The most discussed stories yesterday (1/14) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump Transition Hearings
2. LA Wildfires – Political Response and Accountability – Social Media Misinformation
3. Jack Smith Report – Trump Dangling Legal Issues
4. Israel-Hamas War-Hostage Situation / Russia-Ukraine War
5. Economy – DOGE / Migrant Crisis / Crime
Longtime talk radio mainstay and TALKERS Heavy Hundred member, Jeff Katz is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Katz is the tremendously popular 3:00 – 6:00 pm host at Audacy’s WRVA, Richmond, VA where he has developed a national reputation within the broadcasting industry as a champion of public service and community outreach. 
In addition to being a compelling political commentator and dazzlingly entertaining personality, Katz – a former Philadelphia police officer – has worked tirelessly for years as a champion of law enforcement, the needy, and the disabled. A former recipient of the TALKERS “Humanitarian of the Year” award, Katz has received numerous honors over the years from public officials including the President of the United States, Director of the FBI, and Governor of Virginia. Just recently, VA Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Katz to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. Katz and Harrison discuss radio’s handling of the current water crisis afflicting central Virginia, which has been overshadowed, in terms of national attention, by the Southern California wildfire disaster, in addition to the importance of radio as an invaluable societal safety net. Don’t miss this. To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click HERE.
One of the largest tests of AM/FM radio advertising was conducted in Spring 2024 in just over 20 local markets. The campaign ran across a broad mix of small, medium, and large markets. The two-month AM/FM radio campaign featured heavy media weight with 500 monthly GRPs, generating a monthly reach of 75% and a 7 frequency. Claritas and MARU/Matchbox both ran studies on the campaign. The results are highlighted in this week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group® blog.
• Advertising creates memories and memories generate sales; Clicks don’t generate sales
• A significant test of AM/FM radio advertising in over 20 markets found AM/FM radio worked: Total unaided brand awareness grew +10%; Among heavy AM/FM radio listeners unaided awareness soared +16%
• Claritas attribution measurement revealed the AM/FM radio campaign generated an +8% lift in leads, +8% increase in signups, +9% in registrations, and +12% growth in purchases
• A series of Tracksuit brand studies for TikTok revealed successful brands need to “be known before their needed.” The greater the awareness, the greater the conversion rate. A strong brand makes performance marketing work harder.
Check out the completely new blog post HERE.
Watch the 12-minute video of the key findings HERE.
To download the slides, click HERE.
The top stories yesterday (1/13) on news/talk radio according to TALKERS research:
1. LA Wildfires – Political Response and Accountability – Social Media Misinformation
2. Jack Smith Report – Trump Legal Issues
3. Trump Transition Hearings
4. Israel-Hamas War / Russia-Ukraine War
5. Economy – DOGE / Migrant Crisis / Crime
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
If it’s not too late for a New Year’s resolution: No more pictures of studio equipment.
Do your sales promotion material and/or your station website and/or social media graphics have a photo of a studio console? A microphone? Towers? Is that supposed to impress prospective advertisers?
To them, how-we-do what-we-do is MUCH less interesting than who consumes our work. What does your prospect sell? Show them pictures of people who buy that, our listeners.
Equipment worth showing: Devices people use to consume our work. Depict the target demographic in-car, and interacting with Alexa, and using the station app, and scrolling the station’s Facebook, etc. And, yes, show microphones, in studio shots of local talent, which will distinguish you from robotic competitors.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
FOX News Media (FNM) will unveil a series of programming changes across FOX News Channel (FNC) and FOX Business Network (FBN), announced FNM CEO Suzanne Scott. Beginning on January 21, FOX & Friends Weekend co-host Will Cain will take over the 4 PM/ET weekday timeslot on FNC with “The Will Cain Show.” FOX News contributor Charlie Hurt will replace Cain as co-host of “FOX & Friends Weekend” beginning January 18. “The Fox Report” and “The Big Weekend Show” will both expand to two hours on Saturdays and Sundays also starting on January 18. Additionally, FBN’s Dagen McDowell will join “The Big Money Show” which will expand from 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm ET on weekdays beginning on January 27 while she also continues to co-host “The Bottom Line” (6:00 – 7:00 pm ET). In making the announcement, Scott said, “As the media landscape continues to evolve, we are always looking to innovate our programming lineup to meet the needs of our viewers, and we are confident the new lineup will best position FOX News Media for the future. Will Cain brings years of experience to the 4:00 pm hour as an accomplished broadcaster and a lawyer and we look forward to adding his insights to what will no doubt be another historic news cycle ahead this year.”
Cain added, “It has been an honor to wake up with America these past four years and I am thrilled to apply my background in news, law, entertainment and business to help our viewers better understand the headlines through thought-provoking content and analysis every weekday afternoon.”
Featuring conversations with newsmakers from across politics, business, culture and sports, The Will Cain Show will offer a comprehensive look at the news of the day in a signature podcast style. His last appearance on FOX & Friends Weekend will be on January 18th, following which Hurt will take over the role as co-host, joining Rachel Campos-Duffy on the curvy couch each weekend. In addition to his role as a FOX News contributor, Hurt currently serves as the opinion editor of The Washington Times. He will relinquish that position upon the start of his new role.
Beginning on January 18, “The FOX Report” anchored by Jon Scott will move to 3:00 pm ET expanding to two hours until 5:00 pm ET on Saturdays and Sundays while “The Big Weekend Show” which also airs on Saturdays and Sundays will expand to two hours from 6:00 – 8:00 pm ET beginning on the same day. Meanwhile, FOX News Live will continue airing from 10 AM-12 PM/ET on Saturdays featuring a rotating substitute anchor until a permanent replacement is named and the one-hour “Journal Editorial Report” will move to 2:00 pm ET on Saturdays.
On FBN, McDowell will join “The Big Money Show” which will expand to two hours from 12:00 noon -2:00 pm ET starting on January 27 where she will break down market news alongside co-hosts Taylor Riggs, Jackie DeAngelis, and Brian Brenberg.
These were the most talked about stories of the past weekend (1/11-12) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
1. LA Wildfires
2. Trump Confirmation Hearings
3. Tik Tok Controversy
4. Russia-Ukraine War / Israel-Hamas War
5. NFL Playoffs
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
In 2016, YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein of H3h3 Productions were sued by Matt Hosseinzadeh for copyright infringement after they used portions of his video in their reaction content. The court ruled in their favor, emphasizing that their use was transformative, added commentary, and didn’t harm the original’s market value. This case set a precedent for content creators regarding the use of existing works in commentary and criticism within their own works in the digital era.
THE BIG QUESTION: How much can one use of someone else’s work before it becomes infringement?
For spoken-word creators, this ruling underscores the key principles of fair use: if your work critiques, comments on, or transforms the original content in a meaningful way, it’s likely protected. This is much more the focus than the exact amount of seconds being used. For example, using brief clips of an interview or viral moment to dissect cultural trends or add satire aligns with these protections. Even longer clips align, if they are balanced by original commentary that requires the used clips in order to fully understand the commentary.
However, creators must tread carefully. This permission is not universal or even the default. Overusing original material or failing to add substantive commentary risks crossing the line into infringement and the Fair Use defense may not succeed. The key takeaway? Be transformative and intentional – your voice and perspective are what make your work defensible under fair use.
Media attorney, Matthew B. Harrison is VP/associate publisher, TALKERS; Senior Partner, Harrison Media Law; and executive producer, Goodphone Communications. He is available for private consultation and media industry contract representation. He can be reached by phone at 724.484.3529 or email at matthew@harrisonmedialaw.com
The L.A. Wildfire’s Eaton section began “crawling up” the region’s iconic Mt. Wilson yesterday afternoon (1/9) and now (1/10) is threatening the antenna farm and broadcasting transmitters located up there, as well as the historic Mt. Wilson observatory. Should the fire reach the top of the mountain, it could pose significant communications issues and limit the broadcasting capabilities, to one degree or another, of Los Angeles’ major TV and radio stations. According to multiple reports, hand crews have arrived at Mt. Wilson to fight the blaze. Most of Los Angeles’ TV stations broadcast from Mt. Wilson, including KCBS (CBS 2), KNBC (NBC 4), KTLA (Channel 5), KABC (ABC 7), KCAL (Channel 9), KTTV (Fox 11), KCOP (Channel 13), KCET (PBS SoCal 2 Channel 28), KOCE (PBS SoCal 1 Channel 50) and KMEX (Univision 34). FM stations broadcasting from there include KPCC-FM 89.3, KPFK-FM 90.7, KUSC-FM 91.5, KRRL-FM 92.3, KCBS-FM 93.1, KLLI-FM 93.9, KTWV 94.7, KLOS-FM 95.5, KNX-FM 97.1, KKLA-FM 99.5, KKLQ-FM 100.3, KRTH-FM 101.1, KSCA-FM 101.9, KIIS-FM 102.7, KOST-FM 103.5, KBIG-FM 104.3, KKGO-FM 105.1, KPWR-FM 105.9 and KLVE-FM 107.5. Many of the accompanying buildings housing equipment are built of massive cinderblocks hopefully providing an adequate level of protection from the blaze. See more info on the fires below.
By Holland Cooke|
Consultant
At my very first “Consumer Electronics Show” they were showing-off VCRs. Back to the future. What we have witnessed this week is less about things than experiences.
No better example: The keynote by Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian, in the spectacular Las Vegas Sphere, a bucket-list venue. Google it. Like the Consumer Technology Association, Delta Airlines is celebrating its 100th anniversary; and neither are in business-as-usual mode.
Two days after her Golden Globes Lifetime Achievement Award, Viola Davis co-hosted Bastian’s remarkable multimedia presentation, which ended with a Lenny Kravitz set. Tom Brady was there too. He’s a Delta “strategic advisor,” and will host a new show on the airline’s inflight entertainment system; which will also feature exclusive commercial-free YouTube video.
Delta is using Artificial Intelligence to personalize passengers’ travel door-to-door; including Sky Miles points for Uber rides and Uber Eats, coming soon. Here’s more on his extraordinary presentation, and the airline’s strategy for forging relationships with – rather than merely transporting – their customers: https://news.delta.com/delta-soars-centennial-year-game-changing-innovations-ces-2025
What this means to broadcasters and podcasters? Be more than one of listeners’ – and advertisers’ – MANY choices. Engage them. Entertain them. Know them better and they’ll use you more.
For more on CES2025, hit HollandCooke.com, where I have archived my weeklong radio coverage, and this week’s TALKERS columns.
Holland Cooke is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on X @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
iHeartMedia announced (1/9) that Emily Magelof has been named director of marketing and promotions for New York, effective immediately. iHeartMedia New York has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises — both broadcast and digital — encompassing more than seven stations comprised of music, talk and news formats. Magelof’s responsibilities will include overseeing marketing and promotions for iHeartMedia New York. She will report to Thea Mitchem, EVP of programming, iHeartMedia. “I’m happy to promote Emily to director of marketing and promotions,” said Mitchem. “She is a natural leader with an amazing passion for our brands. I am excited to see her take this team to new levels.” Magelof is a seasoned industry veteran with over a decade of experience. In addition to her work at iHeartMedia, she also held positions at Madison Square Garden and IMG Fashion. “I am truly grateful and excited to step into this new role within iHeartMedia New York,” said Magelof. “It’s an honor to now lead this dynamic marketing and promotions team, that has played such a pivotal role in my growth throughout the years. I look forward to thinking big with my colleagues, embracing new challenges, and continuing to make a positive impact on our incredible brands.”
Salem Radio Network’s (SRN) White House correspondent Greg Clugston (pictured at Trump Tower in NYC) has been providing comprehensive coverage of today’s (1/10/25) historic sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump resulting from 2024 convictions in the so-called “hush money” trial. Clugston – who traveled from Washington, DC to New York City early today – will continue filing SRN News special reports throughout the day from the New York County Criminal Court, the same building where the trial took place.
As Michael Harrison wrote in TALKERS at the start of the new year’s first full week (1/6), “Each year at this time, I am invariably asked by broadcasters, reporters, and friends, ‘What do you think we’ll be talking about in the new year ahead?’ And each year I give the same answer: THE UNEXPECTED.”
Here we go again. Within what seems like mere moments after the optimistic news broke that California was again gaining population after years of depletion, the apocalyptic wildfires that sprung out of heavy winds and dry conditions in the Pacific Palisades pounced upon L.A. County and circled its metro like a raging beast from hell – thrusting local radio into its familiar role as a vital informational first responder. Add to that, radio’s invaluable service as an emotional support provider for a confused and terrified public is on display. TALKERS is receiving reports from Southern California and points throughout the Golden State that radio is, indeed, rising to the occasion with many all-news, talk and public radio outlets taking a wall-to-wall, “all hands-on deck” personnel policy both in studio and remote scenarios. This is especially important in areas where the power has gone out and car or battery-driven radios provide instant access to weather, traffic and other vital facts. The fires have also set off figurative sparks in terms of political finger pointing and emotional venting regarding budgets, preparedness, and general political accountability. Major industries – housing, entertainment, sports, healthcare and public safety – are being shaken to the core. No venue performs the service of unpacking all that on a mass level better than live, local, spoken word radio.
Broadcasters Foundation to the Rescue. As the wildfires continue to rage and spread in the Los Angeles area, the Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) wants to remind broadcasters in Southern California that Emergency Grants are available for those who qualify. “We have set aside Emergency Grant Dollars to provide financial assistance to broadcasters in LA who are in need,” stated Tim McCarthy, president of the Broadcasters Foundation.
The BFOA Emergency Grant Application Process is streamlined to deliver financial aid to those in need as speedily as possible, usually within weeks. Historically, it can take a week or more for victims of disasters like these wildfires to apply because their lives have been upended and they may not have immediate access to the internet, etc. For those broadcasters, the BFOA has set up an emergency phone number at 212-373-8250. To apply directly on line, broadcasters may go to www.broadcastersfoundation.org
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (12/9-13) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories/Topics
1. Los Angeles County Wildfires
2. Trump Legal Issues – Hush Money Case
3. Presidential Transition – Trump Appointments and Nominations
4. Trump Positions on Canada, Greenland, Denmark, Panama, Mexico
5. Jimmy Carter State Funeral
6. Economy-DOGE / Health Care / Climate Change
7. Migrant Crisis / Crime / Homelessness
8. Facebook Censorship Changes / Tik Tok
9. Israel-Hamas War / Russia-Ukraine War
10. Winter Weather
People
1. Donald Trump
2. Karen Bass / Gavin Newsom
3. Jimmy Carter
4. Joe Biden
5. Elon Musk
6. Barack Obama / George W. Bush / Bill Clinton
7. Justin Trudeau
8. Vivek Ramaswamy
9. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
10. Benjamin Netanyahu / Vladimir Putin / Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Xi Jinping
To see the complete TALKERS charts of the most talked about stories and people, please click HERE.
Radio One’s News Talk 1110/99.3 WBT, Charlotte and Moments of Hope Church tell TALKERS that their collaborative efforts during the 2024 holiday season raised over $300,000. This milestone brings the total funds raised since 2020 as part of the City of Hope CLT campaign to over $1 million, supporting those in need across the Charlotte region and Western North Carolina. 
David Chadwick, senior pastor of Moments of Hope Church and host of “The David Chadwick Show,” one of WBT’s longest-running local programs, reflects, “In 2020, amidst the Covid crisis, Bo Thompson, Pat McCrory and I were talking in the studio at WBT and asking, ‘What can we do to help those in need?’ I knew that Moments of Hope Church had a generous congregation, and I recognized the incredible reach of WBT’s 50,000-watt mic. That conversation sparked the idea of a matching gift from MOHC and WBT to ask its listeners to match the gift during the Christmas season. Since then, the partnership between MOHC, WBT, and all the WBT personalities has raised over $1 million to help feed children in the Charlotte area and, this past year, to help rebuild the lives of victims of hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. It has been an honor to use the gifts that God has given both organizations to help and serve others in need. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.” 
WBT program director, Mike Schaefer, adds: “WBT’s commitment to ‘Lead Local’ goes beyond delivering news and information. For nearly 103 years, this station has been woven into the fabric of Charlotte, and helping those in need is at the core of our mission. Partnering with David and his congregation to serve the most vulnerable among us aligns perfectly with our mission.” Radio One Charlotte and Richmond RVP/GM, Marsha Landess echoed these sentiments: “We are proud to use the WBT platform to support the incredible work that David and his congregation have done. Since 2020, this partnership has demonstrated the power of community, especially in a crisis like Hurricane Helene. Raising over $1M for those in need is a testament to what we can achieve together. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community we are so proud to be a part of.” The David Chadwick Show airs Sundays from 8:00 am – 9:00 am on WBT, further underscoring the potential productivity of local weekend programming.
The top story yesterday (1/8) on news/talk radio and related media venues was the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. In addition to prompting around the clock public safety information, the natural disaster stirred up emotional conversation about political accountability and speculation about what lies ahead in terms of the economy, housing, the environment, and SoCal-based industries including entertainment, tourism, and sports. That was followed by heated analysis of the changes at Meta and Facebook regarding censorship and fact checking. Discussion also continued about the many facets of the presidential transition currently underway, the state of Trump’s dangling legal issues, and U.S. foreign relations per the Middle East and Eastern Europe according to the ongoing research of TALKERS.
As President-elect Donald J. Trump continues to raise the possibility of annexing or buying Greenland for strategic military purposes (yesterday’s number one talk topic), Salem Radio Network host Charlie Kirk (above, right) is accompanying the President-elect’s son Donald Trump, Jr. (above, left) on a fact-finding trip to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. Kirk – whose Turning Point action organization mobilized to turn out conservative voters last November – is credited within Trump circles with helping move the needle for GOP victory in key battleground states including Arizona and Wisconsin.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Hello from Las Vegas, where much of what’s up at CES is technology-on-wheels.
VW is adding AI. We have become accustomed to barking voice commands at the dashboard, and now Volkswagen brings ChatGPT along for the ride. The 2025 VW Jetta features “Plus Speech with AI” service. Converse with the cloud for what you need to know! Eyes-on-the-road has gotta be safer than sharing attention with distracting console screens that are looking more-and-more like television.
This will be a subscription service. And THAT seems to be the real story. Ford did a U-turn after the outcry over their plan to remove AM radio; and legislation broadcasters asked for didn’t make the cut before the 118th Congress adjourned.
Automakers get paid by SiriusXM if you subscribe at the end of your free introductory offer. BMW walked-back plans to charge $80 a year to use Apple Car Play. But – in several other countries – they’re charging $18 a month for heated seats! Could automakers soon charge for AM/FM? Stay tuned.
Meantime, broadcast radio still clings to king-of-in-car status, but the newer the car the harder it can be to find it among so many audio options in the new-tech dashboard. Listeners will, if you’re giving them something relevant/timely/useful/engaging that they can’t get anywhere else, and you deliver at the speed of life. Ditto for podcasters.
As I have in past years, I am offering TALKERS readers daily 60-second CES reports for air all this week. Simply download each report from HollandCooke.com the night before. No charge, no paperwork, no national spot.
Holland Cooke is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
Bonneville Phoenix announces (1/7) the appointment of LaDona Harvey as the new co-host for KTAR’s “Arizona’s Morning News.” “We are excited to welcome LaDona to the talented ‘Arizona’s Morning News’ team,” said Ryan Hatch, Bonneville International Phoenix SVP/MM. “She’s a natural storyteller with an infectious personality and a passion for connecting with the community.” 
Harvey who moved to the Phoenix market after a successful run at Newsradio 600 KOGO, San Diego where she hosted “San Diego’s Morning News” for over a decade, will replace longtime KTAR anchor Jayme West who recently retired. She will join award-winning host Jim Sharpe beginning Monday January 13. Harvey tells TALKERS, “I am thrilled to be back home in Arizona, joining the finest news team in the Valley at KTAR.” She adds, “I have the privilege of caring for my ailing father and doing a job I am passionate about: telling Phoenix listeners the stories that affect their lives, and livelihoods.”
iHeartMedia St. Louis and Indianapolis announced (1/7) a leadership transition as seasoned media veteran, John Beck, serving as market and area president for nearly four years, embarks on the next chapter of his career. “I want to sincerely thank all of my colleagues, St. Louis and Indy leaders, and iHeart corporate leadership for giving me a chance to make a difference in St. Louis and Indianapolis,” Beck tells TALKERS. “It has been an amazing four years full of accomplishments. I will truly miss working with my iHeart family. I will now have more time to devote to my own family, consulting business, legislative advocacy and the various charities civic organizations that mean so much to me.” John Karpinski, division president, iHeartMedia adds, “We are deeply grateful for John’s remarkable contributions to iHeartMedia. His leadership has boosted ratings, enhanced our culture and improved revenue in both St. Louis and Indianapolis. He has also been a fierce advocate for the entire radio industry, championing our cause in state capitals and Washington, D.C. We appreciate all he has done for us and his communities.” Following a distinguished broadcasting career with more than 40 years of radio industry experience, Beck will continue operating his media consulting service, John Beck Media Strategies. He will also remain a trustee of the National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (NABPAC), Legislative Chair of the Missouri Broadcasters Association, along with other charitable and civic involvements. No replacement has been named for Beck as of press time.
Beasley Media Group announces the upcoming retirement of Dan Finn, senior vice president and regional market manager of the company’s New Jersey cluster. Finn, a respected leader and industry veteran, has decided to conclude his distinguished career with the company at the end of the first quarter of 2025. The veteran radio executive joined Beasley Media Group in 2016 following the company’s acquisition of Greater Media, where Finn served as SVP/regional GM since 2007. He initially was hired by Greater Media in 2002 as VP/regional GM after having firmly established himself as a leading radio broadcasting executive at a variety of major stations. “Dan Finn has been an integral part of our Beasley family and a trailblazer in the broadcasting industry,” said Caroline Beasley, CEO at Beasley Media Group. 
“His strategic vision, steadfast leadership, and ability to foster meaningful relationships have made a profound impact on our company and the industry at large. We are deeply grateful for his dedication and wish him the very best as he begins this exciting new chapter in his life.” No replacement has been named as of press time.
iHeartMedia announced (1/6) that Nicky Sparrow has been elevated to EVP of multicultural sales and Dee Dee Faison has been elevated to VP of multicultural partnerships and alliances effective immediately. Sparrow and Faison will report to Tony Coles, president of multicultural business and development. In her new role, Sparrow will continue to focus on driving results for advertising partners by leveraging iHeartMedia’s assets including broadcast radio, podcast, digital, data and events platforms as well as The Black Effect Podcast Network and My Cultura Podcast Network serving multicultural audiences across the country. 
In her new position, Faison will play a pivotal role in building and driving comprehensive partner programs, including the development and execution strategy to further expand and scale iHeartMedia’s strategic multicultural initiatives. “We’re excited to officially elevate Nicky and Dee Dee to our executive team,” said Coles. “These talented leaders bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that will be instrumental in driving our mission forward of connecting our clients and partners with iHeartMedia’s multicultural audiences.”
The top story yesterday (1/7) on news/talk radio and related media venues was focused on the remarks made at President-elect Donald Trump‘s press conference in which he floated the idea of annexing Canada and exerting military control over Greenland and Panama. That was followed by heated analysis of the changes at Meta and Facebook regarding censorship and fact checking. Discussion also continued about the many facets of the presidential transition currently underway, the state of Trump’s dangling legal issues, the economy, and U.S. foreign relations per the Middle East and Eastern Europe according to the ongoing research of TALKERS.
Billy Bush announced (1/6) the launch of his new live talk show, “Hot Mics with Billy Bush” on TuneIn. The show is described as featuring “in-depth conversations on today’s hot mic topics, with a lineup of A-list stars, politicians both loathed and loved but shaping our world today, tastemakers, sports icons and tech barons” with full video available on YouTube.com/@HotMicsWithBillyBush. “Hot Mics with Billy Bush” is part of TuneIn’s growing catalog of co-branded original content. According to TuneIn, “Bush has 24 years of experience in entertainment and a record to set straight, which he will do on day one.” The show will drop twice weekly live at 5:00 pm ET on Mondays and Wednesdays. “Hot Mics with Billy Bush” debuts Monday, January 13, with a “super-hot, no-holds-barred explanation of how this show got its name,” (y’all remember the “locker room talk” incident?) and later in the week, on Wednesday, the show welcomes its first guest, Megyn Kelly. “Every week, I’ll be diving deep into culture-shaping moments, offering listeners a raw, unfiltered take on today’s biggest stories. Oh, and the only person that can cancel me is me,” said Billy reflecting on what he perceives as his newfound freedom.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
The sheer volume and velocity of information at CES is intimidating. But in neon-drenched Las Vegas, info-overload is business as usual. So cutting-through the clutter is table stakes. MGM Grand offers “Your Access to Excess.” What does your station or your show or your podcast offer?
In a crowded, well-catered “CES Unveiled” exhibit hall opening night, each booth had only a glance to stop us in our tracks. Think elevator speech on steroids. In one succinct sentence fragment tell me why I want to stop walking to know more. Among examples:
• Switchbot is “The world’s first multitasking household robot.”
• Atmos Gear has “the world’s first electric skates.”
• Sport Neo is “the first online bank dedicated to sports. Swipe for savings, score for your passion.”
• I would’ve strolled right past Xpeng Aeroht if it wasn’t “the world’s only aircraft that can fit into a car’s trunk.”
• The Litheli Easysurge is “redefining the battery-powered lawnmower;” and the affable rep had my attention when he said “100-minute run time,” double what mine does.
• LiquidView digital windows play 8K video, “24-hour views of an expanding global content library.”
• Roam is “like a Sodastream that fits in the palm of your hand.”
If you’re a music station, Christmas is over. If you’re a talk station, he won. What else ya got for me? Podcasting? Who isn’t? Tell me, in less than a sentence, what listening will accomplish for me. No station-centric slogans or other clichés allowed.
As I have in past years, I am offering TALKERS readers daily 60-second CES reports for air all this week. Simply download each report from HollandCooke.com the night before. No charge, no paperwork, no national spot.
Holland Cooke is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
By Renee Kohanski, M.D.
Psychiatrist
The horrific murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson at the hands of Luigi Mangione at the end of 2024 was a wake-up call for the talk media industry.
There is widespread deep and growing distress in America over our devolving health care system and it is manifesting national RAGE. Regardless, neither the conversation sparked by the 2024 election nor talk radio and its related media platforms that same year gave the situation its due.
As a working member of both the health care (practicing physician) and talk media (podcaster and guest) communities, I say it is time that we approach this subject with the focus and urgency it demands.
Hippocrates says First Do No Harm. There is something horribly wrong in the areas of medicine in general, psychiatry in particular, and man versus man at large. This emerges in the bigger picture of a devolving society that can no longer articulate even its basic core values.
In medicine and psychiatry (for starters), we have shifted the individual’s experience as a respected and valued patient to a worthless cog in a faceless, monstrosity machine. We have morphed from a field of involved healthcare professionals to corporate drones in a healthcare system. Our family physician, who smacked our behinds to get us breathing as we entered the world, is now some nine-to-fiver who may or may not remember to run a stethoscope across our chest to hear a heart sound. Don’t forget your prescriptions on the way out the door at the end of your six-minute visit and remember to dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room if you have a true emergency.
Twisted sociological fallout: In our unabashed ignorance, a disturbingly significant segment of the population has the gall to the think some head of a major insurance company is to blame for all this or that a cold-blooded killer, who may possibly also be suffering from a major mental illness, could – in some alternate universe – be a hero. Let’s all wake up and stop pretending this is normal or okay.
Mind you, it’s not that it’s all doom and gloom, but there’s no denying the radical shift in the entire construct of the rapidly disappearing patient-doctor relationship. We are now part of a Borg-like amorphous healthcare system that doesn’t necessarily think the needs of its individual patients are paramount.
Communcations prescription: In the talk media space, we must address the public’s spiraling rage over this brewing infection by increasing the dose of conversation and enlightening information so evidently needed. We missed that opportunity in 2024.
Renee Kohanski, M.D. is a practicing general and forensic psychiatrist in New Jersey and Connecticut. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Physicians and Surgeons, the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons, and serves as a Director for the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. She is a longtime talk media expert guest, and her medical podcasts are available on Spotify. To contact Dr. Kohanski or arrange for her to appear as a guest, she can be reached via email at wellness@rkdoctor.com.
The top story yesterday (1/6)) on news/talk radio and related media venues was the Certification in Congress of the Electoral College presidential victory of Donald Trump to a second term peacefully presided over by VP Kamala Harris on the fourth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 riot. That was followed by the announced resignation of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. There was heavy conversation about the ceremonial funeral proceedings of former President Jimmy Carter as well as continuing discussion of the New Orleans New Year’s terrorist tragedy. Discussion also continued about the many facets of the presidential transition currently underway, the state of Trump’s legal issues, the economy, and U.S. foreign relations per the Middle East and Eastern Europe according to the ongoing research of TALKERS. Look for changes being applied to Facebook censorship policy and other free speech issues in the era of Big Tech being among today’s (1/7) top stories.
Adell Media announced today (1/6) the addition of “Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno” to the lineup at 910 AM – Detroit’s News Talk Superstation (WFDF-AM), effective immediately live weekdays 6:00 am – 9:00 am ET. This clearance marks the 50th affiliate for the program, which joined Premiere Networks’ national lineup in October 2024. With a motto of “so much information, so little understanding,” DelGiorno engages listeners with entertaining discussion that goes beyond the latest news and political headlines to include lifestyle, pop culture topics and humor. The goal of the show is to help the audience start their day with fun, witty and interesting conversation that’s also informative. Since the station re-launched in September 2023 with a 24/7 lineup of news and conservative talk, as well as local news, weather and traffic from Total Traffic & Weather Network and breaking news coverage from ABC Radio, the station’s audience has grown +500% to date (Source: Nielsen Audio, PPM, NOV24 v SEP23, MoSu 6a-12m, P6+).
“Michael DelGiorno is a perfect fit to lead our impressive weekday lineup featuring the biggest talent in talk radio,” said Kevin Adell, CEO. Adell Media. “In just over a year since launching our conservative talk format, we continue to see incredible audience gains and look forward to continued growth and success as we provide a leading source for news and information in our community.” “I’m always singing, ‘Oh, how I wish again, I was back in Michigan!’ So, it’s a song come true for me,” said DelGiorno. “All joking aside, as a Flint native, I’m thrilled to be coming home to start the day off right on Detroit’s Superstation and just in time for my Lions’ first Super Bowl!
WFDF’s full programming lineup:
5:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. Fox News Rundown
6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The Glenn Beck Program
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The Sean Hannity Show
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The Jesse Kelly Show
9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Bill O’Reilly
10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Our American Stories
1:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano
After making great strides with ratings, revenue, podcasts, local in-market promotions, and a national, live political forum (“The Gathering”) in 2024, which included expanding to 27 affiliates, the Compass Media Networks syndicated Erick Erickson Show starts today (1/6) with an additional 29 affiliates, bringing the total to 56. Effective today, the following stations will start airing the Erick Erickson Show: KBYR, Anchorage, AK; KLOO, Corvallis, OR; WDBT, Dothan, AL; KSLM, Salem, OR; KSUE, Susanville, CA; WTNY, Watertown, NY; and the Supertalk FM network in Mississippi (WRQO, Brookhaven, MS; WXRZ, Corinth, MS; WTCD, Greenwood, MS; WOSM, Gulfport, MS; WFMM; Hattiesburg, MS; WFMN, Jackson, MS; WLAU, Laurel, MS; WZKR, Meridian, MS; WTNM, Oxford, MS; WKBB, Starkville, MS; WMPK, Summit, MS; WFTA in Tupelo, MS and it will also move into the live spot on KROF in Lafayette, LA. The show is a longtime staple of Cox Media Group’s 95.5 WSB, Atlanta where it airs 12:00 noon- 3:00 pm daily. In 2024, Erickson conducted live events in Las Vegas, Tulsa, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Athens, and Orlando, covering his own costs so stations could make more money. “The Gathering” attracted 1,000 attendees from 47 states to hear from key Republican figures like Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, and Mitch McConnell. In 2025, Erickson tells TALKERS, “We plan to expand this event to other markets.”
Today (1/6), KBLA Talk 1580 kicks off its bold new weekday lineup, which includes some of the nation’s most progressive and provocative voices. The new programming includes Dr. Cornel West, renowned scholar and former independent presidential candidate, former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner. They join KBLA White House correspondent Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, and nationally syndicated hosts Tavis Smiley and D.L. Hughley, who already appear weekdays on KBLA Talk 1580, the flagship station of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc., based in Los Angeles.
“I am both humbled and proud that Dr. Cornel West, Nina Turner, and Jesse Jackson, Jr. have joined the KBLA Talk 1580 team as we continue to build the nation’s most innovative and empowering Black talk media platform,” said Smiley, Founder of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. and chief visionary officer for KBLA Talk 1580. “No talk station in America can match the intellectual firepower that launches today, January 6th. KBLA Talk 1580 is proud to have more Black women talk show hosts than any talk station in the country, including Dominique DiPrima, the first Black woman to host her own radio talk show, “First Things First,” in LA morning drive time (6:00 am to 9:00 am).
“After all the rhetoric about Black men during the 2024 presidential campaign, now is the time to pass the mic to Black men of different generations to facilitate conversations people won’t find anywhere else,” concluded Smiley. “It’s going to be a challenging four years. KBLA Talk 1580’s new line-up represents what resistance looks like.”
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.