Mark Kaye to Run for Congress in Florida
Former WOKV-FM, Jacksonville morning drive host Mark Kaye announces that he intends to run for the
U.S. House in Florida’s 5th Congressional District as a Republican. Since exiting WOKV in February of 2024, Kaye has been hosting daily podcasts, “Mark Kaye Saves the Republic,” and “The 47 Daily.” Kaye says he’ll challenge incumbent Republican Congressman John Rutherford. Kaye says, “I’ve been shouting into microphones and TV cameras about these lazy politicians for years, but nothing’s changed. So, I will go to Washington and shout at them from the House floor!”
chairman and chief executive officer of Nexstar Media Group, who will remain on the executive committee as immediate past joint board chair. Also, Chris Ornelas, EVP and general counsel for Beasley Media Group, was elected chair by the NAB Radio Board. Leonard Wheeler, president of Mel Wheeler, Inc was elected first vice chair while Allen Power, president, Broadcast Media for Salem Media Group, was elected second vice chair. Eddie Harrell, co-president, Audio Division of Urban One was elected to the major group representative seat on the NAB Radio Board.
In early 2024, voters in New Hampshire got strange robocalls. The voice sounded just like President Joe Biden, telling people not to vote in the primary. But it wasn’t him. It was an AI clone of his voice – sent out to confuse voters.
show was on Friday (6/6). Shattuck – whose career includes time spent as producer of Boston Herald Radio, producer and host at WRKO and WTKK-FM in Boston, as well as editor at the Boston Herald – hosted the midday show at WTIC for the past four years. He also produces and hosts the podcast, “Burn Barrel,” and will continue with that effort. Audacy is going syndicated in the daypart featuring FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” followed by “The Erick Erickson Show.”
Santos, and one other employee. According to a memo to staff from WURD CEO and president Sara Lomax wrote praising those affected for their “meaningful contributions to our station, our community, and our city. This decision was not made lightly. As an independent media radio station, it is imperative that we maintain our ability to give Black Philadelphia a voice and a place to make their voices heard.” She also wrote, “I’m very confident we will survive and thrive. “It’s time like this that outlets like WURD are needed more than ever. We want to be around for another 22 years and another 22 after that.”
all this week from Palm Springs, California at “Freedomfest.” Thomas tells TALKERS that at the event – billed as “The Largest Gathering of Free Minds”—he will cover everything from farming to energy and, of course, free markets. Thomas also operates Thomas Media LLC which owns news/talk WTON, Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg.
suburban New York market dynamics, and a proven track record of audience engagement, operational excellence along with cultivating client and community relationships.” At the same time, Connoisseur chief operating officer David Bevins, who has been overseeing Long Island operations for the past five years in addition to his corporate responsibilities, will now focus on major corporate initiatives. The company says Bevins will play a key role in managing the transition of Alpha Media into Connoisseur Media. CEO Jeffrey Warshaw comments, “These leadership changes reflect our confidence in our team and our vision for Connoisseur’s future. Kristin and David exemplify the kind of forward-thinking, community-driven leadership that defines our brand. As we grow, we are excited to have their expertise guiding both our legacy markets and new additions.”
Commission and Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington abruptly announced his departure from his commissioner role earlier this week. President Trump nominated Olivia Trusty for the open seat that existed prior to Starks’ and Simington’s departures but that has been stalled in the Senate. Interestingly, FOX News reports that Simington’s chief of staff Gavin Wax is being floated as a potential nominee, according to “a source close to the FCC.” Regardless, the Senate needs to get at least one nominee confirmed soon as the Commission’s ability to do business is disrupted. 
end of this week. It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve the American people as a Commissioner. I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility by President Donald J. Trump during his first term. 
When Georgia-based nationally syndicated radio personality, and Second Amendment advocate Mark Walters (longtime host of “Armed American Radio”) learned that ChatGPT had falsely claimed he was involved in a criminal embezzlement scheme, he did what few in the media world have dared to do. Walters stood up when others were silent, and took on an incredibly powerful tech company, one of the biggest in the world, in a court of law.
states, “Steve has shared his entire broadcasting career with the WGN Radio audience and built respect, trust, and friendships along the way. It’s a special relationship and four decades deserves recognition.” Bertrand started at WGN Radio as an intern and was hired full-time in 1985. He has been in the news anchor chair since 1992. Bertrand reflects, “Growing up in a small town, I always had my eye on moving to the big city. Never during those years of daydreaming would I have imagined the career I’ve had at WGN Radio. I have worked with, and still do work with, some of the best in radio. I’m so grateful. And lucky. Back in the day, many people might have considered my fantasy a pipe dream. But, it turns out, dreams can come true.”
“Fewer than half of Americans plan to travel this Summer,” according to a 
iHeartRadio, the deal includes a cross-marketing collaboration of both brands throughout the BIG3 season with promotion nationally across iHeartMedia’s multiple platforms including broadcast radio, podcast digital, social and live events, with a heavy focus in “game” markets including Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and others. iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne says, “We are very excited about our new partnership with BIG3 and having the opportunity to provide play-by-play coverage and promotional support to build further brand awareness, introducing the game to millions of more fans. We look forward to bringing the passion and excitement of BIG3 to our listeners on a local and national level week after week.”
meteorologist. Froney most recently served with WLEX-TV, Lexington, Kentucky. She comments, “I’m looking forward to working with the talented group of meteorologists at FOX Weather. I can’t wait to continue exploring my fascination with meteorology and work with some of the best in the industry.”
change. Both organizations share a vision of advancing equity, social justice and civic engagement for future generations.” BIN president Tony Coles adds, “This powerful collaboration will deliver important, unbiased information to our audiences, promote civic engagement, and foster inclusive dialogue. In today’s news environment, our responsibility is to ensure the stories, commitment and goals of civic and community leaders are heard by our listeners and carried forward by future generations.” BIN will advance the mission of the Obama Presidential Center in the runup to opening in 2026 by sharing and distributing stories focused on President Obama’s legacy, community-driven initiatives on the South Side of Chicago and engaging in national conversations around equity, democracy and change.
School with Dom Giordano” – a phrase inspired by the recent TALKERS conference “Generations 2025” held earlier this year in conjunction with IBS NY 2025. The podcast will be carried on the industry’s major platforms.
Dozens of brand-new audio hardware and software companies have been launched during the past 20 years. These start-ups are usually funded by venture capital money. VC money is not invested to return a profit, it’s poured in to – pour it in. Their money is “different” than the cashflow that fuels your business. Start-up money buys time to profit.
together hosted the “Dave & Dujanovic” show. Dr. Holly Richardson is a former state legislator who currently serves as editor of Utah Policy and a columnist for the Deseret News. Greg Skordas is a defense attorney, former prosecutor, and former candidate for Utah Attorney General. Bonneville president and COO Tanya Vea says, “This reflects our commitment to provide Utahns with smart, solution-oriented news and analysis. Greg and Holly bring a rare depth of expertise, perspective, and connection to our community, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the KSL NewsRadio lineup.” KSL program director Kevin Larue adds, “Our evolving lineup reflects what KSL NewsRadio stands for—credible voices, engaging conversations, and a deep connection to the community. No matter the topic or the time of day, our listeners know we have them covered.”
podcasting. Captivating audio entries from storytellers around the world engaged listeners and earned top honors from the 2025 Radio Awards Grand Jury. Winning entries from 26 countries span podcasts and audiobooks, entertainment and music specials, dramas, documentaries, and breaking news coverage all created by some of the world’s most respected audio content creators.” Winners of note include CBC/Radio-Canada taking home the Broadcaster of the Year honor with the following organizations being recognized: NPR, Gold Tower Award, Culture & The Arts; BBC, Gold Tower Award, Drama Special; Bloomberg Podcasts, Gold Tower Award, Business Podcast; CBC/NPR, Gold Tower Award, Sports Podcast, Audacy, Gold Tower Award, Narrative/Documentary; NZME/iHeartRadio, Gold Tower Award, Investigative Journalism Podcast; and more. 
generator backup. About 35 minutes later the tornado moved through the city. It took Hammer about 90 minutes to go three miles through downed tress and power lines to get to the FM transmitter site and get it back on the air. Audacy SVP and market manager Becky Domyan says, “I want to give a huge shout-out to the entire team at KMOX for outstanding, minute-by-minute coverage on the storms. I can’t reiterate how much this information was life-saving, and big kudos to news brand manager Beth Coghlan for leading her team through this calmly and accurately.” Domyan adds, “I actually was driving on Mason Road near Lindbergh when it hit, and I have driven through storms many times. For the first time in my life, in this situation, I was terrified. At that moment, I tuned into KMOX to get an idea of where the storm was, so I knew what I needed to do to be safe. In times like this, we are there to provide information that truly saves lives. I couldn’t be prouder of everyone on our team.”
traffic news, drivers turn to local radio over social media or phone apps. The study asked drivers about their use of their infotainment system use and 69% said they use it for first for controlling audio content; 68% said navigation was their primary use, and 66% said they use it first for making phone calls. Audacy adds, “Today’s drivers – especially the tech-savvy ones – expect their Audio to follow them everywhere. Whether they’re finishing a podcast from the office to the car or switching from music on the road to the gym, they want their content to move with them. Nearly all AI intenders (93%) say seamless podcast listening is a must, and 73% say the same about radio.” 
regulatory burdens. We received great feedback from a range of stakeholders already and plan on eliminating onerous, antiquated, and unlawful requirements across the board.” Carr added, “And we have been delivering these results with a focus on efficiency. At the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025, the FCC employed 1,461 full-time employees. As of April 28, 2025, the FCC employed 1,383 full-time employees. The difference over the last six months can be attributed to many factors, including FCC employees who took advantage of the early retirement window opened by my predecessor, the deferred resignation program offered by President Trump, and natural turnover. The agency is well positioned to continue carrying out its statutory mission for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 and beyond.”
NPR’s “NPR News Now” and “Up First” remain in the #1 and #2 positions, respectively. Other radio-related podcasts of note include Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” steady at #6, Cumulus Podcast Network’s “VINCE” falling five places to #8 and iHeartRadio’s “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show” dipping one place to #14. 
manager at KKLA-FM, market manager for Los Angeles, and regional vice president overseeing major markets such as Seattle, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oxnard, San Diego, and most recently, Honolulu. Salem Media Group CEO David Santrella comments, “Terry’s vision, integrity, and deep commitment to Salem’s mission have left a lasting mark on everyone who has had the privilege to work with him. His contributions extend beyond radio programming into building meaningful community experiences and nurturing strong leadership in our teams.” Fahy reflects, “I am grateful for the opportunities and support Salem’s leadership has afforded me to make a spiritual impact in Southern California and other West Coast markets. I also treasure the talented and hard-working broadcast and media professionals I have had the privilege to work alongside. I am proud of what we accomplished, not only on air but also with our community events. Many people hope to look back on their careers with a sense of purpose and accomplishment. By God’s grace that has been my experience and privilege at Salem.”
In a ruling that should catch the attention of every talk host and media creator dabbling in AI, a Georgia court has dismissed “Armed American Radio” syndicated host Mark Walters’ defamation lawsuit against OpenAI. The case revolved around a disturbing but increasingly common glitch: a chatbot “hallucinating” canonically false but believable information.
current Alpha Media shareholders retaining their interest in the company but ceding control to Connoisseur. Under the terms of the deal, Alpha shareholders will reorganize into a new company which will become part of Connoisseur in exchange for a 3.75% equity stake in Connoisseur, plus two warrants to allow them to acquire more equity – one for 5% at $30 million valuation and the other for up to 5% at $70 million valuation. Connoisseur is acquiring new credit facilities to finance the retirement of Alpha debt plus a new, revolving credit line. Connoisseur is operating the Alpha under an LMA and when the deal closes, the new Connoisseur will own and operate 218 stations in 47 markets. 
ad-supported media campaign. Among the findings is that in order to ensure that digital audio buys are effective, marketers should commit news/talk and sports stations because they represent 28% of all 25-54 AM/FM radio streaming audiences. Among 25-54s, spoken-word formats have a massive 28% streaming share, 2.4 times larger than the overall spoken word share of 12%. The news/talk format has a 6.7% share of total AM/FM radio listening. The streaming share for news/talk is 15.4% — more than double its total share. The sports format has a 12.5 share of the streaming audience, 2.5 times bigger than its overall 5 share. Further, the data indicates that for the 18-34 demographic, sports and news/talk streaming is a combined 19.6% share. 
“Brad vs. Everyone” is joining iHeartPodcasts. Polumbo’s podcast featured him covering “the most interesting and entertaining stories in politics and on the internet from a center-right, independent perspective.” He comments, “I’m thrilled to launch this partnership with Premiere Networks and iHeartPodcasts, and to work with their fantastic team to bring ‘Brad vs. Everyone’ to new audiences. It’s an honor to join a network with incredible talent and massive reach, and I look forward to the podcast reaching new heights!”
signals including WQKR, WAMG, WCOR, WRMX, WSM-AM, WSM-FM, WZPC – Power Country 102.9, WFCM / Moody Radio, WJKM, and more. He also served with Cumulus and as chief engineer for 5 Star Radio in Clarksville. During his time with WSM-AM, he also served as an announcer for the Grand Ole Opry. Randall managed and operated WJKM for five years and served as chief engineer for Cromwell Radio (now Cromwell Media) for over 20 years, overseeing engineering for ten stations in the greater Nashville area. Randall’s son, Matt Aaron, serves as a broadcast engineer for Ramsey Solutions. 
and executives and increases awareness of the Broadcasters Foundation charitable mission. This event will be co-hosted by Angela Yee, BFOA Ambassador and nationally syndicated host of “Way Up with Angela Yee.” Also hosting will be Pedro Rivera, reporter and anchor for ABC7’s Eyewitness News. Closing out the night will be Long Island singer-songwriter Camryn Quinlan. BFoA president Tim McCarthy says, “We are thrilled that there has been such an overwhelmingly positive response to our Media Mixers. During today’s dramatic changes in the media landscape, more broadcast professionals – entry, junior, and senior levels – want to get together to exchange experiences and brainstorm for the future.”
1940s, when broadcast dominated mass communications in the U.S. Since then, the media marketplace has changed drastically – from widespread deployment of cable and satellite television networks to the rise of social media, podcasts, and streaming. Local broadcasters compete directly with Big Tech, streaming services, and social media platforms in the marketplace of consumer content. Yet, unlike their competitors such as YouTube and Facebook, broadcasters are limited by the ownership rules in how many households and consumers they can reach. This is an inherent disadvantage.” The letter adds, “By eliminating the national television cap, local TV duopoly restrictions, and local radio ownership caps, broadcasters can better achieve the scale and efficiencies necessary to compete – and to attract vital investment – in a fragmented and rapidly evolving information market.” 
floated debilitating rate regulation schemes that target national network broadcasters for their newsrooms’ editorial decisions, harassed private companies for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and threatened tech companies that respond to consumer demands for content moderation and fact-checking. Separately, they have attempted to shutter Voice of America and sought retribution against lawful residents that protest Administration policies.” She cited two occasions where presidents – FDR in 1939, and John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s – asked their FCC Chairs to shut down media outlets critical of their policies and those FCC Chairmen boldly refused.