Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend
Israel intensifies its attacks on Rafah in its war against Hamas; this week’s resumption of former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial; Trump at the Libertarian Party convention and the presidential race; the state of the economy; the Memorial Day holiday; the deadly tornadoes that claimed the lives of at least 22 in the southern U.S.; and basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton dies at 71 after a battle with cancer were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend.
AI-generated content in political ads; 2) Proposing to apply the disclosure rules to both candidate and issue advertisements; 3) Requesting comment on a specific definition of AI-generated content, and 4) Proposing to apply the disclosure requirements to broadcasters and entities that engage in origination programming, including cable operators, satellite TV and radio providers and section 325(c) permittees. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel says, “As 
artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, the Commission wants to make sure consumers are fully informed when the technology is used. Today, I’ve shared with my colleagues a proposal that makes clear consumers have a right to know when AI tools are being used in the political ads they see, and I hope they swiftly act on this issue.” However, Republican Commissioner Brendan
Carr opposes the move, saying, “There is no doubt that the increase in AI-generated political content presents complex questions, and there is bipartisan concern about the potential for misuse. But none of this vests the FCC with the authority it claims here. Indeed, the Federal Election Commission is actively considering these types of issues, and legislators in Congress are as well. But Congress has not given the FCC the type of freewheeling authority over these issues that would be necessary to turn this plan into law. And for good reason. The FCC can only muddy the waters. AI-generated political ads that run on broadcast TV will come with a government-mandated disclaimer but the exact same or similar ad that runs on a streaming service or social media site will not? Consumers don’t think about the content they consume through the lens of regulatory silos. They just view content on screens. Will they conclude that the absence of a government warning on an online ad means that the content must be real? I don’t see how this type of conflicting patchwork could end well. Unlike Congress, the FCC cannot adopt uniform rules.”
South Carolina morning host Randy “Steam” Stevens recently passed away after suffering injuries in a motorcycle crash that happened on May 10. WLBG says that Stevens recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his talk show, “Good Morning, Up-Country.” In addition to his work in radio, Stevens was active with the Patriot Guard motorcycle riders and served on the board of directors of the Laurens County Humane Society. Stevens also appeared on the station’s “Morning News Magazine” and the station’s coverage of local elections across Laurens County. 
operations in Mankato, Albert Lea, and Luverne, Minnesota; Watertown and Brookings, South Dakota; and Fort Dodge, Grinnell, Newton and Mason City in Iowa. Northern Iowa Today reports that in Mason City, KGLO sports director Tim Fleming has been let go as has KGLO and KRIB news director Bob Fisher, who comments, “Alpha Media is going a different direction with their radio stations in their smaller markets. A majority of the programming staff, including myself, were terminated this morning as part of that plan. This is not only happening here but throughout the country with their smaller markets.” After making similar drastic cuts in a number of its Missouri markets, Alpha Media struck a deal with UK-based Podcast Radio and will debut “Podcast Radio Missouri” on two stations there in the coming weeks. 
follows the recent launches of the weekend editions of “Morning in America with Hena Doba” from 7:00 am to 10:00 am ET, “NewsNation Live” from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm ET, “NewsNation Now with Anna Kooiman” from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET, and “The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt,” which debuted earlier this year. Networks division president Sean Compton states, “We are immensely proud to announce that NewsNation is now a 24/7 cable news network. This milestone marks the culmination of our efforts to continue expanding and growing the network since launching it in 2020. It reaffirms our commitment to delivering unbiased news coverage, a mission that resonates deeply with our viewers, fostering their trust in the brand, and strengthening their loyalty to NewsNation.” The network also announces the hiring of three veteran journalists, including the aforementioned Anna Kooiman, who joined in March as anchor of the weekend edition of “NewsNation Now”; senior correspondent Laura Ingle, who most recently served as a senior correspondent at FOX News Channel; and Alicia Nieves, who will be a New York-based correspondent after joining the network from the financial streaming service, Fintech TV.
Comedy is the top genre among weekly podcast listeners age 13+. Edison says 19 genres have been identified as having at least one percent reach among weekly podcast listeners aged 13 and older in Q1 2024. Edison defines a podcast’s genre using its primary genre in Apple Podcasts. Society & Culture (#2) moved ahead of News (#3) while True Crime followed at #4 and Sports came in at #5. 
“Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.” Outkick SVP and managing editor Gary Schreier says, “OutKick continues to be authentic, unfiltered, and driven by common sense. We continue to feature topics that most sports sites refuse to cover. Our ability to stand out amongst the rest of the industry is reflected positively by the strength of our numbers every month.” The platform also recently expanded the “Tomi Lahren is Fearless” program from evenings three days per week to a daily show running live at 1:00 pm ET. 
around the world. The 3-hour, 1-hour, 25-minute, and 30-minute radio specials are hosted by longtime Washington, DC radio personality Larry O’Connor and feature stories of our nation’s heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. The inspiring and patriotic radio show features an exclusive interview with Jessica Lynch who recounts her harrowing experience as a prisoner of war during the early days of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. Ms. Lynch reveals details of her treatment during her captivity, her rescue, the ensuing years of medical treatment and the special role Fisher House played (and continues to play) in her recovery. 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 because “A Family’s LOVE is Good Medicine.” IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to a production delay, some stations may have inadvertently downloaded last year’s holiday edition. 
call of the race from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26. Pre-race coverage begins at 11:00 am ET on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation and NBC Sports Audio. SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation will also air live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 Miller Lite Carb Day Practice session on Friday (5/24) at 11:00 am ET.
stations, prominently acting as the morning show in both markets, offering a fresh and dynamic start to the day. This partnership marks a significant expansion of Podcast Radio’s format into the American radio landscape, promising to offer Missouri listeners a novel way to explore podcasting content through traditional radio. Listeners will hear top-quality podcast content from across North America and the world, while also giving airtime to local Missouri podcast content. Localized imaging and station IDs will feature across ‘Podcast Radio Missouri’ broadcast hours, which also include original interviews with podcasters. Gene ‘Bean’ Baxter acts as lead interviewer, delving deep into the methodology and personality of both local and national podcasts and their creators.” Alpha Media EVP of content Phil Becker says, “We’re excited to partner with Podcast Radio to bring this innovative format to our listeners in Missouri. This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering fresh, engaging content that resonates with our communities. While we are launching on one station in two Missouri markets, our goal is to expand the format to our other two Missouri markets.”
over news set competitors CNN.com and NYTimes.com in both multiplatform total views and multiplatform total minutes, as it has for 38 consecutive months. During the month of February 2024, FOX News Digital surpassed CNN.com in multiplatform unique visitors (comparable to radio’s cume) for the first time. However, in April 2024, CNN.com was again the leader in that metric by just under 1.4 million.
news/talk outlet. Now, he says, “After going off the air as part of an asset sale in October of last year, WTON radio is re-born this Memorial Day weekend! We want to hear your voice. We’ll bring you coverage of the local stories from this wide area we’ll be 
covering as we develop the best local shows alongside an all-star lineup of shows all day!” Thomas will host the morning drive show and teases that the daily lineup will also include “The Dan Bongino Show” “The Dana Show” (Dana Loesh), “The Lars Larson Show” from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, plus Bill O’Reilly and Lee Habeeb’s “American Stories.” Thomas adds, “We’re building a newsroom that will tell you what is going to be happening, not just what did happen. Local businesses will be able to connect with the local listeners around the clock so they can stand out and stay prosperous!” Programming will also be simulcast on two FM translators at 101.1 FM and 98.9 FM.
Because you can? Because you aren’t doing AM/FM radio? Because you are on radio, but can’t-do-there what you can-do podcasting? Because you are making money podcasting?
The fourth of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s April 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. The survey covered March 28 through April 24. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Raleigh, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WTKK-FM is steady with a 7.3 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that keeps it ranked #4, while Curtis Media Group’s news/talk WPTF is also steady at a .6 share and stays in the #23 rank. A number of news/talk stations with no direct competition stayed steady or improved during the period, including Urban One’s WIBC-FM, Indianapolis which added six-tenths for a 5.7 share that lifts it to the #7 rank and Cox Media Group’s WOKV-FM, Jacksonville which leaped 1.2 shares for a 9.1 share finish good for the #3 rank. Elsewhere, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WISN, Milwaukee rose 1.3 shares for a 10.3 share and cementing its eighth straight month at #1. (Its direct competitor WTMJ stopped subscribing to Nielsen several months ago.) 
Documentary was produced, directed, and narrated by Jeff Aiello. KMJ program director Blake Taylor also served as a producer for the film. Winners will be announced at the 53rd Northern California Emmy Awards Gala on June 15, 2024, at the San Francisco Hilton. Cumulus Fresno regional VP and market manager Patty Hixson says, “It is a remarkably humbling experience to be a part of this documentary celebrating KMJ’s 100 years of serving the community. I am grateful to have been with this heritage brand since the late 80s. The entire KMJ team is excited to share our story through this documentary – and we’re thrilled that the film has been nominated for an Emmy!” Blake Taylor adds, “When KMJ went on the air, people didn’t have radios. That is one of the great lines from the film that really speaks to me. The longevity, the success, and the impact of KMJ for over a century is really remarkable. To be a small part of that is truly meaningful.”
says that key points for advertisers to know about podcast listeners include: 1) More people than ever are listening to podcasts: 67% of the 12+ population has ever listened to a podcast; 47% of the 12+ population are monthly podcast listeners and 34% are weekly listeners; 2) Listeners are spending more time than ever with podcasts: In 2014, out of the daily time spent listening to all audio by those age 13+, 2% was spent with podcasts. In 2024, that number more than quadrupled and podcasts now account for 11% of daily time with audio. Twenty-three percent of weekly podcast listeners spend 10 hours or more listening to the medium each week; and 3) Podcasts reach all generations: 29% of kids age 6-12, 59% of those age 12-34, 55% of those age 35-54, and 27% of those age 55+ are monthly podcast listeners. 
NBA veteran and current Houston Rockets color commentator Ryan Hollins will join Mike Harmon hosting the Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00 noon ET program, and 8-year NFL veteran and All-Pro safety Kerry Rhodes parnters with Dan Beyer hosting the Sunday 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm program. iHeartMedia EVP of sports programming Don Martin and FOX Sports Radio SVP Scott Shapiro comment, “Sports fans know that they can come to us live 24/7 for strong opinions, predictions and instant reaction to all of the drama taking place in the world of sports. We are fired up that our lineup of personalities continues to get stronger and stronger. FOX Sports Radio is here to provide entertainment and companionships to sports fans all day, every day.”