Industry News

Edison: Radio Still Dominates In-Car Listening

Citing data from its Q1 2026 Share of Ear, Edison Research says that even though consumers have more audio options than ever before in their cars, AM/FM radio takes up the majority of time spent listening toimg audio in the car among Americans 13+. Edison adds, “As of Q1 2026, 55% of in-car audio time is spent listening to AM/FM radio. The next closest platform in the car is streaming audio. Time with streaming audio has grown over the 12-year history of Share of Ear but remains a distant competitor to AM/FM radio among the total population ages 13+, with 16% of in-car audio time going to streaming platforms… Among Americans 13-34, 46% of their in-car audio time is spent listening to AM/FM radio and 30% with streaming audio sources.”

Industry News

Former Philly Sports Talker Missanelli Charged with Assault

As reported by Crossing Broad, former WIP and WPEN-FM, Philadelphia sports talk host Mike Missanelli was arrested and charged with simple imgassault and harassment after an alleged incident involving his fiancé. According to several Philadelphia media outlets, Missanelli allegedly slapped his fiancé during a “scuffle” in which she allegedly struck him in the chest. Missanelli has a preliminary court hearing on April 22. Missanelli’s long career in sports talk included time spent with both WIP and WPEN “97.5 The Fanatic.” He left WPEN during a round of staffing cuts last summer. See the Crossing Broad story here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/8)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/8) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. Iran Ceasefire / Israel’s Lebanon Strikes
  2. Oil Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  3. Trump and the 25th Amendment
  4. Bondi Epstein Deposition
  5. Trump vs NATO / Vance in Hungary
Industry News

Audacy: 84% Trust All-News Radio

Audacy says that based on a study by Alter Agents that it commissioned, 84% of respondents placed their confidence in all-news radio for local news and information – outpacing both broadcast TV and social media. This comes at a time when Americans report low confidence in traditional media. Additionally, while cable news audiences skew either heavilyimg conservative or liberal – depending on the channel – all-news radio’s audience is almost perfectly balanced. Audacy adds that it matters when it comes to election season. “While most national news platforms reach consumers who already lean one way or another, all-news radio’s neutrality makes listeners more willing to hear a message – even from a candidate they might initially distrust. The Alter Agents study found that 77% of listeners considered all-news advertisers to be ‘trustworthy’ simply by running adjacent to the content.” See the full story here.

Industry News

Beasley 2025 Q4 Net Revenue Falls 21.1%

Beasley Broadcast Group reports net revenue of $53 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, a decline of 21.1% from the same period in 2024. For the full year of 2025, net revenue was $205.9 million, a decrease of 14.3% from the full year of 2024. Regarding the Q4 2025 numbers, Beasley says they “reflect persistent weakness in the traditional agencyimg advertising market that was partially offset by the continued expansion of our high-margin, owned-and-operated direct digital revenues. Beasley recorded an operating loss of approximately $230.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to operating income of $7.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven primarily by a non-cash FCC license impairment charge of $224.8 million, reflecting the company’s updated assessment of the fair value of its broadcast licenses in light of continued secular pressures on the radio industry, as well as $1.7 million in other operating expenses.”

Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley states, “2025 was a year of meaningful transformation for Beasley. Against a persistently challenging advertising environment — marked by continued secular pressure on traditional audio and the ongoing contraction of agency-driven revenue channels — imgwe made tangible progress reshaping this company for long-term value creation. Our digital business delivered record performance, with digital revenue representing approximately 24% of net revenue, up from roughly 19% of net revenue in 2024, and digital segment operating margins reached record levels as our continued shift toward owned-and-operated and programmatic products gained traction across our markets… Building on this progress, we recently announced a debt exchange transaction with our second lien bondholders, pursuant to which we expect to reduce our second lien debt by approximately 50% and repay roughly $15 million of our first lien debt. Upon completion of the transaction, which is subject to bondholder participation and expected to close by the end of April, we anticipate total outstanding debt will be reduced to approximately $110 million from $220 million today. We believe this transaction will meaningfully strengthen our balance sheet, enhance financial flexibility, and better position the Company to execute on its strategic priorities. Following its completion, our focus will shift toward further deleveraging through EBITDA growth and continued portfolio optimization.”

Industry News

KKOB Unveils the “250 Initiative”

Cumulus Media’s Albuquerque news/talk News Radio KKOB – in celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America – announces “250 Flags,” a statewide initiative designed to recognize and honor 250 individuals who make New Mexico stronger every day. The station is asking listeners across New Mexico to nominate someone they believe deserves recognition. Honorees can be anyone, living orimg deceased, known or unknown, in New Mexico who has made a meaningful impact on their community, through service, leadership, sacrifice, or simply showing up when it matters most. On May 4th, News Radio KKOB will begin announcing honorees, with four individuals recognized each weekday, leading up to a culminating event later this summer. KKOB program director Aaron “Buck” Burnett says, “250 Flags is about recognizing the people who don’t always get the spotlight. New Mexico is full of everyday heroes, and this gives us a chance to tell their stories and honor them in a meaningful way.”

Industry News

Jon Patch Celebrates 36 Years of “Talkin’ Pets”

Radio talk host Jon Patch is celebrating 36 years of hosting the CRNimg Digital nationally syndicated weekend program “Talkin’ Pets.” Patch says, “Each week you get a variety of veterinarians and trainers, which keep our show current, fresh, exciting, fun and always new. We are available via satellite, ftp and file, live on Saturdays or delayed any time on your stations and each hour stands alone.”

Industry News

Podtrac Top U.S. Podcasts for March Remain Steady

Podtrac releases its Top Podcasts ranker for March 2026 based on U.S. unique monthly audience for participating networks and nothing changedimg from February in the top five as NPR’s “NPR News Now” stays in first place. Some moves of note include DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” rising one spot to #6; Silverloch’s “The Dan Bongino Show” falling two places to #11; and NPR’s “The NPR Politics Podcast” climbing 10 places to #19. See the complete ranker here.

Industry News

Black Effect Podcast Network Welcomes Winner of “Pitch Your Podcast”

iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast Networks welcome “The Black Mother Wound Podcast” to the network. The program was the winner selected from the “Pitch Your Podcast” booth at the 2025 Black Effect Podcast Festival last year. Podcast hostimg Jennifer Arnise says, “Winning the ‘Pitch your Podcast’ contest was so validating and made me feel like my voice and the hidden stories of Black women really matter. This podcast is a love letter to Black girls who never felt seen or heard by their mothers and feels like getting the best advice from your tough but loving big sister and your drunk bestie. It’s what I wish I would’ve had when I started my healing journey.” The launch comes ahead of the fourth annual Black Effect Podcast Festival taking place April 25 at Pullman Yards in Atlanta where the “Pitch Your Podcast” booth will once again be available for festival attendees. The activation allows creators to pitch their shows to members of the Black Effect team for the chance to join the network.

Industry News

NRG Media Closes on Sale of Nebraska Stations

NRG Media closes on the sale of its Nebraska radio stations to localimg operator Usher Media LLC. The deal includes news/talk KGFW-AM, Kearney and two music brands plus two other music FMs in Hastings and Grand Island. Usher Media is owned and operated by Alan Usher.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/7)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/7) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. Trump’s Iran Deadline Rhetoric / Cease Fire
  2. Oil Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  3. Georgia, Wisconsin Elections
  4. DHS Funding / Privatization of TSA
  5. Artemis II Mission
Industry News

Segura Named OM for WMAL-FM, Washington

Cumulus Media appoints Luis Segura operations manager for its news/talk WMAL-FM, Washington, DC, effective May 4. Program director Bill Hess retired at the end of 2025 after a long time leading the station. Segura was most recently program director for the company’s KSFO,img San Francisco. Cumulus chief content officer Brian Philips says, “Among our strong field of Cumulus programmers, Luis leapt from the pack as the person possessing the energy and imagination to lead WMAL. Luis visualizes the multi-dimensional future of this big brand. The immense benefit of keeping Luis ‘in house’ is that he will continue to offer expert counsel to our revitalized operations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as needed.” Segura says, “I’m incredibly excited to work with the legendary staff of Cumulus’ flagship news/talk. WMAL is packed with national names like Larry O’Connor and Chris Plante, and I can’t wait to join the team.”

Industry News

WHBY, Appleton Updates its Brand

Woodward Community Media’s Appleton, Wisconsin news/talk WHBY says that following a historic year celebrating a century of service to Northeast Wisconsin, it is launching its new brand identity and logo. Woodward says, “The rebranding effort comes on the heels of WHBY’s year-long, 100th-anniversary celebration, which concluded last week. While the festivities honored the station’s deep roots and legacy since 1925, the new visual identity is designed to carry that legacy into a multi-platform future. The new look is encapsulated by the station’s rebrand slogan: Brand New Look. Same Trusted Voice. Woodward Fox Valley market manager B.J. DeGroot says, “We spent the last year lookingimg back at a century of service to the Fox Valley, but today, we turn our gaze forward. After retiring our special 100-year commemorative look, we didn’t want to just go back to ‘business as usual.’ We’re kicking off our second century with a fresh new look that reflects the evolution of WHBY and our unwavering commitment to the next generation of listeners.” WHBY brand manager Alex Thomas adds, “We are excited to usher in a new era of WHBY. Our rebrand represents a new chapter of WHBY and reflects who we are today and where we are heading next. This transformation goes beyond a new logo. It represents our vision of strengthening community awareness, enhancing the way we deliver news and conversation in the Fox Cities and beyond. While our look may be changing, our core values remain the same. Being trusted, local, and community driven remains a pillar of WHBY.”

Industry Views

Sabo Sez: The “Constant Threat” Isn’t Exactly What It’s Cracked Up to Be

By Walter Sabo 
A.K.A. Walter Sterling, Radio Talk Show Host

imgAssessing the hourly threat to the very existence of the medium of radio is a popular hobby among conventioneers. The audience levels for radio are astonishingly constant since 1970, but according to “radio people,” they are living at the edge of a volcano. Spotify radio, SiriusXM radio, Pandora radio, TuneIn radio, Internet radio, there are all kinds of radio! General Motors wants to throw AM/FM radio out of the car as in “do you really need radio in the car?” Radio’s response to the in-car-removal threat is by promising non-stop typhoons and hurricanes.

The actual threats to established radio companies are non-established radio companies. With the death of meaningful on-air competition, a consolidated industry can easily anticipate the strategies of all major “brands” (formerly known as stations). What cannot be anticipated are actions that are a true threat: Outlier owners throwing creative grenades into the sleepy radio ecosystem.

All viable radio formats launched as unanticipated surprises. New formats are greeted with hostility and predictions of doom. All of them. Yes, even adult contemporary. Eventually – or tomorrow – a new format will be deployed by a desperate owner with a handful of stations, an owner with a retailer’s mentality will go for broke with a format – or a series of shows – that will not be anticipated, cannot be duplicated and is not cheap.

See the threat? A true threat will be a new format that successfully attacks the core of dozens – hundreds of established stations, stations owned by venture capital. It will not be anticipated, cannot be duplicated by hundreds of stations and does not “scale” i.e. isn’t cheap. But the new format would be so rapaciously embraced by the public that it would force all other stations to completely change their on-air content and their sales strategies. Imagine the impact of that threat.

Walter Sabo has been a C-Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General, and many others. 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 recently began hosting “Another Side of Midnight” weekends on WABC, New York. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com or phoned at 646-678-1110.

Industry News

Westwood One: Radio Reaches 64% of Registered Voters

A blog post by the Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group using data from Edison Research’s Share of Ear study says “AM/FM radio is an alternative to YouTube and CTV that can generate strong voter reach and impact during election seasons.” Using the recent Q4 2025 Share of Ear study, the post says data reveals how politicalimg agencies can use AM/FM radio in their upcoming media plans. Some key points include:1) AM/FM radio has a 64% share of ad-supported audio among registered voters; 2) AM/FM radio has substantial shares (62% to 65%) among Independents, Republicans, and Democrats: 3) Marketers and media agencies significantly underestimate AM/FM radio listening shares and dramatically overestimate Spotify and Pandora audiences; and 4) Digital audio only reaches a third of Americans. With AM/FM radio, reach soars to 73%. See the blog post here.

Industry News

AP Reveals Staff Cuts Due to Customer Base Changes

The Associated Press is planning staff cuts to its U.S. workforce, according to a story from Axios. This is part of a broader restructuring “away from hyper-local print coverage and toward video and national topics,” according to executive editor Julie Pace and global chief revenue officer Kristin Heitmann. It’s not surprising that the AP’s revenue fromimg U.S. newspapers has shrunk, but right now it accounts for less than 10% of total revenue. In fact, “Revenue from that cohort has declined 25% over the past few years, while revenue from tech companies has grown roughly 200%.” The story goes on to note, “Over the past few years, the AP’s business has evolved to become less reliant on local newspaper revenue and more reliant on a broader set of customers, including digital outlets, broadcasters and non-news companies.” See the Axios piece here.

Industry News

Audacy Partners with Portland Fire and Portland Thorns Clubs

Audacy is entering into broadcast agreements in Portland to use its radio stations as the official radio home of the WNBA’s Portland Fire and the NWSL’s Portland Thorns. KMTT-AM “910 ESPN Portland” will serve asimg the flagship for the Portland Fire. Select games will also simulcast on KRSK-FM “105.1 The Fan.” Portland Thorns games will air on KNRK-HD2 with 10 select games airing on “910 ESPN Portland.” Audacy Portland SVP of sales Ryan Cooley states, “We’re incredibly proud to welcome the Portland Fire and the Portland Thorns to the FAN Sports Network. Our city has long been a leader in supporting women’s sports, and we’re especially excited to welcome the Fire back to Portland after over two decades.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/6)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/6) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Trump’s Deadline
  2. Trump Health Speculation
  3. Georgia Special Election
  4. SCOTUS Bannon Case Ruling
  5. Artemis II Mission
Industry Views

Monday Memo: Why Local Media Still Moves Communities

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgIn “When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows” (Scribner) cognitive scientist Steven Pinker unpacks a deceptively simple idea: Society runs on common knowledge. Not just what people know individually, but what they know OTHERS know-they-know.

Read that again, aloud. It describes the invisible wiring that drives humans to coordinate, trust, cooperate, and sometimes revolt.

If that sounds abstract, it shouldn’t. Radio and television are the most powerful common knowledge machines ever invented. And in an era when media fragmentation has turned audiences into isolated microtribes, broadcasters who understand Pinker’s point gain a strategic advantage.

Broadcasting creates the “Shared Reality” communities run on

When a radio or TV station says, “Schools are closed,” that’s not just information. It’s a signal that everyone else in town heard the same thing. That shared certainty is what lets a community move in sync. Pinker reckons that this is the essence of coordination: people don’t just act on facts – they act on what they believe others believe.

This is why broadcasters remain indispensable during storms, emergencies, elections, and civic moments. Digital platforms can inform individuals. Only broadcasting can inform everyone at once, and – crucially – make it known that everyone else heard it too.

Trust and legitimacy flow from common knowledge

Pinker notes that institutions derive their authority from shared understanding. Money works because everyone knows everyone else accepts it. Laws work because everyone knows everyone else knows the rules.

Local broadcasters occupy that same psychological space.

A trusted anchor or morning host doesn’t just deliver news – they confer legitimacy. When they say, “Here’s what’s happening,” they’re not merely reporting; they’re establishing the community’s shared frame of reference. In a fragmented media world, that’s gold.

Dueling Realities: FOX News vs MSNow

Inside each bubble, people know what everyone-like-them knows. When national narratives clash, local broadcasters become the last shared reality left.

Local radio and TV, by contrast, still operate in the realm Pinker describes: weather, schools (and EVERYTHING ELSE that triggers a parent’s concern), roads, emergencies, local elections, shared rituals and routines. These are not ideological. They’re lived. Local broadcasters still produce the kind of common knowledge that makes a town function. Cable networks and partisan talk radio produce the kind that makes a tribe feel coherent.

Local broadcasting is still where a community becomes a community.

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

Graham Returns to Hot Talk 99.5 Morning Show

Radio personality Leanne Graham (left) returns to Dick Broadcasting Company’s WRNN, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina’s “Hot Talk 99.5” as part of the morning slow alongside host Joe Cats (right) and producer DJ Slide (center). Graham stepped away from the station in 2021. Stationimg PD and operations manager Charlie Steele says, “We’re excited to have Leanne back in the family. Her energy and personality will be a great addition to the show, and I’m excited to hear where Joe, Leanne, and DJ Slide take the show next.” Graham comments, “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. But seriously, the path of least resistance has a funny way of surprising you. Never in a million years did I imagine my ‘restart button’ would lead me back on air – but I know it’s because it brought me home to my long-lost family at WRNN. I feel like the prodigal daughter finally finding her way back.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (April 4-5)

The most discussed stories over the weekend (4/4-5) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Airman Rescue
  2. Trump’s Easter F-Bomb Post
  3. Bondi Exits AG Post
  4. Gas Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  5. Artemis II
Industry News

iHeartMedia Promotes Licata to CEO of Multiplatform Group

Ann Marie Licata rises to CEO of the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group, the largest of the company’s three operating segments. Licata was previously president of markets group & sales operations. The company’s other two operating segments will continue to be led by Conal Byrne, CEO of the Digital Audio Group, and Mark Gray, CEO of the Audio and Media Services Group. The Multiplatform Group includes the iHeartMedia imgMarkets Group, including the radio stations, the iHeart live events and sponsorships; the radio networks businesses, including Premiere and TTWN; the Enterprise Business Development Group; and data targeting and attribution products for broadcast radio. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman states, “We couldn’t be more pleased that Ann Marie will be leading the growth and innovation efforts for our company’s largest segment. In addition to helping businesses and brands grow effectively and efficiently, the Multiplatform Group has been an important engine to develop our own important new businesses – including podcasting and the iHeartRadio digital service – as well as our iconic live music events and awards shows. We look forward to the additional growth that will come as we move broadcast radio into the digital buying world through our data services and programmatic platforms.” The company also announced that Bernie Weiss will be promoted to president of the Markets Group. Weiss will oversee the operations of the company’s 160 markets. Weiss was previously COO of the iHeartMedia Markets Group.

Industry News

Former Miami Mayor Joins FOX News Media

FOX News Media brings lawyer and former Miami Mayor Francis X.img Suarez aboard as a contributor. FOX says Suarez will provide legal and political analysis across all network platforms. Suarez served as mayor of the city of Miami for two terms from 2017 to 2025. Currently, Suarez serves as president of Alpha Wave Global, an investment firm with nearly $30 billion in assets under management and is Of Counsel at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.

Industry News

More Affiliates for Mark Walters’ “Armed American Radio” and “Daily Defense” Shows

Programs from Mark Walters’ CCW Broadcast Media added new affiliate imgstations in February and March. His “Armed American Radio” and “Daily Defense Hour” shows are now heard on KVOC, Casper, Wyoming. WOBX, Wanchese, North Carolina adds the “Daily Defense Hour.” “Armed American Radio” also joins WNRJ, Huntington, West Virginia and WXIC, Waverly, Ohio. Additionally, WKDP, Corbin, Kentucky bumps the “Daily Defense Hour” to live, daily from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Industry News

Goodman Joins KOA’s Rockies Coverage

iHeartMedia’s KOA, Denver – flagship radio home of the Colorado Rockies – announces that Zach Goodman will join the KOA Colorado Rockies Radio Network broadcast team. Beginning tomorrow (4/4), Goodman will be on the call for all home and away games alongsideimg longtime “Voice of the Colorado Rockies” Jack Corrigan and executive producerJesse Thomas. Goodman – a Colorado native – joins the broadcast team after spending the past two seasons as the radio voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks AA affiliate, the Amarillo Sod Poodles in Texas. KOA and Rockies Radio PD Dave Tepper says, “I was immediately impressed by Zach’s natural, versatile talent first hearing him nearly two years ago. Rockies fans will appreciate his passionate, descriptive style, fueled by years of playing college baseball, alongside one of the great voices of the game, Jack Corrigan.”

Industry News

Triton Digital Partners with NBC Sports for Hosting and More

Triton Digital says NBC Sports has selected it to power key components of its podcast and digital audio infrastructure. Through a suite of Triton technologies, NBC Sports will leverage advanced hosting, monetization, audience measurement, and audience insights tools to support and scale its growing podcast and digital audio portfolio. Triton president and CEOimg John Rosso states, “We’re really excited to work with NBC Sports and support their continued growth in podcasting. Premium media companies are investing heavily in digital audio, and they need infrastructure they can trust to scale audiences and monetize effectively. Our goal is to make that easier – bringing together hosting, measurement, and monetization in one place so teams can focus on creating great content.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (March 30-April 3)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/30-4/3) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Trump’s National Address
  2. Gas Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  3. Bondi Exits AG Post
  4. DHS Funding / ICE Troops at Airports
  5. Birthright Citizenship Case
  6. White House Ballroom Construction Paused
  7. Trump’s National Voter List Order / SAVE America Act
  8. U.S.-Cuba Policy
  9. CPAC 2026 / “No Kings” Protests
  10. Lindsey Graham at Disney / Artemis II Launch

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. Pete Hegseth / Marco Rubio
  3. Pam Bondi
  4. Benjamin Netanyahu
  5. Kristy Noem / Corey Lewandowski / Byron Noem
  6. John Thune
  7. Chuck Schumer
  8. John Roberts / John Sauer
  9. Mike Johnson
  10. Lindsey Graham

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

Warshaw Implies Cumulus Had Eyes on Audacy Before SFM Got Involved

The Jeffrey Warshaw vs Soros Fund Management case has brought up questions about how SFM became majority owner of Audacy. Connoisseur Media owner Jeffrey Warshaw is suing SFM for breach of contract, unfair trade practices and more in alleging that he had a deal with the company’s Michael Del Nin in 2022 and began working together “to try acquiring Cox Radio, with Del Nin agreeing that Warshaw wouldimg manage the business as CEO upon successful acquisition.” Warshaw also says he steered SFM and Del Nin to the deal that made SFM a majority stake holder of the new Audacy in early 2024 and alleges he was promised he’d be the next CEO of Audacy or that he would get 5% of SFM’s profits from the Audacy acquisition.

imgNow, in recent court filings, Warshaw claims that by mid-2023 he had identified HG Vora as the key holder of Audacy’s distressed debt and, through industry contacts, came to believe that HG Vora was already aligned with Cumulus Media to merge the two companies. But the filings stop short of proving that such a deal ever existed in a formal sense.

Warshaw relies on what he “deduced” from conversations in the market – not on a signed agreement, binding term sheet, or documented commitment between HG Vora and Cumulus. SFM’s response goes directly at that point saying it had been evaluating a potential investment in Audacy for more than a year before Warshaw’s involvement, positioning its eventual acquisition not as a hijacked opportunity, but as the result of an independent strategy already in motion.

Now we wait to see if Warshaw can prove a Cumulus-backed pathway was real or if SFM can demonstrate that it was already tracking Audacy. Whether the Cumulus-Audacy deal was a genuine near-transaction or simply informed speculation appears to hinge on what documents and/or third-party witnesses reveal.

Industry News

Asheville’s WWNC Adds FM Signal

iHeartMedia’s Asheville news/talk outlet adds an FM signal to its broadcast as it begins simulcasting on translator W225CJ-FM, Asheville. iHeartMedia Carolinas area president Drew Salamon states, “Extending News Radio 570 WWNC to 92.9 FM gives Western North Carolinaimg greater access to trusted news and talk at a time when local information matters more than ever. This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to serve Asheville and the surrounding communities with credible voices, local connection and meaningful conversations.” iHeartMedia area SVP of programming Zac Davis adds, “After our post–Hurricane Helene broadcast, it became clear just how essential WWNC is to Western North Carolina. Over the past year, we’ve focused on expanding our ability to serve the community, and this next step allows us to reach even more listeners. It’s a natural extension of the incredible work our Asheville team has already done.”

Industry News

Cumulus Names Wirthlin to Lead Salt Lake City Cluster

Cumulus Media appoints Joyce Wirthlin vice president/market manager for its Salt Lake City station group that includes news/talk KKAT-AM and four music brands plus its digital marketing services for local advertisers. Wirthlin most recently served as market president for iHeartMedia’s Salt Lake City operations. Cumulus Media president of operations Daveimg Milner comments, “Joyce is an experienced market leader with deep relationships across Salt Lake City, enabling her to bring sharp local insight and credibility to every client partnership. She excels at delivering integrated marketing solutions, helping clients leverage our multi-platform strategies that maximize the combined power of audio and digital to drive results. Joyce will be a tremendous asset to our Salt Lake City team and a growth catalyst for our clients.”

Industry News

Steve Jones Assumes Ownership of Skyview Networks

In a memo to staffers, Skyview Networks president and CEO Steve Jones announces that he has completed the acquisition of the company and is the new owner, effective immediately. He writes: “This transition further strengthens long-term direction and focus that ensures continuity. Our leadership team will continue exemplifying our company values, and our day-to-day priorities remain centered on client outcomes, operational excellence and teamwork. It is also important to recognize Ken Thiele,img who founded the company 30 years ago.” Thiele’s message to staff was: “First and foremost, I want to thank you all. Skyview Networks exists, and is respected across the industry, because of the talent, grit and customer commitment each of you bring every day. Since joining Skyview Networks, Steve has expanded our business portfolio and led with a steady focus on growth and stability. It is with this confidence in leadership that Skyview’s trajectory and momentum continues.” Jones adds, “On a personal note, I am proud of the team that has built and sustained Skyview Networks’ reputation across the industry. This company is special because of you. Serving as the leader of Skyview Networks is a responsibility I take seriously, and I am committed to continue leading with transparency, respect and a long‑term focus on our people and business.”

Industry News

Mateo to Host Sunday Show on WABC

Red Apple Media unveils a new weekend program on WABC, New York hosted by former NYC mayoral candidate, co-founder and spokesman for United Bodegas of America, and chairman of the New York Stateimg Federation of Taxi Drivers, Fernando Mateo. The new show, “No Excuses with Fernando Mateo” airs Sundays and 6:00 pm. Station owner John Catsimatidis says, “There are 65 million Hispanics in the U.S. and New York City is home to nearly three million of this fast growing population… With Mateo as part of our on-air lineup, we can super serve the needs and interests of the Hispanic community.”