Industry News

Rob Carson Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Newsmax Radio talk host Rob Carson recently revealed to his listeners that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He tells imgTALKERS, “Last week, I announced I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was going to wait until my treatment was finished, but I told my audience I needed them in this fight. I also told them I’m using my reach to educate, inspire and pray for them. We can turn the good of an audience inward on those who are suffering. I have a treatment plan, and I’m positive and motivated. I have helped many on the airwaves with cancer, now I face that fight.”

Industry News

Appeals Court: Political Parties and Joint Fundraising Committees Not Entitled to Lowest Unit Charge

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rules by a 2-1 vote that while political candidates are entitled to the lowest unit charge (LUC) for broadcast ads airing within the specified time periods prior to primary and general elections, political parties and joint fundraising committees are not. This comes after four Democratic candidates for federal office filed suit challenging the imgFCC Media Bureau’s decision that those entities could benefit from the LUC. The plaintiffs argued that the Media Bureau’s public notice “unlawfully dilutes [their] and other candidates’ statutory right to buy advertising time at lowest unit charge by insisting that broadcasters make that same right available to political parties and joint fundraising committees in circumstances where their spending cannot, under campaign finance law, be considered spending by or on behalf of a candidate.” The Court ruled that “the LUC requirement and campaign finance statutes are clear that neither political parties nor joint fundraising committees with non-candidate members can be entitled to the LUC.”

Industry News

Kemp Broadcasting to Launch Las Vegas Market FM Talker

Kemp Broadcasting and Digital Outdoor is launching a new talk station in the Las Vegas market on KVGO-FM, Overton, Nevada – currently a classic hip hop outlet. On September 1, the station flip to talk as “106.9 FM The Right Talk for Vegas” featuring Premiere Networks’ Glenn Beck and “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton imgShow,” Salem Media’s Hugh Hewitt, Westwood One’s Mark Levin, Radio America’s “The Dana Show,” Talk Media Network’s Dr. Daliah Wachs, and Red Apple Media Networks’ “The Other Side of Midnight” with Walter Sterling. Kemp EVP Marty Basch says, “Kemp Broadcasting is excited to bring something different and compelling to the Las Vegas radio market. 106.9 FM KVGQ combines an outstanding lineup of nationally recognized talk personalities and local voices with the strength and reach of FM radio. We believe Las Vegas listeners deserve a talk station of this caliber.” Kemp adds, “The new station complements 670 AM KMZQ, Kemp’s local talk outlet, which has served the market for nearly a decade. Together, the two stations give the company a talk franchise spanning both national and hometown programming – and give Southern Nevada advertisers a broader platform for reaching engaged, habitual listeners.”

Industry News

Westwood One Launches New Morning Drive Bongino Program

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One is launching a new syndicated talk program for mornings on September 21 titled, “The Bongino Report AM with Dan Bongino.” WWO says, “‘The Bongino Report AM’ is the essential way to start the day, delivering a fast-paced imgblend of breaking news, insightful commentary, and sharp analysis of the issues driving the national conversation.” The one-hour program is delivered Monday-Friday at 5:00 am ET. Westwood One president Collin Jones adds, “What’s better than Dan Bongino in the morning and afternoon? Twice a day with Dan Bongino coverage! On the heels of launching ‘The Bongino Report FM,’ we’re thrilled to now offer listeners Dan Bongino in the morning with The Bongino Report AM.” Westwood One says this program will be “comprised of edits from his podcast and other fresh content.”

Industry Views

Rock Promotion Legend Paul “Rap” Rappaport Guests on Harrison Podcast

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The new installment of the TALKERS MEDIA channel video podcast, “Up Close Far Out,” features a blockbuster conversation between two album rock “golden age” media pioneers – TALKERS founder Michael Harrison and legendary music industry executive, Paul “Rap” Rappaport.

img“Rap” was senior vice president of rock promotion at Columbia Records where he served for 33-years during album rock’s golden era, playing a pivotal role in the careers of some of the biggest stars in the business. These included everyone from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd to the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello to Billy Joel, Judas Priest to Alice In Chains, Journey and many, many more.

His recently released memoir, Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay, and the Art of Rock Promotion (Jawbone Press, 2025), tells the exhilarating true story of a blue-collar kid nicknamed “Rap” who grew up enthralled by rock ’n’ roll and then found himself right in the middle of many of his heroes’ lives as he became one of the most renowned rock promotion reps in the nation.

Harrison states, “The book is excellent. I particularly found it fascinating and fun talking with Rap because I was also there during one of pop culture’s most colorful chapters and knew him quite well.” Harrison coined the term Album Oriented Rock (AOR) and was the first programmer to specifically develop and promote it as an official format while serving as program director of KPRI in San Diego in the early seventies and as managing editor of the trade publication Radio & Records though the mid-seventies. From 1970 to 1990, he worked in various roles as DJ and/or program director, at major album rock outlets including WLIR, Long Island; WNEW-FM, New York; KPRI, San Diego; KMET, Los Angeles; and WZLX, Boston in addition to being a syndicated personality on hundreds of AOR stations.

Don’t miss this engaging conversation between two media heavyweights who share their firsthand experiences and memories of a truly special era and connect the dots to today’s very different music and pop cultural scene.

To connect to the podcast, please click here.