TALKERS 2026 Video: Special Presentation – “Behind the Scenes at a Major News/Talk Morning Show” – Spotlight on WBT’s Bo Thompson & Beth Troutman
TALKERS continues to post a treasure trove of videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the day’s events. Today’s entry is an informative and uplifting presentation titled, “Behind the Scenes at a Major News/Talk Morning Show.” The featured speakers are the wake-up duo of the highly successful “Good Morning BT” show at the legendary WBT, Charlotte – Bo Thompson & Beth Troutman. The engaging “BT” pair provide candid insights into the mechanics and chemistry that go into the creation of a modern era news/talk morning show and the very nature of the two-host paradigm. Don’t miss this! Stay tuned to TALKERS for daily postings of sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this dynamic discussion in its entirety, please click here.
Fame. He’ll officially join the Hall on October 22 during a ceremony at the Rainbow Room in New York City. NYSBA says in a letter to Rosenberg,” Your career has been outstanding… while successful at WFAN and 1010 WINS, you have become a radio legend in your 10 years at 77WABC. From co-hosting the “Bernie and Sid” in 2016 to today’s “Sid and Friends in the Morning,” you have blazed a path in the tough New York City market.”
hosted by nationally syndicated talk radio pro Larry O’Connor features interviews with wounded warriors and veterans including heroes from Operation Enduring Freedom, the Vietnam War and an incredible, emotional story of one of America’s World War II living legends. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during medical care. 
Outside the Box. We wish Ben nothing but the best moving forward.” According to WFRV-TV, Green Bay, the station says it will release more details in the coming weeks “about which local programming will replace Cominos and its political block.” Cominos is not giving up his show, however. He tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette, “I’m not going to bury the lede, I’m no longer employed by WHBY. ‘Outside the Box’ will still live on though. My show has been picked up by Minocqua Brewing.” He says “Outside the Box” will stream 9:00 am to 11:00 am weekdays on the Minocqua Brewing Co. Times Substack and on his own Facebook, TikTok and YouTube accounts. Cominos describes his show as “a working class political show for the people that feel left behind by the two-party system.”
helping patients with blood cancers or disorders find matching blood stem cell donors. WCCO brand manager Brad Lane comments, “The auction experiences created excitement. Our fans created impact. In an era of infinite content and fractured attention, this event wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was a reminder that radio still matters. It still creates community, inspires generosity, and has the power to turn listeners into neighbors united behind a common cause. We’re honored to help bring people together in support of NMDP’s mission.”
Now, the station announces that Malloy is returning to the station on July 13 to resume his role as co-host of the “Dennis & Judi Show.” This change doesn’t put Franco’s current co-host Eric Johnson out on the street. The former, longtime “New Jersey 101.5” program director is returning to management as operations manager and program director. He will serve as a fill-in talk host on the station and will spin records during
the station’s weekend music programs. Johnson says, “So here is where we are. Dennis and Judi are back together on July 13. I am moving into a role that lets me put 48 years of experience to work shaping what New Jersey radio sounds like across three markets. And I will still be here, writing about this state I have loved my whole life, and showing up on the air when you need a familiar voice.”
program is hears on more than 550 stations nationwide. Two years later, Premiere launched The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Podcast Network currently offering eight news, politics and culture podcasts. Premiere Networks president Julie Talbott says, “We’re so proud to celebrate this milestone with Clay and Buck. They had enormous shoes to fill when we launched this show, and they’ve surpassed our expectations in every way. Clay and Buck have built a dynamic, high-impact brand of talk radio that continues to grow across multiple platforms and delivers unmatched results for our affiliate and advertising partners. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones together!”
the organization. BFoA chair Scott Herman says, “We are honored to welcome Michael and Tim to the Broadcasters Foundation board of directors. Both are highly accomplished leaders whose careers reflect excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to our industry. Their insights, relationships, and strategic vision will be invaluable as we continue to grow awareness of the Foundation’s mission and ensure that broadcasters across the country know that help is available when they need it most.”
This bill, if passed, would: 1) Hold individuals or companies liable if they produce an unauthorized digital replica of an individual in a performance; 2) Hold platforms liable for hosting an unauthorized digital replica if the platform has actual knowledge of the fact that the replica was not authorized by the individual depicted; 3) Exclude certain digital replicas from coverage based on recognized First Amendment protections; and 4) Largely preempt State laws addressing digital replicas to create a workable national standard.
consumption (64%) comes from broadcast radio, yet up until today, it has lacked the targeting and measurement infrastructure available in digital. iHeartMedia’s broadcast radio stations reach more than 278 million consumers every month, and now with AudioGraph, for the first time, advertisers can plan, target, measure, and attribute that audience using privacy-safe, ID-informed insights with digital-like precision.”
Obama Presidential Center today (6/19) from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. The station says, “Juneteenth is more than a holiday. It is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a people who transformed adversity into achievement and hope into progress. On this historic day, tune in as your favorite WVON hosts bring you live coverage, special guests, and community reflections from this momentous occasion.”
progressive perspective.” KBLA contributor Dr. Cornel West says, “Tavis Smiley’s programming fills a content vacuum across the United States and is needed more now than ever. Under Tavis’ bold leadership, KBLA and its program hosts have helped to influence, educate, and engage previously marginalized people across this country. I’m excited for what the future holds.” Smiley says, “Five years ago, on Juneteenth, we launched KBLA Talk 1580, with the goal of providing news and information to a part of Los Angeles that had been ignored or pushed to the side for decades. We’re now syndicated in almost 50 markets across the United States with more growth on the horizon. The best is truly yet to come.”
back if he leaves before the end of the term of the agreement. For each complete calendar year of the term of the deal, Thompson is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to $300,000 with the opportunity to earn up to 132% of the target bonus for superior performance. Also, provided that the material weaknesses identified in the company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025, are remediated, at the end of the term of the Agreement, Thompson is eligible to receive bonus compensation in the amount of $850,000. He is also eligible to receive certain stock-based compensation. 
the availability of professional sports programming on free, over-the-air broadcast television. The resolution comes amid growing frustration among baseball fans over the increasing number of games being placed behind streaming paywalls and spread across multiple subscription services. Morano, who previously served as host of the late-night program on WABC, New York, states, “Baseball is America’s pastime, but in New York it’s also our pastime. For generations, families could turn on the television or radio and follow their hometown team. Today, fans are often expected to juggle multiple subscriptions and streaming platforms just to watch a season’s worth of games. That’s bad for consumers, bad for working families, bad for seniors, and ultimately bad for the future of the game itself.”
Channel’s live coverage begins on June 24 and concludes on Sunday, July 5, taking place from historic locations as the National Mall, Liberty State Park, Philadelphia, Mount Rushmore, and Teddy Roosevelt’s Presidential Library, among others. Throughout the network’s special coverage, “FOX & Friends,” “America’s Newsroom,” “America Reports,” “The Five,” “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “The Ingraham Angle,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Gutfeld!,” “FOX & Friends Weekend,” “FOX News Live with Aishah Hasnie,” “FOX News Sunday,” “The Sunday Briefing” and “The Big Weekend Show” will all broadcast live from the National Mall as the nation’s capital hosts the event highlighting all 50 states as well as U.S. territories during the Great American State Fair.
Buffalo Broadcasters Association reports that the company offered Wenger a different position within the company but he’s electing to pursue new opportunities. Wenger has spent much of his career in Buffalo, beginning in the newsroom at WBEN-AM in 1986. He rose through the programming ranks and eventually into management in his current market manager role. Wenger’s wife, Susan Rose, serves with WBEN-AM as morning news anchor and reporter and she will remain in her position. 
the United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Texas to continue to operate in a way that allows it to satisfy liabilities through October 27, 2026. Specifically, the Court is extending the “Removal Period” within which the Cumulus may remove civil actions from the previous deadline of June 2 to October 27. Cumulus is awaiting approval from the FCC as it is processing the FCC Long Form Application for the transfer of its licenses.
and he comments on company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the rededication to sports programming, “Relieving that financial pressure has been liberating. We’ve got everybody swimming in the same direction. Linear broadcast, streaming digital and on-demand podcasts… they don’t compete with each other. They all sing together, like a maestro with a band.” The Fan produced an NFL Draft watch party on YouTube featuring the station’s hosts and with the success of that decided to do halftime and postgame shows on YouTube during the Knicks’ Finals series. Audacy says those livestreams are part of the reason it brings in one-third of its revenue from digital sources. 
“Baseball is back!” was welcome in April (especially after a rough winter in many places). But it sounds embarrassingly old by now.
Beasley chief content officer Justin Chase comments, “Will is an outstanding programmer and leader with a proven track record of building great brands, developing talent, and driving results. Having previously worked in the Tampa market, he understands both our audience and our opportunity. His passion, creativity, and deep industry experience make him a tremendous addition to our team, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Beasley.” Calder succeeds Rick Thomas, who recently departed the company to pursue his next chapter.
and media personality Jason Jackson Jr. as its first client. Salem Media CEO David Santrella states, “For years, we’ve worked alongside some of the most influential voices in media. Many of them are looking for more than platform monetization. They want a partner who not only understands their audience and shares their values but also has the experience to help them continue building their brands. Launching SCA is a natural next step for us.” SCA managing director Andrew Samalot adds, “As we’ve worked alongside creators over the last several years, we’ve seen firsthand that the most successful talent aren’t just building social media audiences – they’re building brands, businesses, and platforms that extend far beyond any single channel. Our role is to help them identify those opportunities, navigate them strategically, and surround them with representation they can trust as they continue growing their influence and impact.”
courage, and unlikely twists that built the United States,” the story “uncovers the human drama behind America’s earliest, most pivotal moments. Listeners will meet settlers fighting to survive, preachers sparking mass revival, revolutionaries defying an empire, and founders struggling to invent a functioning nation.” The special will air on more than 350 affiliates of “The Glenn Beck Weekend Program” during the holiday weekend. It’s also available to talk stations in non-competing markets as early as Friday, July 3, and may be aired multiple times throughout the holiday weekend. 
leadership, and business acumen that have helped drive our growth across audio, digital, podcasting, streaming, and emerging media platforms. As we continue expanding our portfolio and creating innovative opportunities for advertisers and strategic partners, Isaiah’s ability to execute forward-thinking solutions makes him the ideal leader for this role.” 
is the change dictates exactly when certain debt holders can convert their debt into voting company stock (Class A and Class B shares), which will ultimately dilute existing shareholders and shift control of the company to the noteholders. Under the Transaction Support Agreement, eligible debt holders can issue a “Notice of Conversion,” forcing Beasley to issue new shares of Class A and Class B Common Stock to those noteholders, thus giving them control of the company. Beasley can avoid this by paying down its remaining debt of about $110 million before December 31 of 2027. If the above scenario takes place, the FCC would have to approve the license transfers before the noteholders could assume control.
…I’m sharing promo copy now airing on my client stations, which addresses listeners’ – and advertisers’ — 2026 apprehensions:
result is a substantial burden on local newspapers and broadcast stations. New York State Broadcaster Association president David Donovan comments, “By protecting broadcast news operations from unauthorized access by Big Tech, the legislation ensures the economic foundations of producing original, local news by broadcast stations throughout the Empire state. It prohibits using “stealth crawlers” to extract a broadcaster’s news content without permission or payment. In addition, the legislation requires AI systems to disclose when crawlers are employed to extract content from broadcasters.”
specifically for radio sellers, managers, and broadcast professionals, this interactive session will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming sales workflows, prospecting, proposal creation, campaign analysis, and day-to-day operations. Attendees will leave with practical tools and actionable strategies they can implement immediately.” 
podcasts reach consumers throughout their daily routines, creating repeated exposure and strong recall. Audio also commands our attention in ways many formats can’t.” Additionally, radio personalities do something other formats can’t: “When our favorite hosts vouch for a brand, it feels personal. And that built-in influence doesn’t just capture attention — it sparks action.” 74% of radio listeners polled say they have purchased a brand after hearing an ad from their radio host. Finally, Nelson says the intersection of audio and digital marketing is where consumers are reached. “Audio builds awareness, attention, and trust. Digital marketing captures intent and drives action lower in the funnel. Together they drive measurable results with double digital increases in performance.” 
provide CMLI with opportunities to engage with students and the campus community through WHPC and select college events. The college will also make available WHPC-produced public affairs programming, as well as student-produced content for potential use across CMLI’s stations. Connoisseur Media regional SVP Kristin Okesson says, “We’re excited to partner with Nassau Community College to help inspire and develop the next generation of radio and media talent. Partnerships like these create a direct pipeline for passionate students to gain real-world experience, build important industry connections, and ultimately become the future superstars of our business. We appreciate Shawn Novatt and the NCC team for their commitment to creating these opportunities, and we look forward to working together to support students as they begin their careers in broadcasting and media.”