Industry News

PodcastOne: Video Views Up 218% Year-Over-Year

PodcastOne says that after accelerating and investing in diversifying its content offerings and expanding audience reach, it has achieved a 218% year-over-year increase in video views of its programs. The company’s shows are distributed across video streaming services including YouTube, Rumble, Substack, Spotify, TikTok and Apple+. PodcastOne says it has “broadened its video production capabilities andimg distribution for its podcast offerings, enabling listeners the option to engage with content in a more dynamic and interactive way. This move has proven highly successful, leading to an explosive increase in video consumption across both its owned channels and third-party platforms.” Company president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “We are thrilled with the success of our video distribution strategy. Podcasting is no longer just about audio, it’s about offering our audience a rich, immersive, and multi-channel experience. Expanding into video has allowed us to reach new viewers and unlock impactful opportunities for our advertising partners. PodcastOne has a unique ability to support our shows with the technology and resources needed to create best-in-class video podcasts.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/9)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/9) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump Pauses Most Tariffs/U.S. vs China
2. Financial Markets Reactions
3. Deportations & Detentions/Trump Orders Investigation of Critics
4. Bernie Sanders Rallies-CNN Town Hall
5. U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks

Industry News

WAOK, Atlanta Presents 2nd Annual Trailblazer Awards

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Audacy news/talk WAOK, Atlanta hosted its second annual “On Point With Juandolyn Stokes” Trailblazer Awards honoring remarkable women “making significant strides across various fields and leaving an indelible impact on the Atlanta community.” The second annual Trailblazer Awards (pictured above) will broadcast on WAOK’s YouTube channel on Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 7:00 pm ET.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Tide 100.9 Host Wins ABBY Award. Wyatt Fulton, the brand manager for Townsquare Media’s sports talk WTBC-AM/W261BT “Tide 100.9,” wins Best Sports Talk Show in a Medium Market for his “T-Town Sports Daily” program at the Alabama Broadcasters’ Association ABBY Awards. Fulton tells Tuscaloosa Thread, “I am honored to win my first Abby Award in my first year on the air on ‘Tide 100.9!’ I’m extremely grateful and hope to continue building a reputation as an award-winning multimedia sports journalist in Tuscaloosa.”

NYPR Names New Officer. New York Public Radio president and CEO LaFontaine E. Oliver announces that Thomas J. Reno is been named chief operating and financial officer. Reno joins NYPR from Precision Strategies, a DC-based strategic communications agency.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/8)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/8) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump Trade War/Markets Reactions/Recession Fears
2. University Funding Freeze
3. U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks
4. SCOTUS Venezuelan Migrants Ruling
5. Russia-Ukraine War/Israel-Gaza War

Industry News

Armed American Radio Adds New Affiliates

The nationally syndicated “Armed American Radio” show hosted by Mark Walters adds new affiliateimg stations including KOMY-AM, Monterey-Salinas, California; WSCW-AM, Charleston, West Virginia; and more.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/7)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/7) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump Trade War/Markets Downturn
2. Alien Enemies Act Ruling/Student Visas Revoked
3. Netanyahu-Trump Meeting
4. U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks
5. Russia-Ukraine War

Industry News

Marciszek Rises to EVP at AdLarge & fwd.

AdLarge and the fwd. network announce that Ilwira Marciszek is promoted to executive vice president,img revenue operations. In this expanded leadership role, she will continue to oversee all digital operations while spearheading strategic initiatives to strengthen partnerships and drive revenue growth. AdLarge CEO Cathy Csukas says, “Ilwira has been an integral part of AdLarge’s growth and success. Her strategic vision, deep industry expertise, and relentless commitment to innovation have propelled our digital revenue and operations forward. As we expand, her continued leadership will be invaluable in shaping the future of our digital business.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

KOA, Denver Wins at CBA Awards gala. KOA, Denver talk host Ross Kaminsky tips TALKERS that his station was honored with a win in the “Best News Coverage of a Single Event” category for the program he anchored after President Trump was shot in Butler, PA. from the Colorado Broadcasting Association at its recent awards gala. KOA, led by program director Dave Tepper, was also named “Station of the Year.”

Cumulus and San Francisco Giants Extend. Cumulus Media’s sports talk KNBR, San Francisco signs a multi-year extension with the San Francisco Giants to continue as the team’s flagship radio station. KNBR has been the official radio broadcast home for the Giants since 1979. Broadcasting personalities include: Jon Miller, Dave Flemming, Mike Krukow, and Duane Kuiper.

680 The Fan and Atlanta Braves Renew. Dickey Broadcasting Company announces the extension of its flagship partnership with the Atlanta Braves. Under the terms of the 12-year extension, “680 The Fan” will remain the exclusive radio home of the Atlanta Braves, providing comprehensive coverage of all games, expert analysis, and exclusive content. Company president David Dickey says, “We are incredibly proud to extend our relationship with the Atlanta Braves. Our shared passion for baseball and dedication to delivering top-notch content to our listeners has been the cornerstone of our success. We look forward to many more seasons of exciting Braves baseball on ‘680 The Fan.’”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Women’s Audio Habits Topic of Webinar. Edison Research and SiriusXM Media announce they will unveil the comprehensive Women’s Audio Report in a two-part webinar series on April 15 and April 29. Edison says the report examines women’s audio consumption behaviors, including listener demographics, content preferences, discovery habits, and advertising engagement. You can register here.

Philly Non-Comm Produces Business Competition. WURD-FM, Philadelphia is presenting the “Level Up Pitch Competition and Party” on Tuesday (4/8) at Filter Club in Philadelphia as five women entrepreneurs showcase their innovative businesses in front of a live audience and a panel of expert judges. Tiffany Bacon hosts the event in which one winner will get a marketing and community outreach prize package valued at $5,000. It includes a full advertising and marketing package on WURD Radio, business association memberships and access to mentorship and other resources for entrepreneurs.

Louisville Public Media Names New Chief. The Louisville non-commercial outlet announces that Kenya Young is its new president and CEO, effective May 19. LPM board member John Schriber says, “Kenya Young brings positive energy, meaningful experience, and an exciting vision for the future of public media. She has a warmth and accessibility that impresses everyone she meets and demonstrates a unique ability to connect mission, strategy, and community impact – qualities essential to leading LPM successfully.”

Industry News

Woodward Closes on Springfield, Illinois Stations

Woodward Communications, Inc closes on its purchase of four radio stations in the Springfield, Illinois market that it acquired from Mid-West Family for $990,000. Those stations are news/talk WMAY-FM, AC WNNS-FM, rock WQLZ-FM and classic hits WMAY-AM, plus FM translators W273DR and W234CC. Thisimg comes after Woodward closed on the $4.3 million acquisition of four stations in the market from Neuhoff Media last fall. From that deal, the company spun WCVS-FM to Educational Media Foundation. Woodward’s Springfield market manager Kevin O’Dea says, “All of us at Woodward Community Media look forward to the addition of the Mid-West Family stations to our lineup here in Springfield. These four stations along with our current lineup including Channell450.com and our Digital Services will allow us to enhance our local commitment to our listeners, advertising partners and the Springfield and Central Illinois Community.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/2)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/2) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump’s Trade War/Markets React
2. Wisconsin & Florida Elections Aftermath
3. Deportations & Detentions
4. Russia-Ukraine War
5. Tornadoes & Severe Weather

Industry News

Newsmax Stock Soars After IPO

The newly issued shares of media organization Newsmax went through the roof yesterday – rising to $233 per share from its Monday debut of $14 per share. Newsmax stock trades on the New York Stockimg Exchange under the ticker symbol NMAX. CNBC reports that the rise brought the company’s market capitalization to “nearly $30 billion – surpassing the market cap of legacy media companies like Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corp.” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy told CNBC, “Americans for a long time have been voting with their remote controls, downloads, apps to say they want Newsmax. Now investors powerfully are buying Newsmax shares because they like us, they value us and they want us to keep growing.” See the CNBC story here.

Industry News

Triton Digital Expands U.S. Podcast Ranker

Triton Digital announces that it is adding survey-based listener rankings to the existing U.S. Podcast Ranker to “provide a holistic view of podcast consumption.” The company says the current U.S. Podcast Ranker based on downloads will continue to be issued monthly, for publishers using Triton Digital’s IAB-certified measurement services. It will be supplemented with a quarterly ranking of the podcasts with theimg most listeners, based on a nationally representative survey that includes all publishers and podcasts. Triton Digital’s Demos+ audience profiles will also be added to the ranker, which lists the podcasts that most efficiently reach advertisers’ desired audiences, such as various demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle, and purchase intent segments. Triton SVP of measurement & analytics Daryl Battaglia says, “The combination of census-level download measurement blended with survey measurement provides the most comprehensive understanding of podcast audiences and their consumption habits. By adopting new methods to measure audiences and augmenting our current tools, we are enriching the podcast information available to advertisers so they can feel confident in reaching their target audiences.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/1)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/1) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Today’s “Liberation Day” Tariffs Announcement
2. Wisconsin & Florida Special Elections
3. Sen. Cory Booker Speech
4. Iran-Russia-U.S. Nukes Tensions
5. Trump Third Term Questions

Industry News

WWO: Listeners Don’t Tire of Ads

This week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog looks at research commissioned by RAB to investigate “wear-out”: the point where creative testing declines from its peak due to message frequency fatigue. They key findings include: 1) Consumers don’t get tired of ads, only marketers do: Theimg ABX AM/FM radio creative study for RAB proves legendary marketing professor Mark Ritson was right; 2) Wear-out of AM/FM radio ads is virtually non-existent: Only two of 25,000 ads showed a decline in some creative effectiveness metrics. Two major creative effectiveness measures, branding and messaging, showed no wear-out; 3) The two ads showing differences were at the top end of cumulative spending and time in market: Two years in market and $8M+ of spend is where creativeness effectiveness might start to wane; 4) Repeat testing of 10 of the 12 longest running AM/FM radio ads reveals no statistically significant erosion; and 5) The giants of marketing effectiveness and creative testing conclude wear-out is non-existent: Take it from Les Binet/Sarah Carter, ABX, Kantar, System1, and Analytic Partners. See the full blog post here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/31)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/31) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump’s Trade War
2. Wisconsin & Florida Elections
3. DOGE/Federal Health Agencies Cuts
4. Trump Third Term
5. Russia-Ukraine War/Trump-Putin Relationship

Industry News

Radio Pro Jim Quinn Dies at 82

Radio personality Jim Quinn died on Sunday (3/30) at the age of 82. Pittsburgh’s TribLIVE reports about the career radio host who worked for much of his career as a music jock and morning show host beforeimg transitioning to a conservative talk host in the early 2000s. Quinn started his radio career at KQV, Pittsburgh in the 1960s. Quinn partnered with Don Jefferson for the popular “Quinn and Banana” show on WKTQ in Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1992. The TribLIVE story notes that Quinn took a position at WRRK, Braddock, PA where he honed his conservative talk chops. He partnered with Rose Tennent and had a successful run with “The Warroom with Quinn and Rose” on iHeartMedia’s WPGB-FM, Pittsburgh as well as on satellite radio. See the TribLIVE story here.

Industry News

WLW, Cincinnati’s Mike McConnell to Retire

WLW, Cincinnati morning drive host Mike McConnell told his listeners that he will retire from the station atimg the end of this week. McConnell has been in the radio business for 50 years including the last 10 as morning host at WLW. McConnell joked to listeners giving his reason for retiring, “Why? Because I’m old! I’ll miss a lot of aspects of it, but I look forward to it at the same time. I’ll have no regrets because I’ve done this for a long time.” McConnell took over the WLW morning show from longtime host Jim Scott in 2015.  See the Cincinnati Enquirer story here.

Industry News

Trump Restores Funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

The executive order from President Donald Trump to shutter the Voice of America includes radio services Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that were launched in 1950 to counter Soviet propaganda in Europe. Theimg radio services report in 27 languages serving audiences in 23 countries. On Thursday (3/27), the Trump administration reversed course and restored funding for the news organization two days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the closure saying the president can’t dismantle the organization created by Congress. According to a report in The New York Times, the administration also reinstated 33 employees at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting that targets Cuba’s Communist government. See the Times story here.

Industry News

Armstrong & Getty Add New Affiliates

The independently syndicated “Armstrong & Getty” show says it added five new affiliate stations thisimg month: KFNX, Phoenix; KMZQ, Las Vegas; KERN, Bakersfield; KSMA, Santa Maria, and WNJD, Cape May, New Jersey. KFNX owner Bill Brady says, “‘Armstrong and Getty’ bring it all: They are funny, knowledgeable, insightful, and always play the hits. They are the prototype of the modern radio talk show. We are thrilled to have them on KFNX. They are a great addition to our lineup.”

Industry News

Vince Coglianese Broadcasts Trump Interview

Talk host Vince Coglianese – host “The VINCE Show” syndicated by Westwood One and the “VINCE” podcast broadcast an interview with President Donald Trump yesterday afternoon. Coglianese’s programimg is being distributed in the same daypart – 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET – as Dan Bongino’s show prior to the latter’s giving up his media role to take on the deputy director at the FBI. Trump addressed the issue of Greenland and Vice President J.D. Vance’s trip there this week, saying, “We have to have that land because it’s not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth – not just the United States – without it.” The president also addressed the Signal group chat matter, telling Coglianese that it was possibly an innocent error made by a lower-level staffer for national security advisor Mike Waltz. He noted that it did not impact the success of the attack, but that they would determine how the error happened so it would not happen in the future.

Industry News

Urban One Reports Q4 ’24 Net Revenue Down 2.7%

Urban One, Inc reports its operating results from the fourth quarter of 2024 and reveals net revenue was approximately $117.1 million, a decrease of 2.7% from the same period in 2023. The company reported an operating loss of approximately $1.9 million for the quarter, compared to operating income of approximately $6.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Broadcast and digitalimg operating income was approximately $38.6 million, an increase of 1.7% from the same period in 2023. Net loss was approximately $35.7 million for the quarter, compared to net loss of $11.0 million for the same period in 2023. Urban One CEO and president Alfred C. Liggins, III states, “Our Adjusted EBITDA of $103.5 million came in at the mid-point of guidance, helped by strong political advertising revenues in the radio division. The radio outperformance was offset by declines in both advertising and affiliate revenues at the cable TV segment, as audience delivery continued to underperform expectations. We are however seeing some stabilization in the first quarter cable TV delivery, which should help to mitigate the continuing decline of linear TV subscribers. First quarter core radio revenue demand weakened, with pacings down 13.6%, although the second quarter is showing signs of improvement, with core pacings currently down 1.7%.”

Industry News

FCC’s Gomez Fires Back at New Commission Policy

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez addressed the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit on Wednesday (3/26() and spoke about efforts by the FCC and other government entities to “intimidate private companies because of internal labor practices meant to promote fairness in hiring.” She said, “Private businesses all over the country are under attack. Creeping government intervention isimg making companies think twice about the way they describe internal diversity programs. They’re afraid the government may retaliate against them simply because of actions that are responsive to how consumers use their services or choose to buy their products. Sadly, the hard-fought lessons of the civil rights movement are being erased – or worse, distorted – to claim that fairness for all requires discrimination against some. That could not be further from the truth.” Gomez says she’s concerned about the Commission weaponizing  “its regulatory authority to enforce government mandates that seek to eliminate voluntary efforts by private companies to increase fair and equal employment opportunities.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/26)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/26) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Signal Group Chat Contoversy
2. New Trump Tariffs on Autos and Parts
3. Trump Demands Defunding of Public Media
4. SCOTUS Upholds Ghost Guns Ban
5. Gazans’ Anti-Hamas Protests

Industry News

NAB: SBAs Support Local Radio Resolutions

National Association of Broadcasters says that state broadcasters associations representing all 50 states, plus DC and Puerto Rico adopted two resolutions. The first resolution urges members of Congress to support the Local Radio Freedom Act, which opposes any new performance fee on local radio stations.img NAB says, “Local radio stations provide trusted news, sports and entertainment to their communities free of charge, but stations’ ability to do so would be greatly threatened if faced with a new performance tax, on top of the hundreds of millions of dollars local stations already pay each year in copyright and streaming fees.” The second resolution calls on legislators to support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act that would ensure the continued availability of AM in all newly manufactured vehicles. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt comments, “On the heels of an incredibly successful State Leadership Conference, where over 560 local TV and radio broadcasters traveled to Washington, DC to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, congressional support for local radio is strong. State broadcaster associations play a pivotal role in our advocacy efforts, and I am proud to see the collective unity behind these resolutions.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/25)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/25) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Defense Group Chat Issue
2. Johnson Suggests Eliminating Federal Courts
3. Trump Trade War/Recession Fears
4. Russia-Ukraine War
5. Vance Leads Greenland Delegation

Industry News

AWMF Announces Gracies Winners

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation unveils the winners of the 50th Annual Gracie Awards, celebrating five decades of amplifying women’s voices, stories, and achievements in media. AWMF says, “This landmark anniversary marks not only a reflection on past trailblazers but also a declaration of the continued power of women shaping the cultural and media landscape.” The winners across all categoriesimg include: Megan Thee Stallion, Mayim Bialik, Kathy Bates, Angela Yee, Keke Palmer, Rita Cosby, Jill Schlesinger, Kristin Klingshirn, Letty Peniche and more. They will be honored at the Gracie Awards Gala on May 20, 2025, at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles, which will be hosted by actress, comedian, and podcaster, Fortune Feimster. Local and student award recipients will be recognized at the Gracie Awards Luncheon on June 18 at Cipriani’s in New York City. AWMF president Becky Brooks says, “For 50 years, the Gracie Awards have honored the storytellers who push boundaries and redefine what’s possible. This is more than an awards show – it is a movement that has championed inclusion, representation, and truth in the media. The women we celebrate today are shaping the next 50 years, ensuring that our narratives are not just seen or heard, but felt and remembered. And we are excited to have Fortune Feimster join us as the host for our Golden Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles, bringing her incredible wit and energy to this unforgettable celebration.” You can see all the winners here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/24)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/24) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Houthi Strikes Leaked to Press
2. Israel Strikes on Gaza/Russia-Ukraine War
3. Elon Musk and DOGE Firings
4. Pam Bondi vs Jasmine Crockett
5. Usha Vance Visits Greenland

Industry News

WSCR’s Dan Bernstein Fired After Bizarre Social Media Spat

Chicago sports talk host Dan Bernstein is out at Audacy’s sports talk WSCR “670 The Score.” This happens less than a week after Bernstein into a back-and-forth on social media with a follower. In a storyimg by Brandon Contes for Awful Announcing, he writes that Bernstein was taken off of his regular afternoon show with co-host Marshall Harris after threatening to reveal the identities of a follower’s children as retaliation for that person accusing Bernstein of lying about releasing a fish that he had caught and posted a picture of. Bernstein write on social media, “I never respond to trolls, but questioning my sportsmanship and conservation awareness sets me off. Wanna fight? I’m a bad enemy. Want your kids involved?” Read the Awful Announcing report here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Delete “Our Website”

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

NOT saying delete the site. Delete the phrase “our website” when directing attention there.

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Simply say your domain name. “On our website” is 1990s-speak that evokes sitting-still at a desktop computer. By now, they understand where your domain name takes them… likely on a smartphone.

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

Industry News

Beasley Reports 2024 Q4 Net Revenue Up 2.3%

Beasley Broadcast Group reports operating results for the fourth quarter of 2024 and for the full year of 2024. For Q4 of 2024, Beasley reports revenue of $67.3 million, an increase of 2.3% over the same period in 2023. The company reports a net loss of $2.06 due to a $98.8 million of non-cash impairment losses. For the full year of 2024 Beasley reports revenue of $240.3 a decline of 2.7% from the full year of 2023.img Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley says, “2024 was a transformative year for Beasley as we took decisive actions to strengthen our balance sheet, streamline our operations, and position the company for long-term success. Through disciplined cost management and strategic capital initiatives, we achieved approximately $20.0 million in annualized expense reductions, improved our leverage profile, imgand enhanced our financial flexibility. These efforts, combined with the continued momentum of our digital business—now representing nearly 20% of total revenue—have reinforced our ability to navigate industry challenges while capitalizing on new growth opportunities in audio and digital media. As we enter 2025, we remain focused on executing our strategy to drive sustainable revenue growth, expand our digital offerings, and optimize our sales approach. We see substantial opportunities in harnessing data-driven insights, enhancing direct-to-consumer engagement, and providing our advertisers with cutting-edge marketing solutions. With a refined portfolio of premium brands, a leaner and more agile cost structure, and a strengthened financial foundation, Beasley is well-positioned to accelerate our digital evolution and deliver long-term value for our shareholders, audiences, and partners.”