Industry News

Mike Gallagher Broadcasting from Israel

Salem Radio Network talk host Mike Gallagher is broadcasting his nationally syndicated program from Israel this week with the help of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). After theim Hamas terror attack in Israel in October, Gallagher and his audience led a fundraising effort for the IFCJ that raised $342,000 in a few weeks. IFCJ is sponsoring Gallagher’s upcoming visit in order to spotlight the humanitarian effort that is underway during the war with Hamas. In addition to broadcasting his daily show from Jerusalem, Gallagher will tour parts of Israel – including the Gaza envelope in the Southern District of Israel – interviewing survivors of the October attack, Israeli military officials, and officials from the IFCJ.

Industry News

Matty “Ice” Hayes Inks Extension at The Fan in Columbus

Midday talk host Matty “Ice” Hayes signs a multi-year extension to remain with Tegna’s sports talk WBNS-FM, Columbus “97.1 The Fan” as co-host of the “Rothman and Ice” (alongside Anthonyim Rothman) program and as host of “The Fan” pregame show every gameday Saturday in the fall. Hayes says, “‘The Fan’ has been my home for 10 years and I’m very excited to continue working at a station that has been a part of my life for so long.” WBNS station manager Cody Welling comments, “Matt has been working extremely hard developing his broadcast talents. We value his point-of-view on topics, and is the perfect duo for our highly rated midday show, ‘Rothman and Ice.’ I’m happy that Columbus sports fans will be able to access Matt Hayes for years to come each weekday, and on college football gamedays.”

Industry News

The Black Effect Podcast Festival Set for April 27 in Atlanta

iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God are bringing the Black Effect Podcast Festival back to Atlanta on April 27 at Pullman Yards. Charlamagne Tha God joins the festival alongside some of the Blackim Effect’s most popular personalities for a day full of live podcast tapings and informative discussions aimed at aspiring podcasters in the Black community. He says, “We are proud to return to Atlanta for the second year in a row to showcase the talent across our network, and some of the biggest shows in podcasting. Through culture-defining storytelling, unique brand partnerships, compelling panel discussions, special live podcast recordings and more, we are inviting everyone to experience the power of The Black Effect and the many ways Black creators are driving the culture forward.”

Industry News

Benztown Unveils AI Listener Voice Generator

Benztown launches the AI Listener Voice Generator, what it calls “a new audio production tool for radio stations of all formats and market sizes exclusively designed to simulate ‘listener’ audio for on-air use.”im The AI Listener Voice Generator enables library subscribers to simulate “listener” audio and addresses the challenges that stations increasingly face in collecting listener audio from the public. Benztown CEO Andreas Sannemann says, “The Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Speech capabilities of this new feature make an audio producer’s job easier and more efficient than ever – and it sounds incredible!”

Industry Views

Pending Business: Curmudgeons

By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President

imAre you a sales curmudgeon? You know, that old-school, out-of-touch terrestrial radio ad sales rep who is too lazy to learn the new digital/social media sales world?

A recent survey by Borrell and Associates says most radio station managers vote for “new blood” on the sales team to offset those old-school sellers who are oversaturated and have no more room to grow. It’s the evergreen water bottle analogy. Open that off-the-shelf bottled water and just try pouring more water into that fully filled bottle. There is no more room for even another ounce. Is that you? So full of sales knowledge that there is no room to learn? Your boss thinks it’s better to hire another seller than to wait until you decide to push yourself through the comfort zone and become more productive in the digital/social media column.

The top line “hire new sellers” concept here is true. Some living history:

1. AM vs. FM. Are you old enough to remember separate AM and FM sales teams? AM radio stations were the first big income generators. When FM music stations became popular, we first sold AM/FM combo plans. Realizing FM formats were geared to a younger audience, we hired sellers who got it. Sales teams were formed to sell just the FM stations. The internal conflict was a management nightmare, yet somehow, we managed to create two separate teams. The rest is terrestrial radio sales history.

2. Cluster Sales. When the FCC allowed owners to control more than two radio stations in a market, we went through another seismic change. Sellers who sold for one, or in some cases AM/FM combo sales, were soon allowed to pitch multiple stations owned by one owner in a market. Managers were faced with a new round of consolidation conflict. If you worked with an advertiser that needed additional markets, you were able to bring outside markets with commonly owned radio stations to the mix. Somehow, we managed.

3. Digital/Social. What took so long? Today’s terrestrial radio ad seller is an important foundational component in every radio station ad sales department. Yet the ad sales and audience growth aren’t on the AM/FM or satellite band. It hasn’t been for a while. The ad demand and growth in audience and revenue is on your computer, smartphone, apps, and earbuds. Are you ready to adapt to the digital/social media demand curve? Or are you sitting in your comfortable rocking chair.

There is no doubt new sellers plugged into new media platforms will fuel the next level of audio sales growth. But before we give up on those curmudgeons on your sales team, let’s learn how they preserve the buyer-seller relationship long enough to earn the privilege of becoming “curmudgeons.”

Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.

Industry News

Rob Parker to Build Detroit Sports Talker with Black Talent

This story was first reported by the Detroit News last week. Awful Announcing summarizes the piece as sports media personality Rob Parker and retired NBA player and current agent B.J. Armstrong areim building “Sports Rap Radio” to air on Audacy’s WXYT-AM, Detroit with a target launch of mid-May. In what will likely be a first in sports talk radio, the lineup of air talent will be all-Black. WXYT-AM currently airs Audacy’s BetQL Network programming. Parker is quoted by the Detroit News saying, “It will be young people getting opportunities and former athletes, from Detroit or with ties to Detroit.” The lineup will be local from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and will segue into FOX Sports Radio’s “The Odd Couple” featuring Parker and Chris Broussard at 7:00 pm. Parker plans to fill the overnight hours with podcasts featuring Black hosts. Read the Awful Announcing story here.

Industry News

Matthew B. Harrison Holds Court Over Section 230 Explanation for Law Students at 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston

As an attorney with extensive front-line expertise in media law, TALKERS associate publisher and senior partner in the Harrison Legal Group Matthew B. Harrison (pictured at right on the bench), was selected to hold court as “acting” judge in a moot trial involving Section 230 for law students engaged in a nationalim competition last evening (2/22) at the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, MA. The American Bar Association, Law Student Division holds a number of annual national moot court competitions. One such event, the National Appellate Advocacy Competition, emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience with moot court competitors participating in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court. This year’s legal question focused on the Communications Decency Act – “Section 230” – and the applications of the exception from liability of internet service providers for the acts of third parties to the realistic scenario of a journalist’s photo/turned meme being used in advertising (CBD, ED treatment, gambling) without permission or compensation in violation of applicable state right of publicity statutes. Harrison tells TALKERS, “We are at one of those sensitive times in history where technology is changing at a quicker pace than the legal system and legislators can keep up with – particularly at the consequential juncture of big tech and mass communications. I was impressed and heartened by the articulateness and grasp of the Section 230 issue displayed by the law students arguing before me.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of February 19 – 23

The state of the Russia-Ukraine war and the death of Vladimir Putin opponent Alexei Navalny was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the presidential race, followed by former President Donald Trump’s legal battles and the related Fani Willis misconduct case at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: Award the Future

By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Implementers
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network

imWhen reviewing our industry’s awards such as the Crystals or Marconis there are two categories missing. They are: “Best New” and “Best Innovation.” Imagine if winners were announced for these prizes:

“Best New Talent On Air”

“Best New Talent Off Air”

“Most Creative Sales Solution”

“Most Creative Station Promotion”

“Most Innovative DAB or Podcast Format”

“Best New Talent – Podcast”

“Best Innovation In Engineering”

Those awards aren’t fantasy, they are actual awards given annually by Australian Commercial Radio (ACRA). They are presented at a magnificent well-produced event for the entire country – attendance is SRO. The subliminal message to Australian radio personnel is powerful: Innovation is expected and rewarded. NEW is expected and rewarded – no need to wait for you to become legendary (!) to be recognized. “NEW” is a powerful reward and promise to the talent you hope will find a career in radio. Face it, our “on boarding” leaves a lot to be desired. (Hey, work in the promotion department while you live at home, and we’ll let you pick up pizza that you can share!)

The best gift the late PD Al Brady Law gave me was he greeted all new ideas with, “It might work.” Most other executives kill innovative thought with the worst question possible: “Who else is doing it?” The industry has a lame record of assessing new ideas. New ideas are systematically despised:

Bill Drake’s format was damned in jock-for-hire classifieds that warned, NO DRAKE JOCKS. Yes, dozens of stations wanted NO DRAKE JOCKS. Quickly Drake’s strategies slaughtered those stations and revolutionized music formats to this moment. Recorded music on the radio was actually thought to be illegal until WNEW-AM, New York fought that court fight in the 1940s and won. All news on WINS and WCBS certainly was not going to work after the 1960s New York newspaper strike ended. WFAN could never succeed as an all-sports station – soon after launch it became the highest biller in NYC.

When AC was launched in 1978 at the NBC FM and RKO FM stations, it had no future. FM was only for beautiful music and hard rock and besides who else is doing it?

Album rock, AOR, …why we have research to prove young people only want hits! Targeted FM talk – combining a hot format with hot talent would absolutely fail at KLSX-FM, Los Angeles and thanks to Bob Moore became the number one local biller – turn it back to the failed classic rock format please begged one research hit squad! “New Jersey 101.5” has a one million cume talking all week, playing music all weekend. Which award category suits that giant station? “Best New” would have been appreciated.

Todd Storz, the inventor of Top 40, passed away at 38 and his father who owned their stations in Miami, Omaha, and New Orleans couldn’t wait to change his Top 40 format creation to MOR when the kid died. As a result, when Todd died the stations died, too.

Innovators like Bill Drake, Jeff Smulyan, Allen Shaw, Bob McAllan, Alan Mason, L. David Moorhead, and Howard Stern are first ignored, then marginalized, then vilified… then hundreds fight for their credit.

The only way radio stays relevant and grows its place on the media landscape is with a constant flow of “Best New” and “Best Innovation.” That’s when younger listeners are attracted to radio – the same way they are attracted to everything – if it’s NEW. The radio you and your friends were drawn to, talked about at school, listened to constantly was saturated with new contests, new daring DJs, new promotions, new hits, new energy.

The delicious daily challenge of on-air talent and management is what can we put on the air today that has never been done before? If it’s new, even if it doesn’t work forever, generates buzz, attention, youthful audiences.  Of course, 20-year-olds will listen to radio, it’s at the end of their arm! But they are not going to salivate at the promise of “20 of your favorites from the 80s, 90s and today.” Or a national contest.

Why not test a NEW award in just one awards category? “Best Innovation in Engineering” The Marconi Award.

Walter Sabo is a leading media industry consultant and syndicated talk radio personality.  He can be emailed at Walter@Sabomedia.com. Website: www.waltersterlingshow.com

Industry News

Bill Smee Steps Down from VP News Role at Audacy

In a post on LinkedIn, media pro Bill Smee announces he’s stepped down from his vice president of news post at Audacy to pursue consulting and project management work. He writes: “I’m happy to announce that I’m moving into a new professional chapter: I’ve stepped down as VP of news at Audacy and I am diving back into the strategic consulting and project management work that I enjoyed for a number of years. It has been incredibly rewarding to work these last four years with so many talentedim and passionate people within Audacy’s newsrooms and across the larger company. And I’m proud of our collective accomplishments: building out digital and podcasting capacity; integrating broadcast and digital teams within newsrooms; strengthening communication and collaboration across a network of brands; navigating the first wave of AI; and creating new revenue opportunities in partnership with sales teams. All of this was done while delivering over and over in high-leverage, breaking news situations and racking up awards that validate Audacy’s local news brands as best in class. The challenges for media and journalism these days — and for local news in particular — are profound, and the stakes are high. But there are new frontiers on the horizon, and we can deploy innovative ways of thinking about how we do what we do. As always, I’m excited to explore those frontiers and draw on my many years of strategic and operational experience to help media brands and other organizations find a way forward.”

Industry News

Edison: Joe Rogan Among Top Podcasts Consumed by Black Listeners

Edison Research – in celebration of Black History Month – showcases the Top 10 podcasts among Black listeners from the latest Edison Podcast Metrics release. According to Edison’s Infinite Dial 2023, 45% of Black Americans in the U.S. age 12+ have listened to podcasts in the last month, and 28% haveim listened in the past week. The list shows the Top 10 Podcasts in the U.S. based on the number of Black weekly podcast listeners for Q4 2023. “The Joe Rogan Experience” was the #1 podcast listened to by the Black audience surveyed, but six of the top 10 are hosted by Black hosts. They include: #2 “The Breakfast Club,” #4 “Drink Champs,” #5 “Million Dollaz Worth of Game,” #6 “The Joe Budden Podcast,” #7 “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” and #9 “ShxtsNGigs.” According to the The Black Podcast Listener Report from Edison Research, SXM Media, and Mindshare, 63% of adult Black monthly podcast listeners say that it is very or somewhat important that podcasts include Black stories and perspectives. Fifty percent of adult Black monthly podcast listeners say that it is very or somewhat important that podcasts are hosted by Black hosts.

Industry News

Good Karma Brands Unveils Milwaukee Bucks Content

Good Karma Brands launches Bucks+ Audio, a new audio platform created by the company and the Milwaukee Bucks. The first five podcasts dropped at Bucks.com/Plus. The initial podcasts are: “Behindim the Bucks,” presented by Gallagher; “Hear District,” hosted by Marques and Kris Johnson, “Bucks in Six,” hosted by Greg Matzek, “Thanalysis,” hosted by Thanasis Antetokounmpo and “Courtside with Gale Klappa.” GKB Milwaukee market manager Greg Scalzo says, “Bucks+ Audio connects Bucks fans to the team in an innovative audio format. The first podcasts provide a deeper look into the Bucks and share untold stories of the team and organization.”

Industry News

NRB 2024 Underway in Nashville

im

Pictured above is Salem Radio Network vice president, news & talk programming Tom Tradup (right) with New York Times best-selling author Joel C. Rosenberg (left) at the 80th National Religious Broadcasters association conference in Nashville. Rosenberg – founder and editor-in-chief of All Israel News – hosts the weekly “Rosenberg Report” from Jerusalem on Trinity Broadcasting Network. NRB 2024 concludes tomorrow evening with an address by former President Donald Trump.

Industry News

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh’s Marty Griffin Hospitalized

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh morning drive co-host Marty Griffin is currently off the air at the Audacyim news/talk outlet and has been admitted to the hospital at UPMC dealing with what he called “crazy, insane” pain in his throat. Griffin, who battled throat cancer several years ago and has been in remission, says that late last week he couldn’t swallow anything and that the pain was something he never felt in his life. At this time, Griffin has been diagnosed with pneumonia, but doctors are also trying to determine if he has an infection of if the cancer has returned.

Industry News

Alabama Broadcaster J. Holland to Retire

YHN Media Group, LLC announces that Alabama radio personality J. Holland will retire from theim Yellowhammer News Network later this month, putting the wraps on a broadcast career of 50 years. Most recently, Holland has been the afternoon news anchor on the network. During his career, he’s served with more than 25 radio stations. In the early 1990s, he moved into the news/talk format, serving with WAAX, Gadsden before moving on to WVNN, Huntsville and then WERC, Birmingham. He’s been with the Yellowhammer News Network since 2015.

Industry News

LABF Announces New Board Members

The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) announces that Tony Coles, Dr. Caroline Frick, and Leo MacCourtney have been elected to the organization’s board of directors. The announcement was made by co-chairs Heidi Raphael, Beasley Media Group chief communications officer, and Jack Goodman, former NAB general counsel and longtime DC-based communications attorney. Tony Coles is president of multi-cultural business and development and president of BIN: Black Information Network. Frick is an associate professor at the University of Texas, and MacCourtney is president of Katz Television Group.

Industry Views

Pending Business: Q2

By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President

imHave we passed the disappointment of 2023?

If ad sales at your radio station finished last year up double digits (excluding digital) please skip past the next few paragraphs. If you’re in the same boat as most radio ad sellers across the country at various levels – i.e. local, national, syndication, network – last year was a struggle.

Now then, how is Q1 shaping up?

Are you making up for lost ground, like the airline business, automotive business, restaurants or are you still pushing that boulder uphill? Here is some straight-from-the-field unfiltered feedback:

1. Valentine’s Day at most restaurants was one of the busiest on record. People at the packed-in table next to ours waited two hours after sitting to be served. So much for a 6:45 pm reservation. They got free dessert. Seriously?

2. Travel is back, make no mistake about it. Discount airfares are a thing of the past on the big-name airlines. At 6’2” I really believe my knees should not be touching the seat in front of me in comfort class on most major airlines.

3. Try negotiating a new car deal this month. No, not the incentives on the 2023 models, I’m talking 2024 in 2024. As the goodfellows said back home, fuhgeddaboudit.

There is nothing wrong with trying to make up for the lost income of the Covid years. After all, testing the pricing upside in business is the American way. We pay more, tip more, and adjust. It is the Darwin theory eating into our wallets every day. So why are most broadcast radio sales teams at all levels still throwing it against the wall to see what sticks? I see it every day in my marketing work. We have lost touch with the excitement, the “wow” factor, the customizations, the basic intangibles of selling the great talent we represent.

Let us learn from other successful businesses. Travel pitches pent-up demand, restaurants make sure you will get the special occasion marketing message no matter where you are, and the auto business, well the ships and chips are in!

What do we not understand about the current weakness in our broadcast radio sales strategy?

1. How current is your value proposition? Successful podcasters like Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper along with YouTubers, Facebook, Instagram, and all social media have changed the game-forever. How does your value proposition stand out today?

2. Talk radio will not go away. Programmers and talent will learn what they need to adjust to refocus one of the great radio formats ever created since someone said, “Let’s play the top 40 songs over and over.”

3. Let us start re-thinking what broadcast radio sellers need to prioritize to make a difference-today.

Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.

Industry News

iHeartMedia Debuts Two Florida Sports Talkers

iHeartMedia Florida debuts “FOX Sports Radio Orlando 97.9 FM/AM 810” on former Spanish news WRSO-AM, Orlovista and “FOX Sports Radio Jacksonville AM 930” on former Spanish news WFXJ-AM,im Jacksonville. Both stations will air the full slate of FOX Sports Radio programs. These format flips spell the end of the “Accion Radio Network” airing Spanish-language news/talk and information. iHeartMedia North Florida area president Paul Rogers says, “We remain fully committed to providing the best quality entertainment and information to the Hispanic residents on the First Coast and will continue to explore ways we can increase our impact there. The opportunity to return the FOX Sports brand to its original home on AM 930 in Jacksonville was simply too good to pass up. Its appeal cuts across and unites every segment of our community.”

Industry News

WSCR, Chicago to Present “QB1 Town Hall”

Audacy sports talk WSCR-AM, Chicago “670 The Score” is addressing what’s on every Chicago sports fan’s mind as it presents a live broadcast of the “Parkins & Spiegel Show” (Danny Parkins and Matt Spiegel) called, “QB1 Town Hall.” The Wednesday (2/21) broadcast looks at whether the Chicago Bearsim should keep quarterback Justin Fields or trade him in the upcoming draft for the #1 pick. Parkins and Spiegel will kick off the discussion from Audacy Chicago’s Blue Cross Blue Shield Performance Stage from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Football experts and a live audience will join Parkins and Spiegel to weigh in on the looming decision. “The Score” ran a contest this week for a chance to attend the “QB1 Town Hall.” These winners will make up the crowd that will have the opportunity take part in the debate. WSCR VP of programming Mitch Rosen says, “This decision will determine the entire season’s trajectory and the fans are passionate about their views on it. We’re looking forward to opening up this conversation to our listeners and Bears faithful.” The show is being made available via the Audacy app & website, the station’s Twitch, and YouTube channels.

Job Opportunity

Hubbard Has PD Opening in West Palm Beach

Hot AC 97.9 WFRM-FM in West Palm Beach has a very rare PD opportunity. The current PD for WRMF, Randi West, was offered the opportunity to continue on but has decided that after four years of commuting between Tampa and West Palm Beach, to step away from her position to devote more time to family. WRMF is an award-winning station with the legendary, family-owned Hubbard Broadcasting group. The top station in one of the fast-growing metros in the country with arguably the best weather anywhere on the planet! Reporting to operations manager, Bruce Logan, you would be equipped with market leading shows like the “KVJ Morning Show.” The ideal candidate for this role will have at least 5 years of programming experience in medium to major markets. The candidate should also possess amazing talent coaching skills and knowledge with digital performance. Learn more and apply here.

Industry News

Post: Soros Fund Management Buys Audacy Debt

According to a story in the New York Post, the George Soros controlled Soros Fund Management has bought $400 million worth of Audacy’s debt, estimated to be about 40% of the company’s total senior debt. Theim  Post says it confirmed the report with Audacy and the company added, “The decision by our existing and new debtholders to become equity holders in Audacy represents a significant vote of confidence in our company and the future of the radio and audio business.” The story cites an insider close to the situation who is a Republican saying he believes its “possible Soros was buying the stake to exert influence on public opinion in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election.” Read the Post story here.

Industry News

AWM/F Announces Board and Officers

The Alliance for Women in Media and its Foundation are pleased to announce the 2024 national board of directors and officers. AWM/F president Becky Brooks states, “The leadership of our board of directors has allowed AWM and our Foundation to advance women in media for more than 70 years of triumphs and trials. The past year has underscored the need for steadfast leadership in the face of unforeseenim challenges. The mix of diverse and insightful voices on this year’s boards will continue the important work of prioritizing recognition, connection and education of women across all facets of media.” The officer roles include: Katina Arnold, chair, VP, corporate communications, ESPN; Monica Bloom, incoming/vice chair, chief marketing officer, MHz Choice | Topic Streaming; Annie Howell, immediate past chair, chief communications officer, Hallmark Media; Catherine Badalamente, treasurer, president & CEO, Graham Media Group; and Marie Tedesco, treasurer-elect, CFO, Beasley Broadcast Group. New to the board of directors are: Isabel Lara, chief communications officer, NPR; Jaclyn Levin, president, Shriver Media and founder, Liminal Space Media; Christine Moran, head of creator partnerships, Electrify Video Partners; and Debra O’Connell, president, news group and networks, Disney Entertainment.

Industry News

Audacy Stations and Talent Receive PAB Honors

Audacy stations and hosts in Pennsylvania received 15 2024 Excellence in Broadcasting Awards fromim the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters. They include: WPHT, Philadelphia afternoon host Rich Zeoli and the morning show “Kayal & Company” both receiving 2024 Outstanding Local Radio Personality/Team honors, and news/talk KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh and all-news KYW-AM/FM, Philadelphia both receiving several programming honors. Recipients will celebrate at a luncheon in May.

Industry News

iHeartMedia Makes $101 Million from BMI Deal

iHeartMedia files an 8-K Form with the Securities and Exchange Commission announcing that theim previously announced acquisition of Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”) to a shareholder group led by New Mountain Capital, LLC has closed, and the company has received $101.4 million of proceeds related to its equity interest in BMI. iHeartMedia says it plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of debt.

Industry News

“Gonzo” Joins Bonneville’s KHTK, Sacramento as PD

GV Wire reports that Jose “Gonzo” Gonzalez leaves his post at Fat Dawgs 7 Broadcasting’s sports talk KFIG-AM, Fresno “1430 ESPN Radio” where he was PD and host to join Bonneville’s sports talkim KHTK-AM, Sacramento “Sactown Sports 1140 AM.” Gonzo posted to X, “I’ve loved my time here. Fresno born and raised. This is home. Through the hard times and the great times everyone here has had a hand in my growth. Thank you! Excited for my next radio chapter.” At the same time Fat Dawgs 7 Broadcasting announces that Enrique Loera is named VP and general manager for the company’s Fresno radio stations. Read the GV Wire story here.