Monday Memo: CES2026, Radio Can Relate
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
Hello from Las Vegas, where I am both eager and anxious for CES2026.
I am eager to witness what’s new, and to report each day this week here in TALKERS, and on radio stations across the USA and around the world. Help yourself to 60-second reports, updated daily, for air all this week. Simply download from HollandCooke.com. No charge, no paperwork, no spot.
And I am eager to witness the continuing evolution of this event, and its parent the Consumer Technology Association — formerly the Consumer Electronics Association — which does NOT want us calling this “the Consumer Electronics Show.” At the first one, in 1967, audio cassettes were disrupting 8-track tapes. And decade-after-decade, gadget-after-gadget, this organization and this show has represented an industry that makes products that come in boxes. Audio, video, computers, smartphones…stuff.
Back to the future: Artificial Intelligence doesn’t come in a box. And much – possibly most – of what’s unveiled this week here is AI-driven. For years before AI popped, this show, and this nimble association, has been pivoting, away from things to experiences. Sure, there are still monster TVs and flying cars at CES, and there have been for 10 years. But last year’s keynote by Delta Airlines’ CEO was a star-studded event at The Sphere, a dazzling display of how they’re reimagining your travel experience. Experiences, not things.
Like flight, radio is also 100+ years old. So I am also anxious, as our industry struggles to evolve. Radio was the first consumer electronic gadget. And, for most of a century we cornered the market on making audio. Now everyone does. Much of what I write each week here in TALKERS is about optimizing the listener’s and advertiser’s experience. Radio’s roots run deep. At CES I’m looking for clues as to how we can grow new branches. More here tomorrow.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
manager for San Francisco and San Jose. Murley was most recently chief revenue officer for Beasley Media Group. Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw says, “Tina is exactly the kind of leader we look for at Connoisseur. She brings exceptional operational instincts and a people-first leadership style that aligns perfectly with our culture. We could not be more excited to welcome her to the Connoisseur family as we continue to grow our presence on the West Coast.”
With the conclusion of 2025 at hand, we are entering the second half of the third decade of the 21st century. It will be a remarkably transitional period for the talk radio industry and its closely associated fields in talk media, as well as media-in-general.
Network TV often delivers Nielsen hashmarks. No viewers! The no numbers reports started coming in over 20 years ago and they met with silence. Often on Holiday nights, long weekends, NBC, CBS, ABC or FOX delivered no measurable audience. Simultaneously, online video stars were attracting millions of views. In 2007, the media world witnessed the audience shift from broadcast TV to online video. In the following years, media buyers made the definition of a bad investment: Between the time a buy was placed on network TV to the day of air, the audience diminished. Every month. Year after year.
new regional director of sales and digital sales manager. Sullivan previously served with Audacy as SVP/market manager for Milwaukee & Madison. He says, “It’s a homecoming of sorts, having spent several 
years in Milwaukee and Madison. It’s truly a unique opportunity in our industry, given the fiercely independent and community focused culture of Civic Media. I was drawn to their guiding strategy of ‘Hometown Radio Refreshed.’ I look forward to working with the team and serving our local communities.” Jimenez most recently was general manager for Adams Publishing Group in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. He remarks, “I look forward to working with all Civic Media team members to maximize their personal and professional growth, as well as assisting our clients and partners to thrive in the communities we mutually serve in Wisconsin and the Midwest.”
WNYM in 2014. Salem Media New York general manager Laura Sheaffer says, “Joe Piscopo remains one of the most dynamic talents in New York radio. His authenticity and connection with our listeners are extraordinary and extending his presence on ‘AM 970 The Answer’ was an easy decision. Joe continues to raise the bar every single morning.” Piscopo comments, “Our audience relies on us for honesty, respect, and straight talk about the issues that matter, and that trust means the world to me. And let’s be honest – only in New York do you wake up at 3:00 am and call it show business! I’m honored, grateful, and excited to keep sharing these mornings with such an amazing audience.”
announcement via a post on X, saying: “I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her.” President Trump commented on Bongino’s departure saying, “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.” Now, the speculation begins as most industry watchers expect Bongino to return to the conservative talk media ecosystem, where will he resume his media career?
and #2 in most past surveys – are gone from the ranker entirely. With that change, iHeartRadio’s “Stuff You Should Know” is the new #1, with Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” at #2. Other changes for talk radio-related podcasts include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Shawn Ryan Show” rising five places to #4, Cumulus Podcast Network’s “VINCE” climbing two places to #10, and iHeartRadio’s “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show” moving up seven places to #11. 
president of news/talk for Cumulus Media for nine years. Cumulus Media chief content officer Brian Philips states, “Bill is an esteemed leader, teacher and journalist. He possesses intellect, a gift for talent development and strict high standards. It has been our good fortune to work in the trenches with Bill during the overheated recent news cycle. Bill will always be our trusted advisor. We wish Bill great things in retirement and thank him for his uncountable accomplishments with Cumulus Media and our high-performing news/talk stations – particularly for his work programming our news/talk flagship, WMAL. His legacy is forever secure.” Hess comments, “I am grateful for these 48 years in the business I love, programming both music and spoken-word stations, and working with the most exciting and entertaining teams in radio. Concluding with the past 15 years at WMAL and Cumulus Media has been a true highlight.”
manager for the cluster that includes news/talk KMAJ-AM “The Big Talker,” sports talk KTOP-AM and four music brands. Lee announced her exit via social media saying, “After 11 years and 11 months, my position with Cumulus was eliminated. Reaching almost 12 years with a single employer is a remarkable feat in media. If you’ve listened, commented on social, came to an event, played a contest, or even waved at me while I was driving that huge van, thank you for engaging. The state of radio today can be hard to love. What’s next for me? TBD.”
At the very first CES in 1967, audio cassettes were disrupting 8-track tapes. Back to the future: Artificial Intelligence now threatens to disrupt almost everything.
first handed out in 1971, are among the most prestigious in journalism. In 2025, about 5,000 entries were submitted in the professional and student categories, also making it one of the most competitive.” To be eligible, work must have been published between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. This year, RTDNA is offering an Early Bird Discount for entries submitted by 5:00 pm ET on Tuesday, January 20. The final entry deadline is 5:00 pm ET Thursday, February 19. Entrants can find 
Mel Robbins Podcast,” “SmartLess” and “Up First,” from NPR. Representing a mix of news, advice and celebrity interviews, they were drawn from a shortlist of 25 programs the Globes had previously deemed eligible. The nominations avoided politics or controversy by passing on popular podcasts from the shortlist, such as conservative-leaning programs ‘The Megyn Kelly Show,’ ‘The Tucker Carlson Show,’ ‘The Ben Shapiro Show,’ Candace Owen’s ‘Candace’ and, most notably, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience,’ which topped Spotify, Apple and YouTube’s list of weekly podcast charts this year. The left-leaning ‘Pod Save America’ also was snubbed, as were popular true crime podcasts like ‘Morbid’ and ‘Rotten Mango.’” Kennedy notes in his report that Ben Shapiro lobbied hard for his show. “Shapiro had launched an all-out Golden Globes publicity campaign for his decade-old podcast, on which he’s spoken with the likes of U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the past year. In addition to making the rounds with industry publications, Shapiro also secured massive billboard space in New York City’s Times Square.” 
California station group that includes sports talk KESP-AM and five music brands. Price most recently served with Alpha Media prior to the Connoisseur Media merger in Bakersfield. Cumulus Media regional vice president Patty Hixson comments, “Jeremy is a very special leader and a highly effective manager who will greatly contribute to the success of the Stockton-Modesto cluster. We are pleased to welcome him aboard.”
News people I coach reckon that my epitaph will read: “Consequence, not Process.”
Andy Economos, the founder of Radio Computing Systems (RCS), was a leader in bringing digital tech into the radio industry. In 1980, he was leaving his position as head of technology for NBC Inc. to start his own company. I was EVP of the NBC FM stations. Andy and I were walking to lunch, crossing Sixth Avenue at 49th street and he asked me, “Is there any software your radio stations could use?”