Industry News

Audacy Expands Podcast Partnership with CBS

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Audacy announces it is expanding its exclusive, multi-year sales and distribution partnership with CBS to include CBS Entertainment, CBS Media Ventures, CBS News, and CBS Studios podcast slates. The CBS News & Entertainment portfolio has 39 titles including “The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert,” “60 Minutes,” and “CBS Evening News.” Audacy chief digital officer and president, podcast and streaming J.D. Crowley says, “CBS Sports is a thriving part of our business, and we are thrilled to expand our partnership with CBS’ storied news and entertainment slate. This stellar lineup of talent and podcasts offers a compelling slate of premium content and new scaled opportunities for our advertising partners.”

Industry News

KYW-AM/FM, Philadelphia Recognizes 10 “GameChangers”

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Audacy’s all-news KYW, Philadelphia “Newsradio” is honoring 10 leaders making a difference and uplifting the lives of people in and around Philadelphia’s communities of color. This year’s honorees were recognized at a ceremony hosted by KYW Newsradio community impact reporter Racquel Williams at Audacy’s headquarters last night (2/27). Audacy SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff states, “KYW Newsradio’s annual GameChangers is a meaningful honor given to the community by the community. We are proud to spotlight the unsung heroes whose contributions shape and elevate us all. It’s a privilege to amplify their stories and the lasting impact they have through our platforms.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (February 24-28, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (2/24-28) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

                          Stories/Topics

1. Trump-Musk Relationship / Trump Cabinet Meeting
2. Musk-DOGE Activities / Federal Firings
3. U.S. Foreign Policy / Russia-Ukraine War / Israel-Hamas War/ NATO
4. Unemployment Numbers-Inflation-Trump Tariff War / Stock Market Instability
5. ICE Deportation Crackdown / FBI Turmoil
6. Trump First Amendment Issues / GOP Town Halls / Epstein Files
7. Big Tech / Misinformation / Censorship
8. Healthcare / Avian (Bird) Flu / Measles Outbreak
9. LGBTQ Issues
10.Deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

              People

1. Donald Trump
2. Elon Musk
3. Vladimir Putin / Volodymyr Zelenskyy
4. Keir Starmer / Emmanuel Macron
5. Benjamin Netanyahu
6. JD Vance / Kash Patel / Karoline Leavitt
7. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
8. Jeff Bezos
9. Mike Johnson
10.Gene Hackman – Betsy Arakawa

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

Cumulus Media Reports 2024 Q4 Net Revenue Dips 1.2%

Reporting its operating results for the fourth quarter of 2024 and for the full year of 2024, it says net revenue for Q4 was $218.5 million, a decrease of 1.2% from the same period in 2023. For the full year of 2024, net revenue was $827 million, a decrease of 2.1% from the full year of 2023. The company posts a net loss of $283.3 million for 2024 “compared to net loss of $117.9 million, reflecting a 2024 pre-tax non-cashimg impairment charge of $224.5 million compared to a pre-tax non-cash impairment of $65.3 million in 2023, both primarily reflecting FCC-related charges.” Cumulus president and CEO Mary G. Berner states, “Since the pandemic’s onset, the radio industry has experienced tough economic and secular headwinds. In the face of those, we outperformed our peers through the end of 2023 on key metrics including cost takeouts, EBITDA imgmargin recovery, free cash flow generation, net leverage, and liquidity. 2024 brought additional challenges, including accelerated national headwinds as well as an industry-wide slowdown in local radio advertising. In response, we doubled down on investing in growth areas, particularly in our digital marketing services business, which is pacing up 30% in Q1. Additionally, we continued evolving our broadcast go-to-market strategies, including with new offerings that are successfully attracting large new broadcast clients, and we drove additional cost efficiencies with 2024 actions that will result in $43 million of annualized fixed cost savings, of which $15 million benefited 2024 with the balance in 2025. Though the industry environment remains challenging for now, our 2024 refinancing efforts provided us with the time needed to both execute our day-to-day blocking and tackling and, in parallel, continue to reimagine the ways in which we can get the most out of our key assets to create new revenue streams and build additional long-term value.”

Industry News

SiriusXM to Launch “Page Six Radio” Program

SiriusXM is partnering with the New York Post to launch “Page Six Radio,” a new daily morning show highlighting the latest celebrity and pop culture news from the paper’s Page Six. The program is being hosted by Danny Murphy, Evan Real, and editor Ian Mohr and will debut on March 31. The two-hour showimg will air on SiriusXM’s Stars channel from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein comments, “Page Six has been a powerhouse for all celebrity news for nearly half a century, and by teaming up with our in-house experts here at SiriusXM, this new show is sure to be the ultimate destination for pop culture fans. With the launch of ‘Page Six Radio,’ we are transforming the publication’s stories to a dynamic new format that will expand its reach and resonate with SiriusXM listeners who turn to the platform for all the latest entertainment news.”

Industry News

Gavin Newsom and iHeartMedia Partner for Podcast

The California governor is launching new podcast via iHeartPodcasts titled, “This is Gavin Newsom.” iHeartimg says, “Governor Newsom is going solo and diving into the real issues that matter – government, politics, affordability, quality of life, and the cultural moments shaping our world. No spin, no script, just real talk about what impacts listeners most.”

Industry News

RTDNA Critical of Trump Press Pool Strategy

The Radio Television Digital News Association is strongly condemning President Donald Trump’s edict that he and not the White House Correspondents Association, will be selecting members of the official White House press pool. RTDNA president and CEO Dan Shelley states, “No president, or any public official,img should have the right to handpick the journalists who cover them. Doing so gives them license to select only news outlets whose coverage they deem positive and exclude responsible journalists whose reporting, although fair and accurate, the administration may not like. We call on the Trump administration to reverse this decision without delay so that the American people, and the world, can be assured they are getting a complete and accurate account of the activities of the President of the United States. This is especially critical during times of crisis.”

Industry News

Cumulus to Employ Quu’s Dashboard Visual Messaging

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Cumulus Media says it is expanding its ability to help advertisers connect with consumers on the go via Quu’s in-dash messaging technology across its 400 radio stations. The company’s stations will leverage Quu’s content management system, 24/7 dashboard display monitor, Xperi’s Rapid technology and DTS AutoStage, and more, to enhance in-car listening experiences and help drive ratings and revenue. Some markets will also offer Quu’s patented Content Partnership sponsorship, bringing fresh opportunities for advertisers. Cumulus president of operations Dave Milner states, “Visual content solutions generate sustainable revenue growth and significantly enhance in-car engagement, where listeners spend the most time with our stations. This expansion underscores Cumulus’s commitment to delivering premium content and sales experiences that meet the evolving needs of our audience and clients.”

Industry News

Audacy Names Berbari Yankees Post-Game Show Host

Audacy’s sports talk WFAN-AM/FM, New York names Emmanuel Berbari postgame show host for its Newim York Yankees baseball broadcasts. Berbari, in his third year with the station, will continue to serve as a fill-in play-by-play announcer. Audacy New York market president Chris Oliviero says, “We are excited to have Emmanuel take on an expanded role as the postgame show host for WFAN’s Yankees broadcasts. Emmanuel has been a terrific contributor to our team coverage the last few seasons and his passion for the game makes him a perfect fit to wrap up each game for the fans of the Bronx Bombers.”

Industry News

New York Radio Team Finds a Home in Cape Town

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Salem Media New York chief engineer Andrew Gladding writes in an exclusive piece for TALKERS about the collaboration between Hofstra University’s 88.7FM WRHU Radio Hofstra and 89.5FM Bush Radio in Cape Town, South Africa. He says, “The power of broadcast radio stems from its genesis, which is the use of audio technology and storytelling to transmit messages to large audiences. As industry professionals, we are all acquainted with the power and reach that our trade provides. However, all stories must begin with the spark of an idea. In the case of the curious collaboration between a college radio station in New York and a community radio station in South Africa, this idea started with a simple conversation.” Read the full story here.

Industry News

“New Jersey 101.5” Presents Town Hall on Terror Threats

Tomorrow evening (2/27), Townsquare Media’s WKXW-FM, Trenton “New Jersey 101.5” presents a special Town Hall broadcast titled, “Today’s Terrorism Threats.” The Town Hall-style discussion explores the domestic and foreign terrorist threats facing New Jersey. Station political director Eric Scott leads theimg discussion that will include experts educating New Jersey residents about how to identify threats and what to do when one’s personal safety is in jeopardy. The program will also expose the growing threat posed to children who are increasingly being groomed and recruited by extremists online. He says, “Law enforcement is increasingly concerned about both foreign and domestic threats. But the rate at which extremists are targeting our children is particularly alarming.” On-air guests will include: Carl Priddy, acting assistant special agent in charge of counterterrorism for the Newark FBI office; Laurie R. Doran, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness; Adam McMahon, assistant professor of political science at Rider University; and John Pizzuro, CEO of Raven and former commander of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Industry News

Wayne Allyn Root Show to Be Simulcast on UntamedNation Platform

Las Vegas-based talk media personality Wayne Allyn Root announces that his Talk Media Network nationally syndicated radio show will be simulcast as a two-hour podcast on UntamedNation.com andimg streamed live on Rumble, and soon on both YouTube and X. Root tells TALKERS, “I’m thrilled to announce I’m now part of ‘Untamed Nation’ two hours a day. This gives my fans a daily choice – they can listen to my talk show on the radio, or they can watch both hours streamed as a podcast. Untamed is quite a unique platform. Untamed cuts through the noise and brings the truth to light. We are bold, empowering, and disruptive. No filters, no fear. Just raw untamed truth. It’s the perfect platform for ‘the loudest MAGA mouth in the world.’”

Industry News

2025 Black Effect Podcast Festival Set for April 26 in Atlanta

iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God announce that the Black Effect Podcast Festival will take place on Saturday, April 26 from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm at Pullman Yards in Atlanta. Charlamagne Tha God will join the festival alongside some of the Black Effect’s most popular personalities for a day full of live podcastimg tapings and discussions aimed at aspiring podcasters in the Black community. He says, “We’re excited to return to Atlanta, building on the incredible momentum of the podcast industry and the growing impact of Black creators in the space. As the influence of Black voices continues to shape culture and drive conversations, The Black Effect remains committed to powerful storytelling, meaningful brand collaborations and unforgettable live experiences. This year, we’re celebrating not just where we’ve been – we’re embracing the limitless future of Black podcasting and the influence it holds.”

Industry News

Townsquare Announces New $490 Million Credit Agreement

Townsquare Media Inc announces a new $490 million credit agreement with Bank of America. The dealimg provides Townsquare with a five-year, $470 million senior secured term loan facility and a five-year, $20 million senior secured revolving credit facility. Townsquare used $453 million of net proceeds from the Senior Secured Credit Facility plus cash on hand to redeem the outstanding 6.875% senior secured notes due 2026. Both the term loan and the credit revolver mature on February 19 of 2030.

Industry News

iHeartMedia and Qatar Partner for Regional Podcasting Hub

iHeartMedia announces a multi-year partnership with the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar to create a thriving podcasting industry in the Middle East and North Africa. iHeartMedia says, “The partnership brings world-class podcasting infrastructure to Qatar and will spark a wave of creative storytelling across the MENA region, leading to the region becoming a global podcasting hub.” iHeartMedia will developimg a state-of-the-art podcast studio in Qatar, accompanied by a lineup of original shows and the introduction of some of the world’s most popular podcasts to Arabic-listening audiences. It will also execute specialized masterclasses to nurture local talent and host global industry events, including Web Summit gatherings, positioning Qatar as a meeting point for the world’s top podcasting voices. iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman comments, “Podcasting has exploded in the US and is now a mass-reach medium. And iHeartMedia, with our expansive network as the #1 podcaster in America, is in a unique position to grow strong listenership around the globe. iHeartPodcasts features a massive catalog of original shows spanning every category and this new partnership creates an opportunity to work with a long roster of incredible creators and distribute even more content to new audiences in the Middle East.”

Industry News

Rickard and Boyd Join Bowen on “The Fan Morning Show”

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Indianapolis sports talk WFNI-AM/WIBC-HD2/W228CX/W298BB “93.5 & 107.5 The Fan” announces the addition of Jeff Rickard and James Boyd to the morning show with incumbent Kevin Bowen. The Urban One station says, “Kevin Bowen, a staple of Indy sports radio and a trusted voice on ‘The Fan,’ continues his role as your morning companion. Known for his deep roots in Indianapolis and unmatched Colts coverage, Kevin brings day-to-day expertise and the local sports passion fans love. Joining him is Jeff Rickard, an experienced and nationally respected sports media veteran who has called Indianapolis home for over a decade. Twice honored as Sports Illustrated’s National Sports Radio Host of the Year, Jeff delivers a wealth of knowledge, versatility, and charisma that guarantees compelling, high-energy discussions. Adding a fresh perspective is James Boyd, a dynamic Colts reporter for The Athletic with a sharp eye for analysis and storytelling. Alongside his insights on the Colts, James also occasionally writes on the Pacers and Fever.”

Industry News

iHeartMedia Promotes Jessica Fuller in Asheville

iHeartMedia Asheville names Jessica Fuller senior vice president of sales for the cluster that includesimg news/talk WWNC-AM, sports talk WPEK-AM “ESPN Asheville,” plus five music brands. She says, “I couldn’t be more thankful for the mentorship and support I’ve received throughout my career at iHeart, which has brought me to this exciting opportunity. Working alongside such talented colleagues in this beautiful, resilient mountain town is a true privilege. I look forward to continuing to grow with iHeartMedia and helping our amazing clients succeed with the best strategies in the business.”

Industry News

Matt Jones Inks New Deal with iHeartMedia Kentucky

Air personality Matt Jones and iHeartMedia sign an exclusive five-year agreement for Jones to continue his current role as host of “Kentucky Sports Radio” on NewsRadio 630 WLAP-AM in Lexington, SportsTalk 790img AM in Louisville and 51 other stations around Kentucky. iHeartMedia Kentucky/Memphis area president Kristy Beebe states, “We are incredibly excited to extend our partnership with Matt Jones and ‘Kentucky Sports Radio.’ Matt’s unique insights and engaging style have made him a beloved figure in the sports community, and we are proud to continue bringing his show to our dedicated audience. This renewal underscores our commitment to delivering top-notch sports content and maintaining our position as the leading audio company in the region.”

Industry News

SRN’s Gallagher and Tradup at NRB Conference

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Pictured above at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas attending the National Religious Broadcasters’ International Christian Media Convention are Salem Radio Network talk host Mike Gallagher (left), Colorado Christian University president (and former Salem Sacramento talk host) Eric Hogue (center), and SRN VP/news and talk programming Tom Tradup (right). Some 5,000 attendees are expected at the four-day convention.

Industry News

Susan Larkin Joins NAB Radio Board of Directors

Audacy chief operating officer Susan Larkin is appointed to the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Board of Directors by Radio Board Chair Collin Jones, assuming the seat previously held by David Field.img Larkin leads Audacy’s portfolio of markets, revenue and content teams, overseeing the company’s extensive audio platform, which includes broadcasting, podcasting, digital, network, live events, music, sports and news. She is also a board member of the Radio Advertising Bureau and has served on the boards of the Florida Association of Broadcasters and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Industry News

Broadcasters Foundation Announces Awards Recipients

The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces the recipients of the 2025 Leadership Awards, the Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award, and the Chairman’s Award in advance of the BFOA Annual Breakfast set for Wednesday, April 9 in the Encore Resort during the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The 2025img Leadership Award honorees are: Chris Forgy, president & CEO, Saga Communications; David Kantor, former CEO of Urban One’s Radio Division; Curtis LeGeyt, president & CEO, NAB; Susan Larkin, COO, Audacy; Dennis Lyle, president & CEO, Illinois Broadcasters Association; and Valari Staab, chairman, NBC Universal Local. The 2025 Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award honoree is Scott Herman, former COO, CBS Radio, and chair, Broadcasters Foundation of America. The2025 Chairman’s Award honoree is Richard Bodorff, senior counsel, Wiley Law.

Industry News

MSG Broadcaster Al Trautwig Dies at 68

The New York Post reports that New York sports broadcaster Al Trautwig died on Sunday (2/23) at his home on Long Island after complications from cancer. The Post notes, “The Long Island native had been a mainstay in New York sports fans’ homes over his decades-long broadcasting career, covering everything from the Yankees to the Knicks and Rangers, as well as the New York City Marathon and the Olympics.” See the Post story here.

Industry News

WQAM, Miami to Host Buckets & Bets Event

Audacy sports talk WQAM-AM, Miami will host “Buckets & Bets,” presented by Hard Rock Bet March 20-23 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. Described as the ultimate college basketballimg tournament watch party, Buckets & Bets will “provide college basketball enthusiasts with a front-row seat to all the men’s college basketball tournament action. Massive LED screens around the room will display every game from the tournament. Fans will have access to an open bar, on-site betting, bar games, insider commentary, and more special surprises.”