FCC’s Gomez: Trump Administration in “Coordinated Efforts to Censor and Control”
In a speech at the 2025 Media Institute Communications Forum on May 15, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized what she called the Trump administration’s “campaign to censor and control” stating “[S]ince day one the FCC has been implementing the will of this Administration and undermining the First Amendment at every turn.” Gomez said the administration has “initiated investigations and
floated debilitating rate regulation schemes that target national network broadcasters for their newsrooms’ editorial decisions, harassed private companies for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and threatened tech companies that respond to consumer demands for content moderation and fact-checking. Separately, they have attempted to shutter Voice of America and sought retribution against lawful residents that protest Administration policies.” She cited two occasions where presidents – FDR in 1939, and John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s – asked their FCC Chairs to shut down media outlets critical of their policies and those FCC Chairmen boldly refused. She added, “This is what courage looks like—FCC Chairs refusing to wield the agency’s licensing authority as a weapon in contravention of the First Amendment and the Communications Act, even in the face of political pressure.”
2022. Prior to joining WGFX-FM, Anderson was a sports anchor, reporter, and digital contributor at WKRN-TV, Nashville. While this sounds like a budget move on the station’s part, Anderson didn’t mention the reason she’s out in her X post: “First and foremost, thank you so much to our loyal listeners, you made my time in radio here so amazing. You all are so passionate about your teams here in Middle Tennessee and I love that. I’m gearing up for the next chapter of my book to write itself. All I’ve ever known is to keep navigating it to the best of my ability.”
radio.” Nielsen says delineating between total listening (or viewing) and the ad supported universe is vital in today’s burgeoning media landscape where consumer choice grows by the day and marketers are looking at every available opportunity to cut through. In the first quarter of 2025, ad supported audio represented 64% of total listening. This is similar to TV, where 72% of total viewing was spent on ad supported platforms, in Q1 according to Nielsen’s recently launched Ad Supported Gauge report. Looking at ad-supported audio, consumers spent 66% of their daily listening time with radio, 19% with podcasts, 12% with streaming audio services and 3% with satellite radio. Radio accounts for anywhere from 47% of daily ad supported audio time among people 18-34 to 73% among 35+. Meanwhile, podcasts are the inverse, representing 15% of daily audio time for people 35 and older compared with 32% among those 18-34. 
same period in 2024. The company reports that net broadcast revenue was $39.8 million, down 13.6% from Q1 in 2024, and digital media revenue also fell to $10.2 million, a decline of about 4.5%. Salem’s net loss for the quarter was $7.1 million compared to the net loss of $5.1 million it reported in Q1 of 2024.
great results for the country and doing so in an efficient manner. That starts with being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. From day one, we have been combing through every FCC contract to eliminate redundancies and wasteful spending. No stone is being left unturned. To date, we have reduced more than $567 million in authorized contract spending, including by ending bloated or unnecessary IT contracts. This is an important step towards ensuring long-term efficiency and maintaining our focus on the FCC’s core responsibilities.”
Fame. Root tells TALKERS that he was a friend of Pete Rose. They both lived in Las Vegas, Rose was a guest on Root’s radio show and that led to Root and Rose starring in a national TV commercial together and becoming fast friends. Root wrote a column in 2020 imploring the president to pardon Rose, but it was this February when Root felt compelled to text the president. Root says that within 15 minutes of his sending that text the president announced he would pardon Rose. Root adds, “This all started with an interview on my radio show. I’m sure Pete is looking down from heaven with a big smile. His final dream was to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s about to come true. All because of a Vegas friendship late in Pete’s life with a guy who just happened to know the President of the United States! Thank you, President Trump.”
and networks revenue – decreased $20.5 million, or 4.2%, primarily resulting from a decrease in broadcast advertising in connection with continued uncertain market conditions. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman says, “We are pleased with our Q1 results given the uncertain environment in which we are operating now, and we think these results demonstrate the resilience and relevance of our products and the tremendous growth opportunity we have with our podcast business in particular.” Company president, COO and CFO Rich Bressler adds, “In the first quarter, we generated Adjusted EBITDA of $105 million, flat to prior year, consistent with our previously provided guidance, and our consolidated revenues for the quarter were up 1% compared to the prior-year quarter, above our guidance of down low-single digits, driven by the Digital Audio Group revenues and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 16% and 28% respectively.”
The station says, “As the June 1 increases loom, state leaders and advocates will discuss the impact on consumers and what can be done. With public outrage mounting over stalled grid upgrades and steep bills, a panel of experts and top officials will explore the reason behind the hikes and the possible solutions that can be implemented to prevent such steep hikes in the future.”
Music radio’s competitors were vinyl, then tape, then CDs – before smartphone streaming and satellite radio offered more portability and variety. And before consolidation, broadcasters were under less of the revenue pressure that now commercializes many stations beyond listeners’ tolerance. 
company “did not keep secure including social security numbers, financial account details, and health insurance data.” But the thrust of her complaint is that iHeartMedia delayed notifying users. iHeartMedia didn’t conclude its investigation until last month and began the notification process on April 30. 
is owned by Alexander Medecovich. According to a story in the Rockland News, Medecovich endured a personal family tragedy and preceded his eventual exit from the radio business. Currently, WRCR is simulcasting WABC, New York’s content.
after four years to take a job on Capitol Hill in Washington. The ideal candidate must have at least three years of talk radio experience with a strong background in politics and news. This position is based in Memphis. Send resume and air check to 
and Subscription Digital Marketing Solutions net revenue increased 4.2%. Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson says, “I am pleased to share that Townsquare’s first quarter results met or exceeded our previously issued guidance, driven by 
the continued strength of our differentiated digital platform. Additionally, this morning we are reaffirming our 2025 full-year guidance for both net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. In the first quarter, net revenue decreased – 0.5% year-over-year excluding political, and -1.0% in total, meeting our guidance, and Adjusted EBITDA increased +6.2% year-over-year excluding political, and +3.5% in total, exceeding our guidance. In addition, net income declined $3.1 million year-over-year. Digital is and will continue to be Townsquare’s growth engine, and we believe Townsquare’s ability to drive profitable, sustainable digital growth is a key differentiator for our company, and consistent with our strategy of being a Digital First Local Media Company principally focused on markets outside the Top 50 in the U.S.”