Industry News

“No Sound Effect Added” – WBT-AM/FM’s Mark Garrison

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A day after being accused by the White House of doctoring a radio interview with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, WBT morning host and news director Mark Garrison tells TALKERS magazine that it’s not true and explains the station’s approach to the interview segment. “Regarding our interview with Karine Jean-Pierre. There was no sound effect added. She hung up the phone and there was immediately the sound of a dial tone. As for time, we had been told the day before that we would chat with her for anywhere from 5-10 minutes. She hung up just after six minutes. Our goal was to discuss several issues including the president’s mental sharpness because polls indicate that voters of both parties in our state are concerned about that. And we explained that point to Jean-Pierre.” Not surprisingly, the interview caught the attention of the talk media industry and Garrison appeared on FOX News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle” with Laura Ingraham last night (3/27) to talk about the interview.

Industry News

Cumulus Extends Senior Notes Exchange Offer Deadline

Cumulus Media extends the expiration time in its previously announced Exchange Offer and Consentim Solicitation to exchange any and all of its outstanding 6.750% Senior Secured First-Lien Notes due 2026 for new 8.750% Senior Secured First-Lien Notes due 2029 to April 2, 2024. This offer will expire then unless extended or terminated. As of March 26, approximately $15 million aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes had been validly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation and not withdrawn.

Industry News

AWMF Announces 49th Annual Gracie Winners

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation announces the winners of the 49th Annual Gracieim Awards that celebrate outstanding achievements in media dedicated to women, by women, and about women across diverse platforms in news and entertainment. This year’s winners will be celebrated at AWMF’s annual gala on May 21 at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. Local and student award recipients will be honored at the Gracie Awards Luncheon on June 18 at Cipriani’s in New York City. See the complete list of this year’s winners here.

Industry News

Zoller Co-Host Pastor Rod Hughey Dies at 54

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Martha Zoller, host of “The Martha Zoller Show” on Jacobs Media’s WDUN-AM/FM, Gainesville, Georgia tells TALKERS magazine that her co-host Pastor Rod Hughey passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday (3/27). Hughey began hosting and filling in on WDUN in 2020. Zoller comments, “I met Rod through the organized protest in Gainesville during the George Floyd era. He put together law enforcement, Chamber of Commerce representatives, and community members to have open dialogue and to make sure something like George Floyd never happened in our area. I knew I had to talk to him after that.” In addition to his radio work, Hughey was pastor of the Atlanta Community Church, Gainesville campus and had been an active member of the community, serving as a chaplain for the Gainesville Police Department. He is survived by his wife, Vel, and children. Pictured above are (clockwise from top left): Zoller, Bill Maine, Hughey, and Senator Raphael Warnock.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

The Kansas House passes House Concurrent Resolution 5026 that endorses the Federal AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. Kansas Association of Broadcasters president Allison Mazzei says, “The passage of this resolution tells Congress that Kansans want AM radio in vehicles. Radio serves as a cornerstone of communication, providing essential information and ensuring public safety across our state.”

A new eight-part podcast series titled, “Who Killed the Video Star? The Story of MTV,” debuts from Audacy Podcasts. The series explores the cultural history, impact, and phenomenon of MTV. It is hosted by former MTV VJ and Esquire editor-at-large Dave Holmes.

Audacy Pittsburgh raises funds to provide more than 276,000 meals for people in need through Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The “Giant Eagle Feed the Need Radiothon” – produced by news/talk KDK-AM, sports talk KDKA-FM, and their three music branded sister stations directly benefits those dealing with food insecurity in the Pittsburgh region. Audacy first launched the radiothon in April 2020 in response to the need during the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped provide upwards of 3.3 million meals in the past five years.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (3/27) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The aftermath of the deadly Baltimore bridge destruction; the presidential race and speculation about the RFK Jr factor; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; the Israel-Hamas war and the UN’s accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza; the U.S. migrant crisis; NBC’s hiring-then-firing of former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel; Trump’s fund-raising Bible sales; and former U.S. senator and VP nominee Joe Lieberman dies at 82 were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Salem Media Group Releases 2023 Annual Report

Salem Media Group’s total net revenue for the full year of 2023 was $258.6 million, a decrease of 3.1% from the full year of 2022, according to its just-released annual report. The company saw operating expenses rise from 2022 to 2023 and took a considerable impairment charge on its long-term assets that factored heavily into it reporting a net loss of $43.3 million in 2023, compared to the net loss of $3.2 million it posted in 2022. Salem operated three business segments: broadcast, digital, and publishing.im The company states, “Net broadcast revenue decreased 3.7%, or $7.6 million, principally due to a $7.3 million decline in national and local spot advertising revenue. Spot advertising revenue has been declining in the industry due to reduced time spent listening, particularly on AM radio stations. Also, the political revenue decreased $3.6 million, or 61.5% to $2.3 million from $5.9 million. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in our broadcast digital revenue which increased $1.5 million or 4.1% due to increases from Salem Podcast Network, Salem News Channel and digital marketing services through Salem Surround. On a Same Station basis, net broadcast revenue decreased 4.0%, or $8.2 million, which reflects these items net of the impact of stations acquisitions and dispositions.” On the digital side, the company reports, “Net digital media revenue increased 0.7%, or $0.3 million. Net digital advertising revenue decreased due to Facebook algorithms that limit political content, the growing use of browsers that block third-party cookies limiting advertising, and the overall state of the economy that has weakened demand for advertising resulting in a lower number of advertisements and a reduction in rates.” Salem’s 2023 annual report can be found here.

Industry News

White House Accuses WBT, Charlotte of Manufacturing Controversy

According to a report in The Daily Beast, the White House is saying that Urban One’s WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte is “ginning up controversy” by claiming Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre hung up on newsim director Mark Garrison after he asked if President Joe Biden suffers from dementia. Garrison did ask Jean-Pierre that question and she responded, “Mark, I can’t even believe you’re asking me this question. That is an incredibly offensive question to ask.” Then, after presenting the president’s accomplishments, Jean-Pierre thanked Garrison and ended the call. The White House says WBT was given seven minutes as part of Jean-Pierre’s media schedule and that she ended the interview at that time. The White House also suggested that the station employed a bit of theater by adding a dial-tone sound effect to the end of the interview that its phones don’t make after a call ends. Read the Daily Beast story here.

Industry News

KTMY, Minneapolis’ “Lori & Julia” Show to End This Summer

Afternoon drive hosts Lori Barghini (left) and Julia Cobbs (right) told listeners yesterday (3/26) thatim they will end their program at the end of June. The two have hosted the afternoon show at Hubbard Broadcasting’s talk KTMY-FM “MyTalk 107.1” since 2002. Barghini and Cobbs – both in their early 60s – say they want more time for themselves. Barghini told listeners she started thinking about retiring after the death of her father last summer.

Industry News

Bold Gold Media Group Unveils Bold Gold Studios

Bold Gold Media Group announces the grand opening of Bold Gold Studios – a brand-new, state-of-the-art audio and video podcast and recording studio located in the newly renovated historic Liberty Theater, on Main Street in Liberty, New York. The company says that in addition to providing interested podcasters and content creators a place to make their audio and video magic, this studio will also serveim as a satellite radio studio for Bold Gold Media’s four local broadcast radio stations, including news/talk WVOS-AM/W223DB “Catskills News Talk 92.5 & 94.9.”  Bold Gold Studios will be available for lease opportunities, and offers brand new professional audio and video recording gear, with experts available to assist in recording, producing, and even marketing branded multi-media podcast or A/V productions. The company will hold a grand opening celebration on April 19. Bold Gold New York general manager Dawn Ciorciari says, “We are grateful to Bruce Davidson at the Liberty Theater for partnering with Bold Gold Media to create and manage this state-of-the-art studio in his historic building.  This studio will extend Bold Gold Media’s reach in Sullivan and the Catskills and serve as a new professional space for audio and video content creators.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Beasley Media Group Boston announces their newly minted, multi-year partnership with the Boston Athletic Association, the non-profit that organizes the Boston Marathon. This year both sports talk WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” and WKLB “Country 102.5” will broadcast coverage of the race.

Audacy expands its relationship with Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions with the launch of “Million Dollar Advice,” a weekly work and career advice podcast under the Audacy Podcasts and Paper Kite Podcasts banners hosted by Kim Lessing and Kate Arend.

SiriusXM subscribers will have access to the full 2024 Major League Baseball with live play-by-play calls of every game, as well as 24/7 news, talk and expert analysis on the exclusive MLB Network Radio channel.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (3/26) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The deadly Baltimore ship-bridge collision; the Supreme Court hears arguments on a national ban on the abortion drug mifepristone; NBC fires former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel after one week; the Trump Media firm deal; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; RFK Jr chooses Nicole Shanahan as VP; the U.S. migrant crisis and the Appeals Court’s block on Texas’ SB 4 law; and the Federal Trade Commission investigates TikTok were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

WWO: Study Shows Radio Ads More Engaging Than TV Ads

This week’s blog from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group looks at data from a Mediaprobe study using electrodermal activity (via a special monitor attached to the respondent’s hand) to determine their reactions to ads in actual AM/FM radio segments. Mediaprobe says the electrodermal sensor “allows out-of-lab and real-time measurement of unconscious reactions to ads and mediaim content, providing an accurate assessment of the audience’s attentiveness and engagement.” Some of the key findings include: 1) Despite lacking “sight, sound, and motion,” AM/FM radio programming was +13% more engaging than Mediaprobe’s norm for television in the U.S. For advertisers, this means the AM/FM radio context for their ads has greater engagement than the TV context; 2) Overall, AM/FM radio advertising’s Emotional Impact Score (EIS) outperformed TV advertising by +12%. These new findings validate the recently released Dentsu/Lumen study, which revealed audio ads outperform video for attention and brand recall; 3) AM/FM radio news was the most impactful genre, consistently measuring as a high-quality contextual environment for advertising (+14% greater than Mediaprobe TV News norms and +8% than total AM/FM radio); 4) Mediaprobe audio benchmarks reveal the sound contrast between AM/FM radio programming and the ads drives higher attention and brand recall. For example, ads with music and jingles perform very well in spoken word programming due to the contrast; and 5) Creative best practices: Use female voiceovers, jingles, and include five brand mentions. See the blog post here.

Industry News

Todd Starnes Visits Huckabee Show on Book Tour

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Nationally syndicated talk radio host Todd Starnes (left) is pictured here with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (right) on Huckabee’s TBN and Newsmax television shows. Starnes is on a tour promoting his latest book, Twilight’s Last Gleaming: Can America Be Saved? (Post Hill Press 2023). He’s appearing on more than 40 programs around the country.

Industry News

No More “Puck & Jim” on Sports Talk KJR-AM/FM, Seattle

The midday “Puck & Jim” show – starring Jason Puckett (right) and Jim Moore (left) – at iHeartMedia’s sports talk KJR-AM/FM, Seattle is gone. Puckett explains how it all went down via a post to fans at X (formerly Twitter). “First off I want to apologize for being off the air for the last three weeks. These last few weeks have been the most exhausting and agonizing time of my life. I had been in contractim negotiations with iHeart – KJR since the start of January and in the last few weeks we mutually agreed that I would be off the air until we reached a deal… Both sides worked hard to get a deal done and the process was long and time consuming. Late last week I received the offer that I had been looking for and was excited and grateful to get back to work on Monday. However, a day after receiving the offer I learned that my partner Jim Moore was terminated as part of nationwide layoffs within the company. The timing of the move left me angry, sad, confused and conflicted… Many, many sleepless nights has led to my decision to part ways with the station and not seek a new contract. I’m a firm believer in loyalty and the treatment of others. From my perspective I couldn’t in good conscience continue to do the show despite my love to do so… This is not goodbye forever. The process has energized and motivated me to great lengths. Stay tuned because very soon I’ll deliver the same nonsense in a different form.”

Industry News

WPHT, Philadelphia Raises $109k for Veterans Charity

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Pictured above is the staff of Audacy’s news/talk WPHT, Philadelphia at the seventh annual “Talk Radio 1210 WPHT Radiothon” last Friday (3/22) that raised more than $109,000 for the Travis Manion Foundation which supports “programs, training opportunities, and events designed to empower veterans and families of the fallen and then inspire them to pass on their values to the next generation and the community at large.” Audacy SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “Our WPHT listeners and advertisers are extremely passionate and generous, and we are so grateful for their contributions. Audacy Philadelphia is a strong supporter of the Travis Manion Foundation and the great work they do for veterans in our local community.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Good Karma Brands’ talk WAUK-AM/W266DR “101.7 The Truth” announces the 3rd Annual Tory Lowe Community Clean Up taking place on April 13. Spearheaded by 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm host Tory Lowe, the event encourages volunteers to join the station in picking up litter in Milwaukee neighborhoods. Lowe says, “This is what it’s all about. Getting together as a community, unifying, and giving back. This is a great opportunity to get to know our neighbors and take pride in the city we call home. A cleaner community is a better community.”

Mundo Hispano Digital partners with iHeartMedia in a deal that includes MundoNow’s audio network Oyénos’ slate of podcasts being distributed widely by iHeartPodcasts. MundoNow president and CEO Rene Alegria says, “We’re thrilled to embark on this transformative partnership with iHeartPodcasts, solidifying our commitment to amplifying LatinX voices in the audio space. This collaboration represents a pivotal moment for Oyénos Audio, as we combine forces to deliver captivating content and innovative marketing strategies that resonate deeply with our community. In today’s ever-evolving media landscape, we continue to strive to deliver compelling, informative, and engaging content to a large and significantly still underserved audience – bilingual and bicultural Latinos.”

FOX Nation debuts a new special titled, “Prisoner of Putin,” on Thursday (3/28), one day before the one-year anniversary of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s arrest and detainment in Russia. The special will provide an in-depth look into Gershkovich’s life and his courage and resilience throughout the last year. Contributions will be made by FOX News Channel senior correspondent Steve Harrigan, who was formerly based in Moscow, Wall Street Journal colleagues Gordon Fairclough and Paul Beckett, as well as Jeremy Berke and Sam Silverman, close friends of Gershkovich.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories

Former President Donald Trump gets bond reduction from an Appeals Court; the aftermath of the deadly ISIS attack on Moscow; Israel rebuffs UN Security Council’s Gaza ceasefire vote; the presidential race; the U.S. migrant crisis; the Supreme Court to hear arguments on a Texas court’s suspension of the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill; the U.S. and U.K. sanctions against China over alleged Chinese government-backed cyberattacks; Florida bans social media for children under 14; and Sean “Diddy” Combs the subject of a Homeland Security investigation into human trafficking were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.