Pictured above is Philadelphia sports media personality and longtime “SportsRadio 94 WIP” sportscaster Howard Eskin(right) receiving an honorary doctorate from Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware from school president Dr. Colleen Perry Keith (left). Eskin delivered the school’s commencement address at its graduation ceremony on May 3.
Good Karma Brands and sports talk WKNR-AM “ESPN Cleveland” announce the debut of “Hammer & Emmett,” a new Saturday morning show that will air nationally on the ESPN Radio network featuring Cleveland personalities Aaron Goldhammer and Emmett Golden. The program launches Saturday
(5/11) airing from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm ET. Good Karma Brands founder Craig Karmazin comments, “We are so proud of the work Aaron and Emmett have put in to earn the opportunity for a new national show. Fans are familiar with their voices locally in Cleveland and nationally with their fill-in hosting work. They are a great representation of Good Karma Brands and Cleveland, and their contributions will continue to put the city on the national stage.” The program will also air on “ESPN Cleveland,” ESPNCleveland.com, TheLandOnDemand.com, and the ESPN and The Land on Demand apps.
Cumulus Media promotes Mike Eaby to vice president/executive producer of Westwood One Sports. In his new role, Eaby will manage and oversee all Westwood One Sports multi-platform content and live event production. He succeeds Howard Deneroff, who departs his position after more than 35 years
with Westwood One Sports. Eaby joined Westwood One as an editor after graduating from college in 1997. He has been an on-site producer for the NFL on Westwood One for 25 years, including 16 Super Bowls and 23 AFC/NFC Championship Games. Eaby has also served as an on-site producer for the network’s NCAA March Madness basketball tournament broadcasts for 23 years. WWO president and Cumulus EVP, corporate strategy & development Collin Jones says, “Our listeners, advertisers, and league partners turn to Westwood One Sports because we deliver consistently outstanding audio broadcasts. With Mike’s experience, passion, and vision, I’m confident he is the perfect person to quarterback Westwood One Sports into its next era.”
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
There is something about 40.
40% of Q1 2023 podcast advertisers did not return for Q1 2024, according to Magellan AI.
40% of small businesses failed within the first three years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
40% of all workers were prepared to quit their jobs two years ago, according to a McKinsey Study. 43% of email professional recipients open email on a mobile device, according to Statista.
44% of sellers quit the pursuit after the second call according to Scripted. Really? Almost half of the sellers reading this column give up after the second call? That statistic must be wrong.
Consider your typical sales day – prioritized, focused, clear goals established, with all seasonal and timely deadlines plugged in and ready for execution. Successful sellers put as much time and focus into planning and organization as they do into the sales process. So, why quit the process after the second attempt? There are only three reasons any experienced sellers would give up after the second attempt.
1. Poor targeting.
2. Unrealistic expectations.
3. A negative business condition requires a new approach.
Reason #3 is the answer to why I listed the 40% factor. Professional sellers and managers sometimes lose touch with the realities of local business conditions. Attrition has always been the enemy of local sales, yet managers and sellers rarely plan for it. Budgeting and analysis are easy paper exercises. Old fashioned ear-to-the-ground market “research” is equally important. Those who learn to balance the formal and the informal find themselves winning the battle of the 40% factor.
As we approach the second half of the year, with elections, seasonal sports, and major holidays ahead of us, time to sharpen our pencils and tweak the projections for the remainder of the year. And always remember your pencil should have an eraser.
Happy Selling!
Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.
Nationally syndicated talk radio host Doug Stephan is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” After starting out as a music DJ more than a half century ago, Stephan has chalked up a remarkable career as a pioneering syndicated talk show host heard on hundreds of stations weekday mornings with his general-appeal program titled, “Good Day.” After 36 consecutive years on the air, the durable show, currently co-hosted by Jai Kershner, recently surpassed the late Rush Limbaugh’s mark as the longest running Monday thru Friday syndicated talk property in the business. Stephan is now in the process of reconfiguring “Good Day” to suit the demands of the digital era and radio economics to ensure further longevity by transitioning it into a fresh weekend news/talk entity with modular application to weekday broadcasts. Stephan’s firm, Stephan Multimedia, is also a major radio producer/syndicator of several specialty radio programs hosted by Stephan and others including, “Good Day Health,” the “Talk Radio Countdown Show,” and a program that is achieving notable traction in the world of agriculture called the “American Family Farmer.” The latter taps directly into his qualifications to tackle the challenges facing independent 21st century farmers and champion their causes. In addition to his work in radio, the indefatigable Stephan is the longtime owner/operator of a well-known dairy farm located just outside of Boston in Framingham, Massachusetts. Harrison and Stephan talk about the state of radio, syndication, media entrepreneurism, food, health, and agriculture including his educated take on the current bird flu/cow issue. Listen to the podcast in its entirety here.
The Museum of Broadcast Communications announces the nominees for the Radio Hall of Fame class of 2024. These nominees were chosen by the Radio Hall of Fame nominating committee, with input from
the radio industry and listeners. Voting for inductees begins May 20 and runs through June 3. The top six vote recipients from the more than 900 industry members receiving ballots will gain induction as part of the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame Induction class. The two additional inductees that will make up the eight-person induction class will be selected by the Radio Hall of Fame nominating committee. Spoken-word format personalities nominated include: John & Ken, Larry Elder, Lee Harris, Lincoln Ware, and Phil Hendrie. See the complete list of nominees here.
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. announces the opening of the application window for the
“Speak Up!” mentorship program in honor of the late Laurie Kahn (pictured). “Speak Up!” is a one-year mentorship designed for women in small to medium radio markets seeking guidance and mentorship to further their career goals. One candidate from radio broadcasting, from any department, will be selected and jointly mentored by MIW experienced executives and Media Staffing Network certified coaches. The application window closes on Friday, May 17. MIW board president Ruth Presslaff says, “This mentorship is particularly special as it continues Laurie’s mission. We are honored to have the privilege to partner with [Media Staffing Network president] Lisa Fields to carry that legacy forward.” Get information and apply here.
By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Partners
A.K.A. Walter M. Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network
To be an expert in marketing requires expertise in how memory works. Early in my consultant practice, I studied and read every book I could find on the processes of memory. The best book is Effective Frequency: The Relationship Between Frequency and Advertising Effectiveness. Put simply, how many times does a consumer have to hear a message before it has impact? The book, a collection of studies, is the foundation for every qualitative study in the field today.
Knowing the foundation studies of frequency’s impact facilitates sales, promo scheduling, topic rotation and external station marketing. No marketing budget? Mistake. The most efficient investment in a radio station’s growth is external advertising. Heightened awareness of a station increases cume, key for direct response advertisers, and makes sales calls shorter because the station is familiar to buyers, improves morale, and minimizes competition.
Key take aways from this book of secrets:
The Law of Six: For a message to have impact, it must be heard by the target six times during the length of the campaign.
The Law of Seven: Why are there seven (7) digits in phone numbers? Over a hundred years ago the phone company had to determine how many digits we could handle. They researched how many items we could remember in any product category. How many brand name soaps, tires, shampoos, deodorants. etc. Try it. Write down all the shampoo brands or tire brands you can think of. I’ve performed this magic act with large audiences around the country.
Almost no one can write down more than seven shampoo, deodorant, cereal, or tire brands. The exception is if the question asks you to write down brands of an industry in which you work. Memory activity applies to the use of presets on car radios. Analog car radios rarely fill all five or six pre-set buttons. In your digital car, even though you’re in radio, I bet the most you’ve programmed is four.
Flight or Dose? A $5,000,000 national campaign was tested for flight effectiveness. What works best? Two weeks on, two weeks off or continuous spots. Same number of spots, same budget but continuous or flighted? Two surprising answers: The flighted campaign resulted in more sales. But the continuous run actually hurt sales and after an initial positive impact, sales declined to pre-campaign levels.
Youth Matters: The younger the customer, the more often they must be exposed to the message. A young person has more distractions than an older person.
People Forget: This is the key takeaway: If a product is not advertised for nine months, customers have no memory of the message. None. They might remember that the product exists, but they have no recall of what the product does for them or why they should buy it… or listen to it. A tragic, industry-wide mistake has been made to cease advertising radio stations. Obviously not advertising is hypocritical for a medium that survives on ad dollars. The no-marketing argument is that with the PPM there is no need to remind listeners of a station’s name because the listener no longer has to write it down in a diary. How much has your city changed in nine months? How many new streams, websites, podcasts have distracted your listener from your station? External marketing of a station protects the investment made in its operation.
Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. HITVIEWS clients included Pepsi, FOX TV, Timberland, Microsoft, and CBS Television. He can be reached at walter@sabomedia.com and www.waltersterlingshow.com. “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network airs 10:00 pm-1:00 ET, now in its 10th year of success.
WFAN, New York morning drive personality Boomer Esiason signs a multiyear extension with the Audacy sports talk giant. Esiason co-hosts the “Boomer & Gio” show with Gregg “Gio” Giannotti. Audacy notes that this new deal brings Esiason past 20 years as morning drive host at WFAN, making him the longest-tenured morning show host in the station’s history, surpassing Don Imus. Audacy New
York market president Chris Oliviero says, “Boomer has become a true cornerstone in the long, storied history of WFAN. He was already the highest-rated morning show in the FAN record books, and now, with this new extension, he will add longest-running to his accolades. And most excitedly, we are certain the best is still yet to come as Boomer begins this new chapter in his career by making a longterm commitment to the FAN, along with a creative vision for elevating the brand together to new heights.” Esiason comments, “For the last 17 years, it has been an honor to be the voice that New York sports fans wake up to. I could not be more excited to continue delivering four hours of entertaining conversation at the most vibrant and storied sports radio station in the country, working alongside the morning crew. I would like to thank Audacy, Chris Oliviero, and, most importantly, our passionate listeners for the opportunity to continue on this incredible ride.”
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
It’s complicated, this whole Federal Trade Commission ruling potentially banning the non-compete. Considering where you stand on the non-compete concept, it’s really all about evaluating the five “C” profile of your media business.
Personally, I sit at a roundtable where all sides are given equal consideration. More about that roundtable later.
First the five Cs of your media business: Company, Culture, Customers, Competition, Compensation. Let us define each.
1. Company – What is the image and reputation of your Company (management) internally?
Externally? Is your Company viewed as a destination or last resort for employment?
2. Culture – Is the atmosphere on your sales team or in your talent pool upbeat, positive performance driven, supportive, with access to key management? Is there a feedback loop that makes employee voices valued in this new world of Zoom, Teams, etc.? Is achievement recognized in a positive manner? Do sellers and talent have input into goals? Are missed goals treated like broken glass or the start of a learning curve?
3. Customers – Advertisers and audience are important customers. Advertisers, the cash register of any ad-based media model, move in only three directions – increase their spend, decrease their spend, flatline spending. Audience scale is the currency of your performing talent. Audience, like advertisers, can only go in three similar directions – increase, decrease, level off. If you are a subscription-based media entity, pay close attention to overdelivering subscriber expectations and lowering churn.
4. Competition – Keep a close eye on what your competitors are paying, how they are recruiting and what they are changing.
5. Compensation – My favorite. Have the courage to pay for performance at the high end and many of your non-compete clauses may not be needed.
Check the boxes on all five Cs in the model as outlined. Now back to my roundtable.
When you consider your company’s view, the non-compete in any media business that provides training (sales, talent, and other personnel), promotional investment, exposure to confidential research and strategies, is not simple to eliminate.
Consider the following:
1. The talent/show that is backed with a six-figure promotional campaign. Should the talent/show be allowed to seek employment at a competitor who is smart enough to realize, your company invested the money to make the talent/show a success, and all the competitor needs to do is revise compensation and lift a few restrictions? Your company’s investment could never be paid back.
2. Ever sit in on a focus group project? When the participants open the perception spigot, the bucket can fill up with verbal gold. Whomever gains access to that research and the resulting strategic change in direction has their hands on confidential information that can help drive results off the charts. How is the company’s investment in that research protected? What about the employees learning how it all works?
3. Good sales training, seminars, and off-site are not cheap, and considered an investment in all sellers and management. Should you really be permitted to walk across the street with no notice and all that expensive training in your laptop?
I’m writing this column as a roundtable, considering all sides and it is still complicated.
Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
APPLAUSE for Daniel Centofanti, a good egg, known to several generations of Southern New Englanders as “Giovanni,” mornings on WPRO-FM, Providence… until today, the 50th anniversary of the station’s format flip from Beautiful Music to CHR.
1974 was also the year I went to work there, doing nights on WPRO-AM. And Gio’ was that kid, loitering at the radio station…UNTIL – as happened to so many of us budding broadcasters – someone called in sick, and PD Gary Berkowitz told him “You’re on!”
Back to the future: That kid is now 68, which makes me feel older than when I was 68. Take a bow, amigo. Here’s how local TV broke the news:
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “The Local Radio Advantage: Your 4-Week Tune-In Tune-Up,” and “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn.
Among the employees of Audacy terminated in its ongoing reduction in force is Rick Dayton, the former
KDKA-TV personality who became afternoon drive host at news/talk KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh in December of 2020. Colin Dunlap appears to be set to continue hosting the afternoon drive show solo. Audacy has stated that these staff cuts will amount to “less than 2%” of the company’s workforce.
At this year’s Webby Awards, iHeartMedia was named the Webby Podcast Company of the Year. iHeartMedia was recognized with 18 Webby Awards, 38 nominations and 16 honorees. The Webby Awards is an international awards program that celebrates the best of the internet across various forms of media, including websites, video, advertising, media & PR, social, apps and podcasts. The ceremony is overseen by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.
Audacy announces that it is launching Audacy Sports, a move that will aggregate its broadcast, digital, and podcast inventory under the banner that “unleashes a market-differentiating opportunity for advertisers to connect with 43 million monthly listeners across the company’s sports portfolio while continuing to build equity in the Audacy brand.” The company says this follows its recent unveiling of Audacy Podcasts, a move to consolidate its podcast production and go-to-market monetization
approach. Audacy SVP of sports monetization Lee Davis states, “We’re thrilled to bring together our unrivaled sports portfolio under Audacy Sports. Consolidating our cross-platform sellable assets under one name creates a compelling opportunity for brands to connect with listeners at scale – through our digital and broadcast network platforms or locally, through our owned sports stations – wherever and whenever they tune into Audacy content.” Audacy Sports is powered by the company’s 40 owned-and-operated all-sports stations and affiliates, 160 sports streaming channels on the Audacy app, a sports podcast network featuring over 600 titles and live events, 150 professional and collegiate teams – including play-by-play broadcasts, the Infinity Sports Network (formerly CBS Sports Radio) and BetQL Network.
Beasley Media Group’s sports talk WBZ-FM, Boston “98.5 The Sports Hub” announces that Tim
McKone is named the new headline anchor and co-host on the station’s “Zolak & Bertrand” midday program. McKone takes over for Rob “Hardy” Poole, who moved to mornings with Fred Toucher on the station in January 2024. McKone has been a part-time on-air personality at the station since 2013. In addition to co-hosting and providing headlines on all weekday and weekend shows across the station, he has served as studio host for the Celtics and Bruins radio broadcasts.
The fourth and final round of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s March 2024 PPM survey has been released for: Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford. The March 2024 survey period covered February 29 – March 27. TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his “Ratings Takeaways” from these 12 markets. Despite being a combined -2.5 in back-to-back down or flat sweeps (11.5 – 9.0 – 9.0, 6+), iHeartMedia news/talk WISN is #1 for the seventh consecutive month. For the fourth time in a row, crosstown format foe – Good Karma Brands’ WTMJ – is unlisted. Appearing at #22, Civic Media progressive news/talk WAUK “The Sha 101 FM” posts a .2 (6+). Repeating in fifth-place, Cumulus Media Nashville news/talk WWTN posts its third progressive trend for a combined +2.6 (3.9 – 5.4 – 5.7 – 6.5, 6+). Meanwhile in that Tennessee market, iHeartMedia’s similarly-formatted WLAC is trending 2.1 – 2.1 – 1.8 (January – February – March, #17 to #18, 6+). Albeit that their combined March 2024 6+ total is 4.8, three news/talkers surface in West Palm Beach’s top twenty. Specifically, Hubbard’s WFTL bounces back from a February dip of seven-tenths with a gain of three-tenths (3.0 – 2.3 – 2.6, ninth to eighth, 6+), while iHeartMedia’s WJNO is up or flat the third straight time (.6 – .9 – 1.1 – 1.1, #14 to #13, 6+) and ties co-owned WZZR (1.4 – 1.1, flat at #13, 6+). With a half-share March increase to 6.2 (sixth to fifth, 6+), Audacy Hartford’s WTIC-AM continues an alternating down-up-down pattern that began in October and has yielded an overall +1.1 (5.1 – 4.8 – 5.3 – .2 – 6.6 – 5.7 – 6.2, 6+). Remaining flat at 1.6 (6+), cross-town Red Wolf-owned WDRC-AM slips from #14 to #16. See Mike Kinosian’s complete “Ratings Takeaways” from this group of markets here.March 2024 PPM Data – Information for the March 2024 survey period (February 29 – March 27) has been released for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are February 2024 – March 2024 (6+).
AUSTIN
News/Talk
KLBJ-AM 5.1 – 3.8, #5 – #9
KJCE .3 – .1, #28 – #30
News
None
Sports Talk
KBPA-HD2 .5 – .9, #24 – #21
KVET-AM .9 – .7, #21 – #23
KTAE DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KUT 7.4 – 8.4, #2 – #2
KUT-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Note: News/talk KLBJ-AM’s -1.3 (5.1 – 3.8) is Austin’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
RALEIGH
News/Talk
WTKK 8.0 – 7.3, #3 – #4
WPTF .8 – .6, #19 – #23
News
WRAL-HD3 .3 – .5, #24 – #24
Sports Talk
WCMC-FM 2.2 – 3.0, #15 – #13 (Carolina Hurricanes)
WCMC-FM HD2 .2 – DNA, #25 – DNA (Carolina Hurricanes)
Public Radio News/Talk
WUNC 8.5 – 8.7, #2 – #2
INDIANAPOLIS
News/Talk
WIBC 4.9 – 5.1, #10 – #8
News
WOLT-HD2 .2 – DNA, #25 – DNA
Sports Talk
WIBC-HD2 3.0 – 2.6, #16 – #16
WNDE .5 – .5, #21 – #22
WXNT .2 – DNA, #25 – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WFYI 4.6 – 5.6, #11 – #6
Sports talk WFNI (DNA – DNA) is the flagship of the Pacers.
MILWAUKEE
News/Talk
WISN 9.0 – 9.0, seventh consecutive month at #1
WAUK DNA – .2, DNA – #22
WLIP .1 – .1, #27 – #26
WTMJ DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WGKB DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
WRNW 2.1 – 2.4, #15 – #15
WSSP .2 – .2, #20 – #22
WOKY .1 – .1, #20 – #26
WKTI DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WUWM 2.6 – 2.9, #13 – #13
WHAD 1.2 – 1.3, #17 – #17
WHAD Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
NASHVILLE
News/Talk
WWTN 5.7 – 6.5, #5 – #5
WLAC 2.1 – 1.8, #17 – #18
News
WNRQ-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WGFX 4.9 – 6.6, #9 – #4
WPRT 1.5 – 2.3, #19 – #17 (Predators)
Public Radio News/Talk
WPLN 4.9 – 4.8, #9 – #9
WPLN-HD3 Stream .2 – .2, #24 – #23
Note: Sports talk WGFX’s +1.7 (4.9 – 6.6) represents the largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.
PROVIDENCE
News/Talk
WPRO-AM 6.8 – 6.2, #4 – #5
WHJJ 1.1 – 1.3, #13 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WVEI 1.7 – 1.5, #11 – #11
WPRV DNA – .1, DNA – #18
WBZ-FM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WGBH 2.4 – 2.1, #8 – #8
WNPN 1.4 – 1.4, #12 – #12
WCAI .1 – .1, #18 – #18
NORFOLK
News/Talk
WNIS 2.0 – 2.0, #14 – #14
WGH-FM HD2 .2 – .1, #23 – #23
News
WNOH .3 – .3, #22 – #21
Sports Talk
WVSP 1.4 – 1.3, #16 – #17
WGH-AM .2 – .1, #23 – #23
Public Radio News/Talk
None
JACKSONVILLE
News/Talk
WOKV-FM 8.9 – 8.3, #3 – #3
News
WJBT-HD2 .DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WOKV-AM .2 – .2, #21 – #21
Public Radio News/Talk
WJCT 2.2 – 2.1, #13 – #13
WEST PALM BEACH
News/Talk
WFTL 2.3 – 2.6, #9 – #8
WZZR 1.4 – 1.1 #13 – #13
WJNO 1.1 – 1.1, #14 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WMEN .5 – .4, #16 – #17
WBZT .4 – .4, #18 – #17
Public Radio News/Talk
WLRN 2.1 – 2.6, #10 – #8
WLRN-HD2 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
GREENSBORO
News/Talk
WPTI 3.2 – 3.5 #10 – #11
News
None
Sports Talk
None
Public Radio News/Talk
WFDD 4.7 – 4.6, #6 – #6
WUNC 2.6 – 2.5, #12 – #12
MEMPHIS
News/Talk
WREC 1.5 – 1.8, #10 – #8
KWAM .4 – .4, #13 – #13
News
None
Sports Talk
WMFS 2.5 – 2.3, #7 – #7 (Grizzlies)
WMFS Stream .2 – .2, #14 – #15 (Grizzlies)
Public Radio News/Talk
WKNO 1.7 – 1.6, #9 – #10
WKNO-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
HARTFORD
News/Talk
WTIC-AM 5.7 – 6.2, #6 – #5
WDRC-AM 1.6 – 1.6, #14 – #16
WTIC-AM Stream .4 – .2, #18 – #20
WPOP DNA – .2, DNA – #20
News
None
Sports Talk
WUCS 1.4 – 2.1, #16 – #13
Public Radio News/Talk
WNPR 5.1 – 5.0, #7 – #7
WFCR .4 – .4, #18 – #18
This decision has been most difficult for us to make in lieu of poor economic and industry conditions. We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause you and appreciate your affiliation with GCN.” GCN was launched in 1998 by Anderson and has featured a diverse line up of daily and weekend programming covering politics, finance, health, self-help, how-to and topics of general interest. At last count the network was carrying 37 hosts and programs including Alex Jones. When asked by TALKERS if GCN would continue in any form, Anderson replied, “No, I’m done but would entertain proposals from anyone interested.” March 2024 PPM Data – Information for the March 2024 ratings period (February 29 – March 27) has been released for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audiosubscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are February 2024 – March 2024 (6+).
PORTLAND
News/Talk
KXL 6.9 – 6.5, #2 – #2
KEX 1.5 – 1.8, #21 – #20
KUFO .8 – .8, #24 – #23
KPAM .1 – .2, #34 – #32
News
None
Sports Talk
KFXX 1.6 – 1.5, #20 – #21
KXTG 1.2 – 1.5, #22 – #21
KPOJ .6 – .5, #26 – #26 (Trailblazers)
KMTT .1 – .2, #34 – #32
KFXX Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #36
Public Radio News/Talk
KOPB 5.1 – 5.8, #4 – #3
KOPB Stream 1.0 – .7, #23 – #25
CHARLOTTE
News/Talk
WBT-AM/FM 4.6– 4.0, #8 – #8
News
WRFX-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WFNZ-FM 3.4 – 3.9, #14 – #9 (Hornets)
WSOC-HD3 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WFAE 4.9 – 4.4, #6 – #6
WNSC .8 – .8, #18 – #20
WFAE-HD3 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
SAN ANTONIO
News/Talk
WOAI 2.7– 2.6, #14 – #14 (Spurs)
KTSA 2.3 – 1.9, #16 – #17
News
None
Sports Talk
KTFM .9 – .8, #25 – #24
KTKR .5 – .5, #30 – #29
KZDC .3 – .4, #33 – #32
Public Radio News/Talk
KSTX 2.3 – 2.7, #16 – #13
SACRAMENTO
News/Talk
KFBK-AM 7.3 – 6.5 #3 – #4
KSTE-AM 2.9 – 2.5, #12 – #16
News
None
Sports Talk
KHTK 1.4 – 1.7, #18 – #18 (Kings)
KIFM .9 – .9, #23 – #21
KIFM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KXJZ 2.8 – 2.8, #13 – #13
KQEI .3 – .3, #27 – #22
KQED .1 – .1, #29 – #29
KUOP DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
PITTSBURGH
News/Talk
KDKA-AM 4.5 – 3.8, #9 – #10
KDKA-AM Stream .3 – .2, #23 – #25
News
None
Sports Talk
KDKA-FM 7.6 – 8.4, #3 – #2
KDKA-FM Stream .6 – .4, #19 – #21
WBGG DNA – .1, DNA – #26
Public Radio News/Talk
WESA 5.2 – 5.2, #8 – #8
Note: Sports/talk KDKA-FM’s +.8 (7.6 – 8.4) represents Pittsburgh’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase.
SALT LAKE CITY
News/Talk
KSL-AM/FM 6.4 – 6.7, #3 – #2
KNRS-AM/FM 3.1 – 2.6, #13 – #17
KKAT DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
KALL .8 – .9, #23 – #23
KZNS-FM .7 – .5, #24 – #24 (Utah Jazz)
KZNS-AM .1 – .3, #28 – #26 (Utah Jazz)
KZNS-AM Stream .1 – DNA, #28 – DNA (Utah Jazz)
KZNS-FM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Utah Jazz)
KOVO DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KUER 2.8 – 3.4, #15 – #13
KBYU-HD2 Stream .3 – .1, #27 – #27
KUMT DNA – .1, DNA – #27
LAS VEGAS
News/Talk
KMXB-HD3 .9 – 1.1, #26 – #26
KXNT .6 – .5, #29 – #30
KMZQ DNA – .1, DNA – #37
KXNT Stream .1 – DNA, #36 – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
KKGK .3 – .6, #32 – #28 (Golden Knights)
KWWN .6 – .4, #29 – #32
KRLV .2 – .2, #34 – #33
KENO DNA – .1, DNA – #37
Public Radio News/Talk
KNPR 1.6 – 1.7, #22 – #22
ORLANDO
News/Talk
WTKS 5.0 – 5.9, #7 – #5
WDBO 3.1 – 3.5, #13 – #12
WFLF .8 – .7, #19 – #19
WFYY-HD3 .3 – DNA, #24 – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
WYGM .8 – .8, #19 – #18 (Magic)
WOCL-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WMFE 2.4 – 1.7, #14 – #15
CINCINNATI
News/Talk
WLW 10.2 – 11.3, #2 – #1
WKRC 6.1 – 6.0, #5 – #5
News
None
Sports Talk
WCKY 1.1 – 1.0, #19 – #19
WSAI .6 – .6, #21 – #21
Public Radio News/Talk
WVXU 3.1 – 3.2, #10 – #10
Note: In addition to advancing to #1, news/talk WLW’s +1.1 (10.2 – 11.3) represents Cincinnati’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase.
CLEVELAND
News/Talk
WTAM 5.8 – 5.4, #9 – #9 (Cavaliers)
News
WMMS-HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #23
Sports Talk
WKRK 3.7 – 4.3, #11 – #10
WKRK Stream .4 – .4, #21 – #21
WARF .2 – .2, #22 – #22
Public Radio News/Talk
WKSU 6.4 – 7.2, #6 – #5
WKSU-HD4 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
KANSAS CITY
News/Talk
KMBZ-FM 4.4 – 5.3, #6 – #4
KCMO-AM 2.3 – 2.0, #14 – #16
KMBZ-AM 1.8 – 1.4, #17 – #18
KMBZ-FM Stream .8 – 1.0, #22 – #22
KCMO-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
KMBZ-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
None
Sports Talk
KCSP 3.0 – 1.8, #12 – #17
KCSP Stream .3 – .1, #25 – #29
KWOD .1 – .1, #28 – #29
Public Radio News/Talk
KCUR 2.9 – 2.9, #13 – #12
KANU-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Notes: News/talk KMBZ-FM’s +.9 (4.4 – 5.3) represents Kansas City’s biggest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase.
Conversely, sports/talk KCSP’s -1.2 (3.0 – 1.8) is the market’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
COLUMBUS
News/Talk
WTVN 5.3 – 5.2, #7 – #8
News
WYTS DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WBNS-FM 7.2 – 8.6, #2 – #2 (Blue Jackets)
WBNS-AM .3 – .4, #21 #20 (Blue Jackets)
WMNI .1 – .3, #22 – #22
WBNS-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WOSU 5.6 – 5.9, #6 – #6
Note: Sports/talk WBNS-FM’s +1.4 (7.2 – 8.6) represents Columbus’ largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase.
Up next: March 2024 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.
By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Partners
A.K.A. Walter M. Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network
Growing a brand is a memory game. Which message will a target consumer value, remember it and take it to the cash register? The answer is not complicated but it is complex.
A great amount of energy and brain power goes into brand names, logo design, show topics but very little study is made of how often a company should deliver information to their target. The answer to the question of “how often” is critical to landing marks in the Nielsen diary, seeking for your station online or in-car. Effective frequency is essential to everyone’s success!
“When you’re sick of the song, that’s when the listener is just hearing it…” is
about all the science any of us have been tutored in on the subject of effective frequency.
Frequency of message has, in fact, been studied for over 100 years and the answers are astonishing! The most important, useful frequency of message studies are in the book, Effective Frequency: The Relationship Between Frequency and Advertising Effectiveness.
I bought the book in 1981 to find answers to how much external advertising does a station need to win (remember?)… how often to rotate a song promo or topic? The answers are not found in myth and legends but in hard studies conducted by companies such as Lever Brothers and Procter & Gamble.
The book was assembled by the Association of National Advertisers. It is a collection of landmark major studies on how memory is Impacted by the frequency of message exposure. Expertise on the workings of memory is obviously the most important knowledge in a Nielsen diary market and vital to growth in metered markets if a station has been starved of a promotion budget. This book was edited by the head of research for Lever Brothers, Michael J. Naples.
The next three Sabo Sez columns will highlight more actionable data from the book. For example, the studies in the book offer hard data about on how many spots your listener can tolerate, how often to state and restate the topic, phone number, your name and more. This book has, by far, offered my work the most powerful guidance of any source.
Here are a few facts you might be able to put to use right now:
1. The first and last spot in a cluster enjoys the greatest recall. Promos work equally well in either position. Spots placed first and last should be charged more.
2. Moving money out of a TV campaign and putting it into a radio campaign will neither diminish nor improve response. BUT holding the money in a TV campaign and adding money for a radio campaign will improve response.
3. Stunning: For many product categories, daypart significantly impacts the likelihood of conversion to sales. Food product commercials, according to an Ogilvy & Mather study, convert to sales significantly better in late night, fringe time than in daytime. In fact, food product ads in prime time have a negative impact on sales.
4. Properly conducted research for consumer goods products can be successfully applied to media content development.
Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. HITVIEWS clients included Pepsi, FOX TV, Timberland, Microsoft, and CBS Television. He can be reached at walter@sabomedia.com and www.waltersterlingshow.com. “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network airs 10:00 pm-1:00 ET, now in its 10th year of success.
March 2024 PPM Data – Information for the March 2024 ratings period (February 29 – March 27) has been released for: Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included below is that they be a Nielsen Audiosubscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are February 2024 – March 2024 (6+).
WASHINGTON, DC
News/Talk
WMAL 4.5 – 4.8, #7 – #5
WFED .1 – DNA, #30 – DNA (Capitals)
News
WTOP & WTLP 7.6 – 7.9, #2 – #2
WDCH .7 – .6, #22 – #22
WDCH Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WJFK-FM 2.3 – 2.4, #16 – #17 (Capitals)
WJFK-FM Stream .8 – .9, #21 – #21 (Capitals)
WTEM .4 – .4, #24 – #25 (Wizards)
WTEM Stream .3 – .2, #27 – #27 (Wizards)
WJFK-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Capitals)
WSBN .1 – .1, #30 – #28
Public Radio News/Talk
WAMU 13.0 – 11.0, 29th month in succession at #1
Note: Although it is #1 for the 29th consecutive month, public radio news/talk WAMU registers a -2.0(13.0 – 11.0), the largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease by any station in the 24 PPM-markets surveyed thus far.
BOSTON
News/Talk
WRKO 3.2 – 3.4, #13 – #12
WXKS-AM .8 – .4, #23 – #23
News
News – Talk WBZ-AM 4.9 – 4.6, #6 – #6
Business news WRCA .2 – .3, #26 – #24
Sports Talk
WBZ-FM 9.1 – 9.7, third straight month at #1 (Celtics, Bruins)
WEEI-FM 3.3 – 3.0, #12 – #13
WEEI-AM .1 – DNA, #30 – DNA
WEEI-FM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WBUR 6.1 – 6.4, #3 – #3
WGBH 4.6 – 3.8, #8 – #9
Note: Public radio news/talk WGBH’s -.8 (4.6- 3.8) represents Boston’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
MIAMI
News/Talk
WIOD 1.2 – 1.0, #25 – #26
News
None
Sports Talk
WQAM 1.2 – .9, #25 – #27 (Heat, Florida Panthers)
WINZ .6 – .4, #28 – #31
WMEN .1 – .3, #36 – #32
WQAM Stream .1 – .2, #36 – #34 (Heat, Florida Panthers)
WSFS-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WAXY DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WLRN 5.1 – 5.6, #5 – #5
WLRN-HD2 .1 – .1, #36 – #36
SEATTLE
News/Talk
KIRO-FM 4.1 – 3.9, #10 – #7
KTTH 1.6 – 1.5, #22 – #23
KVI 1.0 – 1.0, #24 – #24
KPTR .1 – DNA, #28 – DNA
News
KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM 2.5 – 2.5, #17 – #18
KHHO DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
KIRO-AM 2.3 – 2.7, #19 – #17
KJR-FM 2.4 – 2.1, #18 – #19 (Kraken)
KJR-AM .7 – .7, #26 – #26
Public Radio News/Talk
KUOW 7.2 – 7.2, #1 – #3
KSWS .1– DNA, #28 – DNA
DETROIT
News/Talk
WJR 2.5 – 2.3, #14 – #14
WFDF .6 – .6, #22 – #23
WJR Stream .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA
News
WWJ 5.3 – 5.3, #9 – #9 (Pistons)
WWJ Stream .4 – .4, #25 – #25 (Pistons)
WDFN .1 – .1, #29 – #29
Sports Talk
WXYT-FM 7.1 – 7.5, #3 – #2 (Pistons, Red Wings)
WXYT-FM Stream 1.1 – 1.5, #21 – #18 (Pistons, Red Wings)
WXYT-AM .2 – .2, #28 – #27
WXYT-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WDET 1.8 – 1.6, #18 – #17
WUOM 1.2 – 1.2, #20 – #19
PHOENIX
News/Talk
KFYI 3.5 – 3.0, #9 – #10
KTAR-FM 2.7 – 2.2, #12 – #18 (Suns)
News
None
Sports Talk
KMVP-FM 2.2 – 2.6, #18 – #14 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KGME .1 – .1, #34 – #33
KTAR-AM .1 – .1, #34 – #33 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KDUS DNA – .1, DNA – #33
KTAR-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)
KTAR-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KJZZ 2.3 – 2.7, #15 – #12
MINNEAPOLIS
News/Talk
WCCO 4.7 – 4.1, #8 – #11 (Minnesota Timberwolves)
KTMY 3.0 – 2.5, #14 – #14
KTLK-AM 2.2 – 2.3, #15 – #15
WCCO Stream .1 – .2, #29 – #28 (Minnesota Timberwolves)
News
KQQL-HD2 .1 – .1, #31 – #32
Sports Talk
KFXN 7.1 – 7.4, #3 – #3 (Minnesota Wild)
KSTP-AM .1 – .2, #31 – #28
KQQL-HD3 .1 – .1, #31 – #32
Public Radio News/Talk
KNOW 7.4 – 7.5, #2 – #2
KNOW Stream .7 – .8, #23 – #22
Note: News/talk WCCO’s -.6 (4.7- 4.1) represents a tie for Minneapolis’ largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
SAN DIEGO
News/Talk
KOGO 4.6 – 4.8, #7 – #5
KLSD .5 – .5, #25 – #24
News
None
Sports Talk
KWFN 3.0 – 3.4, #16 – #14
KGB-AM .8 – .9, #21 – #20
KWFN Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KPBS 7.3 – 7.1, #1 – #2
TAMPA
News/Talk
WHPT 4.9 – 5.1, #6 – #5 (Lightning)
WFLA 4.2 – 3.0, #10 – #14
News
Business news WHNZ .2 – DNA, #28 – DNA
Sports Talk
WDAE 1.7– 1.9, #18 – #17
Public Radio News/Talk
WUSF 1.9 – 1.8, #16 – #18
WMNF-HD3 Stream .2 – DNA, #28 – DNA
WUSF Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Note: News/talk WFLA’s -1.2 (4.2- 3.0) represents Tampa’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
DENVER
News/Talk
KOA 2.6 – 2.4, #17 – #17
KHOW 1.2 – 1.2, #24 – #21
KDFD 1.4 – 1.1, #22 – #22
News
None
Sports Talk
KKFN 3.7 – 3.6, #10 – #10
KKSE-FM 2.2 – 2.4, #18 – #17 (Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche)
KAMP .1 – .1, #36 – #34
KKSE-AM DNA – .1, DNA – #34
KEPN DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KCFR 3.7 – 2.9, #10 – #14
KUNC 1.1 – .8, #27 – #26
BALTIMORE
News/Talk
WBAL 3.3 – 3.7, #10 – #10
WCBM 2.0 – 1.9, #14 – #14
News
WTOP & WTLP 1.3 – 1.6, #18 – #16
WDCH .6 – .5, #20 – #20
WQLL DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WJZ-FM 3.1 – 3.3, #12 – #11
WJZ-FM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WJZ-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WYPR 3.2 – 3.2, #11 – #12
WYPR HD2 Stream .3 – .3, #26 – #25
ST. LOUIS
News/Talk
KMOX 2.8 – 3.0, #14 – #14
KFTK 2.1 – 1.6, #17 – #17
KTLK-FM 1.1 – 1.1, #18 – #18
KMOX Stream .2 – .3, #24 – #22
KFTK Stream .2 – .2, #24 – #25
News
KATZ-FM HD2 .2 – .2, #24 – #25
Sports Talk
WXOS 5.0 – 5.1, #9 – #9 (Blues)
Public Radio News/Talk
KWMU 4.9 – 5.0, #10 – #11
Up next: March 2024 overviews for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.
Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com
According to a study from Futuri and CMG Custom Research, not only do radio and television audiences expect media to use artificial intelligence in broadcasts, 20% believe they’ve already listened to a radio station using it and 49% of TV news viewers believe they’ve seen it. Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig presented the results of the nearly 5,200-person study at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. Other takeaways from the study include that for radio, people cannot easily distinguish between human and AI audio
content: Participants were presented with paired samples of AI-generated voices created using Futuri’s AudioAI and human voices. 60% of the time, they identified the AI as human. The study also found respondents open to the use of AI with many believing that AI will improve content across news, video, and audio. For example, 45% of TV news viewers believe AI can assist in selecting better news stories; 54% of local TV news viewers believe AI can enhance weather forecasts, showcasing the potential for AI to elevate traditional news through proper newsroom integration; and respondents also indicated a high level of trust in AI-generated content, specifically when informed by reputable sources like local and national news outlets. Anstandig comments, “Futuri’s study shows that audiences are open to media’s adoption of AI for content creation. In fact, they already believe they’ve experienced AI in use on radio and television. We learned that audiences believe that AI will assist media in creating more relevant and engaging content. They just want to be informed of its use, and for it to be used in the right scenarios.
iHeartPodcasts announces that sports media brand Jomboy Media’s podcasts “Jimmy’s Three Things”
and “Wake N’ Jake” are joining The Dan Patrick Podcast Network, effective immediately. “Jimmy’s Three Things” is hosted by Jimmy “Jomboy” O’Brien (left) and “Wake N’ Jake” is hosted by Jake Storiale (right). Dan Patrick says, “Moments with Jimmy ‘Jomboy’ O’Brien and Jake Storiale are rarely predictable. I love entertainment that surprises and informs, which makes ‘Jimmy’s Three Things’ and ‘Wake N’ Jake’ great additions to my podcast network.”
March 2024 PPM Data – Information for the March 2024 ratings period (February 29 – March 27) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).
The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.
NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.
DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear
Comparisons are February 2024 – March 2024 (6+).
NEW YORK
News/Talk
WABC 3.8 – 4.0, #11 – #9
WOR 1.6 – 1.6, #20 – #20
WKXW 1.0 – 1.0, #23 – #23
WKXW Stream .3 – .3, #35 – #34
News
WINS-FM 4.5 – 4.6, #7 – #5
WCBS-AM 1.7 – 2.0, #19 – #14
WINS-FM Stream .4 – .4, #33 – #32
Business News WBBR .4 – .4, #33 – #32
WCBS-AM Stream .1 – .1, #46 – #45
Sports Talk
WFAN FM & AM 2.0 – 1.9, #15 -#15 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WFAN FM & AM Stream .8 – .6, #25 -#26 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WEPN-FM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)
Public Radio News/Talk
WNYC-FM 4.7 – 4.0, #4 – #9
WNYC-AM 1.1 – 1.0, #22 – #23
Notes: News WCBS-AM’s +.3 (1.7 – 2.0) represents a tie for New York’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase.
Conversely, public radio news/talk WNYC-FM’s -.7 (4.7 – 4.0) represents the market’s largest (6+)February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
LOS ANGELES
News/Talk
KFI 5.4 – 5.5, #3 – #3
KEIB .7 – .7, #32 – #33 (Clippers)
KRLA .6 – .7, #34 – #33
News
KNX-FM 3.3 – 3.0, #10 – #10
KNX-FM Stream .3 – .2, #37 – #39
Sports Talk
KLAC .7 – .8, #32 – #32 (Clippers)
Public Radio News/Talk
KPCC 2.4 – 2.2, #15 – #17
Kings’ games are heard on the iHeartRadio app, while games of the Anaheim Ducks are heard on the Ducks stream.
CHICAGO
News/Talk
WGN 3.5 – 3.2, #8 – #9 (Blackhawks)
WLS-AM 2.0 – 1.4, #18 – #25
WVON .1 – .2, #40 – #38
WLIP .4 – .1, #34 – #40
WLS-AM Stream .1 – .1, #40 – #40
News
WBBM-AM & WCFS 5.4 – 5.4, #3 – #4
WBBM-AM & WCFS Stream .3 – .1, #35 – #40
Sports Talk
WSCR 3.1 – 2.9, #10 – #11 (Bulls)
WSCR Stream .3 – .4, #35 – #31 (Bulls)
WSHE-HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #40
WMVP DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
WBEZ 2.4 – 2.0, #16 – #18
Note: News/talk WLS-AM’s -.6 (2.0 – 1.4) represents Chicago’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease.
SAN FRANCISCO
News/Talk
KSFO 1.4 – 1.4, #22 – #22
KSFO Stream .3 – .1, #32 – #34
News
KCBS-AM & KFRC 6.7 – 6.5, #3 – #3
KNEW .4 – .3, #28 – #30
KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .1 – .1, #34 – #34
KKSF DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
KNBR 3.2 – 3.0, #9 – #10
KGMZ 2.1 – 2.0, #16 – #18 (Golden State Warriors)
KNBR Stream DNA – .4, DNA – #28
KGO .1 – .1, #34 – #34
KTCT .1 – .1, #34 – #34
KGMZ Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Golden State Warriors)
KGO Stream .1 – DNA, #34 – DNA
Public Radio News/Talk
KQED 7.6 – 7.2, #2 – #2
KALW .4 – .2, #28 – #33
DALLAS
News/Talk
WBAP 3.3 – 3.6, #12 – #10
KEGL 1.3 – 1.3, #29 – #28 (Mavericks)
KSKY .8 – .7, #33 – #33
KLIF-AM .3 – .4, #38 – #35
KSKY Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
News – Talk KRLD-AM 1.5 – 1.3, #27 – #28
News – Talk KRLD-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News KKGM .1 – DNA, #42 – DNA
Sports Talk
KTCK 4.9 – 3.6, after back-to-back months at #1, falls to #10 (Stars)
KRLD-FM 2.3 – 1.7, #19 – #24
KRLD-FM Stream 1.0 – 1.1, #30 – #31
Public Radio News/Talk
KERA 4.0 – 4.2, #8 – #5
Note: Sports talk KTCK’s -1.3 (4.9 – 3.6) represents a tie for the most significant (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 decrease by any station in these twelve PPM-markets.
HOUSTON
News/Talk
KTRH 3.4 – 3.2, #14 – #13 (Rockets)
KPRC .4 – .3, #28 – #28
News
KXYZ .1 – .1 #33 – #32
Sports Talk
KILT-AM .7 – .8, #25 – #26
KBME .5 – .5, #27 – #27 (Rockets)
KFNC .1 – .2, #33- #30
KILT-AM Stream .1 – .1, #33 – #32
Public Radio News/Talk
KUHF 2.8 – 2.9, #17 – #17
ATLANTA
News/Talk
WSB-AM & WSBB 7.3– 7.7, #3 – #2
WFOM .5 – .5, #26 – #26
WGKA .3 – .3, #30 – #30
WAOK .1 – .1, #34 – #34
WAOK Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
WSRV-HD3 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
News
WBIN DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WZGC 3.6 – 3.8, #11 – #9 (Hawks)
WCNN 2.1 – 2.5, #17 – #17
WZGC Stream .5 – .4, #26 – #28 (Hawks)
Public Radio News/Talk
WABE 3.6 – 3.7, #11 – #10
WRAS .5 – .5, #26 – #26
WABE-HD3 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
PHILADELPHIA
News/Talk
WPHT 2.0 – 2.3, #15 – #15
WKXW 1.1 – 1.1, #24 – #24
WURD .4 – .6, #27 – #26
WPHT Stream .8 – .5, #26 – #27
WURD Stream .2 – .2, #29 – #29
WKXW Stream .1 – .1, #32 – #31
WDEL-AM DNA – .1, DNA – #31
News
KYW & WPHI 6.0 – 5.8, #5 – #4
KYW & WPHI Stream .3 – .2, #28 – #29
WTEL DNA – .1, DNA – #31
Sports Talk
WIP 5.7 – 5.5, #6 – #6
WIP Stream 2.0 – 3.2, #15 – #12
WPEN-FM 1.2 – 1.2, #22 – #23 (76ers, Flyers)
Public Radio News/Talk
WHYY 3.3 – 3.1, #12 – #13
Note: Sports talk WIP’s internet stream registers Philadelphia’s largest (6+) February 2024 – March 2024 increase (2.0 – 3.2, +1.2).
NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND)
News/Talk
WABC 1.8 – 1.5, #17 – #18
WOR 1.2 – 1.0, #19 – #21
WLIR .2 – .2, #27 – #27
News
WINS-FM 5.1 – 4.9, #3 – #5
WCBS-AM 1.7 – 1.8, #18 – #17
WINS-FM Stream .7 – .6, #23 – #24
Business News WBBR .4 – .4, #26 – #26
WCBS-AM Stream .2 – .2, #27 – #27
Sports Talk
WFAN-FM & AM 2.7 – 2.4, #12 – #12 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WFAN-FM & AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WEPN-FM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)
Public Radio News/Talk
WSUF .2 – .2, #27 – #27
RIVERSIDE
News/Talk
None
News
KFOO DNA – .1, DNA – #25
Sports Talk
KPWK .5 – .2, #19 – #23
Public Radio News/Talk
KVCR .5 – .3 #19 – #19
KPCC DNA – .1, DNA – #25
SAN JOSE
News/Talk
KSFO 2.1 – 1.8, #15 – #19
KSFO Stream .2 – .2, #30 – #27
News
KCBS-AM & KFRC 5.4 – 4.7, #4 – #5
KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .3 – .2, #26 – #27
KNEW .3 – .2, #26 – #27
Sports Talk
KNBR 3.6 – 2.8, #7 – #10
KGMZ 2.0 – 2.0, #19 – #18 (Golden State Warriors)
KNBR Stream DNA – .5, DNA – #26
KGO .2 – .2, #30 – #27
KGO Stream .3 – .2, #26 – #27
KTCT .3 – .2, #26 – #27
KGMZ Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Golden State Warriors)
Public Radio News/Talk
None
Sharks’ games are carried on the Sharks Audio Network.
MIDDLESEX-SOMERSET-UNION (New Jersey)
News/Talk
WKXW 7.2 – 7.5, #2 – #1
WOR 3.6 – 3.6, #9 – #9
WKXW Stream 1.1 – .7, #18 – #19
News
WINS-FM 2.4 – 2.4, #11 – #11
WCBS-AM .8 – .8, #19 – #18
WINS-FM Stream .5 – .3, #23 – #22
WCBS-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA
Sports Talk
WFAN-FM & AM 2.9 – 2.9, #10 – #10 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WFAN FM & AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)
WEPN-FM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)
Public Radio News/Talk
None
Up next: March 2024 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Thank me later for these Blackjack tips, based on many convention years’ experience, sometimes painful:
— Loiter, looking for a new shoe, then sit-out the first hand. If no Aces appear, grab a seat.
— If no Aces appear in the second hand, up your bet.
— Decline Insurance, statistically a sucker bet.
— No matter WHAT the dealer is showing, ALWAYS-ALWAYS split Aces and 8s.
— Stand, Hit, Split, or Double-Down on-the-assumption-that the dealer’s hole card is a 10.
— If you’re dealt a hard 17 or higher – or A,8 or A,9 – or 10-10 – always Stand.
— Those “free” drinks they bring get REAL expensive if you’re losing while waiting for your refill.
— The shoe can be kind… or cruel. Keep playing as long as you’re winning… but DO NOT think of winnings as “playing with their money.” It’s yours. If you lose two consecutive hands, bug-out.
Safest bet in ‘Vegas? DON’T. And DO-tell if you’d like to grab a cuppa cawfee if you’ll be there for NAB.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “The Local Radio Advantage: Your 4-Week Tune-In Tune-Up,” and “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
ENCO Systems, Inc., Benztown, Compass Media Networks, and vCreative announce that they have entered into an innovative new partnership to bring SPECai, the leading AI spec ad service, to vCreative’s customers by integrating SPECai into its suite of creative workflow platforms for broadcasters. For stations affiliated with both vCreative and SPECai, the integration will streamline the process of requesting a spec spot, as well as save time. Account executives can prepare for client meetings ahead of time, or be ready to create on the spot, by utilizing the integration to select the SPECai option from within the vPPO or vProMedia order form to create compelling spec spots to present to their clients. SPECai is a game-changer for media organizations and their sales reps, allowing them to create spec commercials in seconds using AI right in front of clients. SPECai blends AI scripts and AI voices with Benztown music beds to easily create fully produced spec commercials in seconds.
Townsquare Media announces that it has bought and retired 3 million options held by certain members of the management team and board of directors for a net purchase price of $3.62 per option. The purchase price reflects the spread between the closing price on April 3, 2024, of $12.36 and the option strike price of $8.74. The options, all of which were set to expire in July 2024, were granted to members of management and the board at the company’s initial public offering in July 2014. This transaction
follows last week’s repurchase of 1.5 million shares from MSG at $9.76 per share, the June 2023 repurchase of 1.5 million shares from MSG at $9.70 per share, and the March 2021 repurchase of 12.6 million shares and warrants from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. at $6.40 per share. Like last week’s 1.5 million share repurchase from MSG, the purchase price of $10.8 million will be funded entirely with cash on hand. Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson comments, “We are very pleased to share that we were able to buy the IPO options at a net purchase price of $3.62 per option, eliminating the overhang and the shareholder dilution that would have occurred had these in-the-money options been exercised in the open market before they expired this July. The members of management and the board that were involved in this transaction have been with Townsquare for over a decade, demonstrating that our longterm incentive plan was, and continues to be, effective in retaining top talent. In total, our management team owns approximately 11% of shares outstanding today and are well aligned with the company’s investors to build shareholder value.”
Cumulus Media news/talk WJR-AM, Detroit is named Market One Commercial Radio Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. The station was additionally honored with a total of 10 MAB Broadcast Excellence “Best” Awards, including Best Regularly Scheduled Broadcast Personality or Team, for 760 WJR’s “JR Afternoons with Chris Renwick” and another recognizing the station’s efforts
in community involvement, along with multiple merit awards. The annual MAB Broadcast Excellence Awards gala was held on Saturday, April 6 at the Sound Board inside MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. WJR program director Ann Thomas states, “Thank you to everyone associated with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for this tremendous honor. As you can imagine… because WJR is more than a hundred years old, the archives in the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building are amazing. While doing some spring cleaning the other day, I came across boxes of awards and plaques from non-profit organizations applauding our work and ‘thank you’ notes from community leaders and listeners. It reminded me that all of us here in this room stand on the shoulders of the broadcasting greats who came before us. They set the bar for excellence, and I am grateful that in 2024, the talent, producers, engineers, production, digital, and sales teams at WJR are still working to be the best in the business.”
Podtrac releases its Podcast Industry Ranking for March 2024 (based on U.S. unique monthly audience
for participating podcasts) and, while not a lot changes from last month, NPR’s “NPR News Now” took over the #1 spot from The New York Times’ “The Daily,” which falls to #2. Cumulus Podcasts Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” rises one spot to #10, and FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” climbs two places to #12. See the complete chart here.
In the aftermath of the cuts at Chicago Public Media announced this week, WBEZ criminal justice reporter Patrick Smith has started a GoFundMe to help his former fellow workers affected by layoffs. He says, “On March 3, CPM leadership announced the shuttering of the podcast unit, the end of the Vocalo radio signal and the layoff of 14 people. All of those people were valuable and deserve support, however I am operating this fundraiser as a member of the CPM SAG-AFTRA unit so all of the funds raised will go to the nine unit members who lost their jobs. The total amount raised will be split evenly between the nine unit members who were laid off.”
Audacy announces that it is promoting PJ Kumanchik to brand manager for KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh “News Radio.” Kumanchik has been serving as the station’s news manager. He takes over for Dave LaBrozzi, who is retiring from the station. Audacy Pittsburgh SVP and market manager Michael
Spacciapolli states, “I first want to congratulate Dave on an incredible career. It has been a privilege to work with him over the past two years. We’re delighted to promote PJ, a mainstay at KDKA for the last 35 years. The trust he has built within our organization and with listeners and partners makes him a great fit to steward this iconic brand into the future as we grow on many levels.” Kumanchik, who has worked in multiple capacities at both KDKA News Radio and “93.7 The Fan” (KDKA-FM) as news producer and editor, morning show producer, sports producer and program director, comments, “I look forward to working with our leadership team, including Michael, to boost the momentum we have created at KDKA News Radio in the past couple of years. As the Voice of Pittsburgh, we will continue to provide news-driven talk that encourages interactions from our listeners.”
The FCC adopts changes to its rules that will allow FM booster stations to originate programming, subject to future adoption of processing, licensing, and service rules as proposed in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The Commission notes that “FM boosters currently serve the limited purpose of rebroadcasting primary FM (or LPFM) stations in areas of poor reception. GeoBroadcast Solutions, LLC has developed technology that is designed to allow licensees of primary FM broadcast stations to
originate content using FM boosters and is intended to do so without raising the potential for harmful co-channel interference to the reception of the primary station’s signal outside the coverage area of the booster station or to previously authorized secondary stations.” GBS filed a petition on March 13, 2020, proposing to give FM broadcasters the option to use boosters to originate programming to specific zones within their stations’ service area, proposing to allow program origination for a limited period totaling three minutes per hour… During that limited period, GBS proposes that the FCC allow the booster to originate geo-targeted advertisements, promotions for upcoming programs, and other hyper-localized content, suggesting it would benefit small and minority-owned broadcasters, because potential advertisers that currently find it prohibitively expensive to buy spots reaching a radio station’s whole service area might purchase lower-cost airtime reaching a more targeted area, thereby becoming a new source of station revenue.”