The asset purchase agreement recently filed with the FCC 
indicates that St. Louis-based Hoffman Media Group will pay Audacy $20 million for its six-station cluster that includes news/talk stations KMOX-AM/FM, KFTK-FM, and four music outlets. Hoffman Media Group is a subsidiary of Hoffman Family Companies and recently acquired the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (7/13-17) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
People
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
Nielsen issues the results of data from an analysis of consumers’ consumption of podcasts. The study finds that while more people are seeing video-enabled podcasts, audio remains the absolute foundation of the ecosystem, with 90% of all monthly podcast consumers choosing to listen, while 62% engage by watching. 
Other key findings include: Sports content acts as a unique bridge between listening and watching experiences, drawing the closest parity between listeners and viewers across top genres; Format choice signals entirely distinct consumer mindsets: the highly structured, utility-driven “Pragmatic Listener” versus the entertainment-seeking, visually focused “Interactive Watcher.”; and Conversion mechanics differ by format, with audio consumers acting as direct digital responders and video watchers acting as high-intent brand translators and social amplifiers. See the report here.
As it gets easier to connect to the internet from one’s vehicle, more people are doing just that and are using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to listen to digital audio. Edison Research says that according to its Share of Ear study, in 2019 18% of those ages 13+ 
owned an in-car infotainment system, and 40% own one today. In 2019, 86% of in-car listening time among those who have an Android Auto or Apple CarPlay went to non-digital sources such as AM/FM over-the-air, SiriusXM satellite radio, and owned music like CDs. Now, seven years later, in-car infotainment owners spend 36% of their total in-car audio time with digital sources including streaming music, AM/FM streaming, podcasts, and audiobooks. Even on, 64% still goes to non-digital sources like AM/FM over-the air radio and satellite radio.
During the spring, the NFL’s Buffalo Bills announced they would, through a deal with Good Karma Brands, take production and distribution of Bill radio play-by-play in house after years of 
Audacy’s sports talk WGR-AM, Buffalo serving as the flagship station. Now, the team announces that it has 23 stations signed up as affiliates, including Good Karma-operated WHSQ-AM, New York City (formerly WCBS-AM at 880 kHz) and WESP-FM, West Palm Beach “ESPN West Palm” – both stations operated by Good Karma. In the Buffalo market, games will be heard on Cumulus Media’s rock WGRF-FM.
Beasley Media Group promotes Jose Alberto Roldan to head of technology and infrastructure. In this newly created position, Roldan will oversee the company’s technology strategy, information technology operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, 
and enterprise systems. Beasley says Roldan, who most recently served as vice president of IT, joined Beasley Media Group in 2019 and has played an instrumental role in modernizing the company’s technology environment, enhancing cybersecurity, improving operational efficiency, and advancing strategic technology initiatives across the organization. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “Jose has been an exceptional leader and trusted member of our technology team since joining Beasley Media Group. His expertise, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to innovation have helped strengthen our technology infrastructure and position the company for continued growth. We are pleased to recognize his many contributions with this well-deserved promotion.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (7/15) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Nielsen is saying that an In Car Radio Study that it conducted in partnership with iHeartMedia in May 2026 shows that auto manufacturers are risking alienating their customer base by not including AM/FM radios in new cars. Nielsen says, “Despite the influx of modern infotainment options, the study of over 1,000 recent and prospective car buyers highlights that traditional radio remains bedrock equipment.” Some of the findings include: 1) Around half of all respondents stated they would outright refuse to purchase a vehicle that lacks an AM/FM radio; 2) More than seven in 10 consumers view AM/FM radio as an essential feature that should come standard as basic equipment in all new vehicles. This places its perceived importance on par with smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto) and significantly ahead of satellite radio or built-in subscription music apps; 3) Around half of respondents indicated that if an OEM decided to completely remove AM/FM radio from its lineup, they would instantly have a less favorable perception of that car brand; and 4) This brand erosion and purchase refusal is significantly more pronounced among buyers aged 55+, creating a massive hurdle for brands relying on loyal, returning buyers. Read the report here.
Yesterday (7/14), broadcasters from 31 states, along with representatives from AARP, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and local emergency managers were on Capitol Hill pushing Congress to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. According to the National Association of Broadcasters, the legislation, which would ensure AM radio remains available in new vehicles, has united an extraordinary coalition of support, including an overwhelming number of bipartisan cosponsors in Congress, 
the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump and backing from first responders, emergency managers, public safety organizations and community leaders nationwide. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt says, “The time for Congress to act is now. Hundreds of broadcasters from across the country alongside nearly one million AM radio listeners have reached out to their members of Congress to support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and protect this essential public safety resource. We are grateful to our congressional champions who have led this bipartisan effort every step of the way. Congress has everything it needs to act. It is time to finish the job and send this bill to the president’s desk.”
Cumulus Media announces that it is the first commercial licensee to sign up for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium, the radio audience intelligence platform that Xperi says “delivers near–census-level insights into in-car radio consumption, where the majority of radio listening occurs, providing unprecedented visibility into actual, nearly-real-time listener behavior.” Cumulus says that 
for advertisers, “the platform supports more informed media planning through observed audience behavior, large next-day samples, and market-level consumption trends, enabling more precise audience- and market-level planning and better alignment between campaigns and listening trends.” Cumulus Media president of operations Bob Walker says, “We’re proud to be the first broadcaster to deploy AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium as part of our broader effort to bring new sources of audience insight to radio. The platform gives us access to a level of audience intelligence that hasn’t previously been available, creating new opportunities for content creators, sales teams, and advertisers alike. The AutoStage heat maps are a particularly compelling example, visually illustrating where listening is concentrated, on an aggregated basis, relative to advertiser locations. By giving advertisers a richer understanding of audience distribution and listening trends, the platform helps them plan more effective campaigns, optimize audience-level planning, and maximize the impact of their radio investments.”
According to a report in the New York Post by Oli Coleman, SiriusXM’s Howard Stern Show laid off “around a dozen” staffers 
as the show prepares to offer just one fresh program per week when Stern returns from his summer break after Labor Day. When Stern renewed with SiriusXM last December, he said the new deal gave him more flexibility and that apparently means fewer workdays. The Post reports that a core group of producers is being retained but with the new schedule, “he just doesn’t need that much content anymore.” Read the Post story here.
Cox Media Group appoints Phil Becker vice president, audience & content growth for the radio segment. Becker, who most recently served with Alpha Media EVP of content, will begin his duties in 
the newly created position on July 20. CMG Radio president Rob Babin comments, “Phil brings a strong and unique combination of audience expertise, content leadership and a passion for developing talent. His experience and audience-first approach will help strengthen our brands and position CMG Radio for continued growth.” Becker says, “CMG Radio has outstanding brands in tremendous markets. I’m excited to join Rob and the team to build on that success, deepen audience connections across platforms, and create remarkable content that matters to listeners, viewers, followers and fans.”
Nebraska-based Usher Media closes on its acquisition of five radio 
stations in the Omaha-Council Bluffs market from NRG Media LLC for which it paid $2.15 million. Those signals are news/talk KOIL-AM, sports talk outlets KOZN-AM and KZOT-AM, plus KOPW-FM and KQKQ-FM. Kalil & Co was the exclusive broker for this transaction.
The Weather Channel Radio Network is recognizing meteorologists Ray Stagich and Scott Lawrimore, each of whom has completed 30 years of dedicated service to the network. The 
Weather Channel president Tom O’Brien states, “Ray and Scott represent the very best of what The Weather Channel Radio Network stands for. Their careers are a testament to more than longevity; it is the genuine sense of public responsibility that has guided every forecast, emergency and broadcast for 30 years. We are immensely proud to celebrate this remarkable milestone with them.”
FOX Sports Radio broadcast live from last week’s American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Both “The Dan Patrick Show” and “Stugotz and Company LIVE!” broadcast live on location, covering the 37th annual star-studded tournament. Pictured above is Dan Patrick (right) interviewing Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.
The most discussed stories yesterday (7/14) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rules in favor of Cumulus Media in this latest aspect of the company’s anti-trust suit against Nielsen. The ruling keeps the preliminary injunction preventing Nielsen from forcing national radio audience clients from having to buy local market data as well in effect while the case returns to district court. The appellate court held that constructive tying – where pricing effectively conditions the purchase of one product on another – can violate the Sherman 
Act. The ruling affirmed the district court’s findings regarding coercion, anticompetitive effects, irreparable harm, and the tailored injunction, and held that Cumulus’ current bankruptcy did not require a stay of the appeal. In 2024, Nielsen instituted a policy requiring national broadcasters to purchase its local data in every market where they operate in order to access the full national
report. This policy forced Cumulus’ Westwood One to choose between buying all local data from the firm or losing access to the essential national data product. Cumulus is suing Nielsen United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging that the Nielsen’s policy constitutes an unlawful tying arrangement. The district court found that Nielsen used its monopoly power in the national data market to coerce customers into buying local data products, resulting in anticompetitive effects in local markets by excluding competitors.
The New York State Broadcasters Association appoints Heidi Raphael its next president and chief executive officer, succeeding longtime president and CEO David Donovan. Western New York native Raphael is currently chief communications officer for Beasley Media Group. She also served for 20 years in a similar 
role with Greater Media. NYSBA board chair Chris Musial says, “We are thrilled to welcome Heidi Raphael as the next president and CEO of the New York State Broadcasters Association. Heidi brings an exceptional combination of leadership experience, industry knowledge, and passion for broadcasting. We are confident she is the right leader to guide NYSBA into its next chapter while continuing the outstanding work David Donovan has led over the past decade and a half.”
Today’s blog post from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group looks at the 12-year trend of podcast advertising. The post notes that in advance of the first IAB Podcast Upfront in 2015, Cumulus commissioned Advertiser Perceptions to study agency and brand sentiment on podcast advertising. The most recent, conducted last month with 300 marketers and media 
agencies, reveals advertiser/agency podcasting discussion and spending intention has hit a 12-year high. Some of the key takeaways include: 1) Nine out of 10 marketers and media agencies say they have discussed podcast advertising for potential investment; 2) Podcast advertising consideration surges to a 12-year high: 75% of brands and agencies say they are likely to consider advertising in podcasts; 3) Podcast spending intention jumps to 74%, a 12-year record; 4) 76% of agencies and advertisers currently advertise in podcasts, a 5X increase since the first IAB podcast upfront in 2015; and 5) “Arnie Semsky’s 5% solution”: It is time for brands to get serious and allocate 5% of digital budgets to podcasting. See the full blog post here.
Audacy’s sports talk KILT-AM, Houston “SportsRadio 610” recently completed its second annual “Reggie and Ron Radiothon,” raising more than $24,000 for the Houston Food Bank. Pictured (l-r) are station personalities Reggie Adetula (“In the Loop”) and Ron Hughley (“The Drive”). Station brand manager Parker Hillis says, “What we do is powerful, and our listeners jumped at the chance to rally around our station and city, which is just further proof of the impact we make for our fellow Houstonians. I’m grateful we have a team here at Audacy Houston who are committed to campaigns like this year-round.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (7/13) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Bonneville Seattle begins a partnership with the Premier Media Group that will allow Bonneville’s local news destination MyNorthwest.com to share select content from Premier Media 
Group’s network of magazines. Bonneville Seattle SVP Cathy Cangiano says, “We’re excited to partner with Premier Media Group to bring compelling, high-quality content to our audiences across the Pacific Northwest. By combining the trusted brands of KIRO Newsradio and MyNorthwest.com with Premier Media Group’s exceptional storytelling, we’re creating new ways to inform, inspire, and engage our communities.”
Cumulus Media promotes John Lewis to regional vice president in which he’ll oversee the company’s stations in Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola, Florida (including news/talk WCOA-AM/FM) in 
addition to his current role overseeing the Huntsville and Chattanooga operations. Lewis comments, “I’m honored and excited to work with the Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach teams. Having spent a couple of years early in my career with Cumulus Pensacola, it’s especially meaningful to return. With outstanding teams, great brands, and a strong track record of success, I look forward to building on that momentum and helping both markets reach their full potential.”
In a piece written for Townhall.com, Salem Radio Network vice president Tom Tradup writes that talk radio will miss Graham: “But beyond the Beltway political drama, Lindsey Graham’s passing is a huge loss to talk radio, where he was a ubiquitous presence for 
years. Unlike many of his timid Senate colleagues, the senator was always delighted to join local and national talk shows without being blocked by the annoying Praetorian Guard of Capitol Hill aides dragging their feet, demanding questions in advance, placing limits on topics to be discussed and other myopic restrictions.” Tradup goes on to note, “Salem Radio Network host Mike Gallagher frequently welcomed Lindsey Graham on his nationally syndicated talk show, as did Salem’s Hugh Hewitt and others. Graham was also a featured guest on Sean Hannity’s radio and FOX News Channel programs, as well as Salem’s ‘This Week on Capitol Hill’ with Tony Perkins and virtually every Sunday talk show.” Read his column here.
Citing personal reasons related to the death of her father, WPEN-FM, Philadelphia “97.5 The Fanatic” afternoon drive producer Sylvana Kelleher left the show and the station after Friday’s 
broadcast (7/10). She addressed the matter last Thursday on the “Unfiltered” show where she was on-air producer for the show hosted by Ricky Bo and Bill Colarulo. She told the program’s audience about she hasn’t felt the same passion for the job since her father passed. She posted to Instagram: “This was the hardest decision I’ve had to make, but it’s time I focus on my health. I love very single person that has listened, supported, texted, interacted with me. You guys have all shown me so much love, it’s hard or even comprehend.”
