Inside Radio

Xperi used the CES 2025 stage to announce that its DTS AutoStage hybrid radio platform is now integrated into 10 million vehicles worldwide, including six million in North America. At the West Hall, Senior VP of Global Radio & Digital Audio Joe D’Angelo and Senior Director of Broadcast Strategy Juan Galdamez demonstrated what the future of radio looks like in the dashboard and talked up the treasure trove of audience insights participating stations can access through Xperi’s connected car data platform.

How is bad news good news for radio? The answer lies in the latest traffic congestion data. The INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard shows that 15 of the top 20 metro areas saw increases in time spent in traffic during the past year. That may be frustrating for drivers, but with AM/FM radio the media’s proverbial king of the road, it offers the industry to pitch itself as a media environment that some advertisers are missing.

Contemporary Christian network Family Life Radio (FLR) has named Samantha (Sam) Kelly the new afternoon host.

Laura Sheaffer has been named GM of Salem Media Group’s talk “AM 970 The Answer” WNYM, religious teaching “The Mission” WMCA (570), and Salem Surround in New York. During her decade with the group, Sheaffer has served in various capacities, most recently as GSM.

Fortunately, flames from the Eaton Fire did not reach the Mount Wilson tower site, home to at least ten Los Angeles radio station towers as well as all of the major LA television stations and critical fire and telecommunications towers.

Karen West rises to PD at Max Media country “97.3 The Eagle” WGH Newport News, VA. West co-hosts mornings and has been serving as MD since 2020, and APD since 2022. She joined the station in 1990, shortly after the station’s flip to country, and previously hosted middays before moving to AM Drive in April 2024.

Brett Andrews exits his role as Senior VP of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Milwaukee and Madison clusters. He joined iHeartMedia Milwaukee in 2015 as PD of WRIT and the former CHR “97.3 Now” WRNW. He rose to SVP/Programming in 2022, while also taking on the PD role at WZEE.

DJ E-Rock is returning to iHeartMedia CHR “Wild 94.9” KYLD, where his career first began. The celebrated Bay Area DJ’s next move is the launch of the Top 40 version of his successful show. “Radio Bassment Top 40 | Club Edition”

While Los Angeles radio stations continue to provide coverage of the massive wildfires in the area, relief efforts are beginning to take shape to help victims of the disaster, which includes fellow broadcasters.

The usually upbeat “Chaz & AJ” morning show on Connoisseur Media classic rock WPLR (99.1) New Haven, CT struck a more serious note earlier this week when co-host AJ revealed that he had been diagnosed in December with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, after tests showed signs of anemia.