Industry News

Louisville Public Media (LPM) Launches New Talk Show, “On Track”

Louisville Public MediaLouisville Public Media (LPM) has announced (2/4) that it is launching a new talk show, “On Track” – a new three-day-a-week, 30-minute interview-based show, on February 10. “On Track” will air Monday-Wednesday at 6:00 pm on WFPL, Louisville between “All Things Considered” and “Marketplace,” two of NPR’s flagship national news programs during core listening hours. It will also be available as an on-demand podcast. The interview-driven show is set to dive into the issues shaping Louisville and Southern Indiana. LPM sources tell TALKERS, “In an effort to amplify and deepen the conversation around the biggest topics in our community, the show will connect with public officials, community leaders and everyday people about the challenges and triumphs happening in Louisville and Southern Indiana. It will work to keep the civic conversation ‘on track.’  Its host, veteran broadcast journalist Ayisha Jafer will explore topics with people from across our diverse community that challenge the traditional sound of public media. Scheduled topics include: the state of downtown Louisville, the loneliness epidemic, business development and its impact on neighborhoods, finding love in Louisville, how the pronunciation of Louisville came to be and more.”  With the addition of “On Track” to WFPL’s on-air schedule, some programs will shift. “Marketplace” will now air Monday-Friday at 6:30 pm. “Today Explained” will move to Thursday and Friday at 6:00 pm.

 

Industry News

TALKERS to Serve as Presenting Sponsor of IBSNYC 2025 Conference and Co-locate Innovative “GENERATIONS 2025” at March Event

TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison has announced (1/22) the launch of a new and innovative industry conference – “GENERATIONS 2025” – that will be co-located at the forthcoming Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) national convention – IBSNYC 2025 – set for Friday and Saturday March 7-8 at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. The four-hour TALKERS event will take place between 12:30 pm and 4:30img pm on Saturday, March 8 in the heart of the iconic IBS gathering. It will feature an array of six sessions with 16+ luminary industry speakers (to be named shortly) including a keynote address, fireside chat, and four panel discussions that will tackle such topics as “Launching and Managing a Career in a Changing Media Industry,” “Old School, New School, Next School: Learning from Each Other,” “Radio’s Place in a Digital World,” “Finding and Delivering Truth in an Age of Misinformation,” and much more.  TALKERS will also serve as the Presenting Sponsor of the entire IBSNYC 2025 event.

In making the announcement Harrison states, “If this great institution of radio is to survive, let alone thrive in the brave new world ahead, it must meet the challenge of connecting with young broadcasters and listeners… and it needs to do it without hesitation. 2025 will be a pivotal year for radio of all formats – especially our bailiwick of talk radio and talk media – on air and online. There is no radio arena featuring such a massive concentration of young broadcasters and listeners alike as that found in the nation’s college radio community.” Harrison adds, “TALKERS is proud to also serve as the IBS convention’s official 2025 Presenting Sponsor as a show of support and recognition of the organization’s great work and importance. We will live up to the theme of this debut event: ‘Old School, New School, Next School: Learning from Each Other.’ That will be a major take away – as well as the suggestion that the time has come for all broadcasters to begin thinking like entrepreneurs!”

The TALKERS “GENERATIONS 2025” segment of the larger IBS conference will be open to all IBSNYC 2025 registrants who will receive the benefits of its notably reasonable rates to attend the conference and reserve rooms at the hotel. But it is important to move quickly on this while the discounts are still available. For up-to-date information, please click HERE.

For further information about “GENERATIONS 2025” including sponsorship opportunities, please call 413-565-5413 or email info@talkers.com.

Industry News

Industry Mourns Death of “Money Pit” Host Tom Kraeutler (1959-2025)

Tom K
Tom Kraeutler
, the well-known author, home improvement expert, and longtime “Money Pit” radio show host passed away Sunday (2/2), after complications from surgery.  Kraeutler was an accomplished craftsman, educator, and former chair of New Jersey’s first regulatory authority for licensing home inspectors. His weekly radio show is heard on 462 stations; and he assembled a deep trove of information at MoneyPit.com and the most-listened-to podcast on its topic. He appeared on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, The History Channel, HGTV and DIY Network; and contributed to or was interviewed by House Beautiful, Smart Money, Reader’s Digest and hundreds of websites and newspapers across the USA. With Leslie Segrete, he authored My Home My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure; and in 2024 Wiley published his helpful Home Maintenance for Dummies. 20+ year radio co-host Segrete recalls “When my kids were born, Tom was there in the hospital. When my husband died, he held my hand and got me back to work. He was way more than just a friend and coworker. He was family.”  He is survived by his wife Susan, and children Thomas, Sara, and Trevor. As Tom’s production company, Squeaky Door Productions, explores succession options, the weekly radio show will continue, cohosted by Leslie Segrete.

 

Industry News

Cumulus Media | Westwood One AudioActive Group Blog Post: Advertiser Perceptions Indicate National Marketers Are Bullish On The Economy – New Product Launches Are At Record Highs And Ad Spend Will Increase

imgA series of new studies from Advertiser Perceptions reveals national marketers are increasingly confident in the economy, will advertise more, and anticipate new product launches at record levels. Each month, Advertiser Perceptions, a leader in providing research-based strategic market intelligence for the advertising and ad tech industries, surveys 300 executives involved in media brand selection decisions who will spend a minimum of 1 million dollars in ad spend over the next 12 months. This week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group® blog outlines the key findings, examining the outlook national marketers have on the economy:

• Nearly half of marketers say the economy will grow in the coming year, a record high

• There has been a reduction in perceived negative impact of macroeconomic conditions

• The recession that never came; Marketers shake off the dire predictions of 2022 and 2023

• Increasingly, brands and media agencies report the U.S. GDP will impact ad budgets

• 37% of buy-side 2025 ad budgets will be bigger; 53% will stay the course

• Advertiser optimism was higher as of December 2024 than it had been a year earlier

• 2025 new product launches will hit all time high

• All forms of audio see increased ad spending intentions

• Prophet survey of advertisers reveals top-performing marketers consider brand building as a crucial driver of short-term impact

Check out this week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group® blog post here.

To view an 11-minute video of the key findings, click here.

 

 

Industry News

Nielsen Publishes “The Record: Q4 U.S. Audio Listening Trends”

NeilsenNielsen published “The Record: Q4 U.S. Audio Listening Trends” (2/3) – a quarterly report card on how U.S. consumers spend their audio listening time, fueled by data from Nielsen and Edison Research.

Here are some highlights from the Q4 (October-December) 2024 report: 

• Audio accounted for nearly 20% of Americans’ daily media time in Q4 2024 – which translated to 3 hours and 54 minutes of daily listening across both ad-supported and ad-free platforms like radio, podcasts, streaming music services and satellite radio.

• Listeners spent 67% of their daily time with ad-supported audio with radio, 18% with podcasts, 12% with streaming audio services and 3% with satellite radio.

• Among 18-34 year-olds, radio accounted for 47% of daily ad-supported audio time (down from 51% in Q3), where podcasts accounted for 32%.

• Adults 35+ spent 74% of daily ad-supported audio time listening to radio and only 13% listening to podcasts.

For additional data tables and commentary, visit the full report here.

 

Industry News

Audacy Positions Itself as “The Ultimate Super Bowl LIX Audio Destination”

imgAs the excitement builds for Super Bowl LIX, Audacy has positioned itself to be the “go-to audio home” for football fans nationwide. With flagship stations 96.5 The Fan (KFNZ-FM) in Kansas City and Sports Radio 94WIP (WIP-FM) in Philadelphia, the company is set to provide fans with in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews, and live play-by-play coverage of the big game on February 9.  Additionally, six Audacy sports stations and Audacy’s newly launched BetMGM Network will broadcast live from the radio row, to provide listeners the latest updates, expert insights, and exclusive interviews throughout Super Bowl week. And with Westwood One’s national broadcast on 20 Audacy sports stations, the plan is for fans across the country not to miss a moment.  Audacy tells TALKERS, “Whether on the air or on the free Audacy app, listeners can tune in for every snap, every score, and every story leading up to and following Super Bowl LIX.”  Please click HERE for more information.

 

Industry News

KSCO Owner/Host Michael “MZ” Zwerling Unleashes Dramatic On-Air Rant During Anniversary Program

Listeners to heritage news/talk outlet KSCO, Santa Cruz, CA were treated to an unexpected candid outburst of energetic verbiage this past weekend (2/1) during the long-running show, “The Saturday Special,” hosted by station owner/ host Michael “MZ” Zwerling. This installment of the weekly 10:00 am – 12:00 noon live,img local show was set to be a celebration of the station’s 34th anniversary – marking the day that Zwerling took ownership of the 10k flame thrower at 1080 AM and launched its news/talk format back on February 1, 1991. Zwerling was taking calls from listeners offering congratulations and sharing memories of the station over the years.  One of KSCO’s regular callers, “Dave,” took a different course and went off on a political tirade that triggered an emotionally charged negative response from Zwerling resulting in one of the most dramatic live “meltdowns” captured on-air in recent memory. Zwerling’s co-host Amy Hoa had to calm Zwerling down telling him that his blood pressure was rising to a dangerous level. The listener, who was obviously a regular caller to the station was forever banned from appearing on the station again. Warning, the clip contains salty language that might be offensive to some. Listen to the exchange here.

Industry News

Brian Joyce Exits WGOW-FM, Chattanooga

Chattanooga talk radio host Brian Joyce exits Cumulus Media’s news/talk WGOW-FM, Chattanooga afterimg 12 years with the station. A report in The Chattanoogan says that Joyce, who hosted the late morning “Brian Joyce Unfiltered” program, “parted ways” with the station last week. Joyce joined WGOW in 2012 and became part of the morning drive show in 2018, alongside Jim Reynolds and Kevin West. In 2023, Cumulus retooled the morning show bringing Jed Mescon aboard to co-host with Reynolds and Joyce moved to the late morning slot. Read the Chattanoogan story here.

Industry News

KFH, Wichita’s “Bob & Jeff Lutz” Sports Talk Show to End

The Wichita Eagle reports that the father-and-son duo of Bob and Jeff Lutz will wrap their daily sports talk show on Audacy’s KFH, Wichita after this Friday’s broadcast. Bob Lutz has been with the station for almost 24 years. His son Jeff joined him in December of 2015 when they debuted an afternoon drive show that airedimg from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. In 2022, the Lutzes moved to the 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm slot to better accommodate their schedules. Bob Lutz is the founder and executive director of the League 42 baseball league that serves inner city and low-income youths, and Jeff Lutz is a full-time digital producer at KWCH-TV, Wichita. In late 2024, KFH notified the duo that it wanted to move the syndicated Jim Rome show into their time slot and move them to the 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm slot. The two tried to produce the show earlier in the day to air at 5:00 but Bob Lutz tells the Eagle that not speaking live with callers took the fun out of the show. Read the Wichita Eagle story here.

Industry News

77WABC Presents “Back The Blue” Tribute

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On Friday (1/31), Red Apple Media Group’s news/talk WABC, New York hosted its annual “Back The Blue” tribute to the New York Police Department. The day included two roundtable discussions on topics such as the challenges police face as they protect communities. Pictured above are (from l-r): 77WABC morning host Sid Rosenberg; former U.S. Congressman Peter King; Red Apple Media and 77WABC owner John Catsimatidis; Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association president Louis Civello; Suffolk Country Police Benevolent Association treasurer C.J. Hutter; and Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.

Industry News

FOX to Air Donald Trump Interview During Super Bowl Pre-Game Show

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FOX News Channel chief political anchor Bret Baier will conduct a wide-ranging interview with President Donald Trump taped at Mar-a-Lago that will air during FOX TV’s Super Bowl LIX pregame show. The interview will air during the 3:00 pm hour. FOX says the interview will “focus on the changes the Trump administration has enacted since the Inauguration and the first 100 days of his presidency.” Additional portions of the interview will air on the Monday (2/10) edition of “Special Report with Bret Baier” on FNC.

Industry News

MIW Announces 2025 Management Mentees

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Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio announces the MIW Erica Farber Mentorship in Management Class of 2025. The program selects four candidates from across the radio industry – spanning sales, marketing, programming, and digital – to participate in an exclusive mentorship opportunity designed to foster career growth and leadership development. This year’s mentees are (pictured above from l-r) : Alyssa Salisbury, digital solutions manager, Townsquare Media Group; Kim Stead, promotions director/on-air, NRG Media; Sheri Fermoyle, sales manager, Hubbard Radio; and Tiffany Cobb, director of sales, Hampton Roads Media Group. MIW mentoring committee chair Jenna Miller says, “The MIW Erica Farber Mentorship in Management program exemplifies our commitment to empowering women in radio broadcasting. Each of these talented mentees brings a unique perspective and passion to the industry, and I am thrilled to see how this program will support their growth and success.”

Industry News

Final Week to Enter the Landmark 50th Gracie Awards

GraciesThe final opportunity to submit entries for the milestone 50th Gracie Awards is here. The Gracie Awards, presented by the AWM Foundation, recognize outstanding programming created by, for, and about women across all facets of media, news and entertainment. The Gracies recognize contributions from journalists, actors, hosts, producers, showrunners, writers, directors, and other roles that bring impactful stories to life. Each entry directly supports the AWM Foundation, with the Gracies serving as the largest fundraiser of the year.  The final entry deadline: Thursday, February 6, (11:59pm ET).  Submit entries at allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/call-for-entries.  For five decades, the Gracie Awards have set the gold standard in honoring women’s contributions to media. Named after the legendary Gracie Allen, this prestigious award celebrates trailblazers who are shaping the future of media and amplifying women’s voices across all platforms. According to the organization’s stated mission: Now more than ever, celebrating women’s voices, leadership, and achievements in media is essential.  If you have questions, please contact  gracies@allwomeninmedia.org for assistance.

 

Industry News

KBLA, Los Angeles to Kick Off Black History Month Tomorrow (2/1) with Major Climate Justice and Black Health Campaign Aimed at CA Communities of Color

imSmileyAudioMedia, Inc. announced today (1/31) that its flagship Los Angeles-based radio station, KBLA Talk 1580, will launch year two of its Climate Justice work. This $2 million, 12-month campaign will link and combat the relationship between climate change and poor health outcomes for African Americans, other people of color, and the poor. The campaign was recently named a national semifinalist for the American Climate Leadership Awards 2025 by ecoAmerica. Climate inequities have taken a toll with multiple health triggers in the Black community, such as extreme heat and poor air quality, made worse by the recent wildfires.

Building on the success of last year’s campaign, KBLA will tailor brand-specific health messaging to the Black community, use strategic alliances to create a healthful behavior pipeline, create culturally and socially sensitive health education opportunities, and enhance knowledge and awareness among Black community stakeholders.

KBLA lineup

The initiative plans a robust schedule of climate/Black health-themed broadcasts and special programming during the next 12 months, free community events each quarter, a one-of-a-kind Black health online portal, two town halls broadcast nationally from Los Angeles, and a savvy social media and marketing campaign. Last year, KBLA Talk 1580 hosted a national conversation live on C-SPAN. It will do so again this year with the theme, “Narrowing the Gap: Addressing Health Disparities Among African Americans.” KBLA is being joined in this effort by an array of public and private partners.

“The harsher impacts of climate change weigh heavily on communities of color, as we can see with the impact of the wildfires on historic Black communities like Altadena where lives were lost, property was destroyed, and these toxic air pollutants are likely to cause even greater harm in the months and years to come,” stated Tavis Smiley, KBLA’s chief visionary officer, host of the nationally syndicated “Tavis Smiley Show,” and 2023 recipient of the coveted “Freedom of Speech” Award from TALKERS.  “There is real concern that these wildfires may leave even more inequity in their wake.”

As a Black-owned and operated major media company focused on these underserved communities, and as the most ‘trusted, credible and reliable’ media source in Southern California for African Americans and beyond, we are committed to doing more than talk in these troubled times,” added Smiley. “KBLA assigns itself the task of elevating the climate conversation connected to Black health outcomes by amplifying the voices of those who are most impacted by the climate catastrophes we are all witnessing in real-time.”

Industry News

A Star Is Born!

By Kathy Carr
President, Howie Carr Radio Network (HCRN)

TALKERS EXCLUSIVE

Kathy Carr IDAfter the first White House press briefing by the youngest presidential press secretary in history, the calls, emails and texts keep flowing in to me about Karoline Leavitt.

Even some of my liberal relatives have said, “She sounds very confident and knowledgeable.” That’s because she is, I texted back. Often in this business, people will try to push a young person in front of you. They will tell you, in all sincerity if not total accuracy, that this person is the next big star. In the case of Karoline Leavitt, my client was right.

Karoline LeavittBack in 2022, we were at a client remote, and the owner told me he wanted to introduce us to this young lady who had been a White House aide near the end of Trump’s term. “She is going places,” our client told us.

At age 24, Karoline was running for Congress in the seacoast district of New Hampshire. She was an underdog in the GOP primary to an establishment candidate, as well as a former U.S. senator’s wife. Don’t worry about it, our client told us, Karoline is going to win. When you hear something like that, you try not to roll your eyes, but you are, shall we say, skeptical.

But this time, at a car dealership in Portsmouth, it took about 45 seconds to realize that she had it. She worked the showroom like a seasoned political pro, shaking every hand in the place. She looked me in the eye and shook my hand firmly, but not too firmly. She spoke in complete sentences with no ahhhs or ummms. She didn’t punctuate every sentence with some variation of “like” or “you know.”

Despite being heavily outspent, Karoline handily won the GOP primary against her older, better-financed opponents. I truly felt she was going to defeat the Democrat incumbent. I donated to her campaign more than once.

We were stunned when she did not win. I spoke to her the day after the loss and told her that although it might not seem like it now, everything happens for a reason and that something better is coming. I was just trying to make her feel better, but this time it was true.

Howie Carr

Soon after her defeat, we met for lunch, and I tried to recruit her as a full-time employee for our radio network. She politely declined, but did work for us as a freelancer and fill-in talk show host. (She was great!) At the end of her stint, she took us out to dinner, picked up the check, gave us a bottle of champagne and posted a video on her (very popular) social media promoting Howie’s latest book. We left dinner that night thinking, Karoline is going places.

So, there she was this week at the podium in the Brady Briefing Room in her beautiful magenta jacket and perfect make-up. But this is no dumb blonde. Her poise is beyond impressive, and everyone now realizes she is not just a pretty face. To the briefing she brought no binder, just brains.

Karoline Leavitt

In the winter of 2023, knowing that President Trump was going to run again, we invited her to dinner with us at Mar-A-Lago. Howie made a point of saying hello to POTUS and putting in a good word for the president’s former White House aide. With thumbs up, she posed for a quick photo with President Trump and Howie. She was wearing a jazzy crème and green dress – she always looks like a million bucks!

We are not the sole reason she was hired for the campaign, but we are proud to have played even a small part.

People often ask me what the most rewarding part is about being in the media. Some think it is the money, influence or perks. Those are all great but what a rush it is to see the next big star being born. And her name is Karoline Leavitt.

Kathy Carr is president of HCRN which distributes the Howie Carr Show and Grace Curley Show. She can be reached at Kathycarr@Howiecarrshow.com

 

 

Industry News

Watch Joe Grow!

Joe Pags
The nationally syndicated Joe Pags Show continues to grow.  The daily 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET juggernaut has added several new radio outlets surpassing the 170-affiliate plateau.  These include WBAP-AM/FM, Dallas; KJJR-AM, Whitefish, MT; KFLS-AM, Klamath Falls, OR; KSVC-AM / KMXD-FM, Monroe, UT; and Missouri mainstays, KRTK, KRTE, and KVMO. The Joe Pags Show is syndicated by Compass Media Networks.  Contact RBlum@compassmedianetworks.com

 

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (January 27-31, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (1/27-31) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories/Topics

1. Trump Confirmation Hearings
2. AA Flight 5342 Crash
3. Aviation Safety
4. Trump DEI Remarks and Policies
5. U.S. Healthcare System
6. ICE Migrant Deportation Crackdown
7. The Economy / DOGE Activities / Fed Funding Freeze and Overturn
8. U.S. Foreign Policy / Tariffs
9. Israel-Hamas War – Hostages Release
10. Russia-Ukraine War

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Elon Musk
3. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr
4. Tulsi Gabbard / Kash Patel
5. Pete Hegseth / Marco Rubio
6. Joe Biden
7. Vivek Ramaswamy
8. Jeff Bezos / Mark Zuckerberg
9. Benjamin Netanyahu / Vladimir Putin / Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Xi Jinping
10. JD Vance

For the complete listing of top stories, topics, and people discussed each week on news/talk radio, per the ongoing research of TALKERS, please click HERE

 

 

Industry News

U.S. Senate Reintroduces AM Radio Bill

The U.S. Senate is reintroducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. If passed into law, it would “require the Transportation Secretary to issue a rule requiring vehicles manufactured in or imported into the U.S. to have devices installed that provide access to AM radio. It would also, among other things, ensure that AM is easily accessible to the driver and require motor vehicles that do not include AM radio (in the period between enactment and prior to the Transportation Secretary issuing the new rule) to be labeled as such to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner.” The NAB responds to the news saying that “recent disasters like the Los Angeles wildfires and hurricanes in the southeast underscore AM radio’s unique role in delivering evacuation orders, emergency alerts and recovery information under the most challenging conditions. Its unmatched reach ensures critical information reaches those who need it, including rural and remote areas where cellular networks and internet access are unreliable.” NAB adds that “more than 125 organizations, including the National Emergency Management Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, AARP, Native Public Media, and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, have endorsed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. Their support underscores AM radio’s vital role in public safety and its importance to communities nationwide.”

Industry News

iHeartMedia Partners with BBC Studios

iHeartMedia and BBC Studios announce a multi-year partnership that will make iHeartMedia the exclusive third-party advertising reseller of BBC podcasts to the U.S. market. iHeartMedia’s audio sales force will work closely with BBC Studios to represent its slate of premium podcasts and to amplify BBC’s content portfolio.img In early 2024, BBC Studios launched a dedicated audio unit to maximize creative and commercial opportunities for the BBC’s premium podcast output in the global audio market. iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne says, “BBC has held its position as one of the most respected, highest-quality brands in media for decades, and we couldn’t be more honored and excited to expand our relationship and represent their podcasts titles in the exploding U.S. podcast market.”

Industry News

PodcastOne Moves Network of Programming to ART19

PodcastOne announces that it is moving its existing network of programming to hosting service ART19. The Amazon-owned podcast distribution and monetization service lets customers manage content and ad operations in one place. PodcastOne says this change enables it to “unlock new monetization streams,img optimize operations, and deliver even more value to advertisers and content creators alike. Additionally, by leveraging ART19’s advanced tools for dynamic ad insertion, PodcastOne can implement programmatic advertising and direct sponsorship integrations. PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray states, “We’re not only ensuring the stability of our current monetization streams but unlocking new growth opportunities by leveraging ART19’s cutting-edge technology and advertising opportunities. This move underscores our commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional value to our talent, advertisers, listeners and shareholders.”

Industry News

Outstanding Speakers Joining “GENERATIONS 2025” Agenda

The lineup of industry speakers set to speak at the forthcoming GENERATIONS 2025 conference being presented by TALKERS at the forthcoming Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) convention – IBSNYC 2025 – continues to grow.

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A stellar line-up of speakers have already signed up to speak at this groundbreaking industry event including (in alphabetical order): Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media Group; Chris Berry, VP News/Talk/Sports, iHeartMedia; Scot Bertram, General Manager, WRFH, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI / Lecturer In Journalism; Mike Gallagher, talk show host, Salem Radio Network; Dom Giordano, talk show host, WPHT, Philadelphia; Lee Harris, Director of Integrated Operations, NewsNation / WGN, Chicago; Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS; Matthew B. Harrison, Esq., VP/Associate Publisher, TALKERS; Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner; Harry Hurley, morning talk show host, WPG, Atlantic City; Jeff Katz, talk show host, WRVA, Richmond, VA; Chad Lopez, President, WABC, New York, Red Apple Media Group; John T. Mullen, general manager, WRHU-FM/WRHU.org, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY; Walter Sabo (a.k.a. Walter M Sterling), consultant / talk show host / WPHT, Philadelphia / Talk Media Network; Rich Valdés, talk show host, Westwood One; with several more to be announced in the next few days. See agenda and accompanying stories below.

Sheraton Times Square New York Hotel
New York East Room
Saturday March 8, 2025
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm

AGENDA

12:30 – 1:00 pm Keynote Address “Welcome to the Brave New World”

Speakers:
Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS
Matthew B. Harrison, Esq., VP/Associate Publisher, TALKERS; Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner

1:10 – 1:40 pm Fireside Chat “Setting the Stage”

Facilitator: Michael Harrison, Publisher, TALKERS
Special Guest: Chad Lopez, President, WABC, New York, Red Apple Media Group

1:50 – 2:20 pm Discussion: “Launching and Managing a Career in a Changing Media Industry”

Moderator: Dom Giordano, talk show host, WPHT, Philadelphia
Speaker: John T. Mullen, general manager, WRHU-FM/WRHU.org, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Speaker: TBA
Speaker: TBA

2:30 – 3:00 pm Discussion: “Old School/New School/Next School – Learning from Each Other”

Moderator:  Harry Hurley, morning talk show host, WPG, Atlantic City
Speaker:  Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media Group
Speaker: Scot Bertram, General Manager, WRFH, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI / Lecturer In Journalism
Speaker: Walter Sabo (a.k.a. Walter M Sterling), consultant / talk show host / WPHT, Philadelphia / Talk Media Network

3:10 – 3:40 pm Discussion: “Radio’s Place in a Diverse, Digital World”

Moderator: TBA
Speaker: Mike Gallagher, talk show host, Salem Radio Network
Speaker: Rich Valdés, talk show host, Westwood One
Speaker: TBA

3:50 – 4:20 pm Discussion: “Finding Truth in an Age of Misinformation”

Moderator: Lee Harris, Director of Integrated Operations, NewsNation / WGN, Chicago
Speaker:  Chris Berry, VP News/Talk/Sports, iHeartMedia
Speaker: Jeff Katz, talk show host, WRVA, Richmond, VA
Speaker: TBA

4:20 – 4:30 pm Wrap Up:  Group Chat

Industry News

WABC, New York President Chad Lopez Named Special “Fireside Chat” Guest for GENERATIONS 2025 Conference

The first in the stellar array of 16+ guest speakers to be named for the forthcoming TALKERS GENERATIONS 2025 Conference at IBSNYC 2025 is 77WABC, New York / Red Apple Media president Chad Lopez. Lopez will serve as the special guest interviewee in the event’s Fireside Chat session in a candid one-on-one dialogue conducted by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison. Lopez – described byimg Harrison as “one of the most dynamic and effective radio managers in America” – has served as president of WABC Radio, Red Apple Media Group, and the Red Apple Audio Network since the iconic AM station was acquired and expanded five years ago by New York-based billionaire businessman / talk show host / philanthropist John Catsimatidis.  Since then, the station and its associated media group have shown explosive growth that has grabbed the attention and respect of the national broadcasting industry.  Prior to joining Red Apple, Lopez had already achieved notable recognition for his leadership as VP/MM of Cumulus New York and before that as GSM of CBS Radio New York.  The Fireside Chat will be one of the highlights of the innovative four-hour TALKERS event on Saturday, March 8 that will be co-located with the national Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) conference March 7-8 at the Sheraton New York Times Square hotel.  More speakers will be announced next week.  For more information about the event including discount conference registration and room registrations, please see the story immediately below.

Industry News

Radio HoF Begins Accepting Suggestions for Class of 2025 Nominations

The Radio Hall of Fame nominating committee will begin accepting suggestions for nominations for the classimg of 2025 beginning February 1 through March 31. Radio HoF co-chairman Dennis Green says, “We look forward to hearing from people across the country to advance names of outstanding broadcasters worthy of Hall of Fame recognition. 2025 marks the 37th year of bestowing the honor of Radio Hall of Fame induction on those who left an indelible mark and had a lasting impact on the radio industry.” The 2025 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in Chicago on Thursday, October 30, 2025.