Industry News

Guy Gordon Exits WJR-AM, Detroit

Guy Gordon leaves Cumulus Media’s news/talk WJR-AM, Detroit after declining to take the company’s offer to move from mornings to early afternoon and take a 60% pay cut, according to a story by Neal Rubin in the Detroit Free Press. Gordon says he understands that the request by management was due toimg a budget crunch – the company has been eliminating positions at stations across the country. He says he didn’t have “an inkling” that his job was at risk, “I probably should have. Radio is really tough now.” Gordon has been a host on the morning show since June of 2023 and was on in afternoons six years prior to that. During his long career in Detroit, he worked as 11:00 pm news anchor at WXYZ-TV and as morning anchor on WDIV-TV. He told his listeners, “If this is the end of the career, I have no grievances. I’m Lou Gehrig without the horrible disease. I’m the luckiest man on Earth.” See the Detroit Free Press story here.

Industry News

Edison Research: Women Podcast Listeners Triples in 10 Years

According to data from Edison Research, female monthly podcast listenership has tripled over the past decade, growing from 15% in 2015 to 45% in 2025. This is from Edison’s “Women’s Audio Report: Women & Podcasts” with support from SiriusXM Media. The report finds that when factoring in video podcast viewership, estimates for engagement by women climbs even higher, to 52% of women age 18+ nowimg consuming podcasts in some form. Other notable findings from the report: 1) Female podcast consumers skew younger (39% between ages 18-34), have higher incomes (29% with household incomes over $100K), and higher education levels (51% with college degrees); 2) Primary motivations among women monthly podcast consumers include exploring topics in depth (53%), learning (46%), and entertainment (44%); and 3) Among the women monthly consumers who have heard an ad on a podcast, 75% have acted as a result of hearing an ad. The Women’s Audio Report was based on 2,520 interviews with women age 18+ who had listened to audio in the last month. See more about the Women’s Audio Report webinar here.

Industry News

Charlie Kirk Engaging with Students on College Campuses

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Salem Radio Network nationally syndicated talk host Charlie Kirk is visiting college campuses to engage with students, specifically students who disagree with him. According to KIVI-TV, Boise, the founder of Turning Point USA is on “The American Comeback” tour and was at the campus of Boise State University yesterday (4/15). On the tour, Kirk talks with students who disagree with him under a pop-up tent with the words, “Prove Me Wrong,” emblazoned along its top. Kirk will visit Washington State University in Pullman, Washington tomorrow (4/17). Kirk is pictured above at the event on the Boise State campus.

Industry News

Wisconsin’s Civic Media Network Announces Program Changes

Civic Media owns and/or operates 20 signals across the state of Wisconsin airing its news/talk programming and announces a new weekday lineup for the network. First is a new morning show, “Mornings with Pat Kreitlow,” hosted by the founding editor of Courier Newsroom’s Wisconsin digital media outlet, UpNorthNews. The company says several existing morning shows will be folded into the new program, while new voices will be added in other communities around the state to provide the best mix ofimg state and local information. Earl Ingram, host of “The Earl Ingram Show,” will join “Mornings with Pat Kreitlow” on 540AM WAUK in Milwaukee and appear as a regular guest on other network shows. In other moves, “Matenaer On Air” with Jane Matenaer and Greg Bach shifts one hour earlier, airing from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. “The Thom Hartmann Program” returns to its live air time (11:00 am to 2:00 pm). “The Todd Allbaugh Show” moves to 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and “The Maggie Daun Show” now airs from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Civic Media CEO Sage Weil says, “We are excited to bring a more robust and flexible morning show to the state, and to reposition our best shows to serve our uniquely Wisconsin audience. This new approach will provide the flexibility to spotlight our local voices that focus on what is happening in our local communities, from Earl Ingram in Milwaukee to Chad Holmes in Wausau, and to share that content both on and off the air.”

Industry News

Katz Promotes Two in Political Sales

Katz Media Group promotes PJ Stack to vice president of political sales and Kevin McTigue to director ofimg political sales for their Katz Digital Video division. The promotions are effective immediately. The company says these leadership moves reflect Katz’s continued imginvestment in delivering strategic, results-driven solutions for political advertisers through both linear and digital media. Katz Media Group CEO Mark Gray states, “Katz has built the most experienced and trusted political sales team in the industry. With deep-rooted expertise across both broadcast and digital, our team delivers unmatched scale, strategy, and results for political advertisers. As the landscape continues to evolve, Katz remains the go-to partner for campaigns looking to connect with voters in meaningful and measurable ways.”

Industry News

KILT-AM, Houston’s Clint Stoerner in Arkansas Sports HoF

Houston sports talk personality and former University of Arkansas star quarterback Clint Stoerner was inducted into Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame on April 11 during their 67th annual induction banquet at theimg Oaklawn Event Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Stoerner co-hosts “The Drive with Clint Stoerner and Ron Hughley” in afternoon drive at Audacy’s sports talk KILT-AM, Houston “SportsRadio 610.” Audacy Houston SVP and market manager Sarah Frazier comments, “We are so proud of Clint and his accomplishments both on and off the field. Not only is he a premier sports radio host who was a finalist the same night for Media Alliance of Houston as Sports Specialist, but he is a great teammate to all of us in the building.” Stoerner began as a fill-in host on “SportsRadio 610” in 2018 and joined as a full-time host in 2019.

Job Opportunity

Kim Komando Has Opportunity for Broadcast & Podcast Engineer

WestStar MultiMedia Entertainment is looking for a broadcast and podcast engineer. The company says, “If you’ve got audio chops, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. We’re not just another podcast. ‘The Kimimg Komando Show’ is a nationally syndicated tech radio show heard on over 510 stations, SiriusXM, podcasts and streaming platforms, reaching millions every week. And guess what? We’re based right here in Phoenix. This is the job if you want to level up your career in broadcast and podcasting without leaving the Valley.” See the complete job description and apply here.

Industry News

Dave Ramsey Publishes New Book, Build a Business You Love

Ramsey Solutions CEO Dave Ramsey publishes his latest book titled, “Build a Business You Love,” (2025, Ramsey Press). In this new book, Ramsey shares his 30-plus years of building a business from a one-imgman operation to a $250 million-a-year company with over 1,000 employees and a nationally recognized brand. Ramsey says the book draws on his hard-earned lessons, equipping readers at every stage of business to grow themselves, lead their teams and scale their businesses.  He says, “Running a business is the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but it can also be the greatest thing you’ve ever done. If you’re not careful, you can wind up hating what you’re trying to build. I’m a guy who’s lived it and made it work — someone who’s messed up a lot and gotten back up after being knocked down. This book isn’t theory. It’s the blueprint for building something you can be proud of.” See more about the book here.

Industry News

Good Karma’s WTMJ, Milwaukee Makes Lineup Changes

Good Karma Brands’ Milwaukee news talk outlet 620 WTMJ is making changes to its program lineup that says will enhance its news offerings and doubling down on its political talk. Effective tomorrow (4/16), Kristin Brey and Steve Scaffidi will co-host the late morning program Point Taken from 10:00 am toimg 12:00 noon. “Wisconsin’s Morning News” with Vince Vitrano & Erik Bilstad, will air from 6:00 am until 10:00 am and the station’s midday news show, “Wisconsin’s Midday News” with Greg Matzek & Jessica Tighe, will air from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. The change eliminates Brey’s one-hour 9:00 am show and moves business-imgfocused “The Upswing” with Jeff Sherman (heard from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon) to Saturdays and available as a podcast. Brey says, “Steve first invited me to come onto his show back in 2020 and we hit it off immediately. He is largely the reason I have a career in radio at all. After years of being a guest on each other’s shows or a fill in host, I am so excited that we finally have the chance to tussle with the biggest political stories of the day with each other every weekday.  We rarely agree but we always have fun and I think that’s the kind of energy that makes good radio and interesting conversations.” Scaffidi adds, “I’m thrilled to finally be able to work with Kristin on a daily basis. We recently launched our podcast, You Need to Listen, but having two hours with her each weekday morning will offer our fans and listeners a chance to hear our unique perspectives on the news of the day.”

Industry News

Talk Media Personality Wayne Allyn Root Emcees Palm Beach GOP Lincoln Gala

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Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated radio and television personality Wayne Allyn Root was the emcee for this year’s annual Palm Beach GOP Lincoln Gala. Root says that after attending the event three years ago, he was honored to be asked to serve as emcee as well as in a speaker role presenting his America’s Top Ten Countdown. Root says that after the event he and his wife Cindy had a late dinner at Mar-a-Lago and chatted with President Trump, who was having dinner with Elon Musk and his son X. They also met old friends former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson (above) and former Trump advisor Roger Stone (below).

Industry News

Salem Unveils Deal with Donald Trump, Jr and Lara Trump

Salem Media Group announces multi-dimensional deal that it says not only adds two of the most influential voices in American media, Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump, but launches the company into an entirely new era of scale, relevance, and cultural power. As part of the deal, Salem acquires a 30% stake in MxM News, a mobile news aggregation app co-owned by Trump Jr., and enters into a longterm servicesimg agreement under which Trump Jr. and Salem will work together to develop a series of high-impact promotional and growth initiatives. At the same time, Salem enters into a strategic agreement with Lara Trump to collaborate on business growth in the digital podcast space, advertiser partnerships, and content innovation. Both Trumps become significant stakeholders in Salem Media. Salem CEO David Santrella states, “These aren’t just partnerships, they’re power moves. Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump bring credibility, energy, and the kind of megaphone that moves markets and shapes public opinion. Their alignment with Salem signals a massive leap forward in our ability to lead the next era of conservative media. Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump aren’t just becoming business partners with Salem, they now also have significant ownership stakes in the company with a major incentive to grow shareholder value which in turn will drive the stock price. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a Salem shareholder.”

Industry News

NAB Files 80 Pages of Comments for FCC Deregulation

The National Association of Broadcasters says it filed comprehensive comments with the Federal Communications Commission in response to the agency’s call for public input under its “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative. NAB says its filing “urges the FCC to seize this moment to fundamentally modernize itsimg regulatory framework, beginning with long-overdue reforms to the national television ownership cap and the local radio and TV ownership rules. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt states, “This is a moment for bold ideas, and NAB is proud to lead the charge. The FCC’s rules should reflect today’s media landscape, not one from decades past. Our filing lays out a clear, actionable path to modernize regulations and empower local radio and TV stations to better serve their communities. We appreciate the Commission, especially Chairman Carr, for launching this important effort. Reforming outdated ownership rules is the essential first step to strengthening local journalism and ensuring broadcasters can continue to survive.” See the entire filing here.

Industry News

KBLA, Los Angeles Presents Remote Altadena Broadcast

Tomorrow (4/16), KBLA, Los Angeles “Talk 1580” radio personalities Tavis Smiley, Dominique DiPrima, and Nii-Quartelai Quartey will participate in the radio station’s community town hall titled, “Theimg Eaton/Altadena Fire: 100 Days and Counting,” from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Robinson Park Recreation Area in Pasadena. There will be a panel of survivors, community leaders, activists, experts, and more to reflect on the 100 days since the fire erupted and address hard and heart questions about where the community goes from here. Tavis Smiley, founder of Smiley Audio Media, says, “I’m looking forward to hearing from our beloved Black Altadenians and learning how KBLA Talk 1580 can continue to support their efforts to find justice and accountability to make them whole.”

Industry News

Pat Boyle to Host Overnight Show on Infinity Sports Network

Audacy adds “The Pat Boyle Show” to its Infinity Sports Network, airing in the 2:00 am to 6:00 am ET daypart. Ryan Hurley, brand manager for Infinity Sports Network and WFAN, says, “We are happy to haveimg Pat continue to bring his passion to Infinity Sports Network, this time on a nightly basis. He puts everything he has into entertaining his audience, keeping them informed and involving them in his show for a great listening experience.” Since 2019, Boyle has held multiple positions at WFAN and Infinity Sports Network, serving as a host, anchor, and producer. He currently co-hosts, “Sunday’s Bets” on Audacy’s BetMGM Network and anchored the eight-hour NFL show “Gridiron Gameday with Pat Boyle.”

Industry News

WWO Blog: The Sales Effect Power of Creative

This week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog reveals data from Advertiser Perceptions, commissioned to annually survey brands and media agencies on the sales contribution of five advertising effectiveness factors: Brand, Creative, Reach, Recency, and Targeting. In February,img Advertiser Perceptions surveyed 301 marketers and media agencies on the sales generated by each of the five sales drivers and as they have for the past six surveys, those surveyed had an average % of perception of creative’s contribution toward driving sales around 20%. But the reality according to one study is that creative’s contribution toward driving sales is actually about 49%. Quatical principle Marc Binkley says, “Creative is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet… it’s a way to supercharge budgets. Emotional, well-branded creative is a way to be more memorable. The goal isn’t just awareness, it’s being memorable in as many buying situations as possible.” See the complete blog post here.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

RTDNA’s Dan Shelley to Retire. RTDNA president and CEO Dan Shelley is reriting at the end of 2025 after more than 25 years with the organization. The RTDNA board of directors voted to approve current executive director Tara Puckey as the new president and CEO beginning in January of 2026.

Two Media Companies Announces Q1 Earnings Reports. Townsquare Media will release first quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, May 8. The company will host a conference call to discuss certain first quarter 2025 financial results that day 8:00 am ET and Saga Communications will release its First Quarter 2025 results at 9:00 am ET while holding a conference call at 11:00 am ET that morning.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/14)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/14) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Abrego Garcia Deportation Case
2. Trump Tariffs/Financial Markets Stabilize
3. Trump vs Harvard
4. FTC’s Anti-Trust Case Against Meta
5. Trump Angered by “60 Minutes” / AP Blocked from White House Presser

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: 5 Books That Will Change Your Life

By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M. Sterling
Host, “Sterling Every Damn Night”
WPHT, Philadelphia
Host, “Sterling On Sunday,” TMN

imgThese books have helped me tell stories, prioritize programming initiatives and manage career strategies. If interested in a book the link connects to its page on Amazon.

You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, By Quentin Schultze. Not what I thought. It’s not about the goofy episodes in the “A Christmas Story” movie. Jean Shepherd, radio star, wrote and narrated the movie. This book deconstructs how Jean told stories. Shepherd was the greatest radio storyteller of all time. He told stories on WOR every single night for 27 years. His one-hour show had no guests, no phone calls, simply his astonishing stories. Author Schultze, a college professor, spent hundreds of hours with Jean discovering how he imagined, enacted and teased his stories. The book is an advanced course for today’s magic makers. https://a.co/d/fHXIBlt

It’s One O’Clock and Here is Mary Margaret McBride, by Susan Ware. We know but a little. The first national star of midday radio was Ms. McBride. She was so popular and powerful that she required seven secretaries to answer her mail. On her show’s 10th anniversary, she packed Madison Square Garden with listener fans and celebrities. Eleanor Roosevelt hosted McBride’s 15th anniversary at Yankee Stadium. Show prep was her life, that’s why her show sounded informal. https://a.co/d/5idc7TC

Dress for Success, By John Molloy. Yes, the book reveals Molloy’s research on success dress, but perhaps more importantly the book helps the reader think like a success. This guide to the C Suite explains how to reach the top of any business. On the air? When preparing for work, consider all the steps we take toward meeting the station’s biggest client and do that every day. On the plane? No sweat pants! If you want to join a club, look like you already belong to it.  https://a.co/d/99XI61d

Effective Frequency: The Relationship between Frequency and Advertising Effectiveness, Compiled by the ANA. The DNA of everything. 100 years of studies on how a listener’s memory works. How many spots actually cause burn? How often should the promo run? Do listeners remember the first or last spot best? How to rotate songs? And why did the original phone numbers have seven digits? This deceptively thin, rich book will startle!  https://a.co/d/foZUreI

The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, by Gertrude Stein. The author was the ambitious patron of the Cubist art movement in Paris. Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and many others were inspired and sponsored by Stein. Alice was her lover. Stein understood that controversy is a possible result of great artwork. Picasso’s first show in Paris caused outrage within the crowd. Watching the gathering’s reaction from the show’s balcony, “Gertrude Stein smiled.” Remember Stein’s reaction to Picasso’s audience the next time “sales” gives a host a hard time! https://a.co/d/1IuU1pV

My life has been changed by these works. How to dress, prep for an interview, cope with controversy, and rotate promos are skills shaped by these classics. Please let me know how they impact you.

Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com

Industry News

Hugh Hewitt Joins FOX News as Contributor

Salem Radio Network nationally syndicated talk host Hugh Hewitt joins FOX News as a contributor.img Hewitt announced the news on Friday and made his first appearance on FOX News Channel on “Special Report With Bret Baier.” In this role, Hewitt will appear across all FOX News Media platforms. In addition to his radio work for Salem, Hewitt was also most recently a columnist with the Washington Post, a role he resigned from last November.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Produce Your YouTube Videos for Phone Consumption

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

70%+ of views are mobile, where the screen is small and attention spans are short.

— Aspect ratio: Use 9:16 (vertical) or 1:1 (square) so it fills the phone screen.
— The first 3 seconds are critical. Use a bold visual, a teaser question, or a surprising statement.
— Because many watch without sound, add text on-screen using auto-caption tools. Bold, color-coded, animated captions keep attention.

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— Use close-up shots & big graphics. Tiny text or wide shots get lost. Zoom in on faces or products. Make graphics large and clear.
— Ideal length: 15 to 90 seconds for Shorts, or under 3 minutes for mobile-friendly standard videos. Cut filler, pauses, and tangents. Every second should count.
— Keep titles short and clear, i.e., “How To…” or “You Won’t Believe…”  DON’T title it “Episode # ___.”
— Focus on One Idea Per Video. Mobile users are distracted and scrolling fast. Give them one clear takeaway, message, or call-to-action.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News

Mike Gallagher Posts Updates from Plane Trapped on Montgomery Tarmac

Salem Radio Network talk host Mike Gallagher was a passenger on one of the two Delta flights from Mexico that were diverted to Montgomery, Alabama due to severe weather in their destination city of Atlanta. By law, passengers must go through customs and since Montgomery is not an international airportimg there are no customs agents there and the passengers were forced to remain on the planes for more than six-and-a-half hours. The Daily Mail reported the story and included some of Gallagher’s social media posts that he made throughout the night, including this one: “After 12 hours at the overwhelmed Montgomery, Alabama airport – 7 hours trapped on the plane on the tarmac, 5 hours stuck in a cordoned-off area of the airport – they are now boarding people 10 at a time. They are checking off names by pen, one by one. So hey, 16 hours after our original departure, there’s hope! I’m thinking it will take at least an hour to board.” See the Daily Mail story here.

Industry News

AURN Promotes Two in Pittsburgh

American Urban Radio Networks announces two key leadership promotions at its Pittsburgh office. Carrie Cleary is promoted to vice president of program operations and traffic. In her new role, Cleary will leadimg AURN’s programming operations and traffic initiatives. Tracey Lee is also promoted to senior director of program operations, traffic and affiliations. AURN AVP of program operations and affiliations Lenore Williams says, “Both Carrie and Tracey exemplify the leadership, dedication and passion that drive our success. Their deep experience and dedication to AURN’s mission have made them invaluable assets to the team. These promotions are not only well deserved, but also pivotal as we expand our impact and continue to lead the industry in service to our affiliates and advertisers.”

Industry News

KFBK, Sacramento Names Sam Shane Early PM Host

iHeartMedia Sacramento announces that effective June 2, air personality Sam Shane will transition from co-hosting “The KFBK Morning News” to host of the 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm show that’s been held by Tom Sullivan for more than 30 years. Sullivan recently announced his semi-retirement. Shane says, “I’mimg humbled and honored to be taking over the time slot occupied by Tom Sullivan at KFBK, a radio station with a rich history of producing superior news/talk programs. Never have I enjoyed producing and delivering a program more than these last six years as I have co-hosted the morning news show on KFBK with Cristina Mendonsa. I’m very proud of our accomplishments and grateful for the opportunity imgto have worked with Cristina and everyone behind the scenes who made it happen. Now it’s on to a new chapter.” Mendonsa continues as host of “The KFBK Morning News” and will be joined by Mark Demsky, who will serve as news anchor and present special report segments. Demsky joined KFBK last year after serving as a sports anchor and reporter at KTXL-Fox 40 in Sacramento. Mendosa says, “This next chapter is about helping listeners wake up to what really matters, stories that affect their lives. After 30 years in journalism and a multi-generational connection to Northern California, our goal is to bring listeners smart, relevant news with a balanced perspective, cutting through the noise to bring more insight.”