TALKERS News Notes
Through its partnership with BetMGM, Audacy’s BetQL Network will broadcast exclusively from the new BetMGM Sportsbook in Glendale, Arizona this week. The sportsbook is located next to State Farm Stadium, site of this year’s NFL Super Bowl. Audacy president of sports Mike Dee says, “We’re proud to leverage our partnership with our friends at BetMGM to bring sports bettors and our listeners over 50 hours of live, premier audio content – more than any other sports betting network – to get them ready for the biggest game in American sports.”
iHeartPodcasts and Storyglass are launching a new, eight-part podcast series, “False Profits: Hillsong,” a journey that dives into the Hillsong experience – “from Christian rock music to celebrity pastors and famous fans, to global status, enormous wealth, and shocking scandals. This series traces the rise and fall of Hillsong’s founder and peels back the layers of a culture of submission, exploitation, and discrimination.”
Audacy announces that Twin Cities news/talk WCCO-AM raised over $447,000 to benefit Second Harvest Heartland through its “Let’s Kick Hunger Day Radiothon.” The amount raised during the 14th annual radiothon held on February 2 brought the overall fundraising total to over $3.5 million since 2009. Audacy Minneapolis SVP and market manager Jeff Gonsales says, “Year after year, our fans open up their hearts to those in need. Lives are being impacted in significant ways, and we are incredibly grateful. WCCO’s long-standing partnership with Second Harvest Heartland means so much to us and to so many people who are helped by this community effort.”
Every radio sales presentation should start with one powerful number. This number – often found under the Sphinx – will dazzle any buyer, but is rarely revealed. The number is Homes Using Radio (HUR). Once upon a time it was part of the conversation. HUR shows how many people are using radio at any given time, a total number.
the 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm slot currently held by Westwood One talk host Mark Levin. Sanchez says, “It is a thrill to be dominating my daypart in the format and I feel my audience growing exponentially right now. It’s a pleasure serving the Las Vegas market with the legendary station KDWN as my flagship.”
Answer.” Elswick notes that he’s beginning his 23rd year as a talk host in the Little Rock market. He says that with COVID protocols now in the rear-view mirror, he’s returning to hosting live broadcasts of the state legislature’s general session. Prior to joining Salem, Elswick served with iHeartMedia at crosstown news/talk KARN-FM.
an NFL prospect who played football at the University of Virginia and Texas Southern University. Norfleet worked for the Houston Texans and the Houston Rockets before transitioning into broadcasting as a host, analyst, and sideline reporter. iHeartMedia Houston director of AM programming Bryan Erickson says, “Stan brings amazing passion to everything he does. He has strong local ties and we’re thrilled to add him to the team.” Norfleet comments, “It is a tremendous blessing and honor to join the renowned iHeartMedia Houston family. I have long been a fan and avid listener of ‘Sportstalk 790’ and respect the history and contributions of its personalities. My affinity for Space City spans nearly two decades and I look forward to connecting with old friends and new listeners in the market.”
Kansas and Springfield, Missouri. iHeartMedia division president Nick Gnau says, “I am so excited to add Clyde’s leadership to an already strong cluster of markets in Texas. Clyde’s passion for our industry, his knowledge of our products and the success he has shown through many roles with iHeartMedia make him the perfect fit to lead this newly formed Area. I look forward to seeing these areas continue to succeed as one.” Bass most recently led the Arkansas Area. He comments, “It’s been my honor to be involved for the last 10 years with some of the legendary stations that I grew up listening to here in Arkansas, and now to be reunited as area president with the team in Texas makes me even more energized over what iHeartMedia provides to advertisers and listeners.”
piece’s “background” information and premises. In the article, Harrison supports the observation that the sale of EVs constitutes a small fraction of the current automotive marketplace and it will be years before they achieve a critical mass to impact the health of AM radio. In the meantime, Harrison asserted at this morning’s meeting of the TALKERS editorial board, “There are far more immediate existential threats to AM radio, not to mention FM radio, with which the broadcasting industry must contend.” He points out, “Relevance and identity! AM radio being dumped from dashboards is an innocuous thing to worry about. FM radio will be dumped from the dashboard as well… the entire idea of a radio-exclusive appliance is on the verge of obsolescence… and we’re not just talking about electric vehicles – we’re talking about all vehicles! We’re faced with an all-encompassing computer system at the fingertips and voice control of the driver and passengers.” Harrison continues, “In the meantime, today’s media consumers are savvy enough to know how to find their entertainment and information brands via the combination of Bluetooth and smartphone. Thus, the challenge facing both AM and FM radio – two increasingly irrelevant designations – is to maintain the importance, distinguishability and brand of the medium itself – R-A-D-I-O – and not let it get lost in an endless ocean of options available to the potential audience.” 
rated program in February 2015. The ‘Zolak & Bertrand’ show, along with Rob ‘Hardy’ Poole, have consistently maintained their #1 midday ranking in the market.” Bertrand comments, “I’m thrilled to be continuing at ‘98.5 The Sports Hub.’ I take great pride in having been a part of the station since its inception. I’m fortunate to have great teammates on ‘Zolak & Bertrand’ and as a group, we are incredibly thankful for our loyal listeners. It is their support and engagement that makes this job fun every single day.” Program director Rick Radzik states, “We are very pleased to have Marc continue on with ‘the Sports Hub’ for the coming years. Marc, Zo & Hardy have been entertaining Boston sports fans since 2015. To have that relationship continue for the coming years is a win for everyone.”
advanced their field and made a lasting impression on the industry. “The Kalb Report” was created by Marvin Kalb in 1994 who partnered with former CBS Radio Network general manager Michael Freedman, who served as executive producer of the series for its entire 28-year run. (Freedman went on to become president of the National Press Club in 2020.) New York Festivals says, “During its nearly-three-decade run, the series has provided a forum for prominent newsmakers and journalists to discuss the news media’s impact on American democracy. The guest list included Supreme Court justices, civil rights icons, network news anchors, best-selling authors, members of Congress, and influential leaders from across the media landscape.” Trophy winning entries in the 2023 New York Festivals Radio Awards will be celebrated at the NYF Storytellers Gala on April 18 at the Centennial NAB Show in Las Vegas. 
of a diverse audience while continuing to illuminate Black voices.” Chief executive officer Alfred C. Liggins III says, “For over 42 years, Urban One has understood the need for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, especially in sharing our varied experiences. We are proud to be a leader with the largest African American footprint in the media space. As the needs and concerns constantly evolve, we are dedicated to helping brands understand, connect, and best translate to Black and Brown communities. In our next iteration, iONE Digital will continue to be a catalytic force in media.” The company says, “iOne Digital portfolio focuses on key passion points and interests, including men’s and women’s lifestyle, sports, beauty, fashion, and entertainment. The iONE portfolio is comprised of Cassius, HelloBeautiful, MadameNoire, Bossip, NewsOne, GlobalGrind, HipHopWired, BlackAmericaWeb and Elev8; plus the social network for urban millennials, BlackPlanet, and three YouTube brands – The Fumble, Hollyscoop, and Nerdwire… Looking to the future, iONE Digital has also immersed their visual identity into the world of audio and podcasting by conceptualizing a ‘video first’ approach centered around the amplification of the all-new Urban One Podcast Network – a platform which iONE helps to fuel by bringing a wide range of podcasts to life.”
increase of 348,000 for the year, aided by a growing base of streaming-only subscribers. Net income for Q4 of 2022 was $365 million, up from the $318 million posted in Q4 of 2021. For the year, net income was $1.2 billion, down from the $1.3 billion reported in 2021. CEO Jennifer Witz says, “2022 was a strong year for SiriusXM, as we continued to focus on bringing consumers the best in audio entertainment both in-car and on the go, reaching record high revenue and record low churn. Our strong operating and financial performance in 2022 are a testament to our resilient business model and growing contribution from streaming, which helped us deliver 348,000 net new self-pay subscribers. In 2023, we expect SiriusXM to deliver strong operating performance and generate significant cash, even as we face a challenging economic environment and continue to make material investments in our technology infrastructure.”
Steve DeLusant says, “Victor and Travia are the perfect combination to lead our sales efforts for ‘Power 105.1’ and the WWRL 1600 AM ‘Black Information Network.’ Both 
Victor and Travia have strong experience and knowledge working in the multicultural space. I am excited to have them join our team and watch them take our brands to the next level. Their additions will position our team for long-term success at iHeartMedia New York.” Giacomelli joins the iHeartMedia New York team from Audacy Denver where he was the director of sales. Charmont joins the iHeartMedia New York team from Audacy Atlanta where she was a senior AE.
hosted programs at WFLA, Tampa; KHOW and KKZN, Denver; and WLS-AM, Chicago; among others. Salem Radio Networks VP news & talk programming Tom Tradup hired Marvin at WLS. He tells TALKERS, “I brought Jay to WLS in Chicago by helping negotiate his way out of a contract he had with Carl Gardner at WTMJ, Milwaukee. We added him 10:00 pm-1:00 am and he was an instant hit, billing himself as “Chicago’s lovable manic-depressive” who championed striking cab drivers and teachers’ unions… so unlike our other conservative hosts at the time. Fans even turned out by the thousands for his annual “JayStock” festivals in Wisconsin. Jay was one in a million.”
been serving in a similar role with the company’s Tampa stations. Beasley chief content officer Justin Chase says, “One of Beasley’s goals for 2023 is growing our digital audience and Rachel has been one of the company’s top digital content leaders. She has helped to build a massive digital audience in Tampa, and we’re excited to watch her develop a similar strategy for our amazing Philadelphia digital brands.” Pitts comments, “I am excited to continue to help expand the digital footprint of Beasley Media Group. To have the opportunity to work with the legendary talent and brands of the company’s Philadelphia stations has been a big career goal!”
maximizing revenue opportunities, product acquisitions and original content creations for the company. AURN CEO Chesley Maddox-Dorsey adds, “Andy’s success in developing a vision and providing strong leadership for growing company-wide activities and strategies focused on generating, maintaining and increasing revenue is unparalleled. This is a well-earned promotion.” The company adds that under Anderson’s tenure, it has seen its station affiliations grow, launched the AURNGAMING division and realized various digital expansions including podcasts and programmatic marketing. 
podcasting, downloaded audio, smart speakers and other sources of audio content… Edison Podcast Metrics measures persons-based listening estimates using frequently updated surveys to provide a complete view of the rapidly growing podcast audience.” Jon Kaiser is head of Nielsen’s agency and advertiser-direct businesses and he says, “The media landscape is evolving quickly and agencies have a vital need to understand how all the media puzzle pieces fit together. Edison’s insights are best-in-class and Nielsen is excited to work together with them to provide media planners and buyers with deep insights into the total audio landscape and the rapidly growing podcasting audience.”
Los Angeles listeners have long mixed the station up with L.A.’s other NPR affiliate, KCRW, and more recently wondered what the connection is between KPCC and LAist.” Southern California Public Radio acquired LAist.com and its archives in 2018. This rebranding puts the radio station, website and podcast creator LAist Studios under the same banner.
and listeners has provided for excellent conversations and deliberations amongst our nominating committee members, each of them also bringing their own suggestions to the difficult decision making that goes on. When we hear from as many interested people as we do with suggestions, it only reinforces the value of a nomination, let alone an induction.”
“ScreenShare” on MSNBC’s Peacock. The program features diverse guests and conversations that “tackle the biggest issues in culture, entertainment, media, and politics.” Best-selling author, advocate, speaker, and strategist Reecie Colbert hosts the Saturday 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm program that addresses politics, culture, current events, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. And broadcaster, news analyst, business executive, college dean, university professor, lecturer, entrepreneur, and advocate Dr. Rashad Richey is host of the Sunday 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm hour that SiriusXM calls “your one-hour Sunday ‘all things’ political, social, and economic empowerment show!”
Denver SVP and market manager Katie Reid says, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Jeff join our sales team. I know he will show our clients exceptional results and take Denver sales to the next level through his keen strategic thinking, business acumen and strong focus on community.” Clewett comments, “I am humbled and excited to work with such a talented team and iconic brands that are so meaningful to the market. The Bonneville Denver sales team has a track record of tremendous success and I look forward to finding new ways to maximize revenue, deliver extraordinary results for our partners and develop our people.”
consulting and development company. Prior to that, he was the executive producer of podcasts and audio for NBC News and MSNBC. Lickteig will report to Katie Hinman, CNN’s vice president of development. He begins on February 6.