AM Radio Act Passes in the House
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act made its way through the House of Representatives yesterday (9/15) and will move on to the Senate. The bill would mandate that the Department of Transportation require automakers provide AM radios in all new passenger cars sold in the U.S. without an additional charge. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt comments, “Today’s decisive House passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is a significant step forward for the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio for lifesaving emergency information, trusted news and a vital connection to their communities.”
Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia chairman and CEO states, “The House’s passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is a significant victory for public safety, local communities and the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio every day.”
John Catsimatidis, chairman and CEO, Red Apple Media and WABC Radio, says, “I am glad that common sense has prevailed in Washington DC. The American people are on the side of common sense.”
TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “Now all AM operators should take advantage of this by filling their beleaguered frequencies with inspired, original and absolutely necessary content, or it will prove to be a temporary and culturally flimsy reprieve.”
WABC Radio brought together broadcasting legends, entertainers, civic leaders and political figures Friday night at Cipriani 42nd Street for its 9/11 & Freedom 250 Gala, commemorating 25 years since the September 11 attacks while also recognizing America’s 250th anniversary.
while playing venues such as the Bitter End and TV shows like “Midnight Special,” the band has gained a multi-generational fan base over the past six years due in large part to exposure on talk radio. Talk show hosts have been attracted to Gunhill Road’s engaging themes, sharp lyrics, and provocative YouTube videos that tackle the hottest issues of the day. These include the rise of idiocy, scourge of scammers, threat of censorship, dangers of AI, noise of politics, cruelty to animals, aging, and more. Since 2020, more than 1,500 talk shows, stations, and networks have aired Gunhill Road songs in whole or part, extracted segments for bumpers, and interviewed a member about its provocative messaging.
When in doubt, I recall smart quotes from people in our business who are successful, well paid, kind, and future oriented. I have always focused on what’s next rather than what’s been. These observations drive good results:
TALKERS conversations held with programmers and talk show hosts across the nation this week, historic events and milestones get heightened attention on anniversaries divisible by five-year intervals with 10-year, quarter- and half-century markers receiving the most. “This is going to be a big one,” exclaimed KSCO, Santa Cruz station owner Michael “MZ” Zwerling stating, “The combination of 9/11 reaching its quarter-century anniversary coupled with the nation being at war with a Middle East adversary makes remembrances of the tragedy even more appropriate than ever.”
mic today and tomorrow (8/31-9/1) to fill in for Michael Smerconish on SiriusXM’s POTUS channel from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Morano – who was a talk host at WABC, New York for many years before running for public office – tells TALKERS, “I’ve got a fun couple of shows lined up, including Kelsey Grammer, along with some other interesting guests and plenty of calls and conversation.” 
“Rap” was senior vice president of rock promotion at Columbia Records where he served for 33-years during album rock’s golden era, playing a pivotal role in the careers of some of the biggest stars in the business. These included everyone from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd to the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello to Billy Joel, Judas Priest to Alice In Chains, Journey and many, many more.
By Walter Sabo
“It’s all media,” declared accomplished media executive Jack Griffin when confronted with brand new definitions of content and content distribution. Jack, for years, was president of Meredith Publishing, Time Inc., and The Tribune Company. I met Jack when he was publisher of PARADE magazine. Jack is pragmatic, won’t waste your time and spots BS faster than most humans. We were listening to discussions of the impact of online media versus traditional media, and his line was running out. Jack declared “It’s all media” and the meeting blessedly ended. The phrase haunts me and it is being proven true every second of every day.
devoted to chronicling the development and growth of what he envisioned as “the coming talk radio phenomenon of the nineties.” The publication went on to publish as a newspaper on newsprint evolving into a glossy magazine and eventually an online publication fully devoted to serving the needs of talk radio and eventually a variety of spoken word platforms that have collectively become known as talk media. TALKERS also contributed to the growth of the field by producing 28 national conventions / conferences in New York and two in Los Angeles, more than 50 groundbreaking radio rows, dozens of talk show host tours of international hot spots, and thousands of hours of spoken word syndicated and online programming. Throughout its colorful history, TALKERS always maintained a neutral position regarding politics except for, as Harrison puts it, “unwavering support of the First Amendment.”
TALKERS founder Michael Harrison is this week’s guest on the National Press Club’s official podcast, Update-1, in which he tackles the topic “Predicting the Future of Media Following the Shutdown of CBS News Radio.” Interviewed by noted American University media professor Gemma Puglisi, Harrison addresses such issues as changes in the tenets of journalism and the general shrinkage of radio news. Along the way, he offers his insights into a variety of media and societal topics including the impact of clickbait and what he describes as “the daily dance of affirmation” resulting 
from the trend toward news platforms “targeting” audiences for purely marketing purposes. Harrison defends AI from critics who claim the technology lacks “heart” and that audiences will swing back to the “authenticity” being destroyed by AI slop. Harrison makes the case that what counts is the humanity behind the operation of AI which is “only a tool.” He says, “Blaming AI for shallow content is like attributing shoddy novels to the invention of the word processor.” Harrison boldly predicts that AI and modern technology will hasten the “death of Hollywood” as we know it among other insights into the future of news, entertainment, and communications. Don’t miss this! 
guests 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.”
anniversary by celebrating 250 remarkable Philadelphians whose lives and legacies have shaped the city, the nation, and our history. The event features a live panel discussion moderated by station personality Solomon Jones that includes: Michael Coard, host of Radio Courtroom, attorney, and founder of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition; Karen Warrington, award-winning news director and arts advocate; Dr. Anthony Monteiro, scholar and founder of The Saturday Free School for Philosophy and Black Liberation; and Rev. Carolyn Cavaness, pastor of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Award for Outstanding Newscast, and more.” Red Apple SVP, news & programming Lee Harris says, “Stacy Lyn is exactly the kind of broadcast news anchor we set out to recruit when we launched the Worldwide News Network. She is a proven broadcaster with tremendous credibility and a long track record of delivering breaking news and major stories with accuracy, clarity, and professionalism. Stacy’s experience covering the highest levels of government and the biggest stories in America will be an enormous asset to our affiliates and listeners.” Other former CBS Radio broadcasters now serving with Worldwide News Network include Michael Wallace, Cooper Lawrence, Bill Rehkopf, and Matt Pieper.
