Industry News

Thom Hartmann is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast

WYD Media syndicated multi-platform talk show host, Thom Hartmann is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” For the past couple of decades, the commercial sector of news/talk radio has been dominated by conservative hosts (while public radio has been the bastion of liberal ideology). Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule – there have been a number of notable exceptions. Thom Hartmann is one of the leading examples of a progressive talk radio host operating successfully within the commercial arena. Year after year, going back well over a decade-and-a-half, TALKERS has ranked this political thought leader among the top 10 in its annual list of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts In America – the Heavy Hundred. Hartmann is also the prolific author of more than 35 books on politics, the environment and social issues. He puts out a daily multi-distribution point program heard on commercial broadcast radio, non-commercial public radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, streaming services, mobile app, cable radio and subscription and ad-supported podcasts. The show is also seen on Free Speech TV, and YouTube. Harrison and Hartmann discuss a variety of modern media-related issues and phenomena including the host’s liberal perspective on the current blockbuster Donald Trump indictment drama. Not to be missed. Listen to the podcast in its entirety here.

Industry News

CBS News Radio’s Peter King Honored with Press Award

Pictured here is CBS News Radio correspondent Peter King posing with the National Space Club and Foundation’s Press Award (right) he accepted earlier this month at the organization’s 66th annual Dr. Robert H Goddard Memorial Dinner in Washington DC for “his outstanding coverage of the space program while working at CBS News radio. Mr. King has been a voice of the American space program for more than 25 years covering the space shuttle program from 1995 to its conclusion in 2011, multiple robotic in science, missions, the beginning of commercial space flight, and the return of America’s human spaceflight program.” King is the fourth CBS journalist to receive the award, following Edward R Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and Bill Harwood. King is also posing with the prestigious Robert H Goddard Memorial trophy, which was awarded to NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the Northrop Grumman industry team.

Industry News

Gene Mueller Honored as Local Broadcast Legend by WBA

Wisconsin radio personality Gene Mueller is one of four broadcasters being named to the 2023 class of Local Broadcast Legends by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation. Mueller retired from Good Karma Brands’ news/talk WTMJ, Milwaukee in 2022. He co-hosted the rock WKTI-FM, Milwaukee morning show with Bob Reitman for nearly 25 years prior to his work at WTMJ. Also being honored in the 2023 class is La Crosse market meteorologist Dan Breeden, Shawano County music personality Doug Erdman, and Eau Claire market music personality John Murphy. This year’s honorees will be recognized during the keynote luncheon at the 2023 WBA Summer Conference on June 15 at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Industry News

Katz Earns Maxwell Leadership Certification

Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk host Jeff Katz (right) with international best-selling author John Maxwell (left). The two chatted in Orlando as Katz completed coursework to earn his Maxwell Leadership certification.

Industry News

Wayne Allyn Root Publishes New Book

Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated talk radio host Wayne Allyn Root has published his latest book titled, The Great Patriot BUY-cott Book. Root says, “Our nation is headed for a ‘National Divorce.’ That phrase was my original idea for over two years now on my national radio and TV shows. Then Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene picked it up and ran with my idea.” Root says the idea is to build a “parallel conservative patriot economy” consisting of conservative-owned businesses and his book lays out the plan. Root adds, “My co-author Nicky Billou (an Iranian immigrant) and our team of researchers spent over a year researching and identifying the 123 most patriotic companies in America to buy from and to invest your savings and retirement accounts in (some are publicly traded).”

Industry News

Beasley Philly Recognizes Top Sellers

Beasley Media Group Philadelphia honored its top account executives of 2022 on March 14 during the cluster’s annual President’s Club dinner. Tim Graham was named the annual “President’s Club Champion,” marking his second overall annual win. In 2022, he achieved 111% of his annual budget and 174% of his digital budget. Beasley Philadelphia VP of sales Paul Blake says, “Tim is a two-time winner of our Annual President’s Club award. He just celebrated his 18th anniversary with our group and his vigor, focus and commitment to his personal excellence and his clients’ success have not wavered over those years. We all congratulate and celebrate Tim and his success!” Pictured above are (l-r): market manager Joe Bell, GSM Rob Keegan, Graham, GSM Bill Burns, and Blake.

Industry News

Comscore: Outkick Fastest Growing Sports Site

Clay Travis’s sports media platform OutKick finished as the “fastest-growing year-over-year in the top 50 sports sites in unique viewers” in February 2023, according Comscore. OutKick says it continues to post substantial increases in unique viewers with a 326% year-over-year growth versus February 2022. Travis says, “We’re continuing our growth trajectory every month and that’s directly correlated with the incredible OutKick talent that drives engaging content every day with personalities who are able to speak their minds.” OutKick also says it saw over 1 million social interactions on Facebook,Twitter, and Instagram, up 258% in February 2023 versus February 2022. Additionally, YouTube Video Views for OutKick attracted 7.1 million views – up 487% from the prior year, according to Shareable.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (3/21) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The potential indictment of former President Donald Trump in the Stormy Daniels hush money matter and Trump’s call to his base to protest; the sniping between former President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis; the U.S. economy, the Fed’s interest rate hikes, and the aftermath of the failure of Silicon Valley Bank; Xi Jinping’s trip to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit with Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine; the latest climate change report issued Monday concluding the planet is on pace for severe damage as a result of rising temperatures; the legal battle between Dominion Voting Systems and FOX News in the former’s $1.6 billion suit against the media outlet; and high winds and rain hit Southern California as the 12th atmospheric river hits the region were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network Debuts

Premiere Networks announces the launch of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network with the debut of “The Tudor Dixon Podcast.” Dixon was the 2022 Republican candidate for governor of Michigan. Premiere says, “The new podcast is focused on the important issues that affect the American way of life. From politics to parenting, Dixon – a businesswoman, breast-cancer survivor, and working mom of four girls – will dive deep into a wide variety of topics that touch our lives, while welcoming experts, insiders and headline makers for candid conversations.” Dixon comments, “I’m thrilled to take this leap into the podcasting world and am incredibly grateful to both Clay and Buck for encouraging and supporting me in this new venture. Listeners can expect to hear unique and unabashedly American stories not covered by the corporate media, as well as commentary from expert guests who will get to the truth about the issues impacting you and your family. I look forward to starting this new journey and bringing these stories to the forefront!”

Industry News

Bill Frady Named Late Morning Host at 106.3 WORD, Greenville

Audacy’s Greenville, South Carolina news/talk WYRD-FM “106.3 WORD” names Bill Frady host of the 10:00 am to 12:00 noon program. Frady has been with the station hosting the Sunday program “LockNLoad” and serving as a fill-in host. He now expands his role with the station to the new daily program, “Straight Talk with Bill Frady.” Audacy Greenville-Spartanburg SVP and market manager Steve Sinicropi states, “Bill Frady has provided great content doing swing shifts on ‘106.3 WORD’ for years. Bill is a native Greenvillian, a recognized firearms expert, and a tremendous conservative voice that will complement WYRD-FM’s incredible news and talk talent lineup. Adding Bill Frady to our full-time, on-air team will provide great content for listeners and new opportunities for advertisers. I look forward to hearing Bill on the air and on the station’s expanded 100,000-watt signal.” Previously, Audacy announced the plan to move WORD’s talk programming to the 98.9 frequency in which the station will be branded “News/Talk 98.9 WORD.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s (3/20) Top News Talk Media Stories

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels and his likely indictment; the latest climate change report issued Monday concludes the planet is on pace for severe damage as a result of rising temperatures; China’s Xi Jinping visits Vladimir Putin for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; the aftermath of the Silicon Valley Bank failure and concerns about global banking troubles; Wyoming outlaws the abortion pill; the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War; and Miami Beach struggles with crowds and violence during Spring Break were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

KBLA Talk 1580 Founder Tavis Smiley to Be Honored

Prolific author and veteran talk media purveyor of current events with a focus on African American perspectives, Tavis Smiley, has been selected by the TALKERS editorial board to be the 2023 recipient of the highly prestigious Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of Speech. The award is presented each year to a talk media practitioner whose work sets an example for the exercise and preservation of the First Amendment. Smiley, who has hosted shows on a diverse array of platforms such as BETCNNABCPBS, KABC Radio, and KGFJ Radio among others, joins such former recipient of the award as Rush LimbaughSean HannityBill O’ ReillyMark LevinMichael SavageGlenn BeckBob GrantThom HartmannAlan ColmesJoe MadisonKaren HunterAl FrankenBrian LambNorm PattizIan Freeman and others dating back to the origins of TALKERS in the late 1980s. Some 21 months ago, Smiley’s media company acquired an AM radio station in Los Angeles, the former hip hop legend KDAY, and transformed it into a new station and format – KBLA Talk 1580 – where he’s assembled an outstanding on-air staff, including himself, with the passionate mission of, as he puts it, “unapologetically serving people of color and who are politically progressive.” In making the announcement of this year’s recipient, TALKERS founder Michael Harrison states, “This is our longest-running and most-important award. Mr. Smiley has risen to the enormous talk radio challenge of providing underserved African Americans and progressives with a major commercial platform in the nation’s second largest market with a worldwide reach. In today’s political environment and struggling AM radio industry, it doesn’t get any more ‘First Amendment’ than that.” Tavis Smiley will be presented the award at the forthcoming TALKERS 2023 convention on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island where he will be one of 60 talk media luminaries scheduled to speak.  For more information about TALKERS 2023, see the story below. 

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Who? When?

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care? YES.

— Myth: Call letters are less important in PPM markets than in diary markets, where that diary is a memory test.

— Fact: Call letters and timechecks are MORE important in metered markets, because there aren’t enough meters. Every…single…one…matters a LOT. And awareness drives use.

Sure, listeners wear watches, and tote smartphones, and there’s a clock in the dashboard. We’re not timechecking because they don’t know.

— Timechecks help make the station habit-forming. They teach listeners what-we-do-when.

— Timechecks imply that busy people (the ones advertisers want as customers) will be on-time if they listen. “WINS News Time…” on New York’s iconic All-News station sets a tempo.

— And timechecks are local information. Syndicated hosts forced to say “[minutes] before the hour” remind us that they’re somewhere else.

Graphics - Logo

In its 1960s Top 40 heyday, WABC’s promos boasted that more people listened every week “than any other station in North America!” And shortly before his untimely death, retired PD Rick Sklar told me the simple secret of his success.

— He compared the Arbitron ratings diary to “that little blue book you got in school when there was a quiz. There are two questions on the quiz: What did you listen to? And when did you listen?”

— Back then, most stations used turntables, but WABC already played music on carts. And right there, at the end of the song, there was a WABC jingle, and an ear-splitting “DING!” because timechecks were “WABC Chime-Time.”

— So “we gave them the answers to the quiz,” by DJ-proofing the station. Even if the jock was going song-to-song, he had to jump-in and timecheck.

And you are…?

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of the E-book and FREE on-air radio features Inflation Hacks: Save Those Benjamins;” and “Spot-On: Commercial Copy Points That Earned The Benjamins,” a FREE download; and “Multiply Your Podcast Subscribers, Without Buying Clicks,” available from Talkers books.  Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

Pending Business: The News Cycle

By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President

Photography - BroadcastingIt is an unpredictable thing, this news cycle that drives the headlines.

One day we’re talking about the shortcomings in the American banking system, the next day we’re talking about the ramifications of criminally indicting a past president of the United States. Will somebody please grab a copy of the Constitution? We may need a panel of experts to talk us through what this all means to those of us paying crazy prices for eggs.

The news cycle is spinning faster these days and your news/talk programming should prove to be the go-to source to take a short break from March Madness and slow the news cycle down. Please do not be sidetracked about selling through the negativity that may accompany many of these story lines. As a seller or sales manager, your singular objective is to connect the value of an engaged audience to match your advertiser’s goals, moving the sales process to a natural, positive conclusion. In plain English, stay focused on the goal and close your deals. Let’s review some basics.

— Complex issues are nothing new. Your tenured talk radio hosts have built their careers by helping loyal listeners gain a better understanding of the headlines driving the news cycle.

— Loyalty is the key. Like it or not, criminally indicting a former president of the United States has never happened before. It is complicated to say the least and your audience will trust your on-air talents to present the facts, opinions, and discussion. What does it all mean to me? The audience has been here before and chances are your on-air talent has delivered the clarity and focus they needed when it counted the most.

— Community check-in. Talk radio is the #1 source for your audience to get a better feel for how the community is reacting. That electronic, now digital water cooler is in overdrive. What is everyone thinking?

— The unfolding drama. Let’s face it, we all have an opinion and we all enjoy speculating on what’s next. Talk radio is the perfect forum where your audience will weigh in every day.

When your talk show hosts are front and center, doing what they do best in a meaningful and entertaining way, your advertisers experience the benefits of what only your great talk radio hosts can deliver.

Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com

Industry News

Lineup Changes at Zimmer’s “ESPN Radio Jock 96.9”

Zimmer Midwest Communications announces a couple of changes to the program lineup at sports talk KBFL-AM/FM/K245CA “ESPN Radio Jock 96.9, 99.9 and AM 1060” in the Springfield, Missouri market. Effective today, station program director Tom Ladd is joined by Logan Weber as co-host of the 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm “Sports Talk” show. Weber also serves the station as producer of the station’s “The Sports Reporters” program. The “Sports Talk” program has been hosted by Art Hains since 1995 but in September of 2022, Hains had to step away from his hosting duties after being hospitalized by a life-threatening case of West Nile Virus. Ladd – the longtime voice of the Missouri State Lady Bears – has been hosting the show in his absence and is now joined by Weber. Zimmer operations manager Don Louzader says, “I can’t think of a better team to carry the torch for Art Hains than Tom and Logan. Tom has a tremendous amount of knowledge of the local, regional and national sports scene and has broadcast just about every sport in the Ozarks. Logan has shown a tremendous passion for sports here in southwest Missouri and will be a great complement to Tom on the show.” At the same time, the station announces that “The Sports Reporters” host Ned Reynolds is being joined by co-host Scott Puryear as the show moves to the new time 7:00 am to 9:00 am weekdays. Reynolds and Puryear worked together on the show from 2000-2011. Louzader says, “The boys are back in town and our listeners are in for a real treat when Ned and Scott get behind the microphone together.”

Industry News

Greg Chance Named SVP/Programming for iHeartMedia

iHeartMedia announces that Greg Chance is named SVP of programming for Des Moines, St. Louis, Indianapolis and the North Dakota Area, effective immediately. This group of markets includes more than 20 stations. Chance returns to the radio business and iHeartMedia after having most recently served as vice president for Diamond Oil.  Chance says, “I am profoundly humbled that iHeart would allow me this opportunity. I look forward to reuniting with my past colleagues and meeting new colleagues in the immediate future. This gives me a sense of peace and I’m extremely flattered and grateful. I look forward to diving back into all of these brands and vetting all the new ones. To say that I am excited to return, would be an understatement.”

Industry News

Black Business Beat Clears Audacy’s Hip Hop WXBK-FM, New York

Bloomberg Radio announces that its clearing of “Bloomberg Black Business Beat” content on Audacy’s hip hop WXBK-FM, New York “94.7 The Block” represents its “breakout into music radio formats, with business and money stories of interest to Black Americans that complement and enhance the music programming they love.” Bloomberg Radio is distributed and repped by Key Networks. The “Bloomberg Black Business Beat” is hosted by journalist Justin Milliner and topics addressed range from the latest trends in Black-owned businesses and profiles of Black entrepreneurs, to a continuing look at diversity in the workplace and an inside look at the business of entertainment. Bloomberg Radio Syndication head Michael Lysak says, “‘The Block’ is such an important part of the soundtrack of New York City. We are proud to be a part of it. Justin Milliner does a masterful job of sharing stories of vital importance to Black Americans, without The Block’s music missing a beat. Here’s to Audacy for recognizing that reports like this don’t interrupt the programming – they enhance it.”

Industry News

FOX News Digital Again Tops in Multiplatform Views

According to the latest data from Comscore, FOX News Digital finished February 2023 as the top-performing news organization in the competitive set in both multiplatform minutes and multiplatform views. This marks five consecutive months as the top news brand with multiplatform views and two straight years as number one with multiplatform minutes. While FOX News Digital – as well as NYTimes.com – still lags behind CNN.com in multiplatform unique visitors (97.4 million to CNN.com’s 117.7 million), it has improved 23% in that category since February of 2022 while CNN.com is down 8% during that period.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

— SiriusXM and sports talk personality Adam Schein agree to a new, four-year contract that keeps Schein hosting his daily late morning show “Schein on Sports” on the Mad Dog Sports Radio channel. Schein will also continue to host his newly rebranded SiriusXM podcast, now titled “Rise and Schein,” which features compelling long-form interviews with athletes and celebrities.

— Hillsdale College’s WRFH “Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM” in Hillsdale, Michigan takes home the top honors at the 2023 Michigan Student Broadcast Awards, hosted by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. The station was named the “2023 College Audio Station of the Year” and received nine individual awards. Station general manager Scot Bertram comments, “Our student broadcasters and journalists are committed to producing high-quality content that keeps listeners engaged. We’re honored to have that work recognized by such a prestigious organization.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend

The aftermath of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the state of the global banking system; Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s case against former President Donald Trump in the Stormy Daniels matter and Trump’s suggestion his supporters “take to the streets” in protest; Wyoming outlaws the abortion pill; the GOP race for the nomination in ’24; Vladimir Putin visits Mariupol, Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues; China’s Xi Jinping travels to Moscow to visit Putin for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and the first rounds of the NCAA basketball tournaments were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Michael Kay Renews to Continue ESPN New York Show

As reported by the New York Post, afternoon drive personality Michael Kay has signed a contract extension with Good Karma Brands-operated sports talk WEPN-FM, New York “ESPN New York” that is a “seven-figure deal per year and is for multiple years.” The Post reported in January that the 62-year old Kay was seriously considering retirement. Kay announced the deal on his program yesterday (3/16) saying,  “When the story in The Post came out, I was pretty certain that was going to be it and I would leave the show after 21 years in September. It had been a great run, a long run. I just said, ‘That’s it. I’m probably too old to do it.’” Kay is supported on the show by co-host Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg. The show is simulcast on the YES TV network. Kay also serves as the television play-by-play announcer for New York Yankees baseball games. Read the Post story here.

Industry News

Former Corpus Christi Talk Host Jim Lago Dies

The Caller Times reports the passing of former KKTX-AM, Corpus Christi talk radio host Jim Lago at the age of 74. He hosted the “Lago in the Morning” program on the iHeartMedia news/talk station prior to his retirement in 2019. Lago’s daughter tells the paper that he’d been diagnosed with lung disease and was just beginning treatment. “He just took a turn for the worse.” The Caller Times obit says, “Lago worked in the oilfields as a young adult and returned to the job after Vietnam War service in the Marine Corps. Some of the oil company workers told him that he should try radio because he was entertaining and outspoken. In the mid-1970s he gave radio a try, first in Longview, near his hometown, before moving on to bigger cities.” Lago was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. Read the full obituary here.

Industry News

Proft Says PAC Issue the Result of a Typo

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, GOP operative and WIND-AM, Chicago “560 The Answer”Dan Proft - Podcast morning drive co-host Dan Proft says a $3 million typo is to blame for the discrepancy in his political action committee’s report. Earlier this week, the paper reported that the Illinois Democratic Party filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections alleging that he didn’t disclose $1.2 million in contributions to the PAC.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

— ESPN and SiriusXM are teamed up to give listeners nationwide access to ESPN’s live audio coverage of select UFC events on SiriusXM’s Fight Nation channel. Subscribers will hear the live call from the UFC audio on ESPN networks. ESPN vice president Matt Kenny states, “We are constantly looking for new ways to give fans more access to our content. SiriusXM’s expansive reach will help us bring the excitement of UFC to a broader audience and provide additional ways for these very passionate fans to stay connected to the action.”

— iHeartMedia announces that new episodes of the program “Navigating Narcissism with Dr. Ramani” are available on its iHeartPodcasts platform. The podcast is hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula and focuses on narcissism and its impact on relationships. iHeartmedia says, “Through powerful conversations with survivors and experts, Dr. Ramani breaks down classic patterns of narcissistic abuse including love bombing, gaslighting, control and manipulation to help millions who are suffering. Each eye-opening episode demystifies feelings of betrayal, shame, confusion and pain for a tremendously transformative and healing experience.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of March 13-17

The failure of Silicon Valley Bank, the issue of banking regulations, and concerns about bank security came together as the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the state of the U.S. economy and the related policies of the Federal Reserve, followed by the U.S. drone downed by Russia over the Black Sea and the related Russia-Ukraine war at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Industry Views

According to Research…

By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host, Sterling on Sunday

Oh, excuse me, hold on. Here it is! The hourly report from quasi research companies or real research companies like Nielsen declaring that radio is just fine, thank you! Massive surveys (choose one) reveal that radio works! Radio appeals to younger demos! Radio moves product! Radio has more listeners in AM drive than the “Tonight Show” has viewers! A landslide of data proves that after 100 years of success, radio is a viable medium.

Crazy stuff.

As both a radio executive and host, I don’t need to know that radio works. I see the sales results from your show and from “Sterling On Sunday.” No advertiser gives us money for the heck of it. The checks clear; there’s your proof. The research that is desperately needed would support innovative, disruptive programming. Radio will grow its place in American media by surprising listeners with new formats, new forms of presentation and things that are… new.

Radio exists today because of innovations like Top 40! Urban! Progressive Rock! AOR! Modern Country! FM Talk! and The Seven-Second Delay!

Today, however, there is nothing harder than selling a radio executive a new idea. Any new idea. It is hard for a very good reason. Radio stations are major investments and failure is expensive. In 1977, the most expensive radio stations in history sold for $11 million. (WMAL/WRQX-FM, Washington DC.) In absolute dollars, experimentation was a minor financial risk. Risk would be manageable if owners had sophisticated research tools to test new ideas.

State-of-the-art new product research is required to take radio safely onto the golden path to innovation. How’s your research and development budget? Oh.

Each television network invests about $100 million a year in developing and testing new shows. Those networks deploy stunning techniques to find and test new ideas. There will be new formats and techniques when the collective “we” is finally convinced that radio is a success. Then our research investments can be focused on cutting-edge product research tools that can guarantee a successful pilot season and future.

Walter Sabo, consultant, can be contacted at Sabo Media: walter@sabomedia.com. Direct phone: 646-678-1110.  Check out www.waltersterlingshow.com. Meet Walter Sabo at TALKERS 2023 on June 2 at Hofstra University.

Industry News

The Late Jim Bohannon to Be Honored at TALKERS 2023

A decade after receiving the TALKERS Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 installment of the trade journal’s national convention, the late Westwood One syndicated talk radio star Jim Bohannon will again be honored at the annual gathering. The award will be renamed The Jim Bohannon Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement. TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey states, “On behalf of our editorial board, I am pleased to announce that this prestigious award is being named after one of its most beloved and accomplished recipients. Jim’s 60-year career in radio as a DJ, news reporter and then as one of the all-time great talk show hosts was impeccable. He stood tall as a giant among us displaying journalistic integrity, on-the-job dependability, remarkable longevity, stunning talent, and unconditional goodwill to his fellow broadcasters as a mentor and a colleague.” Bohannon passed away on November 12, 2022 after a brave battle with esophageal cancer performing on air as best he could to almost the very end. The award will be presented at the forthcoming TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University along with The Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of SpeechThe Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievements by a Woman (Woman of the Year), and The Sharon L. Harrison Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service (Humanitarian of the Year).  The recipients of all four awards will be named within the next few weeks. 

Industry News

Salem Unveils New Podcast Hosted by Lena Armuth

Salem Media Group announces the launch of the podcast show “Retirement for Real” on Salem-owned SeniorResource.com. “Retirement for Real,” hosted by Lena Armuth, is an investment podcast designed to help retirees make sensible financial decisions in retirement. Armuth says, “Today’s investors deserve to know that investing is simple, affordable, and accessible to all! Collaborating with Senior Resource was a no-brainer for me because our missions are so similar. My podcast is dedicated to empowering and educating retirees on personal finance and investing, and Senior Resource helps me share this message with a broader audience. I’m thrilled to see my podcast has reached listeners from all across the country, and I remain steadfast in my commitment to giving real people the knowledge and tools they need to better understand investing and their finances in retirement.”

Industry News

BFoA to Honor Dan Mason with Lowry Mays Award

The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces that Dan Mason, former CEO of CBS Radio and previous chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation, is the recipient of this year’s Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award. The Award is bestowed annually on an individual in broadcasting whose work exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Mason will be presented with the award at the Broadcasters Foundation Breakfast at the NAB Show on Wednesday, April 19 at the Wynn, Las Vegas. Mason comments, “I’m honored to be recognized by the Broadcasters Foundation, a charity that I believe in very much. I’ve been so fortunate in many ways, and the opportunity to support the Foundation’s mission as its chairman, was one way of giving back to this industry that has given me so much.” Current BFoA chairman Scott Herman says, “I worked with Dan for many years at CBS, and I am proud to call him a friend, colleague, and mentor. Dan is a great leader and a true champion for radio. It is our privilege to honor him.”

Industry News

Audacy Announces BetQL Countdown to Tip-Off

Audacy announces the return of “BetQL Countdown to Tip-Off,” a three-episode series of special men’s college basketball tournament programming. The series airs on March 18, March 25 and April 1 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am ET on BetQL Network, Audacy’s network of sports betting content heard across its broadcast portfolio and digital platforms. The program is hosted by Nick Kostos and Ken Barkley, co-hosts of “You Better You Bet.” The show on March 18 will broadcast live from the BetMGM Sportsbook at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas as part of Audacy’s exclusive partnership with BetMGM. Audacy president of sports Mike Dee says, “The men’s college basketball tournament is the premier playoff tournament in American sports, and we’re excited to bring back this informative and entertaining program. Whether you’re trying to win your office pool or cash in on this year’s bracket, ‘Countdown to Tip-Off,’ with Nick and Ken will have you covered with their expert analysis of all the madness this March.”

Industry News

ESPN LA Hosts Pickleball Madness Tournament

Good Karma Brands and its Los Angeles sports talk station KSPN-AM “ESPN Los Angeles” are hosting the inaugural Pickleball Madness Tournament on Saturday, March 18 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Agape Pickleball Center. Fans will be able to interact and watch their favorite ESPN LA 710 AM personalities compete as well as have the opportunity to win prizes and giveaways, play pop-a-shot, attend pickleball demos and lessons, hang out in the beer garden, enjoy a live DJ and entertainment, watch college basketball, and more. GKB vice president Sam Pines comments, “We are excited to introduce a new event to the ESPN Los Angeles community and team up with our partners to execute at the highest level. The Pickleball Madness Tournament is a perfect opportunity for ESPN LA fans to connect with our content team and engage in one of the most popular sports in the country. We are looking forward to the event coming to life on March 18.