Salem Promotes Two to Leadership Roles
Salem Media Group announces two promotions. First, Linnae Young is promoted to chief revenue officer. The company says the 27-year veteran of Salem has held numerous leadership roles, including leading the sales team with Salem Media Reps, as vice president for its West Region radio markets, and most recently served as EVP of revenue development and West
Markets broadcast operations. Salem CEO David Santrella says, “Linnae is a proven builder of teams and revenue streams. For nearly three decades she has delivered results across every part of Salem’s business, and she has the rare ability to connect vision with execution. As we move into a ‘One World’ selling environment, Linnae is exactly the leader we need to unlock new opportunities across all of our platforms and deepen our service to advertisers. Her leadership will be central to accelerating Salem’s growth.” Also, Jamie Cohen is promoted to chief digital officer, a newly created role designed to unify and oversee all digital operations across Salem Media. Cohen was most recently SVP of broadcast digital. Santrella says, “Jamie has been one of the key architects of Salem’s digital transformation. In just seven years, he took a $6 million business and scaled it to over $40 million—proof of both his vision and his execution. This new role gives him the mandate to break down silos and unify all of Salem’s digital assets under one strategy. With Jamie at the helm, Salem is positioned not just to compete in the digital marketplace, but to lead as a fully integrated media company.”
host on WGBB-AM, Freeport, New York (Long Island) for more than 35 years. She appeared on major television programs including, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Good Morning America.” She also served as a columnist for Lifetime Television since. Keller’s long-running radio program with international reach established her as an enduring voice in the metaphysical and self-help space.
insights. Aragon joined Skyview in 2014, and Skyview says he has “built a reputation among his colleagues and our clients as a highly analytical contributor, whose insights support the sales team, our advertisers, and our networks.” At the same time, Heather Baumanis is promoted to executive director, business development and communications. In this role, she’ll support Skyview’s business portfolio of sports partnerships and maintain and contribute to new and existing client relationships while leading the company’s internal, external, and corporate branding initiatives. 
WTOP, Washington is announcing that its business reporter Jeff Clabaugh died last Thursday at the age of 63 after a yearlong battle with cancer. WTOP says that Clabaugh, “whose steady-paced voiceconversationally delivered money news to the D.C. region for three decades,” was “a master of consumer business news” who “gave reports twice an hour on WTOP’s airwaves and wrote punchy, popular stories for WTOP.com.” WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler wrote to the staff, “Jeff Clabaugh made WTOP’s Business Reports what they are today. His work ethic was incredible. And his voice was so smooth. He was one of the best storytellers in the WTOP newsroom.” 
Amazon learned that there are high volume sales for specific categories of products. High demand equals high value to the seller. Items such as diapers, printer ink, staplers, batteries, etc. Being brilliant, Amazon created “Amazon Basics.” Same products, white labeled. Amazon doesn’t manufacture batteries; they just slap their logos on what America needs most. That’s why Mr. Bezos has a bigger boat than you.
Cox Media Group’s Atlanta news/talk 95.5 WSB (WSB-AM/WSBB-FM) is adding Premiere Networks’ “Coast to Coast AM” hosted by George Noory to its program schedule. WSB director of branding and programming Ken Charles says, “We’re thrilled Coast to Coast AM with George Noory is joining the 95.5 WSB-AM lineup. George’s unique voice and compelling content are a perfect overnight fit for our listeners. This is a powerful addition to our lineup of live and local talent.”
After 40 years on the air in the Rochester market, legendary radio personality Brother Wease is exiting iHeartMedia’s talk WAIO-FM where he’s been hosting the late morning show for the past two years (he’d been hosting the morning drive show there since November of 2008). According to the Democrat & Chronicle, Brother Wease told his audience that the company is flipping the talk station to rock and he, along with air personality Deanna King, are being let go. Brother Wease launched his on-air career on rock WCMF in 1984 in overnights and moved to morning drive in 1985. The show took off and became a highly successful one in the market for years. He left WCMF in late 2007 after contract talks with then-Entercom broke down and resurfaced on WAIO. 
Hillsdal 101.7 FM – is managed by Scot Bertram, who says, “‘The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour’ is designed to bring listeners as close to the Hillsdale experience as possible without having to be on campus. You can’t get [to Hillsdale] unless you intentionally want to be here. We have many people who like Hillsdale, love Hillsdale, admire Hillsdale. The show is an attempt to allow them to be close to what we’re doing without being here on campus.” Bertram says that Vince Benedetto, president and founder of Bold Gold Media Group, airs the “Radio Free Hillsdale Hour” on two of his 15 stations and says the show gives variety to his stations, which mostly broadcast conservative talk radio focused on current events.
VP of sales for the market. Castor is taking over for Becky Domyan, who continues her role as to serve as SVP and market manager for the St. Louis market. Castor has also co-hosted “Sports Daily” on KFH Radio since 2022. Audacy regional president Brian Purdy says, “Tommy has a proven track record of success and a deep connection to this market, and we couldn’t be happier to have him take the reins to lead Audacy Wichita forward. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Becky for her leadership and impactful work in Wichita. We are thankful for the strong foundation she leaves behind and are confident Tommy will build upon that success.”
The station is at 104.3 FM and boasts a 100,000-watt signal. Audacy regional president Claudia Menegus says, “Miami’s sports fans have an unrivaled passion, and they deserve a destination that matches their energy. By adding this powerful FM signal, we’re not just expanding our reach – we’re solidifying WQAM’s position as the undisputed leader in South Florida sports radio.” The weekday lineup consists of “The Joe Rose Show with Hollywood” (6:00 am to 10:00 am), “Tobin & Leroy” (10:00 am to 2:00 pm) and “Hochman, Crowder & Solana” (2:00 pm to 6:00 pm).
“Gym Class” with Scott Unash and Mark Dukes (3:00 pm to 4:00 pm) did their last shows this week. The local show “Spencer on Sports” with Spencer Wagen will continue in its 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm slot. KZIA Inc. CEO Julie Hein is quoted saying, “Like a lot of media, including your, and national TV and local TV, restaurants, factories, we are experiencing some economic changes. I hope there is a rebound. Scott Unash and Mark Dukes have been legends in this market for decades and have done amazing things for sports in the Corridor. Todd Brommelkamp, to me, was a breath of fresh air and a real leader in talking about the Hawkeyes and all kinds of great things. I adore all of them and I am forever a fan of all three men.” 
“creative quality is the number one sales driver” and this is often a surprise to advertisers and media agencies who think media tactics (targeting, reach, etc.) drive the most sales. It’s for good reason that everyone wants high brand awareness. A major study from TikTok reveals the greater a brand’s awareness, the greater the purchase conversion. Brands with high aided awareness have 2.86x greater conversion rates compared to low awareness brands. But not all categories operate similarly, Podscribe says that purchase conversion varies widely by advertising category and advises that it’s important to understand the purchase conversion benchmarks for your product category. 
Conventional industry wisdom: “If our morning star leaves, we’re dead. How could we replace them?”
receive on our mobile phones. With underlying frameworks that are 31 and 13 years old respectively, we think it’s time to explore if structural changes to these systems are needed, with an eye towards making sure we are leveraging the latest technology to save lives. Similarly, we will also vote to initiate a review of our system for collecting real-time data on network outages and restoration during and after major disasters. Since its inception in 2007, our Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) has proven to be a valuable tool for collecting actionable information to help with recovery efforts. While the DIRS reports are valuable, they can be time-consuming to produce, drawing resources away from responding to an ongoing disaster. The Commission will vote on reforms to streamline DIRS to make sure that its benefits outweigh its burdens. We’ll close our August meeting by removing unnecessary regulations and injecting common sense across the Commission’s policies—critical features to streamline the implementation of our Build America Agenda.” 
Let’s discuss how CBS’s $16 million settlement became a warning shot for every talk host, editor, and content creator with a mic.
MLB Draft hosted by SiriusXM’s Dani Wexelman and Grant Paulsen with former MLB general managers Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette. SiriusXM will also cover the Home Run Derby on July 14 beginning with a Media Day show at 2:00 pm ET. The All-Star Game will be broadcast on July 15 with pre-game coverage starting at 5:00 pm ET. 
the next three decades, Tyler held numerous leadership positions, including market manager roles in both Madison and Milwaukee. In 2010, Tyler was promoted to region president and later moved to Minneapolis in 2015 to serve as regional president for iHeartMedia. He rose to division president in July 2018 before returning to Wisconsin in 2022 to lead as metro president and most recently area president. Tyler says, “Broadcast radio has been my life. I’ve worked in every aspect of this business and have been fortunate to work for tremendous leaders who helped shape my career, including the creative and innovative team at iHeartMedia. I’m grateful to have worked with so many talented, dedicated professionals in vibrant broadcast markets, serving advertisers and creating meaningful partnerships. I’m excited to begin a more flexible chapter of life with my family, while continuing to support our sports partnerships in the short term.”
over for Jeff Evans, who was recently promoted to vice president of radio for HMG. Pickett previously served as director of content for Townsquare Media in Boise and as regional vice president at iHeartMedia, “further strengthening his background in multi-market and multi-format programming, talent development, and creating engaging on-air content. His broad experience and passion for mission-driven media make him uniquely equipped to lead WayFM into its next season of growth and innovation.”
was the 26th year for the iconic Iowa summertime event that brings some 325 vintage tractors together at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion fairgrounds in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. NRG Media says that while some entities might have been deterred from taking over such a popular and well-established event, company COO/CFO Jim Smith embraced the opportunity. He says, “We’re learning as we go, but we’re learning from people who have done this for a long time – very seasoned – so… it hasn’t been that heavy of a lift because we’re surrounded by good people.”
show was on Friday (6/6). Shattuck – whose career includes time spent as producer of Boston Herald Radio, producer and host at WRKO and WTKK-FM in Boston, as well as editor at the Boston Herald – hosted the midday show at WTIC for the past four years. He also produces and hosts the podcast, “Burn Barrel,” and will continue with that effort. Audacy is going syndicated in the daypart featuring FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” followed by “The Erick Erickson Show.”
Santos, and one other employee. According to a memo to staff from WURD CEO and president Sara Lomax wrote praising those affected for their “meaningful contributions to our station, our community, and our city. This decision was not made lightly. As an independent media radio station, it is imperative that we maintain our ability to give Black Philadelphia a voice and a place to make their voices heard.” She also wrote, “I’m very confident we will survive and thrive. “It’s time like this that outlets like WURD are needed more than ever. We want to be around for another 22 years and another 22 after that.”
all this week from Palm Springs, California at “Freedomfest.” Thomas tells TALKERS that at the event – billed as “The Largest Gathering of Free Minds”—he will cover everything from farming to energy and, of course, free markets. Thomas also operates Thomas Media LLC which owns news/talk WTON, Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg.
that the KNBR “‘Papa and Silver’ midday show signed off from the 750 Battery St. studios just before 2:00 pm. After a break, the ‘Dirty Work’ afternoon show went live from Daly City.” The story notes that sports talk KNBR was originally KPO-AM when it launched on April 17, 1922 with its tower on top of the Hale Brothers department store at 901 Market Street. 
regulatory burdens. We received great feedback from a range of stakeholders already and plan on eliminating onerous, antiquated, and unlawful requirements across the board.” Carr added, “And we have been delivering these results with a focus on efficiency. At the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, the FCC employed 1,461 full-time employees. As of April 28, 2025, the FCC employed 1,383 full-time employees. The difference over the last six months can be attributed to many factors, including FCC employees who took advantage of the early retirement window opened by my predecessor, the deferred resignation program offered by President Trump, and natural turnover. The agency is well positioned to continue carrying out its statutory mission for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 and beyond.”
manager at KKLA-FM, market manager for Los Angeles, and regional vice president overseeing major markets such as Seattle, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oxnard, San Diego, and most recently, Honolulu. Salem Media Group CEO David Santrella comments, “Terry’s vision, integrity, and deep commitment to Salem’s mission have left a lasting mark on everyone who has had the privilege to work with him. His contributions extend beyond radio programming into building meaningful community experiences and nurturing strong leadership in our teams.” Fahy reflects, “I am grateful for the opportunities and support Salem’s leadership has afforded me to make a spiritual impact in Southern California and other West Coast markets. I also treasure the talented and hard-working broadcast and media professionals I have had the privilege to work alongside. I am proud of what we accomplished, not only on air but also with our community events. Many people hope to look back on their careers with a sense of purpose and accomplishment. By God’s grace that has been my experience and privilege at Salem.”
Right now, dozens of well-suited, over-priced, unpleasant lawyers are fighting in Hollywood over the title credit their client should receive on a movie, TV show, or book cover. Placement within the credit roll at the end of a show is a battleground of egos and legalities. Part of the process of securing proper credit is governed by multiple union rules negotiated by multiple unions and corporate dictates of corporate masters. (You don’t get to be CEO of Paramount by being a nice guy.)
Advertiser Perceptions surveyed 301 marketers and media agencies on the sales generated by each of the five sales drivers and as they have for the past six surveys, those surveyed had an average % of perception of creative’s contribution toward driving sales around 20%. But the reality according to one study is that creative’s contribution toward driving sales is actually about 49%. Quatical principle Marc Binkley says, “Creative is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet… it’s a way to supercharge budgets. Emotional, well-branded creative is a way to be more memorable. The goal isn’t just awareness, it’s being memorable in as many buying situations as possible.” 
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.”