Industry News

Aaron Miller Named DOS at CMG Tampa

Radio sales pro Aaron Miller is named director of sales for Cox Media Group’s Tampa station group that includes talk WHPT-FM “102.5 The Bone” and five music brands. This is a return to CMG Tampa for Millerimg who most recently served with Audacy in Sacramento as SVP and market manager. Cox Media Group VP and market manager Jason Meder states, “Aaron’s experience, leadership, and passion for our radio make him a tremendous asset to our Tampa leadership team. We’re excited to welcome him back and look forward to the impact he will have on our sales organization, our clients, and our continued growth in the Tampa market.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Presslaff Named 2026 MIW Frances Preston Trailblazer. Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc named Ruth Presslaff the 2026 MIW Frances Preston Trailblazer. She is the founder of Presslaff Interactive Revenue, former MIW board president, and current MIW advisory board member. The Trailblazer Award is named for music industry pioneer and longtime BMI president and CEO Frances Preston. Presslaff was honored on Monday (4/20) during the 2026 NAB Show.

SiriusXM Announces NFL Draft Coverage. SiriusXM will cover all seven rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft from Pittsburgh Thursday through Saturday (4-23-25) on the NFL Radio channel. The broadcast will be anchored by Jason Horowitz with expert analysis from will be provided by Pat Kirwan, Jacob Hester, Danny Kanell, and Bobby Carpenter.

Industry News

Live, Local Saturday Night Show Gains Traction in Hartford

“Nighttime Neighbors” – a multi-topic talk show launched this past January on heritage giant WTIC-AM, Hartford is making waves. Hosted by the station’s morning news anchor, Morgan Cunningham, the program airs late Saturday evenings 9:00 pm to 12:00 midnight and is quickly connecting with an engaged audience of what he describes as img“truckers, shift-workers, travelers, insomniacs, shut-ins, and anyone else looking for a late-night community.” Cunningham tells TALKERS, “I grew unhappy with what was my usual dancing at Manhattan-area nightclubs on Saturday nights. Yet, I sought conversation and connection in an environment that didn’t involve crowds or virtual chats. My talk show was born.” In describing the show’s format, Cunningham continues, “There are no guests. It’s just me, various topics as I see them, and open lines. The formula is simple… and it’s a hit.” Before the show’s debut in January, Cunningham studied comparable news/talk stations in each of the top 75 radio markets explaining, “I could only find a handful of stations that offered live, late-night talk heading into overnights, particularly on Saturday nights. You can now add Hartford to that list.”

Industry Views

Monday Memo: The Future of Radio isn’t Radio, It’s Reach

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgAs a newly minted program director (remember them?), I found the 1980 “NAB Radio Programming Conference” downright enchanting. New-tech cart machines (remember them?) would FIND the splice! And after the cart played, a flashing light saved careless DJs from accidentally playing it again.

Back to The Future: Hello from fabulous Las Vegas, where radio has been folded-into what is now called The NAB Show. Among sessions I will be attending here this week:

  • “Improving the Listener Experience,” which has suffered from cutback-after-cutback;
  • And I will be the guy typing as fast as I can at “The Local Advertising Buying Landscape: Find Out What’s Driving Digital Sales, Revenue and Growth Opportunities.”

At the annual TALKERS conference 20+ years ago, publisher Michael Harrison coined the term “Media Station,” meaning: “Analog-rooted media such as radio stations, TV stations, and newspapers will have the digital capability of assuming each other’s roles in the multi-platform environment of the 21st century. No media brand will be limited to the AM/FM dial, the VHF/UHF TV set, the printed page delivered to the front porch, or even a specific channel. Every small AM radio station could be a sleeping SiriusXM Satellite Radio.”

This year’s NAB Show goes-there, with, among other sessions:

  • “Hot Digital Trends: What to Know About Video, Podcasts and AI;” and
  • “The Omni-Media Landscape: Mapping Reach, Affinity, and the Future of Media.

Recently, when CBS Legal wouldn’t let Stephen Colbert air his interview with surging Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D), he posted it to YouTube, where it got roughly FIVE TIMES the views his TV show gets most nights. So… with technology now enabling individuals, I sure won’t miss:

  • “A Crew of One: Solo Storytelling Strategies,” where the NAB Show says we will “Learn how to manipulate space and time as a solo storyteller, getting set up for success, working with multiple cameras, and keeping the flow from start to finish.”
  • Ditto “The Ultimate Creator Studio Tips and Tricks;” and
  • “The Fandom Flywheel: Building Scalable Media Ecosystems in The Bravoverse.”

With Uncle Sam’s big birthday looming, there’s “America 250: Owning the Moment – How Radio and TV Will Drive Community, Culture and Revenue in 2026;” and “The First Amendment and Press Freedom in Today’s Media Landscape.”

If you are in ‘Vegas this week, look for me at all-of-the-above. Maybe we can grab a cuppa cawfee. And no matter WHAT the dealer is showing, always-always split Aces and 8s. If you aren’t here, look for my NAB Show report again here tomorrow.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News

Townsquare and KSE Announces Digital Marketing Deal

Townsquare Media and Denver’s Kroenke Sports and Entertainment – owner of radio stations – announce a digital marketing deal. Shaun Collignon is chief revenue officer of Townsquare Ignite and he says, “KSE Radio / Kroenke Sports & Entertainment represents some of the most valuable and engaged audiences in media today. By integrating Townsquare Ignite’s data-driven platform, strategy and executionimg capabilities, we’re enabling KSE to scale its digital offering and drive stronger, more measurable results for its clients. This partnership is a powerful example of how media companies can evolve and win in a performance-driven marketplace.” Townsquare launched their Media Partnerships division in 2024 in which it provides a white-label service that equips other local media companies with the digital advertising solutions that have fueled Townsquare’s own growth and success, with digital now comprising over 50% of Townsquare’s total revenue and profit. KSE Radio SVP and general manager Joel Clary says, “Kroenke Sports and Entertainment is excited to partner with Townsquare Ignite for all of our entertainment assets in the Denver market. Townsquare has the best digital solutions in the radio industry and a proven track record of delivering great results to clients.”

Industry News

Charlie Kirk’s Accused Killer Seeks to Keep Cameras Out of Courtroom

The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk is petitioning the judge in his murder trial to keep cameras out of the courtroom, arguing that live broadcasts are violating his right to a fair trial. Tyler Robinson is due in imgcourt today (4/17) Friday when his lawyers will argue that biased coverage is tainting potential jurors in his aggravated murder case.  According to Audacy’s report, media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk’s widow, Erika, want the court to allow cameras. They argue the best way to guard against the misinformation and conspiracy theories that concern Robinson’s defense team is to make the process transparent. Read the Audacy story here.

Industry Views

Talk Radio Mile Markers

By Pamela Garber, LMHC
Grand Central Counseling Group
New York

imgIn a piece I recently wrote for TALKERS I encouraged talk show hosts and producers to book more guests from the mental health profession to provide much-needed relief from the alarming level of anxiety afflicting American society. Since then, the non-stop news cycle, replete with the media pushing people’s buttons to keep them sucked in, has me further convinced this need would benefit the medium as well as the public. Win-win.

People today are negatively impacted by fear, pressure, disgust and confusion. Pressure to keep up with runaway technology. Fear of crushing financial responsibilities and institutional betrayal. Anger over ever-lurking danger from scams, identity theft, and violent assault on the street. Confusion over rapidly changing values, diminishment of ethics, and contentious relationships.

The result: talk radio listeners (as well as potential ones) are drowning in anxiety.

Where does the tumult of an increasingly noisy and uncertain world reach a daily crescendo?  On news/talk radio, of course. That unto itself is not a bad thing. The airing of news and views in the public marketplace of ideas is both therapeutic and a healthy exercise of our First Amendment rights. It is also grimly entertaining.

However, as both a therapist in practice for over two decades and a guest on many talk show interviews, I strongly believe that people need an occasional “spoonful” of relief to “help the medicine go down.” It’s not that I’m advocating sugar coating the content. But even just acknowledging the problems real people are facing from a human perspective can alleviate pain.

Mile markers to the rescue

My experience as a running enthusiast evokes a talk radio reference to the “mile markers” that dot the paths of long-distance races.

It was at mile 18 in the New York Marathon when I first yearned for a mile marker. Mile markers are those coveted little stations along the running races where everyone who extends their arm to offer runners a cup of water or Gatorade is Florence Nightingale to each participant who grabs the “reward.”

A little mile marker has such a big impact on going the distance in races (and in life). Life is hilly, sometimes suddenly downhill, with sprints and injuries, struggling to keep pace, and pretending to be slow. Mile markers in real life give us a boost.  That occasional mental health expert popping up every now and then as a news/talk radio element can put things in context, offer solutions, and stop the spread of those deadly words: “I can’t listen to this anymore; It make me too anxious.”

Check out this talk radio hit, “Close My Ears,” by Gunhill Road by clicking here.

Pamela Garber, LMHC is a practicing therapist based in NYC and South Florida and a longtime guest mental health commentator on radio and television news programs across the nation. She can be contacted by phone at 646-745-6709 or email at Pamelagarber@gmail.com.  Her website is Grandcentralcounselinggroup.com.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (April 13-17)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (4/13-17) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Israel’s Lebanon Attacks
  2. Trump-Vance vs The Pope / Trump’s AI Jesus Posts
  3. Trump Threatens Jerome Powell
  4. Looming Expiration of FISA 702
  5. Swalwell & Gonzales Exit Congress
  6. Orban Ousted
  7. Fairfax Murder-Suicide
  8. Labor Secretary Investigation
  9. New Jersey Special Election
  10. Russini-Vrable Scandal

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. JD Vance
  3. Pope Leo XIV
  4. Mike Johnson
  5. Pete Hegseth
  6. Jerome Powell
  7. Eric Swalwell / Tony Gonzales
  8. Viktor Orbán
  9. Lori Chavez-DeRemer
  10. Dianna Russini / Mike Vrable

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

Host Ron Slay and “104.5 The Zone” Renew Deal

Afternoon drive personality Ron Slay and Cumulus Media agree to a new contract that will keep him co-hosting the afternoon drive “3HL” show on WGFX-FM, Nashville “104.5 The Zone” alongside Brent Dougherty and Dawn Davenport. The station says that since joining “3HL” in 2021, Slay has become an essential part of the show’s identity – blending sharp sports insight, humor, and a natural storyteller’s instinct that resonates far beyond the studio. Station programming operations manager Paul Mason comments, “Ron is a game‑changer. He brings energy, curiosity, and joy to everything he touches. Watching his growth – not just as a broadcaster, but as a leader and connector – has been incredible. His ceiling truly doesn’t exist, and we’re excited to see what this next chapter brings.” In addition to his work with “104.5 The Zone,” Slay serves as a college basketball analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network.

Industry News

FARM Announces New Weekend Show

Farm and Ranch Media announces the addition of a weekend version of their popular weekday talk show, “Agriculture of America” that will launch on May 1. FARM VP of national ag content and host of the program Jesse Allen says, “There continues to be no shortage of news andimg information for farmers and ranchers and we are looking to double down on our efforts to bring that information to them through our radio affiliate partners. I am honored that we are able to grow the AOA footprint and expand to include a weekend offering that will continue to tell the story of agriculture, one conversation at a time.” Agriculture of America” debuted in 2018 by the team at FARM in conjunction with National Association of Farm Broadcasting Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Adams featuring interviews and conversations with agricultural leaders, members of congress, market analysts, newsmakers and more and has grown into a nationally syndicated radio show heard on over 70 affiliate radio stations and SiriusXM Rural Radio 147 every weekday.

Industry News

Forgy Returns to Saga from Medical Leave

Yesterday (4/15), Saga Communications announced that CEO imgChristopher S. Forgy had fully resumed his regular duties following a medical leave that began on February 13. The company adds that during his intermittent recovery from open heart surgery, Forgy remained available for consultation, led the company’s fourth-quarter and year-end 2025 call on March 12, 2026, and the executive team, headed by COO Wayne Leland and CFO Samuel D. Bush, maintained operational continuity.

Industry News

Murphy Named to Executive Post at Crossover Media Group

Media sales executive John Murphy is named vice president of strategic partnerships for Crossover Media Group. The move marks a reunion for Murphy with members of the Crossover Media Group team, with whom he’s worked as both a partner and a client. Most recently, Murphy served as senior vice president of content monetization at Veritone. In his new imgrole with Crossover, Murphy will work to secure new content as well as to expand the company’s client portfolio. Crossover managing member Sue Freund says, “We’ve known and worked with John for many years; his excellent relationships throughout the content and advertising communities make him a tremendous addition to our team in building strategic partnerships with clients, agencies, and content providers as we continue to grow. He has a proven track record of building high-performing sales organizations, monetizing premium content, and delivering performance-driven advertising solutions for brands, agencies and media partners.” Murphy comments, “I’m excited to be joining Crossover Media Group. The team has built a strong reputation for delivering results-driven solutions for both creators and advertisers, and I look forward to contributing to that momentum. There’s a clear opportunity to unlock new growth across partnerships, and I’m eager to help scale the business while driving meaningful value for clients.”

Industry News

Cumulus Speeding Toward Chapter 11 Exit

Yesterday (4/13) in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston the Modified Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Cumulus Media Inc. and Its Debtor Affiliates was filed. While the proposed order has yet to be approved by the judge, it is expected to be approved soon and clears theimg way for the reorganization to move to the next step – approval from the Federal Communications Commission. When fully consummated, the plan will have eliminated $592 million of debt for Cumulus and puts control of the company into the hands of secured creditors. A new board of directors will be elected and although current executive management may remain in their positions, it is entirely up to the new board of directors to determine the company’s officers.

Industry News

WWO: Marketers Underestimate Value of Creative

Today’s blog from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group reviews the annual study it commissions from Advertiser Perceptions in which it surveys brands and media agencies on the sales contribution of five advertising effectiveness factors: brand, creative, reach, recency, and targeting. As in the past marketers and media agencies massivelyimg understate the immense sales effect power of creative. Some 122 marketers placed creative as the third most important contributor toward driving sales behind targeting and brand. But the reality based on analysis of 450 ad campaigns indicates creative is far and away the most important driver of sales. Both marketers and agencies place the greatest importance on targeting. Experts caution that too narrow targeting is ineffective. See the full blog post here.

Industry News

Pearson Acquiring KISR-FM, Fort Smith for Sports Talk

Pearson Broadcasting Group is acquiring KISR-FM, Fort Smith, Arkansas from Baker Family Trust and the company plans to use the signal for its “ESPN Arkansas” sports format in the Fort Smith market. In a statement, Pearson says, “This marks a significant expansion for Pearsonimg Broadcasting and ESPN Arkansas, which will now serve all the Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Northwest Arkansas, Harrison, Mountain Home, and much of Eastern Oklahoma. Top rated KISR will continue to serve the River Valley from just below its previous dial position, moving to 93.1 FM.” ESPN Arkansas general manager Tommy Craft adds, “We are excited to expand and grow the footprint and coverage areas of our ESPN Arkansas radio stations. The addition of a 100,000-watt station to our roster of current stations is a true game changer. Fred Baker and KISR have spent more than 55 years building something that is far more than just a radio station for so many people, and we are humbled to be able to continue that kind of commitment to listeners. We live in a state where the sports we love and the daily conversations about the teams we follow matter. The opportunity to expand our coverage so that more of the great people in Arkansas can join in the conversation with our live and local sports talk radio shows is a thrill, and we cannot wait to get started.”

Industry Views

Monday Memo: The 2026 Case for Weekend Talk Radio

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgTime Spent Listening to podcasts has now surpassed TSL with spoken word radio. And both are fraught.

Anyone can do a podcast, and everyone seems to be. How to get found/subscribed-to/shared?

  • And in this listen-when-ever-you-want culture, basing Return On Investment in a brokered-time weekend ask-the-expert radio show that only reaches real-time listeners is increasingly dubious.

So, I’m helping podcasters I work with to do both. To amplify the impact of all the work you put into a podcast, make radio your content engine.

Yes, radio, for two big reasons:

  • Credibility, because? Anyone can do a podcast. But being on broadcast radio makes you seem “real.” The station delivers you an existing audience that trusts its information, supports its advertisers, and listens habitually. You are live, interactive, and “car radio.” And interview guests will be easier to attract to your on-air show than to a podcast.
  • As a podcaster, you are already an audio publisher – but you’re doing all the work yourself, reckoning what’s relevant to your listeners – a slow, lonely way to build an audience. Host a call-in radio show, and everything changes. Your callers and guests become the content pipeline that makes your podcast more than just you-talking. Their questions position you as an authority and offer proof of what your audience wants. No guesswork. No blind spots. Just nonstop relevance that keeps listeners leaning-in, coming back, and sharing your podcast with friends.

This 1 + 1 can = lots more than 2, when your show and podcast promote each other; and as this process repurposes content to social media, E-newsletters, video, and other online resources. Here’s the schematic: http://getonthenet.com/workflow.png

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News

Cumulus Media’s Q4 2025 Revenue Down 14%

Cumulus Media reports its operating results for the fourth quarter and for the full year of 2025. Cumulus’ net revenue in Q4 of 2025 was $188 million, a decline of 14% from the same period in 2024. For the full yearimg` of 2025, net revenue was $741.6 million, a decrease of 10.3% from 2024. For the full year 2025, the company posted a loss of $200.7 million. Cumulus reports by segments and for all of 2025, broadcast revenue was $116.2 million, a decline of 22.2% from 2024. Even digital revenue fell in 2025 to $151.3 million, down 1.9%. Cumulus Media president and CEO Mary G. Berner says, “The Company’s recently announced financial restructuring marks an important step toward meaningfully reducing the debt burden that has constrained the business. Looking ahead, we remain focused on building on the core strengths of the Company to maximize value.”

Job Opportunity

Lotus Seeks Part-Time News Staffer in Seattle

Lotus Seattle is looking for an experienced part-time news anchor, reporter, and news editor for all-news KNWN “Northwest Newsradio 97-7, AM 1000.” The ideal candidate will help prepare and deliver engagingimg news content, report on breaking news events, serve as board operator for special programming, and produce special projects and programming as assigned. This position does feature regular hours of board operator work, writing, producing, as well as anchoring newscasts. On occasion the position will offer extra hours during the week to cover shifts for those who are ill or on vacation. Learn more and apply here.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (April 6-10)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (4/6-10) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. Iran Ceasefire / Israel’s Lebanon Strikes
  2. Oil Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  3. Trump and 25th Amendment Talk
  4. Trump vs NATO / Vance in Hungary
  5. Bondi Epstein Deposition
  6. Melania Epstein Statement / Epstein Files
  7. Birthright Citizenship / Georgia, Wisconsin Elections
  8. DHS Funding / Privatization of TSA
  9. SCOTUS Bannon Case Ruling
  10. Artemis II Mission

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. Pete Hegseth
  3. Benjamin Netanyahu
  4. JD Vance / Marco Rubio
  1. Melania Trump / Jeffrey Epstein
  2. Jared Kushner / Steve Witkoff
  3. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf
  4. Clay Fuller
  5. Markwayne Mullin
  6. Steven K. Bannon

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.