors breached their fiduciary duties, and that Malone and Liberty “aided and abetted” the breaches in connection with the Liberty repurchases.

In October 2016, Liberty and SiriusXM asked the Delaware Chancery Court to toss the complaint, claiming that the suing stockholder didn’t prove that a majority of the directors were beholden to Liberty chairman and ex-Sirius director John Malone, Law360.com reported. The suit alleged SiriusXM overpaid for the Liberty repurchase by $50 million.

Now the parties have reached a proposed settlement in which SiriusXM will receive $8.25 million, most of which will be paid by the director defendants’ insurance companies. Rux, the shareholder who filed the suit, plans to apply for a fee and expense award and the legal team that argued the suit intends to ask the court for up to 30% of the settlement cash or $2.475 million. The agreement is subject to the court’s approval with a hearing set for Jan. 16, 2020. Stockholders, who will receive nothing, are being given the opportunity to oppose the settlement.

“The settlement provides substantial immediate benefits to Sirius XM and the Sirius XM stockholders without the risk that continued litigation could result in obtaining similar or lesser relief for SiriusXM and Sirius XM stockholders after continued extensive and expensive litigation, including trial and the appeals that were likely to follow,” Sirius XM said in a court filing.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Honors the Life of CBC Founder, Former Congressional Rep. (Mi.) John Conyers, Jr.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) President & CEO David A. Hinson released the following statement on the death of former Congressman Conyers:

“The CBCF family mourns the loss of Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) founding member, former Congressman John J. Conyers, Jr.

“As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965-2017, Congressman Conyers represented Michigan's 14th District in Detroit. After more than five decades in office, he was the longest-serving African American in Congress. Before entering Congress, Rep. Conyers served in the National Guard and the United States Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War.

“During his tenure in Congress, this champion of civil and human rights served as chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform and the House Committee on the Judiciary. He was a principal sponsor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and led the passage of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Act of 1983 after 15 years of struggle to find adequate support for the bill. Ironically, Rep. Conyers was endorsed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his initial run for Congress.

“In 2016, Congressman Conyers received CBCF’s AVOICE Heritage Award in recognition of his perseverance and his continued dedication to advancing the global black community. CBCF will be forever grateful for the immense legislative and social contributions made by Congressman Conyers throughout his more than 50 years of public service. His genuine concern for and fierce persistence in serving the concerns of African Americans and the nation are his legacy and our inspiration.

“We join generations across the nation in expressing our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and constituents. May he rest well.”


Founding Members of the Congressional Black Caucus
Caption: Left to Right: (front row) Rep. Robert Nix Sr., Rep. Charles Diggs Jr., Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Rep. Augustus Hawkins (second row) Rep. Parren Mitchell, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. William Clay Sr., Rep. Ronald Dellums, Rep. George Collins, Rep. Louis Stokes, Rep. Ralph Metcalfe, Rep. John Conyers Jr., Del. Walter Fauntroy

Location: Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University

American National Football League's Washington Redskins seeking picks, players for Offensive Left Tackle Trent Williams

Story by NFL.com
Written by Kevin Patra

Trent Williams is finally on the trade block, but the Washington Redskins are asking for a haul in exchange for the seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Washington isn't just asking for draft picks, they also are "big-game hunting" for players, per sources informed of the situation.

In terms of the Cleveland Browns, who have been viewed as a frontrunner with a glaring need that might be willing to pay up for Williams' services, the Redskins are asking for players like corner Denzel Ward in return. That's a non-starter for the Browns, per Rapoport.

NFL Networks Tom Pelissero noted on Monday that the Redskins told other teams they had a second-round pick on the table for the 31-year-old Williams, but are holding out for more.

Williams requested a trade in the summer months. Now hours before the trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET, they're trying to squeeze everything they can out of a potential deal at the wire.

NFL Trade Deadline 2019: Redskins fielding calls on Trent Williams, Bucs willing to move O.J. Howard

Story by CBS Sports
Written by Tyler Sullivan

Live updates, rumors and analysis from Tuesday's NFL trade deadline

The NFL's midseason game of musical chairs wraps up on Tuesday afternoon with the trade deadline set for 4 p.m. ET.

Leading up to this year's deadline, we've already seen a solid amount of movement throughout the league. To this point, some of the headliners include Los Angeles Rams acquiring corner Jalen Ramsey, the Niners dealing for Emmanuel Sanders and New England trading for receiver Mohamed Sanu. On the eve of the deadline, running back Kenyan Drake was shipped out of Miami and to Arizona and defensive tackle Leonard Williams was sent across the hall of MetLife Stadium as the Jets traded him to the Giants.

While we've already seen numerous trades go down, there's plenty more dominos to potentially drop. The Redskins have seemingly changed course with star left tackle Trent Williams and are now fielding offers. Not only that, but Washington also appears willing to part with corner Josh Norman. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at least willing to listen on offers for tight end O.J. Howard, but they would need to be blown away to actually execute a deal. Some other names worth watching throughout the afternoon include receiver A.J. Green, corner Aqib Talib, wideout Robby Anderson and even running back Melvin Gordon. That said, those are just some of the many names that will be thrown into the rumor mill up until the actual deadline.

On top of the trades themselves, there will be plenty of other scuttlebutt that surrounds this deadline. We're here to collect every newsworthy nugget, dissect it and break down what it means for both sides. To follow along with the latest happenings around the league, check out our live blog below.

Representative Congressman Elijah Cummings Funeral in Baltimore

Link to View Cummings Funeral Service: https://www.c-span.org/video/?465670-1/representative-elijah-cummings-funeral-baltimore&fbclid=IwAR2ByCrRGzukR8KYurOLKt2jPsmZPHNodJHcTOuG98FuHyw7EtOtL0OCiyE

Video Link: https://www.c-span.org/video/?465670-1/representative-elijah-cummings-funeral-baltimore

Red-Hot Washington Nationals Help WJFK To Championship Numbers.

Story by Inside Radio

The Washington Nationals take a 2-0 lead in the World Series home to Nationals Park Friday night (Oct. 25) and looking at Audience Overnights for the first two games, the team’s flagship radio station, Entercom sports “106.7 The Fan” WJFK-FM, is also on a hot streak.

Game 1 of the 2019 World Series on Tuesday, Oct. 22 went to the visiting Nats, who won a see-saw battle over the American League Champion Houston Astros by a score of 5-4.

In Game 1, “106.7 The Fan” reaped the benefits of the first World Series appearance for the franchise with an increase of 61 QHRS (Persons 35-54) for the 7pm-12am daypart compared to the night before. Overall (6+), “The Fan” had 198 QHRS the night of Game 1.

In Houston, Astros games air on iHeartMedia “SportsTalk 790” KBME, which had 118 QHRS (6+) Monday 7pm-12am in Game 1. In the money demo (25-54), KBME saw an increase of 36 QHRS compared to the day before in evenings, according to Media Monitors Audience Insights.

Major League Baseball plays to a TV audience when scheduling games in prime time. However, radio’s prime time are the daylight hours, 6am-7pm. And while, game time broadcasts definitely increase audience compared to nights when the teams are not playing, both WJFK-FM and KBME saw increases for the full day when World Series games were scheduled.

Not having a team in the Fall Classic since 1933 has brought DC-area baseball fans out of the woodwork and tuned into “The Fan,” which had 492 QHRS (6+) on Tuesday, Oct. 22 (6am-12am). KBME was at 242 QHRS for the same time frame and date.

“People want to hear about it and talk about it. There’s the build-up,” Nielsen Audio VP/Audience Insights Jon Miller told Inside Radio. “The bump of a team being in the World Series or being in the playoffs is not just about the games themselves. It’s about the times in between the games and the recaps… that’s such a big driver for listening.”

The trend continued and even increased for Game 2, again held in Houston, and with the same result, a Nationals win, this one however more dominant as Washington cruised to a 12-4 victory, bringing the team halfway to their first World Series title. WJFK-FM saw an increase of 105 QHRS (Persons 35-64, 7pm-12am) compared to the time a week before. Full day, WJFK-FM saw a 125 QHRS increase in the demo compared to the week prior.

Miller says the last time the Astros were in the World Series in 2017, radio listening in their home market was less than in Los Angeles, home of the 2017 National League Champion Dodgers. The Astros beat the Dodgers in seven games that year to claim the title. “Now we have another World Series that we are seeing this again. I don’t know if that has something to do with how they consume baseball in Houston as opposed to elsewhere, but we didn’t see gigantic numbers on the radio the last time the Astros were in the World Series.” –Jay Gleason

Pittman: Podcasting Has ‘Super-Charged’ Broadcast Radio.

Story by Inside Radio

Audio, thanks in large part to podcast, is enjoying a burst of attention and the head of radio’s largest operator says how the two platforms harmonize is working to its advantage. “These new forms like podcast have really super-charged radio again because it’s really an extension of the radio experience,” said iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman. In an interview with CNBC, he noted that while perceptions of audio may be changing, the reality is radio use hasn’t been disrupted by digital in the same way television or newspapers have.

“Radio has basically been unchanged in reach,” explained Pittman. “Radio is really about the companionship. We’re your friend riding with you in the empty seat in the car; we’re your friend chatting with you while you’re cooking, brushing your teeth, doing some work that you want to get your mind off of, or you’re walking or whatever. And I think companionship is probably more valuable today than ever, especially in this era of always looking at the phone and living in this very fragmented society.”

Month after month Podtrac data shows iHeartMedia is the largest commercial producer of podcasts while NPR is the biggest noncommercial podcaster. Pittman says the glaring common thread among two companies is their broadcast roots. “We’re both radio and podcasting, and the two work in tandem,” he said. “Podcasting is not so much a separate bolt-on business but it’s really an extension of what we do on radio.”

It’s a conclusion that other radio executives have also come to, and the industry has poured millions of dollars into building out a podcast business. Most notable, Entercom has reshaped the Radio.com app with a bigger emphasis on podcast content. Since podcasting remains a medium seeking additional consumer adoption, Pittman told CNBC that new competition may be more of a help than hindrance.

“Anybody who gets into podcast helps us because we’re the leader,” he said. “Everybody who comes in brings somebody new to podcasting and we’ve got the big library and the big shows and so bringing them into the podcasting ecosystem is very good for us. So we’re encouraging everybody to get into podcasting.”

The comparisons between podcasting and Netflix are now well-worn and many in the industry shy away from company claims of being the so-called Netflix of audio. Pittman is no different but said in the interview that Netflix did color how iHeartMedia built its podcasting business. He said while television networks were comfortable licensing their content to a company that had the look and feel of TV, it’s a model he concluded wouldn’t work for iHeart. That’s because he views it as “an extension” of radio. “That’s why it was so important for us to own podcasting,” said Pittman. “It’s so important that it’s all one seamless operation so we can go back and forth between podcast and radio with the consumer—we’re really one audience and multiple platforms.” He did acknowledge, however, that if iHeart were to operate the podcast business separately, he said it might be given a better valuation among Wall Street investors.

Smart speakers have yet to become a major access point for podcasts, but Pittman said the fast-growing device segment is helping fill a gap that has been developing during the past decade in the broadcast radio reach model. “The weakness of radio was we lost a lot of those clock radios, home radio and kitchen radios and suddenly here’s the smart speaker. And where do people put them? The bedroom, the kitchen, the living room—exactly where their radios were,” he said. “It reinvigorates the home listening experience for us.”

Media and Public Details for Funeral Service of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 24, 2019

Contact: Trudy Perkins (410) 685-9199

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings 1951 – 2019

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he resided until his death. He
obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Howard University, serving as Student Government President
and graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He later graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law. Congressman
Cummings also received 13 honorary doctoral degrees from universities throughout the nation.

Congressman Cummings dedicated his life of service to uplifting and empowering the people he was sworn to
represent. He began his career of public service in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he served for 14 years and
became the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore. From 1996 until 2019,
Congressman Cummings proudly represented Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of
Representatives, where his voting record reflected his deep allegiance to the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The Congressman often said that his vote for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 was the most
important he ever cast. In 2014, he fought to include prostate cancer in the Compassionate Allowances listing allowing
the Social Security Administration to cover medications, medical procedures, and provide financial support for men who
can no longer work and provide a living for themselves and their families. Over one million men have benefitted from
this policy.

Dedicated to reforming our criminal justice system, the Congressman was proud of his work on the MERCY Act, which
was included in the First Step Act, the CARE Act, the REDEEM Act, and the Fair Chance Act.
During the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, the Congressman marched the streets urging the
community to go home ahead of the curfew.

Less known, Congressman Cummings compiled one of the strongest pro-environment voting records during his decades
in the U.S. House of Representatives. The son of a working-class family who achieved a measure of economic security
through his father’s membership in the Chemical Workers Union, he also strongly supported labor unions.

In January 2011, Congressman Cummings became the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform—the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives, with jurisdiction to investigate
any matter at any time. For eight years, he was a tenacious leader of the Democratic Members of the Committee,
conducting vigorous oversight to address the housing and foreclosure crisis; to protect the health, safety, and pocketbooks
of Americans; to increase diversity while working to root out hazing in the military; to combat "drug speculation" by
"gray market" drug companies; to tackle the skyrocketing costs of certain prescription drugs; to examine the compensation
packages of top executives at for-profit colleges; take on efforts to suppress the vote; to investigate the Flint water crisis;
and to ensure that the Secret Service is effective and efficient. Cummings also introduced legislation to stem gun
trafficking and to protect the rights of whistleblowers.

This year, Congressman Cummings became the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. He fought to hold
the current Administration to a high standard of excellence, including protecting immigrant children from “empathy
deficit” policies. One of his final acts as Chairman was to sign subpoenas for documents related to the Administration’s
policy to deport critically ill children. Chairman Cummings also fought to ensure that we have an accurate 2020
Census, combat the opioid crisis, protect our national security, increase transparency in the federal government,
and highlight significant problems with the White House security clearance process.

One of his highest priorities in Congress was lowering the prices of prescription drugs. He introduced the Medicare Drug
Price Negotiation Act and personally met with President Trump to try and work with him on this critical
issue. He launched one of the most wide-ranging investigations in Congress into the prescription drug industry’s pricing
practices, and he held multiple hearings with patients and advocates. In honor of his dedication to this issue, the House of
Representatives renamed H.R.3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019, after the Congressman.

Congressman Cummings was also a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and was
dedicated to ensuring Maryland had safe infrastructure that would allow the state to prosper. In July, he announced $125
million in federal funding for the Howard Street Tunnel expansion project. He was incredibly proud of the work he did to
secure $90 million for Baltimore’s Penn Station. The Congressman created a partnership with Greyhound and Baltimore
City Community College to create a diesel mechanic and diesel technician training program.

From 2008 to 2013, during the nation’s foreclosure crisis, he convened nine foreclosure prevention workshops. An
average of 1,000 homeowners attended each workshop. Congressman Cummings hosted 22 annual How to Pay for
College Seminars, as well as annual job fairs with some years having thousands of participants. The Congressman also
awarded college scholarships through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship Program. Annually, he
also hosted an App Challenge and Art Competition for high school students and developed a nationally recognized U.S.
Service Academy Program to nominate students to military service academies.

Congressman Cummings often said that our children are the living messages that we send to a future we will never
see. The Congressman partnered with City of Baltimore Health Department and Vision for Baltimore to provide free
eyeglasses to Baltimore students. He secured funding to expand mental health services in schools. He founded the School
Safety Solutions Summit with Dr. Nancy Grasmick to create policies to improve school environments and increase
student academic achievement. And he was a fierce advocate for OrchKids, the Parks and People program, SuperKids
summer mentoring program, and increased summer YouthWorks funding.

Congressman Cummings served on numerous boards and commissions. He spearheaded an effort to strengthen the
Maritime Transportation Technologies Program at New Era Academy (NEA) in Baltimore, serving as Chairman of the
NEA Maritime Advisory Board. He also served on the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors, the Morgan State
University Board of Regents, the University of Maryland Law School Board of Advisors, and the SEED School of
Maryland Board of Directors. He also sat on the Board of Directors of the AFRO Charities, Inc. He was an honorary
Board member of KIPP Baltimore Schools and the Baltimore School for the Arts. He was also the holder of the
Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy Lecture Series at Howard University from 2014 –
2016. Please contact the office for a full list of boards and organizations of which the Congressman was a part.
Congressman Cummings was an active member of New Psalmist Baptist Church and is survived by his widow, Dr. Maya
Rockeymoore Cummings, and children Jennifer and Adia.

POSITIONS IN CONGRESS

 Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Reform (116th Congress)
 Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (112th Congress – 115th Congress)
 Ranking Member, Select Committee on Benghazi (113th Congress)
 Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
o Chair, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation (110th – 111th Congresses)
 Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Prior to 112th Congress)
o Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources (107th – 109th
Congresses)
o Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil Service (105th – 106th Congresses)
 Member, Joint Economic Committee (109th – 113th Congresses)
 Member, Committee on Armed Services (110th Congress)
 Chair, Congressional Black Caucus (108th Congress)

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Total Bills Introduced: 210
Total Bills that Passed the House: 47
Total introduced legislative measures that have been enacted into law in some form or, in the case of resolutions,
been passed by the House: 26

For more information about his accomplishments, please visit Congress.Gov or Cummings.House.Gov.
**For a digital copy of this fact sheet please email: MD07.Press@Mail.House.Gov**

U.S. HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP JAMES E. CLYBURN’S REMARKS DELIVERED AT THE U.S. CAPITOL SERVICE FOR CHAIRMAN ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn honored his dear friend Elijah E. Cummings with remarks at a service held today for the late Congressman at the U.S. Capitol. Below are his remarks:

As Prepared for Delivery

In the 6th Chapter and 8th verse of his Old Testament book, the prophet Micah admonishes that the Lord requires us to “do justly, act mercifully and walk humbly.” Elijah Eugene Cummings personified this directive in his service, and in the core of his being.

Elijah had a passion for justice; justice for those who are underserved, justice for those who are undercut, and justice for those who are underestimated. He himself had been grossly underestimated at a very early point in his development, and as a result had been placed in special education but was rescued by a teacher who saw that the only thing special about Elijah was his inquisitiveness. He and I often talked about the passion we shared about being called to rescue as many others as God would give us courage and strength to do.

Elijah understood Micah’s admonition that sometimes justice – even when dispersed equally - might not always be the proper course of action. And in such instances, we are called upon to be merciful. Elijah was merciful and he showed it with grace and kindness. Elijah often uttered soaring precepts, but he led by shining example. He knew how to balance firmness and fairness. He did not speak very often in our Caucus meetings, but when he did, it was usually to bring people together.

Elijah and I often talked about the humbleness of our shared roots in South Carolina soil, and our experiences growing up as PKs, preachers’ kids. Neither one of us sought to follow our fathers into the ministry, but both of us felt strongly in my father’s admonition to me, which I shared with Elijah on several occasions that, “the world would much rather see a sermon than hear one.”

Elijah’s service was a soaring, instructive sermon; and today - I have no doubt that - he is dancing with the angels and wishing us Godspeed as we pursue the making of a more perfect Union: establishing justice, employing mercy and walking humbly; never doing or saying anything to deserve his admonishment that, “we are better than that.”

RELEASE: Speakers and Pallbearers for Funeral Service of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings

UNITED STATES CONGRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 23, 2019

Contact: Trudy Perkins (410) 685-9199

Speakers and Pallbearers for Funeral Service of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings

Baltimore, MD (October 23, 2019) – To honor the life and legacy of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, the following individuals have been announced as speakers and pallbearers at Congressman Cummings’ Funeral Service on Friday, October 25, 2019, at New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings – Spouse
The Honorable Barack Obama
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
The Honorable Kweisi Mfume
Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Adia Cummings– Daughters
Mr. James Cummings – Brother
Dr. Alfred Vaughn – Clergy
Deaconess Margaret Ann Howie – New Psalmist Baptist Church
Mr. Larry Gibson – Mentor
Mr. Jon Alexander – Mentee
Dr. Leana Wen – Mentee
Mr. Harry Spikes – Congressional Staff

PALLBEARERS:
Carnel Cummings
Robert Cummings, Jr.
Bobby Rankin
Anthony Woodson
Lamont Chester
James Cummings
Gary Rahman
Eric Sykes
Michael Woodson
Anthony Bush

WHEN:
Friday, October 25, 2019 at 10:00 AM

WHERE:
New Psalmist Baptist Church, 6020 Marian Dr, Baltimore, MD 21215

NABOB Conference Touts $1.3 Trillion Buying Power Of Black Consumers

Story by Inside Radio

With $1.3 trillion of buying power, the might of Black consumers is of vital importance to advertisers. Add to that the fact that African Americans are receptive to advertising and believe that radio ads provide them with meaningful consumer product information—and it is obvious they are a match for those marketers turning to the airwaves to reach the demo.

“The role of radio, particularly Black radio, in the community is important and of great influence,” said Steven Roberts, CEO, Roberts Radio Broadcasting, during the recent 43rd National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters Annual Fall Conference and 19th Annual Power of Urban Radio Forum.

During the gathering, advertising and broadcast professionals discussed broadcast radio’s strengths and impact among African Americans. Referencing both the event and radio’s role, Chesley Maddox-Dorsey, CEO, American Urban Radio Networks (AURN), offered, “We’re here today because people think we’re relevant. Radio is relevant,” according to coverage of the conference by the Radio Advertising Bureau on its Radio Matters blog.

Indeed, when it comes to connections, “Radio personalities or DJs have always been a part of the accounts I work on,” said Vanessa Vining, Senior Media Director of ad agency Fluent360. “If you are speaking to people in an authentic voice, context matters. Black people are not just one thing. There is nuance. There is complexity within the segment. Understanding differences within the African American or Black segments is something that a lot of marketers and planners don’t recognize.”

In her coverage, Annette Malave, RAB’s Senior VP/Insights, shared GfK MRI data that states the Black consumer is more likely than the U.S. population to: consider or purchase a brand based on a celebrity endorsement (75%); have a greater connection to their ethnic heritage than their parents (72%); be influenced by what’s hot and what’s not (62%); and pay extra for a product that is consistent with the image they want to convey (38%).

“With incredible buying power, this young, strong and influential consumer should be part of every advertiser’s campaign,” Malave writes. “Radio, as not only the highest reach medium but the one that connects like no other, should be part of every advertiser’s media plan.”

Urban One Honors Awards To Celebrate Radio One History And Founder Cathy Hughes.

Story by Inside Radio

The second annual Urban One Honors Awards show is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5 at MGM National Harbor, just outside of Washington. The awards show will herald the accomplishments of individuals in entertainment, media, music, fashion, sports, education and the community. The event will also pay tribute to the 40-year history of Radio One and founder Cathy Hughes.

In 2016, Radio One made a $40 million investment in MGM National Harbor.

“I always say that Radio One is my second baby next to my son and business partner, [CEO] Alfred Liggins,” Hughes said in a release. “I am immensely grateful for the men and women who have worked to help make Radio One a success. It started as a single radio station and is now a media family with two cable television networks and various digital media platforms. I look forward to celebrating this milestone and recognizing others who are doing phenomenal work in their industries."

The awards show is presented by Radio One Washington radio stations urban AC “Majic 102.3” WMMJ; urban contemporary “93.9 Kiss FM” WKYS; urban gospel “Praise 104.1” WPRS-FM; “NewsTalk 1450” WOL; urban gospel “Spirit 1340” WYCB; and sports “The Team 980” WTEM. TV One serves as co-presenter and will air the awards show on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 20, 2020.

“Our team at Radio One DC is profoundly humbled to be a part of this historic presentation of Urban One Honors,” Radio One Senior VP Jeff Wilson added. “It's not only a celebration of 40 years of broadcast history but also a tribute to some of the most luminary figures in our American culture.”

Urban One says the program will feature a star-studded line-up of presenters and honorees as well as special musical performances. It will serve as an annual commemoration of the achievements of African Americans and broadcast their contributions to our culture and global society.

“African Americans have had a tremendous impact on society and culture, a fact that we're excited to celebrate with the telecast of the annual Urban One Honors on TV One,” General Manager Michelle Rice said. “As we honor the 40th-anniversary milestone of Radio One, Ms. Hughes' outstanding contributions as a media pioneer, and the impact of the honorees, we're proud to continue the network's mission to represent the richness of the black experience.”

Two More Lawmakers Reject Adoption Of A Radio Royalty.

Story by Inside Radio

In a political environment consumed by Democrats’ efforts to impeach President Trump, the National Association of Broadcasters has secured two more members of Congress to go on the record opposing a performance royalty for radio. Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, and Ron Wright (R-TX) have added their signatures to The Local Radio Freedom Act, a non-binding resolution that signals Members’ opposition to any potential legislation that imposes new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay.

With Cummings and Wright joining the list, the resolution now has 194 cosponsors in the House and 24 in the Senate. Those numbers fall short of what the NAB had secured for the resolution at this point last year. By late September 2018, 227 House members had gone on record backing the resolution, in addition to 28 in the Senate. Despite the shortfall, NAB President & CEO Gordon Smith believes there is little appetite to pass legislation that would create a performance royalty for radio. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the leading sponsor of a bill to create a performance royalty on radio in the previous session of Congress, has yet to introduce a royalty bill. Nadler, who now heads the Judiciary Committee, has “his hands full with trying to impeach the President and my experience having lived through the Clinton impeachment process is that consumes all of the oxygen on Capitol Hill,” Smith said on the Inside Radio Podcast.

Despite that, the recording industry isn’t relenting on efforts to get Congress to introduce a royalty bill. In an op-ed published by Variety, SoundExchange President & CEO Michael Huppe and recording artist-actor Common say radio’s royalty exemption makes a “mockery” of the concept of fair pay for one’s work. “No one can call our copyright laws ‘modernized’ until FM radio is held to the same standard as the music services it competes with on the dashboard and in American homes — the ones who pay artists,” the two write. “This is the longest standing inequity in our copyright laws, and it’s time to get real about solving it.

While Congress has encouraged radio and the record labels to negotiate a resolution to the decades old issue, Huppe and Common contend that no meaningful talks can take place until legislation is passed that requires FM radio broadcasters to get permission from music copyright owners before airing their music. “Having that performance right for sound recordings would set the table for real marketplace negotiations,” they say.

FCC’s O’Rielly Vows To Take Payola Inquiry Directly To Record Labels.

Story by Inside Radio

After receiving what he calls an “underwhelming” response from the Recording Industry Association of America, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly says he’ll take his payola inquiry directly to record labels. The Commissioner has been on a fact-finding mission following a recent Rolling Stone expose about allegations of modern-age payola in the radio and recording industries.

On Tuesday, O’Rielly posted on Twitter a letter he received from RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier in response to the Commissioner’s Sept. 4 inquiry about the relationship between radio and the record labels and whether allegations of non-disclosure are actually occurring. “Not going to lie: it’s a bit underwhelming,” O’Rielly tweeted. “Going to have to seek out answers directly from record labels.”

In the Sept. 27 letter, Glazier said the RIAA’s member companies “take the issues you raise very seriously and all of them maintain and enforce robust policies to ensure their compliance with all the applicable rules and regulations.” But recent press reports of alleged payola mainly revolve around the practices of independent radio promoters, “whom we do not represent and thus are not well situated to survey,” the letter says.

Record companies do, in fact, hire independent promoters to work their records to radio. But as a trade group that represents competing record companies, Glazier said the RIAA is “constrained by law in our ability to probe and collect the individual business practices of our member companies.” Glazier closed the curt six-sentence letter with an offer to provide contact info for people at record companies who are familiar with their policies.

In a story published in August, Rolling Stone quoted radio veteran Paul Porter, among others, who alleged the days of giving air personalities bags of cash or drugs may be long over, but the pay-for-play practice isn’t. Porter said record promoters are instead using cash apps and directing money to corporate accounts.

In his letter to the record industry trade group, O’Rielly told Glazier that the “changing nature of radio” and the “explosive impact of digital advertising” means record companies are now working with stations in ways that can be “very complex,” making it difficult to determine whether laws are being followed. “It is my sincere hope that recent allegations are being overstated or misrepresented,” said O’Rielly. He asked the RIAA to help the agency determine whether allegations of pay-to-play are actually occurring and whether artist appearances are being tied to on-air spins. “My primary goal is to get to the bottom of existing industry practices to determine whether the law is being followed or whether any problematic conduct must be addressed,” O’Rielly said.

Read more: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/radio-stations-hit-pay-for-play-867825/

Tyler Perry Studios Hires Michelle Sneed as President of Production and Development

Sneed, who most recently served as director of physical production at BET Network, will oversee both film and television.

Story by Hollywood Reporter
Written by Tatiana Siegel

Tyler Perry Studios has hired veteran production executive Michelle Sneed as president of production and development, a post that will encompass both film and television.

Sneed, who most recently served as director of physical production at BET Network, has spent the majority of her 12-year career in both scripted and unscripted television.

At BET, Sneed served as a bridge between creative and production throughout the development, green light, production and promotional and marketing processes. During her tenure at BET in original programming and news, Sneed’s in-house contributions included more than 100 packages of shortform content, original docuseries and multiple television specials and tentpole programming.

The move to the Georgia-based Tyler Perry Studios marks a homecoming for Sneed as she spent six years with the company from 2009-15 in production management. She was a member of the original production team at Tyler Perry Studios’ former Greenbriar location, which produced more than 400 episodes of TV during her tenure. She will take over the position from Will Areu, who formed the Atlanta-based studio Areu Bros. with his brother Ozzie earlier this year.

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Michelle back to the studio,” said Tyler Perry in a statement. “She has always been someone who embodies the values of TPS, from the diligent work she’s done in development and production execution to identifying and curating talent both in front of and behind the camera. Similar to how I’ve always operated in my film and television projects, during her career she has provided opportunities to those whose diverse experiences and stories are often overlooked and untold.”

Added Sneed: “I am ecstatic to be returning ‘home’ to Tyler Perry Studios where so much of my career was shaped and developed. To have this new opportunity to work alongside Tyler in senior leadership is an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s bigger than me — it’s for the culture.”

In 2017, Perry signed a mega-deal with with Viacom to produce original drama and comedy series across the its networks, including BET. The deal also includes a first-look feature film pact with Paramount Pictures. The first movie under the deal is Paramount’s Nobody’s Fool, starring Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumpter, which is set to open in theaters in November.

Listen To The Team 980AM & 95.9FM in the Washington DC / DMV Metro

CBS Corporation Added To Sexual Harassment Suit Against WFAN And Joe Benigno.

Story by Inside Radio

CBS Corp. has reportedly been added to a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a “frat house atmosphere” at WFAN New York, which is now owned by Entercom. The original $5 million suit filed by former account executive Lauren Lockwood named CBS Radio, station executives and WFAN midday talent Joe Benigno, who the suit claims pressed Lockwood to join him for group sex with his wife and a prostitute.

Lockwood claims that her refusal and an incident at a station event led to her suspension and eventual firing. Lockwood worked for WFAN from 2006 to July 2017, prior to CBS Radio being absorbed by Entercom.

According to the New York Post, Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Pamela L. Fischer ruled that Lockwood can add CBS Radio’s former parent company, CBS Corp., to the suit because they owned the station at the time of the alleged harassment. The parent company was not named in the original suit filed in July 2018 because at the time they had already sold the radio division to Entercom. The judge ruled that documents discovered by Lockwood’s lawyers allow them to make the case that CBS Corp. is also liable.

When the case was made public, Benigno was placed on leave for two months before returning to his midday shift with Evan Roberts.

Entercom would not comment on the original case, only saying they intend to “defend the company vigorously.” Entercom representatives did not reply to a request from Inside Radio for comment regarding the latest development.

Maxine Waters: Trump Is Setting Us Up To Be Killed, "In A Civil War Some Of Us Will Be The First To Be Killed"

Story by Real Clear Politics
Written by Tim Hains

Rep. Maxine Waters told MSNBC's Ali Velshi Wednesday that she no longer feels safe traveling or going out in public without security because of the death threats she gets "constantly."

"I mean, I can't go to the grocery store anymore by myself. I have to pay for security all the time. I can't move around the country without security," Waters said. "He is setting some of us up to be killed. I have death threats constantly. There are a number of people who have been convicted for threatening to kill me."

Waters said Trump is "dog-whistling to the white supremacists, the KKK, and the dangerous people."

"We have stories about many of those white supremacists who do nothing but practice how they are going to be involved in a civil war and fight against this government. And this president is irresponsible in so many ways, aside from making us a target of these white supremacists and those who would kill us in a civil war. Some of us would be the first to be killed," she warned.

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ALI VELSHI, MSNBC: We want to move swiftly and follow the facts. You have said that you think Donald Trump should be thrown in solitary confinement. Are you worried that maybe your passions about him are getting past the speed at which Nancy Pelosi would like to run the impeachment hearings?

REP. MAXINE WATERS: I think that most people know me and know what I've been doing for the last two years. They know I've spoken about the president's lack of understanding or appreciation for the constitution. He doesn't care about the democracy and how he has undermined all of those who are trying so hard to make this democracy stronger, and so I think people know me, and I think that they know I have the best interests of this country at heart and that I've worked very hard, and that I've spoken truth to power in ways that many others didn't even have the courage to do it. And so I'm not worried about anybody thinking that somehow I am not on track to move forward with my caucus and with the speaker to be focused and laser-like on what we have to do to move this impeachment inquiry forward.

ALI VELSHI: You've got tough skin. You've been attacked by the president several times, but you are an elected official. There's a very different flavor when the president goes after this whistle-blower and anybody who informed the whistle-blower. There is language that the president used including calling them "traitors" and "spies" and saying they should be dealt with. Today again saying, "I want to know who this person is." Someone needs to turn this whistle-blower in and that -- he tweeted in fact consequences. I think going after Maxine Waters is different than going after a whistle-blower.

MAXINE WATERS: Well, whatever. He shouldn't be going after anybody. He's a president of the United States of America.

He is setting some of us up to be killed. I have death threats constantly. There are a number of people who have been convicted for threatening to kill me.

And when he does that, he's dog-whistling to the white supremacists, the KKK, and the dangerous people.

We have stories about many of those white supremacists who do nothing but practice how they are going to be involved in a civil war and fight against this government.

And this president is irresponsible in so many ways, aside from making us a target of these white supremacists and those who would kill us in a civil war. Some of us would be the first to be killed.

And so I want to tell you whether it's Maxine Waters or whether it's a whistle-blower, he has no business doing that.

ALI VELSHI: Do you think he's endangering people's safety?

MAXINE WATERS: Oh, absolutely. I mean, I can't go to the grocery store anymore by myself. I have to pay for security all the time. I can't move around the country without security. And the whistle-blower is protected by law. And he should not be talking about he wants to interview them. If he knew anything about law, he wouldn't be so ignorant as to think that somehow anybody's going to allow him to interview a whistle-blower.

With portrait and room, Botham Jean's former Dallas coworkers hold on to his memory

Andrew Veazey looks at artwork of Botham Jean as it hangs hangs on the wall on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the PricewaterhouseCoopers office in Dallas. (Shaban Athuman / Staff Photographer)

Jean's former colleagues at accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dallas are among the people who have sought to keep his memory alive.

Story by the Dallas Morning News
Written by Melissa Repko

The portrait of Botham Jean will stay on the wall long after the national news cameras leave town and the headlines fade. It's made of pieces of oak from Jean's adopted home of Texas and painted with vibrant colors of his native St. Lucia.

In the artwork, the forever 26-year-old looks across the room with a smile.

Jean's former colleagues at accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers are among the people who have sought to keep his memory alive since he was shot and killed last year by former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger. When the firm opened its new Dallas office, it named a room after him.

On Tuesday night, it unveiled his portrait in front of Jean's parents and siblings, his former colleagues and his legal team. The preplanned ceremony was just hours after a jury found Guyger guilty of murder.

When the drape was pulled, family and friends saw a likeness of Jean. It's made with more than 10,000 pieces of wood that fit together like a puzzle. Some colleagues cried. Some took photos. Jean's father, Bertram, approached the portrait of his son and touched it.

Broadcast Owner Emmis Closes Six-Station Austin Sale To Sinclair Telecable.

Story by Inside Radio

Emmis has closed on the sale of its majority stake in six radio stations in the Austin market to Sinclair Telecable. With the $39.3 million deal now across the finish line, Emmis has exited the Austin market and Sinclair now owns 100% of the cluster that it has co-owned with Emmis since 2003.

Emmis says it recognized a gain on the sale of $36.8 million. When deal-related expenses and taxes are subtracted, Emmis says it pocketed $29.5 million in cash from the transaction. After closing, Emmis paid off a $4 million term loan with lender Barrett Investment Partners and ended a $12 million revolving credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank. In a regulatory filing, Emmis said the rest of the proceeds are earmarked for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, working capital and potential acquisitions and investments.

Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan has been talking about diversifying the company’s holdings beyond its radio wheelhouse. The Austin sale – along with proceeds from its yet-to close sale of urban AC WBLS-FM and rhythmic CHR “Hot 97” WQHT New York to hedge fund Standard General – will help fund acquisitions into new areas. “We really feel that it’s time to move in a new direction,” Smulyan told Inside Radio in July after announcing the sale of its New York City crown jewels. “We’d like to tackle some businesses that are growing 5%-10% a year and see if we can make them grow a little bit better.”

The Austin sale, announced in June, includes rock KLBJ-FM (93.7), adult hits “Bob FM 103.5” KBPA-FM, regional Mexican “107.1 La Zeta” KLZT-FM, modern rock “101X” KROX, soft AC “Star 93.3” KGSR-FM (93.3) and talk KLBJ (590), along with adult alternative “Austin City Limits Radio” and “Latino 102.7,” which both air on HD Radio-fed FM translators.

The closing came two business days after the FCC issued a waiver that will allow Sinclair Telecable to keep all six stations in Austin. Under the agency’s local radio ownership caps, Bob and David Sinclair would have been required to spin-off one of the FMs when they converted their existing 49.9% stake to outright ownership.

When Emmis and Sinclair joined hands and bought the stations 16 years ago, the FCC determined ownership limits based on the contour overlap methodology. Months later when the Commission switched to using a Nielsen (then Arbitron) definition of a radio market, the cluster was grandfathered. Since the change in ownership would have ended that grandfathered status, Emmis sought a waiver to the rules in June, calling its situation “unique” with two “nearly co-equal partners” and a proposed transaction is “more akin to a corporate restructuring.” In granting the waiver on Friday, FCC Audio Division Chief Albert Shuldiner said the “unique nature of the relationship between these parties and Sinclair Telecable’s long history with the stations favors grant of the waiver.”

Bob and David Sinclair plan to rename their radio company Waterloo Media. That’s to avoid any confusion with Sinclair Broadcast Group, the television company that owns KEYE-TV in the city.

Emmis meantime has a pending deal to sell its two New York FMs after cashing out of the Los Angeles, St. Louis and Terre Haute, IN markets. Once the New York sale closes, it will only operate in its home market of Indianapolis, where it owns four radio stations along with Indianapolis Monthly magazine and Digonex, a dynamic pricing company. The company also owns its Indy headquarters and a tower site in nearby Whitestown, IN.

Emmis is in talks to sell gospel WLIB New York and still owns sports “ESPN NY 98.7” WEPN-FM New York, which it leases to ESPN Radio under a four-year deal.