At Friday morning’s “BBM/PPML Key Learnings and Challenges In Audience Measurement” session, Coleman Insights’ Warren Kurtzman previewed the company’s upcoming look at “The PPM DNA of Canada’s High Performance Radio Stations.” As in a previous U.S. study, Kurtzman found that those stations were driven by higher daily cume and by more listening occasions. Canada’s PPM rollout, while not without issues about sample size, has been less contentious than its U.S. equivalent. BBM president/CEO Jim MacLeod says that he thinks his Arbitron meters “are doing well with it, but that’s not what the press is saying,” while Kurtzman says that there may have been “unrealistic” expectations about what PPM could show. Asked about the cellphone only issue, MacLeod said that the higher cost of cellphone service in Canada made CPO a different issue there, also asserting that CPO listeners’ habits were not different than landline listeners—even at the younger end.

AUSTRALIA: DMG Radio is shutting down their “Vega” stations in Sydney & Melbourne after a more than four year run. In Sydney, 2PTV-FM is now “Classic Rock 95.3.” You can listen to Sydney’s newest rock station here … In Melbourne, the latest ratings kept news/talk 3AW (693am) as the top station with a 14-share, followed by Fox 101.9. You can listen to 3AW here … IRELAND: Dublin’s NewsTalk (106-108) issued an on-air apology to Irish Health Minister Mary Harney after damaging claims about her private life were discussed during a live show. You can listen to NewsTalk from Ireland here … RWANDA: Ten radio and newspaper reporters will be selected to participate in a news internship at England’s News International and Sky News Radio, a part of News Corp. … NIGERIA: Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria reporter Murtala Sani was severely beaten by a crowd of mourners at a mass funeral for over 40 victims of violence in the town of Dogo Nahawa. His car and audio equipment were also destroyed … For the latest on radio in Canada, check out the Radio-Info Toronto board – Discuss it.

Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar has introduced a bill that would provide long-term budget authority, rather than annual funding, for Radio Free Asia. It was created 14 years ago to broadcast news into nations including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, North Korea, Tibet and Vietnam. The bill by Lugar, the top-ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, would allow for more broadcasts, and has co-sponsors including Minnesota Senator and former Air America radio host Al Franken. Lugar’s office says the bill “would promote the free dissemination of information in East Asia through the permanent authorization of Radio Free Asia (S.3104).” A number of foreign governments routinely jam RFA broadcasts.

If you were driving past the National Association of Broadcaster’s offices in Washington, DC today, you would have driven right past an 18-foot long and over a story-tall pink pig (picture courtesy of The Hill), bearing the statement “Fair Pay for Musicians.” The pig is the latest salvo fired by supporters of the Performance Rights Act, in an effort to get radio stations to pay added royalties for the music they play. Not to be outdone, the NAB handed out sausage pizza to the protesters. NAB EVP Dennis Wharton tells The Hill, “We're suggesting they provide this food to the scores of exploited musicians who have had to sue their record label to recoup allegedly unpaid album royalties.” This week’s events follow the press conference held by singer Dionne Warwick in favor of the proposed royalty tax, and a mid-week rally by DC-area broadcasters.

The Paul Finebaum Radio Network, which originates on Birmingham, Alabama’s all-sports WJOX-FM (94.5) and has over 30 affiliates, is added to the Sirius XM Sports Nation, on Sirius Channel 122 and XM Channel 143 … Weldon, North Carolina’s WYTT-FM (99.5) “Jamz” replaces Big Boy’s Neighborhood with the syndicated Russ Par Morning Show, and promotes DJ 3-2-1 from weekends to evenings. More on the Urban/Urban AC/R&B Oldies board of Radio-Info, here … In New Orleans, Big Boy’s Neighborhood was replaced by the local Big Abe & the Power Posse on KKND-FM (102.9) – Discuss it … Rormer Charles City, Iowa KCHA-AM (1580) morning talk host Scott Lanenga, a self-described “dyed-in-the wool conservative,” announces he’s running for the Iowa State Senate in District 7 … Former NPR “Day to Day” host Madeleine Brand will resurface on Southern California Public Radio’s KPCC-FM (89.3) Los Angeles with a new talk show in the spring, says the Orange County Register … Hartford, Connecticut’s WTIC-AM (1080) will carry the minor league baseball New Britain Rock Cats for the 2010 season. They'll also be featured on the HD-2 channel of WTIC-FM (96.5) … George Wilson joined WKLA-AM/FM, Ludington, Michigan (1450/106.3) when Eisenhower was President in 1959. After a six-decade run, he is retiring as the morning show host. Read more about Wilson’s career here.

CFGQ-FM (107.3) in Calgary is breaking up the Terri & Patti Show, as Patti McNeil’s contract isn’t being renewed. Classic rock “Q107” is looking for a new morning co-host to team with Terry DiMonte … The Vancouver PPM ratings are in, and Corus-owned news/talk CKNW-AM (980) is again #1 with a 14-share, followed by CHQM-FM (103.5) “QMFM” and CBC Radio One. You can listen to CKNW here … Corus also did well in Edmonton, where their news/talk CHED-AM (630) was #1 with an 11-share, followed by country sister-station CISN-FM (103.9). CFMG-FM “EZ Rock” (104.9) was third. You can listen to CFMG here … The CRTC approves My Broadcasting Corporation’s plan for CIYN-FM to place a transmitter in Port Elgin, Ontario. It will operate at 90.9 FM, broadcasting at 3,100 watts … Jim Pattison, who owns the Pattison Broadcast Group and owns stations in British Columbia & Alberta, ranks 212th on the latest Forbes list of billionaires, worth $4 billion.

The debt swap will have Sirius XM offer for sale $550 million of Senior Notes that will come due in 2015. This new debt won’t be offered for sale to the public, but will be a private-placement “144A” issue, and will replace debt that matures in 2013. Proceeds from the new debt offering will also pay fees and expenses of the new notes. Sirius XM, which was facing bankruptcy last year, was trading at just 16 cents-a-share on March 12, 2009, exactly one year ago. Sirius XM stock (SIRI) breached the $1.00 barrier last month, and opened for trading at $0.90 cents today. You can see today’s stock quote for Sirius XM here.

It began Friday at noon (as predicted in Radio-Info’s T-R-I Newsletter) with the playing of Steam’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”, then turned into an hour of the country “Texas Twister” station that soft-oldies “Platinum 96.7” replaced in mid-2008. Then it went to “Reagan Radio 96.7”, featuring speeches of president Ronald Reagan. Then later Friday afternoon came word from Citadel that KPMZ, Flower Mound, Texas would become a simulcast of its news/talk WBAP, Ft. Worth. The Dallas Board of Radio-Info is running several spirited threads about the change at “Platinum”, here.

Emmis market manager Charlie Morgan tells the Indianapolis Business Journal he’s got some “really talented on-air personalities and "instead of boxing them into just one shift and one station, what’s the best way we can maximize their talents?” His answer: Give former NFL player “Big Joe” Staysniak" his own 10am-noon talk show on all-sports “Fan” WFNI (1070), while letting him contribute sports updates to the station where he’s currently co-hosting mornings. That’s talk WIBC-FM (93.1). Big Joe’s morning co-hosting responsibilities on WIBC will be assumed by current afternoon talker Steve Simpson, who’s moving to work with Terri Stacy. Here are the rest of the changes: Simpson’s PM drive shift on 93.1 will be taken over by Ed Wenck. That breaks up the “Wank & O'Brien” morning show at a third Emmis station, country “Hank” WLHK (97.1). Ed Wenck and Dave O'Brien have been a team for 14 years, says the IBJ’s Scott Olson. They began working together at rocker WRZX, moved to CHR WNOU and then “Hank” predecessor WENS, an AC station. Finally, at “Fan” WFNI (1070), the arrival of “Big Joe” Staysniak pushes current late morning personality and former I.U. player and coach Dan Dakich into the noon-3pm shift. That displaces ESPN’s Colin Cowherd, and leaves only ESPN’s MIke & Mike on the daytime lineup. More on the Indiana Board, here.

The Academy of Country Music unveiled the winners in the radio categories this morning for its 45th annual awards show, set for April 18 in Las Vegas. Cody Alan of “CMT Radio Live” won the national air personality category for the first time. The radio station of the year category yielded ties in major, medium and small markets. The radio awards are not presented during the live telecast on CBS. Rather, winners in those categories will be invited to receive their awards at a private reception in Las Vegas on April 17. For the second year in a row, individual on-air personality of the year winners (or one individual from the teams who win personality of the year categories) will participate in the telecast as the voices for bumpers leading into commercials for the show.

Following are all the radio winners:

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: NATIONAL Cody Alan – “CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan”
MAJOR MARKET Ben Campbell & Matt McAllister – KNIX-FM Phoenix
LARGE MARKET Gerry House, Mike Bohan, Al Voecks, Duncan Stewart, Richard Falken – WSIX-FM Nashville
MEDIUM MARKET Buzz Jackson – KIIM-FM Tucson, Ariz.
SMALL MARKET Jess Wright – WFRE-FM Frederick, Md.

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR WINNERS (note ties in major, medium and small): MAJOR MARKET KMPS‐FM – Seattle; MAJOR MARKET KSCS-FM – Dallas; LARGE MARKET WQDR‐FM – Raleigh, N.C.; MEDIUM MARKET KIZN-FM – Boise, Id.; MEDIUM MARKET KUZZ AM/FM – Bakersfield, Calif.; SMALL MARKET WGSQ-FM – Cookeville, Tenn.; SMALL MARKET WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, Tenn.

Thursday’s “Radio Stimulus Package” session was less emotionally charged than its predecessor at the 2009 NAB Radio Show in Philadelphia, and featured some of the same presenters, as well as the same mixed take on radio’s current status. Jacobs Media’s Fred Jacobs told Canadian broadcasters, “If you’re one of those programmers who goes to America and sits in a hotel room [to get ideas for your station] save your money.” But Rogers Exec. VP Chuck McCoy, referencing the “radio is dead among young people” mentality, asserted that “parents don’t know their teenagers listening habits any better than they know their other habits.” Consultant Mike McVay also encouraged broadcasters to “stop giving our competition ammunition.” The session ended with Jim Cuddy, frontman of legendary Canadian band Blue Rodeo, who declared that “radio is as bland as it’s ever been in my lifetime.” Referring to Pink and Beyonce’s Grammy performances, he said, “It’s now about whether you can do a Cirque de Soleil spectacle while you’re singing.”

The credit facility now allows for a maximum leverage ratio of 7-times cash flow for the rest of this year. Then starting next January, it steps down each quarter to a 6-times ratio by December 31, 2011. There’s a cost for the new flexibility: If Entercom’s leverage rises above 6-times, it owes more in base costs and other fees to the lender group that’s led by Bank of America. Entercom’s amended deal also means it’s not in a “restricted period", which limits its ability to pay dividends, do stock buybacks and acquisitions.

What recession? The 23rd annual Forbes list of the world’s billionaires has a new leader, Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim Helu, who overtook Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Among those connected to radio in the US, you'll find New York City Mayor and WBBR-AM (1130) owner Michael Bloomberg, $18 billion. Anne Cox Chambers of Cox Enterprises, $9 billion. Fox News Radio owner Rupert Murdoch, $6 billion; Liberty Media’s John Malone, who owns a 40% stake in Sirius XM, has a worth estimated at $2.3 billion, as does Oprah Winfrey who has a radio show on Sirius XM. Jerrold Perenchio, who once controlled Univision, is worth $2.1 billion. CBS Chairman Sumner Redstone is valued at $2 billion; William Randolph Hearst III is worth $1.6 billion (the Hearst family owns radio stations in Baltimore). Austin Hearst and George Randolph Hearst Jr. are both worth $1.3 billion. And B.J. (Red) McCombs, who founded Clear Channel Communications with partner Lowry Mays, is worth $1.3 billion.

The BBC Trust has ordered a review of Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7, while a second study will look at all the BBC’s local radio services, as a part of a comprehensive look at BBC Radio operations … Former BBC Radio 2 morning host Sir Terry Wogan is named digital radio personality of the year at the annual Tric Awards … BBC Radio 4 is canceling the “Friday Play” after more than a decade, replacing it with repeats due to budget cuts … Former Telewest chief executive and deputy chair of media regulator OFCOM’s content board Adam Singer is named chairman of digital radio switchover body Digital Radio UK … Changes on BBC Radio 2 will cut the Radcliffe & Maconie show from four days to three, as they add a new Thursday evening show called “Radio 2 In Concert” … Bingo is coming to a Heart Radio station soon, after the Heart group signs a deal with software provider and operator Gamesys.

Cox Media Group has repositioned its WNCB Birmingham, Ala., from “New Country 97.3” to “97-3 the Buck,” which the company describes as “a lifestyle radio station featuring new country songs and attitude.” The Buck is streaming live. The station uses the Birmingham-based syndicated Rick & Bubba show for afternoons and will be adding local air talent in other dayparts in the coming months. Justin Case remains PD. He also programs sister country outlet WZZK. The Alabama Board of Radio-Info.com is having some fun with the names “Buck” and “Bull”.