iHeartMedia Portland Renews with Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers and iHeartMedia Portland announce a multi-year agreement to their partnership as the official broadcast carrier for Trail Blazers games across the Trail Blazers Audio Network. As part of the
deal, KPOJ-AM “Rip City Radio 620 AM” continues as the flagship station. Travis Demers enters his seventh full season as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer with Michael Holton as color commentator and Rip City Radio’s Chad Doing hosting both pre- and post-game shows.
Newsmax were defamatory. However, Newsmax is not admitting guilt; just the opposite. “Newsmax believed it was critically important for the American people to hear both sides of the election disputes that arose in 2020. We stand by our coverage as fair, balanced, and conducted within professional standards of journalism.” The company says Delaware Court Judge Eric Davis would not provide a fair trial wherein the company could present standard libel defenses to a jury. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “The Delaware Court under Judge Davis effectively enforced a confiscation of our property because our reporting was not always sympathetic to Joe Biden. The actions taken against Newsmax, and earlier against FOX News, represent a direct attack on free speech and a free press.”
WPEN-FM 97.5 The Fanatic on August 8 after almost a year back behind the mic at the station. Missanelli joined sister rock WMMR’s Kathy Romano – a cast member of the “Steve and Preston Show” – was also let go. Beasley issued the following public statement: “We are very grateful for his contributions to the station and our listeners, and we wish him all the best.”
“Listeners to our first ‘For Radio Geeks Only’ special told us they wantematthewd more – and John and I did, too! We’re glad to bring it back with an even longer show this time,” said Bob Sirott. Go back to the days before streaming, cable, VCRs, DVDs, and smartphones when rock ‘n’ roll radio was a source of entertainment. Sirott and Landecker will play their favorite jingles and will be joined by special guests, including 1960s disc jockeys Ron Riley and Spike O’Dell, one of WGN Radio’s very own. Listeners are being encouraged to call or text the station at 312-981-7200 to share their stories of listening to radio and records. The show will be available as a podcast on 
The problem with technocrats is they believe computer programs and machines solve all problems. A technocrat in charge of a business will it kill it, for sure. For example, once a movie theatre is automated, not requiring a pesky projectionist or even a snack counter attendant, you and I would still not buy a ticket – unless the theater was showing an actual MOVIE!
Imagine SiriusXM acquires the complete Howard Stern archive – every show, interview, and on-air moment. Months later, it debuts “Howard Stern: The AI Sessions,” a series of new segments created with artificial intelligence trained on that archive. The programming is labeled AI-generated, yet the voice, timing, and style sound like Stern himself.
Awards. The winners will be presented on October 21 at The Edison Ballroom, the evening before NAB Show New York. Finalists for Legendary Station of the Year include news/talk WABC, New York. Finalists for News/Talk Station of the Year are: KFI-AM, Los Angeles; WABC-AM, New York; WBAL-AM, Baltimore; WBBM-AM, Chicago; and WENG-AM, Englewood, Florida. 
a partnership between NewsTalkSTL and Newsmax. NewsTalkSTL says this will be Chris Arps’s second visit to Israel in the past month. His previous trip, which took place during Iranian airstrikes, was a sightseeing tour. This time, he returns as part of a diplomatic delegation organized by Newsmax in coordination with the Israeli government. Tim Jones says, “Traveling to Israel, especially during this consequential time, will be a life changing trip. Experiencing the Holy Land, visiting with top Israeli officials, all while literally walking in the footsteps of Jesus, will be an incredible experience for all of us in NewsTalkSTL nation.” NewsTalkSTL president of programming Jeff Allen says, “It should be an incredible week of content from Tim and Chris. They won’t just be sharing their impressions; they’ll have stories you can only get by being there on the ground.”
Stevens anchored weekday mornings on SportsGrid. VSiN EVP Steve Cohen says, “Ben is a terrific addition to the most trusted brand in sports betting information at a time when sports fans across the country look to us for information that helps them make informed college football wagering decisions. A seasoned on-air sports betting talent that can speak across all major sports, ‘Big 10 Ben’ has deep expertise in college football that our viewers and listeners will enjoy.”
place. This new data fusion will integrate the industry-leading Edison Podcast Metrics into Nielsen’s widely used media planning tool, Nielsen Media Impact 
(NMI).” Nielsen adds, “As podcast listenership continues to grow, it is critical for advertisers to have sophisticated tools and data to effectively plan, measure and optimize their audio investments. Nielsen Podcast Fusion in NMI will provide an even more holistic view of media planning and help users uncover valuable insights and demonstrate the effectiveness of their campaigns. NMI users will also be able to optimize media plans by specific podcast networks and genres, as well as top podcast programs.” NPR and Ocean Media are among the charter subscribers at launch.
change; it’s the launch of a dynamic new digital platform delivering hard-hitting conservative news, thought provoking opinions, and exclusive investigative reports headlined by Jason Rantz. ‘Seattle Red’ will be the definitive home for conservative content, expanding our reach, sharpening our brand, and doubling down on our mission to challenge the status quo.” It adds, “At the heart of ‘Seattle Red’ is Jason Rantz, whose live and local content brings a distinctly Seattle perspective to issues that matter most.” KTTH program director Jason Antebi says, “Our new identity as Seattle Red introduces a thriving community and home for conservatives in the Pacific Northwest. We’re building a media platform that amplifies bold voices, breaks real news, and isn’t afraid to challenge the narrative.”
detective story. It takes someone who is an exceptional journalist with seasoned and sharp instincts like Geoff to follow the plot. I’m excited to see how he continues to build on the legacy that Craig Dellimore left behind and how his presence strengthens our multi-platform political coverage to better serve our Chicago area listeners.” Buchholz comments, “Chicago and Illinois are entering a critical era, and it’s more important than ever that our audience understands how the actions at City Hall, in Springfield and Washington affect their lives. I’m so grateful for our listeners’ trust, and I’m looking forward to being our station’s politics-to-English translator and excited to get to work.”
advertising opportunities for brand partners, packaging assets across each portfolio to create unique and exclusive multi-platform solutions. Westwood One will also distribute audio and video content on Rumble’s video platform. Westwood One president and Cumulus EVP corporate strategy and development Collin Jones says, “This partnership represents a powerful alignment between two media innovators. By combining our premium podcast inventory with Rumble’s dynamic creator ecosystem, we’re creating a new frontier for host-read advertising that delivers authenticity, scale, and brand safety.” Rumble CEO Chris Pavloski, adds, “We’re excited to partner with Cumulus Media and Westwood One to bring advertisers closer to the creators and audiences they care about. This collaboration allows us to create new monetization opportunities for our creators while offering brands a trusted and effective way to connect with engaged communities.”
You did everything right – or so you thought. You used a short clip, added commentary, or reshared something everyone else was already posting. Then one day, a notice shows up in your inbox. A takedown. A demand. A legal-sounding, nasty-toned email claiming copyright infringement, and asking for payment.
exploring the audio strategies behind real business success to provide behind-the-scenes insights, creative inspiration, and tips from brands that are scaling with sound. Topics being addressed include: 1) What makes audio such an effective channel for performance and brand-building. 2) How local advertisers are using radio to stand out and win more wallet share. 3) Why podcast hosts have become some of the most trusted voices in advertising. And 4) Lessons learned: real-world advice from brands turning listeners into loyal customers. 
“Hi, there, everyone – Greg Papa here, host of KNBR The Sports Leader’s “Papa & Silver” and voice of the San Francisco 49ers. I want to share some personal news with Bay Area sports fans and my friends and colleagues. I have been diagnosed with cancer and am currently undergoing treatment. As I fully focus on my treatment and work toward a full recovery, I’m stepping away from my broadcasts but look forward to returning soon. In the meantime, I am handing The Sports Leader broadcast ball to my co-host and friend Greg Silver, and I know he and his guest co-hosts will keep our listeners entertained and informed – and I’ll be among them; I’ll be listening! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and good wishes as I begin this fight. Go Niners!!” Photo: KNBR The Sports Leader
podcast consumption in the past week was through video.) The top five podcasts didn’t change from Q1 data. They are: “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “Crime Junkie,” “The Daily,” “Call Her Daddy,” and “This Past Weekend w/Theo Von.” Some talk radio-related podcasts of note include: NPR’s “Up First” at #22; The Daily Wire’s “Ben Shapiro Show”; Ramsey Network’s “The Ramsey Show” at #29; and Charlie Kirk’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” at #49.