According to a story by reporter Louis Krause in yesterday’s (2/11) Minnesota Star Tribune longtime KDWB-FM Twin Cities radio host Dave Ryan was suspended from appearing on his talk show Monday morning, three days after a segment aired during which Ryan and co-hosts snorted powder food ingredients as part of a Super Bowl trivia game. He returned to the show yesterday following a one-day suspension. The segment on Friday’s episode of “The Dave Ryan Show” was titled “Super Blow,” according to three listeners who spoke with the Star Tribune and others who discussed it on the Reddit online forum. To read the full Star Tribune story, click here.

Longtime WFAN, New York sports talk host Richard Neer is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Neer is a five-decade-plus veteran of two heritage Big Apple radio stations – sports talker WFAN (where he still hosts a show) and, before that, seminal album rocker WNEW-FM. He is the author of the landmark best-seller FM: The Rise and Fall of Rock Radio (Villard, 2001) and the popular series of Riley King detective novels. Harrison and Neer – whose friendship dates back to their days together in rock radio of the late 60s/early 70s – engage in a fast-paced, spirited conversation about the confluence of pop culture elements surrounding and emerging from the just-concluded Super Bowl LIX, dissecting its ratings, commercials, politics, music, customs, and social impact.  Not to be missed.  To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here. www.MHInterview.com

 

RADIO HITS DIGITAL MILESTONE. The radio industry has reached a significant milestone in its digital transformation, hitting $2.1 billion in digital revenue in 2024, according to the latest annual digital benchmarking report from RAB and Borrell Associates Inc. The 13th annual report highlights the increasing role of digital advertising in stabilizing the industry’s financial outlook, with digital revenue now accounting for nearly 25% of the average radio station’s total income…..SPEAKING OF YOUTUBE.Shelly Palmer reports: Shortly after it launched, YouTube changed the way we consumed video. It grew powerful in tandem with the evolution of smartphones as it redefined our video viewing experiences. Now, YouTube has transcended its original form factors to officially become a television-first platform. CEO Neal Mohan revealed that viewers now watch more than one billion hours of content on their TVs every day, surpassing mobile viewing. For the past two years, YouTube has been the most-watched streaming service in the U.S., according to Nielsen. The shift toward TV screens is no accident. YouTube has redesigned its TV app to function more like a traditional streaming service…..SUPER BOWL AUDIENCE HITS HISTORIC HIGH. An estimated 127.7 million viewers tuned in for Super Bowl LIX (2/9) according to Nielsen, making it the largest audience for a Super Bowl and for a single-network telecast in TV history. Super Bowl LIX aired on FOX, FOX Deportes and Telemundo and streamed on Tubi from approximately 6:42 PM ET to 10:16 PM ET.  This flies in the face of all other pop culture media trends which follow a pattern of fractionalization…..AAR CONTINUES TO GROW. The syndicated “Armed American Radio” live stream hosted by successful broadcaster-Second Amendment defender Mark Walters is now available Monday through Friday 4:00-5:00 pm ET and Sundays 8:00-11:00 pm ET on You Tube at Armed American Radio, on Rumble at Armed American Radio, on Facebook Live at Facebook.com/armedamericanradio, on X (Twitter) @aarmark and www.armedamericanradio.com. Now streaming the live video feed on multiple platforms for viewers, the show’s podcast just crossed 20 million downloads last week.

The most discussed stories yesterday (2/11) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump-Musk Oval Office Presser
2. Trump Gaza Plan / Israel-Hamas War
3. Tariff War / Economy-Inflation
4. Musk-DOGE Activities / U.S. Foreign Policy
5. Immigration Crackdown

iHeartMedia St. Louis announced today (2/11)that media veteran Libby Nolan has been named market president, effective immediately.  Nolan will oversee all aspects of sales and programming for the St. Louis cluster, driving business strategy and revenue growth. A highly respected veteran with 30 years in the radio industry, Nolan’s expertise spans programming, sales, marketing and executive leadership, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the evolving radio landscape. She will report to John Karpinski, division president for iHeartMedia. “Libby’s exceptional leadership, extensive industry knowledge and passion for innovation have driven tremendous local growth across both our radio and digital offerings. With experience spanning nearly every role in a radio station, she is uniquely positioned to lead from a place of deep understanding and drive continued success,” said Karpinski.

Nolan spent the last four years as SVP of sales with iHeartMedia St. Louis. Her career began as a morning show producer at KSD in St. Louis. She later joined 105.7 KPNT as promotions manager and served as an AE with CBS in St. Louis. Nolan’s resume also includes roles as marketing director of KWMU, sales manager for KTLK at Emmis Communications, GM of Zimmer Radio Group in Springfield, MO, and market president of Townsquare Media’s stations in Quincy, IL/Hannibal, MO.

Nolan tells TALKERS, “I’m honored to lead iHeartMedia St. Louis and work with such a passionate and talented team. Being entrusted with the opportunity to lead these iconic stations to its full potential is a gift. People are the heart of everything we do, and together, we will build on this legacy and continue shaping the future of radio in St. Louis.”

 

 

iHeartMedia Seattle’s Sports Radio 93.3 KJR-FM, announced (2/10) the debut of the new “MJ in the Midday” show, effective immediately. “MJ in the Midday” will broadcast weekdays from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.  MJ in the Midday’s host Marc James, started his sports talk radio career in Miami and Fort Lauderdale in 2004. His career highlights include afternoon drive host for an ESPN radio affiliate in Tampa, FL, WFNZ afternoon drive radio host in Charlotte, NC and morning host on 92.9 “The Game” in Atlanta, GA. His radio career led him to a TV studio anchor position for New England Sports Network (NESN) in Boston, MA, where he also hosted shows on WEEI radio station. Since 2020, James has worked for Sports Talk Florida covering sporting events in the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida. He also hosted a college football podcast on the BLEAV Network.  “Sports Radio 93.3 KJR-FM is literally my dream job,” James tells TALKERS. “I am honored and eternally grateful to become part of this legacy station and its extremely bright future in Seattle.” “Marc James joining our family is big for us,” said Rich Moore, VP of programming for iHeartMedia Seattle. “We’re extremely excited to be bringing in a new passionate voice to the Seattle market. Marc’s experience and love for our market will win our listeners over for years to come.”  “We’re excited to welcome Marc James to the iconic call letters of KJR,” said Mark Glynn, area president for iHeartMedia Washington. “Marc’s infectious energy plus his dynamic and engaging personality will bring an exciting new spark to Seattle sports talk.”

 

Comrex has released Hotline, a new Gagl offering available for clients located in the United States. Gagl Standard (available since 2023) is an audio subscription service that works in conjunction with Comrex IP audio codecs such as ACCESS or BRIC-Link. It allows up to five remote contributors to connect at the same time using consumer-grade equipment such as laptops and smartphones. They just plug in a headset, click a link, and are connected. Mix-minus is handled internally by Gagl.  Since guests or reporters are using equipment they are already familiar with, Gagl is accessible to everyone. Even if no conferencing is desired, Gagl provides a simple way to bridge the audio from computer and smartphone browsers to Comrex codecs, avoiding the need for a hardware codec in the field.

Gagl Standard is available worldwide for $35 per month or $350 per year.

Gagl + Hotline takes that one step further. In addition to all Gagl Standard features, one guest or contributor can also connect by dialing a 10-digit phone number provided with each Gagl + Hotline subscription. Four additional participants can “Gagl”-in using the standard browser link.  If the Hotline caller uses an AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon cell phone, these calls will sound dramatically improved, with much higher fidelity than a normal phone call. The caller’s HD Voice audio will be presented within the Gagl interface for use on-air. Alternatively, Gagl can be configured to pass Hotline calls directly to your codec for unattended operation.

Gagl + Hotline is available in the United States only for $50 per month or $500 per year.

Providing flexibility for guests who can’t come into the studio was a driving force behind Gagl’s creation following the COVID pandemic. Gagl + Hotline creates even more options for anyone to connect to the studio – whether it be a VIP, a non-technical guest, a reporter with breaking news, or the unexpected drop-in – and have them sound so good that you’d never know they were calling from a cell phone. Gagl + Hotline is simple for contributors to use, and studios get to use a Comrex hardware codec they may already have to stream that high-quality audio with familiar pro-grade audio outputs that integrate into their studio console.  In addition, Comrex has released Gagl Solo, a stripped-down version of Gagl Standard for a single participant to connect to the studio. No paid subscription is required to use Gagl Solo.

For more information on Gagl or other Comrex products, please visit the Comrex website at www.comrex.com or contact Comrex at 1-978-784-1776 or email info@comrex.com.

The most discussed stories yesterday (2/10) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump Gaza Plan
2. Tariff War Developments
3. Musk-DOGE Activities / USAID Disruption
4. Immigration Crackdown
5. Economy-Inflation

Audacy, Inc. announced the resignation of chief financial officer, Rich Schmaeling, effective immediately (2/10), to pursue other business opportunities. Schmaeling will remain available to the company as needed to ensure an orderly transition of his responsibilities. Audacy will not name a new CFO in the near term. “On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank Rich for his contributions to Audacy,” said Kelli Turner, interim CEO and president, Audacy. “We are well positioned with the finance team in place.” Schmaeling joined Audacy as EVP, chief financial officer in 2017.

 

Just hours after the series of devastating wildfires broke out in Los Angeles, iHeart LA and the Dream Center – a resource center focused on providing support to those affected by homelessness, hunger and crisis – launched a national and local media campaign that asked local listeners to contribute essential items and cash to support those affected by the fires, many of whom had lost everything.  What followed was an outpouring of love and support that exceeded any expectation, and which – thanks to the generosity of friends, neighbors and communities – has become one of the largest grassroots giving efforts in iHeart’s history.

Since the fundraising and donation effort launched on Tuesday, Jan 7:

• Over 8,000 people have volunteered;
• More than 80,000 individuals have received essential supplies like food, water, diapers, clothing and more onsite;
• Over 19,000 cars have gone through the Dream Center supply line;
• The initiative has raised over $15 million in cash and in-kind donations, with contributions still being accepted.

The results are testament to the power of local communities, which historically come together to support one another during times of disaster and crisis.

“The strength, generosity and resiliency of our LA communities is truly powerful — and the way our broadcast radio listeners have come together to support one another is incredibly humbling,” said Paul Corvino, division president for iHeart LA.  “While iHeart and the Dream Center were instrumental in connecting those in need with those eager to help, it was the community itself that has been incredibly inspirational, and which has been vital in keeping these efforts alive and ensuring that support is still available to those who need it the most, when they need it.”

“The outpouring of love and generosity we have witnessed in response to this crisis has been nothing short of extraordinary. In times of disaster, it is the strength of our community that shines the brightest, and we are humbled to see so many individuals stepping up to help their neighbors in need,” said Matthew Barnett, founder of Dream Center. “Thanks to our partnership with iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the unwavering support of our volunteers, donors, and community members, we have been able to provide essential aid to thousands who have lost so much. This effort is a testament to the power of compassion and unity, and we remain committed to serving those in need for as long as it takes.”

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

Too often, I hear questions as long as (or longer than) replies.

Take a lesson from the late, great King of Talk. I remember Larry asking…

• Bob Hope: “Who do YOU think is funny?
• David Duke: “Don’t you ever get tired of hating?”
• Frankie Valli: “Whose songs are on YOUR iPod?”

Short “Why…” questions, about things the listener might be wondering, are useful. “Why is ____ SO expensive?”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

These were the most discussed stories over the weekend (2/8-9) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Build Up to Super Bowl-Trump’s Appearance at Event

2. Trump FOX Interview

3. Trump Position on Canada Becoming 51st State

4. Trump Position Elimination of Pennies

5. Trump Position on U.S. Takeover and Development of Gaza

 

The Miami Marlins announced this morning (2/7) the hiring of Jack McMullen as the lead play-by-play announcer on the Marlins Radio Network. McMullen takes over for Kyle Sielaff, who is the new lead TV play-by-play voice for Marlins games on FanDuel Sports Network.  A graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse, McMullen spent the previous three seasons on the radio broadcast for the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate. Before then, he called games for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League (2018) and the Short Season Auburn Doubledays of the Nationals’ system (’19). The Chicago native’s other experience includes serving as director of podcasting for Just Baseball Media, hosting the network’s flagship show “The Just Baseball Show,” play calling for ESPN+/Learfield and working as part of the broadcast and production teams for various programs during his time at Syracuse. A rotation of analysts will team up with McMullen in the booth: Rod Allen, Jeff Nelson, Gaby Sánchez and Kelly Saco. Joining the mix will be three-time Emmy Award winner and longtime FanDuel Sports Network host and reporter Craig Minervini as well as former Marlins All-Star reliever and SiriusXM MLB analyst A.J. Ramos. McMullen will make his Marlins Radio Network debut on Feb. 22, when the Marlins open Grapefruit League action against the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. He will call every Spring Training and regular-season game on WINZ 940, the Marlins’ English radio flagship station, and develop ancillary Marlins Radio Network content with pregame show host Stephen Strom.  “We can’t wait to introduce Jack to the South Florida community as we enter an exciting chapter of Marlins baseball, and we know Jack is the perfect fit to tell our story,” Marlins vice president of public relations and communications Jon Erik Alvarez said. “His broadcast style, baseball knowledge and vast multimedia experience will connect with our listeners and extend the reach beyond the booth as we look to improve upon the recent growth of the Marlins Radio Network.”

 

In honor of Black History Month, WURD Radio presents “Phenomenal Black Philly Writers: Creating Our Essential Reading List to Survive 2025,” an evening of critical literary discussion and cultural exploration. This timely and urgent event will take place this evening from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Learning and Engagement Center at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

WURD Radio (900 AM and 96.1 FM) is the only Black-owned and operated talk radio station in Pennsylvania. Having celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, over the past two decades WURD has evolved into a multi-media, multi-platform communications company that reaches deeply into the Black community through radio, video, events, digital and social media. It is considered the go-to media channel to engage, interact and connect with Philadelphia’s Black community. Tune in to WURD Radio on 900 AM and 96.1 FM.

According to the station, this event is in response to a time of extreme anti-intellectualism, the attempted erasure of Black history and identity, and the persistent denial of systemic racial inequality. By focusing on the art of writing as a political act, this event seeks to highlight the critical role of Black writers in shaping discourse on resilience and, most important, truth. The event will be enhanced by the curation of an essential reading list comprised of titles – fiction and nonfiction, poetry and prose — that will be shared with the audience and posted on wurdradio.com.

The evening will begin with a conversation between WURD Radio president and CEO Sara M. Lomax, Jeannine A. Cook of Harriet’s Bookshop, and Sonia Sanchez, a legendary poet, writer and leader in the Black Arts Movement. Following this discussion, WURD Radio host Solomon Jones will moderate a panel featuring Philadelphia writers Lorene Cary, Nancy Gilliam, Tre Johnson and Ursula Rucker, exploring the importance of Black writers politically, historically and spiritually, reaffirming the necessity of their work in today’s climate.  Additionally, event attendees will have the opportunity to experience the ongoing Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibit, “The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure,” which powerfully complements the evening’s themes of representation and cultural storytelling.

These were the most discussed stories this past week (2/3-7) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

Stories/Topics

1. Trump Gaza Plan / Israel-Hamas War

2. Musk USAID-DOGE Activities

3. Trump Nomination Hearings

4. ICE Migrant Deportation Crackdown / FBI-DOJ Issues

5. AA Crash Aftermath- Airline Safety / Trump DEI Remarks and Policies

6. Tariff War / U.S. Foreign Policy

7. The Economy / Healthcare-Bird Flu

8. Big Tech / Russia-Ukraine War

9. LGBTQ Issues-Transgender Women in Sports

10. Super Bowl Buzz

 

People

1. Donald Trump

2. Elon Musk

3. Benjamin Netanyahu

4. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr / Kash Patel

5. Marco Rubio / Pam Bondi

6. Joe Biden

7. Xi Jinping

8. Jeff Bezos / Mark Zuckerberg / Bill Gates

9. Vladimir Putin / Volodymyr Zelenskyy

10. JD Vance / Karoline Leavitt

 

iHeartMedia announced today (2/6) that longtime executive Bobbie Loesch has been named market president for Pittsburgh, effective immediately.  The company is home to six iconic stations with a powerful cross-platform presence delivering a diverse range of music, talk, and news formats. As market president, Loesch will oversee all aspects of operations in Pittsburgh, including sales, promotions and programming. She will report to D.J. Hodge, division president for iHeartMedia.  Hodge tells TALKERS, “Bobbie has been an instrumental and driving force behind the success of our Pittsburgh cluster for over 20 years, and her leadership and vision make her the perfect fit to lead the team into the future.”  Loesch joined iHeartMedia Pittsburgh in April 2004 as an account executive. She was promoted to VP of sales in 2012, and most recently served as a SVP of sales for seven years. She began her career as an AE for Townsquare Media from 1998-2004 and is a graduate of Liberty University.  “I am genuinely honored to be appointed to this role and deeply appreciate the trust placed in me to lead this exceptionally talented team. My colleagues, our partners and our audiences are the cornerstone of our success,” said Loesch. “I am excited to build on our achievements and further elevate our dominance in the market, and I’m eager to continue to help brands harness the unmatched reach, scale and efficiency that only iHeart can deliver.”

Edison Research announces the Top 50 Podcasts in the U.S. based on reach for Q4 2024 among weekly podcast listeners age 13+. The list ranks podcasts based on total audience reach from Edison Podcast Metrics. Interviews were conducted continuously throughout the quarter in English and Spanish. Rankings are based on listening over the full period. All respondents reported listening to podcasts in the last week.

Since Q3 2024, the top four podcasts – “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “Crime Junkie,” “The Daily,” and “Call Her Daddy” – have maintained their rankings in that order.

1. The Joe Rogan Experience
2. Crime Junkie
3. The Daily
4. Call Her Daddy
5. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von (+3 spots)
6. Dateline NBC (+1)
7. SmartLess (-2)
8. Stuff You Should Know (-2)
9. Morbid (+3)
10. Pod Save America (+9)

Top of the charts: “Pod Save America,” hosted by former Obama staffers, makes its debut in the Top 10, no doubt riding the wave of the political news cycle.

After a mid-September launch, “Talk Tuah with Hailey Welch“ quickly skyrocketed in popularity, debuting at #11. The last episode dropped in mid-December, one day before Welch’s $HAWK crypto debacle and subsequent lawsuit.

In the Top 50 for the first time: The November election likely contributed to several podcasts making their debut in the Top 50 this quarter. “Shawn Ryan Show” appears for the first time at #37, continuing its rise as an interview podcast featuring military veterans, intelligence operatives, and political figures. “The Charlie Kirk Show” breaks in at #49, leveraging Kirk’s influence as the founder of Turning Point USA.

“Candace,” Candace Owens’ independent show, debuts at #45, marking a strong entry following her controversial departure from The Daily Wire in March 2024. Owens launched “Candace” in June 2024 and its rapid rise makes clear her loyal audience followed her to her new venture.

Continued rise of conservative talk: In addition to the conservative talk podcasts making their Top 50 debuts this quarter, several established conservative voices moved higher in the rankings. “The Ben Shapiro Show” climbs from #22 to #14 and “The Megyn Kelly Show” sees a boost from #50 to #27. Meanwhile, “The Matt Walsh Show,” which was last in the Top 50 in Q3 2023, reentered the Top 50 at #45.

The podcast show ranker is derived from data collected continuously during the fourth quarter of 2024, interviewing 5,163 weekly podcast consumers age 13 and older in the U.S. Participants indicate which podcasts they listened to in the past week along with a variety of demographic, psychographic, and purchase-behavior information. This ranker measures reach as a percentage of the weekly podcast listening audience.   For full details, please click here. Edison Podcast Metrics

Red Apple Audio Networks has added “The Rush Hour with James Golden (a.k.a. Bo Snerdley)” to its growing roster of program offerings. The one-hour daily show airs live weekdays in afternoon drive from 4:00 -5:00 pm ET.  Golden delivers updates on the top news stories of the day, along with a smattering of music from that day in music history to rejuvenate listeners after a day’s work. Company sources say, “Listeners are not only well-informed, they’re also bopping and singing all the way home.”  Golden gained nationwide fame as Bo Snerdley, producer of “The Rush Limbaugh Show.“ Since then, he has solidified his position as a major radio host with notable audience share growth on flagship 77WABC in New York (41% year-over-year) and impressive weekly TSL of 1 hour and 15 minutes*.  “I am looking forward to connecting every day with listeners in markets all across the U.S.,” Golden tells TALKERS. “During The Rush Hour, we take a look at events that occurred during the day, but we also take a break and have a little fun, too.” “James has attracted a loyal audience that continues to grow,” stated John Catsimatidis, owner of Red Apple Media, Red Apple Audio Networks, and 77WABC Radio. “Many of his listeners remember him from the Rush Limbaugh days, but the audience growth he is experiencing is solely on his own talent. His insights on politics, combined with his love for talk radio, has made him a phenomenal success.” In addition to “The Rush Hour,” Golden hosts a three-hour syndicated Saturday morning program, “The James Golden Show,” which launched into syndication last June. The show has amassed more than 30 affiliates, including five in the Top 50 DMAs. Both programs originate from the Red Apple Audio Networks flagship station, 77WABC Radio in New York. For information on any of Red Apple Audio Networks’ syndicated shows, stations may visit www.redappleaudionetworks.com or contact affiliation@redappleaudionetworks.com.

*Source: Nielsen Radio, New York Metro, P12+, Average Share, Weekly TSL, December 2023, December 2024.