The most discussed stories yesterday (1/22) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Salem Media Group’s Townhall Media announces that it is naming WMAL-FM, Washington morning drive talk host Larry O’Connor as editor of Townhall.com, effective immediately. Townhall Media says, “Larry O’Connor is a trusted conservative voice known for credibility,
clarity, and consistency, earning the respect of audiences, peers, and industry leaders alike. He brings decades of experience across writing, podcasts, broadcast, and live events, along with a proven record of leadership, audience growth, and editorial excellence to one of the nation’s most influential conservative platforms. O’Connor is known for his deep understanding of the political and cultural landscape. His career spans multiple media formats, and he has built a large, loyal national audience by combining sharp analysis, principled conservatism, and engaging conversations.” O’Connor has been writing for Townhall and HotAir since 2016. His daily podcast, LARRY, is streamed at 12:00 noon ET on Townhall.com and YouTube. O’Connor comments, “Townhall has been a cornerstone of the conservative movement for decades, and I’m incredibly honored and excited to take on the role of editor. This is a platform with a powerful legacy, an outstanding team of contributors, and a loyal audience that cares deeply about ideas, culture, and the future of our country. I’m eager to build on that foundation, elevate strong conservative voices, and help Townhall continue to inform, challenge, and inspire readers every day.”
Las Vegas talk radio host Alan Stock joins the Antisemitism Working Group created by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and announced in December. Lombardo’s office says the Antisemitism Working Group “will
bring together leaders from Nevada’s Jewish community, educators, advocates, and law enforcement professionals to advise the governor on emerging challenges, community safety concerns, and long-term policy solutions.” Stock tells TALKERS, “The group will provide an important opportunity for Jewish community leaders to share their perspectives and ensure that Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo hears directly from those affected as we work together to address antisemitism in Nevada. Policy recommendations will be due by April 15, shaping the agenda for Nevada’s 2027 legislative session.” Stock hosts his daily morning program “Vegas @ 8” on news/talk KXNT and produces commentaries that air three times per day on the Audacy station.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals is granting Nielsen an administrative stay of the District Court’s order pending a decision by a three-judge motions panel. That means Nielsen can continue to operate its radio ratings business as usual until the panel rules on Nielsen’s
appeal of the District Court’s ruling on Cumulus’ request to seal the record and protect witnesses’ identities. That request was granted by the District Court. Cumulus Media is suing Nielsen alleging that the company is illegally leveraging its dominance over national and local radio audience data to stifle rivals and charge inflated prices. At the heart of the complaint is the charge that Nielsen is providing access to the national broadcast radio ratings only if the client spends a lot of extra money on the separate local ratings. Cumulus argues that Nielsen’s policy forces them to buy ratings in U.S. markets where it doesn’t operate stations in order to have the complete national ratings data.
FOX News Media brings Reince Priebus aboard as a political analyst, in which he’ll appear across all platforms. He made his debut last night
(1/20) on make his debut on FOX News Channel’s “Hannity.” Priebus is a former Republican National Committee chairman and served as White House chief of staff to Donald Trump in 2017. He currently is president of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, chairman of Michael Best Strategies and is a senior adviser to Centerview Partners. He also holds roles on President Trump’s Intelligence Advisory and Oversight boards.
At last week’s appearance before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Committee on Energy and Commerce, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez testified about her concerns with
the way the commission is operating. She took issue with FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s interpretation of how the Commission should ensure that licensees operate in the public interest. She stated, “For months, this FCC has asserted an apparent roving mandate to police speech that this Administration does not like, invoking an undefined and unchecked concept known as the ‘public interest’ standard.
Instead of functioning as a principle intended to serve the public, this standard is being treated as a license to weigh in on content, viewpoint, and editorial judgment.
This is not what the FCC was created to do. The Commission’s job is not to police content, root out media bias, or guarantee favorable coverage for any administration. Its responsibility is to regulate communications infrastructure and markets, not censor the speech that flows through them.
The First Amendment protects against government interference with speech, and the Communications Act prohibits the FCC from engaging in censorship. In a free society, the government does not decide what speech is acceptable or aligned with its views. When the government’s media regulator claims the power to judge content or police bias, we move away from oversight and closer toward censorship and control.
That is why it is so important for the FCC to clearly define what it means by the public interest standard, something I have called on it to do repeatedly. It is also why Congress must insist on guardrails that prevent content-based regulation and protect against the FCC acting as an arbiter of speech.”
Cumulus Media partners with Toronto-based media technology company Eon Media to develop and monetize AI-enabled projects for audio. Cumulus says new AI-powered technologies will optimize its 395 U.S. radio stations and digital assets to “drive and measure consumer and
audience engagement – a considerable value add for Cumulus Media and its stakeholders and an important next step in the development of advanced capabilities for the audio sector.” Cumulus adds that Eon Media is an award-winning technology company for media that harnesses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence that is fully built in-house to extract metadata from media assets, including segments, stories, categories, audio transcription, music recognition, people mentioned, demographics, and much more. Cumulus Media president and CEO Mary G. Berner says, “We are excited to join forces with Eon Media to create innovative solutions that will provide Cumulus Media with access to new market opportunities and untapped monetization paths. Importantly, this partnership will significantly enhance our ability to drive greater discoverability. By expanding touchpoints and engagement opportunities, we ensure our listeners and audiences can connect with our content more easily and more often than ever.”
ESPN and SiriusXM personality Stephen A. Smith is being honored by the Broadcasters Foundation of America with its first-ever “Broadcast Personality of the Year Award” that will be presented during the BFOA’s Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on March 9. BFoA president
Tim McCarthy comments, “We are excited to introduce the Broadcast Personality of the Year Award and there is no one better to be our first honoree than Stephen. There are very few in broadcasting that are as authentic as Stephen. His tremendous work ethic and candid delivery make Stephen a personality on any platform that you must pay attention to, and I know first-hand his work ethic is second to none.” Smith says, “I am honored to receive this recognition from Tim and the Broadcasters Foundation. The Broadcasters Foundation is a unique charity that helps support those in our industry who are suffering under the most daunting circumstances. I am delighted to be a part of this important fundraising gala that will help so many.”
The national syndication arm of Red Apple Media adds the Joe Concha-hosted show, “Concha At Night” in the 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm slot. “Concha At Night” debuted on WABC, New York earlier this month.
The most discussed stories yesterday (1/21) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
The National Association of Broadcasters is testifying on behalf of over-the-air broadcasters who would like to see the Federal Communications Commission’s radio and television station ownership caps eliminated. In lengthy testimony regarding the 2022 Quadrennial Regulatory Review – Review of the Commission’s Broadcast Ownership Rules and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, NAB says that, unlike those arguing to keep or even strengthen ownership caps, those asking for their removal are providing real-world testimony. The NAB writes, “They documented in detail the vast
competition local radio stations today face for audiences and vital advertising revenues from online and satellite content providers and digital ad platforms not subject to any comparable restrictions on their scale and scope; the dire negative effects that consumer and advertiser substitution of competing digital audio content and advertising for traditional radio has had on the listenership and advertising revenues garnered by local radio stations, including in mid-sized and small markets; and how the retention of asymmetric ownership restrictions has prevented radio broadcasters from gaining local scale to take advantage of important economic efficiencies, obtain investment capital, and better compete for audiences and advertising revenues, and thus enhance – or even maintain – their provision of news, emergency information, and valued entertainment and sports programming in local communities across the country at no cost to the public.” Responding to testimony from musicFirst Coalition and the Future of Music Coalition – referred to as the Coalitions – NAB writes, “First, the fact that the Coalitions continue to hold themselves out as protectors of small, local independent broadcasters not just borders on the absurd but crosses over into full-blown absurdity. The Coalitions represent the interests of the music industry, which is dominated by three consolidated international record labels. Compared to even the largest radio station groups, the giant record labels are the 800-pound gorillas of the music world. Those three labels earn billions more in revenue than the approximately 11,000 full-power commercial AM/FM stations combined. As NAB earlier reported, the three major music companies jointly generated about $2.9 million per hour in 2023. In remarkable contrast, in 2023 and 2024 the vast majority of radio stations garnered less – and often much less – than $2.9 million per year in advertising revenues. Needless to say, the Coalitions have never explained how local radio stations earning such low levels of revenue (and even lower, if any, profits) are supposed to keep talented employees and provide high quality programming, including popular music, sports, and informational programming, such as weather updates and emergency information, OTA and free to the public without achieving increased local scale, greater economic efficiencies, and more robust ad revenues. See the NAB’s complete testimony here.
Pictured above is U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson addressing Britain’s House of Commons and House of Lords today (1/20), making him the first sitting Speaker to address the U.K. Parliament. Johnson’s remarks focused on 2026 being America’s 250th Birthday as a free independent nation. Salem Media says that Johnson’s reaction to his reception in Parliament – plus excerpts of his address – will be featured on SRN News, TOWNHALL News and the upcoming edition of the weekly Salem news program “This Week on Capitol Hill with Tony Perkins” on which Johnson is co-host. Photo: GB News
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio announces the MIW Erica Farber Mentorship in Management Class of 2026. MIW says, “This prestigious initiative selects four exceptional women from across the radio industry – spanning sales, marketing, programming, and digital – to participate in a year-long mentorship experience designed to accelerate leadership development and career advancement.” They are (from l-r): Angela Williams, manager of business operations, Crawford Media Group, Chicago; Bridget England, program director & morning show host at 96 Rock, Cincinnati, Cumulus; Cassie Reimold, regional digital sales manager, Salem Media, Tampa, Orlando & Atlanta; and Kelly Harlow Pruitt, general sales manager, Cumulus Media, Indianapolis.
The most discussed stories yesterday (1/19) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Often, when visiting client stations, I ride shotgun on a sales call, and it’s always a masterclass. Retailers have a canny, insightful feel for their customers (our listeners). And accompanying these reps, I feel like I’m “Dancing With The Stars.”
Cold calling still rattles many new sellers, even some veterans. The fear is understandable: interrupting strangers to ask for their time sounds like a recipe for rejection. And seems old-school, but the cold call isn’t a relic – it’s a differentiator. Done right, it’s not a pitch. It’s about discovery.
Here’s what successful sellers I work with seem to have in common:
Lately, I’m impressed by how reps are using Artificial Intelligence… not as a crutch, but to collaborate. Various vendors are hawking apps that will write – even voice – spots. Whenever I’m given a demo, I ask for copy about a restaurant my wife and I frequent. And what comes back is painfully generic – “in a relaxing atmosphere” – rather than capturing the experience. DO exploit AI. But ask it for copy concepts, and use it as a first draft, always to frame the prospect’s words.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
Talk host Casey Bartholomew announces he’s been let go from his late morning talk show on Cumulus Media’s WBAP, Dallas. Bartholomew joined WBAP in the spring of 2022. He wrote: “This was weird… After
almost 4 years, and raising the ratings over 300% in some areas, I was informed that I was leaving my job to ‘pursue other opportunities.’ I didn’t even know I was looking at other opportunities. I wanted to ask them what they were, but they got off the phone before I could. (Yes. They did it over the phone.) So, if anybody knows what these ‘other opportunities’ are, could you let me know?” Cumulus is seeking Bartholomew’s replacement for the 9:00am to 11:00 am show. See the job opportunity below.
Michigan talk radio hosts Ron Jolly and Colleen Wares McClelland – host and co-host of the “Ron Jolly Show” on Midwestern Broadcasting’s
news/talk WTCM, Traverse City, announce that they are retiring from the station after their last show on April 10. TraverseTicker reports their brief on-air announcement in which Ron Jolly stated, that it was “not an easy thing to leave” but that “all the circumstances add up to that. We will make the most of it. The hardest part is leaving. We can’t see you, you can’t see us, but we are connected. See the TraverseTicker story here.
After Urban One shareholders approved the company’s request to consider a reverse stock split last June, the company’s board of directors announces that it is going forward with a reverse stock split of all classes of its common stock, including its publicly traded shares of Class A
Common Stock and Class D Common Stock at a ratio of 10 for 1. The company states, “The reverse stock split is being conducted to regain compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market with respect shares of the Company’s Class D Common Stock.” No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Holders of stock who would otherwise receive a fractional share will receive cash in lieu of the fractional share equal to the closing sales price of the stock on the effective date – in this case January 22.
The most discussed stories over the weekend (1/17-18) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
A study by Woods & Poole Economics, Inc. with support from BIA Advisory Services reveals that local broadcasting “fuels $1.19 trillion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supports 2.46 million jobs nationwide. The study says that $437 billion of that is attributable to radio. The study also projects broadcasting revenues through 2028 and concludes that for 2026, U.S. radio’s gross revenue is estimated to be
$12.54 billion – with $10.15 billion from over-the-air revenue and $2.39 billion from digital revenue. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt comments, “No other industry gives more to Americans for free. Local stations provide trusted journalism, life-saving emergency alerts and the sports and entertainment that bring our communities together. This report reinforces that broadcasters are not only essential to our democracy and daily lives, but to the strength of our economy, as well.” The study goes on to reveal that “local broadcasting’s economic ripple effect extends deep into other sectors — from construction to retail — adding another $134 billion in GDP and supporting nearly 776,000 additional jobs.” LeGeyt adds, “Broadcasting is more than a business model; it is a civic model. This industry stands alone in its mission to inform, protect and uplift every community in America, regardless of zip code or income level.”
Salem Media and WIND-AM, Chicago “AM 560 The Answer” morning drive host Dan Proft agree to a two-year extension to keep him on the air through December of 2027. Salem regional VP and WIND general
manager John Gallagher says, “The combination of Dan Proft’s intellect and his exceptional interviewing skills is why he’s the best morning radio host in Chicago. His knowledge of the issues that affect the people of Illinois is unmatched. This contract extension solidifies the Chicago Morning Answer brand and the top conservative talk radio line-up in the nation.” Proft comments, “I’m excited to extend my run on Chicago’s Morning Answer, and I am honored to be trusted with such an important platform during these turbulent times. Nothing short of the future of the United States and Western civilization, by extension, is on the line, and I’m humbled to be able to lend my voice to the fight. I want to thank AM 560’s management, along with our loyal, intelligent listeners and our accomplished and thoughtful guests, for their ongoing support.”
FOX Sports Radio announces that “Stugotz and Company LIVE!” will debut on Monday (1/19), originating from iHeartMedia’s studios in South Florida. FSR says the show will air from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm daily on
more than 270 stations nationwide as well as on FOX Sports Radio’s channel on iHeartRadio and on FOXSportsRadio.com. The full radio show will also be available as a podcast immediately following each broadcast. In December, TALKERS reported that longtime Dan LeBatard producer and co-host Jon “Stugotz” Weiner would join FSR in a deal that would also feature an upcoming slate of original sports talk programming, including Stugotz’s podcasts “Stugotz and Company” and “God Bless Football.”
Comedian and podcaster Adam Carolla signs a multiyear extension with PodcastOne to continue producing his eponymous podcast. At the same time, it’s being announced that beginning January 26, “The Adam Carolla
Podcast” joins SiriusXM’s The Megyn Kelly Channel for same-day distribution of Carolla’s daily show, Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:00 am – 9:00 am ET. PodcastOne co-founder Kit Gray states, “PodcastOne is thrilled to extend our relationship with Adam and his ‘The Adam Carolla Show.’ Adam has paved the way for podcasters around the globe and his podcast is continuously growing with audiences and with advertisers. We’re proud to be working alongside one of the greatest in the business as he sets the tone for success in the genre.”
Media and technology firm Radio Customs is partnering with Jeff Weber Media Group to expand into FM affiliate syndication and national advertising sales. This new deal includes the signing of Bubba the Love Sponge and sports talk radio duo Miller & Moulton (Mark Miller and David Moulton), for affiliate representation, digital monetization, and integrated sales. Jeff Weber states, “Radio Customs is one of the most forward-thinking media companies in audio today. Their ability to blend streaming, podcasts, original music, and now FM syndication represents where the industry is headed. I’m excited to partner with [Radio Customs founder] Gentry Thomas and his team as we expand these brands nationwide.”
Here are the most-talked-about stories of the past week (1/12-16) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
People
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
Audacy is dropping the classic hip hop on WBMX and adding the 104.3 FM frequency to sports talk WSCR-AM “670 The Score,” beginning
February 2. Audacy Chicago SVP and market manager Kevin Cassidy states, “Chicago fans are the best in the world, and they deserve coverage that matches their passion. Our roster features the best talent in the city with unmatched dedication to delivering the latest sports news and insight. We’re excited to expand The Score’s reach through this FM simulcast, bringing our premier sports content to an even wider audience so they can join the conversation and stay connected to their favorite Chicago teams.”
Salem Media today promotes Carolyn Cassidy to vice president & regional general manager in which she’ll continue to oversee Salem’s operations in Columbus, Tampa, Orlando, and Miami, while expanding
her leadership role as part of the company’s Senior Leadership Team. Salem says, “Cassidy has been an integral part of Salem for many years, beginning with her leadership in Columbus, where she cultivated a strong culture of teamwork, community involvement, and business growth. She later took on management of Salem’s Tampa market, followed by oversight of Orlando and, most recently, Miami.” Salem president of broadcast media Allen Power adds “Carolyn has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, market insight, and a deep commitment to Salem’s mission. Her ability to lead multiple large and diverse markets with both strategic focus and personal care makes her an outstanding addition to our VP ranks.”
In testimony before the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce yesterday (1/14), FCC chairman Brendan Carr addressed a number of issues including ownership caps and broadcasters’ requirement to serve the public interest. In his prepared remarks, Carr anticipated questions about the commission’s role in scrutinizing content and stated, “The FCC is working to empower local broadcasters to serve the public interest and meetthe needs of their communities. As Congress, the Supreme Court, and the FCC have all
made clear, broadcasters are different than every other distributor of media. Specifically, broadcasters are required by both the Communications Act and the terms of their FCC-issued licenses to operate in the public interest. This sets them apart from cable channels, podcasts, streaming services, social media, and countless other types of distributors that have no public interest obligation. The FCC’s broadcast hoax rule, its news distortion policy, its political equal opportunity regulation, its prohibition on obscene, indecent, and profane content, its localism requirements — all of those and more apply uniquely to broadcasters. Congress has instructed the FCC to enforce public interest requirements on broadcasters. The FCC should do exactly that.” Carr added, “To ensure that broadcasters can meet their public interest obligations, the FCC has taken a number of actions, including seeking public comment for the first time in more than 15 years on the relationship between the large, national programmers on the one hand and the many local broadcast television stations on the other. Comments in that proceeding suggest that many local broadcasters are concerned that the national programmers have amassed enormous power and influence in recent years and have made it more challenging for local broadcasters to fulfill their public interest obligations. The FCC is going to continue its efforts to empower local broadcasters to meet their public interest obligations.”
Connoisseur Media partners with software solution firm Audiospace for the company to develop its digital radio platforms. Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw says, “The culture of Connoisseur Media is about being local and about meeting our audiences where they are. Today, that means
having a first-class digital experience alongside fantastic local programming. Audiospace understands that and they understand radio. They’re not just building apps and websites, they are helping us connect with our listeners while also unlocking new revenue opportunities for our advertisers. We thrilled to be working with Audiospace, we expect this partnership to help take Connoisseur Media’s digital game to the next level.” The first websites and apps were successfully launched in early December, with additional releases scheduled in the coming weeks.
AdLarge Acquires Inlet Media. AdLarge is acquiring the assets of technology platform Inlet Media, Inc that it has used for nearly two years to onboard, distribute, and monetize audio and video content through its AI-powered podcast and creator workflows. As part of the transaction, Patrick Cedrowski, co-founder of Inlet Media, has been named chief technology officer of AdLarge and the fwd. network. Brian Egan, co-founder of Inlet Media and longtime AdLarge and fwd. network team member, has been promoted to vice president and head of product.
NHPR Partners with The Podglomerate. New Hampshire Public Radio enters into an exclusive sales partnership with Portsmouth-based podcast agency The Podglomerate,, in which The Podglomerate will serve as the exclusive sales partner for podcasts produced by NHPR. NHPR director of on-demand audio Rebecca Lavoie says,“Partnering with The Podglomerate is a natural next step in our relationship. We’ve worked with them on several marketing campaigns, and are impressed with their steadfast advocacy for our journalism. They also have some of the most innovative approaches to monetization I’ve seen in the industry.”
Edison Presenting “Evolving Ear” Webinar. Edison Research will present, “The Evolving Ear: How New Listeners are Shaping Podcast’s New Chapter,” in a webinar on January 27 at 2:00 pm ET. Edison says, “The future of podcasting may be unpredictable, but listener trends offer the best clues about where it’s headed. Drawing from over 20 years of Edison Research data, senior research director Gabriel Soto will explore how the next wave of podcast consumers is shaping the medium.” Get more info and register here.
Radio Mercury Awards Call for Entry. Call for Entry for the 2026 Radio Mercury Awards is officially open. Entrants have the opportunity to be awarded in 17 categories along with the Best of Show recognition. Call for Entry deadline is Monday, April 6, 2026. Finalists for the show will be announced in early May, and winners will be announced at the live Radio Mercury Awards event on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at SONY Hall in New York City. For more information regarding entry categories, guidelines, entry fees and deadlines, available sponsorship information and more, click here.
The most discussed stories yesterday (1/14) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Nielsen Audio’s managing director Rich Tunkel says that U.S. District Court Judge Jeanette Vargas’ order that his company is enjoined from enforcing its Network Policy — in which clients wanting to buy network ratings must also buy the local ratings — and from charging a
commercially unreasonable rate for its Nationwide Report may cause it to have to do away with the Nationwide Report altogether. This testimony accompanied Nielsen’s request for a stay pending appeal as it appeals to the Second Circuit. This is the latest in action in Cumulus’ suit alleging that 
Nielsen is illegally leveraging its dominance over national and local radio audience data to stifle rivals and charge inflated prices. Judge Vargas denied the stay pending appeal but did grant an administrative stay will be in effect only until January 16, 2026, to allow Nielsen time to file a motion for a stay in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Tunkel’s testimony states that the order would cause Nielsen “significant irreparable harm if required to comply with the Court’s ruling during the pendency of Nielsen’s appeal… As a result, Nielsen would not be able to apply that policy in any of the at least ten negotiations with clients that Nielsen expects to have in 2026. If Nielsen is unable to apply the Network Policy, then it will be hindered in its ability to ensure that it can recover the costs of collecting the local radio-ratings data that make up the Nationwide report and spread those costs appropriately across the customers that use the products generated from those joint costs. If Nielsen cannot recover these costs, then it may have to retire the Nationwide report, similar to when Nielsen retired its other national data product, RADAR. If it does not retire the Nationwide report, it may have to pass a higher share of the costs of collecting local data on to other customers, including local radio stations, hurting Nielsen’s negotiating position with respect to those customers, as well as those customers themselves.”