Premature Ejection
By Michael Harrison
TALKERS
Publisher
There are media and there are media. There are platforms and there are platforms. Not all cultural artifacts are equal in terms of their utilitarian versus cultural value. Damn the tone-deaf corporate bean counters who are ripping the heart out of the spirit that gives humanity its life force! Marketplace obsolescence should not solely be determined by profit and loss. With all due respect to the idea of public service, what about the concept of loyalty? Shame on the automobile industry! Not only is it turning its back on the needs of millions of people, it is in the process of betraying one of its historic partners in not only commerce – but romance and glory. In other words, the automobile industry owes the radio industry a huge debt. The relationship between cars and radios goes a century deep and has been nothing less than a two-way street. Yes, auto industry, don’t be so hasty to save a few bucks by rushing AM (and then FM) radio out the door. You might just find in the long run that “radio” outlasts the private “car” as a fixture of human activity.
A radio is not a cassette, CD, or 8-track player. A radio is a magic box that embodies a century of culture during which it spun the idea that taking a car ride is a lot more soulful than spending time getting from point A to B via the subway, bus, or plane. The car has been the perfect radio-listening chamber and radio has returned the favor in spades with its music and DJs glorifying everything from little deuce coups to Cadillacs to the T-Bird that daddy took away – not to mention bolstering the ubiquitous culture of automobiles with traffic reports, news, weather, and endless references to this particular form of transportation as being a key component of what it is to be a member of society. Radio has provided the car biz with a century long, non-stop free or generously bonused commercial!
From a purely economic position of self-interest and greed, it is understandable why car manufacturers might consider AM radios expendable and are eager to toss them out like the aforementioned obsolete devices of music conveyance. So, what if millions of people still listen to it and DEPEND on it for free speech, religious expression, ethnic connection, demographic habit and public safety. Couldn’t the car manufacturers wait another decade before turning its back on such an important – and still vital – relationship?
Hey auto industry, be careful what you’re doing. You’re severely mistaken if you think your poop doesn’t stink and your place in our rapidly changing society is guaranteed. You might find rolling along in this brave new world without radio turns out to be a very dangerous road.
Michael Harrison is the publisher of TALKERS and can be reached via email at michael@talkers.com. Meet Michael Harrison at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University.
one the most successful voices in audio branding as a 2023 honoree of the Benztown 50 list of the top 50 voiceover professionals in the U.S. and Canada.” The Ambush audio imaging library is written and produced by imaging director Scott Phillips. Benztown VP, sales & operations Masa Patterson says, “JJ is world class, serving as the imaging voice for some of the best NT stations in America. Combining him with a production talent like Scott Phillips and retooling the content plan has Ambush positioned as a top-of-class resource for audio producers in the spoken word space.” Surma adds, “Scotty Phillips is an amazing writer and producer, and Ambush is a legendary resource that I leaned into many times in my years as a creative services director. The opportunity to bring my energy to such a respected and trusted audio library and company has me all fired up!” 
What will hurt your chances of sales success more, graduating from a low-ranked college or attending too many inefficient sales meetings?
Ever lost your phone? It’s an instant sick, sinking feeling. It’s quaint to even call it a “phone,” because it’s…everything. Including us. Like the transistor radio Boomers toted in our youth, it’s audio in your pocket.
for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was also an important endeavor. I knew personally how cancer affects the lives of the patient and their families. It has been a passion and I’ve been blessed with many years of good health. I didn’t expect in 2023 that we would be having this conversation. After feeling lethargic, exhausted and experiencing some strange weight gain I had blamed it on a recent change of medication. Instead my blood work showed tremendous blood loss and levels of iron and hemoglobin that were dangerously low. We still believed that it would reveal an ulcer or a stomach tear that was being irritated by the new medication causing the bleed. We scheduled a short hospital stay to have all my tests in one day. It’s 76ers playoffs and I needed to get back to work quickly! The colonoscopy revealed the cancer and a subsequent CT Scan has given us some optimism that this cancer journey will end successfully. I have a great support system within the walls of Beasley Broadcasting from the Executive Suite to the interns. I feel blessed that everyone has already rallied behind me at ‘The Fanatic’ to make sure I succeed in this battle. My sponsors have always shown me such loyalty and support. I’m going to do my best to continue to deliver for them. I work with an excellent team on ‘The John Kincade Show’ and I’ve asked them to do everything possible to keep things as normal as possible. With our crew, normal is of course up to interpretation.” 
Offer will expire at Midnight, New York City time, at the end of the day, on June 9, 2023 (the “Expiration Date”), unless extended or earlier terminated by Cumulus. The “modified Dutch auction” allows shareholders to select the price, within a price range specified by Cumulus, and the number of shares they are willing to sell at that price (or, should a higher price be determined as the “purchase price,” such higher price). The Offer is being made under Cumulus’s previously announced $50 million share repurchase program. The purchase price will be the lowest price per share (in increments of $0.05) of not greater than $3.25 and not less than $2.85 per share, at which shares have been properly tendered and not properly withdrawn, that will enable Cumulus to purchase the maximum number of shares having an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $10 million (or, if the Offer is not fully subscribed, all shares properly tendered and not properly withdrawn). Promptly after the Expiration Date, Cumulus will, on the terms and subject to the conditions described in the offer to purchase, determine the single per-share purchase price that Cumulus will pay, subject to proration and conditional tender provisions, for shares properly tendered at or below the purchase price in the Offer and not properly withdrawn, and accepted for payment, taking into account the number of shares tendered pursuant to the Offer and the prices specified, or deemed specified, by the tendering shareholders.
publicly killed. Someday I’ll find that stupid bitch and fix that problem. Scott is the only voice of reason on that show.” The message references Wright’s co-host Scott Parks. Wright posted the text so her listeners could see it and wrote, “This particular threat is not the first— BY FAR — we have received, and I know that it will not be the last. I am sharing this — because I am done being quiet about it.” Wright tells the Star, “What concerns me about cases like this is the level of violence we are seeing against people in all different forms of media. And a lot of those people who lash out blame their rage on things like alcohol and other problems they might be having in their lives or some warped sense that the political landscape is responsible for every problem they’ve ever had.” 
Rich Shertenleib had taken a sick day, so the two haven’t worked together since Toucher accused his co-workers of not reaching out to him while he dealt with what was thought to be a cancer scare. He was ultimately diagnosed with leukoplakia, something that can be caused by smoking. Toucher told his listeners, “I have two pieces of advice: Do not smoke and get a second opinion. They thought that I had cancer. If you saw pictures of the original thing they took of my throat, there was a big lump on my vocal cord, like a big lump. I wasn’t supposed to talk for two weeks. And now it just turns out to be Leukoplakia.”
says in a memo to staffers, “Phil has been in broadcasting for more than 50 years, most of those years on morning radio, and many years feeding the people of New Bedford next to his bride, Celeste, at their Shawmut Diner. As much as Phil has to offer our community, at some point a man deserves to sleep in without worrying about pancakes or interviews. That time has come for Phil. The Morning Mayor has decided to make this Friday [5/12] his last day on the WBSM morning show… Thankfully, Phil’s WBSM story doesn’t end on Friday. He has agreed to ‘Phil’ in during vacations, and I’m trying to talk him into taking on a regular weekend shift. All in time.”
the industry as a number of car manufacturers unveiled controversial intentions to eliminate AM radios from the dashboard of electric and even gas vehicles going forward. In making the announcement about this additional agenda element, TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison stated, “The automobile issue is rocking the industry and John Catsimatidis has been stepping up to the plate in defense of both radio and good sense. He brings his formidable influence into the arena and we are delighted that he will be delivering a major address to that effect on June 2 at the conference. He has become a radio hero, and this will be another key moment in his growing legacy… and hopefully in prolonging the valuable life of both the AM and FM bands.”
of his son who gave his life in Afghanistan trying to save a fellow soldier, an event that became the inspiration for the popular country song, “I Drive Your Truck,” plus the story of the USS Indianapolis, America’s worst naval disaster. Also, host Lee Habeeb shares a personal story of his uncle who was killed by Nazis after D-Day. The program is available on a market-exclusive basis with barter. The show is available via FTP delivery. “Our American Stories” is distributed by Premiere Networks and is heard in over 310 radio markets across the U.S. For more information contact: 855-276-8020 or 
total of four hours and 15 minutes per day. Ninety percent of moms access the internet from their mobile phones. It also says that TikTok is used by 50% of U.S. moms, up from 42% in 2022, while Facebook is used by 83% of U.S. moms, down from 88% in 2022. Edison Research VP Melissa DeCesare says, “U.S. moms are heavily engaged with social media and online audio, and their time on the Internet continues to increase with the ease of mobile phone access. They are busy with children and are taking advantage of the convenience offered by wireless headphones and smart watches.” 
– News & Talk category, for its coverage of Old Glory Honor Flight #59. “WOSH Morning News” host Phil Cianciola traveled with nearly 100 U.S. military veterans (including one WWII vet) to the D.C. memorials and submitted 19 featurettes aired throughout the one-day broadcast event on WOSH. WOSH also claimed second place honors in the Best On-Scene Reporting category for Phil Cianciola’s first-hand coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Ian from Sanibel Island, Florida. The honors were bestowed at the 2023 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards Gala on May 6.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, “quantifies annual podcast advertising revenues generated over the past year, analyzes revenue share by ad category and content genre, and forecasts future revenues through 2025.” The study says the top revenue-generating content genres are Sports (15%), Society & Culture (14%), and Comedy (14%) and have taken the lead from News and Political Opinion content (down from 19% to 12%). IAB VP, media center Eric John says, “In-person sports, lifestyle events, and in-store shopping have come back in a big way, taking the lead from news which held the top revenue genre spot since 2018. Podcasting revenue naturally reflects that shift in consumer behavior and it will be interesting to watch how the balance changes going forward.” He adds, “Both mass and niche advertisers like the audiences, targeting, and ROI along with the brand-safe and suitable environments that podcasting offers.” 
represents an expanded commitment to one of iHeartMedia’s most premium products allowing advertisers to engage audiences with creative, longform native content.” iHeartMedia goes on to say, “Ruby’s branded podcasts allow advertisers and their brand partners to spend upwards of 30-45 minutes with their target audience in a unique environment, with opportunities for storytelling that are not possible anywhere else in their media mix including social video. With distribution across the iHeartRadio app and all other major platforms, native podcasts from Ruby connect brands to audiences by translating brand messaging, products and services into original and engaging stories that audiences love.” 
this drives people to look for alternative forms of entertainment, and an Audacy study reveals that a “majority of late-night viewers (84%) whose shows are on pause due to the Writers Guild strike are excited to try new shows, especially on Audio. And a whopping 70% are excited to catch up on their podcast shows.” She adds that for media planners this represents an opportunity to “pivot.” “Given the scale and variety of audiences Audio programs attract, it is possible to meet these people during moments when they are actually super engaged and receptive to advertising.” 
Camron Smith and airs Saturdays from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm ET via the Audacy app and Twitch beginning May 13. BetQL Network brand manager Andrew Williams says, “‘The Bettor Angle’ is the latest example of the BetQL Network’s dedication to delivering top-quality Wagertainment to our listeners and viewers, seven days a week. Kate and Camron will take listeners behind the numbers and uncover the stories that shape the games. From injury reports to coaching strategies, they’ll help listeners understand the factors that can make or break their bets.”
Westwood One syndicated series “Off The Record With Mary Turner” in which she presented interviews with and personality profiles of some of the biggest musical stars of the day. Turner and Pattiz were married in the early 80s and the two shared what friends described as a happy relationship until his death this past December at 79 due to throat cancer. Turner had her own health issue battling substance abuse in the early 90s, which she bravely overcame. She became a UCLA-certified drug and alcohol counselor and received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She went on to be appointed chairwoman of the Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison, who worked with Turner at both KMET and Westwood One says, “Mary Turner was one of the main pillars upon which the great KMET was built. Nicknamed ‘The Burner,’ she was a pioneer in album rock radio and an iconic role model for women in the industry. She was solid on the air – providing music fans a panoramic window into the culture. She related to artists with an authenticity that engendered trust and they really opened up to her.” As of press time, further details on this story are not available.
HSRP brings real-world radio skills to high school media students in each state, allowing students to curate and schedule music, record radio breaks, produce news and sports stories, interviews, and PSAs, all aired on a streaming radio station heard around the world, 24-hours a day on HighSchoolRadioProject.org, Live365, and Amazon Alexa.” They have recruited industry vendors to assist the students in their radio projects, allowing them to