The most discussed stories yesterday (9/8) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Operation Midway Blitz / SCOTUS ICE Ruling
2. Subpoenaed Epstein Docs Revealed
3. The Economy / Trump’s Trade War
4. Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation
5. France’s Government Implodes
Programming pro Keith Dakin is named senior vice president of programing for Connoisseur Media. This comes just days after the company closed on the acquisition of Alpha Media’s radio stations and Alpha programming head Phil Becker’s exit from the company. Dakin has been with Connoisseur Media since
2013. Company CEO Jeff Warshaw says, “Keith’s programming expertise and leadership have been a major contributor to Connoisseur’s growth and success. As we expand our footprint, Keith is the ideal leader to develop and implement our programming strategy across the country. His passion for music, content, and his commitment to local communities will ensure that our stations continue to succeed.” Dakin comments, “It is truly an honor to move into this larger role with the newly expanded Connoisseur Media. I am extremely excited to work day-to-day with this unbelievable roster of programmers and air talent. I can’t wait to dig in and make great radio with this tremendously creative staff. Thank you so much to Jeff Warshaw who has been a true champion of mine since I started here. His leadership, vision, and commitment to real radio will hopefully give this industry the shot in the arm it needs.”
Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Newsmax’s anti-trust suit against Fox Corporation and FOX News Network LLC, calling it an impermissible “shotgun pleading.” Judge Cannon provides the following definition of a shotgun pleading in her ruling:
“The most common type [of shotgun pleading] – by a long shot – is a complaint containing multiple counts where each count adopts the allegations of all preceding counts, causing each successive count to carry all that came before and the last count to be a combination of the entire complaint.” The suit was dismissed without prejudice which gives Newsmax the opportunity to file an amended complaint, but it must do so by September 11 and “must not contain any successive counts that incorporate all prior allegations.” Judge Cannon also adds that if an amended complaint is filed, “each count must identify the particular legal basis for liability and contain specific factual allegations that support each cause of action within each count.
Woodward Community Media makes talk programming leadership moves that it says “strengthens its talk radio leadership with a key promotion and new hire.” Alex Thomas is promoted to brand manager fornews/talk WHBY-AM/W278AU and sports talk WSCO-AM/W256DD in Appleton, Wisconsin. At the same time, Paul Johnson joins the company as the new assistant brand manager for the Woodward Community Media Talk Team. Johnson most recently served with Midwest Communications. Thomas says, “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to be brand manager of such prestigious stations of WHBY & The Score. With WHBY celebrating its 100th year Anniversary and WSCO’s local sports presence, it’s an honor to represent Woodward Community Media as the talk station brand manager. I look forward to continuing our community impact and highlighting the Fox Valley with great local radio programming.” Johnson comments, “I’m excited to be part of the team at Woodward Community Media! So many talented individuals on staff, and I feel very fortunate to join the team at WHBY and WSCO with the goal of providing great local radio to the listeners of the Fox Valley.”
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Superman just flew into court – not against Lex Luthor, but against Midjourney. Warner Bros. Discovery is suing the AI platform, accusing it of stealing the studio’s crown jewels: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny, and more.
At first glance, you might shrug. “That’s Warner Bros. vs. Silicon Valley – what does it have to do with my talk media show?” Here’s the answer: everything. If you or your producer are using Midjourney, DALL·E, or Stable Diffusion for logos, promos, or podcast cover art, you’re standing in the same blast radius.
AI Isn’t Neutral Paint
The romance of AI graphics is speed and cost. Need a logo in five minutes? A flyer for a station event? A podcast cover? Fire up an AI tool and you’re done.
But those images don’t come from a blank canvas. They come from models trained on copyrighted works – often without permission. Warner Bros. alleges that Midjourney not only trained on its characters but knowingly let users download knockoff versions.
If Warner wins – or even squeezes a settlement – AI platforms will clamp down. Suddenly, the “free” art you’ve been posting may not just vanish; it may become a liability.
Too Small to Matter? Think Again
Here’s the legal catch: infringement claims don’t scale by size. A podcaster with a Facebook page is just as liable as a network if the artwork copies protected content.
It’s easy to imagine a rival, competitor, or ex-producer spotting an AI-made graphic that looks “too much like” something else – and firing off a takedown. Once that happens, you’re judged not by intent but by what you published.
Unlike FCC guardrails for on-air speech, there’s no regulator to clarify. This is civil court. You versus the claimant – and the billable hours start immediately.
Even Elon Musk Just Got Burned
Neuralink – Elon Musk’s brain-computer startup – just lost its bid to trademark the words “Telepathy” and “Telekinesis.” Someone else filed first.
If Musk’s lawyers can’t secure simple branding terms, what chance does your station or company have if you wait until after launch to file your new show name? Timing isn’t just strategy; it’s survival.
The Playbook
The Bottom Line
AI may feel like a shortcut, but in media law it’s a trapdoor. If Warner Bros. will defend Superman from an AI platform, they won’t ignore your podcast artwork if it looks too much like the Man of Steel.
Big or small, broadcaster or podcaster – if your AI Superman looks like theirs, you’re flying straight into Kryptonite.
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.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
My kitchen faucet wouldn’t shut off. It died, of old age. Things start doing that when your “new” house turns 25.
With replacement hardware inbound from – where else? – Amazon, we’re coping, filling pitchers in the first-floor loo. Yet, days later, we still reach for the broken kitchen faucet, force-of-habit.
WHAT IF someone pushes your station’s button, or goes to download your podcast, and nothing comes out?
What are you known-for? What would be missed if you weren’t still doing it?
Explain that-you-do what-you-do-well, things listeners thirst for, especially things they can only get from you. And make every effort to deliver.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke
Q104 New York morning personality Shelli Sonstein reveals that the reason she was off the air last week was due to the death of her daughter Dina Sonstein Berman, who they believe intentionally overdosed at age 38. Sonstein asked that her message be shared with our industry and beyond. You can read it here.
Buffalo’s The Patriot Adding Translators. Radio One Buffalo, LLC announces that conservative talk WUSW-AM, Buffalo “The Patriot” will soon add FM translators W235BC at 94.9 and W227BW at 93.3 to the station’s broadcast. Radio One Buffalo owner Buddy Shula says, “This is a total game changer. Pairing these two powerful metro FM translators with WUSW- AM will give nearly complete market coverage for ‘The Patriot’ on the FM band. We hope to have these FMs approved and running by January 2026.
Audacy’s WIP Helps Raise $610,00 for Autism Charity. Audacy’s annual Eagles Radiothon, that aired live on SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia last week, raised a record-breaking $610,000 for the Eagles Autism Foundation. Audacy Philadelphia SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “Each year, I’m astonished by the generosity of our listeners, fans, and partners during the Eagles Radiothon. It continues to drive us year after year to make a meaningful difference. The whole SportsRadio 94WIP family is proud to help raise money for such an important cause.”
Hillsdale College announces that the weekly “Radio Free Hillsdale Hour” podcast and radio show is now airing on 52 affiliate stations in 29 states across the country. The school’s radio station – WRFH Radio Free
Hillsdal 101.7 FM – is managed by Scot Bertram, who says, “‘The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour’ is designed to bring listeners as close to the Hillsdale experience as possible without having to be on campus. You can’t get [to Hillsdale] unless you intentionally want to be here. We have many people who like Hillsdale, love Hillsdale, admire Hillsdale. The show is an attempt to allow them to be close to what we’re doing without being here on campus.” Bertram says that Vince Benedetto, president and founder of Bold Gold Media Group, airs the “Radio Free Hillsdale Hour” on two of his 15 stations and says the show gives variety to his stations, which mostly broadcast conservative talk radio focused on current events.
FOX Sports Radio is unveiling it weekend lineup for the 2025 football season and it includes some new shows and new staffers. NFL analyst and senior producer at NFL Films, Greg Cosell, is now co-hosting the
Sunday morning 8:00 am to 10:00 am show with Mike Harmon. Also, WGFX-FM, Nashville host Buck Reising joins longtime friend and FSR weekend personality Jason Fitz to co-anchor “Buck & Fitz” on Saturdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm ET. Fangirl Sports Network Founder and KNBR 49ers correspondent Tracy Sandler and Spectrum News Sports host and sideline reporter Nikki Kay are joining Alex Curry and Carmen Vitali on the 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Saturday program.
Salem and D’Souza to Release New Film. Salem Media Group and D’Souza Media release the official trailer for the film, The Dragon’s Prophecy. This film is based on the book by Jonathan Cahn that explores the October 7 terror attacks in the Middle East and their connection to ancient battles between the Israelites and the Philistines as recounted in the Bible. It features exclusive interviews with major world leaders and Christian voices, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mike Huckabee, Erick Stakelbeck, and Eric Metaxas.
NFL Podcast Network Adds New Shows. The National Football League and iHeartMedia announce the NFL Podcast Network’s fall programming lineup for the 2025 NFL season that includes new programs “Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast with JJ Zachariason” and “NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin.” All shows on the NFL Podcast Network are distributed by iHeartPodcasts.
Connoisseur Media announces the successful closing of its acquisition of Alpha Media, following the August 13 approval of station license transfers from the FCC. Connoisseur Media says that with the addition of Alpha’s 205 stations to its portfolio, it now operates 216 stations across 47 markets, making it one of
America’s top 10 radio broadcasters by station count and by revenue. Connoisseur Media CEO Jeffrey Warshaw says, “Local broadcasting has always been at the heart of what we do. Connoisseur started as a company rooted in radio serving local markets. Today we’re taking that same local-focused philosophy, which now includes our digital marketing and multi-platform expertise to some of the most dynamic markets in the country. This acquisition is about assembling the scale and resources to keep radio strong, serve our communities, empower our employees, and create even more value for advertisers. As I have travelled the country to meet our new colleagues in the Alpha Media markets, I have been impressed with their dedication to radio and their communities. I am excited to be associated with such a great group of people.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signs a new deal to bring his podcast to the SiriusXM Podcast Network. Episodes will also air on the SiriusXM Progress channel. As part of the deal, SiriusXM Media acquires exclusive global ad sales rights to the audio edition of the podcast. In addition to the podcast, Governor
Beshear will host a new series of live specials, “Andy Beshear Presents,” airing exclusively on SiriusXM Progress. The series will premiere Tuesday, September 9 at 12:00 noon ET. Beshear will be joined by fellow Progress host John Fugelsang and will take calls from listeners across the country. Governor Beshear says. “I want this podcast to be a space to bring people together – especially in such a stressful and divisive time in our country. This is a conversation with friends and we talk about things that matter to all of us: sports, politics, pop culture, our kids. I’m excited to expand this conversation with listeners across the country on SiriusXM, highlighting a wide range of voices and ideas that can help move us all forward, together.”
Salem Media Group chief operating officer David Evans exited his role with the company on August 31. Evans joined Salem in 2000 as chief financial officer and later served as president of new media before becoming COO for the past three years. The company says that over his 25-year tenure, Evans played a
significant role in shaping Salem’s growth and direction. Under his leadership, Salem launched and developed four major digital properties: Salem Web Network, Salem Church Products, Townhall Media, and Eagle Financial Publications. Salem CEO David Santrella says, “David has been an important part of Salem’s journey, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication, professionalism, and leadership over the years.” Salem co-founder Ed Atsinger adds, “David’s impact on Salem has been profound. From his early days as CFO to his leadership in building our digital media presence, his contributions have helped define who we are today. We thank him for his many years of service and wish him continued success in the future.”
Radio One’s sports talk WFNZ-FM, Charlotte “Sportsradio 92.7” announces a new partnership with ESPN Radio. This move brings ESPN’s nightly shows and exclusive content to WFNZ. Station program director
Jeff Rickard says, “ESPN has long set the standard for covering the biggest live sporting events and the athletes who define them. We’re thrilled to team up for premier play-by-play and insightful nightly conversation. Combined with our award-winning local lineup, this partnership gives Charlotte the very best in local and national sports coverage.”
SiriusXM Adds New NFL Shows. Joining the SiriusXM NFL Radio team this season are two experienced pro personnel executives – former Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco and former Tennessee Titans general manager and NFL running back Ran Carthon – who will host on SiriusXM NFL Radio this season, bringing a front office perspective on the game to the channel. Also joining SiriusXM this season is Carolina Panthers long snapper J.J. Jansen, an 18-year veteran of the league, who will join Miami Dolphins running back Alec Ingold to host the weekly show, “The Players’ Point.” Airing Tuesdays at 7 pm ET, “The Players’ Point” is the only radio show hosted entirely by active NFL players.
New Director of Development Joins BPM. Baltimore Public Media (BPM) is proud to announce the appointment of David Belew as its new Director of Development, leading the organization’s philanthropic strategy across membership, grants, major giving, events, and community engagement. “We are thrilled to welcome David to Baltimore Public Media. His passion for connecting people to ideas, culture, and community — combined with his proven success in advancing major institutions — will help us grow stronger and more resilient as we enter this pivotal moment,” says Craig N. Swagler, President and General Manager of Baltimore Public Media.
Newsmax announces it has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Fox Corporation and Fox News Network, LLC in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Newsmax is accusing FOX of “engaging in an extensive and unlawful campaign to block competition in the market for right-leaning pay television news, including Newsmax.” The complaint alleges that FOX has abused its dominance in the right-leaning pay TV news market for years by coercing distributors into unfair carriage agreements designed to
exclude or marginalize competitors like Newsmax. Further, Newsmax alleges that FOX News, “described in the complaint as a ‘must-have’ channel for distributors, leverages its market power to impose restrictions that harm consumers, stifle competition, and drive-up costs across the pay TV ecosystem.” Specifically, Newsmax alleges that “FOX conditions access to FOX News on 
agreements by distributors not to carry or to restrict competing right-leaning news channels. If distributors carry Newsmax, FOX forces them to also carry low-demand channels like FOX Business or FOX Sports 2 in their most widely viewed tiers, triggering potentially tens of millions in extra fees. These clauses penalize distributors for placing Newsmax in basic packages by requiring simultaneous promotion of FOX less popular channels.” Also, Newsmax alleges that FOX has pressured its guests to not appear on Newsmax, as well as has run online smear campaigns and hired private investigators targeting Newsmax executives to damage the Company’s credibility. Newsmax is asking the court to: 1) Declare FOX’s conduct unlawful under federal and state antitrust laws; 2) Award monetary damages as permitted by law; 3) Enjoin FOX from continuing exclusionary contracts and monopolistic practices; and 4) Order equitable relief to restore competition in right-leaning pay TV news.
Audacy promotes Tommy Castor to SVP and market manager for the Wichita market that includes news/talk KNSS-AM/FM, sports talk KFH-AM/FM and three music brands. Castor will continue to serve as
VP of sales for the market. Castor is taking over for Becky Domyan, who continues her role as to serve as SVP and market manager for the St. Louis market. Castor has also co-hosted “Sports Daily” on KFH Radio since 2022. Audacy regional president Brian Purdy says, “Tommy has a proven track record of success and a deep connection to this market, and we couldn’t be happier to have him take the reins to lead Audacy Wichita forward. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Becky for her leadership and impactful work in Wichita. We are thankful for the strong foundation she leaves behind and are confident Tommy will build upon that success.”
Outspoken sports media personality Stephen A. Smith is stepping outside of the sports-only content as part of his new deal with SiriusXM. As announced earlier this summer, Smith is joining the satcaster’s Mad Dog
Sports Radio channel for a daily sports show that airs live at 1:00 pm ET. In addition to that, Smith is debuting his politics and culture show called, “Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith,” that will debut September 17 on SiriusXM’s P.O.T.U.S. channel, airing live at 6:00 pm each Wednesday. “Straight Shooter” is also being made available as a podcast the next day. Smith says, “I’ve spent my career speaking my mind, asking tough questions, and zeroing in on the issues that matter most. Whether it’s my new sports show on Mad Dog Sports Radio or talking politics on P.O.T.U.S., I’m here to challenge, entertain, and engage SiriusXM listeners.”
The Tennessean reports that Nashville sports media personality Jared Stillman is relaunching his Stillman & Co. program as a podcast on the 440 Sports on-demand audio network. Stillman recently exited WPRT-FM,
Nashville “102.5 The Game” after being unable to strike a deal to renew his show. The new program will air live weekdays at 2:00 pm and goes online as a podcast by 3:30 pm that day. He tells the paper, “I was fortunate enough to have what I feel is an incredibly loyal core audience and I plan to provide for them a daily show every day that isn’t behind a paywall and 440 Sports gives me that opportunity. With very limited commercial interruption, the podcast should be able to get most people in Nashville through their afternoon commute.” Read The Tennessean story here.
Schrager Launches Football Podcast. ESPN and Omaha Productions announce that ESPN NFL analyst Peter Schrager is debuting, “The Schrager Hour,” a Wedsnesday show in which Schrager “dives into key storylines and match-ups around the league, taking you behind the scenes of Monday Night Football and recapping his week on the road covering the NFL.” In addition, Schrager will be on the sidelines of Monday Night Football alongside Katie George and will appear regularly across ESPN’s studio programming, including frequent appearances on “Get Up,” “First Take,” “The Pat McAfee Show,” “NFL Live” and “SportsCenter.”
Browns Extend Partnership with Audacy and Good Karma Brands. The Cleveland Browns announced a multi-year agreement with Audacy and Good Karma Brands, reaffirming the stations’ continued roles as the team’s official flagship radio partners for the University Hospitals Browns Radio Network. ESPN Cleveland market manager Tom Olson says, “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Cleveland Browns. This renewal not only extends our tradition of delivering the excitement of Browns content to our fans, but also opens new opportunities to integrate our local partners directly into the fabric of the play-by-play broadcast.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (9/2) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump to Challenge Tariff Rulings
2. Guard Troops to Cities
3. China Military Parade / Russia-China-India Economic Talks
4. Epstein-Maxwell Hearings
5. Caribbean Drug Vessel Strike
Numerous media outlets are circulating a story published in the Daily Mail that Howard Stern did not return to a live broadcast of his SiriusXM program today (9/2) as promised because he is frustrated “over the new
contract.” Stern’s current five-year deal expires later this fall and speculation earlier this summer that the satcaster and Stern would part ways at the end of his current deal spurred Stern to issue a statement on his show (during summer re-runs) that he’d be back on September 2 to dispel the rumors. There are reports that Stern is dealing with his 98-year-old mother’s failing health and that is weighing on him. The story indicates Stern sent an email to his employees to explain the situation, but sources supplied no details about that email. The New York Post story says Stern’s listenership has gone from “20 million at its height to 125,000 daily listeners now.” However, SiriusXM doesn’t publish its listener data and no sources are provided for those figures. See the Post story here.
By Holland Cooke
Constulant
Why I love going on sales calls with station reps: Meeting retailers, who have SUCH a feel for their customers’ (our listeners’) mindset. Following-up last week’s column exploring the societal angst we are living through, this week’s will recommend technique for scripting in what psychologists call the Age of Outrage Fatigue.
Emotional bandwidth is down. Skepticism is up. And the old tricks – hyperbole, urgency, shouty headlines – are backfiring. People aren’t just tuning-out content they disagree with; they’re tuning-out tone. They crave calm. Clarity. Credibility.
To cut-through:
— Clear beats clever. Instead of “Don’t sweat it – we’ve got your ducts in a row!” Try “Get your AC fixed today, and sleep comfortably tonight.”
— Ditch the drama. Instead of: “Drowning in debt?” Try: “Make a fresh start.”
— Frame your offer as an upgrade, not a fix for failure. Instead of: “Will you EVER be able to retire?” Try: “Plan your next chapter, on your terms.”
— Empathize, don’t exaggerate. People trust what feels human. Empty hype gets filtered out fast. “There’s never been a better time to buy a car!” goes in-one-ear-and-out-the-other.
— Earn attention quickly. The first sentence matters more than ever. Make it a question that includes “you” and/or “your” which describes the consumer situation that your advertiser can cure. “Is your money doing what you want it to?”
— Use specifics, not superlatives. “Best ever!” means nothing. Numbers and proof points build confidence.
— If you’re scripting with AI, rewrite to weed-out clichés. Restaurant spots that tout “a relaxing atmosphere” are verbal Styrofoam.
— Respect their time. Use short sentences. Bullet points. Clear next steps. Happy outcomes.
Today’s most effective copywriting calms the reader. It offers clarity in a crowded, chaotic world.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Imagine an AI trained on millions of books – and a federal judge saying that’s fair use. That’s exactly what happened this summer in Bartz v. Anthropic, a case now shaping how creators, publishers, and tech giants fight over the limits of copyright.
Judges in California have sent a strong signal: training large language models (LLMs) on copyrighted works can qualify as fair use if the material is lawfully obtained. In Bartz, Judge William Alsup compared Anthropic’s use of purchased books to an author learning from past works. That kind of transformation, he said, doesn’t substitute for the original.
But Alsup drew a hard line against piracy. If a dataset includes books from unauthorized “shadow libraries,” the fair use defense disappears. Those claims are still heading to trial in December, underscoring that source matters just as much as purpose.
Two days later, Judge Vince Chhabria reached a similar conclusion in Kadrey v. Meta. He called Meta’s training “highly transformative,” but dismissed the lawsuit because the authors failed to show real market harm. Together, the rulings show that transformation is a strong shield, but it isn’t absolute. Market evidence and lawful acquisition remain decisive.
AI training fights aren’t limited to novelists. The New York Times v. OpenAI case is pressing forward after a judge refused to dismiss claims that OpenAI and Microsoft undermined the paper’s market by absorbing its reporting into AI products. And in Hollywood, Disney and Universal are suing Midjourney, alleging its system lets users generate characters like Spider-Man or Shrek – raising the unsettled question of whether AI outputs themselves can infringe.
The lesson is straightforward: fair use is evolving, but not limitless. Courts are leaning toward protecting transformative uses of content—particularly when it’s lawfully sourced – but remain wary of piracy and economic harm.
That means media professionals can’t assume that sharing content online makes it free for training. Courts consistently recognize that free journalism, interviews, and broadcasts still carry market value through advertising, sponsorship, and brand equity. If AI systems cut into those markets, the fair use defense weakens.
For now, creators should watch the December Anthropic trial and the Midjourney litigation closely. The courts have blessed AI’s right to learn – but they haven’t yet decided how far those lessons can travel once the outputs begin to look and feel like the originals.
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