GTN is headquartered in New York but does all its business outside the U.S. Revenue from its traffic and news reporting business in Australia rose 8%, measured in the local currency (it jumped 49% in U.S. currency, because of the weaker dollar). Canadian revenue grew 1% in local terms and 14% in U.S. dollars. GTN expanded into the UK as of the first quarter of 2009, and that added another $6.1 million in revenue. Overall, Global Traffic Network revenue for its fiscal Q2 (October-December 2009) jumped 84% to $25.6 million. Net income dropped slightly, from $900,000 the previous year to $800,000. That was due to $900,000 in non-cash amortization. GTN’s Bill Yde says revenue is pacing up from all three countries in this current fiscal Q3.

Revised numbers since the January Supreme Court ruling that freed corporations to buy political adds suggest the total ad-spend from the 2010 election cycle will be more than $4 billion. Borrell Associates believes that radio will be doing about 9% of it. Cable should earn about as much as radio ($383 million). Newspapers will make less than radio, at $329 million, and online will attract just $44 million. The winning medium is forecast to be broadcast television – $2.6 billion, or 63.2% of the pie.

The bankruptcy court filings continue to add details to the picture – some creditors don’t even get to vote on the package that’s already been accepted by the secured creditors and which gives them 90% of the equity of company when it emerges from Chapter 11. Various classes of unsecured creditors will can accept parcels of the remaining 10% or take up to 5% of their claim in cash (although that’s “capped” at $2 million). Citadel will carry just one-third the debt, with a new credit facility of $762.5 million. The secured lenders are apparently agreeing to keep CEO Farid Suleman in place.

Andrew Adams takes over as GM of Salem Communications' five-station cluster in Seattle, overseeing Christian talk KGNW-AM (820), Spanish KKMO-AM (1360), talk KKOL-AM (1300), ethnic KLFE-AM (1590) & Spanish contemporary Christian KNTS-AM (1680). Adams has spent over 20 years in radio, working in Texas and California, most recently as SVP of Mapleton Communications. In Chicago, Salem’s Director of Sale Jeff Reisman is promoted to GM of the two Windy City stations: talk WIND & Christian teaching WYLL-AM (1160). Reisman succeeds David Santrella, who now becomes President of Salem’s radio division. Both appointments take effect immediately.

At least he says there’s not a better job than judging an “f-ing karaoke contest.” Stern tells this morning’s Sirius show “It might be possible. We'll see.” Referring to his current oversized paycheck, Stern says “a hundred million to judge a karaoke contest? Yeah, I think I would do that show for $100 million…What a cush job: $100 million for four months. Who wouldn’t take that?” But then he plays coy, saying he won’t comment on any possible negotiations with Fox, to replace Simon Cowell. There’s more in the MTV/VH1 coverage of Stern, here.

ENGLAND: London’s Capital FM (95.8) has signed R&B singer Akon to host a Saturday evening show … The UK’s Radio Advertising Bureau names former Capital FM Commercial Director Linda Smith as Executive Chairman … CANADA: The new host of CBC Radio One’s Metro Morning in Toronto will be Radio One’s afternoon drive host Matt Galloway, who replaces the retiring Andy Barrie … Toronto’s CHFI-FM (98.1) adds the syndicated John Tesh show for weekday evenings … PAKISTAN: Radio Pakistan has abruptly canceled airing Voice of America’s (VOA) Pushto-language programming, following terror threats from a group aligned with the Taliban … SOUTH KOREA: Rocker-turned-DJ Bae Chul-soo celebrated his 20th anniversary hosting his popular “Music Camp,” the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation’s (MBC) longest-running western music program.

The country station’s updated website has the new hosts for WOLF-FM (105.1), which simulcasts on WWLF-FM (96.7) Oswego. The Premiere Radio syndicated Big D & Bubba will handle morning drive, and while the midday slot is vacant right now, afternoons will be hosted by PD Skip Clark and evenings by the Westwood One syndicated CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan. Listeners found out about the changes from an email blast sent by the station, according to CNYRadio.com. Radio-Info is told that the search for the new midday host is still ongoing, and a “Listen Live” link to their new-look website is coming soon.

He was known on the air as “Jaybo” and spent over 20 years as a part of the WQDR-FM (94.7) family in Raleigh, hosting mornings. Jay Butler worked at a number of Triangle-area stations in North Carolina, including WDNC-AM (620), WDCG-FM (105.1), WYYD & WKIX-FM (102.3), before he made WQDR his home. Butler passed away after a battle with prostate cancer. He was only 58. You can post a message on the WQDR wall to remember Butler here … “Captain Mel” Berman worked at a number of stations, including WHB-AM (810) in Kansas City, the legendary “1380 WAMS” in Wilmington, Delaware, with stops in York, Pennsylvania, New York City (at WMCA) and Pittsburgh before settling in to become the host of one of Florida’s most popular outdoor radio shows on Tampa’s WFLA-AM (970). That gig lasted for over 25 years. Berman, who as a young New York City reporter interviewed John F. Kennedy before he was president and Eleanor Roosevelt, also spent time as an early rock & roll DJ. He passed away following complications after heart surgery. He was 81.

More personality news for Detroit’s new “Beat” WDTW (106.7) as Billy the Kid takes on nights, starting tonight. “The Kid” started his career as an intern for his new co-worker – Lisa Lisa, now doing middays on The Beat – as previously reported here on Friday, February 5 … The News-Press reports that Sovereign City Radio Services of Naples and Fort Myers, hires Frank Feeley as GSM for “Timeless Cool” WMYR/WCNZ, and oldies WVOI. He worked on Cape Cod, and more recently, in Orlando … After just six months, top 40 KFRH “102 Now” Las Vegas and PD Joshua Fleming, part ways. Join the discussion on the changes, here … Amanda Valentine is named producer for the Slacker & Steve afternoon show on Entercom Alt rocker “Alice 105.9” KALC Denver … The syndicated Wall Street Journal This Morning, hosted by Gordon Deal, adds KTAR-FM (92.3) as their latest affiliate … New Jersey’s Burlington County College-owned WBZC-FM (88.9) becomes the first radio station to carry Trenton Devils minor league hockey … Philadelphia’s WMGK-FM (102.9) morning host John DeBella, a minister in the Universal Life Church, will preside over a Love Boat-style wedding ceremony for 40 couples on Friday on the Spirit of Philadelphia, says the Inquirer.

It happened this morning, per the Albany-Hudson Valley Board of Radio-Info – the unannounced blowup of talk/sports WROW and the new simulcast with oldies “Magic” WKLI (100.9). Owner Pamal Broadcasting is not done with the format news, because Radio-Info hears that 100.9 will soon take on another format. WROW had featured local shows (“Daybreak with Steve & Jackie”) and syndicated programs such as Glenn Beck, Dennis Miller, Dave Ramsey, John Gibson, Alan Colmes and Phil Hendrie. It also aired a noontime “Capitol Pressroom with Susan Arbetter.” The WROW Thread on the Albany-Hudson Valley Board is here.

Just when Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey radio stations started to dig out from “Snowmageddon” over the weekend, a new Nor'easter is on its way for early Wednesday. Wilmington, Delaware’s WILM-AM (1450) PD Mark Fowser tells Radio-Info that after Saturday’s over two feet of snow, another six inches or more is on its way. They're planning expanded news and weather reports. You can listen to WILM here. Ocean City, New Jersey’s WIBG-FM (94.3) was off the air Saturday, as were a majority of Atlantic and Cape May County stations when more than 20 inches of snow and 50 mph. blizzard winds cut power in the area – Discuss it. New Jersey’s Millennium Radio VP/News & Network Programing Director Eric Scott tells Radio-Info “We added an interactive blog. The interactive component allows listeners to talk to us directly, and the real-time info enhances our ability (through our statewide network) to cover the snow, with expanded 24-hour news, traffic and weather.” You can listen to WKXW-FM (101.5) here. While the Saturday snow didn’t impact New York City much, this new snow and the potential of 12-18 inches is heading there, and both CBS-owned all-news WINS-AM (1010) and WCBS-AM (880) are getting ready. You can listen to “1010 WINS” here.

Courtesy of Westwood One’s syndicated “Sunday Night Slow Jams.” Since the holiday falls on a Sunday, the regularly scheduled show will celebrate as usual, but will give any and all the chance to air the show- free of charge for one night. The four hour show features slow jams from artists such as Usher, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and Jodeci. If you’d like to run the show, email host R. Dub at ahref="mailto:info@slowjams.com" info@slowjams.com

Both the licensing fees themselves and the extended payment options are designed to spark renewed interest in the transition to digital. iBiquity CEO Bob Struble says “Radio is now the the last entertainment medium to convert from analog to digital.” One of the benefits from HD Radio: “incremental revenue from new digital offerings” made possible by the HD-2 and HD-3 multicast channels. Those can be leased out to third parties for foreign language or ethnic program, and some broadcasters are creating new all-sports channels, such as Penguins radio in Pittsburgh. iBiquity says there over 1,100 multicast channels on the air now. Here’s the outline of the 2010 licensing and payment program: to broadcast digitally a main channel, there’s a one-time payment in full of $10,500, or a net-30 days price of $11,000, or 12 automatic payments of $1,042 a month, for a total of $12,500. iBqiuity’s Rick Greenhut says “approximately one new HD Radio station goes on the air every three days”, and there are more than 2,000 stations in digital now.

Iranian authorities arrested seven people with ties with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Radio Farda, and accusing them of being a part of a US spy agency (the CIA) and helping to lead anti-government demonstrations late last year. The Islamic Republic’s official IRNA news agency says the seven people were “linked to the counterrevolutionaries, the Zionist media, and elements of the sedition.” The names of the seven people were not disclosed. RFE/RL released a statement, saying “hundreds of journalists have been arrested, and media outlets have been censored and closed. These arrests seem to be the latest evidence of this increasing pressure on media and the freedom of expression.” Radio Farda is based in the Czech Republic and beamed into Iran via satellite, and claims to have no employees inside of Iran. The arrests come just before the the February 11 anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when various kinds of demonstrations are expected.

The financial talkshow operation owns daytimer KTEK (1110) but had recently left it to get a fulltime signal on Entravision’s KGOL (1180). The 1110 signal had gone brokered-ethnic through a deal with Asia Vision, but BizRadio decided it wanted to re-take possession of the frequency. Now the Houston Chronicle reports the outcome of a court hearing that re-installs BizRadio on 1110 and effectively pushes Rehan Siddiqi’s Asian Vision off. Siddiqi had won a temporary restraining order earlier in the week after being told he was being bumped. But a different judge, State District Judge Robert Schaffer, refused to grant Siddiqi’s request for an injunction. BizRadio principal Daniel Frishberg claims the deal Ronald Crider made with Siddiqi wasn’t valid, since Crider wasn’t authorized to make it – even though Siddiqi “produced documents, emails and Crider’s business card listing him as CEO”, says the Chronicle. Frishberg maintains he didn’t approve the deal, which was apparently an LMA with purchase option. BizRadio paid $7.6 million for KTEK, Alvin, Texas two years ago, and the LMA/purchase deal would have sold it for just $3.5 million.