Todd Starnes Honored by U.S. Reps
Pictured above is conservative media figure Todd Starnes (right) with U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) and U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) at a book launch event hosted by the Conservative Partnership Institute to honor Starnes and recognize the publishing of his eighth book, Twilight’s Last Gleaming (Simon & Schuster/Post Hill Press, 2024). The event was emceed by former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows. Starnes’ talk radio show is syndicated nationally, and he is the owner of news/talk KWAM, Memphis. Starnes is also on the board of directors of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters.
last night (3/11). The event was also exclusively video streamed on iHeartRadio’s YouTube channel and broadcast across iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app. Winners were named in 32 categories, including Podcast of the Year, which went to “New Heights.” Entertainer Lilly Singh presented the award to co-hosts Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce, who accepted the honor via video. 
audio experienced a 17% decline. The study identified radio app and voice users as super users who shared common traits and expectations. Audacy notes, “These highly engaged individuals demand seamless transitions for Audio across their home, phone, and car systems… Moreover, they exhibit readiness to spend, particularly in high-budget categories like home improvement and financial services, responding actively to targeted radio ads. For advertisers, crafting personalized ads targeted at these audiences presents an exceptional opportunity to guide listeners through all stages of the purchase funnel.” Other key findings of the study include: 1) Nearly half of radio app users sought information about advertised products online after hearing an ad in the car, compared to 22% of all listeners; 2) 31% of radio app users and 27% of voice users visited the store they heard about, doubling the rate of all listeners; and 3) 27% of radio app users purchased advertised products, more than doubling the rate of all listeners. 
Think about the concept for just a minute. Manhattan Island for $24? Peter Minuit knew value.
comment as part of his Q4 2023 earnings call yesterday (3/7). The company is already operating ClarksvilleNow.com in the Clarksville, Tennessee market and had forecast to have more markets up and running by the end of this year. He says, “As of today, I’m pleased to announce that we have already generated over $1 million in prebooked revenue for 2024, and the year-end timeline has been accelerated to have not 16 but 18 markets online by the end of – not the end of the year – but by the end of quarter two.”
Indeed, TikTok has been caught engaging in a pattern of illicit surveillance and making false statements about personnel in Beijing accessing sensitive U.S. user data. These facts were laid bare for the world to see when the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a TikTok oversight hearing last year. And that is why there is now a broad, bipartisan consensus that TikTok cannot continue to operate in the U.S. in its current form. I want to applaud the strong, bipartisan leadership that Members of Congress have shown in advancing this bill, which would definitively resolve the serious national security threats TikTok poses by banning the app or requiring that it genuinely sever ties to the CCP. This is a smart, threat-specific bill that would address a clear and present danger. I hope that this bill will soon become law.”
market (fed by WXUS-HD3). Florida Man Radio continues to air on WZLB-FM, Fort Walton Beach. The programming includes Bubba the Love Sponge in morning drive, Don Miller in middays, and Shannon Burke in afternoon drive. JVC president and CEO John Caracciolo says, “Programming like FMR is what makes terrestrial radio relevant and strong. We have to dare to be different and produce content that drives listeners to our platform and that entertains, educates and sometimes just makes us laugh out loud. The vision of a locally based talk station that isn’t afraid to confront the big topics while not taking itself too seriously, screams the mantra of JVC. We need to keep live and local radio working for our clients and listeners.”
filed by Albert Adam David, who claimed the changes would create interference for other licensees. Good Karma proposes to relocate the WMVP facility approximately 31 kilometers to the currently licensed nighttime transmitter site of WCPT-AM, Willow Springs, Illinois. Good Karma proposes to retain WMVP’s Class A designation, operating frequency (1000 kHz), and 50 kW daytime operating power, but reduce nighttime operating power to 37 kW while diplexing nighttime transmissions with WCPT (WCPT broadcasts at 1.5 kW on a different frequency).
Williams, who has been highlighting the GameChangers honorees throughout February, hosted the ceremony. The 2024 recipients were nominated by audience members, selected by a panel of previous honorees and vetted by KYW Newsradio editorial staff. Audacy Philadelphia SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “We are delighted to honor the exceptional individuals who are driving positive change and making a profound impact within communities of color across Philadelphia. This yearly program highlights their unwavering dedication to making lasting contributions to this community, and we’re proud to leverage our platform to shine a light on their great work.” 
questions as it did answers about what young broadcasters entering professional media today should be prepared for in navigating the unpredictably turbulent waters of the next decade and beyond. Among the sweeping panorama of topics covered in his address, Harrison told the students, “When looking to the future, don’t be too sure that current events will follow a predictable script. There are always ‘black swan events’ that change the storyline and our expectations in an instant. Plus, there are multiple outcomes, possibilities, and forks in the road for almost every situation.” Regarding the current focus on artificial intelligence, Harrison advised, “All technology is a double-edged sword and AI will prove to be a particularly consequential one with both positive and negative implications. However, don’t fall into the age-old trap of thinking that productions and performances created or enhanced by new technology are necessarily ‘artificial’ or ‘fake.’ New tools not only create new art, they have an irrepressible influence on giving rise to new culture. The immediate years ahead are likely going to provide us with the challenging question of ‘what does it mean to be truly human?’” Harrison concluded, “As young broadcasting students in 2024 looking to make a difference in the world, be prepared to face the challenge of following your dreams, ideals and inspiration while confronting the harsh realities of making a living in a stressed environment of relentless change. We live our lives in this business at the dangerous intersection between art and commerce.”
Is that host read you are pitching “baked-in?”
-2) at the Sheraton Times Square hotel in New York City. Harrison’s address titled, “The Next 10 Years of Media and Popular Culture is…?,” is scheduled to take place between 11:00 am and 12:00 noon on Saturday (3/2). Harrison states, “I have always believed that the future of broadcasting, for better or worse, brews on the campuses of America and this observation is truer now than ever before. I am very excited to bring an array of provocative and pertinent observations, predictions and possibilities, born of my perspective as a future-minded immigrant from the 20th century to such a vital and dynamic group of young communicators.” 
AM/FM, Dayton. The program aired in the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET daypart and the stations are going to replace the show with “The Erick Erickson Show” based at CMG’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta. The Erickson program is syndicated by Compass Media Networks. It appears that producer Hannah Guile is also exiting as a result of this move. TALKERS reached out to Mark Kaye who requested that all questions and inquiries be directed to his agent Heather Cohen at The Weiss Agency.
those living in suburban or urban areas. Rural listeners spend 43% of their daily audio listening time with AM/FM radio and radio streams, compared with urban listeners who spend 34% of their time with AM/FM radio and radio streams. Meanwhile, Urban listeners spend over twice as much of their daily audio time with podcasts as rural listeners. Urban listeners spend 13% of their daily audio time with podcasts compared with rural listeners who spend 6% of their daily time with podcasts.” Interestingly, if you combine the AM/FM listening and podcast listening numbers for Urban, Suburban and Rural listeners, these numbers are essentially the same – between 47% and 49%. Edison notes, “It appears that the ‘time budget’ for radio and podcasting combined is consistent across locations; it is just the apportionment of that time that varies.”
Communications’ WNOV-AM, Milwaukee; and Minority Communications’ KJMC-FM, Des Moines. SmileyAudioMedia owner and program host Tavis Smiley says, “Our show’s rapid and continued expansion into key media markets represents an exciting next chapter. As we move deeper into the 2024 election season, we’ll continue to provide our growing listener base with enlightening and empowering programming unapologetically geared toward African Americans and other citizens of color.” The program is heard in Chicago on Midway Communications’ WVON-AM; LEVAS Communications’ WURD-AM, Philadelphia; and Equity Media’s WBOK-AM, New Orleans and plans to announce more new affiliate stations later in the spring.
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.
Are 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?
The fourth of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 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 January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Milwaukee, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WISN adds 2.5 shares to finish with an 11.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) good for its fifth straight month ranked #1, while Good Karma Brands’ crosstown news/talk WTMJ does not appear in this survey. (TALKERS has reached out to GKB for clarification.) In Nashville, Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WWTN-FM rises 1.5 shares to finish with a 5.4 share that lifts it to the #6 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WLAC adds nine-tenths for a 2.1 share finish good for the #18 rank. In Providence, Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WPRO-AM/WEAN-FM tacks on a full share to wrap the survey with a 6.9 share, lifting it to the #4 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WHJJ-AM is up two-tenths for a 1.0 share finish and the #13 rank. 
Paul Anderson says, “We are beyond fortunate to have Scott as part of the Workhouse family. Scott is a smart, disruptive thinker whose background and entrepreneurial drive make him the perfect person to lead our new sports vertical.” Workhouse EVP John McConnell adds, “I’ve worked alongside and across the table from Scott for 30 years. He is a best-in-class executive and is perfectly positioned in this role.” McCarthy says, “I could not be more excited or honored to be joining the Workhouse Media team and getting the opportunity to work alongside Paul, John, and 
president and Sara Morris is elevated to vice president of government affairs. Pigue joins iHeartMedia following seven years advising U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) on technology, telecommunications, consumer protection, finance, banking, budget, tax, health care and judiciary policy issues. Gonzalez most recently served as deputy director of scheduling and assistant to the chief of staff for Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia). iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman states, “Our company is deeply appreciative of iHeartMedia’s Government Affairs team and their hard work on behalf of our company as well as on issues of critical importance to the broadcast radio industry. I congratulate Jessica and Sara on their promotions, and welcome David and Sophia to the iHeart team.”
from West Virginia to Georgia. The programming includes “The John Fredericks Show,” “The War Room with Steve Bannon,” Newsmax’s “Rob Carson Show,” and more. Fredericks states, “This West Virginia opportunity is key to our growth plan, as it dovetails nicely with our Pittsburgh footprint and reaches a very pro-populist, pro-America First and pro-Trump area of America. We are excited about offering listeners in West Virginia a choice from the stale, woke, and warmed over pablum served up every day by the corporatists and conservative Inc. bunch that regurgitate the FOX and RNC talking points of the day. Our lame and boring news/talk competition falls into one of four categories: weather on the fives and traffic on the eights, stock prices trading below fifty cents, stock de-listed off the big board, or George Soros buying up bankruptcy debt with a controlling stake to eventually take over the company and its programming.”
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.”