SABO SEZ: Doom Not Required
By Walter Sabo
A.K.A. Walter M Sterling, Host
Sterling Every Damn Night, WPHT, Philadelphia
Sterling On Sunday, TMN
As a consultant for about 25 years, I witnessed the full range of skill levels in the C-Suite. Bob McAllan of Press Broadcasting was at the top of the food chain because he had a consistent, passionate message: “We have to be number 1.” He was an owner of million+ cumer New Jersey 101.5; WTKS FM, Orlando; and other envied stations. He had to be number 1. He never blinked. No participation trophies with Bob.
Shockingly many other GMs and CEOs do not mimic Bob’s war cry – number 1. Many, too many, executives responsible for AMs just gave up… as early as 1988. In 1988, I worked with a GM who was running a big station in a big city who constantly told me that his number 1 station would just have to die because it was on AM. Damn it, he would do everything to prove AM’s death was inevitable.
He was not alone. Over and over I have encountered owner/managers who refuse to invest or even pay attention to their full- market signal AM stations. (Even some FM managers when asked if they want to be number 1 have actually said to me, “I’m not sure.” Why come to work?)
If an AM station has listed cume, it can grow. Examples:
• WSB AM, Atlanta was sinking from dominance to a mid-level performance. COX radio hired top consultant Greg Moceri in 1995 to improve WSB’s performance. Moceri and, the more recent arrival, PD/ND Ken Charles‘ focus and passion since then has brought WSB back to dominance. Dominance.
• When John Catsimatidis bought WABC it was an almost dead, seriously abused station. It had a 1.7 share. John brought local shows, fun promotions, and pizza to the hallways. Recently WABC, under the guidance of John and Red Apple Media and WABC President Chad Lopez, has earned a 5.0 share. 5.0 in New York City.
• David Yadgaroff Audacy market president and Greg Stocker brand manager of WPHT-AM, Philadelphia air local live 80% of the day. When my show, “Sterling Every Damn Night” launched in May, the time period was 19th in total Adults. Today, with no promotion, politics or sports, it is # 1 Persons 25-54, #1 Men 25-54. # 1 Men 18-49. (Forgive the plug but I’m making a point…)
The shared ingredients of these turnarounds:
• Passionate belief in the show.
• Consistent delivery of entertainment
• No political agenda.
Personal note: Very happy and slightly surprised about the ratings success in Philadelphia but I am puzzled why not one industry type has asked, “What do you talk about every damn night?”
Consultant Walter Sabo A.K.A. Walter M Sterling has a nightly show “Sterling Every Damn Night” heard on WPHT, Philadelphia 10:00 pm – 1:00 am. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs Sundays 10:00 pm – 1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at waltermsterling@gmail.com or Sabowalter@gmail.com.
BIN: Black Information Network, the 24/7 comprehensive national audio news network specializing in what it describes as “objective, accurate and trusted continual news with a Black voice and perspective,” today (1/6) announced Terry Foxx has joined as VP, news and content effective immediately. In his new role, Foxx will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of BIN: Black Information Network’s newsroom and its team of journalists, with a focus on development of news content and original programming. “I am excited to have Terry join BIN: Black Information Network,” said Tony Coles, the network’s president. “In today’s rapidly changing media landscape, the role of news in shaping public discourse has never been more important. We’re confident his contributions will strengthen our position as a leader in delivering inclusive and impactful news and content to our audiences.” Prior to his new role with BIN, Foxx served as regional director of talk programming for iHeartMedia Austin/San Antonio. His career includes roles at KUT-FM, University of Texas, and major stations such as WPLJ-FM, New York; B96, Chicago; KKDA-FM, Dallas; and WZGC-FM, Atlanta.
“I am thrilled to contribute to the growth and success of BIN: Black Information Network,” Foxx tells TALKERS. “BIN is a vital platform for amplifying diverse voices and delivering trusted, relevant news to our communities. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact and further strengthen the connection between BIN and the audiences we serve.” BIN is distributed nationally through the iHeartRadio app, available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices, as well as on local AM/FM broadcast radio stations across America, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
With the imminent departure of Salem Radio Network (SRN) star Sebastion Gorka to join the forthcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump in an advisory position, longtime Salem Philadelphia morning star Chris Stigall of 980 AM WNTP will replace Hugh Hewitt in the 6:00 am – 9:00 am ET position starting January 13. That same day, Hewitt will move into Gorka’s daily 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm slot. Pictured above: Stigall addressing thousands of conservatives yesterday (12/19) at AmericaFest 2024 in Phoenix where SRN “introduced” him to a large swath of its core audience. AmericaFest is an annual rally hosted by Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA – also an SRN personality.
With nearly 30 years of experience in journalism, Lenzi has held roles as morning editor, managing editor, and most recently, news director and program director at KNWN/KOMO. He led coverage of major events such as the 2009 Lakewood Police shooting, the 2014 KOMO TV helicopter crash, and the 2020 police dispersal of the Seattle CHOP Zone. Bonneville Seattle SVP/ market manager Cathy Cangiano tells TALKERS she’s eager for Lenzi to come aboard. “Frank’s extensive experience and proven leadership in the industry make him the perfect fit for our team. His dedication to journalistic excellence and his ability to inspire and lead will keep our newsroom standards high. We look forward to the fresh perspectives and innovative ideas he will bring to KIRO.” 
Bryan Buckalew, KIRO program director, echoed those sentiments. “Frank has a deep commitment to keeping audiences informed and connected. I’m confident he’ll be a great addition to our team.” Lenzi comments, “KIRO has always been the gold standard for radio journalism not only in the Seattle market, but across the country. It is an honor to lead this fine team of veteran broadcasters.” Lenzi will replace outgoing news director Charlie Harger, who will take over as host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO in January.
WDAE’s weekday lineup, which already features “The Dan Patrick Show” and “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” will now also broadcast FOX Sports Radio from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am ET, which includes “The Odd Couple with Kelvin Washington & Rob Parker,” “The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon,” and “The Ben Maller Show.” Additionally, WDAE will broadcast FOX Sports Radio around the clock on weekends. “We are thrilled to announce the further expansion of FOX Sports Radio programming to our lineup, which features the best sports content and personalities, both local and national,” said Nick Wize, WDAE program director. “We believe this expansion will provide our audience with even more engaging and insightful sports talk, continuing WDAE’s legacy as the ultimate meeting spot for the Tampa Bay sports fan.”
In a recent high-profile case, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel successfully defended himself against a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by former congressman George Santos. The case, which centered on Kimmel’s use of prank videos involving Santos, highlights the ongoing importance of fair use protections for media creators, broadcasters, and digital content producers.
NYF Radio Categories eligible for the award include News Program, News Report/Feature, Documentary, Entertainment, Promo, Digital, Podcast, and Student.
In 2024, over 180 award-winning teams worldwide shared their acceptances, while industry leaders spotlighted their creative journeys in special segments. Additionally, the JusticeAid Award-winning submission will be honored at the JusticeAid Concert in May 2025 in New York City, showcasing the transformative power of music and the arts to raise awareness for civil rights and inspire positive change.
available free of charge to radio stations around the nation.Special guests include Gov. Mike Huckabee, actress Sam Sorbo, and Pastor Robert Jeffress. Stations interested in broadcasting the show should reach out to todd@starnesmediagroup.com.
The webinar offered up to five years of trending data and new findings about Latino podcast listeners as well as video interviews of podcast creators discussing how they’ve utilized the studies throughout the years. According to the study, 43% of U.S. Latinos age 18+ are monthly podcast listeners, a 72% increase since 2020 (25%).
with their insights into how audio marketing spending will evolve, how YouTube is impacting the podcasting industry, the growth of contextual targeting tools, and more for the coming year:
These tools will not only proactively guide brands on optimal content alignment but also streamline ad buying processes through automation and data-driven insights, reducing the need for extensive manual intervention. This approach will power precise content targeting and scale reach effectively, all while ensuring brand messages align seamlessly with the right contexts and audiences.
Digital audio marketing spend worldwide will increase 10% next year, in part due to key drivers including the rise of contextual targeting, allowing advertisers to immerse their message within relevant content, and utilizing the growing versatility of dynamic audio insertion to make scaling campaigns more efficient. Additionally, the rapid growth of influencer marketing on TikTok and X is cooling, with marketers increasing spend on podcasts where creators can cultivate more meaningful audience connections. This growth in audio spending will heighten the insistence for transparency as advertisers demand greater visibility into performance metrics and content alignment to ensure trust and accountability. This convergence will solidify audio’s position as a successful channel for integrated marketing strategies worldwide.
While podcasting will remain fundamentally audio-first, driven by convenience and flexibility, consumers now have more options for how they discover and consume content. YouTube is bringing in new, first-time podcast consumers with a different audience profile. In some cases, they are watching shorter length content or on additional devices other than mobile. Informed by insights about their audience, publishers and creators will be able to deliver an engaged experience across listening platforms and devices, and grow reach.
More specifically, the focus will be on enabling humans to automate tasks so they can focus on strategy. AI will be leveraged to drive more effective and efficient spending, including helping achieve yield for publishers and meaningful campaign outcomes for advertisers, as well as content analysis and audience insights. This tech shift will put a bigger emphasis on having robust data-backed insights on audiences, content, and campaign performance.
This approach will be particularly transformative for long-tail podcasters and creators with smaller followings, offering a sustainable revenue stream that can be both a growth and retention strategy. For creators with niche audiences, subscriptions provide a viable alternative to ads and ensure the lion’s share of the revenue goes directly to the creator. As platforms invest more in these tools, creators will be able to engage directly with their subscribers through integrated communication features and eliminate the need for third-party tools. This evolution promises to empower indie creators by streamlining their workflows and enhancing their ability to cultivate loyal audiences.
As advertisers prioritize accurate audience engagement, the shift toward contextual targeting is gaining significant traction. This trend is expected to drive more ad dollars into solutions that deliver measurable results. Innovative technology that amplifies the ability to connect with highly specific audiences at scale and helps meet advertisers’ evolving expectations will win. For publishers, this surge in demand for targeted ad placements unlocks exciting opportunities to expand inventory and enhance reach through strategic partnerships within digital audio networks.
Audacy has extended the contract of talk show host Steve Sanchez for another year through 2025. Sanchez is heard weekdays 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and hosts a “carefully curated best-of” program Sundays 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. 
Sanchez was recently featured on Soledad O’ Brien‘s documentary with Scripps Media regarding Latinos in talk radio and how they were swaying the election in the swing state of Nevada (“In Real Life: War on La Radio). Sanchez says, “It is a thrill to be dominating my daypart in format and I feel my audience growing exponentially right now. It’s a pleasure serving the Las Vegas market with the legendary station KDWN.” Sanchez has been named one of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America with his inclusion in the TALKERS 2022 Talkers Heavy Hundred. In 2020, this rising talk radio star was named #25 of the top 30 influencers in Las Vegas by LV magazine.
“The Jim Rome Show” – nicknamed “The Jungle” – will be moving to the 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET slot and be independently syndicated by Westwood One. Rome hinted at the news when he teased a big show announcement for Monday in a post on X over the weekend. Infinity is a partnership between Audacy and Westwood One. Rich Eisen’s show can also be found on Roku and every relevant podcast platform,
with highlights additionally posted on YouTube and through a Yahoo Sports portal. Eisen was previously a part of iHeart’s Fox Sports Radio lineup, and since exiting that network in 2020 he’s been syndicated by Westwood One.The rest of the Infinity lineup includes shows hosted by Maggie Gray and Andrew Perloff, Bill Reiter and Zach Gelb. To read the entire New York Post story, please click 
Progressive talk radio legend Stephanie Miller and her long-running, successful live review, “The Sexy Liberal Show,” have booked an upcoming appearance on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the historic Warner Theater in Washington, DC. In addition to Miller, the program features regulars, John Fugelsang, Hal Sparks, and Frangela (Francis Callier and Angela V. Shelton). The show’s producers tell TALKERS, this evolving live road show gives Miller fans (“Steph Heads”) the opportunity “to rally the resistance, laugh through the chaos, and gear up for the fight ahead.” As is customary, the show will also feature soon-to-be-announced special guests. For those who cannot make it in person to the show, it will be available via pay-per-view. For more information, please click 
The free 3-hour, 1-hour, 25- and 30-minute radio specials are hosted by long-time WMAL, Washington, DC radio personality Larry O’Connor and feature stories of our nation’s heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. This program is appropriate for the entire Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year season and is a fitting and inspirational holiday programming alternative for all formats. The show features interviews with wounded warriors and veterans including heroes from Operation Enduring Freedom, the Vietnam War and an incredible, emotional story of one of America’s World War II living legends. Listeners will hear their stories fighting for our freedoms, the injuries and illnesses they endured. and the welcoming homes Fisher House provides for them and their loved ones while they go through their painful and painstaking recoveries. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. For more information on this radio special, available cash and barter free, contact TALKERS Heavy Hundred member Larry O’Connor at 562-665-9537 or 
Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated (TMN) talk radio star, Daliah Wachs, M.D. continues her philanthropic ways. Each year, Opportunity Village holds its Magical Forest event in Southern Nevada that runs from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Opportunity Village helps those with intellectual disabilities and their families through enrichment, empowerment, and employment programs and services. Sponsors decorate a tree that comprises a huge beautiful magical forest, one of their largest fundraisers to fund their programs and employment placement. Wachs (pictured above with her “medical tree”) tells TALKERS, “It’s super cool and our show has helped support their mission for years. We create a medical tree with an EKG sign and it’s one of our favorite local charities we support.” Wachs is a member of the TALKERS Heavy Hundred and a past recipient of the TALKERS Humanitarian of the Year award.