Programming Shakeup for Sports Talk WEEI, Boston
Audacy has announced a series of weekday programming updates for sports talkers WEEI-FM-AM, Boston. Afternoon show co-host Adam Jones and weeknight host Rich Keefe will reunite for a new midday show. The duo, who previously hosted a top-rated evening show together for multiple years in the market, will deliver a blend of sports and lifestyle entertainment, on weekdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm ET beginning August 26. The station elevates Andy Hart as afternoon show co-host alongside Christian Arcand. “The WEEI Afternoon Show” will be heard weekdays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET beginning August 27. The show will welcome various special guests throughout the week, including the New England Patriots starting quarterback (whomever that turns out to be), Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, ESPN insider Adam Schefter and former NBA player and current NBC Sports Boston Celtic analyst Brian Scalabrine. Former afternoon show co-host Megan Ottolini will remain with the station as a full-time writer, succeeding Hart, and as a fill-in on-air host. “These exciting updates bring together a dynamic mix of talent with New England roots that will continue to deliver top-tier content to Boston’s biggest sports fans,” says Mike Thomas, SVP/market manager, Audacy Boston. “Adam Jones and Rich Keefe’s notable on-air styles and rapport will energize our midday show, while Andy Hart and Christian Arcand’s experience will help bolster afternoon drive. We’re looking forward to this next chapter of WEEI weekdays continuing to make WEEI the go-to destination for everything Boston sports.”
IBS National Conference Set for 2025. The Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) has announced its annual conference will be coming back to New York City next year. Set for March 7-8, 2025, the nation’s longest running, largest and most important gathering of college radio broadcasters will be held again at the Sheraton Times Square in the heart of Manhattan. Organizers have plans in the works for activities like additional sessions and tours during the day on Thursday, March 6 as well. Early registrants can save big bucks. $109 per person for up to 10 attendees, then the rest of your staff goes for free! This offer ends October 15, (and then prices and group deals go up). TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison, who was a featured speaker at last year’s conference says, “One of the most dynamic scenes in radio today connecting the present with the future is playing out on college campuses across the nation. Professional broadcasters interested in the future of this medium and industry should attend this event. I always come away from it invigorated and inspired.” For more info on IBSNYC 2025, please 
Sterling Shines in Philly. In the first two months since the debut of “Sterling Every Damn Night” on WPHT, Philadelphia, the quirky 9:00 pm – 12:00 midnight talk show hosted by Walter M Sterling (a.k.a. legendary media consultant Walter Sabo) has been gathering jaw dropping metrics. The show has delivered five times the total share of audience 12+ since the same time last year and has proven to be formidably competitive in every key news/talk radio demo. What makes it so interesting on an industry level is its departure from the standard left-right partisan politics that dominates the news/talk format. It covers what is described as “nightly life” – such as the trouble with customer service, in-laws, schools, and romance. What one talks about with their best friends is what the show discusses. Features on the show include listener calls, plus “People of Walmart,” “True Detective Stories,” and new perspectives on current events: Sterling had the first interview with a citizen of Ukraine while bombs were going off, and a Tel Aviv bus driver sharing thoughts on America’s alleged lack of support for Israel. The show is designed for guards up all night in the building lobby, people getting done with second shift, going on third shift, cramming for finals or trying to get the baby to sleep. This is a show that deserves radio industry attention.
Audacy’s legendary station 830 WCCO, Minneapolis is planning a series of special endeavors to celebrate its 100th anniversary, including a double album with commemorative content, a gubernatorial proclamation and a grand centennial event. As part of its century-long “good neighbor” heritage, WCCO will also donate the proceeds from the double album release and centennial event to four of its non-profit partners: 
Beginning on September 3 at 12:00 noon ET, Bloomberg Radio, will begin broadcasting its 24-hour all business news format on Beasley Media Group’s 92.9/WBOS-FM HD1.
Starnes Media Group will broadcast a six-hour election night special hosted by nationally syndicated talk star and radio station owner Todd Starnes. “Election Night Across America With Todd Starnes” will include co-anchors Ben Deeter of Starnes’ KWAM, Memphis along with Mary Walter and Robyn Pfaffman. The show will feature top newsmakers, candidates, live reports from presidential campaign headquarters and calls from listeners. The one-time special is available free of charge to radio stations across the nation. Starnes is a well-respected conservative voice and a member of the TALKERS Heavy Hundred. For information on broadcasting the show, contact 
Cumulus Media has appointed Zach Lyons as co-host for afternoon sports radio show, “Blaine and Zach,” on its Nashville outlet WGFX-FM (104.5 The Zone). Lyons joins co-host, Blaine Bishop, former Tennessee Titans safety and a four-time Pro Bowler. Bishop retired following the 2002 season capping an outstanding 10-year NFL playing career, featuring nine seasons with the Titans franchise. In addition to the weekday show, Lyons will join Brent Dougherty, Lucas Panzica, and Kevin Dyson as co-host of the station’s Titans postgame show, “Titan Talk Back.” Lyons is best known for co-founding broadwaysportsmedia.com and for hosting the popular sports podcast, “Football and Other F Words,” which will join the podcast lineup on the 104.5 The Zone Podcast Network.
Cumulus Media’s Westwood One Presents National Audio Coverage of the 2024 College Football Season. Westwood One will present national audio coverage of the 2024 college football season. Highlighting Westwood One’s schedule of 16 regular season games will be matchups with top-20 teams including the University of Georgia, Ohio State University, the University of Texas, the University of Oregon, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), the University of Alabama, the University of Missouri, the University of Tennessee, Clemson University, and defending national champion, the University of Michigan as well as the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic between Virginia State University and Benedict College. Postseason games will include the SEC Championship Game, the annual Army vs. Navy Game, and the FCS Championship. In his first year with Westwood One, Nate Gatter will serve as play-by-play announcer. He will be joined by former University of Minnesota tight end and eight-year NFL veteran Derek Rackley, in his 11th season with Westwood One.
Eric Trump Tells WPHT, Philadelphia Host Dom Giordano the DNC is “Dark.” With Pennsylvania being such an important swing state in the presidential race, WPHT, Philadelphia 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm host Dom Giordano’s program has been a major destination for prominent Republicans on the campaign trail. On Monday (8/19), Giordano (“the dean of Philadelphia talk radio”) hosted GOP VP nominee J.D. Vance and yesterday (8/20), he was visited by Eric Trump. Trump, whose wife Lara Trump is co-chair of the Republican National Committee, told Giordano, “Compared to the positivity of the RNC, the DNC was all so dark, depressing and unbearable [for Lara and I] to watch.”
VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, has announced updates to its leadership, including the promotion of Miles Gwyn to COO. In this new role, Gwyn will manage the network’s day-to-day operations, overseeing content production, distribution and advertising partnerships, technology, compliance, and infrastructure.
As part of this new management structure, Brian Musburger takes the role of president/chief business officer and Bill Adee becomes CEO. In addition, VSiN has promoted Stephanie Kamerschak to executive producer, responsible for overseeing talent schedules, managing producers and associate producers, and arranging promotional content across platforms. Most recently, Kamerschak was coordinating producer at VSiN and previously held senior producer roles at DraftKings and ESPN.
weekly radio listeners and 80% of weekly radio streamers – are actively tuning into election news on the radio. Audacy says, “It’s more than just staying informed; these listeners are inspired to make their voices heard at the polls. Local radio is essential for these audiences, with 74% saying it helps them grasp how election results impact their communities. For many, radio is the pulse of the nation’s agenda. Nearly half (46%) of listeners have been following election news closely for over three months.” 
media platform to tout home improvement e-commerce as heavy AM/FM radio and podcast listeners are more likely to shop online; 2) AM/FM radio generates significant incremental reach for home improvement TV campaigns: Recent TV campaigns for The Home Depot saw significant lift in reach with the addition of AM/FM radio, especially among younger demos; 3) AM/FM radio generates three times the sales lift of TV in a historic Nielsen TV and AM/FM radio sales effect study for a home improvement retailer; and 4) Home improvement media plans are overweight on linear TV and underweight on audio: The optimized plan should consist of 45% AM/FM radio, 30% linear TV, and 24% podcasts. 
on Monday, September 2. The new sports talker will feature the FOX Sports Radio lineup in addition to the Sacramento-based program, “The Rob, Anybody, and Dawn Show,” (Rob Williams and Dawn Rossi) in morning drive. Station general manager Kurt Bagelmann says, “Lotus is ecstatic to deliver a game-changing experience to Northern California listeners by combining the market’s most iconic morning show, ‘Rob, Anybody & Dawn,’ with the powerhouse lineup of FOX Sports Radio. This dynamic one-two punch, now available for the first time on both AM and FM, is poised to redefine the sports radio landscape in Sacramento.”
treat an aneurysm, according to his family. Farley began his career in New York at 1010 WINS and would hold numerous positions in New York and network news over the years, including as managing editor at ABC Radio Networks. He is best remembered for serving as vice president of news & programming at all-news WTOP-FM, Washington from 1996 through his retirement in 2013. He worked as a news consultant after leaving WTOP and lived in Florida with his wife Jo. 
contract. Bartholomew tells TALKERS, “After two successful years where my show increased the numbers of the previous, political show by as much as 350%, I have re-signed with News Talk 820 and 93.3 WBAP in Dallas, TX. So, I’ll be holding down the 9a-11a slot for at least another 2 years.” 
story that was used in a Google ad to read: “Harris Picks Tim Walz – 215,000 MN Families Win.” WDAY says it wrote no such headline. Hallstrom tells The National Desk, “They lied to everybody who saw that ad, and they misled them into believing that there is a news organization, with a 100-year history in our community of doing good solid journalism, that not only took sides in a political debate, if you will, but also openly performed cheerleading exercises on behalf of that candidate in their news headlines in their story. That’s wrong.” Washington, DC television outlet WJLA-TV writes, “A source familiar with the Harris campaign’s advertisement team told Axios the campaign buys ads with news links to give more context to voters searching for information about Harris.” Hallstrom responds to that saying, “I don’t care what their intent was or what they were hoping to do. All I care about is what happened to us. We have reporters in our newsroom who have been working in this market for decades to build their credibility as an objective and unbiased reporter.” 
operators who contributed with greatness to the radio industry and have since passed away. The eight radio legends take their place in the Radio Hall of Fame immediately are: Chuck Blore – On-Air Personality; Alan Colmes – On-Air Personality; Charlie Douglas – On-Air Personality; Jim Ladd – On-Air Personality; Maria Martin – Journalist; Byron McGregor – On-Air Personality; Percy Sutton – Executive; and Rusty Walker – Programming Executive and On-Air Personality. The Radio Hall of Fame will recognize its 2024 class of inductees at the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on September 19, at the Omni Nashville in Nashville. 
X – which most people I hear still call “Twitter” – is a great way to attract new ears.
things Iowa from border to border. The show will explore community events around the state, discuss current and political issues and highlight amazing feats in and around Iowa. It will also feature experts in a variety of industries and discuss current exploits by the biggest movers and shakers in the Hawkeye State.” Songer also hosts the afternoon drive show on iHeartMedia’s KFAB, Omaha. Prior to assuming that role he produced the WHO morning drive show. He says, “I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to connect with Iowans all over the state and beyond. I can’t wait to continue the rich heritage of these legendary radio stations and to celebrate the next chapter of WHO and WMT!”