Industry News

JFMN Partners with Past the Wire Sports

The John Fredericks Media Network enters into a relationship with the sports wagering media company Past The Wire Sports that will the company’s content appear across JFMN’s more than 20 terrestrial radio stations and connected TV, as well as its digital assets, beginning August 3. JFMN notes that Past The Wire Sports has evolved from a horse racing media brand into a platform covering sports wagering, prediction markets, professional sports, premium video programming, and proprietary technology.

Industry News

Kings County Conservative Party Honors Dominic Carter with American Heritage Award

By Robert Pearl

imgVeteran journalist, author, political commentator, and 77WABC Radio personality Dominic Carter was honored with the American Heritage Award at the Kings County Conservative Party’s Annual American Heritage Reception on July 23 at the Knights of Baron DeKalb in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The event celebrated Carter’s more than four decades in broadcast journalism, recognizing his distinguished career as a radio host, television commentator, author, and one of New York’s most respected media voices.

Hosted by Kings County Conservative Party and Chairwomanimg Frances Vella Marrone, the reception brought together elected officials, candidates, community leaders, and supporters to recognize Carter’s professional achievements while celebrating the values of perseverance, public service, and the American Dream.

Presenting the award, Vella Marrone praised Carter’s remarkable journey from a difficult childhood in a Bronx housing project to becoming a nationally recognized broadcaster.

“Where you begin in life does not determine where you can go,” she said, describing Carter as someone whose life story reflects the opportunities made possible through determination, personal responsibility, and hard work. She also commended his willingness to openly share his experiences through his journalism and bestselling memoir, “No Momma’s Boy”, inspiring listeners and readers far beyond New York City.

Accepting the honor, Carter explained that he had undergone surgery less than 24 hours earlier but was determined to attend.

“I was not going to miss this event,” he told the audience. “The Conservative Party has saved my life.” Carter reflected on his upbringing in public housing and his political evolution, saying he came to embrace the values of work, family, accountability, and opportunity. “I was a lifelong Democrat… but the Democrat Party left me. I didn’t leave them,” he said, noting he proudly shares those beliefs on the air and during speaking engagements nationwide.

One of the evening’s heartfelt moments came when Carter invited his son, Dominic Jr., and wife, Marilyn, to the stage. Sharing that doctors once believed his son would never graduate from high school because of epilepsy and a learning disability, Carter proudly announced that Dominic Jr. earned two college degrees.

“Never let anybody define who you are,” Carter said, drawing sustained applause.

Vella Marrone thanked supporters and volunteers for strengthening the Kings County Conservative Party and encouraged continued grassroots involvement.

“We’re going to keep fighting and fighting,” she said, urging attendees to remain engaged in preserving liberty and opportunity through civic participation.

Additional remarks were delivered by Conservative Party State Chairman Gerard Kassar, Assembly Minority Leader Edward Ra, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, and other elected officials, all of whom praised Carter’s broadcasting career and contributions to journalism. The evening concluded with a standing ovation, featuring book signings, and photographs as guests celebrated Carter’s enduring impact on New York media and public discourse.

Robert Pearl is a Brooklyn-based journalist who writes about New York City media, politics, and culture.  He can be emailed at pearlknows@yahoo.com.

Industry News

WIBC-FM News Director John Herrick Exits

News/talk WIBC-FM, Indianapolis news director John Herrick reveals that he’s been let go by the Urban One station after three years as news director. He posted to Facebook: “I am proud of the work we accomplished and the stories we were able to tell on behalf of our listeners. I especially appreciate the trust and support of the people who welcomed us into their lives through our imgreporting. While this chapter has come to an end, I remain committed to the values that have guided my career: serving the public, pursuing the truth, and treating people with fairness and respect. I want to thank my colleagues, mentors, friends, and family – especially my wife and sons – for their support throughout this journey. I look forward to what comes next and the opportunity to continue contributing meaningful work. I will still be broadcasting games, and I will continue to be a member of the Indiana University Radio Network.” This comes on the heels of the spring firing of late morning talk host Rob Kendall and the subsequent exit of late morning co-host Casey Daniels, who left of her own volition.

Industry News

“The Ramsey Show” Ranked #2 Business Podcast by Edison

Edison Research spotlights the world of Business podcasts – shows focusing on personal finance, corporate management and finance, entrepreneurship, and wealth management – consumed in the U.S. and writes that based on data from the first quarter of img2026 for its Edison Podcast Metrics, Business is the seventh most popular podcast genre among weekly U.S. consumers 13+, surpassing Religion & Spirituality, Health & Fitness, and Music, among others. Edison ranks the top 10 Business podcasts and NPR’s “Planet Money” is #1, followed by the Ramsey Network’s “The Ramsey Show” at #2. When ranking shows of all podcast genres, “The Ramsey Show” ranks #41 in the U.S. based on Edison’s Q2 2026 Top 50 Podcasts chart.

Industry News

SRN to Cover Graham Services

Salem Radio Network is presenting comprehensive coverage of ceremonies honoring the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday, July 28 at the U.S. Capitol and at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, as well as on Wednesday from the State Capitol in Columbia, South Carolina. SRN News says White imgHouse correspondent Willie Nelson will be on-site at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday during the hours Senator Graham’s body will be lying in state and will provide interviews with lawmakers and citizens on the scene who come to pay their respects to Senator Graham. Additionally, on Wednesday SRN nationally syndicated talk host Mike Gallagher will be on-site in Columbia where Senator Graham’s life will be honored, prior to his private burial later that afternoon in Graham’s hometown of Central, South Carolina.

Industry News

WWO: Xperi’s AutoStage is AM/FM’s “Big Data” Moment

Last week, Cumulus Media announced its new deal with Xperi to use its DTS AutoStage service to get “near–census-level insights into in-car radio consumption.” DTS AutoStage is reporting in-car AM/FM radio audiences in more than 300 local U.S. markets from 6 million vehicles and Cumulus Media | Westwood One says in what is a first for the radio industry, the new data includes overnight ratings in all 300 markets. So, what does this mean?img The key takeaways include: 1) AM/FM radio’s “big data” moment has arrived with massive sample sizes that grow each month: TV has long had cable set top data and smart TV data to generate large samples of tuning data. It’s now radio’s turn! Just like cable set top data, there are no demographics but all markets have large samples. Overall, sample sizes are 5-10X bigger than current ratings samples; 2) Overnight ratings in over 300 markets: In an industry first, every market now has audience shares from yesterday. See your station’s daily audience trends refreshed each day; 3) All listening occurs with humans present: 25% of TV viewing occurs to an empty room but AM/FM radio listening in traveling vehicles always has humans present!; 4) Large samples mean stable listening trends: In all sized markets and for all sized stations, daily share trends are stable and consistent; and 5) AM/FM radio now has modern, cutting edge, timely measurement, which does not rely on a consumer’s memory or require a consumer to do something (like wear a gizmo). See the Audio Active Group blog post here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Robot vs. Robot

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgRadio stations used to announce the present temperature at the end of the weather forecast, empowering listeners who are heading out to dress accordingly. It’s the ultimate live-N-local information.

 It was SO conspicuous that – in diary markets – competing stations would fib if the temperature was a competitor’s dial position. I was the 7-midnight DJ during WPRO’s 1970s Top 40 heyday — yep, a live voice at night, before the overnight guy took over. Our AM dial position was 63, a temperature never announced on WGNG (55) or WJAR (92). And vice-versa.

Back to the future: The forecast still airs on AM/FM radio, but often without a live temp’ at the end, because the station is robotic and the weather is canned. Common faux pas: At 4 pm, the forecast begins “Today will be…”

Listeners who want the temperature now get it – instantly – where Amazon Prime subscribers can also ask for 2 million songs…from a robot, Alexa.

In next week’s column here: How radio wins the future – not by becoming more like technology, but by becoming more human. 

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

Industry News

Gomez: FCC Cannot Change Ownership Cap

After FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the Commission votes to eliminate the cap on television station ownership, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez issued a statement on the matter. She says: “This unlawful effort to hand control of the public airwaves to billionaire buddies of this administration will destroy imglocal newsrooms, silence community reporting, and drive-up costs for the American families who depend on local stations for news and emergency alerts. A free and diverse media landscape depends on real limits on how much of the public airwaves any one company can control, and this FCC is now poised to allow local broadcasters to sell those airwaves off to the highest bidder. Congress set the 39 percent national ownership cap in federal law, and only Congress has the authority to raise or eliminate it. The Commission cannot waive away that limit simply because these corporate behemoths want to get out from under it.”

Industry News

Becker Joins CMG as VP of Audience & Content Growth

Cox Media Group appoints Phil Becker vice president, audience & content growth for the radio segment. Becker, who most recently served with Alpha Media EVP of content, will begin his duties in imgthe newly created position on July 20. CMG Radio president Rob Babin comments, “Phil brings a strong and unique combination of audience expertise, content leadership and a passion for developing talent. His experience and audience-first approach will help strengthen our brands and position CMG Radio for continued growth.” Becker says, “CMG Radio has outstanding brands in tremendous markets. I’m excited to join Rob and the team to build on that success, deepen audience connections across platforms, and create remarkable content that matters to listeners, viewers, followers and fans.”

Industry News

WWO: Podcast Advertising Hits 12-Year High

Today’s blog post from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group looks at the 12-year trend of podcast advertising. The post notes that in advance of the first IAB Podcast Upfront in 2015, Cumulus commissioned Advertiser Perceptions to study agency and brand sentiment on podcast advertising. The most recent, conducted last month with 300 marketers and media imgagencies, reveals advertiser/agency podcasting discussion and spending intention has hit a 12-year high. Some of the key takeaways include: 1) Nine out of 10 marketers and media agencies say they have discussed podcast advertising for potential investment; 2) Podcast advertising consideration surges to a 12-year high: 75% of brands and agencies say they are likely to consider advertising in podcasts; 3) Podcast spending intention jumps to 74%, a 12-year record; 4) 76% of agencies and advertisers currently advertise in podcasts, a 5X increase since the first IAB podcast upfront in 2015; and 5) “Arnie Semsky’s 5% solution”: It is time for brands to get serious and allocate 5% of digital budgets to podcasting.  See the full blog post here.

Industry News

SportsRadio 610 Raises Funds for Houston Food Bank

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Audacy’s sports talk KILT-AM, Houston “SportsRadio 610” recently completed its second annual “Reggie and Ron Radiothon,” raising more than $24,000 for the Houston Food Bank. Pictured (l-r) are station personalities Reggie Adetula (“In the Loop”) and Ron Hughley (“The Drive”). Station brand manager Parker Hillis says, “What we do is powerful, and our listeners jumped at the chance to rally around our station and city, which is just further proof of the impact we make for our fellow Houstonians. I’m grateful we have a team here at Audacy Houston who are committed to campaigns like this year-round.”

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Eat Your Ice Cream

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

img“Globalization and the deconstruction of community and country, an addictive media system that runs on algorithms we don’t understand and can’t escape, the unpredictability of climate change, Gilded Age-level inequality, and the worry that generative AI will control rather than be controlled by us.”

Those facts-of-life come from Ezekiel J. Emanuel MD, who reckons make us “feel vulnerable, anxious, and powerless – at the mercy of forces beyond our reach. So, we embrace what we can control: our own wellness.”

Emanuel is a University of Pennsylvania professor, bioethicist, and oncologist, and was one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act. His best-selling book, Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life, is HIGHLY recommended. Much of what you read will be as surprising as the title.

Click here to read a sample chapter, FREE.

If you own or manage a radio station, reread his quote above. See the opportunity.

In a world where people feel unmoored, a local radio station that reliably shows up with clarity and calm — that helps people feel a little less powerless — becomes more than a medium. It becomes the one they won’t live without.

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

Industry News

Connoisseur Names Hirsh to New HR Post

Connoisseur Media appoints Lorraine Hirsh to the newly created position of vice president of human resources. Hirsh comes to imgConnoisseur from marketing agency IMRE where she was chief people officer. Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw comments, “As we continue to grow our company, investing in our people remains one of our highest priorities. Lorraine brings an exceptional combination of strategic vision, leadership, and genuine passion for developing talent. She understands that great companies are built by great people, and her experience helping organizations strengthen their culture and invest in employee success makes her an outstanding addition to our leadership team. We’re excited to welcome Lorraine as we continue building an environment where our employees can thrive and do their best work.”

Industry News

Former Trump Fixer’s Show Debuts Sunday

The new weekend talk radio program featuring former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen debuts on Sunday at 5:00 pm ET on Red Apple Media’s WABC, New York. For its debut, the “When You Know… You Know with Michael Cohen” will feature imgguests including Jerry Falwell Jr. and Anthony Scaramucci. Red Apple is also promoting the companion podcast, “When the When You Know, You Know… Unleashed” podcast saysing, “the conversations get even bolder. Free from FCC broadcast regulations and with no topics off limits, the podcast is already generating buzz among high-profile political figures eager to join Cohen for candid, unfiltered conversations that will take listeners even deeper inside the stories, scandals, and personalities shaping the headlines.”

Industry Views

Who Gets to Decide If and Why a Guest is Newsworthy?

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By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer

imgA political candidate sits down for a broadcast interview. The host asks questions. The conversation reaches into policy, personality, controversy, and campaign issues… just another day in the world of talk radio.

To the FCC, depending on the program and the circumstances, it may raise a different question: did the station give one legally qualified candidate a broadcast “use” of its facilities that now triggers equal opportunities for opponents? That question sits at the center of ABC’s dispute with the FCC over “The View,” and it deserves the attention of every broadcaster who books public officials, candidates, advocates, and political personalities.

This is not an article about whether anyone likes “The View.” That is the wrong question. The better question is whether the government should decide, after the fact, that a long-running interview program no longer qualifies as a bona fide news interview program because regulators dislike, distrust, or second-guess its guest selection.

The Equal Opportunities Rule, often called “equal time,” is not the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine is gone. However, equal opportunity requirements remain part of broadcast law. In general terms, when a broadcast station permits a legally qualified candidate to “use” its facilities, opposing legally qualified candidates for the same office may be entitled to comparable opportunity, unless an exemption applies.

One such exemption covers bona fide news interviews.

That exemption matters because it allows broadcasters to cover politics without turning every meaningful candidate interview into a scheduling trap. The law recognizes that a news judgment is different from a campaign favor. A host may interview a candidate because that candidate is newsworthy, controversial, powerful, interesting, or central to a public issue, not because the station has endorsed the campaign.

ABC’s argument is that “The View“ already cleared that hurdle more than two decades ago, when the FCC treated it as a bona fide news interview program. ABC now says the Commission has forced the issue back onto the table and is effectively asking whether the government should dictate which candidates the program may feature. That is why ABC’s filing points beyond daytime television and directly toward talk radio.

Talk radio should not dismiss that warning. The format routinely features candidates and officeholders without immediately inviting every opponent. Sometimes the reason is obvious: one guest is in the news and the others are not. Sometimes the reason is practical: a candidate accepts and the opponent declines. Sometimes the reason is editorial: the host believes one interview will better serve the audience.

Those are normal programming judgments. But if regulators start looking behind those judgments for partisan motive, the risk changes. The question becomes less “Was this guest newsworthy?” and more “Can you prove to the government that your reason was acceptable?” That is a dangerous shift for any medium built around editorial discretion.

This does not mean broadcasters should panic or stop booking candidates. It does mean stations, networks and programs should tighten their habits. Know when a guest is a legally qualified candidate. Understand when an appearance may count as a use. Keep clean records. Preserve the editorial reason for the booking. Make sure producers and hosts know the difference between a campaign appearance, a news interview, and paid political time.

The larger warning is simple: broadcast talk is regulated speech in a way podcasts, YouTube shows, and most streaming programs are not. That distinction already matters for indecency, sponsorship identification, public files, political files, and license obligations. Now it may matter again in the heart of the format itself: who gets invited to talk.

The government should not sit in the producer’s chair. But broadcasters should not pretend the chair is invisible. The best protection is not silence. It is disciplined editorial judgment, documented in real time, applied consistently, and defended as what it is: the broadcaster’s constitutional role in deciding what is newsworthy for its audience.

Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonLegalGroup.com or read more at TALKERS.com.

Industry News

“Crime Junkie” Takes Top Spot on Podtrac’s June Podcast Ranker

Audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie” is the new #1 podcast on Podtrac’s imgTop Podcasts chart for the month of June based on U.S. unique monthly audience for participating networks. It bumps The New York Times’ “The Daily” to #2, NPR’s “NPR News Now” to #3, and “Up First from NPR” to #4. Other moves of note include DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” dips two places to #9, while Silverloch’s “The Dan Bongino Show is steady at #14. See the full ranker here.

Industry News

Rogers to Shutter Six News and Sports Stations in Canada

Canadian media company Rogers Sports and Media is shutting down six of its news and sports stations, including CISL-AM, Vancouver “Sportsnet 650”; CFAC-AM, Calgary “Sportsnet 960”; CFFR-AM, Calgary “660 NewsRadio”; CXWX-AM, Vancouver; CJNI-FM, Halifax “NewsRadio 95.7”; and CKGL-AM, Kitchener img“570 NewsRadio.”  Yahoo! is reporting that Rogers says the closures will mean layoffs for 80 employees of the stations. Other simultaneous staff reductions at Rogers are costing another 150 people their positions. These cuts are revenue based as Rogers spokesperson Zac Carreiro states, “The media business continues to face headwinds driven by declining advertising revenue and changing audience habits. These changes are part of our plan to focus our investment in areas that will drive growth long-term. After a thorough review of our radio stations, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to close six radio stations in four markets due to declining audience and revenue trends.” Rogers will continue operate 44 radio stations in some 30 markets. See the Yahoo! story here.

Industry News

WXYT-FM, Detroit’s Kott Dies at 32

Audacy reveals that WXYT-FM, Detroit “97.1 The Ticket” imgproducer and air personality Kenny Kott died from medical complications on Saturday (6/26). Kott was a member of “The Valenti Show with Rico.” Mike Valenti addressed Kott’s passing on Monday’s program, saying that Kott had a medical event in early June that left him hospitalized for the last few weeks and it took a turn for the worse. Valenti says, “Genuinely, I struggle to find the words for this. He’s a part of our dysfunctional family. That’s what this is.”

Job Opportunity

Saga Seeks News and Sports Pro for Spencer, Iowa Market

Saga Communications’ Spencer Media Group is seeking a full-time news reporter and sports play-by-play announcer for its Spencer, Iowa station group. The company says: “We value creativity and the desire to win. We’re looking for someone who has the skills and ability to gather and write local news stories, conduct imginterviews for audio actualities, anchor local newscasts and post stories on website and social media, etc. This person will also be responsible for doing play-by-play of regional High School football and basketball games during the season.  Some evenings and weekends will be required… We need someone who understands small-market, local radio and is willing to be involved in the community. Send your cover letter, resume, audio demo(s), and references to Kevin Tlam at ktlam@spencermediagrp.com.

Industry News

John Kincade to Return to Dickey’s “The Fan”

Atlanta sports media pro John Kincade is returning Dickey Broadcasting Company as part of what the company calls “a new long-term agreement, marking a significant and exciting reunion for both the veteran broadcaster and the Atlanta-based media organization.” While details about Kincade’s role, including when imghe’ll be on the air, will come at a later date, Dickey says Kincade is “a familiar and respected voice in sports radio, [who] previously built a strong connection with listeners during his 20-year tenure with the station, becoming a trusted presence in the market.” The company adds, “His addition reflects DBC’s broader commitment to industry-leading investment in its people, technology, and strategic partnerships ensuring the company remains at the forefront of sports media. By continually enhancing its talent roster, embracing innovative broadcasting tools, and strengthening collaborations across the industry, Dickey Broadcasting Company is well positioned to inform, entertain, and serve its audience at the highest level.”

Industry News

iHeartMedia Cuts Hit KXNO, Des Moines Hosts

As the staffing cuts announced by iHeartMedia become public, we’re learning about some of those who worked in spoken-word formats who’ve been affected. Sports talk hosts at the company’s KXNO, Des Moines exiting the station include: Sean Roberts, imgLucas Strain and Connor Ferguson of the afternoon show “Off The Bench” are out, as are hosts of “The 1st Quarter,” Heather Burnside and Alec Busse. Roberts says in a Facebook post, “Earlier today after our show myself as many others were laid off at iHeart Des Moines. I’m not angry or am going to blame anyone… it’s part of the business. You can have good ratings, good revenue etc… Doesn’t matter… your number on that excel sheet can be picked any day. I sit here proud of my career in radio and proud of what we did at KXnO. I’ve been doing sports talk radio in Des Moines since 2014 and it’s been a hell of a ride with so many people to thank.”

Industry News

Today is BFoA Giving Day

Today (6/25) is the Broadcasters Foundation of America’s annual Giving Day, an effort to raise critical funds that support the organization’s mission of providing financial assistance to broadcast professionals facing severe hardship due to debilitating imgillness or disaster. The BFOA has distributed more than $20 million in aid to radio and television professionals over the past 15 years, representing over 200 broadcast companies across 45 states and U.S. territories. BFOA says, “On Giving Day, we encourage everyone in broadcasting to come together and support our broadcast community. Every contribution helps ensure that the Broadcasters Foundation can continue to provide a helping hand to broadcasters in need when tragedy strikes.” You can make a donation here.

Industry News

Urban One Announces New Contract with CFO Peter Thompson

Urban One inks a new deal with EVP and chief financial officer Peter D. Thompson that will pay him an annual base salary of $750,000 plus his eligibility for an annual bonus. Thompson also receives a signing bonus of $333,333 subject to a pro-rata claw-imgback if he leaves before the end of the term of the agreement. For each complete calendar year of the term of the deal, Thompson is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to $300,000 with the opportunity to earn up to 132% of the target bonus for superior performance. Also, provided that the material weaknesses identified in the company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025, are remediated, at the end of the term of the Agreement, Thompson is eligible to receive bonus compensation in the amount of $850,000. He is also eligible to receive certain stock-based compensation.

Industry News

Knicks’ Championship Run Boosts WFAN Ratings

According to a piece in Deadline, the New York Knicks’ NBA championship run has bumped up the 25-54 ratings for Audacy’s WFAN, New York by almost 9%. The piece adds that the station’s cume during the run has been nearly 1 million per week. Audacy chief business officer Chris Oliviero was interviewed for the piece imgand he comments on company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the rededication to sports programming, “Relieving that financial pressure has been liberating. We’ve got everybody swimming in the same direction. Linear broadcast, streaming digital and on-demand podcasts… they don’t compete with each other. They all sing together, like a maestro with a band.” The Fan produced an NFL Draft watch party on YouTube featuring the station’s hosts and with the success of that decided to do halftime and postgame shows on YouTube during the Knicks’ Finals series. Audacy says those livestreams are part of the reason it brings in one-third of its revenue from digital sources. See the Deadline piece here.