The most discussed stories yesterday (3/31) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
iHeartMedia San Diego’s KGB-AM “Sports 760” appoints Allen Sliwa co-host of the afternoon drive show alongside Jon Schaeffer. “Schaeffer
and Sliwa” airs daily from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Sliwa most recently served with the Los Angeles Lakers Radio Network. Station PD Mary Ayala says, “I’m incredibly excited to welcome Allen to our team. His experience, sports knowledge and natural connection with listeners make him an outstanding addition to our station. Pairing Allen with Jon creates a team we believe will deliver one of San Diego’s premier sports talk shows.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/30) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Good News/Bad News: Fender‑benders, slip‑and‑falls, and other “injuries caused by the negligent, careless, or reckless actions of others” will always happen. That’s the good news…for personal injury attorneys. Their bad news is that supply WAY-exceeds demand, and their advertising reflects it.
It all looks the same. The billboards are interchangeable: a headshot and a promise of six-figure settlements. When everyone is saying the same thing, differentiate with gimmicks. TV spots are either goofy shtick or tough-guy talk. Where I live, “The Heavy Hitter” has a phone number jingle Southern New Englanders can sing from memory. Competitors’ numbers are even easier, 444-4444 and 777-7777.
If you will be in Las Vegas for the NAB Show, turn on local TV there. You will howl. Some firms pitch “we charge less,” like a radio station dropping trou’ on rate to grab the whole buy. And there are the nationally syndicated spots, customized for local firms, in which cartoonishly terrified insurance executives beg to settle. Or the hard-boiled attorney threatens to “beat them in court.” Baloney! A jury trial is the last thing most personal injury firms want. Too time consuming, too risky.
Like radio’s, a lawyer’s inventory is perishable. We can’t monetize yesterday’s unsold avail. And lawyers can’t add the client who didn’t come in yesterday for that free, no obligation consultation. No “intake,” no sale. Which is exactly why they should be using radio.
“The lawyer is in, the meter is off” is the proposition when attorneys host brokered weekend talk shows and take listener calls. No look-alike billboard or tacky TV spot can humanize the attorney – and demonstrate comforting counsel – like eavesdropping on a conversation with a caller’s relatable situation. So instead of slogans or shouting about settlements, build the client’s message around four words that are turning callers into clients on weekend talk radio: “Tell me what happened.”
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
The most discussed stories over the weekend (3/28-29) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
The New York Festivals (NYF) 2026 Radio Awards unveils the 2026 Radio Awards Shortlist. NYF says, “Innovative audio storytelling from creators across six continents was carefully evaluated by the New York Festivals 2026 Radio Awards Grand Jury. This year’s shortlist reflects the breadth of the medium, featuring entries across audiobooks, podcasts, drama, 
documentary, breaking news, entertainment, and music, submitted by global networks, production companies, and independent storytellers.” Submissions of note include programs from Alabama Media Group, Bloomberg, CBS News, ESPN, NPR, and SiriusXM. Award-winning entries will be announced during the New York Festivals 2026 Storytellers Gala virtual event on May 21. The virtual event will include featured global audio and video highlights, award winners’ acceptance speeches from around the world, and up-close and personal spotlights featuring some of radio and television’s most respected storytellers. See the complete shortlist here.
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/23-27) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
People
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
At the most recent hearing in United States Bankruptcy Court in Houston, Judge Alfredo Pérez agreed that Cumulus Media may use cash collateral
to continue to operate its business as it makes its way through the Chapter 11 process that could be finalized in May if the pre-packaged bankruptcy plan continues to go smoothly. Attorneys for Cumulus reported to the court that the company now has the backing of 83% of its lenders for the reorganization plan that would put control of the company in the hands of the secured creditors. Once complete, the reorganization will have eliminated some $592 million of the company’s debt.
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/25) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Variety reports that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have signed a new deal to remain with MS NOW. The new contract keeps the duo with the network through 2029. Recently, thte program was cut from four hours to three to make room for a new program hosted by Stephanie Ruhle. Scarborough comments, “Mika and I are excited to be staying with our ‘Morning Joe’ family and friends who have been watching regularly for almost 20 years.” See the Variety story here.
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/24) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Longtime Philadelphia SVP and market manager for Audacy’s Philadelphia station group David Yadgaroff announces he’s retiring from the company. He tells his staff, “Leading these iconic stations has been a great privilege and working alongside our team has been the most rewarding part of my journey. Our team has consistently delivered
unique, compelling content, embraced meaningful evolution, and made a real difference for our communities, our advertisers and one another. I am incredibly proud of the people in the Philadelphia radio market and across the country, whom I’ve had the opportunity to hire, train and mentor. Watching their growth and success has been a joy. After an extraordinary run of dedicating myself to radio and my colleagues for decades, it feels like the right time to step away and take time for myself, spend more time with family and friends, pursue new opportunities and contribute to organizations in meaningful new ways. I leave with deep gratitude and confidence in the future.” Audacy region president Mark Hannon says Yadgaroff will stay in his position through the end of May as they work on a smooth transition for the staff and the stations’ clients. The Audacy cluster includes news/talk WPHT and sports talk WIP-FM.
By Pamela Garber, LMHC
Grand Central Counseling Group
New York
In ongoing discussions about the dwindling relevance of radio in the modern world, the medium is grudgingly defended as a reliable “first responder” during times of public emergencies.
Nothing beats having an old-fashioned battery powered radio handy when confronted by hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, blackouts, and (dare I say it) weapons of war. Yes, radio is quite useful in the thick of natural “disasters” when the grid goes down, and the lights go out.
However, we are missing a huge opportunity by limiting radio to the role
of modern-day media Sterno.
I’ve been a practicing therapist in New York and South Florida for the past 25 years, and although not a host, I have served, and continue to participate, as a guest on broadcasts across the nation, discussing the emotional connections between hot news topics and people’s feelings. I am not alone in the perception that people of my profession have performed for decades as fully invested members of the talk radio family.
During this period, it has become obvious that the one-time talk radio mainstay of the in-house or “go to” mental health professional has become an endangered species. Some of the biggest names in radio were practicing therapists. They were a familiar part of the talk (even news/talk) format. Without turning this into a historical essay or a scold, it is sad to note that most of them are gone.
Ironically, now more than ever, the deeply troubling events in the world, the nation, and our local communities, constituting news and statistics, are bringing deep emotional pain and crippling anxiety to the masses… especially the kind of people likely to tune in to talk radio. Professionals. Businesspeople. Workers. Parents.
Looking for younger demos? Gen-Z is perhaps the most anxiety-plagued segment of the population. These “kids” need support, guidance, and understanding.
Hurricanes and heat waves are not the only disasters that call for the helpful and healing power of radio.
The hot topics of the day: crime, inflation, corruption, disease, ignorance, racial strife, and identity politics – not to mention the ever-lingering threat of nuclear devastation – are not merely subjects (and excuses) to vent blame, anger and hate. They contribute to an environment of deep fear and institutionalized discomfort. There are millions of real-life, personal “disasters” going on out there, exacerbated by relationship betrayals and family breakdowns, that make a heavy snowstorm feel like an adventure by comparison.
Stoking people’s fear and anger with cherry-picked cherry bombs is only a small part of the equation when it comes to serving the desperate needs of both current and potential listeners.
It would be a good thing to bring back to the talk radio menu some psychology shows and professional purveyors of emotional clarity, available in the local communities, as guests to dole out much sought compassion, empathy, guidance, and old fashioned advice.
Pamela Garber, LMHC is a practicing therapist based in NYC and South Florida and a longtime guest mental health commentator on radio and television news programs across the nation. She can be contacted by phone at 646-745-6709 or email at Pamelagarber@gmail.com. Her website is Grandcentralcounselinggroup.com.
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/23) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
On Friday (3/20), Beasley Broadcast Group filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealing it is entering into a Transaction Support Agreement with 98.7% of holders 11.000% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2028 and 76.5% of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the 9.200% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2028. This exchange offer includes an exchange of all of the Existing Second Lien Notes for newly issued 10.000% Senior Secured Second Lien PIK Notes due 2027 at an exchange ratio of 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Second Lien Notes tendered for exchange, and an offer to purchase up to $15,899,000 of the Existing First Lien Notes at a price equal to 100% of the par value thereof.
The upshot of this is that if these offers are accepted, lien holders will have a lot of control over how the company operates. They will be allowed to appoint a director to sit on the company’s board of directors. But the most telling part of this plan is that it allows for lien holders to exchange their debt for equity – meaning they could assume control of the company. Beasley provided “cleansing information” to lien holders in the form of a profit & loss statement ahead of its 2025 Q4 and 2025 full year financial statements that indicates a significant decline in audio net revenue “driven by continued weakness across the industry as a result of reduced consumer sentiment.” We’ll know soon enough whether this goes forward as the Transaction Support Agreement will terminate on May 15, 2026 if it’s not consummated.
By John Caracciolo
President/CEO
JVC Broadcasting
The recent shutdown of CBS News Radio isn’t just another media headline – it’s a wake-up call. A clear example of what happens when decisions about our information, our communities, and our voices are made in corporate boardrooms disconnected from real life.
This wasn’t a programming failure. It wasn’t a lack of audience. It was an accounting decision – made by people who don’t live in the communities radio serves, don’t rely on it, and don’t understand its true value. And that’s exactly why they got it wrong.
Radio has never been more important. In an era flooded with misinformation, algorithm-driven content, and faceless digital noise, radio remains immediate, local, and – most importantly – trusted. It’s the one medium that still shows up live, every day, in real time, for real people.
Radio isn’t dying. It’s being stripped down by people who don’t know how to grow it. But here’s the truth: this moment isn’t just a loss – it’s an opening. A rare and powerful opportunity to rebuild something better. Because what’s missing right now isn’t demand. It’s leadership. This is the moment to create a new kind of radio network – one built not for Wall Street, but for Main Street. A network designed to empower local stations, not replace them. One that helps stations monetize their greatest strength: localism. Local voices. Local news. Local advertisers. Local trust.
Let’s be clear about something: consolidation itself isn’t the enemy. When done right, consolidation can be a powerful tool – one that strengthens local newsrooms, provides resources, and creates the scale needed to compete in a modern media landscape. But there’s a line. When consolidation is used purely for profit – when it strips stations of their local identity, cuts talent, and replaces service with spreadsheets – that’s when it fails. Profit must be our servant, not our master. The future of radio depends on getting that balance right. We need smart, strategic growth that invests in journalism, expands local reporting, and gives stations the tools to thrive – not survive. We need leadership that understands scale should support localism, not suffocate it. That’s where the opportunity is right now.
The future is a network that works differently – a network that partners with local stations to amplify their voices, not drown them out. One that provides national scale where it matters – news gathering, distribution, sales infrastructure – while keeping content authentic and rooted in the community. A network that helps local stations win. Because local radio doesn’t need to be replaced – it needs to be reinforced.
Imagine a network that:
That’s not just possible – it’s necessary. This is how we make radio competitive again. Not by shrinking it, but by strengthening what made it great in the first place. And let’s be honest – no one is better positioned to build this than the people who actually believe in radio. We have the tools. We have the experience. We have the relationships. And most importantly, we understand the audience because we’re part of it.
This is the time to act. The vacuum left by corporate retreat is real, and it won’t stay empty for long. Either Main Street steps in to rebuild radio with purpose, or something else will fill that space – and it won’t have the same commitment to trust, community, or truth.
So, let’s not waste this moment. Let’s take back the airwaves from bureaucratic investors who see radio as a line item instead of a lifeline. Let’s build a network that works for stations, communities, and listeners. Let’s make radio great again – not by looking backward, but by building forward. This isn’t the end of radio. It’s the beginning of its next chapter. And this time, we’re writing it. Let the revolution begin my friends, who’s with me?
John Caracciolo is the president and CEO of JVC Broadcasting. He can be emailed at johnc@jvcbroadcasting.com or phoned at 631-648-2525.
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
If you work in radio, you’ve heard every flavor of AI anxiety. Some fear it will wipe out jobs. Others treat it like a super shortcut – cranking-out spots, promos, and proposals faster and cheaper. Kate O’Neill’s What Matters Next lands squarely in the middle of this tension, and its message is one radio people need to hear: AI isn’t the disruptor. Human behavior is. AI just accelerates the consequences.
The book’s central argument is blunt: The organizations that thrive in an AI-driven world are the ones that stay relentlessly human. Not sentimental – human. Curious. Adaptive. Willing to rethink habits that calcified long before the first smart speaker ever said, “Now playing.” That’s a mirror radio hasn’t always wanted to look into.
For decades, the industry has survived by optimizing the familiar: tighter clocks, leaner staffs, syndicated shows, templated production, and “good enough” digital. AI tempts some operators to double down on that instinct – to automate more, localize less, and hope listeners won’t notice. This book argues the opposite: AI punishes sameness and rewards originality. When every business has access to the same tools, the differentiator becomes the people who use them with imagination, empathy, and purpose. That should sound familiar. It’s what radio used to brag about.
O’Neill also warns against the other extreme, the fear-driven paralysis that keeps talented people from experimenting. AI isn’t a job eater; it’s a task eater. It clears the underbrush so humans can do the work only humans can do: judgment, storytelling, connection, and community presence. In radio terms: the stuff listeners actually remember.
Imagine a morning show that uses AI not to replace prep, but to deepen it, surfacing hyperlocal stories, analyzing listener sentiment, or generating alternate angles on a topic the hosts want to explore. Or a sales team that uses AI to tailor proposals to each client’s issues instead of reshuffling the same deck. How about a newsroom (remember them?) that uses AI to sift data so stations can spend more time delivering what’s special to listeners (and sponsors): helpful local news they can’t get anywhere else. None of that eliminates jobs. It elevates them.
This book’s most important warning is this: AI widens the gap between organizations that learn and organizations that cling. Radio has lived through this before – streaming, podcasting, social media, smart speakers. The winners weren’t the ones who panicked or the ones who ignored the shift. They were the ones who adapted early, experimented often, and stayed close to their audience.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
In an effort to “Make America Smart Again,” TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison appears as a guest on this week’s installment of the groundbreaking education podcast, “Old School, New School, Next School,” hosted by WPHT, Philadelphia talk radio icon Dom Giordano. A former schoolteacher, Giordano is widely recognized as a leading expert on the American education system and is one of talk media’s most outspoken activists on bringing it up to speed.
Giordano and Harrison bemoan the state of America’s level of education and the fact that the nation is consistently falling behind other nations academically. They talk about a variety of topics including school choice and parental rights. To listen to the podcasts in its entirety, please click here.
Legendary New York radio personality Richard Neer, who has served almost six consecutive decades entertaining audiences on album rock WNEW-FM and sports talk WFAN, has authored his 16th book. Titled, The Perfect Beast, the novel is the latest in Neer’s popular series of detective Riley King murder mysteries and deals with a number of issues of interest to radio and podcast 
media enthusiasts, including the invasion of AI into the talent job market. Neer first established himself as a heavyweight author in 2001 when he penned the landmark FM: The Rise and Fall of Rock Radio. In The Perfect Beast, Neer poses the question to his fellow broadcasters, “Ever wonder if your job will someday be taken by an AI facsimile of your act?” 
The story also deals with how a commentator’s words can be twisted and misused, resulting in something evil. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison (who makes an appearance as himself in The Perfect Beast) describes Neer as a media “Renaissance man.” Neer can be contacted for interviews via email at novelistcafe@windstream.net.
The most discussed stories over the weekend (3/21-22) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERSresearch:
The WNYM-AM, New York “AM 970 The Answer” program “Radio Night Live” marked its five-year anniversary on March 19. The Friday night program – co-hosted by Kevin McCullough and Cristyne Nicholas – launched during the global pandemic in March 2021 focusing on the best of New York City when the tourism and entertainment industries were
most in need of support. Today, the weekly talk show continues to focus on the best of New York City, interviewing leaders in travel and tourism, hospitality, Broadway and live entertainment, food & beverage, major sports events, as well as elected officials, heads of NYC’s business improvement districts, celebrities, members of the media and beyond. Kevin McCullough says, “A five-year journey that began buried in COVID has sprouted into the single most compelling argument for the greatest of all cities every single Friday.” Times Square Alliance president Tom Harris comments, “With most talk shows focusing on the worst, it’s refreshing to tune in each week and hear about the best of New York City. I am always honored to be a guest of Cristyne and Kevin and wish them continued success.”
Urban One’s Radio One and Reach Media held its annual Urban Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon on March 12 and 13 to benefit St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital and raised $1.7 million. Audio division co-president Deon Levingston says, “Our partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been one of the most meaningful commitments we’ve made as a company. This event affords the Radio One/Reach Media team the opportunity to play a part in supporting families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We are proud to share the St. Jude mission with our listeners and grateful that they continue to respond each year.”
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/16-20) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
People
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
New York Festivals Television & Film Awards and Radio Awards are honoring distinguished news leader Stephen Capus, president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and former president of NBC News, with the New York Festivals 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2026 Lifetime Award recipient will be celebrated at the annual Storytellers Gala, recognizing TV & Film Awards and Radio Awards trophy winners from around the globe will be streamed on May 21, 2026. Capus says, “It is a profound honor to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award and be
recognized alongside this esteemed community of storytellers. This honor is not mine alone, but a testament to the journalists I’ve worked with throughout my career – especially my RFE/RL colleagues who are committed to showing the world what is happening inside places like Ukraine and Iran. Their passion for excellence and dedication to the truth inspires me each day. My deepest gratitude to my family, whose support has made all of this possible.”
New York Festivals says, “Under Capus’s leadership, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty continues its mission to promote democratic values by delivering accurate, uncensored news and fostering open debate in countries where free press is threatened and disinformation is pervasive. Reaching nearly 50 million people each week, RFE/RL fills a critical gap in regions where independent journalism is restricted, banned, or still emerging.” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s programs have earned multiple awards from New York Festivals TV & Film and Radio Grand Juries. Most recently are 2025 Gold Tower for Human Rights Documentary “How Russian Forces Hunted Down A Ukrainian Shopkeeper In Bucha Bloodbath” (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service); 2025 Gold Tower for Sports Podcast “Gordafarid” (RFE/RL’s Persian-language service Radio Farda); 2024 Bronze Tower for Social Justice Podcast “Vida” (RFE/RL’s Persian-language service Farda); and 2024 Gold Tower for Human Rights Documentary for “Silent Deportation” (RFE/RL).
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/18) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research: