TALKERS News Notes
John Catsimatidis‘ Red Apple Audio Networks announces “Inauguration: 2025” – a one-hour special available to all radio stations now through January 20. The show features highlights of past inaugurations from FDR to Donald J. Trump featuring Red Apple’s own Greg Kelly, Roger Stone, Dick Morris, Noam Laden, and James Flippin plus expert insight from historian Ryan Walters. 
The “Inauguration: 2025” special is available to radio stations for download upon request. Stations may contact: affiliation@redappleaudionetworks.com…..Due to the challenges inflicted by the LA wildfires, the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) has announced an extension for submissions to the milestone 50th Gracie Awards. 
The extended deadline is February 6, 2025, while the regular deadline, with no additional fee, is January 30, 2025. The Gracie Awards, presented by AWMF, has recognized programming and individual excellence by women across all media for five decades. A full list of the categories, including new categories for 2025 can be found HERE. The Gracie Awards Gala will be May 20 at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire hotel and the Gracie Awards Luncheon will be held on June 18 at Cipriani 42nd Street, New York. The 2025 Gracie Awards entry eligibility air dates are from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. Entry details, including pricing and updated categories, can be viewed at https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/call-for-entries/…..
Newsweek has added 660 AM The Answer (KSKY) in Dallas as an affiliate for its conservative syndicated program, “The Josh Hammer Show.” Hammer is Newsweek‘s senior editor-at-large. The one-hour weekly show, which began as a podcast, will air on the Salem station Saturdays at 7:00 pm.
The station debuts a new afternoon show, welcoming three-time NFL champion Ted Johnson as afternoon show co-host alongside Andy Hart and Nick “Fitzy” Stevens, who is expanding his role. The trio will be heard on weekdays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET beginning January 21. 
Johnson will also co-host “WEEI Football Sunday’” with Christian Arcand, Meghan Ottolini, Chris Scheim, Tom E. Curran, Stevens, Hart and Jermaine Wiggins during the NFL season. Former afternoon show co-host Christian Arcand will host nights weekdays from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm ET.
“Ted not only hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy three times as a Patriot, but he also played alongside new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel,” said Mike Thomas, SVP/MM, Audacy Boston. “After his playing days, Ted honed his broadcasting skills in Houston and back here in Boston. He has entertaining stories and valuable information that all Boston sports fans won’t want to miss. Fitzy has been an asset to the station and we’re excited to expand his role to ‘WEEI Afternoons’ with his knowledge as a die-hard Boston sports fan.”
The show, available on all podcast platforms and YouTube, offers an in-depth look at the untold truths behind success. Each episode features unfiltered conversations with top achievers from various fields, including guests such as Nikki Haley, Layne Norton, Dan Martell, and Will Guidara.
“Success doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all journey,” said Coleman. “Front Row Seat creates a space for listeners to hear the untold stories and the real, sometimes messy, path to becoming the best version of themselves. I have so much fun doing this show – it’s incredibly rewarding to dive deep into these conversations, and I can’t wait to share these incredible stories with our audience.”
Along with restructuring, WVON is ending months of speculation on who will be replacing veteran talk show host Perri Small who retired last November. WVON has tapped former politician Jesse Jackson, Jr to host its afternoon drive show. “The Jesse Jackson Jr Show” will air Monday through Thursday from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. This is Jackson Jr’s first foray into broadcasting (with support via the syndication arm of Tavis Smiley‘s Smiley Audio Media). He previously served as a U.S. Representative of Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District from 1995 to 2012. WVON’s current afternoon host, Atiba Buchanan, has agreed to continue his involvement at the station and his new role will be announced shortly. 
WVON has chosen Cleopatra Draper to replace midday host Perri Small for its coveted midday slot. Draper has worked in various capacities at WVON since 2019 including as a fill-in host. She holds a master’s in social work from the University of Illinois Chicago and has a passion for getting young people involved socially and politically in community-building. Draper’s show will air weekdays from 9:00 am-12:00 noon. In addition, WVON’s long-time host Matt McGill will be expanding his show to air weekdays from 12:00 noon until 3:00 pm, while Lynn Richardson’s hourly financial show “The Millionaire’s Roundtable” is being moved to 5:00 am as a lead-in to WVON’s morning drive show, “The Rufus Williams’ Show.” This begins a new era of talk radio for Chicago’s Black talk powerhouse which has been among the national leaders of this format since 1986. “We feel our new lineup is optimal for the changes that are occurring in our country and globally,” said company CEO, Melody Spann Cooper. “To have an opportunity to provide a platform for someone as talented as Jesse Jr and to introduce the station to a new generation of thought leaders with Cleopatra, positions WVON to continue to shake things up in Chicago and beyond.” WVON-The Talk of Chicago has established itself as one of Chicago’s premier content providers. For 61 years, the station has been considered one of the most credible African American media institutions in the nation providing an interactive forum for its vast listening audience to discuss social, economic and political issues that impact the Black community locally and nationally. WVON is a subsidiary of Midway Broadcasting Corporation, whose properties also include WRLL Radio and VONtv.
Longtime talk radio mainstay and TALKERS Heavy Hundred member, Jeff Katz is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Katz is the tremendously popular 3:00 – 6:00 pm host at Audacy’s WRVA, Richmond, VA where he has developed a national reputation within the broadcasting industry as a champion of public service and community outreach. 
In addition to being a compelling political commentator and dazzlingly entertaining personality, Katz – a former Philadelphia police officer – has worked tirelessly for years as a champion of law enforcement, the needy, and the disabled. A former recipient of the TALKERS “Humanitarian of the Year” award, Katz has received numerous honors over the years from public officials including the President of the United States, Director of the FBI, and Governor of Virginia. Just recently, VA Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Katz to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. Katz and Harrison discuss radio’s handling of the current water crisis afflicting central Virginia, which has been overshadowed, in terms of national attention, by the Southern California wildfire disaster, in addition to the importance of radio as an invaluable societal safety net. Don’t miss this. To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click 
Brian Lawlor, president, Scripps Sports, has been named the recipient of the Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) 2025 Golden Mic Award, to be presented at the annual black-tie fundraiser on Monday, March 10 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
The BFOA is the only charity devoted exclusively to helping broadcasters in need from illness or tragedy…..
Veteran broadcaster Michelle Jerson‘s weekly one-hour travel/parenting program “Passport Mommy” has been added to WPHT,Philadelphia on Saturdays at 12:00 noon. The informational and entertaining show is distributed by Radio America.Stations interested can contact Jennifer Dedes at Radio America: jdedes@radioameria.com…..iHeartMedia announced (1/13) the latest podcast programming for iHeart Women’s Sports. Eight new shows will launch on the network in early 2025 featuring renowned female athletes like Ashlyn Harris, Mel Reid, Lexie Brown and more. The new expanded lineup further emphasizes iHeartMedia’s stated commitment to bringing equitable media coverage to women’s sports…..TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison is available to do interviews on talk shows across the nation to discuss the latest music video release by Gunhill Road (the perennial pop music ensemble in which he is a member) – an anthemic tribute to talk radio – which has been gathering tens of thousands of views and downloads around the globe. Harrison talks about the state of talk radio in 2025 and its continuing importance as a vital communications/cultural venue. Harrison can be reached via email at info@talkers.com. To view the video, please click 
By Holland Cooke
Salem Radio Network’s (SRN) White House correspondent Greg Clugston (pictured at Trump Tower in NYC) has been providing comprehensive coverage of today’s (1/10/25) historic sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump resulting from 2024 convictions in the so-called “hush money” trial. Clugston – who traveled from Washington, DC to New York City early today – will continue filing SRN News special reports throughout the day from the New York County Criminal Court, the same building where the trial took place.
David Chadwick, senior pastor of Moments of Hope Church and host of “The David Chadwick Show,” one of WBT’s longest-running local programs, reflects, “In 2020, amidst the Covid crisis, Bo Thompson, Pat McCrory and I were talking in the studio at WBT and asking, ‘What can we do to help those in need?’ I knew that Moments of Hope Church had a generous congregation, and I recognized the incredible reach of WBT’s 50,000-watt mic. That conversation sparked the idea of a matching gift from MOHC and WBT to ask its listeners to match the gift during the Christmas season. Since then, the partnership between MOHC, WBT, and all the WBT personalities has raised over $1 million to help feed children in the Charlotte area and, this past year, to help rebuild the lives of victims of hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. It has been an honor to use the gifts that God has given both organizations to help and serve others in need. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.” 
WBT program director, Mike Schaefer, adds: “WBT’s commitment to ‘Lead Local’ goes beyond delivering news and information. For nearly 103 years, this station has been woven into the fabric of Charlotte, and helping those in need is at the core of our mission. Partnering with David and his congregation to serve the most vulnerable among us aligns perfectly with our mission.” Radio One Charlotte and Richmond RVP/GM, Marsha Landess echoed these sentiments: “We are proud to use the WBT platform to support the incredible work that David and his congregation have done. Since 2020, this partnership has demonstrated the power of community, especially in a crisis like Hurricane Helene. Raising over $1M for those in need is a testament to what we can achieve together. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community we are so proud to be a part of.” The David Chadwick Show airs Sundays from 8:00 am – 9:00 am on WBT, further underscoring the potential productivity of local weekend programming.
Premiere’s “Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno” Joins Albuquerque’s The Rock of Talk – AM 1600 KIVA. AM 1600 KIVA announced (1/8) the addition of “Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno” to the station’s weekday lineup, effective immediately. The program joins the station live in the Monday through Friday, 4:00 am – 7:00 am MST timeslot. DelGiorno joins The Rock of Talk’s blue-chip lineup that includes “The Glenn Beck Program,” “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show,” “The Sean Hannity Show,” “The Jesse Kelly Show,” “The Bill O’Reilly Show,” “Coast to Coast AM with George Noory” and others.
“I couldn’t be happier to offer nearly 24 hours of live programming on the station, and having Michael DelGiorno on board makes this even more possible!” said Eddy Aragon, owner of AM 1600 KIVA – The Rock of Talk. “’Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno’ is another top-notch show from a quality company that advertisers will absolutely love.” “I’m so thankful for the opportunity to connect with Albuquerque listeners,” said DelGiorno. “We appreciate Eddy’s trust and look forward to making our mark on The Rock of Talk!”
The Las Vegas-based physician and highly respected talker of medical and social issues launched the show at KLAV as a single station entity back on January 9, 2009, and then added KDWN January 31st that same month. Wachs is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare media on a number of fronts from charity initiatives to consciousness raising. The program was recently picked up by syndicator Talk Media Network (TMN) where Wachs tells TALKERS she is excited to be and is optimistic about the successful program’s continuing growth. The show airs live daily during middays.
This will be a subscription service. And THAT seems to be the real story. Ford did a U-turn after the outcry over their plan to remove AM radio; and legislation broadcasters asked for didn’t make the cut before the 118th Congress adjourned.
Bonneville Phoenix announces (1/7) the appointment of LaDona Harvey as the new co-host for KTAR’s “Arizona’s Morning News.” “We are excited to welcome LaDona to the talented ‘Arizona’s Morning News’ team,” said Ryan Hatch, Bonneville International Phoenix SVP/MM. “She’s a natural storyteller with an infectious personality and a passion for connecting with the community.” 
Harvey who moved to the Phoenix market after a successful run at Newsradio 600 KOGO, San Diego where she hosted “San Diego’s Morning News” for over a decade, will replace longtime KTAR anchor Jayme West who recently retired. She will join award-winning host Jim Sharpe beginning Monday January 13. Harvey tells TALKERS, “I am thrilled to be back home in Arizona, joining the finest news team in the Valley at KTAR.” She adds, “I have the privilege of caring for my ailing father and doing a job I am passionate about: telling Phoenix listeners the stories that affect their lives, and livelihoods.”
iHeartMedia St. Louis and Indianapolis announced (1/7) a leadership transition as seasoned media veteran, John Beck, serving as market and area president for nearly four years, embarks on the next chapter of his career. “I want to sincerely thank all of my colleagues, St. Louis and Indy leaders, and iHeart corporate leadership for giving me a chance to make a difference in St. Louis and Indianapolis,” Beck tells TALKERS. “It has been an amazing four years full of accomplishments. I will truly miss working with my iHeart family. I will now have more time to devote to my own family, consulting business, legislative advocacy and the various charities civic organizations that mean so much to me.” John Karpinski, division president, iHeartMedia adds, “We are deeply grateful for John’s remarkable contributions to iHeartMedia. His leadership has boosted ratings, enhanced our culture and improved revenue in both St. Louis and Indianapolis. He has also been a fierce advocate for the entire radio industry, championing our cause in state capitals and Washington, D.C. We appreciate all he has done for us and his communities.” Following a distinguished broadcasting career with more than 40 years of radio industry experience, Beck will continue operating his media consulting service, John Beck Media Strategies. He will also remain a trustee of the National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (NABPAC), Legislative Chair of the Missouri Broadcasters Association, along with other charitable and civic involvements. No replacement has been named for Beck as of press time.
Beasley Media Group announces the upcoming retirement of Dan Finn, senior vice president and regional market manager of the company’s New Jersey cluster. Finn, a respected leader and industry veteran, has decided to conclude his distinguished career with the company at the end of the first quarter of 2025. The veteran radio executive joined Beasley Media Group in 2016 following the company’s acquisition of Greater Media, where Finn served as SVP/regional GM since 2007. He initially was hired by Greater Media in 2002 as VP/regional GM after having firmly established himself as a leading radio broadcasting executive at a variety of major stations. “Dan Finn has been an integral part of our Beasley family and a trailblazer in the broadcasting industry,” said Caroline Beasley, CEO at Beasley Media Group. 
“His strategic vision, steadfast leadership, and ability to foster meaningful relationships have made a profound impact on our company and the industry at large. We are deeply grateful for his dedication and wish him the very best as he begins this exciting new chapter in his life.” No replacement has been named as of press time.
FOX Sports Radio Features Live Broadcast from Orange Bowl. FOX Sports Radio’s “Two Pros and Cup of Joe” with (pictured above l-r) Brady Quinn, LaVar Arrington and Jonas Knox will broadcast live from Fort Lauderdale, beginning this morning (1/8), as part of the network’s coverage of the Orange Bowl featuring a matchup between Quinn’s alma mater Notre Dame and Arrington’s alma mater Penn State tomorrow (1/9). 
With a spot in the National Championship on the line for the Fighting Irish and Nittany Lions, “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” will bring all the excitement before, during and after the game as the show broadcasts live from 6:00 am – 9:00 am ET at Le Meridien Dania Beach, the media hotel for the game, from January 8 – 10, 2025. “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” featuring Quinn – former Notre Dame Quarterback who set 36 single-season and career records, and was a first-round draft pick; LaVar Arrington – College Football Hall of Famer, three-time Pro Bowl Linebacker and No. 2 overall draft pick; and sports radio veteran Jonas Knox is available nationwide on more than 380 stations, in addition to FOX Sports Radio’s channel on iHeartRadio and www.FOXSportsRadio.com.
iHeartMedia, the and the National Football League (NFL) today (1/8) announced an extension to the exclusive partnership that first launched the 
The long-running, liberty-based syndicated show “ArmedAmericanRadio” and its sister property “AARDailyDefense,” owned and hosted by one of the nation’s leading Second Amendment advocates, Mark Walters, continues to add affiliates. Walters kicks off 2025 on a roll with new affiliates: KLID-AM, Poplar Bluff, MO; WBNR, Beacon, NY; WKDP-AM Corbin/Lexington, KY; WKDP-FM, Corbin/Lexington KY; KOMY-AM, Santa Cruz, CA; WLNA-AM, Peekskill, NY; WAJZ-FM, Albany, NY; and WGHQ-AM, Poughkeepsie, NY. Walters, among his many civic activities, is on the Board of Directors of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Newsmax Raises $150 Million in Pre-IPO Plan.* Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy reports “We did it!” According to the ascending multi-platform news organization’s founder, “When we announced our plan to go public, we also announced our plan to raise $150 million in Preferred Shares before we became listed.” Ruddy tells TALKERS, “I am glad to report Newsmax hit the $150 million* mark over the Christmas-New Year’s holiday. In fact, we have raised $153 million*, having exceeded our target by $3 million. And we have thousands of investors who are still in the process of buying Preferred Shares!
So, Newsmax has decided to extend our offering to $175 million – an increase of $25 million above our target raise.” Ruddy concludes, “Newsmax expects to close on the remaining $22 million remaining very soon.” 
“Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about elevating radio technology and helping the industry understand the critical role of metadata, especially in the digital dashboard,” Jurison tells TALKERS. “Joining Quu is an incredible opportunity to build on that mission. I’m eager to contribute to this talented team’s efforts to strengthen radio stations’ relationships with their listeners and advertising clients.” “Alan’s innovative mindset and technical expertise make him an exceptional addition to Quu,” said Steve Newberry, CEO of Quu. “His vision aligns perfectly with our goals to help radio boost ratings and generate new revenue through visual solutions that engage and retain audiences.” Alan will be at CES in Las Vegas this week, where he looks forward to connecting with industry peers. Interested in meeting up? Contact Alan at 
The horrific murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson at the hands of Luigi Mangione at the end of 2024 was a wake-up call for the talk media industry.
Welcome to 2025… TALKERS 35th year! Everything seems to be moving faster and faster as we hurtle deeper into the 21st century and what is turning out to be a “brave new world” even for Gen-Z. Each year at this time, I am invariably asked by broadcasters, reporters, and friends, “What do you think we’ll be talking about in the new year ahead?” And each year I give the same answer: THE UNEXPECTED.
Adell Media announced today (1/6) the addition of “Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno” to the lineup at 910 AM – Detroit’s News Talk Superstation (WFDF-AM), effective immediately live weekdays 6:00 am – 9:00 am ET. This clearance marks the 50th affiliate for the program, which joined Premiere Networks’ national lineup in October 2024. With a motto of “so much information, so little understanding,” DelGiorno engages listeners with entertaining discussion that goes beyond the latest news and political headlines to include lifestyle, pop culture topics and humor. The goal of the show is to help the audience start their day with fun, witty and interesting conversation that’s also informative. Since the station re-launched in September 2023 with a 24/7 lineup of news and conservative talk, as well as local news, weather and traffic from Total Traffic & Weather Network and breaking news coverage from ABC Radio, the station’s audience has grown +500% to date (Source: Nielsen Audio, PPM, NOV24 v SEP23, MoSu 6a-12m, P6+).
After making great strides with ratings, revenue, podcasts, local in-market promotions, and a national, live political forum (“The Gathering”) in 2024, which included expanding to 27 affiliates, the Compass Media Networks syndicated Erick Erickson Show starts today (1/6) with an additional 29 affiliates, bringing the total to 56. Effective today, the following stations will start airing the Erick Erickson Show: KBYR, Anchorage, AK; KLOO, Corvallis, OR; WDBT, Dothan, AL; KSLM, Salem, OR; KSUE, Susanville, CA; WTNY, Watertown, NY; and the Supertalk FM network in Mississippi (WRQO, Brookhaven, MS; WXRZ, Corinth, MS; WTCD, Greenwood, MS; WOSM, Gulfport, MS; WFMM; Hattiesburg, MS; WFMN, Jackson, MS; WLAU, Laurel, MS; WZKR, Meridian, MS; WTNM, Oxford, MS; WKBB, Starkville, MS; WMPK, Summit, MS; WFTA in Tupelo, MS and it will also move into the live spot on KROF in Lafayette, LA. The show is a longtime staple of Cox Media Group’s 95.5 WSB, Atlanta where it airs 12:00 noon- 3:00 pm daily. In 2024, Erickson conducted live events in Las Vegas, Tulsa, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Athens, and Orlando, covering his own costs so stations could make more money. “The Gathering” attracted 1,000 attendees from 47 states to hear from key Republican figures like Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, and Mitch McConnell. In 2025, Erickson tells TALKERS, “We plan to expand this event to other markets.”
BIN: Black Information Network, the 24/7 comprehensive national audio news network specializing in what it describes as “objective, accurate and trusted continual news with a Black voice and perspective,” today (1/6) announced Terry Foxx has joined as VP, news and content effective immediately. In his new role, Foxx will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of BIN: Black Information Network’s newsroom and its team of journalists, with a focus on development of news content and original programming. “I am excited to have Terry join BIN: Black Information Network,” said Tony Coles, the network’s president. “In today’s rapidly changing media landscape, the role of news in shaping public discourse has never been more important. We’re confident his contributions will strengthen our position as a leader in delivering inclusive and impactful news and content to our audiences.” Prior to his new role with BIN, Foxx served as regional director of talk programming for iHeartMedia Austin/San Antonio. His career includes roles at KUT-FM, University of Texas, and major stations such as WPLJ-FM, New York; B96, Chicago; KKDA-FM, Dallas; and WZGC-FM, Atlanta.
“I am thrilled to contribute to the growth and success of BIN: Black Information Network,” Foxx tells TALKERS. “BIN is a vital platform for amplifying diverse voices and delivering trusted, relevant news to our communities. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact and further strengthen the connection between BIN and the audiences we serve.” BIN is distributed nationally through the iHeartRadio app, available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices, as well as on local AM/FM broadcast radio stations across America, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.