Industry News

September 2024 U.S. Podcast Ranker Released from Triton Digital Plus New Political Podcast Data

TritonTriton Digital has just released its U.S. Podcast Ranker for September 2024. The ranker is measured by Triton’s Podcast Metrics measurement service and includes a reporting period of September 2, 2024 – September 29, 2024.

Highlights this month include:

• iHeart Audience Network was the #1 Top Sales Networks Report, SiriusXM Podcast Network came in at #2, followed by NPR at #3.

• Top podcasts based on downloads included “NPR News Now” (NPR) at #1, “Up First” (NPR) at #2, and “Crime Junkie” (audiochuck) climbing to #3.

• Top podcasts for listeners were “NPR News Now” (NPR) at #1, “Crime Junkie” (audiochuck) at #2, and “Up First” (NPR) at #3.

• Top podcast debuts included “NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal (iHeart Audience Network), “Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)” (SiriusXM Podcast Network), and “All In With Chris Hayes” (NBCUniversal News Group).

Additionally, Triton Digital collaborated with Signal Hill Insights to uncover political podcast downloads and audience trends as the U.S. presidential election approaches:

• Political podcasts have seen a 28% increase in year-over-year downloads with incremental increases over the last six months.

• Twice as many downloads come from Democrat-leaning podcasts as Republican-leaning ones. Although Democrat-leaning podcasts still make up the majority of the political podcast market, they saw their listenership decline from 58% to 56% year-over-year while Republican podcasts rose from 23% to 28% of total political podcast downloads.

• The demographic profile of political podcast listeners reveals an older, highly educated, and affluent audience compared to the U.S. general 18+ population: 59.7% are college graduates, 31.9% report a household income exceeding $100,000, and nearly half (47.2%) are 55 years or older.

• While still affluent and educated compared to the U.S. Population, Republican-leaning podcast listener profiles under-index compared to Democrat and Independent-leaning podcasts on these attributes. Additionally, they boast the highest proportion (89.9%) of White/Caucasian listeners among the three political leanings. Democrat-leaning podcasts have attracted the highest proportion (17.4%) of Black/African American listeners.

• Independent-leaning podcasts claim the highest proportion (16.2%) of Hispanic listeners and are 68.2% college-educated, and 62.4% male.

Please click HERE and for more details.

Industry News

Florida Association of Broadcasters Donates $25,000 to BFOA’s Hurricanes Helene and Milton Fund to Meet/Match Donation from WABC Owner John Catsimatidis

Florida Association of Broadcasters Logo BlkThe Florida Association of Broadcasters (FAB) has donated $25,000 to the Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) Hurricanes Helene and Milton Fund. With the addition of FAB’s donation, BFOA has exceeded the amount necessary for the $25,000 match donation from John Catsimatidis, owner and CEO of Red Apple Media and WABC,  New York.  “The Broadcasters Foundation has been a tremendous help to individuals in broadcasting who are in the greatest need of assistance from the onslaught of these back-to-back hurricanes. On behalf of FAB’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, we are proud to make this contribution,”  said Pat Roberts, president/CEO of FAB. im “Unfortunately, this is far from over,” he continued. “Many of our colleagues are just now discovering the extent of the damage and the cost of repairing or rebuilding. On behalf of our members and all broadcasters who are suffering from the catastrophic impact of these storms, please continue to contribute to the Broadcasters Foundation Hurricanes Fund.”  “We are so grateful to John and Pat and all the individual donors who continue to rise to the occasion and provided much-needed donations to help our colleagues, many of whom are temporarily homeless,” stated Tim McCarthy, President of BFOA. “The volume of requests that pour in every day is overwhelming. We need everyone in radio and television to give as much as they can afford. There is no such thing as a too small donation. Every dollar helps.”  The Broadcasters Foundation has temporarily adjusted its already streamlined Emergency Grant Guidelines and Application Process to make it even easier and faster to get funds into the hands of broadcasters hit hardest by these storms. Under the adjusted guidelines, broadcasters who have suffered catastrophic loss contact their market manager or GM, who then fills out the Hurricanes Helene and Milton Group Submission Form for all of those within their station who are applying. To access the new temporary application form, market or general managers may click here. To make a donation to the Broadcasters Foundation of America Hurricanes Helene and Milton Emergency Fund, please click here.

Industry News

Connecticut Broadcasters Association (CBA) Awards include Heritage News/Talk Radio Stations WTIC, Hartford and WICC, Bridgeport

Brian and Co
The Connecticut Broadcasters Association debuted its first station awards presentation on Tuesday night (10/15) during its annual gala dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.  The organization also welcomed six new members into its CBA Hall of Fame, including former longtime radio talker (WTIC), and current TV News 8 (New Haven-Hartford) anchor/political correspondent Mark Davis.  Heritage news/talker WTIC NewsTalk 1080, Hartford received two awards: Best Morning Show – “Brian & Company” (Brian Shactman); and Best Radio News Reporter – Morgan Cunningham.  WICC-AM, Bridgeport’s “Melissa in the Morning” (Melissa Sheketoff) received the Best Talk Show honor. Pictured above (l-r): WTIC’s Joey Bourgoin, Bob Cox, Morgan Cunningham, Brian Shactman, Matt Sirois, and Mark “The Shark” Christopher.

Industry News

NYF and PushDesign Celebrate the Power of Storytelling: Unveiling the “What Defines Greatness” Campaign

NY FestivalsNew York Festivals Radio and TV & Film Awards have launched the 2025 multi-platform call for entries campaign for the annual competitions which culminate in the Storytellers Gala every spring.  The two themes of the eight-video campaign are “What Defines Greatness” and “Sounds Over The Years.”  Together they celebrate a stand-out all-star list of innovative NYF winners through the years: My Octopus Teacher, Peaky Blinders, The Olympics, Done+Dusted, CBS Radio News, The Beatles Channel, Das Boot, A Capitol Fourth, The New York Philharmonic, CBC News, Molly Solomon, Marvin Kalb, and Donna de Varona.  “PushDesign’s Emmy-award winning creative work is a perfect match for NYF,” said Rose Anderson, EVP of New York Festivals and executive director of the TV & Film and Radio Awards Competitions. “These high energy sizzle reels let you see and hear what NYF winners are all about – enthusiasm, excitement, and excellence.”  “The New York Festivals has a global reach, is peer judged, and honors industry legends” said Rob Tobin, founder and creative director of PushDesign, “We wanted to let the programs and winners speak for themselves to inspire entrants.” The 2025 Grand Jury panel selection process is underway, and the TV & Film and Radio Grand Juries will be announced on October 23.  The New York Festivals TV & Film and Radio Awards competitions receive entries from over 50 countries.  Members of the Grand Jury panels vote to determine the Shortlists and final standings for Tower Trophies.  The 2025 Storytellers Gala will honor trophy winners of both competitions in the spring.  The official deadline to enter the 2025 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards is December 31, 2024. For more information on the 2025 TV & Film Awards visit: https://tvf.newyorkfestivals.com/. The official deadline to enter the 2025 Radio Awards is January 31, 2025. For more information on the 2025 Radio Awards winners visit: https://radiohome.newyorkfestivals.com/

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Industry News

Starnes to Offer Six-Hour Election Night Special

Election Night with Todd StarnesStarnes Media Group is hosting a live, six-hour Election Night special for radio stations across the nation. The free program will broadcast from 6:00 pm – 12:00 midnight ET. The show will be hosted by nationally syndicated TALKERS Heavy Hundred personality Todd Starnes and will feature radio reporters in all seven battleground states and more than two dozen pundits and pollsters. The show will also take calls from listeners. And stations will also be able to embed a digital television broadcast of the program on their websites. For information on clocks and how to get the show, email todd@starnesmediagroup.com or call 917-331-9866.  Starnes, who also is the owner of KWAM News Radio in Memphis, was re-elected to Tennessee Broadcasters Board. He has taken a large role in lobbying Congress on keeping AM radio in cars.



Job Opportunity

Plum Programming Job Open at WHO, Des Moines

Who

iHeartMedia is offering an exciting opportunity for the role of director of spoken word specifically for WHO Radio in Des Moines, Iowa. This position is critical in overseeing all spoken word content, driving the creative vision, and ensuring that the programming captivates and engages listeners. The director will manage on-air talent, curate compelling content, and maintain the high standards that WHO Radio is known for. If you’re passionate about radio, have a knack for leadership, and possess experience in content creation and management, this is a chance to make a significant impact at one of the most respected stations in the industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of spoken word at WHO Radio!  For more info and to apply please click here.

 

 

Job Opportunity

Salem Seeks GSM for New York City

Salem Media Group is seeking a seasoned general sales manager to lead its radio and digital sales team in New York City.Salem This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced professional to drive success in the country’s number one media market. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the NYC media landscape and strong market relationships to drive business growth.  Apply online at https://careers-salemmedia.icims.com/jobs/3336/general-sales-manager/job, or reach out directly to Jerry Crowley jcrowley@nycradio.com or Laura Sheaffer laura@nycradio.com

Industry News

Yesterday’s (10/16) Top News/Talk Media Stories

Industry News

EDISON RESEARCH: The Race to Rogan – Who Will Candidates Reach on America’s Top Podcast?

Industry Views

So, What Are the Next Big Topics in Talk Radio?

Industry News

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) to Host Special Live Show for SiriusXM’s Progress Channel Tomorrow (10/17)

SiriusXM announced today that Doug Jones, former Democratic senator from Alabama, will host a special program exclusively for SiriusXM’s Progress channel tomorrow evening (10/17). Doug Jones ID“The CloakRoom with Former Senator Doug Jones” will air live tomorrow from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET on channel 127.  According to company sources, with just a few weeks remaining before the November 5 elections, Senator Jones will engage with Progress listeners, taking calls to discuss the pressing news stories of the day. He’ll also leverage his personal political experience to analyze the key senatorial races, as well as the presidential election. In addition, the former senator will be joined by Julie Chavez Rodriguez, VP Kamala Harris’s campaign manager, as well as a surprise guest. “The stakes in this election could not be any higher,” Jones tells TALKERS. “I can’t think of a better way to talk directly with voters nationwide and have real conversations about the issues at the top of their minds as we head into Election Day. As a regular guest on SiriusXM’s Progress channel, I know they have a passionate audience with a lot of important, fresh subjects to discuss, so this should be a lot of fun.” The show will have its first run live during the usual time slot of “The Dean Obeidallah Show.” The special will also replay multiple times throughout the week and will be available anytime on demand on the SiriusXM app. Progress is SiriusXM’s channel dedicated to amplifying progressive viewpoints. The channel features a wide range of voices including Zerlina Maxwell, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Michelangelo Signorile, Dean Obeidallah, John Fugelsang, and more. Photo by Joy Asico-Smith / AP for SiriusXM.

Industry News

Community Broadcasters Raises $127,098 in South Carolina Pee Dee Region Radiothon to Benefit McLeod Children’s Hospital

Live 95The 22nd annual Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon benefitting McLeod Children’s Hospital was recently held in Florence, SC. During the Radiothon, Community Broadcasters’ stations WWKT 99.3 The Cat, (news/talker) WFRK Live 95.3, WPDT Almighty 105.1 and WSIM 93.7 Frank FM hosted live broadcasts from McLeod Children’s Hospital. Pictured above: former SC Lt. Gov. Ken Ard and station VP operations Dave Baker (r) during broadcast on news/talk Live 95.  “As always, at Community Broadcasters, we are always doing our best to live up to our name, and stand for the communities that we broadcast in,” company VP Wayne Mulling tells TALKERS. “And we are proud of what we have been able to do in hosting the Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon each year to raise funds for McLeod Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network. We are humbled by the amount of people that have been helped directly through the years by these organizations, and glad to play a small part in keeping this active and ongoing to continue to help others every year. We invite you to be a part as well.” DJs and talk show hosts asked listeners for donations in support of the programs and technology that McLeod offers to families in the Pee Dee. Listeners also had the opportunity to hear real stories from those who have benefited directly from the McLeod Children’s Hospital, in addition to interviews with doctors, nurses and employees who all share the same passion. “What an exciting Radiothon we had this year raising more than $127,000 for the McLeod Children’s Hospital!” says Davis Sawyer, Children’s Hospital fund manager. “The hard work and dedication from all involved truly make a difference in the lives of the children treated in McLeod Children’s Hospital. I value the partnership and friendship we have with Community Broadcasters and look forward to growing this partnership as we continue to impact the children we serve.”  There was also a live auction throughout the week, with some bids surpassing $500. Auction items were donated from collegiate and professional sports teams, nationally known musicians and local businesses. At the conclusion of the Radiothon, this year’s donations equaled $127,098. All donations will remain here in the Florence area to help fund life-saving McLeod programs, and purchase new technology to better serve the Pee Dee families. To learn more about the annual Radiothon, check out this year’s sponsors, or make a donation, visit myradiothon.com

Industry News

Yesterday’s (10/15) Top News/Talk Media Stories

Industry News

Legendary NHL Champion Coach Mike Keenan is this Week’s Guest on Harrison Interviews

Industry News

COMMUNITY PRESENCE: WABC Floats Down Fifth Avenue

WABC Parade Picture
Yesterday (10/14) was a beautiful day in New York for the Columbus Day parade, which took place along Fifth Avenue.  The 77WABC Trolley was part of the parade, and the station broadcast the event live. Pictured above in front of the 77WABC Trolley are (left to right): Actor Gianni Russo, who played Carlo in The Godfather; Red Apple Media and WABC Radio owners Margo and John Catsimatidis; WABC “music radio” weekend host and local singing sensation Vinnie Medugno; popular personality Frank Morano, host of “The Other Side of Midnight;”  and Red Apple Media/WABC president Chad Lopez.

Industry News

The Score WSCO, Appleton, WI Shuffles Midday Lineup

Industry News

Hubbard Radio Welcomes Daniel Bortnick as New Director of Sales for South Florida Cluster

Hubbard Radio has announced the appointment of Daniel Bortnick as the new director of sales for its South Florida cluster. Daniel Bortnick Bortnick is a successful industry veteran who most recently served as regional vice president of sales at iHeart Media in Washington, DC. Elizabeth Hamma, market president tells TALKERS, “We are fortunate to welcome Danny Bortnick as director of sales for Hubbard South Florida. With his extensive and successful track record of driving revenue growth as well as fostering strong client relationships, we are confident Danny will make a big impact on our team and our advertising partners.”  Bortnick states, “I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Hubbard South Florida. I’m humbled to be representing such powerful brands, as well 2060 Digital. Looking forward to helping the Hubbard South Florida team reach new levels of success.”Hubbard Logo In his new role, according to the company, Bortnick will oversee sales operations for Hubbard’s South Florida stations, as well as 2060 Digital, focusing on driving revenue growth, building strong relationships with advertisers, and creating innovative solutions to meet client needs.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (10/14) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida were still the most talked-about stories focusing on the negative impact of misinformation about the damage and relief, as well as the attacks on FEMA personnel, followed closely by the presidential race with a spotlight on the intensifying vitriol. The escalation of violence in the Middle East, climate change, the economy, abortion rights, the migrant crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war, Columbus Day, and the MLB playoffs were also among the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday (10/14), according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Industry News

iHeartMedia to Host “We the People: An Audio Townhall with VP Kamala Harris and Charlamagne Tha God” Tomorrow (10/15) at 5:00 pm ET

iHeartMedia and multimedia mogul Charlamagne Tha God, on air host of New York’s Power 105’s popular, nationally syndicated hit radio show “The Breakfast Club” announced “We the People: An Audio Townhall with Kamala Harris and Charlamagne Tha God” an hour-long town hall-style event hosted live in Detroit tomorrow (10/15) at 5:00 pm ET.  Just 25 days before the 2024 elections, iHeartRadio’s Charlamagne Tha God will have what is being described as an important and thought-provoking discussion with the Democratic nominee for President of the United States on a variety of significant topics about the election. In addition to a thorough discussion about the election, Vice President Harris will answer some questions from voters across the country.  Our listeners are very passionate,” said Charlamagne during his morning show. “I want local voices from Detroit and voices from all the battleground states to get the opportunity to ask Vice President Kamala Harris some questions.  I know we got some pressing issues to talk about. The future of the nation is decided by who we elect.” The town hall will broadcast live and stream across 130 iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App at iHeartRadio.com/WeThePeople.  It will be available on demand following the live broadcast at iHeartRadio.com/WeThePeople.  Listeners can also follow @BreakfastClubAM and @iHeartRadio on social platforms for the latest news and info.  Listeners can submit their questions to VP Harris right now by downloading the iHeartRadio app and using the Talk Back function. Listeners can simply click the microphone icon on their favorite iHeartRadio station, record their question and hit “send.”

Industry News

Audacy Announces Relaunch of 105.7 FM The Fan in Milwaukee

Audacy announced 1250 AM The Fan (WSSP-AM) in Milwaukee will return to FM and will once again be heard on 105.7 FM beginning today (10/14). The Fan LogoThe station will continue to be heard on 1250 AM.  Concurrent with the FM relaunch, the station will introduce two new local weekday shows. “The Pack-A-Day Radio Show” will air weekdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am CT. Hosted by Green Bay Packers insider Andy Herman, the show will serve as a destination for all things green and gold. Herman currently hosts the “Pack-A-Day Podcast” and “Packer Report.”  The station will also launch “The Mason Crosby Show,” starring 17-year NFL kicker, Super Bowl champion and Packers all-time leading scorer Mason Crosby, weekdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am CT. The show will also feature Mitch “Thunder” Nelles as co-host and veteran producer Tommy Wortz.  “We couldn’t be more excited to bring The Fan back to FM and expand the reach of the best sports talk in Milwaukee,” said Jason Bjorson, SVP/market manager, Audacy Madison and Milwaukee. “Milwaukee has long been a premier market for football coverage, and through the addition of ‘The Pack-A-Day Radio Show’ and ‘The Mason Crosby Show,’ coupled with our existing must-listen programming, we’re elevating the listening experience and keeping fans connected to their favorite teams.” The station’s weekday lineup rounds out with “The Jim Rome Show” from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm CT and “Wisconsin Sports Daily” with station APD Steve “Sparky” Fifer from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm CT.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Q+A SOP

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

im

Industry Views

MH: Why is “Talk Radio” Predominantly Conservative?

UCFO - Why is Talk Radio predominantly conservative.

TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison addressed a packed house of New Jersey political, civic, and business leaders at the 16th annual Hurley in the Morning Foundation Charity Dinner in Atlantic City (10/4) discussing the biological and sociological impact of modern era communications technology. In this clip, he answers his most frequently asked question – why is talk radio predominantly conservative?  According to Harrison, it comes down to the popular interpretation and skewed definition of the term “talk radio” coupled with the media business’s trend toward “targeting” audiences by affirming what they already want to hear.  To see a brief clip of Harrison’s comments please click here.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (10/12-13)

Industry News Uncategorized

CBS Evening News Gives AM Radio Props for NC Disaster Relief

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: Depend on disaster?

By Walter Sabo
A.K.A. Walter Sterling, Host
Sterling Every Damn Night, WPHT, Philadelphia
Sterling On Sunday, TMN

Walter M. SterlingPaired association learning is the primary strategy our brain uses to remember facts: Oh, What a Feeling, Toyota.  For several years, our business has worked hard to “save” the AM band by demonstrating how useful radio is in times of Emergency: Floods, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes. Think AM and think local disaster!

A listener wants a good show and a pleasant seat. The better the show, the less important the seat – think Eras tour.

In your city, there are ancient movie palaces that were abandoned in the 1960s and brought back to life within the past decade.  Some of those palaces are independent movie theaters, children’s theaters or bookstores. They have been refurbished and repurposed. No one had the heart to tear them down, instead their history inspired fresh thinking and paint.

Many AM stations could become vital. First, fix the seating; fix the signal. Why should Congress bless a permanent place on the dial for AM if a company doesn’t invest in the infrastructure of transmission? While demanding mandatory inclusion of the AM band in cars, the same owners are cutting back on their AM facilities. Here’s a shocker: As late as the 1970s some companies chose to sell off their premium FM signals rather than experiment and fund them. We are talking big companies like Group W and RKO.  Today, many companies are downsizing their AM signals with requests for lower power, simpler directional patterns, and selling of their tower real estate. Yes, Congress, protect our band!

Today, AM processing has advanced to the point where properly installed, an AM signal can sound as good or better than an FM.  Ask Audacy’s Dave Skalish in Philadelphia. First, repair and upgrade the theater. Next, put a great show on the stage. The “savior” of the AM band is superior programming

Of course it can be done, but it can’t be done in pieces. The reason why WABC has grown from the scrap heap of crap from a negligent owner to a top 10 success in the world’s toughest city is by following programming rule number one consistency. John Catsimatidis and GM Chad Lopez deliver consistency: A consistent point of view. Consistent investment in top talent on and off the air. Consistent community visibility. Consistent pride In the product. The owner and management love radio and love the show. The show. Make a great show and they always come.

Consultant Walter Sabo A.K.A. Walter M Sterling has a nightly show “Sterling Every Damn Night” heard on WPHT, Philadelphia 9:00 pm – 12:00 midnight. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs Sundays 10:00 pm – 1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at waltermsterling@gmail.com or Sabowalter@gmail.com.