Salem Issues Statements on Charlie Kirk’s Slaying
In the hours after media personality, political activist, and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, Salem Media Group issued a number of statements from its executives. The company called Kirk’s killing “a cowardly and vile act of violence, carried out to silence one of America’s boldest Christian conservative voices. Our hearts are shattered for Charlie’s wife, family, friends, colleagues,
and the countless people whose lives he touched through his words, his work, and his unwavering commitment to faith and country.” Salem CEO David Santrella is quoted saying, “Charlie was more than a broadcaster – he was a fearless defender of truth and a faithful servant of God. This assassination was not just an attack on Charlie, it was an attack on free speech and on the values Charlie championed every day. His absence leaves a tremendous void, but his legacy of faith, courage, and conviction will continue to inspire generations.” Salem Media chief strategy officer Bradley Parscale stated, “I have had the privilege of working with Charlie for nearly a decade. He was part of the Salem family. His voice was fearless, unyielding, and relentless in the defense of faith and freedom. This heinous act of evil was meant to silence him, but as Christians, we know darkness cannot overcome the light. Charlie’s influence cannot and will not be silenced.” The company added, “Charlie’s partnership with Salem Media was defined by his uncompromising defense of biblical values, liberty, and truth. Through his nationally syndicated show and podcast, he reached millions who relied on his voice to cut through lies, honor truth, and give courage to those fighting for faith and freedom.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the time to issue a statement on Kirk’s death, saying, “Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization. I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place. We lost an incredible human being. His boundless pride in America and his valiant belief in free speech will leave a lasting impact. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.”
Salem is also announcing that today (9/11) it will broadcast a special two-hour tribute to Charlie Kirk in what was his 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm ET daypart. The program will be co-hosted by Kirk’s colleagues, SRN host Mike Gallagher and KSKY-AM, Dallas “660AM The ANSWER” talk radio host Mark Davis.
Salem Media Group recruits Australian media personality Erin Molan to host an eponymous podcast for the Salem Podcast Network. Molan says, “The American market has always felt like such a natural fit. The focus on my former show on Sky News Australia was always more heavily skewed towards foreign affairs, U.S. politics, national security, and COMMON SENSE! When clips started to go viral in the United States, I figured there was an appetite there for what I had to say!” Salem SVP spoken word Phil Boyce comments, “I really believe Erin Molan is the ‘thunder from down under.’ She is fighting hard for the right side in Australia, and now we are helping her make her case to the U.S. and beyond. She is a strong advocate for Israel and against anti-Semitic rhetoric, so I can’t wait to hear her get started.”
New York’s Cipriani 42nd Street once again played host to one of radio’s most anticipated annual events of the year: the annual “77 WABC Gala,” held this past Friday (9/5). The spectacular evening blended star-studded entertainment, heartfelt tributes, and plenty of radio family camaraderie – all while raising funds for three cornerstone charities: Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the Police Athletic League, and Shriners Children’s Hospital.
The Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group unveils an audio planning guide based on data from Edison Research and Nielsen data. Saying that there are incorrect assumptions among strategists and media planners about which audio media have the most listeners, chief insights officer Pierre Bouvard underscores that AM/FM radio is still the dominant ad-supported audio platform with a 66% share. Podcasting is second with a 20% share and this is true across all demographics. For those who are all-in on digital audio only, Bouvard says they are missing 70% of the potential audience as ad-supported Spotify, Pandora and podcasts reach only 30% of the U.S. in a typical day. Further, Bouvard says the data suggests an optimal allocation of audio ad spend: “The ideal allocation for a 25-54 audio plan is 62% AM/FM radio, 24% podcasts, 12% music streaming (Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music), and 2% SiriusXM satellite radio.” 
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.”
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.
radio spots across 192 media markets, generating more than 1 billion impressions and $43 million in airtime from TV and radio stations. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt says, “Local stations are serving communities with live sports, trusted local news and life-saving emergency coverage – all available for free to every American. But outdated rules are shackling these stations from growing and innovating at a time when Big Tech operates with limitless scale and zero public interest obligations. Consumers deserve more – not fewer – local journalists on the ground and live sporting events accessible without a subscription. The FCC must act quickly to level the playing field so broadcasters can continue investing in the content communities rely on most.”
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.”
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.”
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. 
“There are certain sounds that define a place, and for Sullivan County, Mike’s voice is one of them. For 45 years, it’s been the sound of calm, trust, and perseverance. His life has been a true lesson in resilience. His legacy will live far beyond the airwaves.” Bold Gold Media CEO Vince Benedetto adds, “Mike’s retirement is truly an end of an extraordinary and historic era in local broadcasting. In every way, he was ‘The Voice of Sullivan County.’ He will be missed by all of our listeners, and most of all, by all of us in Bold Gold. His example of broadcast excellence will endure and be carried on by all of us who have learned so much from him. We wish him a wonderful retirement and thank him for his long, distinguished service to our communities.” Sullivan County native Dylan Price is assuming the Catskills news & sports director role.
best known for hosting the afternoon drive show on WLW from 1981 through his retirement in 2007. He created numerous voice characters on his program, the most famous of which was Earl Pitts Uhmerikun – which took the form of a nationally syndicated commentary during his time at WLW. He also worked at stations including, WMPS, Memphis; WNOE, New Orleans; WAKY and WHAS in Louisville; and CKLW, Windsor/Detroit during his career. 
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.
event will benefit The WABC Radio Foundation, The Tunnel To Towers Foundation, The Police Athletic League (PAL), and Shriners Children’s. The evening will feature performances of patriotic songs including WABC Saturday evening personality and singer Tony Orlando performing “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”; Lee Greenwood performing “God Bless the USA” and America’s tenor Christopher Maccio will sing the National Anthem. Additionally, WABC personality Joe Piscopo will perform Frank Sinatra classics and station host Vinnie Medugno will sing oldies. The gala event will be hosted by 77WABC legendary air personality Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow. Distinguished guests will include United States and New York area politicians, business leaders, and community heroes. 
The risk is real. Suggesting that a technique used with great success in the recent past might be beneficial to the present is a perilous course. Is the idea out of touch with today’s reality? Is the author ignoring current trends?
Ninety seconds. That’s all it took. One of the interviews on the TALKERS Media Channel – shot, edited, and published by us – appeared elsewhere online, chopped into jumpy cuts, overlaid with AI-generated video game clips, and slapped with a clickbait title. The credit? A link. The essence of the interview? Repurposed for someone else’s traffic.
“justice for the injured… Bradshaw & Bryant.” Key takeaways from the blog include: 1) Through its longterm use of AM/FM radio advertising, Bradshaw & Bryant dominates unaided brand awareness; Across all stages of the consumer journey, Bradshaw & Bryant leads the market; 2) Bradshaw & Bryant offers Madison Avenue a master class on creating future demand and how building a brand is the main driver of longterm growth and profit; 3) Every advertiser has two jobs: Creating future demand and converting existing demand; Bradshaw & Bryant excels at creating future demand; and 4) AM/FM radio advertising works: Among AM/FM radio listeners, Bradshaw & Bryant’s awareness is +19% greater than in the overall market. 
with a spotlight on alumni pride and community connection.” The station is featuring the syndicated “Miller and Moulton Morning Show” starring Mark Miller and David Moulton. Beasley Tampa VP and market manager Ron deCastro says, “Florida Alumni Radio is more than a station – it’s a destination for Florida sports fans and alumni to come together and celebrate the teams and traditions they love. We’re proud to provide a platform that not only delivers great sports content, but also connects alumni, students, and fans across the Tampa Bay community in a meaningful way.” The station will also serve as the exclusive home for USF Athletics content.
ESPN Radio’s “Unsportsmanlike” starring Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon from 5:00 am to 6:00 am; “Kap and J. Hood” from 6:00 am to 9:00 am; “Carmen and Jurko” from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon; Rich Eisen from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm; “Bleck and Abdalla” from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm; and “Waddle and Silvy” from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. ESPN Chicago director of content Danny Zederman states, “Our lineup has never been stronger. Adding a powerhouse like Rich Eisen to our midday slot not only gives our fans one of the most respected voices in sports, but we’ve also expanded our local content with an uninterrupted hour of ‘Bleck and Abdalla.’ This combination of national and local perspectives makes us the go-to station for sports fans in Chicago.”
Imagine a listener “talking” to an AI version of you – trained entirely on your old episodes. The bot knows your cadence, your phrases, even your voice. It sounds like you, but it isn’t you.
An annual physical is a wise idea. Doc asks, “How are you doing?”. Then he or she asks some detailed questions based on your medical history. Then “how have you been feeling? Any issues?” Doc always orders blood draws to see what might be lurking. Is the statin drug keeping your cholesterol in check? Are you getting plenty of exercise, plenty of sleep? How’s your diet? Over the years, I’ve visited about my health with at least a dozen different doctors. I’m convinced that the good ones always ask good questions and then listen carefully. Good questioner – good listener. That’s the doc I can respect and put my trust in.
would go their separate ways when his current contract ends later this year. The Yahoo story says, “A source affirmed that everything is a done deal in this regard, and all previous reports of him exiting the company were pure fallacy, per RadarOnline. The man of the hour himself also dropped a big hint on his social media, teasing an answer to all the questions hovering around his career very soon.” Stern’s own Instagram account posted the following: “Now we can reveal that all the questions will be answered. All the truths will be told by the one man truly on the inside: Howard Stern will speak. Tuesday, September 2.” 
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.”