TALKERS News Notes
OutKick, the national multimedia sports platform, continued its growth trajectory in Q1 of 2024 versus Q4 of 2023 with 81 million total multiplatform views, up 10%, and 78 million total multiplatform minutes, up 7%, according to Comscore. The platform also saw 6.1 million average monthly multiplatform unique visitors. Additionally, OutKick in March 2024 garnered 24 million total multiplatform views, up 2% versus February 2024, and 23 million total multiplatform minutes, up 4% from the previous month, according to Comscore. In commenting on the digital performance, SVP/managing editor Gary Schreier tells TALKERS, “I’m excited to see OutKick’s continued growth in Q1 of 2024. It’s a direct result of our talented and smart team who push the boundaries on any topic, which separates us from other sports sites. OutKick takes on the important issues and asks the vital questions in sports that our competitors seem afraid to touch.”
As a way to help medium- and small-market stations maximize political advertising in the upcoming midterm elections, Gen Media Partners and the Ten-Minute Trainer Network will conduct a free webinar next Wednesday (4/24) at 12:00 noon (ET). According to Gen Media Partners executive vice president Greg Tacher, “Preparation is vital to ensure stations take full advantage of the political cycle. This is a terrific opportunity for small and medium market stations to gain free valuable knowledge that can help them generate political advertising revenue.” Ten-Minute Trainer Network/P1 Learning president Bryan Marriott adds, “The Ten-Minute Trainer Network is excited to partner with Gen Media Partners to bring this important and timely webinar. In less than an hour, attendees will gain valuable insights from political advertising experts.” The webinar will be hosted by Gen Media Partners’ senior vice president of political/issue advocacy & strategic alliances Roger Rafson; vice president/political strategies manager Linley Grande; and political broadcast strategist Heather Karban. Gen Media Partners is an independently-owned media sales and content organization; The Ten-Minute Trainer Network is a collaboration between P1 Learning and The Swagger Institute. Click here for the link to register.
The debut episode of iHeartPodcasts’ weekly “I Choose Me with Jennie Garth” is set to be released April 30. Actress/entrepreneur/designer Garth played “Kelly Taylor” for ten seasons on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Val Tyler” on “What I Like About You.” When “Kelly Taylor” found herself in a love triangle and was forced to choose one man, she said, “I choose me.” Those three words stayed true to Garth in real life, becoming her formula for fulfillment she wants to share with listeners. “I Choose Me” is the second venture with Garth and iHeartPodcasts, as she’ll continue to host “9021OMG” with her friend/former co-star Tori Spelling.
Yesterday’s column
involved, consistently doing the work necessary to drive meaningful change.” Farber’s long and storied broadcasting career includes her work leading the RAB for the past 12 years. MIW board president Ruth Presslaff says, “What more can be said about Erica that hasn’t yet been said? She is a strategic thinker and true trendsetter who gives generously of her time and wisdom. MIW is a better organization because of her. The industry has been enriched in countless ways because of her. What an impact this woman has made!” Farber comments, “I am deeply honored. Being recognized by such influential women in the industry is incredibly meaningful and humbling to me. I owe immense gratitude to the mentors and inspirational women who have supported and uplifted me along the way. They are the foundation of my success. My heartfelt thanks go to Ruth and the MIW Board, and to all of you who share my passion for radio and the impactful work we are privileged to do every day.”
who is returning to Philadelphia as a host at the company’s “SportsRadio 94WIP.” Audacy New York market president Chris Oliviero says, “Ryan knows radio, sports and New York, making him a triple threat to take the reins of WFAN, which continues to be the city’s most influential and dominant sports platform. In addition, with Infinity Sports Network, Ryan will have a major impact on the sports conversation nationwide. All of us at Audacy are excited to welcome him to the team.” Hurley, who joined ESPN New York as an intern in 2004 after graduating from Hofstra University and worked his way up to PD in 2017, says, “I am excited and grateful to have the opportunity to join this legendary station. The term ‘dream job’ can get thrown around a lot, but as someone who grew up listening to ‘The Fan’ religiously, that is exactly what this is. There is an incredible team here led by Chris Oliviero, and I look forward to this journey ahead with them.” Additionally, David Mayurnik has been named assistant brand manager of WFAN and Infinity Sports Network and will report to Hurley.
The media headlines are dizzying these days, yet they all share one common thread. See if you can solve this puzzle.
7:00 pm. KNX says, “In her first broadcast town hall as mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass takes the stage at KNX News to take questions from Angelenos on a broad range of public safety-related topics the day after her State of the City address. As the City searches for a new chief to shape the future of the LAPD, Mayor Bass will hear from constituents about what they want that future to look like.” The show is being aired on KNX News 97.1 FM, the Audacy app, and streamed live on YouTube.
It seems every hour Nielsen and Pierre Bouvard of Cumulus fame (formerly of Westwood One) put out a release stating that radio is just fine, thank you. Radio is more persuasive than TV, direct mail, streaming and print. Radio is a proven success for over 100 years. Most of the buildings housing Procter & Gamble were built on radio – not TV – advertising success. Happily, P&G realized radio’s clout and is now a dominant radio advertiser – again!
Johnson says, “I look forward to being a frequent guest on Tony’s show. This opportunity to speak directly to the American people about the most important developments in politics, policy, and culture will be important as we chart the path forward for Congress in these historic times.” Salem SVP Phil Boyce comments, “Salem is honored to kick off this important program with Speaker Johnson as guest host, who has worked tirelessly for conservative values since he took over the Speaker’s position. Tony Perkins, a nationally recognized expert in public policy, will be an excellent co-host, as the show deals with the important topics facing the House and the Speaker’s initiatives in getting his agenda passed.” Perkins adds, “I look forward to kicking off this new program with candid conversations with the House Speaker that will take listeners beyond the headlines and soundbites and inform them about what is really happening in our country and what citizens can do to influence the direction of our nation.” The show will be carried by Salem-owned news/talk stations nationwide, as well as affiliates of the Salem Radio Network. It will also air on the Salem News Channel weekends at 10:00 am ET, and 8:00 pm ET on Saturday and Sunday, as well as on demand on Salem Podcast Network, at Townhall.com, and on SNC.TV. SRN VP of news and talk Tom Tradup will serve as executive producer. Radio stations interested in the show can contact their SRN affiliate representative.
The thing about outstanding performance is there is one key trait in the performer we can all agree on. It was on full display in front of millions during the past two weeks. It shows up every time an athlete takes the game to new levels, or an artist moves us out of our seats and collective comfort zone.
Pick a day, any day. At least one news item will have the little voice in your head hollering “TELL me you’re kidding!” After recent headlines, and as various plots thicken, that little voice might need a lozenge.
ideology on an issue-by-issue basis – although infuriating his fellow Democrats on many an occasion. After leaving the Senate in 2012, he withdrew somewhat from the political spotlight to serve as an attorney in private practice and a college professor but remained outspoken on issues of politics and public policy. His most recent activities included founding the No Labels Group which condemns what Lieberman described as the “partisan polarization of our politics which prevents us from making the principled compromises on which progress in a democracy depends.” Lieberman said, “We need bipartisan leadership to break the gridlock in Washington that will unleash all the potential that is in the American people.” TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison had the opportunity to get to know Joe Lieberman very well while serving as a talk show host on Connecticut’s leading talk station, WTIC, Hartford in the early 1990s. Harrison states, “Joe Lieberman was always available at a moment’s notice to appear on the air with me during those golden days of talk radio’s modern era and it was apparent to me – as well as talk show hosts across the nation – that he wasn’t your ‘run of the mill politician’ who put party over country and avoided answering the tough questions. There was a profound honesty in his words and tone that inspired confidence, among even those who disagreed with him, that they were talking to a very solid, principles-based man.” Harrison continues, “Talk show hosts on both sides of the political divide loved him for his warmth, candor and accessibility.” Harrison concludes, “Al Gore would have been better served during his run for the presidency to have let Joe have freer reign over his media availability during the campaign, something the VP failed to do. Every request for Joe to be a guest – many of which were squashed – had to go through the Gore campaign which turned off a lot of Joe’s friends and admirers in both radio camps.”