Industry News

Cumulus Announces Season Three of “On the Frontlines” Podcast

Cumulus Media unveils the third season of the original podcast series, “On the imgFrontlines with Mark Levin and Yael Eckstein,” exclusively presented by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Cumulus says this series is a long-running collaboration between broadcaster and constitutional law expert Mark Levin and Yael Eckstein, president & global CEO of The Fellowship. Levin states, “In a moment when freedom is under assault abroad and unity is fraying at home, this season of ‘On the Frontlines’ confronts the hard truths of our time. We examine history, culture, and conscience to ask what’s really required of a free people – and why faith and courage still matter.”

Industry News TALKERS 2026

John Catsimatidis Set to Keynote 28th TALKERS Conference Heading Stellar Lineup of 60+ Speakers

WABC, New York / Red Apple Audio Networks owner John Catsimatidis has been named keynote speaker for TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter set for Friday, June 5 on the campus of Hofstra imgUniversity on Long Island. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “The selection of ‘Cats’ as keynoter is in keeping with one of the major themes of this year’s edition of the iconic industry event – radio, talk media, and entrepreneurism.  John Catsimatidis is presently setting the greatest example of entrepreneurism at work in giving an injection of much needed energy, focus and life to the medium of radio.”  Harrison will serve as facilitator of the presentation in a Q&A / interview style format – a role he has played before with the dynamic billionaire media, grocery, and energy mogul.

imgCatsimatidis will be joined by more than 60 speakers comprised of legendary industry figures as well as fresh faces and rising stars. A detailed agenda including speakers and schedule – a “who’s who” of industry luminaries – will be posted in TALKERS this coming Tuesday (4/28).   See the link below for the names of all speakers booked to date.

The power-packed, one-day agenda is being organized and designed to address the field of talk media’s most pressing and existential issues. imgHarrison continues, “This important conference will illuminate the forward path of the expanding talk media universe, including all aspects of digital communications from AI and podcasting to streaming networks. As has been its tradition, this latest TALKERS conference will approach the onrushing future of the talk business from a radio perspective. This crucial gathering will cover the new undeniable realities of the radio business for those who not only want to survive but thrive as well. It will be about opportunities, networking, and entrepreneurism for individuals in talent, programming, sales, marketing, and management who are serious about staying in the game.”

Attendance at the conference is only open to members of the working media and directly associated industries as well as students enrolled in accredited learning institutions. All attendees will be required to register in advance on the phone payable by credit card. Because attendance will be limited to maintain intimacy, the conference is again expected to be an early sellout. The all-inclusive registration fee covering convention events, exhibits, food, and services for the day is $260. All registrations are non-refundable. This power-packed, one-day event is being presented in association with Hofstra’s multi-award-winning station, WRHU Radio, and the school’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication.

For more detailed agenda info please click here 

Conference Registration and Hotel Information

To register for TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter or to obtain sponsorship information, call Barbara Kurland at 413-565-5413.

To book a hotel room at the nearby Long Island Marriott – Uniondale, please click here: www.TalkersRoomRate.com  or call 516-794-3800 and mention TALKERS 2026.  Act quickly because the number of rooms available at the hotel for this event are limited.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (April 27-May 1)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (4/27-5/1) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. Iran War
  2. Gas Prices / The Economy / Fed Holds Interest Rates
  3. WHCD Shooting Aftermath / WH Ballroom Project
  4. DHS Funding Passes
  5. Trumps vs Kimmel / FCC to Review ABC TV Licenses
  6. Comey Indictment
  7. Royal Visit
  8. Epstein Files / Suicide Note Allegation
  9. SCOTUS Voting Rights Act Opinion
  10. Means Nomination Withdrawn

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. JD Vance
  3. Pete Hegseth
  4. Cole Tomas Allen
  5. King Charles III
  6. Jimmy Kimmel / Melania Trump
  7. Todd Blanche / James Comey
  8. Jerome Powell / Kevin Warsh
  9. Kash Patel
  10. Casey Means

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

Magellan AI Says it Will Bring Radio Attribution to iHeartMedia Advertisers

Magellan AI and iHeartMedia announce an expansion of their relationship that will include broadcast radio attribution. Magellan AI has been partnering with iHeartMedia for attribution across podcasts, streaming audio, connected TV, and other digital media. Magellan AI says expanding measurement capabilities to broadcast radio will enable advertisers “to evaluate performance imgacross audio and digital channels within a unified framework.” Magellan AI’s platform will leverage iHeartMedia’s simulcast data, which maps listeners exposed to broadcast radio to measurable outcomes. Attribution reporting powered by that data will be available exclusively to advertisers working with iHeartMedia. Magellan AI says, “Advertisers using the solution will gain deeper insights into how radio campaigns deliver full-funnel results, including web visits, form fills, leads and purchases. By combining measurement across the full spectrum of audio and digital channels, Magellan AI provides a complete view of how campaigns perform across the media mix.” iHeartMedia Insights president Lainie Fertick states, “iHeartMedia has always focused on helping advertisers understand the power of audio. By combining Magellan AI’s attribution technology with our proprietary in-market simulcast data, we’re providing brands with deeper visibility into how broadcast radio works alongside podcasts, streaming audio, connected TV, and other channels to drive meaningful results.”

Industry News

Cumulus Partners with The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions for Consumer Insights

Cumulus Media says that it is “accelerating its commitment to data-driven sales by partnering with The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions to bring sophisticated market and consumer intelligence to Cumulus stations across a growing number of U.S. markets, providing a level of local clarity that goes far beyond traditional audience metrics.” The company says that The Media Audit provides granular local market data imgon consumer lifestyles, purchasing behavior and cross-platform media usage while TOMA.Solutions adds a powerful layer of competitive insight by measuring “Top-of-Mind Awareness,” revealing which local brands own the first-to-mind position in their categories. Cumulus president of operations Dave Milner says, “Today’s advertisers want more than audience delivery. They want insight, clarity, and a stronger connection between marketing decisions and business results. By integrating specialized resources like The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions into our broader research suite, our teams in these markets provide an even deeper level of local intelligence, helping our clients build more precise and effective campaigns.”

Industry News

Beasley Completes Exchange Offer to Reduce Debt

Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc completes the exchange offer and offer to purchase that will eliminate about half of its current $220 million in debt. imgHolders of the company’s existing 9.200% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2028 agreed to exchange them for newly issued 10.000% Senior Secured Second Lien PIK Notes due 2027 at an exchange ratio of 50 cents on the dollar. On March 30, Beasley completed the purchase of $15.9 million aggregate principal amount of Existing First Lien Notes, and $15 million aggregate principal amount of the Existing First Lien Notes remains outstanding.

Industry News

Radio License Holders May Face 5% Hike in Fees

Radio license holders may see regulatory fees rise after several years of decreases. The proposed 2026 FCC annual regulatory fees for imgcommercial radio stations are set to increase by approximately 5% with proposed fees ranging from $395 for small-market Class D AM stations to as much as $25,000 for major market FM stations. The fees are based on population served and station class. For the smallest operators there is a silver lining as stations with a total regulatory fee liability of $1,000 or less for the year may be exempt.

Industry News

Merrill Reese Honored with Common Wealth Award

Audacy congratulates Philadelphia Eagles play-by-play announcer Merrill Reese on being named a 2026 recipient of the Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service for his outstanding contributions to mass imgcommunications and his lasting impact on sports broadcasting. Audacy’s WIP-FM, Philadelphia serves as flagship station for Eagles broadcasts. Reese was honored on April 24 at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware. Fellow 2026 honorees include astronaut Michael Massimino and actress Jane Seymour. Audacy SVP of sales David Yadgaroff comments, “Merrill Reese is a Philadelphia institution and one of the greatest play-by-play broadcasters in NFL history. His passion, professionalism and unmistakable voice have defined generations of Eagles football on the radio. We’re incredibly proud to have him on our team and see him receive this well-deserved and remarkable achievement.” Each recipient receives a $75,000 prize, funded through a trust established by Ralph Hayes.

Industry News

Audacy Splits KNX Simulcast to Launch “97.1 The Fan”

Audacy is launching an FM sports talk station in Los Angeles branded “97.1 The Fan.” The company is splitting the AM/FM simulcast of all-news KNX to give the LA market its first-ever FM sports talker. The move gives Audacy an FM sports talk outlet in all of the top 10 markets. Andrew Williams will serve as the station’s brand manager. Audacy says, “With the addition of ‘97.1 The Fan’ to its lineup alongside KNX News 1070, Audacy also increases its commitment to providing Los imgAngeles with even more of the best in local news, sports, traffic, and information. Both brands will also be available through the Audacy app, partner streaming platforms, and all social channels.” Audacy West regional president Jeff Federman states, “Los Angeles is the epicenter of the sports world, and ‘97.1 The Fan’ is its new voice. With legendary franchises and global events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon, the time was right to bring our industry-leading sports programming to this market. The Voice of LA Sports will be a 24/7, multiplatform home where fans are part of the conversation every day, building on the same commitment to local connection that has made KNX News a trusted cornerstone in Los Angeles and strengthening our overall offering.” Audacy chief business officer Chris Oliviero adds, “This launch further strengthens Audacy as the unrivaled leader in sports audio, reaching more sports listeners than our eight closest competitors combined. Adding Los Angeles – one of the most passionate and influential sports markets in the country – completes our presence across the top 10 markets and meaningfully expands our reach and scale. It allows us to deliver even greater impact for listeners and partners through premium content, unmatched distribution, and deeper fan engagement.”

Industry News

Cumulus Reports 2026 Q1 Revenue Down 12.2%

Cumulus Media is first out of the gate reporting its operating results for the first quarter of 2026. Net revenue for the company was $164.4 million, a decline of 12.2% from the same period in 2025. Cumulus saw its net loss shrink by almost half to $16.9 million compared to Q1 of img2025. The company reports declines in all segments of its business; even digital revenue was off 8.3% ($33.5 million). Network spot revenue was down 25% ($33 million), and broadcast spot revenue was $67.7 million, a decline of 16.3% from Q1 of 2025. Cumulus president and CEO Mary G. Berner says, “We are pleased to report first quarter earnings. The Court’s recent approval of our reorganization plan marks a pivotal milestone in strengthening our financial foundation and positioning the company to compete in the evolving media landscape. While we await FCC approval of the plan, we remain focused on leveraging our core strengths to drive long-term value creation.”

Industry News

Cumulus Names Webb PD for KABC and KSFO

Cumulus Media promotes Art Webb to program director for news/talk stations KABC, Los Angeles and KSFO, San Francisco. He has been serving as assistant program director and executive producer for both stations since 2017. He takes over for Luis Segura, who recently imgassumed the operations manager role at the company’s WMAL-FM, Washington. Cumulus regional vice president Larry Blumhagen states, “Art has proven to be exceptionally dedicated and creative in his years as APD for KABC. We are eager to watch him bring those qualities to the role of program director for KABC and KSFO.” Webb comments, “I’m excited to step into this role and build on the strong foundation already in place at both stations. Our focus remains on creating engaging, relevant content that truly connects with California listeners while continuing to elevate the incredible work of our talented teams. With such outstanding rosters in Los Angeles and San Francisco, I’m looking forward to sharing in much success together.”

Industry News

Newsmax to Launch Greta Van Susteren Podcast

Newsmax is launching a weekly podcast titled, “Greta Wire,” hosted by cable news pro Greta Van Susteren. The show will be based in imgWashington and will “feature interviews with notable figures from politics, business, sports and entertainment.” Van Susteren also hosts “The Record With Greta Van Susteren” daily on Newsmax. Van Susteren says, “I am excited about this new platform so I can explore issues more deeply with listeners who want to know the full story.” Newsmax Audio and Radio CEO Ralph Renzi adds, “We are proud that Greta will bring her insightful journalism to the podcast world.”

Industry News

Flowers Named President-Elect of MIW Radio

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc announces that Lori Flowers is its president-elect with her term beginning next January. Flowers serves as manager of integrated marketing and project imgmanagement for Urban One. MIW says Flowers “has built a career centered on driving revenue, fostering meaningful brand partnerships, and creating opportunities for growth across the industry.” MIW board president Sheila Kirby comments, “Lori is truly a light in this industry, someone who consistently shows up with intention, generosity, and a commitment to lifting others. She brings both strategic clarity and a strong sense of purpose to everything she does, and I have no doubt she will continue to push MIW forward while creating meaningful opportunities for women across the business.”

Industry News

Black Effect Podcast Festival Celebrates Black Voices

img

Pictured above is Charlamagne Tha God (left) leading a panel discussion at last weekend’s 2026 Black Effect Podcast Festival at the Pullman Yards in Atlanta. The event featured live podcast recordings, panel discussions spanning the business of podcasting, a pitch your podcast both, the Black Marketplace and more. iHeartMedia calls the festival “another unforgettable celebration of Black voices, storytelling and community.” Photo: Derek White/Getty Images

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Triton Digital Collaborates with Nielsen Audio. Nielsen and Triton Digital are collaborating to integrate Triton Digital’s Podcast Metrics Demos+ into Nielsen’s cross-media planning tool, Nielsen Media Impact (NMI). Managing director of Nielsen Audio Rich Tunkel says, “Our collaboration with Triton Digital makes it easier for advertisers to evaluate and plan podcasts alongside, and with the same level of precision, comparability and confidence as other media channels, delivering a critical need.”

Seaboard Networks to Distribute Wrestling Show. Seaboard Networks is now distributing “Wrestling with Heart by Stanley Karr” – a one-hour program hosted by wrestling fanatic Stanley Karr. Seaboard’s marketing solutions consultant Bob Stei states, “Wrestling has a fan base of millions of people. This is a good place for them to enjoy banter on their favorite topic.”

Nielsen Names DeTraglia to Executive Post. Nielsen is appointing Julie DeTraglia head of content and strategic insights. In this role, she’ll lead strategy for Nielsen’s editorial marketing content, which includes social media, insights articles, client communications, events, sales enablement tools and podcasts. Nielsen head of global marketing Sacha Weinberg states, “Julie has a rare talent for transforming data into clear, actionable strategy. She doesn’t just look at where the market has been – she identifies the signals that tell us where it’s going next. Her ability to synthesize deep historical insights with current market dynamics will be a gamechanger for how we deliver value to our clients in a constantly evolving landscape.” DeTraglia most recently served as vice president of ads measurement at Netflix.

Industry News

Report: SiriusXM in Talks to Acquire iHeartMedia

According to a report by Lauren Hirsch and Benjamin Mullen in The New York Times, SiriusXM is in the early stage of talks to acquire iHeartMedia. The report notes that neither company responded to imgrequests for comment. The report states, “Liberty SiriusXM Group, once an affiliate of John Malone’s media empire, formerly held significant stakes in both companies. But it eventually sold its stake in iHeartMedia, primarily a broadcast radio company, and split off its ownership of SiriusXM, the satellite radio company, into a separate entity.” The story goes on to underscore that the talks are in the early stages, and a deal may not take place. See the Times story here.

Industry News

Cumulus Media Renews John Phillips Show

Cumulus Media is renewing “The John Phillips Show” with a new multi-year agreement. The program – hosted by John Phillips and Randy imgWang – is heard on 790 KABC-AM in Los Angeles and 810 KSFO-AM in San Francisco daily from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. Phillips is also a columnist for the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Daily News. Wang also hosts the locally focused “KABC News Blitz” daily from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Cumulus regional VP Larry Blumhagen says, “We are thrilled to extend “The John Phillips Show” and will continue to have John Phillips and Randy Wang speak about accountability in California to their loyal audience.”

Industry News

Rich Shertenlieb Returns to Boston Radio on WEEI

Audacy’s sports talk WEEI-AM/FM, Boston announces that Rich Shertenlieb will co-host a new afternoon drive show with Ken Laird and Ted Johnson. Shertenlieb most recently hosted mornings on WZLX with Johnson as co-host. Prior to that he co-hosted mornings on WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” with Fred Toucher for 14 years before an acrimonious parting. Audacy SVP of programming and sports format vice imgpresident Mike Thomas says, “Rich is one of the most dynamic and entertaining voices in Boston media, with a proven ability to connect with audiences across platforms. Paired with Ted’s championship pedigree and insight, and Ken’s deep understanding of the station and its audience, this show brings together a unique combination of credibility, energy and perspective that will resonate with Boston sports fans.” Shertenlieb says, “I’m thrilled to be at WEEI and reunite with my buddy and one of my favorite colleagues, Ted Johnson, and work with Ken to see what we can build together. The station’s connection to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund makes this deeply personal, given the role those organizations have played in saving my wife’s life. I’m grateful for this next chapter and can’t wait to get started.”

Industry Views

Monday Memo: The 2026 Win-Win Audio Alliance

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgStations I work with are confronting a generational revenue issue: Local direct retail business owners who are Baby Boomers are retiring. And their heirs are moving the radio dollars that built their parents’ businesses to search engine optimization and elsewhere-digital. The narrative we present them: “Radio is ‘a reach engine’” for the digital content people their age personally favor. In this mode, the station feels less like “your father’s Oldsmobile;” and more present tense. Many of these next-generation businesspeople are avid podcast listeners, and that presents an opportunity.

If you still have a stack of TALKERS issues going back 36 years to when it was a newsprint trade delivered by snail mail – you will find my reports from the very first podcasting conventions. I wrote then that the energy in those rooms felt like radio conventions felt before consolidation thinned our herd. As AM/FM programming was settling into predictable grooves – music “safe lists” and talk radio’s political caricature – enthused podcasters were gleefully coloring outside the lines. Many podcast topics were too narrowcast for broadcast radio, whose superpower will always be relevant, helpful local content. Yet podcasters were already building listener communities, and finding related advertisers, on what we then called “the World Wide Web.”

Back to the future: Among takeaways from last week’s NAB Show: Podcasters are no longer the Rodney Dangerfields of audio. 2026 Edison Research pegged the turning point: Time Spent Listening to podcasts has surpassed TSL to spoken word radio. Podcasting is now mainstream media, available on smartphones and smart speakers, which outnumber many households’ radio receivers.

Meanwhile, radio’s own podcast efforts have been – putting it charitably – underoptimized.

  • Too many talk stations simply post hourlong airchecks. No highlights. No hooks. Magic moments – the caller who lit up the board, the guest who surprised you, the host who finally said the thing everyone else tiptoed around – are buried inside a 48minute block like a prize in a cereal box. And listeners won’t dig. Research also tells us that podcast listeners’ attention span is less-forgiving than radio listeners.
  • Without stopping the music on FM, some smart DJs are also podcasting about their personal passions. Ditto the radio talkers who podcast hobby topics and other things off topic to their on-air show. But for many radio personalities, being told to – effectively – do a second show for the station’s podcast repertoire? It’s just one more thing dumped on them as cutbacks continue.

Here’s the opportunity: Radio has what podcasters want, and podcasters have what radio needs.

  • Radio = credibility. Anyone with a USB mic can podcast. But stations have earned trust. While many podcasters toil in obscurity, radio can promote them to its habitual listeners. Where better to find audio consumers? People tune-in without being nudged by an algorithm. And even as touchscreen dashboards now hide AM/FM among umpteen audio alternatives, broadcast radio is still #1 in-car.
  • Podcasters excel where radio rarely ventures: narrowcast depth. They cover high affinity topics that don’t justify live airtime but can absolutely attract targeted advertisers. These would-be influencers build communities. They create evergreen content. They understand digital promotion instinctively.

Put these two together and you get a synergy that moves the needle for broadcasters and podcasters… and advertisers.

For all these reasons – and because consolidation, automation, and syndication have clobbered radio’s farm team – stations and podcasters should seek each other out. 1 + 1 can = 3… or more, with coordinated, scalable workflow. Here’s the schematic.

There’s more on podcasting in my daily TALKERS updates from last week’s NAB Show. If you missed any, they’re archived at HollandCooke.com

Holland Cooke is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News

SRN Reacts Quickly to WHCD Shooting

Salem Radio Network reacted swiftly to the breach of security and shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night. SRN VP of news & talk programming Tom Tradup says that SRN Special Reports were fed starting just four minutes after the first shots were fired and the president was evacuated from the head table by Secret Service agents. TOWNHALL.com’s Larry O’Connor went live on imgYouTube less than 20 minutes after the shots were fired with analysis and perspective including multiple videos from different angles, as well as his own experiences over the years attending D.C. events. Tradup adds, “I am so very proud of our Salem news professionals at SRN News and TOWNHALL.com who quickly and concisely kept our audiences up-to-the-minute as this unprecedented drama unfolded.”

Industry News

Beasley Partners with Tampa Bay Rowdies

Beasley Media Group and the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer club are partnering in deal that will see WJBR-AM, Tampa “Florida Alumni Radio 1100AM” serve as the radio broadcast home for all Rowdies matches in 2026. Beasley says Rowdies home and away matches from the USL Championship regular season and Prinx Tires USL Cup are the latest addition to Florida Alumni Radio’s growing portfolio, which already includes football and basketball broadcasts for both the University of imgSouth Florida and Florida State University. Radio broadcasts for Rowdies home matches on Florida Alumni Radio will feature the same crew from the club’s television broadcasts on Tampa Bay 44 – longtime Rowdies play-by-play commentator Drew Fellios, Rowdies legendary goalkeeper and color commentator Jeff Attinella, and sideline reporter Diandra Loux.