Yesterday’s (4/10) Top News/Talk Media Stories
The Arizona Supreme Court abortion ruling; the presidential race; the Israel-Hamas war and U.S. Israel relations; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; President Joe Biden’s student debt reduction plan; James and Jennifer Cumbley are sentenced to 10-15 years in prison; the Russia-Ukraine war; Ashley Biden diary thief sentenced; and the U.S. Senate’s impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is moved to next week were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
media budget, adding AM/FM radio to a digital/TV plan sharply builds reach. Via Nielsen Commspoint, the media allocation planning tool, a wide range of monthly digital/TV media plans were examined. Very small, light, medium, and heavy campaigns were examined. The lightest digital/TV campaign reached 10% of the market. The heaviest reached 60%. Then a 20% allocation of AM/FM radio was introduced. The results were stunning. Across the seven monthly campaigns, from the lightest to the heaviest, the addition of AM/FM radio generated significant lifts in reach. Shifting 20% of the lightest TV/digital campaign to AM/FM radio caused reach to double. Introducing the 20% allocation of AM/FM radio to medium-sized campaigns causes reach to soar by 36% to 55%. Even the heaviest TV and digital campaign saw reach grow 20% with the addition of AM/FM radio to the plan.” 
the “show biz” side of his outgoing personality and large physical stature. Booked in a “Battle Royal” elimination match, “Handsome” David Gornoski snatched victory in the bout. Afterwards, Gornoski proceeded to announce his intentions to be a wrestling manager looking for the right client and serenaded the crowd with a rendition of Britney Spears’ “Oops I Did It Again.” Gornoski started his broadcasting career at iHeartRadio’s WFLA, Orlando and later, WHBO, Tampa before moving to podcasting. While he covers current events and culture, Gornoski has recently interviewed wrestling icons like Glenn “Kane” Jacobs, Mayor of Knox County, TN and fitness guru Diamond Dallas Page. Gornoski says he hopes to bridge the gap between the media world and the world of wrestling in a completely new way. He points to successful radio host and physician Doctor Asa (Asa Andrew, M.D.) whom he met at the TALKERS 2023 conference and is working with TNA Wrestling promotions as both a wrestler and ringside physician on Impact Wrestling as being a significant inspiration in his choice of this new path. 
follows last week’s repurchase of 1.5 million shares from MSG at $9.76 per share, the June 2023 repurchase of 1.5 million shares from MSG at $9.70 per share, and the March 2021 repurchase of 12.6 million shares and warrants from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. at $6.40 per share. Like last week’s 1.5 million share repurchase from MSG, the purchase price of $10.8 million will be funded entirely with cash on hand. Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson comments, “We are very pleased to share that we were able to buy the IPO options at a net purchase price of $3.62 per option, eliminating the overhang and the shareholder dilution that would have occurred had these in-the-money options been exercised in the open market before they expired this July. The members of management and the board that were involved in this transaction have been with Townsquare for over a decade, demonstrating that our longterm incentive plan was, and continues to be, effective in retaining top talent. In total, our management team owns approximately 11% of shares outstanding today and are well aligned with the company’s investors to build shareholder value.”
in community involvement, along with multiple merit awards. The annual MAB Broadcast Excellence Awards gala was held on Saturday, April 6 at the Sound Board inside MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. WJR program director Ann Thomas states, “Thank you to everyone associated with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for this tremendous honor. As you can imagine… because WJR is more than a hundred years old, the archives in the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building are amazing. While doing some spring cleaning the other day, I came across boxes of awards and plaques from non-profit organizations applauding our work and ‘thank you’ notes from community leaders and listeners. It reminded me that all of us here in this room stand on the shoulders of the broadcasting greats who came before us. They set the bar for excellence, and I am grateful that in 2024, the talent, producers, engineers, production, digital, and sales teams at WJR are still working to be the best in the business.”
Having written thousands of commercials and promos, I’ve become a copy connoisseur. And, admittedly, a tough grader when it comes to delivery. Sell me and you’re good.
The work-life balance concept is up for a new spin. Let us start in California.
for participating podcasts) and, while not a lot changes from last month, NPR’s “NPR News Now” took over the #1 spot from The New York Times’ “The Daily,” which falls to #2. Cumulus Podcasts Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” rises one spot to #10, and FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” climbs two places to #12. 
It seems every hour Nielsen and Pierre Bouvard of Cumulus fame (formerly of Westwood One) put out a release stating that radio is just fine, thank you. Radio is more persuasive than TV, direct mail, streaming and print. Radio is a proven success for over 100 years. Most of the buildings housing Procter & Gamble were built on radio – not TV – advertising success. Happily, P&G realized radio’s clout and is now a dominant radio advertiser – again!
Johnson says, “I look forward to being a frequent guest on Tony’s show. This opportunity to speak directly to the American people about the most important developments in politics, policy, and culture will be important as we chart the path forward for Congress in these historic times.” Salem SVP Phil Boyce comments, “Salem is honored to kick off this important program with Speaker Johnson as guest host, who has worked tirelessly for conservative values since he took over the Speaker’s position. Tony Perkins, a nationally recognized expert in public policy, will be an excellent co-host, as the show deals with the important topics facing the House and the Speaker’s initiatives in getting his agenda passed.” Perkins adds, “I look forward to kicking off this new program with candid conversations with the House Speaker that will take listeners beyond the headlines and soundbites and inform them about what is really happening in our country and what citizens can do to influence the direction of our nation.” The show will be carried by Salem-owned news/talk stations nationwide, as well as affiliates of the Salem Radio Network. It will also air on the Salem News Channel weekends at 10:00 am ET, and 8:00 pm ET on Saturday and Sunday, as well as on demand on Salem Podcast Network, at Townhall.com, and on SNC.TV. SRN VP of news and talk Tom Tradup will serve as executive producer. Radio stations interested in the show can contact their SRN affiliate representative.
show produced at KLIN is titled after is best-selling book, ONESHOT. ONELIFE. – The Ultimate Success Formula To Help You Win At Anything In Life (Morgan James Publishing, 2018). NRG general manager Ami Graham says, “Doug has been a friend of KLIN for years. During your drive home, Doug will tackle the issues that matter to our community through commentary, guests, and listener engagement. We are thrilled to have him on our airwaves every weekday.” Fitzgerald says, “I am excited and honored for the opportunity to serve Lincoln and Nebraska on such an iconic station as KLIN and during a time slot where great hosts have broadcast over the years. My vision is to address the cultural issues that impact our city and state through the lens of the values that make Nebraska ‘The Good Life.’ To me, ‘Drive Time Nebraska’ will be like taking a road trip with your family or good friends… having great conversations and fun, along with getting on each other’s nerves now and then. In the end, you still make it home together.”
the station. The piece notes that LaVicka said co-host Theo Dorsey will remain with the station hosting his own show beginning on Monday (4/8). The Post reports that GKB West Palm Beach general manager Stephanie Price issued the following statement: “LaVicka is still a teammate, and we are working with him on his future. We are always on the lookout for talent who can bring a new perspective to the market. We are putting more resources into both our radio and digital platforms to engage and reach the most fans, as consumption continues to evolve, as well as provide our partners more opportunities to reach those fans.” 
Suzanne Scott comments, “Greg is a true original whose trademark political and cultural commentary, humor and gifted writing has deeply connected and grown with our audience for more than 17 years. Upon launching ‘Gutfeld!’ three years ago, he rapidly disrupted the status quo to become the most-watched host in the genre with more viewers tuning in to his show than any other late-night program on television. We are proud to be the home of Greg, his unparalleled analysis and late-night’s highest-rated program for many years to come.” Gutfeld states, “Since joining the network in 2007, FOX News has given me the freedom to be unabashedly myself and, in turn, deliver a distinct experience for our audience. There aren’t many platforms that allow this type of creative independence and I’m proud to be a part of Suzanne’s team.”
April 15, when he joins Brey full time. WTMJ assistant program director Michael Spaulding says, “Brian is a trusted radio veteran with almost two decades of experience under his belt. His unique ability to blend news and entertainment brings both fun and a sense of reverence to the station. During his time at WTMJ, 
Brian has taken every challenge thrown at him and excelled. He steps in when needed, adds value to every show he fills in on, and lives the WTMJ and GKB brands. His addition to ‘Spanning the State’ alongside Kristin Brey just made sense.” Brey comments, “When we decided to launch ‘Spanning the State’ without a permanent co-host, I remember thinking that I would rather do the work of two people and hold out for the right person. A week after we premiered, Brian filled in as my co-host, and the chemistry was undeniable from the moment we turned our mics on. His experience, warmth, humor, and curiosity will take this show to the next level as we create something unique that appeals to people across Wisconsin.” Noonan says, “Without sounding too sappy, I could not be more excited to join Kristin Brey as we build ‘Spanning the State’ to tell stories that are uniquely Wisconsin. I’m proud to play a small part in helping WTMJ evolve and continue to be ‘Wisconsin’s Radio Station.’”
previously announced Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation in which Cumulus offered to exchange any and all of its outstanding 6.750% Senior Secured First-Lien Notes due 2026 (the “Old Notes”) for new 8.750% Senior Secured First-Lien Notes due 2029 (“New Notes”) to be issued by Cumulus. The company has further extended the expiration time from 5:00 pm, New York City time, on April 2, 2024, to 5:00 pm, New York City time, on April 9, 2024.
Spacciapolli states, “I first want to congratulate Dave on an incredible career. It has been a privilege to work with him over the past two years. We’re delighted to promote PJ, a mainstay at KDKA for the last 35 years. The trust he has built within our organization and with listeners and partners makes him a great fit to steward this iconic brand into the future as we grow on many levels.” Kumanchik, who has worked in multiple capacities at both KDKA News Radio and “93.7 The Fan” (KDKA-FM) as news producer and editor, morning show producer, sports producer and program director, comments, “I look forward to working with our leadership team, including Michael, to boost the momentum we have created at KDKA News Radio in the past couple of years. As the Voice of Pittsburgh, we will continue to provide news-driven talk that encourages interactions from our listeners.”
don’t need to manage multiple participants such as a solo contributor or reporter in the field. Comrex says that Gagl is simple enough for anyone to use and doesn’t require any specialized hardware or software on the remote end for implementation. With a computer or smartphone plus a headset, high-quality audio can be transmitted bidirectionally with minimal latency providing a simple way to get anyone on the air. Hotline dramatically improves the quality of a standard cell phone call for on-air use. Gagl + Hotline provides a ten-digit telephone number with each Gagl + Hotline subscription. A guest or reporter can call the number using an AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon cell phone. The caller’s audio will be presented within the Gagl interface in HD Voice quality for clean, clear full fidelity for use on-air. Acquiring high-quality audio from remote locations is essential for creating compelling radio. Providing flexibility for guests who can’t come into the studio was a driving force behind Gagl’s creation. Gagl Solo, Gagl + Hotline, and Comrex’s suite of broadcast reliable products will be on display at the NAB Show in Vegas April 14-17. Be sure to visit Comrex at Booth C2234 in Central Hall.
in population take place in the U.S. – with growth often seen in southern markets – the ratings giant adjusts its rankings. Among the notable changes are the Dallas-Fort Worth market leapfrogging San Francisco to the #4 market and San Francisco now at #5. Other markets moving up include Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood to #11 and San Diego to #18. 
quarters, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC adds that its primetime lineup sweept cable news every hour. “The Ingraham Angle” (7:00 pm ET) finished the quarter averaging 2.2 million viewers and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo. “Jesse Watters Primetime” (8:00 pm ET) delivered 2.8 million viewers and 284,000 in the 25-54 demo. “Hannity” (9:00 pm ET) remained dominant, nabbing 2.4 million viewers and 266,000 in the 25-54 demo, easily winning the timeslot and topping CNN and MSNBC in both categories. And “FOX News @ Night” (10:00 pm ET) delivered 1.2 million viewers and 187,000 in 25-54 demo.
consumer behavior and technology adoption across smart platforms. Marketers and media buyers turn to these insights for important media trends in key channels such as radio, streaming audio, podcasts, social media, and more. Audacy will host a webinar on April 3 with head of research & insights Idil Cakim and Edison Research president Larry Rosin, who will share key trends from The Infinite Dial 2024, including: Media consumption and device adoption, in-car listening habits, podcast trends among key demographic groups, and observations and advertiser insights. 
week’s installment of the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” The program includes an archived interview conducted with Lieberman in 2018 for the podcast which offers valuable insight into his perspective on the Electoral College and the presidency of Donald Trump among other historic issues. Harrison describes the late senator and former VP candidate as, “one of the last true American statesmen of the modern era.”