The most discussed stories yesterday (8/5) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Beasley Media Group’s 97.5 The Fanatic (WPEN-FM), Philadelphia’s announced a new weekday on-air lineup highlighted by the promotion of current midday host Jon Marks to the station’s morning drive program. Beginning Monday, August 17th, Marks will join Andrew Salciunas as co-host of the weekday morning show from 6:00 to 10:00 am, following the departure of John Kincade. Marks, who currently hosts the station’s popular “Middays with Marks” program, will transition to mornings alongside Salciunas, who has been part of the morning show for the past two-and-a-half years. The move pairs one of Philadelphia’s most recognized sports radio personalities with one of the market’s emerging voices while maintaining a strong local focus during the station’s highest-profile daypart. The programming changes also create new opportunities across the station’s weekday schedule. Ray Dunne, who previously served as producer of the station’s midday program, moves into an on-air hosting role and will join Sean Brace to lead the midday show from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Meanwhile, “Unfiltered with Ricky Bo and Bill Colarulo” will continue in afternoon drive from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. “Jon Marks has earned the trust of Philadelphia sports fans through years of outstanding work on the air, making him a natural choice to drive our morning show” said Paul Blake, Vice President and Market Manager, Beasley Media Group Philadelphia. “Along with Andrew, Sean, Ray, Ricky and Bill, we’re confident this lineup reflects the depth of talent at The Fanatic and reinforces our commitment to delivering the best local sports talk in Philadelphia.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (8/4) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Zoellner Media Group announced an upcoming frequency realignment involving two of its flagship radio stations, music-formatted Mix 96.5 and news/talker 102.3 KRMG. As part of this strategic move, Mix 96.5 and 102.3 KRMG will transition to new positions on the FM dial, Mix 102.3 and 96.5 KRMG, reportedly “enhancing signal reach and strengthening the listener experience across the Tulsa market.” Group owner, Dr. Robert Zoellner tells TALKERS, “We are always looking for ways to better serve our listeners and our community. This frequency realignment allows us to strengthen our signal presence and ensure that both Mix and KRMG are positioned for continued growth and long-term success. It’s an exciting step forward for our company and for the audiences we serve.” The transition will take place on August 31, 2026, and listeners will be guided through the change with on-air messaging and promotional support to ensure what station management describes as “a seamless experience.”
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Radio once measured the audience… now digital platforms use the audience to decide what happens next
Radio programmers have always watched the audience. The difference for programmers today is that the audience can now watch back, respond instantly, influence the show, and determine whether the next person ever receives it.
That is the practical meaning of an algorithm for a broadcaster. It is not a mysterious robot hiding inside the black box of an enigmatic social platform. It is a set of instructions used to make decisions. On YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify, Twitch, and other services, those instructions help determine which content gets shown, to whom, in what order, and under what circumstances.
Radio has used simpler forms of algorithmic thinking for decades. A music clock is a set of instructions. So is a rule prohibiting two songs by the same artist within a specified period. Or two female vocals in a row. A programmer who schedules news at the top of the hour, traffic twice an hour, and the strongest feature before a commercial break has created a decision system.
Digital algorithms do something more consequential. They do not merely organize the program. They organize the audience around each individual piece of content.
From diaries to PPM
The traditional radio diary asked selected listeners to record what they heard and when they heard it. Nielsen defines the diary as a measurement method in which respondents manually record their listening habits. Those reported habits are then used to estimate listening across a larger market.
The system was necessarily crude. A diary could show that someone reported listening to a station during morning drive. It could not reliably establish whether that person loved the program, ignored it, hated it, stayed because the station was playing in a waiting room, or simply remembered the call letters incorrectly.
Still, the diary produced an enormously valuable number. Ratings influenced advertising rates, station formats, talent contracts, syndication opportunities, and management decisions. The ratings service measured the audience, but the station still controlled the programming and the transmitter.
The Portable People Meter changed the speed and granularity of that feedback. PPM panelists carry a small device that detects inaudible identification codes embedded in participating broadcasts. Instead of relying entirely on a listener’s memory and written entry, the meter passively detects exposure to encoded audio.
That gave programmers something closer to immediate feedback. They could study audience movement within smaller portions of a show, identify apparent tune-out points, compare features, evaluate commercial breaks, and make changes much more quickly.
PPM therefore became the bridge between traditional ratings and algorithmic distribution. The diary remembered the audience. PPM observed the audience more closely. Both still produced information for human beings to interpret.
A programmer could see a decline and decide to shorten a segment. The meter did not shorten it. A consultant could conclude that a feature hurt retention. The PPM system did not prevent tomorrow’s listeners from hearing it.
The algorithm closes that gap.
The most discussed stories yesterday (8/3) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
It is now the ultimate competitive advantage, and for broadcasters it’s a survival strategy. In The Five-Year Century: Bold Leadership and Accelerated Outcomes in the Age of AI, Mihir Shukla and Nancy Hauge explain how—as artificial intelligence accelerates change and demographics reshape the audience—trust becomes the only durable asset radio and television can bank on.
The book describes a 2026 world where the “twin engines” of growth—population and productivity—have stalled. Birth rates are plunging, workforces are shrinking, and productivity has flatlined across most industries. Meanwhile, AI is compressing decades of innovation into months. This collision creates what the authors call “The Five-Year Century,” in which the pace of change overwhelms institutions built for slower times—broadcasting, for instance.
Radio and television were built on industrial-era assumptions: mass audiences, standardized programming, rigid schedules, and hierarchical decision-making. Those assumptions worked when the audience was broad, predictable, and captive. On February 9, 1964, the Beatles tripled Ed Sullivan’s ratings. Back to the future…
AI is rewriting the rules of content creation, distribution, and consumption. Personalized news feeds, customized ad loads, and algorithmic programming are expectations. Younger audiences don’t wait for a newscast; they expect a feed. They don’t tune in; they scroll. They don’t accept one-size-fits-all; they demand one-size-fits-me.
In this environment, trust becomes the new currency because it’s the one thing AI cannot manufacture.
Broadcasting’s advantage has always been credibility. When a storm hits, people still turn to local radio. When a shelter-in-place alert hits their phone, they still switch on local TV. That instinct is powerful, but it’s not permanent. Trust must be earned continuously, especially as AI-generated misinformation floods the ecosystem.
The book’s chapter on the “Trust Economy” makes a critical point: trust accelerates outcomes. High-trust organizations move faster, innovate more boldly, and adapt more effectively. For broadcasters, trust accelerates audience loyalty, advertiser confidence, and community relevance. But trust now requires new behaviors.
It requires transparency about how AI is used in newsrooms. It requires clarity about what is human judgment and what is machine assistance. It requires authenticity as AI-generated talent becomes increasingly commonplace—and increasingly convincing.
Trust requires broadcasters to lean into what humans do best: context, empathy, moral reasoning, and community connection. The book reminds us that “work worthy of human potential” is work that machines cannot replicate. For broadcasters, that means storytelling, accountability journalism, and the human presence that makes local media local.
By all means, assign AI the routine tasks: editing, logging, transcription, versioning, and production. Then reinvest the human time you save in the relationship between a station and its community. In The Five-Year Century, trust isn’t just a virtue. It’s a conspicuous differentiator. It’s the currency that will determine which broadcasters thrive and which fade into the noise of an algorithmic world. As our industry suffers workforce cutbacks, we risk downsizing trust.
To read two sample chapters and watch a short video interview with the authors, click here.
Holland Cooke is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn.
After nearly 40 years as a mainstay of Las Vegas radio broadcasting, News Talk 840 KXNT will be going dark effective September 1. Parent company, Audacy announced its plan to shut down the iconic news/talk outlet this past Friday (7/31) on longtime Las Vegas radio talk show host Alan Stock‘s one-hour morning program, “News at 8.” According to a report by John Katsilometes in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Stock stunned his audience with the statement, “I have an important update for our listeners. Effective September 1, News Talk 840 KXNT will conclude its broadcast operation.” Stock continued reading from a prepared statement: “To put it simply, the station’s transmitter site is shutting down. Our parent company, Audacy, explored a number of alternative transmission options, but ultimately wasn’t able to identify a technically and financially viable long-term solution. This wasn’t an easy decision. I know KXNT has been a part of this community for a long time, and it’s been an honor to spend time with you every day.” Stock continued, “I’m incredibly grateful to our listeners, our advertisers, and everyone who has made the station such an important part of Las Vegas.” The article in the Friday NEON section of the Vegas publication went on to report that according to Audacy, Stock’s show will move to the company’s other Las Vegas news/talk property, KDWN 101.5-FM in its 8:00 am weekday time slot beginning Tuesday, September 1. At this point, Stock’s “News at 8” is the only locally-produced talk show on KXNT, a conservative platform that is otherwise home to nationally syndicated programming. The report states, shows hosted by such right leaning voices as Glenn Beck and Mark Levin will end their programming in Las Vegas, but still be available nationwide, as the station signs off. Station SVP/market manager Gina Massenzi said the station’s approximately 40 full- and part-time staffers would remain with the company. KXNT-AM 840 signed on under the call letters KVEG in 1986, mixing talk and middle-of-the-road music. In 1997, KVEG changed its call sign to KXNT, the “NT” standing for “News/Talk.”
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
A conventional infringing commercial may misuse a song, recording, photograph, or written copy. An AI commercial can create the same copyright problem while adding another: the unauthorized commercial use of a recognizable person’s identity. One file can therefore produce two entirely different claims.
Copyright protects original expression, including scripts, music, and sound recordings. It generally does not give anyone a copyright in the sound of a natural voice. That does not make a distinctive voice free for advertisers to imitate.
Tom Waits established the distinction decades before generative AI. After Waits declined to participate in a Frito-Lay campaign, the company used a singer who imitated him in a radio commercial. Waits successfully pursued claims for voice misappropriation and false endorsement. AI now makes that imitation faster, cheaper, and potentially more convincing. Waits v. Frito-Lay
The rights do not travel together
There is another wrinkle. The AI company may possess defenses that do not travel with the finished audio. In Walters v. OpenAI, ChatGPT falsely accused radio host Mark Walters of embezzlement. OpenAI defeated the defamation claim because the recipient encountered warnings that the system could be inaccurate, did not believe the accusation, verified that it was false, and did not republish it. Walters also failed to prove the necessary fault or damages. Walters v. OpenAI case summary
That ruling did not grant AI companies blanket immunity. It does suggest an uncomfortable result for broadcasters. A provider’s warning that its output requires verification may help protect the provider while making it harder for a station to argue that airing the output without checking was reasonable. The company that generated the problem may have a better defense than the broadcaster that delivered it to the public.
California’s AI Transparency Act, operative August 2, 2026, now requires certain large AI providers to offer detection tools and place provenance disclosures in generated audio, images, and video. Those tools may help identify origin. They do not establish copyright clearance, consent, accuracy, or authority to imitate someone. California AI Transparency Act
Stations should require advertisers to warrant both ownership and permission for identifiable voices or likenesses, backed by indemnification. AI has not replaced the old clearance problem. It can place a second problem beside it, then leave the broadcaster holding both.
Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonLegalGroup.com or read more at TALKERS.com.
The Radio Hall of Fame announced today (8/3) the selection of nine 2026 Legends inductees. These individuals were selected by the Radio Hall of Fame’s 2026 Nominating Committee, which meets annually to recognize deceased individuals who made significant contributions to the radio industry. The Radio Hall of Fame is housed within the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
The following nine radio legends take their place in the Radio Hall of Fame immediately:
Dennis Green, co-chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, tells TALKERS: “The Radio Hall of Fame is proud to honor this year’s Legends inductees, whose extraordinary careers have helped define the history and enduring impact of radio. From iconic on-air personalities to visionary executives, each has left an indelible mark on our industry and earned their rightful place in the Radio Hall of Fame.”
Kraig Kitchin, co-chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, adds: “It’s an honor and privilege to witness the induction of these radio industry legends. We hope this recognition of their industry contributions benefits their family, colleagues, friends, and listeners.”
The Radio Hall of Fame will recognize its 2026 class of inductees at the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Fairmont Chicago. Tickets are on sale now at RadioHallOfFame.com. A portion of each ticket purchase is a tax-deductible charitable donation to the Museum of Broadcast Communications.`
The most discussed stories over the weekend (8/1–2) on news/talk radio and related talk media, according to TALKERS research:
Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM, Washington will cease its simulcast on the Frederick, Maryland station 
WTLP-FM (licensed to Braddock Heights) at 103.9 FM and the company will begin leasing it to the Christian music network K-LOVE on August 1. WTOP general manager Joel Oxley states, “Our main signal on 103.5 FM covers most of Frederick County’s population and with the advent of streaming, listeners can get us anywhere in the country.” WTOP began simulcasting on 103.9 FM in 2007.
The sale of seven radio signals from Capitol Broadcasting Company to Curtis Media Group has closed. The $1.75 million deal gives Curtis Media 
WRMR-FM, Jacksonville, NC; WMFD-AM, Wilmington, NC; WKXB-FM, Boiling Spring Lakes, NC; WILT-FM, Wrightsville Beach, NC; WAZO-FM, Southport, NC; and translators W269DF-FX and W240AS-FX, Wilmington, NC. KALIL & CO., INC. was the exclusive broker for this transaction.
NYPR Announces Collaboration with URL Media. New York Public Radio is collaborating with URL Media, a network of more than 50 independent publishers and content creators serving diverse communities across the United States. NYPR president and CEO Christy Tanner says, “New coalitions, bold approaches, and radical collaborations such as our work with URL are essential as we lead a new era of democracy where journalism and creativity thrive, facts unite us, and power answers to the people. Our collaboration with URL Media is a call to action and an invitation to reimagine how creators and media organizations can collectively amplify impact and build community.”
WUSF Plans Expanded Election Coverage. Listener-supported radio station WUSF, Tampa announces a project to produce dramatically expanded news coverage and resources for voters in advance of elections across Florida this year. The station says it is enlisting more reporters into this effort, including journalists from the WUSF newsroom, plus student journalists from the University of South Florida, and partner public media stations across the state. WUSF general manager Leslie Laney states, “The result is the residents of this state will have access to some of our strongest-ever election coverage. And as part of our public service mission, all of this coverage will be free – not behind a paywall.”
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (7/27-31) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
People
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
Salem Media’s Houston operations manager Chuck Tiller exits the company. The Houston operations include news/talk KNTH-AM/K277DE. Tiller posted to social media, “My time at Salem Radio Houston has come to an 
end. My job was eliminated Friday, July 24th. I was at Salem for a total of 25 years. I worked there twice. I assisted getting KNTH on the air as the latest news/talk station in November 2004. I met many great people while there. I had great staff, too. One of the biggest thrills was producing the Sam Malone Show, as well as his sidekick. JP Pritchard along with Tom Fontaine contributed to the success of the show. Good times; great oldies.”
Local media in Springfield, Missouri are reporting that Zimmer Communications and Mid-West Family are merging their operations with Zimmer taking over what will be the nine-station cluster, pending FCC approval. 
Zimmer will take over the operation of sports talk KOSP-FM “102.1 The Won” and three music brands. It currently owns news/talk KWTO/K227KO and sports talk KBFL-AM/K245CA. Zimmer Communications president John Zimmer says,
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring together two organizations that share the same values and a deep commitment to local broadcasting. By combining our strengths, we’ll be able to offer advertisers even more effective marketing solutions while continuing to provide the trusted local content our audiences rely on.” Mid-West Family president Mike Paterson adds, “As the local radio and media landscape continues to evolve, bringing these two organizations together creates even greater opportunities for our advertising partners, our communities and especially our employees.” See the OzarksFirststory here.
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio says the application window is open for its Fourth Annual Speak Up! Mentorship Program in partnership with Media Staffing Network. The application period runs through 
Friday, August 28. The program was created in honor of the late founder of Media Staffing Network, Laurie Kahn. MIW says Speak Up! is a year-long mentorship program designed to empower women working in small- and medium-market radio stations across all departments. One outstanding candidate will receive personalized mentorship from MIW’s network of female broadcast leaders, complemented by executive coaching from Media Staffing Network’s certified coaches. Get more info and apply here.
The most discussed stories yesterday (7/29) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
The National Association of Broadcasters reveals the list of finalists for the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards. The winners of the 2026 NAB Marconi Radio Awards will be 
announced during a special dinner at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on October 20. While four spoken-word-formatted stations made the cut in the Legendary Station category, it’s interesting to note that just one talk host – news/talk or sports talk – is a finalist across five personality categories. That distinction goes to WCHS-AM, Charleston, West Virginia morning drive host Chris Lawrence who is a finalist in the Small Market Personality of the Year category. Go get, ‘em Chris! We’re pulling for you.
The John Fredericks Media Network enters into a relationship with the sports wagering media company Past The Wire Sports that will the company’s content appear across JFMN’s more than 20 terrestrial radio stations and connected TV, as well as its digital assets, beginning August 3. JFMN notes that Past The Wire Sports has evolved from a horse racing media brand into a platform covering sports wagering, prediction markets, professional sports, premium video programming, and proprietary technology.
The John Fredericks Media Network says it is in the process of acquiring WAKM-AM, Franklin, Tennessee that will add to its sports division. JFMN says the addition of WAKM-AM will complement WENO-AM, Nashville and the News-Talk Nashville – The Flame digital app and adds that the acquisition represents 
“another major milestone in JFMN’s strategic vision of building the nation’s premier independently owned News-Talk-Sports media network.” JFMN co-founder John Fredericks says, “As we continue to grow across America, Tennessee is a key market for our future. Our mission is simple: deliver compelling News-Talk-Sports programming that people can’t get anywhere else. We’re building platforms that serve our audience – not shareholders – and this expansion is another major step in that vision. We’re proving that News-Talk and Sports belong together. Our audience wants breaking news, honest opinion, and the teams they love – all from one trusted source. That’s exactly what we’re delivering.”
By Robert Pearl
Veteran journalist, author, political commentator, and 77WABC Radio personality Dominic Carter was honored with the American Heritage Award at the Kings County Conservative Party’s Annual American Heritage Reception on July 23 at the Knights of Baron DeKalb in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The event celebrated Carter’s more than four decades in broadcast journalism, recognizing his distinguished career as a radio host, television commentator, author, and one of New York’s most respected media voices.
Hosted by Kings County Conservative Party and Chairwoman
Frances Vella Marrone, the reception brought together elected officials, candidates, community leaders, and supporters to recognize Carter’s professional achievements while celebrating the values of perseverance, public service, and the American Dream.
Presenting the award, Vella Marrone praised Carter’s remarkable journey from a difficult childhood in a Bronx housing project to becoming a nationally recognized broadcaster.
“Where you begin in life does not determine where you can go,” she said, describing Carter as someone whose life story reflects the opportunities made possible through determination, personal responsibility, and hard work. She also commended his willingness to openly share his experiences through his journalism and bestselling memoir, “No Momma’s Boy”, inspiring listeners and readers far beyond New York City.
Accepting the honor, Carter explained that he had undergone surgery less than 24 hours earlier but was determined to attend.
“I was not going to miss this event,” he told the audience. “The Conservative Party has saved my life.” Carter reflected on his upbringing in public housing and his political evolution, saying he came to embrace the values of work, family, accountability, and opportunity. “I was a lifelong Democrat… but the Democrat Party left me. I didn’t leave them,” he said, noting he proudly shares those beliefs on the air and during speaking engagements nationwide.
One of the evening’s heartfelt moments came when Carter invited his son, Dominic Jr., and wife, Marilyn, to the stage. Sharing that doctors once believed his son would never graduate from high school because of epilepsy and a learning disability, Carter proudly announced that Dominic Jr. earned two college degrees.
“Never let anybody define who you are,” Carter said, drawing sustained applause.
Vella Marrone thanked supporters and volunteers for strengthening the Kings County Conservative Party and encouraged continued grassroots involvement.
“We’re going to keep fighting and fighting,” she said, urging attendees to remain engaged in preserving liberty and opportunity through civic participation.
Additional remarks were delivered by Conservative Party State Chairman Gerard Kassar, Assembly Minority Leader Edward Ra, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, and other elected officials, all of whom praised Carter’s broadcasting career and contributions to journalism. The evening concluded with a standing ovation, featuring book signings, and photographs as guests celebrated Carter’s enduring impact on New York media and public discourse.
Robert Pearl is a Brooklyn-based journalist who writes about New York City media, politics, and culture. He can be emailed at pearlknows@yahoo.com.
The Divorce Hour Hits Five-Year Mark. “The Divorce Hour,” hosted by acclaimed divorce journalist and advocate Ilyssa Panitz, proudly celebrates its fifth anniversary on CRN Digital Talk Radio. CRN says, “‘The Divorce Hour’ has become a staple and respected voice in the divorce and relationship space, featuring carefully vetted attorneys, financial planners, therapists, mediators, coaches, authors, wellness experts, celebrities, and other notable guests. Every episode is carefully designed to educate, inform, inspire, and empower listeners with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate one of life’s most difficult transitions.”
NHPR Promotes Content Leaders. New Hampshire Public Radio names 16-year NHPR staffer Rebecca Lavoie the organization’s first chief content officer. Lavoi, who previously ran NHPR’s podcast studio, will ensure that NHPR’s journalism and programming meet its business objectives and strategic goals. Additionally, NHPR promotes news director Dan Barrick to vice president of news.
The most discussed stories yesterday (7/27) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research: