Pictured above are members of the staff of Cumulus Media’s radio stations in Bloomington, Illinois – including news/talk WJBC-AM, CHR WBNQ-FM, and country WBWN-FM – as they helped raise $103,739 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital via its annual two-day Cumulus Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon that took place February 8 and 9.
The NFL’s New York Jets are moving their radio play-by-play from Good Karma Brand’s ESPN New York (WEPM-AM/FM) to iHeartMedia’s rock WAXQ-FM “Q104.3” beginning with the 2024 season. Good Karma is ending its lease of WEPN-FM this year and will continue to air the sports talk format on WEPN-AM and digital platforms.
Lemonada Media is bringing the David Duchovny-hosted podcast “Fail Better” to its network. Duchovny says, “I’ve been a connoisseur of failure for a long time, obsessed with the mistakes we make or the fear of making. I like thinking about how those mistakes, coupled with the futility of trying to avoid them, shapes our lives. If failure is something we all do so often, why are we so afraid of it? Working with Lemonada to explore this part of human nature is a gift in itself, and a meta-exercise for me in doing something new – hosting a podcast – which frankly fills me with my own fear of failure.”
SiriusXM is doing its annual MLB Network Radio Spring Training Tour, in which it visits all 30 MLB team camps in 17 days to give listeners a comprehensive preview of every club as they prepare for the 2024 MLB season. Shows will be hosted by former general managers Jim Bowden, Jim Duquette and Steve Phillips, former major leaguers Kevin Frandsen, Eduardo Perez, Xavier Scruggs, and Ryan Spilborghs, as well as Mike Ferrin and Dani Wexelman.
Audacy partners with three-time NBA champion Danny Green for his weekly podcast, “Inside the Green Room with Danny Green.” In addition, Green will serve as an Audacy insider, frequently appearing as an NBA analyst on Audacy sports stations across the country.
The presidential race and the Michigan primary; the U.S. migrant crisis and the death of Georgian nursing student Laken Riley allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles and the Fani Willis misconduct case; the Russia-Ukraine war; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden’s testimony scheduled for today; the Alabama embryo ruling and its effects on IVF treatment; the Supreme Court hears arguments over Texas’ and Florida’s restrictive social media laws; Apple cancels its electric car project; and the Texas panhandle wildfires were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
Reporting its operating results for the fourth quarter of 2023 and for the full year of 2023, Cumulus Media Group reveals Q4 net revenue of $221 million, a decrease of 11.9% from the same period in 2022. The company posted a net loss of $54,000 in Q4 of 2022 compared to the net loss of $98 million it reports for Q4 of 2023. For the full year of 2023, net revenue was $844.5 million – a decrease of 11.4%
from the full year of 2022. Cumulus reported net income of $16.2 million for 2022, while posting a net loss of $117.9 million for the full year of 2023. Cumulus president and CEO Mary G. Berner says, “While 2023 was a tough year across the media landscape, we were able to offset some of the effects of the weak national advertising climate through strong execution in our key focus areas. Specifically, we grew our digital businesses, meaningfully reduced fixed costs, and improved our balance sheet. Looking ahead, though national advertisers are expressing interest in increasing their radio buys, as of yet, ad demand remains choppy, reducing our visibility into the rest of 2024. That said, our industry-leading performance during similarly weak macro environments gives us significant confidence in our ability to navigate through this one and rebound strongly when the advertising market improves.” Looking at Cumulus’ business segments, the digital segment to which Berner refers was up 5% in Q4 of 2023 to $39.6 million, but total broadcast revenue during the quarter was down 18.2%. Spot revenue declined 18.3% and network revenue was off 17.9% in Q4 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Benztown launches the AI Listener Voice Generator, what it calls “a new audio production tool for radio stations of all formats and market sizes exclusively designed to simulate ‘listener’ audio for on-air use.”
The AI Listener Voice Generator enables library subscribers to simulate “listener” audio and addresses the challenges that stations increasingly face in collecting listener audio from the public. Benztown CEO Andreas Sannemann says, “The Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Speech capabilities of this new feature make an audio producer’s job easier and more efficient than ever – and it sounds incredible!”
Auddia Inc signs a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the AM/FM streaming app Radio FM, noting that closing the acquisition remains subject to financing the acquisition cost. Auddia CEO Michael Lawless says, “We are seeing strong subscription conversion numbers off the faidr free tier which is
solidifying our confidence that a large number of AM/FM streaming listeners are willing to pay a subscription to avoid commercials while listening to their favorite stations. The challenge now becomes how to grow the free tier user base in the most cost-efficient manner possible to increase our pool of potential subscribers. The Radio FM acquisition allows us to acquire 4.6 million retained users at a customer acquisition cost (CAC) that is approximately 70% lower than the cost to acquire a free tier user through our direct marketing methods.”
“The Stephen A. Smith Show” moves from Audacy’s Cadence 13 to iHeartMedia’s iHeartPodcast Network for distribution. The show is produced by Smith’s Mr. SAS with Smith serving as executive producer.
Hannah Brummer joins TM Studios’ affiliate relations department serving under senior affiliate relations director Steve Kaufman.
Baltimore Public Media officially launched yesterday (2/26). The move unites radio stations WYPR and WTMD under a single, dynamic umbrella branded “Your Public Media” more than three years after the November 2021 acquisition of WTMD-FM from Towson University. Currently serving as president and GM for the company is former CBS News Radio vice president and general manager Craig Swagler.
Beasley Media Group promotes Luis “Speedy Jr” Gonzalez to director of video and audio production for its Tampa Bay cluster.
The U.S. migrant crisis and the death of Georgian nursing student Laken Riley allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant; the looming government shutdown; the Russia-Ukraine war; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden’s testimony scheduled for Wednesday; the presidential race; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles and the Fani Willis misconduct case; and the Supreme Court hears arguments over Texas’ and Florida’s restrictive social media laws were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
Are you a sales curmudgeon? You know, that old-school, out-of-touch terrestrial radio ad sales rep who is too lazy to learn the new digital/social media sales world?
A recent survey by Borrell and Associates says most radio station managers vote for “new blood” on the sales team to offset those old-school sellers who are oversaturated and have no more room to grow. It’s the evergreen water bottle analogy. Open that off-the-shelf bottled water and just try pouring more water into that fully filled bottle. There is no more room for even another ounce. Is that you? So full of sales knowledge that there is no room to learn? Your boss thinks it’s better to hire another seller than to wait until you decide to push yourself through the comfort zone and become more productive in the digital/social media column.
The top line “hire new sellers” concept here is true. Some living history:
1. AM vs. FM. Are you old enough to remember separate AM and FM sales teams? AM radio stations were the first big income generators. When FM music stations became popular, we first sold AM/FM combo plans. Realizing FM formats were geared to a younger audience, we hired sellers who got it. Sales teams were formed to sell just the FM stations. The internal conflict was a management nightmare, yet somehow, we managed to create two separate teams. The rest is terrestrial radio sales history.
2. Cluster Sales. When the FCC allowed owners to control more than two radio stations in a market, we went through another seismic change. Sellers who sold for one, or in some cases AM/FM combo sales, were soon allowed to pitch multiple stations owned by one owner in a market. Managers were faced with a new round of consolidation conflict. If you worked with an advertiser that needed additional markets, you were able to bring outside markets with commonly owned radio stations to the mix. Somehow, we managed.
3. Digital/Social. What took so long? Today’s terrestrial radio ad seller is an important foundational component in every radio station ad sales department. Yet the ad sales and audience growth aren’t on the AM/FM or satellite band. It hasn’t been for a while. The ad demand and growth in audience and revenue is on your computer, smartphone, apps, and earbuds. Are you ready to adapt to the digital/social media demand curve? Or are you sitting in your comfortable rocking chair.
There is no doubt new sellers plugged into new media platforms will fuel the next level of audio sales growth. But before we give up on those curmudgeons on your sales team, let’s learn how they preserve the buyer-seller relationship long enough to earn the privilege of becoming “curmudgeons.”
Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.
The fourth of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. The survey covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Milwaukee, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WISN adds 2.5 shares to finish with an 11.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) good for its fifth straight month ranked #1, while Good Karma Brands’ crosstown news/talk WTMJ does not appear in this survey. (TALKERS has reached out to GKB for clarification.) In Nashville, Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WWTN-FM rises 1.5 shares to finish with a 5.4 share that lifts it to the #6 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WLAC adds nine-tenths for a 2.1 share finish good for the #18 rank. In Providence, Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM tacks on a full share to wrap the survey with a 6.9 share, lifting it to the #4 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WHJJ-AM is up two-tenths for a 1.0 share finish and the #13 rank. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.
“The Financial Exchange with Michael Armstrong and Chuck Zodda” adds new affiliate WGAN-AM, Portland to its roster of affiliates. The business radio show is currently heard on 13 stations across New England, including WRKO, Boston. Program COO Jason Wolfe comments, “WGAN is the #1 choice for news and talk in Maine and I’m thrilled to have ‘The Financial Exchange’ join its superb lineup. Adding Portland to the network has been a key goal of ours. The station has an incredibly loyal audience, and we can’t wait to get started.”
Women In Radio is presenting its 8th annual conference on Saturday, March 9 at Atlanta Tech Village. As part of this year’s event, Women In Radio will be presenting iHeartMedia VP of programming Thea Mitchem with its Trailblazer Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field. WIR founder Meaghan Taylor says, “The number of women working in the radio industry has decreased over the last year. However, this event continues to show that women are still fighting to be recognized in this space and will hopefully provide in-depth radio expertise from women working across all platforms.”
January 2024 PPM Data – Information for the January 2024 survey period (January 4 – January 31) has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 (6+).
AUSTIN
News/Talk
KLBJ-AM 4.1 – 5.7, #6 – #5
KJCE .1 – .1, #31 – #28
News
None
Sports Talk
KBPA-HD2 1.4 – 1.1, #19 – #19
KVET-AM 1.1 – .8, #23 – #22
KTAE .9 – DNA, #24 – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KUT 5.3 – 6.9, #3 – #3
KUT-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Note: The +1.6 by public radio news talk KUT (5.3 – 6.9) and news/talk KLBJ-AM (4.1 – 5.7) represent Austin’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
RALEIGH
News/Talk
WTKK 5.0 – 7.5, #5 – #4
WPTF .6 – 1.0, #22 – #18
News
WRAL-HD3 .2 – .3, #24 – #24
Sports Talk
WCMC-FM 3.1 – 3.4, #12 – #11 (Carolina Hurricanes)
Public Radio News/Talk
WUNC 7.9 – 9.0, #2 – #2
Note: News/talk WTKK’s +2.5 (5.0 – 7.5) represents Raleigh’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
INDIANAPOLIS
News/Talk
WIBC 4.8 – 5.1, #8 – #7
News
WOLT-HD2 .2 – .2, #25 – #25
Sports Talk
WIBC-HD2 3.0 – 3.7, #16 – #13
WNDE .3 – .5, #21 – #22
WXNT DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WFYI 3.4 – 4.6, #11 – #8
Sports talk WFNI (DNA – DNA) is the flagship of the Pacers.
MILWAUKEE
News/Talk
WISN 9.0 – 11.5, fifth consecutive month at #1
WLIP .1 – .1, #28 – #26
WTMJ 6.4 – DNA, #5 – DNA
WGKB .1 – DNA, #28 – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
WRNW 2.7 – 3.7, #15 – #11
WOKY .2 – .2, #22 – #23
WSSP .2 – .2, #22 – #23
WKTI 1.6 – DNA, #17 – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WUWM 2.5 – 2.2, #16 – #14
WHAD .8 – 1.2, #20 – #16
WHAD Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Note: News/talk WISN’s +2.5 (9.0 – 11.5) represents Milwaukee’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
NASHVILLE
News/Talk
WWTN 3.9 – 5.4, #12 – #6
WLAC 1.2 – 2.1, #19 – #18
News
WNRQ-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WGFX 6.9 – 8.0, #2 – #2
WPRT 2.0 – 2.3, #17 – #17 (Predators)
Public Radio News/Talk
WPLN 4.1 – 4.9, #11 – #8
WPLN-HD3 Stream .2 – .2, #23 – #23
PROVIDENCE
News/Talk
WPRO-AM 5.9 – 6.9, #5 – #4
WHJJ .8 – 1.0, #15 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WVEI 2.0 – 2.1, #10 – #9
WBZ-FM 3.0 – DNA, #8 – DNA
WPRV DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WGBH 1.6 – 2.1, #13 – #9
WNPN 1.3 – 1.5, after nine straight months at #14, moves to #12
WCAI .1 – .1, #20 – #18
NORFOLK
News/Talk
WNIS 2.0 – 2.3, #14 – #14
WGH-FM HD2 .2 – .2, #24 – #23
News
WNOH .2 – .3, #24 – #21
Sports Talk
WVSP 1.8 – 1.9, #15 – #15
WGH-AM .2 – .2, #24 – #23
Public Radio News/Talk
None
JACKSONVILLE
News/Talk
WOKV-FM 6.5 – 8.0, #3 – #3
News
WJBT-HD2 DNA – .2, DNA – #24
Sports Talk
WOKV-AM .2 – .4, #21 – #21
Public Radio News/Talk
WJCT 1.8 – 1.6, #15 – #16
WEST PALM BEACH
News/Talk
WFTL 2.1 – 3.0, #9 – #7
WZZR 1.3 – 1.3 #13 – #14
WJNO .6 – .9, #15 – #15
News
None
Sports Talk
WMEN .6 – .7, #15 – #16
WBZT .2 – .4, #19 – #18
Public Radio News/Talk
WLRN 1.9 – 2.8, #10 – #9
WLRN-HD2 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
GREENSBORO
News/Talk
WPTI 3.3 – 3.5 #8 – #9
News
None
Sports Talk
None
Public Radio News/Talk
WFDD 4.2 – 5.3, #7 – #6
WUNC 2.2 – 2.8, #13 – #11
MEMPHIS
News/Talk
WREC 1.0 – 1.4, #11 – #11
KWAM .4 – .5, #13 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WMFS 2.8 – 3.2, #7 – #7 (Grizzlies)
WMFS Stream .2 – .2, #15 – #14 (Grizzlies)
Public Radio News/Talk
WKNO 1.6 – 1.9, #9 – #9
WKNO-HD2 .2 – DNA, #15 – DNA
HARTFORD
News/Talk
WTIC-AM 5.2 – 6.6, #6 – #4
WDRC-AM 1.5 – 1.8, #15 – #14
WTIC-AM Stream .4 – .4, #19 – #18
WPOP DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
WUCS 2.5 – 2.0, #11 – #13
Public Radio News/Talk
WNPR 4.0 – 4.1, #8 – #8
WFCR .6 – .6, #18 – #17
Mike Kinosian is managing editor at TALKERS magazine. Reach him at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com
The Fredericks Radio Network announces a deal that has its talk programming airing on three new stations (five signals altogether) in the state of West Virginia. The John Fredericks-owned Disruptor Radio, LLC enters into a Local Marketing Agreement with LHTC Media of West Virginia, Inc to air the network’s lineup on WGYE-FM, Mannington/W280FF, Morgantown; WMMN-AM, Fairmont/W239CM, Morgantown; and WHTI-FM, Salem-Clarksburg. The Fredericks Radio Network now airs on 18 signals
from West Virginia to Georgia. The programming includes “The John Fredericks Show,” “The War Room with Steve Bannon,” Newsmax’s “Rob Carson Show,” and more. Fredericks states, “This West Virginia opportunity is key to our growth plan, as it dovetails nicely with our Pittsburgh footprint and reaches a very pro-populist, pro-America First and pro-Trump area of America. We are excited about offering listeners in West Virginia a choice from the stale, woke, and warmed over pablum served up every day by the corporatists and conservative Inc. bunch that regurgitate the FOX and RNC talking points of the day. Our lame and boring news/talk competition falls into one of four categories: weather on the fives and traffic on the eights, stock prices trading below fifty cents, stock de-listed off the big board, or George Soros buying up bankruptcy debt with a controlling stake to eventually take over the company and its programming.”
The Nebraska Broadcasters Association will induct Kent Boughton, Jane Monnich and Dave Webber into the NBA Hall of Fame on August 6 in Lincoln during the 89th Annual NBA Convention. Monnich served with KLIN, Lincoln for 48 years. NBA says, “At a time when women were rarely heard on the air, Jane was soon [after joining the station] named KLIN’s afternoon news anchor. She moved to morning news in 1973 and in 1976 became KLIN’s morning show co-host with Ron Dean, forming Lincoln’s first male-female radio show. Jane’s passion was always news and over the more than four decades of reporting and anchoring that followed, Jane became known as THE voice of KLIN news. Jane retired from KLIN in 2020.”
SiriusXM NFL Radio will provide listeners nationwide with coverage of the annual NFL Scouting Combine next week with live programming originating from Indianapolis. SiriusXM NFL Radio hosts in Indianapolis will include former NFL front office executive Pat Kirwan, former NFL coach Charlie Weis, Pittsburgh Steelers WR Allen Robinson II, former NFL players Charles Davis, Jim Miller, Kirk Morrison and Solomon Wilcots, as well as veteran broadcaster Bruce Murray.
The state of the Russia-Ukraine war and the death of Vladimir Putin opponent Alexei Navalny was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the presidential race, followed by former President Donald Trump’s legal battles and the related Fani Willis misconduct case at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.
In a post on LinkedIn, media pro Bill Smee announces he’s stepped down from his vice president of news post at Audacy to pursue consulting and project management work. He writes: “I’m happy to announce that I’m moving into a new professional chapter: I’ve stepped down as VP of news at Audacy and I am diving back into the strategic consulting and project management work that I enjoyed for a number of years. It has been incredibly rewarding to work these last four years with so many talented
and passionate people within Audacy’s newsrooms and across the larger company. And I’m proud of our collective accomplishments: building out digital and podcasting capacity; integrating broadcast and digital teams within newsrooms; strengthening communication and collaboration across a network of brands; navigating the first wave of AI; and creating new revenue opportunities in partnership with sales teams. All of this was done while delivering over and over in high-leverage, breaking news situations and racking up awards that validate Audacy’s local news brands as best in class. The challenges for media and journalism these days — and for local news in particular — are profound, and the stakes are high. But there are new frontiers on the horizon, and we can deploy innovative ways of thinking about how we do what we do. As always, I’m excited to explore those frontiers and draw on my many years of strategic and operational experience to help media brands and other organizations find a way forward.”
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WMAL-FM jumps 1.4 shares to finish with a 4.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that lifts it to the #7 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM leaps two full shares to an 8.3 share good for the #2 rank. In Phoenix, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFYI rises two-tenths to a 3.1 share but falls two posts to the #10 rank, while Bonneville’s news/talk KTAR-FM adds four-tenths for a 2.6 share finish and remains ranked #14. In Baltimore, Hearst Television’s news/talk WBAL-AM adds 1.6 shares to finish with a 4.3 share that boosts it to the #9 rank, while WCBM Maryland’s news/talk WCBM-AM tacks on four-tenths for a 1.9 share finish that lifts it to the #15 rank. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.
Edison Research – in celebration of Black History Month – showcases the Top 10 podcasts among Black listeners from the latest Edison Podcast Metrics release. According to Edison’s Infinite Dial 2023, 45% of Black Americans in the U.S. age 12+ have listened to podcasts in the last month, and 28% have
listened in the past week. The list shows the Top 10 Podcasts in the U.S. based on the number of Black weekly podcast listeners for Q4 2023. “The Joe Rogan Experience” was the #1 podcast listened to by the Black audience surveyed, but six of the top 10 are hosted by Black hosts. They include: #2 “The Breakfast Club,” #4 “Drink Champs,” #5 “Million Dollaz Worth of Game,” #6 “The Joe Budden Podcast,” #7 “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” and #9 “ShxtsNGigs.” According to the The Black Podcast Listener Report from Edison Research, SXM Media, and Mindshare, 63% of adult Black monthly podcast listeners say that it is very or somewhat important that podcasts include Black stories and perspectives. Fifty percent of adult Black monthly podcast listeners say that it is very or somewhat important that podcasts are hosted by Black hosts.
FOX News Channel chief political anchor and executive editor of “Special Report” Bret Baier will present an exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tonight (2/22) at 6:00 pm ET from Ukraine. FNC says, “Taking place less than a mile and a half from Russian positions, Baier will speak with the president about the two-year anniversary of the war, the debate in Congress on additional funding to Ukraine and the latest developments in the ongoing conflict. He will also travel with the president as he receives a military briefing, presents medals to some of his troops and visits wounded soldiers in the hospital.”
Benztown president Dave “Chachi” Denes tells TALKERS that the company’s IP attorney and friend David Perry has filed a petition with the state of Pennsylvania in connection to the high-profile case of Tyree Wallace, who has been in prison for the last 26 years due to his alleged connection to a murder and robbery. He notes that Perry has been interviewed by CBS, FOX, and ABC in Philadelphia and if your station is interested in speaking with him, contact Chachi directly at chachi@benztown.com.
Townsquare Media, Inc will release fourth quarter 2023 financial results before the market opens on Friday, March 15. The company will host a conference call to discuss certain fourth quarter 2023 financial results on March 15 at 8:00 am ET.
Videographer and radio history buff Art Vuolo, a.k.a. Radio’s Best Friend, chats about historical aspects of the radio biz with WLW, Cincinnati talk host Gary Jeff Walker. Listen to the segment here.
The Russia-Ukraine war and the aftermath of the death of Vladimir Putin opponent Alexei Navalny; the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that an embryo is a baby; the presidential race and Nikki Haley’s focus on the South Carolina primary; the U.S. migrant crisis; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles and the disqualification case against Fani Willis; President Joe Biden cancels $1.2 billion in student debt; the Joe Biden impeachment inquiry and the charges against ex-FBI informant Alexander Smirnov; and the atmospheric river dumping huge amounts of rain on California were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
January 2024 PPM Data – Information for the January 2024 PPM ratings period (January 4 – January 31) has been released for: Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included below is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 (6+).
WASHINGTON, DC
News/Talk
WMAL 3.1 – 4.5, #9 – #7
WFED DNA – .1, DNA – #29 (Capitals)
News
WTOP & WTLP 6.3 – 8.3, #4 – #2
WDCH .5 – .6, #23 – #23
WDCH Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WJFK-FM 2.6 – 2.8, #15 – #15 (Capitals)
WJFK-FM Stream .6 – 1.0, #21 – #20 (Capitals)
WTEM .2 – .4, #26 – #25 (Wizards)
WTEM Stream .2 – .3, #26 – #26 (Wizards)
WJFK-AM DNA – .1, DNA – #29 (Capitals)
WSBN DNA – .1, DNA – #29
Public Radio News/Talk
WAMU 11.5 – 12.7, 27th month in succession at #1
Note: All-news WTOP & WTLP’s +2.0 (6.3- 8.3) represents a tie for the largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.
BOSTON
News/Talk
WRKO 3.1 – 2.8, #9 – #15
WXKS-AM .9 – .7, #24 – #23
News
News – Talk WBZ-AM 4.7 – 4.6, #5 – #6
Business news WRCA .1 – .1, #29 – #28
Sports Talk
WBZ-FM 9.2 – 11.2, #2 – #1 (Celtics, Bruins)
WEEI-FM 2.8 – 3.9, #13 – #11
WEEI-FM Stream .4 – DNA, #25 – DNA
WEEI-AM .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WBUR 6.1 – 6.0, #3 – #3
WGBH 3.9 – 4.2, #6 – #9
Note: Sports talk WBZ-FM’s +2.0 (9.2- 11.2) represents a tie for the largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.
MIAMI
News/Talk
WIOD 1.2 – 1.4, #23 – #23
News
None
Sports Talk
WQAM 1.3 – 1.2, #22 – #25 (Heat, Florida Panthers)
WINZ .5 – .5, #27 – #27
WMEN .1 – .2, #36 – #33
WQAM Stream .1 – .1, #36 – #36 (Heat, Florida Panthers)
WSFS-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WAXY DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WLRN 3.3 – 4.1, #10 – #6
WLRN-HD2 .1 – DNA, #36 – DNA
SEATTLE
News/Talk
KIRO-FM 4.0 – 4.2, #6 – #7
KTTH 1.3 – 1.9, #23 – #21
KVI 1.0 – 1.3, #24 – #24
KPTR DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM 2.3 – 2.6, #20 – #19
KHHO DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
KJR-FM 2.6 – 4.2, #17 – #7 (Kraken)
KIRO-AM 2.8 – 3.3, #15 – #14
KJR-AM .9 – .8, #25 – #25
Public Radio News/Talk
KUOW 6.2 – 6.9, #3 – #2
KSWS .1 – DNA, #32 – DNA
Note: Sports talk KJR-FM’s +1.6 (2.6- 4.2) represents a tie for Seattle’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
DETROIT
News/Talk
WJR 2.4 – 2.1, #15 – #16
WFDF .4 – .5, #23 – #23
WJR Stream .1 – .1, #28 – #29
News
WWJ 4.3 – 5.6, #9 – #8 (Pistons)
WWJ Stream .2 – .4, #26 – #24 (Pistons)
WDFN .1 – .1, #28 – #29
Sports Talk
WXYT-FM 8.6 – 9.8, #2 – #1 (Pistons, Red Wings)
WXYT-FM Stream 1.2 – 1.8, #19 – #17 (Pistons, Red Wings)
WXYT-AM .2 – .3, #26 – #28
WXYT-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WDET 1.2 – 1.6, #19 – #19
WUOM 1.1 – 1.1, #21 – #21
PHOENIX
News/Talk
KFYI 2.9 – 3.1, #8 – #10
KTAR-FM 2.2 – 2.6, #14 – #14 (Suns)
News
None
Sports Talk
KMVP-FM 1.5 – 1.9, #23 – #20 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KDUS .1 – .1, #32 – #31
KGME .1 – .1, #32 – #31
KTAR-AM .1 – .1, #32 – #31 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KTAR-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KTAR-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KJZZ 2.6 – 3.0, #11 – #11
MINNEAPOLIS
News/Talk
WCCO 3.8 – 4.7, #10 – #10 (Minnesota Timberwolves)
KTMY 1.9 – 2.9, #17 – #14
KTLK-AM 1.6 – 1.8, #19 – #19
WCCO Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #31 (Minnesota Timberwolves)
News
KQQL-HD2 .1 – .1, #31 – #31
Sports Talk
KFXN 6.8 – 7.5, #3 – #2 (Minnesota Wild)
KQQL-HD3 .2 – .2, #27 – #27
KSTP-AM .1 – .1, #31 – #31
Public Radio News/Talk
KNOW 5.2 – 6.6, #4 – #4
KNOW Stream .7 – .8, #23 – #23
Note: Public radio news/talk KNOW’s +1.4 (5.2- 6.6) represents Minneapolis’ largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
SAN DIEGO
News/Talk
KOGO 3.9 – 4.9, #6 – #5
KLSD .3 – .4, #28 – #25
News
None
Sports Talk
KWFN 2.8 – 3.9, #14 – #10
KGB-AM 1.0 – .8, #20 – #21
KWFN Stream .1 – DNA, #30 – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KPBS 4.7 – 6.2, #4 – #2
Note: Public radio news/talk KPBS’ +1.5 (4.7- 6.2) represents a tie for San Diego’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
TAMPA
News/Talk
WHPT 4.1 – 5.3, #7 – #3 (Lightning)
WFLA 3.2 – 4.1, #13 – #11
News
Business news WHNZ DNA – .1, DNA – #34
Sports Talk
WDAE 1.6– 2.1, #18 – #17
Public Radio News/Talk
WUSF 1.9 – 2.3, #17 – #16
WMNF-HD3 Stream .5 – .4, #23 – #26
WUSF Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Note: News/talk WHPT’s +1.2 (4.1- 5.3) represents Tampa’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
DENVER
News/Talk
KOA 2.7 – 3.0, #14 – #14
KDFD 1.3 – 1.4, #22 – #22
KHOW 1.4 – 1.4, #19 – #22
News
None
Sports Talk
KKFN 3.5 – 4.0, #10 – #10
KKSE-FM 2.0 – 3.0, #18 – #14 (Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche)
KAMP DNA – .1, DNA – #35
KEPN .1 – DNA, #35 – DNA
KKSE-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KCFR 3.0 – 4.5, #13 – #7
KUNC .7 – 1.0, #26 – #25
BALTIMORE
News/Talk
WBAL 2.7 – 4.3, #11 – #9
WCBM 1.5 – 1.9, #17 – #15
News
WTOP & WTLP 1.0 – 1.4, #20 – #17
WDCH .8 – .9, #22 – #19
WQLL DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WJZ-FM 4.5 – 4.8, #6 – #6
WJZ-FM Stream .1 – DNA, #31 – DNA
WJZ-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WYPR 3.4 – 3.4, #9 – #12
WYPR HD2 Stream .2 – DNA, #28 – DNA
Note: News/talk WBAL’s +1.6 (2.7- 4.3) represents a tie for Baltimore’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
ST. LOUIS
News/Talk
KMOX 2.8 – 3.7, #14 – #13
KFTK 1.5 – 2.2, #17 – #15
KTLK-FM 1.1 – 1.3, #18 – #18
KMOX Stream .2 – .4, #24 – #23
KFTK Stream .2 – .2, #24 – #28
News
KATZ-FM HD2 .2 – .3, #24 – #25
Sports Talk
WXOS 3.9 – 5.7, #12 – #7 (Blues)
Public Radio News/Talk
KWMU 4.5 – 5.1, #8 – #9
Note: Sports talk WXOS’ +1.8 (3.9- 5.7) represents St. Louis’ largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.
Up next: January 2024 overviews for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.
Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com
As expected, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas Judge Christopher M. Lopez approved Audacy’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan in which Audacy will equitize approximately $1.6 billion of funded debt, a reduction of 80% from approximately $1.9 billion to approximately $350 million. Prior to yesterday’s hearing, there were only two objections to the plan filed and both were
settled beforehand. Audacy expects to emerge from the Chapter 11 process after approval from the FCC. Audacy chairman, president and CEO David J. Field says, “Today’s announcement marks a powerful step forward for Audacy, positioning the company for an exciting future. As expected, we have achieved a speedy confirmation of our prepackaged Plan, which will enable Audacy to pursue our strategic goals and opportunities in the dynamic audio business. We aim to drive accelerated growth and financial performance, capitalizing on our scaled, leadership position, our uniquely differentiated premium audio content and the robust capital structure that we will have upon emergence. I also want to express my gratitude to our team, who continue their outstanding work to serve our listeners and customers with excellence and fulfill our commitments without missing a beat.” The company notes that under the Plan, trade and other unsecured creditors will not be impaired.
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The survey period covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC-AM adds half a share to finish with a 3.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #11, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR-AM rises half a share to a 1.7 share that lifts it to the #17 rank. In Los Angeles, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI adds nine-tenths for a 4.5 share finish good for the #3 rank in the market. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM is up a half share, finishing with a 3.1 share and the #10 rank, while Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WLS-AM rises two-tenths to a 1.9 share and moves up one spot to the #18 rank. And in Atlanta, Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM claims the #1 rank after rising 1.2 shares to an 8.6 share. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.
Good Karma Brands launches Bucks+ Audio, a new audio platform created by the company and the Milwaukee Bucks. The first five podcasts dropped at Bucks.com/Plus. The initial podcasts are: “Behind
the Bucks,” presented by Gallagher; “Hear District,” hosted by Marques and Kris Johnson, “Bucks in Six,” hosted by Greg Matzek, “Thanalysis,” hosted by Thanasis Antetokounmpo and “Courtside with Gale Klappa.” GKB Milwaukee market manager Greg Scalzo says, “Bucks+ Audio connects Bucks fans to the team in an innovative audio format. The first podcasts provide a deeper look into the Bucks and share untold stories of the team and organization.”
iHeartMedia chairman & CEO Bob Pittman and COO & CFO Rich Bressler will participate in a question and answer session during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on Tuesday March 5 at 5:50 pm ET. A live webcast of the session will be available to the public at the start of the session through a link on the Investors homepage of iHeartMedia’s website (https://investors.iheartmedia.com/). A replay of the webcast will be available in the Events & Presentation section of iHeartMedia’s Investors homepage.
New England Public Media’s popular local radio show “The Fabulous 413” celebrates its first anniversary on WFCR-FM, Amherst, Massachusetts “88.5 NEPM.” Program co-host Monte Belmonte says, “I’m not one to generally look back or laud anniversaries, but I’m very proud to be a part of this program that Kaliis [Smith] and I have built with the team over the past year here at NEPM. We originally likened this show to ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’ for adults, and I hope we’ve done our best to live up to that lofty goal. And whether you’re working in public media or not, what better role model is there to aspire to than Fred Rogers?”
Public media firm GBH announces a $5 million grant from The Fiducia Fund to support “The Culture Show,” a daily news program shining a spotlight on arts and culture. GBH says the grant, pledged over a five-year period, will allow for the show’s sustainability and expansion to multiple platforms, including streaming on YouTube, a daily podcast, a weekly newsletter, events that include live broadcasts at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library, and featured segments on GBH News’ Greater Boston, a daily news program airing on GBH 2, and streaming live on YouTube. GBH president and CEO Susan Goldberg comments, “The arts are vital to a thriving community and ‘The Culture Show’ brings the local arts scene to the forefront for our listeners. This extraordinary commitment from The Fiducia Fund is the largest gift ever dedicated to GBH News. It is invaluable to ensuring we can continue to expand our coverage of the arts.”
The presidential race and former President Donald Trump’s FOX News Channel town hall event; the U.S. migrant crisis and Trump’s plans for “mass deportations”; the battle in Washington over aid to Ukraine and the death of Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny; the failed UN resolution for a cease fire in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza; the Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are children; Wikileaks founder Julian Assange‘s bid to avoid extradition to the U.S.; and two adults are charged with homicide in the Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
January 2024 PPM Data – Information for the January 2024 ratings period (January 4 – January 31) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 (6+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk
WABC 3.0 – 3.5, #11 – #11
WOR 1.2 – 1.7, #21 – #17
WKXW .8 – 1.0, #27 – #24
WKXW Stream .2 – .3, #37 – #35
News
WINS-FM 3.9 – 4.7, #9 – #6
WCBS-AM 1.6 – 1.7, #19 – #17
WINS-FM Stream .4 – .5, #32 – #27
Business News WBBR .3 – .4, #34 – #31
WCBS-AM Stream .1 – .2, #46 – #39
Sports Talk
WFAN FM & AM 2.3 – 2.7, #12 -#13 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WFAN FM & AM Stream .7 – .8, #28 -#25 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WEPN-FM 1.2 – DNA #21 – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)
Public Radio News/Talk
WNYC-FM 4.1 – 4.5, #7 – #7
WNYC-AM 1.0 – 1.2, #23 – #22
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk
KFI 4.6 – 5.5, #4 – #3
KEIB .4 – .8, #30 – #33 (Clippers)
KRLA .4 – .6, #30 – #34
News
KNX-FM 2.5 – 2.8, #12 – #12
KNX-FM Stream .1 – .2, #40 – #39
Sports Talk
KLAC .8 – .9, #28 – #32 (Clippers)
Public Radio News/Talk
KPCC 2.0 – 2.3, #14 – #15
Notes: News/talk KFI’s +.9 (4.6 – 5.5) represents a tie for Los Angeles’ highest (6+) Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase.
Flagship of the Lakers is sports talk KSPN, which is unlisted in this sweep.
Kings’ games are heard on the iHeartRadio app, while games of the Anaheim Ducks are heard on the Ducks stream.
CHICAGO
News/Talk
WGN 2.6 – 3.1, #11 – #10 (Blackhawks)
WLS-AM 1.7 – 1.9, #19 – #18
WLIP .3 – .4, #38 – #35
WVON .1 – .1, #43 – #41
WLS-AM Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #41
News
WBBM-AM & WCFS 4.9 – 6.2, #4 – #2
WBBM-AM & WCFS Stream .1 – .2, #43 – #38
Sports Talk
WSCR 2.5 – 3.4, #12 – #8 (Bulls)
WMVP 1.5 – 1.5, #20 – #20
WSCR Stream .4 – .6, #36 – #32 (Bulls)
Public Radio News/Talk
WBEZ 2.1 – 2.7, #15 – #13
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk
KSFO 1.4 – 1.5, #22 – #22
KSFO Stream .2 – .3, #32 – #30
News
KCBS-AM & KFRC 5.7 – 6.6, #3 – #3
KNEW .3 – .3, #29 – #30
KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .1 – DNA, #38 – DNA
KKSF DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
KNBR 3.6 – 3.9, #7 – #6
KGMZ 2.0 – 2.4, #14 – #14 (Golden State Warriors)
KGO .2 – .2, #32 – #34
KGO Stream .2 – .2, #32 – #34
KTCT .4 – .2, #27 – #34
KGMZ Stream .2 – DNA, #32 – DNA (Golden State Warriors)
Public Radio News/Talk
KQED 6.9 – 7.9, #2 – #2
KALW .2 – .3, #32 – #30
Note: Sports talk KNBR is the flagship of the 49ers, which lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
DALLAS
News/Talk
WBAP 2.8 – 3.7, #14 – #9
KEGL 1.4 – 1.2, #27 – #29 (Mavericks)
KSKY .6 – .6, #33 – #32
KLIF-AM .4 – .5, #34 – #33
KSKY Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
News – Talk KRLD-AM 1.4 – 1.7, #27 – #24
News – Talk KRLD-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
KTCK 4.2 – 5.6, #3 – #1 (Stars)
KRLD-FM 2.9 – 2.8, #13 – #17
KRLD-FM Stream .3 – .4, #35 – #35
Public Radio News/Talk
KERA 3.5 – 4.0, #6 – #7
Note: Sports/talk KTCK’s +1.4 (4.2 – 5.6) represents Dallas’ highest (6+) Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase.
HOUSTON
News/Talk
KTRH 2.6 – 3.6, #17 – #9 (Rockets)
KPRC . 5 – .3, #28 – #28
News
None
Sports Talk
KILT-AM 1.5 – 1.6, #21 – #21
KBME .6 – .6, #27 – #27 (Rockets)
KILT-AM Stream .3 – .3, #30 – #28
KFNC .2 – .2, #31 – #33
Public Radio News/Talk
KUHF 2.4 – 2.8, #18 – #19
ATLANTA
News/Talk
WSB-AM & WSBB 7.4– 8.6, #2 – #1
WFOM .4 – .6, #27 – #27
WGKA .1 – .3, #31 – #30
WAOK .1 – .2, #31 – #31
WAOK Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #36
WSRV-HD3 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
WBIN DNA – .1, DNA – #36
Sports Talk
WZGC 3.5 – 4.2, #9 – #8 (Hawks)
WCNN 1.4 – 2.2, #20 – #16
WZGC Stream .3 – .8, #29 – #24 (Hawks)
Public Radio News/Talk
WABE 3.3 – 4.0, #11 – #9
WRAS .8 – .7, #24 – #25
WABE-HD3 DNA – .1, DNA – #36
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk
WPHT 1.7 – 2.2, #19 – #16
WKXW 1.2 – 1.3, #23 – #23
WPHT Stream .7 – .7, #26 – #26
WURD .3 – .4, #27 – #28
WURD Stream .2 – .2, #29 – #30
WDEL-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WKXW Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
KYW & WPHI 4.7 – 6.2, #6 – #5
KYW & WPHI Stream .1 – .1, #30 – #32
WTEL DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WIP 5.7 – 7.0, #4 – #4
WIP Stream 1.5 – 2.3, #20 – #15
WPEN-FM 1.3 – 1.5, #22 – #21 (76ers, Flyers)
Public Radio News/Talk
WHYY 2.8 – 3.1, #9 – #10
NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND)
News/Talk
WABC 1.1 – 1.5, #20 – #18
WOR 1.0 – 1.1, #22 – #19
WLIR .1 – .1, #35 – #32
News
WINS-FM 3.3 – 4.8, #9 – #5
WCBS-AM 2.5 – 2.2, #12 – #15
WINS-FM Stream .9 – 1.0, #23 – #20
Business News WBBR .2 – .3, #30 – #26
WCBS-AM Stream .1 – .1, #35 – #32
Sports Talk
WFAN-FM & AM 3.5 – 4.6, #7 – #7 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WFAN-FM & AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WEPN-FM 2.7 – DNA, #11 – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)
Public Radio News/Talk
WSUF .2 – .3, #30 – #26
RIVERSIDE
News/Talk
None
News
KFOO DNA – .1, DNA – #21
Sports Talk
KPWK .2 – .1, #18 – #21
Public Radio News/Talk
KVCR .3 – .4 #16 – #20
KPCC DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
SAN JOSE
News/Talk
KSFO 1.5 – 1.8, #19 – #20
KSFO Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
KCBS-AM & KFRC 4.5 – 5.2, #4 – #4
KNEW .3 – .2, #28 – #28
KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .2 – DNA, #30 – DNA
Sports Talk
KNBR 3.9 – 4.7, #6 – #5
KGMZ 1.5 – 2.8, #19 – #10 (Golden State Warriors)
KGO Stream .7 – .8, #26 – #26
KTCT .8 – .3, #25 – #27
KGO .3 – .2, #28 – #28
KGMZ Stream .2 – DNA, #30 – DNA (Golden State Warriors)
Public Radio News/Talk
None
Notes: Sports/talk KGMZ’s +1.3 (1.5 – 2.8) represents San Jose’s highest (6+) Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase.
Sports talk KNBR is the flagship of the 49ers, which lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Sharks’ games are carried on the Sharks Audio Network.
MIDDLESEX-SOMERSET-UNION
News/Talk
WKXW 5.7 – 7.4, #4 – #1
WOR 1.6 – 2.7, #15 – #9
WKXW Stream .7 – .8, #20 – #20
News
WINS-FM 1.8 – 2.7, #13 – #9
WCBS-AM 1.0 – .9, #18 – #19
WINS-FM Stream .3 – .5, #23 – #22
WCBS-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WFAN-FM & AM DNA – 2.7, DNA – #9 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WFAN FM & AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WEPN-FM 1.0 – DNA, #18 – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)
Public Radio News/Talk
None
Note: News/talk WKXW’s +1.7 (5.7 – 7.4) represents Middlesex-Somerset-Union’s highest (6+)Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase.
Up next: January 2024 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.
Audio analytics and research platform Veritonic, in partnership with computer vision and attention AI company Realeyes, publishes their first Veritonic Audio Attention Report that analyzes effective audio advertising. The report provides data-backed insight into the importance of creative efficacy programs for audio and
podcast advertising. Some of the key takeaways include: 1) Attention quality was highest for the audio ad that had the highest voiceover volume (36%) as opposed to the ad that had the lowest voiceover volume (27%) and the ad that had too many competing elements within the creative (25%); 2) 75% of participants reported a good quality audio ad positively influences their consideration to purchase a product; and 3) The inclusion of multiple competing audio components elements within an audio ad caused the ad to score lower in terms of overall quality than the ads without multiple competing elements. You can get the full report here.
The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) announces that Tony Coles, Dr. Caroline Frick, and Leo MacCourtney have been elected to the organization’s board of directors. The announcement was made by co-chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group chief communications officer, and Jack Goodman, former NAB general counsel and longtime DC-based communications attorney. Tony Coles is president of multi-cultural business and development and president of BIN: Black Information Network. Frick is an associate professor at the University of Texas, and MacCourtney is president of Katz Television Group.
The battle in Washington over aid for Ukraine and the death of Vladimir Putin opponent Alexei Navalny; the Israel-Hamas war and the U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire; the legal battles facing former President Donald Trump and the Fani Willis misconduct investigation; the presidential race and President Joe Biden’s age; the U.S. migrant crisis; the Iran-backed Houthi militia’s attacks in the Red Sea; and the intense rainfall hitting California were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
Have we passed the disappointment of 2023?
If ad sales at your radio station finished last year up double digits (excluding digital) please skip past the next few paragraphs. If you’re in the same boat as most radio ad sellers across the country at various levels – i.e. local, national, syndication, network – last year was a struggle.
Now then, how is Q1 shaping up?
Are you making up for lost ground, like the airline business, automotive business, restaurants or are you still pushing that boulder uphill? Here is some straight-from-the-field unfiltered feedback:
1. Valentine’s Day at most restaurants was one of the busiest on record. People at the packed-in table next to ours waited two hours after sitting to be served. So much for a 6:45 pm reservation. They got free dessert. Seriously?
2. Travel is back, make no mistake about it. Discount airfares are a thing of the past on the big-name airlines. At 6’2” I really believe my knees should not be touching the seat in front of me in comfort class on most major airlines.
3. Try negotiating a new car deal this month. No, not the incentives on the 2023 models, I’m talking 2024 in 2024. As the goodfellows said back home, fuhgeddaboudit.
There is nothing wrong with trying to make up for the lost income of the Covid years. After all, testing the pricing upside in business is the American way. We pay more, tip more, and adjust. It is the Darwin theory eating into our wallets every day. So why are most broadcast radio sales teams at all levels still throwing it against the wall to see what sticks? I see it every day in my marketing work. We have lost touch with the excitement, the “wow” factor, the customizations, the basic intangibles of selling the great talent we represent.
Let us learn from other successful businesses. Travel pitches pent-up demand, restaurants make sure you will get the special occasion marketing message no matter where you are, and the auto business, well the ships and chips are in!
What do we not understand about the current weakness in our broadcast radio sales strategy?
1. How current is your value proposition? Successful podcasters like Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper along with YouTubers, Facebook, Instagram, and all social media have changed the game-forever. How does your value proposition stand out today?
2. Talk radio will not go away. Programmers and talent will learn what they need to adjust to refocus one of the great radio formats ever created since someone said, “Let’s play the top 40 songs over and over.”
3. Let us start re-thinking what broadcast radio sellers need to prioritize to make a difference-today.
Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.
Longtime Detroit sports media personality Mike Stone, a.k.a., Stoney, co-hosted his last show on Friday (2/16) as he retires from Audacy’s WXYT-FM, Detroit “97.1 The Ticket.” The Detroit News report says,
“He arrived in the area in 1986, and in 1994, he helped launch WDFN ‘The Fan.’ In the late 1990s, he teamed with Bob Wojnowski for the ‘Stoney and Wojo Show,’ that made Stone a household name for decades to come.” Stone told his listeners, “I am somewhat sad that I will not be on the air every day. But I know that sadness ends when there’s no fricking alarm at 4:30 in the morning.” Read the Detroit News’ coverage here.