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Daily Briefing • February 3, 2026
Top 30 Industry Headlines
Syncing Billboard, RadioInsight, and MBW...
🎤 R&B & Hip-Hop Birthdays (Feb 3)
Gucci Mane
Rapper • Born 1980
The "East Atlanta Santa" and Trap pioneer.
Daddy Yankee
Reggaeton King • Born 1977
Global superstar who popularized Reggaeton.
Sean Kingston
Singer • Born 1990
Known for hits like "Beautiful Girls".
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Funk/Blues • Born 1935
"A Real Mother for Ya" – huge influence on West Coast rap.
📻 Genre Milestones (Feb 3)
Certified Gold on this day, cementing the rise of the Chicago producer as a solo artist.
A peak era Bad Boy single featuring Total was charting heavily on this day in '98.
⏳ Milestones (Feb 3)
The tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.
The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race or color.
🌟 National Today: February 3
🐕 National Golden Retriever Day
Celebrating one of the world's most friendly and loyal dog breeds.
✊ African American Coaches Day
Honoring the leadership and legacy of Black coaches in all sports.
🎨 American Painters Day
A day to celebrate the artists who color our world.
🎂 Elmo's Birthday
Celebrating the world's most famous red monster from Sesame Street.
🥕 National Carrot Cake Day
Time to indulge in a slice of this classic, spiced dessert.
🎀 National Women's Physicians Day
Honoring female doctors and their impact on medicine.
Studio Script v1.7
Segment: Morning Drive
"Good morning! It's February 3rd. We're celebrating **National Golden Retriever Day**—shoutout to all the good boys and girls out there! It's also **Elmo's Birthday**, and we're remembering the legacy of Buddy Holly on the day the music died. Plus, big birthday shouts to **Gucci Mane** and **Daddy Yankee**."
The Lemonade Stand
Vibe: Soulful Classic-
Outstanding
The Gap Band
4:35 -
Before I Let Go
Maze ft. Frankie Beverly
5:01 -
Golden
Jill Scott
3:52 -
Candy
Cameo
4:20
Bliss After Dark
Vibe: Smooth R&B-
Adorn
Miguel
3:13 -
Untitled (How Does It Feel)
D'Angelo
7:10 -
Best Part
Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R.
3:29 -
Snooze
SZA
3:21
Music Industry News
- HD 98.3 Augusta Relaunches As Party 98.3
After stunting since Wednesday with all-Taylor Swift, Beasley Media relaunched CHR "HD 98.3" WHHD Clearwater SC/Augusta GA as "Party 98.3" at 5pm today.
- WERV-FM Loses Tower In Storm
Connoisseur Media Classic Alternative “95.9 The River” WERV-FM Aurora IL is off the air after its tower collapsed in a storm on Thursday night. WERV-FM is the only broadcast license on the Vertical Bridge owned 353 foot tower. The station’s programming is continuing online in the interim. Connoisseur Regional Director of Engineering Geary Morrill shared
- Domain Insight 7/3: A Tulsa Frequency Swap?
Is Zoellner Media Group planning to swap frequencies at two of its Tulsa OK FMs? Plus potential changes in Eau Claire and suburban St. Louis.
- What's Going On With WHJY's Paul & Al?
Following last week's iHeartMedia cuts, rumors have been swirling about the status of Rock 94.1 WHJY Providence RI morning hosts Paul Fuller and 'Al Michaels' Milukas.
- Bella Figura founder Alexi Cory-Smith dies, aged 58
Cory-Smith's colleagues at Bella Figura confirm tragic news on social media Source
- Station Sales Week Of 7/3
After announcing its intent to acquire 89.5 KEWU-FM Cheney/Spokane WA in February 2025, Oldies Preservation Society has filed its deal to purchase the station from Eastern Washington University. While the originally announced deal was for $510,000 plus $300,000 in publicity and advertising credit, the filed deal is for $360,000 at closing, four payments of $25,000 every six months, and the $300,000 in advertising credits. Oldies Preservation Society moved its programming to "Kool 89.5" from 107.1 KPKL Deer Park last October.
- Spotify slashes streams of hit song after suspicious activity on prediction market Kalshi
Kalshi said in April that trading on the its music 'contracts' had already topped USD $400 million in 2026 Source
- Suno explores developer API, seeking apps ‘that unlock experiences generative music makes possible for the first time’
"Ahead of our partner powered model, we're exploring a developer API and want to hear from you before we start building," Jack Brody wrote. Source
- Logan Light joins Warner Music Group as Chief of Staff to CEO Robert Kyncl
Light joined WMG in March according to his LinkedIn profile Source
- Nielsen May 2026 Ratings Releases 7/2
Today's markets are Albuquerque, Allentown/Bethlehem, El Paso, Fresno, Honolulu, Knoxville, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
- Rocky Mountain Public Media Acquires Community Radio For Northern Colorado
Rocky Mountain Public Media has filed with the FCC to acquire Community Radio For Northern Colorado.
- KLLI Moves To Bilingual AC
Meruelo Media has flipped Spanish Rhythmic "Cali 93.9" KLLI Los Angeles To Bilingual AC.
- Judge denies Sony Music bid to add over 30,000 recordings to Udio lawsuit
The ruling from Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein keeps the case at the 333 works that Sony had originally put in suit. Source
- Cromwell Building A Christian AC Bridge In Owensboro
Cromwell Media will flip Classic Rock "CJ 105.7" WCJZ Cannelton IN/Owensboro KY to Christian AC "105.7 The Bridge" on August 1.
- A counterfeit merch crackdown, facial recognition at K-pop concerts, and 3 other things we learned from HYBE’s 2025 sustainability report
The 121-page document sets out a number of disclosures, from anti-counterfeiting measures to the company's use of generative AI and expansion into physical retail. Source
- About Local … and Sense of Place
One of the first things we can do when discussing “live and local” is to unhook the two terms. Over the past 25 years, some broadcasters have cited any interest in any content that is not either local (any winning syndicated show) or live (any podcast enjoyed on-demand) as a double-jeopardy way of rebutting both. Often, they are doing so on behalf of content that is neither live nor local.
- Warner Records partners with Sickamore’s three times LOUDER
Brooklyn alternative R&B artist Laila! will be the partnership’s flagship artist. Source
- Taylor Swift moves to dismiss ‘Showgirl’ trademark lawsuit, calls amended claims ‘absurd’
Swift's lawyers argue that the amended complaint "fares no better" than the original Source
- K-Surf Country Debuts In Coastal Oregon
After closing on their $85,000 purchase of Classic Rock “K-Surf” 96.7 KCRF-FM Lincoln City OR, Jeff Montgomery’s PACNW Broadcasting has flipped the station to Country "K-Surf Country".
- T.I. and Tiny lose bid for $53.6M in punitive damages from MGA – OMG Girlz doll award stays capped at $17.9M
The jury found that MGA had not acted with malice, ending the couple's push for punitive damages. Source
- Breaking Wave Group launched by UK music execs Nick Stewart, Marc Marot, Jeremy Marsh, James Radice, and Beth Claridge
The company's first signings are 10cc, singer-songwriter Rumer and electronic duo Lemon Jelly. Source
- Nielsen May 2026 Ratings Releases 7/1
Today's markets are Dayton, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Metro Fairfield County, Tucson, and Tulsa.










