Talk radio and podcast personality Brad Krantz died yesterday (5/6) after a battle with myeloma.
Krantz was most recently co-host of “The BradandBrittcast” podcast with Britt Whitmire. He served as host at a number of rock stations during his long radio career as well as morning host on news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte.
The most discussed stories yesterday (5/6) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump-Carney Meeting / Tariffs
2. Trump and the Alien Enemies Act
3. The Conclave
4. Newark Airport Scrutiny
5. Pakistan-India Tensions
Springfield, MA-based multimedia broadcaster, writer, and publicist Mark G. Auerbach passed away this past Friday, May 2 after waging a long, brave battle against kidney and heart disease. Auerbach had an indelible presence – primarily in the local arts & entertainment community – as the long-running host of radio and television programs as well as his print columns and coverage of the region’s active theater and music scenes. Actively developing a legacy that spanned almost a half century, Auerbach was engaged in his dynamic career until the very end, producing and hosting
“ArtsBeat,” “Athenaeum Spotlight,” and “On The Mark” for WCPC, Channel 15 and WSKB-FM 89.5, both in Westfield, MA. He was a regular contributor to Berkshire Onstage and a member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association. His weekly column “Arts Beat” appeared in The Westfield News. In his youth, Auerbach studied theater at American University and the Yale School of Drama. During his multimedia career his impact was felt nationwide, and he was an indefatigable fundraiser for public broadcasting. As a publicist, he was a devoted supporter of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and numerous other not-for-profit artistic organizations. TALKERS publisher and local Western Mass resident Michael Harrison states, “I am proud to have been able to call Mark Auerbach a friend for the past 39 years, during which time I have come to respect and admire him as one of the finest media practitioners with whom I have had the pleasure of working. He was a champion of the arts and all that celebrates the humanities in our modern multimedia environment. He was a local giant on a multitude of levels and leaves an irreplaceable void in this part of America’s grassroots media community.” Auerbach requested no funeral services but said if people wish to do something in his memory they can make a gift to either Springfield Chamber Players MOSSO) (www.springfieldsymphonymusicians.com), Northfield Mount Hermon School (nmhschool.org), or the theatre of your choice.
The most discussed stories yesterday (5/5) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump NBC Interview
2. Trump Alcatraz Order
3. Abortion Pill Suits
4. Tariffs / U.S. China Trade War
5. Newark Airport Chaos
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War / The Economy
2. Trump’s Alcatraz Plan
3. Trump’s NBC Interview
4. Houthis Strike Israel
5. Student Loans Payback Resumes
Reporting its operating results from the first quarter of 2025, SiriusXM reveals revenue of $2.07 billion, a decrease of 4% from the same period in 2024. The company reports net income of $204 million. SiriusXM self-pay subscribers decreased by approximately 303,000, a 16% improvement compared to
the same period last year. Self-pay monthly churn was 1.6%, compared to 1.7% in the first quarter of 2024. The company ended the quarter with approximately 33 million total subscribers. In a conference call with investors, 
CEO Jennifer Witz said the company is re-focusing on in-car listening after its less-than-successful attempt to become a leader in streaming content. She says, “We entered 2025 focused on what we do best: delivering standout experiences to our core subscribers, curating compelling content, strengthening our advertising business, and enhancing the value of our service. Today, we’re operating with greater discipline, improving execution across the board, and reallocating capital toward the areas where we see the greatest impact. We’re building a more focused, more efficient SiriusXM — aligned around what matters most to our listeners and our business — and I’m pleased with how we’ve started the year.”
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (4/28-5/2) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
1. Trump’s First 100 Days / Polling Numbers
2. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War / The Economy
3. U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal
4. Russia-Ukraine War
5. DOGE / Musk and Tesla
6. Canadian Elections
7. Deportations / Abrego Garcia Case
8. Trump vs Harvard
9. Kamala Harris Speaks Out
10.Belichick-Girlfriend Flap
People
1. Donald Trump
2. Xi Jinping
3. Volodymyr Zelensky
4. Vladimir Putin
5. Elon Musk
6. J.D. Vance
7. Mark Carney
8. Kilmar Abrego Garcia
9. Joe Biden / Kamala Harris
10.Bill Belichick / Jordon Hudson
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
Radio One’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte announces the debut of “The TJ Ritchie Show” that will air from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm weeknights beginning May 27. Ritchie is one half of the longtime syndicated radio show “Ace & TJ” (with the late David “Ace” Cannon) now titled “TJ & Riggins” and
co-hosted by Bryan “Riggins” Weber. Ritchie says, “This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and getting to do it on the legendary WBT is such a thrill. The timing is perfect because there are so many people who are just starting to become interested in the political landscape of our culture. Being ‘America’s Coolest Conservative,’ I’ll be able to engage them with a high energy, fun, and humorous show. It’s going to be spectacular. All of that AND I get to keep my day job!” WBT program director Mike Schaefer adds, “WBT’s history of night-time programming boasts some of radio’s biggest names – Bob Lacey, ‘Hello’ Henry Boggan, and ‘Charlotte’s Most Beloved,’ John Hancock. When the opportunity to add TJ to that list presented itself, there was nothing to think about besides a start date. We are beyond excited for TJ to bring entertaining late, live, and local programming back to Charlotte on WBT!”
iHeartMedia names Leon Williamson market president for the Memphis/Tupelo area. Williamson most recently served as market president and SVP of sales for the company’s Indianapolis operations. iHeartMedia Kentucky/Memphis area president Kristy Beebe. She says, “Leon brings a wealth of
experience and a proven track record of success in our industry. His leadership and vision will be instrumental in driving our continued growth and success in the Memphis and Tupelo markets. Leon is not only a seasoned professional but also a dedicated supporter of the community actively involved in various initiatives, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact. This passion for service and his strategic approach to market challenges make him the perfect fit for this role. I am confident that under Leon’s leadership, we will achieve new heights and continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients and partners.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/30) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump’s First 100 Days
2. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War / The Economy
3. U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal
4. DOGE
5. Russia-Ukraine War
In an op-ed piece published in The Daily Caller, FCC Commissioner Nathan A. Simington – with newly appointed chief of staff Gavin M. Wax – makes the case for American reindustrialization to effectively compete with China. He says, “Today, a growing fraction of China’s manufacturing strength
lies in its ability to deploy high-end, labor-light, automation-heavy processes at scale. It’s a productivity story now, driven by robotics, industrial AI, and, most crucially, advanced 5G infrastructure deployed as an industrial platform — not just as a consumer gimmick.” He adds, “Compare this with our own policy environment, where even the best private sector players are hamstrung by outdated regulations, capricious permitting processes, and the dogma that government shouldn’t pick winners — especially in telecom or manufacturing. That ideology might have made sense in the 1990s, but it’s lethal to the future of our telecommunications industry now, and in consequence, our manufacturing future.” See the entire op-ed here.
Last Saturday (4/26), iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God presented The Third Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival at Pullman Yards in Atlanta. They say, “For the third year in a row, the festival
brought together podcast fans and The Black Effect Podcast Network’s top talent for a day of live podcast recordings from network’s most popular shows including ‘Trap Nerds Podcast,’ ‘Good Moms, Bad Choices,’ ‘R&B Money Podcast with Tank and J. Valentine,’ ‘Naked Sports with Cari Champion’ and ‘Woman Evolve with Sarah Jakes Roberts.’”
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/29) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump’s First 100 Days
2. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War / The Economy
3. Deportations / Abrego Garcia Case
4. Trump vs Harvard
5. Canadian Elections
Afternoon drive talk host Tyrone Johnson exits Beasley Media Group’s sports talk WPEN-FM, Philadelphia “97.5 The Fanatic” after three years leading the afternoon drive show. Crossing Broad
reports that Johnson tweeted on Friday afternoon: “It was a good run. I regret nothing.” The story notes that Johnson – producer and co-host – took over hosting the afternoon show in 2022 after Mike Missanelli’s departure. The most recent iteration of the show included Rickey Bo and Sylvana Kelleher and Crossing Broad says the show’s ratings were on par with the station’s morning show ratings. Read the full story here.
The Broadcasters Foundation of America is thanking all of those in the broadcasting industry who have supported the BFoA’s mission. The organization says, “The ads that you run and the emails you
send on our behalf help us get the word out to radio and television professionals that the Foundation is here to lend a hand-up to those in our industry who need it most.” The BFoA created the 2025 BFOA Overview Video narrated by Deborah Norville and a second video featuring a BFOA grantee, the Toscano family that benefitted from the Foundation. See the Overview Video here and the Toscano family video here.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump Approval Ratings
2. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War
3. Colorado Underground Nightclub Raid
4. Deportations-Detentions
5. Pope Francis Funeral
Audacy promotes Jenny Nelson chief marketing officer. In this role, Nelson will oversee all Audacy’s
marketing efforts, including brand/design, research, B2B marketing/activation and corporate communications. The company says she will also continue to focus on sales enablement and supporting Audacy’s local and national sales. Most recently, she served as EVP marketing solutions & strategy.
iHeartMedia names David Hillman EVP, chief legal officer and secretary. Hillman will oversee all legal matters for the company, including the compliance, regulatory and corporate governance functions, as
well as the company’s Government Affairs, Business Affairs and Privacy teams. Hillman was most recently chief legal officer for Venu Sports. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman comments, “David has very relevant experience across a range of media businesses, as well as specific familiarity with the audio industry. We believe his wealth of experience will make him an ideal addition to the iHeart executive team as we continue to grow our momentum as the #1 audio company in America.”
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (4/21-25) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
1. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War
2. Financial Markets / Fed Chair Powell’s Status
3. Russia-Ukraine War / Israel-Gaza War
4. Abrego Garcia Deportation Case
5. Pope Francis Dies
6. Google Anti-Trust Ruling/Meta Anti-Trust Case
7. Hegseth Signal Chat Controversy
8. Iran Nuclear Talks
9. State Dept. Reorganization
10.“60 Minutes” Producer Quits
People
1. Donald Trump
2. Xi Jinping
3. Jerome Powell
4. Volodymyr Zelensky
5. Kilmar Abrego Garcia
6. Pope Francis
7. J.D. Vance
8. Elon Musk
9. Pete Hegseth
10.Bill Owens
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/23) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War
2. Russia-Ukraine War
3. Francis Funeral-New Pope Selection
4. “60 Minutes” Controversies
5. Trump’s Anti-DEI Actions
Andy Bloom, who served with numerous radio companies during his career, was convicted by a Hennepin County, Minnesota jury of two counts of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct. The 61-year-old former radio executive faces sentencing on May 13. The trial came a year after Bloom was charged after complaints filed by his then-15-year-old daughter. He is currently being held without bond. The investigation began after Bloom’s daughter reported multiple acts committed over an extended period of time between January of 2022 and July of 2023. During his career, Bloom served as programmer for WPHT and WIP in Philadelphia and was most recently with WCCO-AM in Minneapolis, a role he exited in 2018.
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/22) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump’s Trade War/Powell Status
2. Pope Francis Death
3. Hegseth Criticism
4. State Dept. Reorganization
5. “60 Minutes” Boss Quits
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/21) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Pope Francis Dies
2. Tariffs/U.S.-China Trade War
3. Trump vs Fed / The Economy
4. Pete Hegseth Signal Controversies
5. Google Anti-Trust Ruling
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Abrego Garcia Deportation Case
2. Google Anti-Trust Ruling
3. Hegseth Signal Chat Controversy
4. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War
5. Financial Markets Activity
Lotus Communications is seeking an enthusiastic, highly motivated radio and digital account executive. The company says, “We are looking for someone who can connect with clients and help them achieve
their business objectives through effective broadcast and digital advertising. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, have an enthusiastic and outgoing personality, along with a drive to succeed. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-working salespeople who want to have FUN at work, make money, and help local businesses grow.” See more about this position and apply here.
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (4/14-18) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
1. Abrego Garcia Deportation Case/Judge Threatens Contempt Charges
2. Trump vs Harvard
3. Tariffs / U.S.-China Trade War / Powell Speech
4. Meta Anti-Trust Case
5. FCC’s Carr Threatens Comcast / Trump’s 60 Minutes Criticism
6. DOGE
7. U.S. – Iran Nuclear Talks
8. Russia – Ukraine War / Israel-Gaza War
9. Bernie Sanders-AOC Rallies
10.RFK Jr Promises Autism Cause
People
1. Donald Trump
2. Kilmar Abrego Garcia/Nayib Bukele
3. Alan Garber
4. Pam Bondi
5. Jerome Powell / Xi Jinping
6. Mark Zuckerberg / Elon Musk
7. Brendan Carr
8. Vladimir Putin / Volodymyr Zelensky
9. Bernie Sanders / AOC
10.RFK Jr
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/16) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump vs Harvard
2. Abrego Garcia Deportation Case/Judge Threaten Contempt Charges
3. Trump Tariffs/Jerome Powell Speech
4. FCC Chair Attacks Comcast Over News Coverage
5. RFK Jr. Promises Autism Cause
Katz Media Group promotes PJ Stack to vice president of political sales and Kevin McTigue to director of
political sales for their Katz Digital Video division. The promotions are effective immediately. The company says these leadership moves reflect Katz’s continued 
investment in delivering strategic, results-driven solutions for political advertisers through both linear and digital media. Katz Media Group CEO Mark Gray states, “Katz has built the most experienced and trusted political sales team in the industry. With deep-rooted expertise across both broadcast and digital, our team delivers unmatched scale, strategy, and results for political advertisers. As the landscape continues to evolve, Katz remains the go-to partner for campaigns looking to connect with voters in meaningful and measurable ways.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/15) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Abrego Garcia Deportation Case
2. Harvard Refuses Trump Demands
3. Trump Tariffs/Financial Markets Activity
4. FTC’s Anti-Trust Case Against Meta
5. Joe Biden’s Public Comments on Trump
Salem Media Group announces multi-dimensional deal that it says not only adds two of the most influential voices in American media, Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump, but launches the company into an entirely new era of scale, relevance, and cultural power. As part of the deal, Salem acquires a 30% stake in MxM News, a mobile news aggregation app co-owned by Trump Jr., and enters into a longterm services
agreement under which Trump Jr. and Salem will work together to develop a series of high-impact promotional and growth initiatives. At the same time, Salem enters into a strategic agreement with Lara Trump to collaborate on business growth in the digital podcast space, advertiser partnerships, and content innovation. Both Trumps become significant stakeholders in Salem Media. Salem CEO David Santrella states, “These aren’t just partnerships, they’re power moves. Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump bring credibility, energy, and the kind of megaphone that moves markets and shapes public opinion. Their alignment with Salem signals a massive leap forward in our ability to lead the next era of conservative media. Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump aren’t just becoming business partners with Salem, they now also have significant ownership stakes in the company with a major incentive to grow shareholder value which in turn will drive the stock price. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a Salem shareholder.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (4/14) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Abrego Garcia Deportation Case
2. Trump Tariffs/Financial Markets Stabilize
3. Trump vs Harvard
4. FTC’s Anti-Trust Case Against Meta
5. Trump Angered by “60 Minutes” / AP Blocked from White House Presser
Salem Radio Network nationally syndicated talk host Hugh Hewitt joins FOX News as a contributor.
Hewitt announced the news on Friday and made his first appearance on FOX News Channel on “Special Report With Bret Baier.” In this role, Hewitt will appear across all FOX News Media platforms. In addition to his radio work for Salem, Hewitt was also most recently a columnist with the Washington Post, a role he resigned from last November.