Batanga.com Leads the Pack (sort of – but I am biased)

Did I ever mention that I was supposed to form a content partnership (for my other two latin music blogs Ticias.com and LatinMusicNews.com) with them. On Feb 23rd, 2006 Hispanic Media, Inc (owner of Batanga) President and COO Troy McConnell’s last e-mail to me was “So, to get started, I’ll send you a term sheet that defines the below and send to you – ok?” Never did hear from him again. This was a good business lesson for me. I was pissed for a while as I had told him about the blog system and platform I had setup and felt slightly used especially when later they setup there own music blogs. He initially wanted to hire me but I wanted to do my thing and that is what I am doing with HispanicTips. Anyway, that is why I am biased and don’t listen to Batanga anymore. Either way, I wish them and him luck. Anyway on to this press release’s excerpt…

“Batanga (www.batanga.com), America’s largest Hispanic streaming media website offering relevant and in-culture content, is now also the fastest growing online destination targeting Latinos in the U.S.. comScore’s MediaMetrix U.S. panel data confirms Batanga as the fastest-growing website targeting U.S. Hispanics during the past year alone. In fact, Batanga’s unique visitors grew over 500% in the last twelve months.

Batanga has the largest inventory of streaming media -video/audio- featuring 26 exclusive online Latin radio stations, thousands of on-demand videos, and custom content on passion-driving categories such as music, sports, autos, women and entertainment. “

• Radio Arte, a community, bilingual and youth-centered radio station owned by the National Museum of Mexican Art, is joining forces with Vocalo.org, founded by Chicago Public Radio, for a year-long collaboration.
• Yanked off the air in July after co-host Don Pryor repeatedly uttered an ethnic slur, “The Todd and Don Show” will return to KLBJ-AM on Dec. 7, according to a statement released jointly by the station’s management and local Hispanic leaders who met earlier today. – Austin
• Eduardo Caballero to receive Medalla de Cortez Award in NYC
• Facing a group of presidents loudly critical of Washington, the U.S. government’s Voice of America broadcast is expanding its audience in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, VOA officials say.
• ESPN Deportes Radio WAMA 1550 AM Launches in Tampa
• Charlotte’s classical-music station, Davidson College’s WDAV-FM (89.9), is looking at adding a Spanish channel. – Called “Concierto,” it would be broadcast on one of WDAV’s HD radio channels and streamed on the Web.
• Citadel Media en Espanol Partners with Terra to Develop Online Brand Extensions for Radio Portfolio
• A Spanish-language station belatedly flips radio’s ratings switch – “that Spanish-language station La Invasora came out of nowhere to nearly crack the Top 20.”
• Que Buena Radio’s 11th Annual ‘Los Premios de la Radio’ – The event will be held at the famed NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, located across the street from the STAPLES Center, on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:15 p.m
• Border Media, formerly BMP Radio, is ending Spanish-language broadcasts on four Austin stations as of 1 a.m. Sunday – La Ley 98.9 FM, Digital 92.5 and 104.9 FM, and Juan 1490 AM
• Independent bloggers school opens in Cuba
• Anselmo “Sam” Potter, the business manager for Univision Radio Florida pleaded guilty to 6 counts of wire fraud and embezzling
• As La Kalle prepares to unveil new call letters, Hispanic radio listeners happy with strong signal – WCAA moved from 105.9 FM to 96.3 FM – NYC
• Northern California radio-talk Host and Columnist Roberto Hernandez to receive NLGJA Award
• Batanga Opens Mexico Office
• Diana Delgado, was appointed as the new Vice President of Corporate Sales for Lazer Broadcasting a Spanish language radio station company based out of Oxnard, California.
• Interview: Josh Norek shines a light on alternative Latino music (+ he is a good guy imho)
• Corridos — songs that tell the stories of notorious characters — have gained new prevalence among mainstream followers of regional Mexican music thanks to artists that are daring to sing in the bluntest of terms and radio’s new willingness to play the racy songs.
• Gabriela Zabalúa-Goddard, editor of AARP’s Segunda Juventud magazine, will be the host of a new weekly Spanish-language radio show
• Anahí lanza en todas las radios Mi Delirio, su primer sencillo.