Industry Mourns Passing of CRN Digital Talk Founder Mike Horn
CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks founder Mike Horn has died at 74, after a long illness. Horn – then an air personality on KFI-AM, Los Angeles founded Cable Radio Network in 1983 as a service that provided commercial radio programming to local cable television systems. After 
learning that KMET, Los Angeles was earning ratings in the Phoenix market because it was airing on a local cable system, he launched the radio-on-television concept in the San Fernando Valley on cable provider King Cable. The business grew from there as Horn got more local cable systems to use CRN. Years later, Horn transitioned CRN from music to talk programming as CRN Talk and finally to CRN Digital Talk Radio in 2007. In addition to providing celebrities such as Ed McMahon, Robert Conrad and talk radio legend Barry Farber with platforms for talk shows, Horn himself hosted programs centered on his interests in food and wine. Horn’s daughter Jennifer Horn serves as the vice president of CRN Digital Talk Radio and is the host of “The Morning Answer” on Salem Media’s KRLA, Los Angeles and KTIE, San Bernardino.
TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison issued the following statement on the passing of Michael J. Horn, “Mike Horn was a true talk radio hero. He had the vision of an eagle, the ears of a programmer, and a heart of pure gold. His ingenious invention – ‘CRN’ – provided the industry for decades with an ever-evolving alternative platform for a wide variety of programs, running the gamut from undiscovered gems to pre-maturely discarded treasures.”
AudioChuck’s “Crime Junkie” maintains its hold on the #1 slot, with The New York Times’ “The Daily” at #2, followed by NPR’s “NPR News Now” at #3. Notable changes from the August chart include The New York Times’ “The Ezra Klein Show” falling four places to #16 and DailyWire’s “Morning Wire” rising six places to #19. 
U.S. weekly podcast consumers who say it’s the platform they use most often to consume podcasts. Edison says, “Podcast content on YouTube has dramatically changed the entire ecosystem and continues to gain ground as a destination for podcast consumption. Spotify ranks second, with 17% of weekly podcast consumers saying that it is the platform they use most often for podcasts. Apple Podcasts follows at 9%, remaining ahead of many other podcast platforms but accounting for a smaller percentage than in the past.”
year, the Gracie Awards recognize work that does more than capture attention; it informs, entertains and ensures women’s voices and perspectives are seen and heard. The entries we receive reflect the breadth and impact of work reaching audiences across platforms and communities. We look forward to honoring the content that moved audiences in 2026 and continuing the Gracies’ long-standing investment in the people who will shape what comes next.” National winners will be honored at the Gracies Gala on May 25, 2027, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California and local and student winners will be celebrated at the Gracies Luncheon on June 15, 2027, at Cipriani on 42nd Street in New York. 
reinventing the station. He posted to Facebook: “Eighty-six years ago, this station was created right here in Yuma as a local voice for local people. Over time, like many great American institutions, KBLU became part of larger corporate ownership. But now the story changes. KBLU is once again locally owned, locally operated, and locally directed. This is more than a radio station changing hands. This is a comeback story… And we’re proud to announce that ‘The Russ Clark Show’ is back on the air weekdays from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. That matters because local radio should sound like the community it serves. It should know the streets, the businesses, the families, the farmers, the veterans, the first responders, the leaders, and the heartbeat of Yuma.” The station will feature programming from Premiere Networks, including Sean Hannity, “The Clay & Buck Show,” Michael Berry, “Our American Stories,” and more.
from morning drive to the 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm daypart beginning on Monday (10/12). The program also airs on iHeartMedia’s Madison sports talker WTSO “1070 The Game.” The move is happening in part so the hosts and cover evening Green Bay Packers games and not have to turn around and get up before dawn. The station will air “2 Pros and a Cup of Joe” starring LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn, and Jonas Knox.
engagement, and performance – the Index reveals where NFL fandom is strongest, how the most passionate fans express that fandom, and what it means for brands trying to reach them.” Audacy says the data show avid sports fans gravitate to radio shows and podcasts: 82% of avid NFL fans listen to sports podcasts; 81% listen to sports talk radio; 81% listen to sports play-by-play – spending more time with those programs than they do with TV highlights, social media, and live game TV. Audacy says that for advertisers, NFL super fans are a gold mine as those exposed to radio ads show Awareness at 56%, Consideration at 49%, Purchase at 51%, and Loyalty at 41%. 
new deal for the Salem Radio Network to serve as the new home for his daily 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET program. Additionally, the two-hour weekend version of “The Voice of Reason” currently distributed through the Salem Radio Network, expands to three hours. Hooser comments, “We are excited for the new opportunities working closely with Salem Radio on the program as we continue to grow, becoming one of the fastest-growing independent talk radio shows in the nation!”
chatbot providers to clearly disclose that users are interacting with artificial intelligence, give users access to their own chat logs, establish data security requirements, restrict the use of chatbot conversations for advertising and behavioral profiling, require affirmative consent before adult users’ conversations are used for AI training, and establish stronger protections for minors. Morano says, “Every transformative technology has had growing pains. Radio changed politics and mass communication. The telephone changed the meaning of distance. Cinema and television changed entertainment, advertising and culture. Society eventually developed rules, norms and expectations around all of them.
or Go Home: How Small Thinking is Killing Advertising and What to Do About It. Both publications point to a number of conclusions that advertisers should be aware of: 1) Advertisers have two jobs: Convert existing demand by reaching the five percent who are in the market and create future demand via brand building focused on the 95% of consumers who are not in the market; 2) “Big media ads” (AM/FM radio, TV, and outdoor), are more effective at creating future demand because they create a greater sense of quality, popularity, and trust for brands; 3) Ads from “big media” (AM/FM radio, TV, and outdoor) stick in minds more than digital or social media ads. Over 85% of online ads don’t reach the 2.5 second Attention-Memory Threshold, according to Amplified Intelligence’s Karen Nelson-Field; 4) Don’t be afraid of “waste.” It’s the part of advertising that works. 
2026. LAUNCH was created to develop and advance women pursuing careers in broadcast engineering, audio production and technical operations. The year-long mentorship pairs a rising professional with an experienced industry leader for one-on-one guidance, professional development and deeper exposure to the technologies and operations powering today’s broadcast and audio industry. MIW Board President Sheila Kirby said, “As technology continues to transform every part of the broadcast business, we need more women building, operating and leading the systems that will take our industry forward. Expanding LAUNCH to include women working with our technology partners and vendors allows us to reach talented professionals across a much broader part of the broadcast ecosystem. This program is about giving women access to the mentorship, technical knowledge and relationships that can help turn career potential into long-term leadership.”
Suzanne Scott says, “Karoline’s firsthand experience in the White House and on the presidential campaign trail gives her a distinct understanding of today’s political landscape. We look forward to her providing our audience with authentic and sharp insight across all FOX News Media platforms.” Leavitt’s experience includes running as the Republican candidate for congress in her home state of New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, serving as communications director for then-House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and during the first Trump Administration serving as a presidential writer and assistant press secretary.
