Industry News

Charlie Kirk Engaging with Students on College Campuses

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Salem Radio Network nationally syndicated talk host Charlie Kirk is visiting college campuses to engage with students, specifically students who disagree with him. According to KIVI-TV, Boise, the founder of Turning Point USA is on “The American Comeback” tour and was at the campus of Boise State University yesterday (4/15). On the tour, Kirk talks with students who disagree with him under a pop-up tent with the words, “Prove Me Wrong,” emblazoned along its top. Kirk will visit Washington State University in Pullman, Washington tomorrow (4/17). Kirk is pictured above at the event on the Boise State campus.

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: 5 Books That Will Change Your Life

By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M. Sterling
Host, “Sterling Every Damn Night”
WPHT, Philadelphia
Host, “Sterling On Sunday,” TMN

imgThese books have helped me tell stories, prioritize programming initiatives and manage career strategies. If interested in a book the link connects to its page on Amazon.

You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, By Quentin Schultze. Not what I thought. It’s not about the goofy episodes in the “A Christmas Story” movie. Jean Shepherd, radio star, wrote and narrated the movie. This book deconstructs how Jean told stories. Shepherd was the greatest radio storyteller of all time. He told stories on WOR every single night for 27 years. His one-hour show had no guests, no phone calls, simply his astonishing stories. Author Schultze, a college professor, spent hundreds of hours with Jean discovering how he imagined, enacted and teased his stories. The book is an advanced course for today’s magic makers. https://a.co/d/fHXIBlt

It’s One O’Clock and Here is Mary Margaret McBride, by Susan Ware. We know but a little. The first national star of midday radio was Ms. McBride. She was so popular and powerful that she required seven secretaries to answer her mail. On her show’s 10th anniversary, she packed Madison Square Garden with listener fans and celebrities. Eleanor Roosevelt hosted McBride’s 15th anniversary at Yankee Stadium. Show prep was her life, that’s why her show sounded informal. https://a.co/d/5idc7TC

Dress for Success, By John Molloy. Yes, the book reveals Molloy’s research on success dress, but perhaps more importantly the book helps the reader think like a success. This guide to the C Suite explains how to reach the top of any business. On the air? When preparing for work, consider all the steps we take toward meeting the station’s biggest client and do that every day. On the plane? No sweat pants! If you want to join a club, look like you already belong to it.  https://a.co/d/99XI61d

Effective Frequency: The Relationship between Frequency and Advertising Effectiveness, Compiled by the ANA. The DNA of everything. 100 years of studies on how a listener’s memory works. How many spots actually cause burn? How often should the promo run? Do listeners remember the first or last spot best? How to rotate songs? And why did the original phone numbers have seven digits? This deceptively thin, rich book will startle!  https://a.co/d/foZUreI

The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, by Gertrude Stein. The author was the ambitious patron of the Cubist art movement in Paris. Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and many others were inspired and sponsored by Stein. Alice was her lover. Stein understood that controversy is a possible result of great artwork. Picasso’s first show in Paris caused outrage within the crowd. Watching the gathering’s reaction from the show’s balcony, “Gertrude Stein smiled.” Remember Stein’s reaction to Picasso’s audience the next time “sales” gives a host a hard time! https://a.co/d/1IuU1pV

My life has been changed by these works. How to dress, prep for an interview, cope with controversy, and rotate promos are skills shaped by these classics. Please let me know how they impact you.

Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com

Industry News

Hugh Hewitt Joins FOX News as Contributor

Salem Radio Network nationally syndicated talk host Hugh Hewitt joins FOX News as a contributor.img 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.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Produce Your YouTube Videos for Phone Consumption

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

70%+ of views are mobile, where the screen is small and attention spans are short.

— Aspect ratio: Use 9:16 (vertical) or 1:1 (square) so it fills the phone screen.
— The first 3 seconds are critical. Use a bold visual, a teaser question, or a surprising statement.
— Because many watch without sound, add text on-screen using auto-caption tools. Bold, color-coded, animated captions keep attention.

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— Use close-up shots & big graphics. Tiny text or wide shots get lost. Zoom in on faces or products. Make graphics large and clear.
— Ideal length: 15 to 90 seconds for Shorts, or under 3 minutes for mobile-friendly standard videos. Cut filler, pauses, and tangents. Every second should count.
— Keep titles short and clear, i.e., “How To…” or “You Won’t Believe…”  DON’T title it “Episode # ___.”
— Focus on One Idea Per Video. Mobile users are distracted and scrolling fast. Give them one clear takeaway, message, or call-to-action.

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

Mike Gallagher Posts Updates from Plane Trapped on Montgomery Tarmac

Salem Radio Network talk host Mike Gallagher was a passenger on one of the two Delta flights from Mexico that were diverted to Montgomery, Alabama due to severe weather in their destination city of Atlanta. By law, passengers must go through customs and since Montgomery is not an international airportimg there are no customs agents there and the passengers were forced to remain on the planes for more than six-and-a-half hours. The Daily Mail reported the story and included some of Gallagher’s social media posts that he made throughout the night, including this one: “After 12 hours at the overwhelmed Montgomery, Alabama airport – 7 hours trapped on the plane on the tarmac, 5 hours stuck in a cordoned-off area of the airport – they are now boarding people 10 at a time. They are checking off names by pen, one by one. So hey, 16 hours after our original departure, there’s hope! I’m thinking it will take at least an hour to board.” See the Daily Mail story here.

Industry News

AURN Promotes Two in Pittsburgh

American Urban Radio Networks announces two key leadership promotions at its Pittsburgh office. Carrie Cleary is promoted to vice president of program operations and traffic. In her new role, Cleary will leadimg AURN’s programming operations and traffic initiatives. Tracey Lee is also promoted to senior director of program operations, traffic and affiliations. AURN AVP of program operations and affiliations Lenore Williams says, “Both Carrie and Tracey exemplify the leadership, dedication and passion that drive our success. Their deep experience and dedication to AURN’s mission have made them invaluable assets to the team. These promotions are not only well deserved, but also pivotal as we expand our impact and continue to lead the industry in service to our affiliates and advertisers.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

JFMN Launches WV Sports News Service. WVTheTorch.com and the John Fredericks Media Network announce the launch of West Virginia’s newest digital newspaper: WVSportsNation.com. JFMN says this fully integrated West Virginia sports news service is designed to bring Mountaineer fans in both WV and across the country the very best and most in-depth coverage ever created in the Mountain State. WVSportsNation.com is part of JFMN’s growing portfolio of digital news and information platforms.

Season 11 of Katie Couric Podcast Debuts. iHeartMedia announces season 11 of the podcast, “Next Question with Katie Couric.” In this podcast, Couric talks with politicians, DC insiders, and journalists to uncover what’s worth attention (and what’s not). In the first episode, Couric speaks with journalist, documentary filmmaker, and best-selling author Chris Whipple, whose latest book “Uncharted” captures the human drama behind the 2024 election.

Irby Promoted at Baltimore Public Media. The corporation that operates non-commercial outlets WTMD and WYPR in Baltimore announces Danyell Irby is promoted to chief of content for both stations. Most recently, Irby served as executive director of news at WYPR, joining the organization’s leadership team in April 2020. Prior to that, she held multiple editorial and leadership roles at NPR, including anchor, editor, and senior supervising producer of newscasts.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (April 7 – April 11, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (4/7-11) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

                      Stories

1. Trump Tariffs/U.S. vs China
2. Financial Markets Activity/Recession Fears
3. Deportations- Detentions-Visa Revocations
4. SCOTUS Gangsters Ruling
5. DOGE/Universities Funding Freeze
6. U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks
7. Russia-Ukraine War/Israel-Gaza War
8. Bernie Sanders Rallies-CNN Town Hall-“Hands Off” Protests
9. HHS Job Cuts/Health Care/Vaccines
10.Severe Weather in Mid-South/NCAA Hoops Championships

                   People

1. Donald Trump
2. J.D. Vance
3. Elon Musk
4. Howard Lutnick / Scott Bessent
5. Xi Jinping
6. Benjamin Netanyahu
7. Vladimir Putin
8. Kilmar Abrego Garcia
9. RFK Jr.
10.Karoline Leavitt

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

KFNS, St. Louis to Change Hands and Sports Talk Format

Changes are afoot at KFNS-AM, St. Louis. “FOX 2” St Louis is reporting that Zobrist Media has found a buyer for the station licensed to Wood River, Illinois that’s been airing sports talk for much of the past three decades. Big Toe Media has reportedly agreed to acquire the station and will assume control over itsimg operations via a local management agreement, though a format change it in the works. Big Toe Media’s president and director of sales Dave Greene tells FOX 2, “I was attempting to sell it on Dave Zobrist’s behalf and got very close with one person and had several others interested. When the strong lead didn’t work out, we were able to work out a very favorable deal for both sides.” Regarding the format, Geene says, “The idea of one singular topic for content is outdated. We will talk about what St. Louis talks about, which includes plenty of sports but also local news, culture, food, business, events and more.” FOX 2 notes that Greene is “closely involved with the leadership team” of Sports Hub STL, a digital sports network producing content from local personalities, most of whom have worked in St. Louis sports radio at some point over the years. See the FOX2 St. Louis story here.

Industry Views

HC at the NAB: Radio, One Way or Another

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgThese conventions used to be about making-the-most-of those towers behind radio stations that played in several rooms at home and occupied two knobs and six buttons in the dashboard. Back to the future…

“Take every available opportunity to connect with audiences.”

 Longtime programmer turned podcaster Buzz Knight moderated the session, “Cross-Platform Content Wins – Radio and Podcast Success Stories.” And here’s one now, a radio news guy I’d like to clone, WBZ-AM, Boston’s Matt Shearer, the next-gen’ talent whose skill set and perspective yields the sort of content that takes radio beyond those towers.

Shearer told us he “had been making video from my radio pieces. Now, I’m making radio from my video.” Whereupon Alpha Media EVP of content Phil Becker urged broadcasters to “focus on THAT they use you, not WHERE they use you.” And noting that – as “streaming services have divided audiences” – South Carolina Public Radio director Sean Birch recognizes that “We have to hit a bunch of audiences all at once.”

Common thread in panelists’ remarks: Broadcast and podcast listeners “are very different audiences;” and “we have to be where people are.” Still, revenue stacks-up in two piles: broadcast bucks and digital dimes. And Hubbard Radio EVP/programming Greg Strassell reckons, “Any engagement you do is an opportunity to promote the mothership.” Hubbard’s WTOP, Washington simulcasts its on-air programming via YouTube, and Greg says average Time Spend Listening there is 17 minutes.

“Using Social Media to Develop Community”

In this session, Beasley Media Group’s Dave Snyder recommends a Basic Success Framework:

— Understand your community. Rather than thinking platform (“We need to be on TikTok”), limit your reach to platforms that offer the most engagement potential. “Not all platforms will be a fit for your content.”
— Set your goals. What does success look like? Gauge value by engagement counts like Comments and Likes, rather than mere Views.
— Be authentic. Build brand guidelines, and have a moderation policy, and a style/tone guide. AI is a useful tool, “but it’s not authentic.”

Develop Engagement. Social media gives broadcasters a unique potential to:

— Share a behind-the-scenes view as content is created, “how the sausage is made,” giving your community a different perspective.
— Expose the community to content creators’ personalities. Building community is only possible if people feel like they actually “know” you.
— Interact with the audience. “Community building can’t just be about pushing content. Engagement flows two ways.”

Keep it going. “Once you have your Framework and Content plan, then comes the hard part.”

— “Consistency and cadence is probably the most important part of growing a consistently engaged community.”
— “Use ‘the whole buffalo.’ Optimize your content for cross-platform use.”
— Use analytics to “build on what works and chuck what doesn’t.”

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 Views

HC at the NAB: More Than Spots, Less Than Clutter

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgRadio sells advertisers our listeners’ attention. For a hundred years, our inventory has largely been commercials. Now, as our wandering audience leads us to more revenue channels, are we hooked on spots?

“We’re still in the same business. What’s changed is the tool box.”

Salem Media Group EVP, operations and revenue development Linnae Young was among panelists exploring “The Local Advertising Buying Landscape: What are Clients Buying, and how are Radio Sellers Succeeding or Missing Out?” Her laser-like focus is on the client’s need: “The HVAC company has two trucks and wants six.”

Ditto from session moderator Mike Hulvey, the Radio Advertising Bureau’s president & CEO. He called pitching a multi-store McDonald’s franchisee, who heard-him-out, then asked “Will that idea sell a hamburger?”

We sure have ideas. Researcher Gordon Borrell reckons that “the biggest mistake radio stations are making is underestimating the potential [of digital].” Many now sell video advertising. Prospects “don’t have any questions about radio, other than ‘Can you lower the price?’ They have lots of questions about digital.” Be their guide.

And obsess on outcomes. “Stop with the tactics,” urges Marketron senior director of digital strategy Dustin Wilson. “It’s all about solutions-based selling.”

“As radio has encountered increased pressure on revenue, it has often increased spot loads.”

Ad nauseam, in the view of Edison Research co-founder & president Larry Rosin, whose Ted Talk-type session “Considering Spot Loads” was plainspoken.

Radio has violated what Larry calls “The Commercial Broadcast Bargain” – the unspoken deal that content is worth the time spent listening to ads. “We’ve tilted the bargain in an unfair way,” he said, pointing to “fewer, but much longer breaks; and many, many [music] stations now loading all their spots into two interminable breaks per hour.”

Rosin’s team has long tracked listening habits through its Infinite Dial series, and the trend is clear: Radio’s “Share of Ear” never fully recovered after the pandemic; and commercial loads went up during that time.

“The real problem” is not understanding how ‘Infinite’ today’s ‘Dial’ is, “ignoring the fact that there are other things to listen to.” Ad loads tend to be shorter in podcasts and in non-paid streams. These ad-supported competitors never run more than two spots back-to-back. And increasingly, Americans are paying for ad-free content, via SiriusXM, Spotify, YouTube Premium, and others.

Solutions? Larry was clear: “What I’m NOT saying: ‘cut the load and charge more’ in today’s low-demand environment.”

— Even if you can’t lower total inventory, consider more shorter breaks. “Listeners have, or at least had, an internal clock: song (3 minutes) – song (3 minutes) – song (3 minutes) – break (3 minutes). When you ask music radio consumers, a break should be the length of a song. The two long breaks clock simply can’t be the best we can do for advertisers.”
— Bonus on Rating, not Share, which would “reorient radio programmers to consider ALL competitors, not just other local stations. Radio’s insular world hurts it.”
— Don’t demonize commercials – “a disservice to advertisers” – the way we seem to when we call the stop set “a break;” or tout commercial-free hours to pump-up a daypart (then overdose the load in adjacent hours).
— Improve the quality of commercials.

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

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (4/7)

The most discussed stories yesterday (4/7) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Trump Trade War/Markets Downturn
2. Alien Enemies Act Ruling/Student Visas Revoked
3. Netanyahu-Trump Meeting
4. U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks
5. Russia-Ukraine War

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: Trying is the Real Win

Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M. Sterling
Host, “Sterling Every Damn Night”
WPHT, Philadelphia
Host, “Sterling On Sunday,” TMN

imgSerious business coaches reveal that a common trait of successful people is their ability to immediately forget their failures and to move on. Next idea. Next project. Surrounded by seas of committees, forms, rules and mediocrity, effective leaders know that just trying something, regardless of the outcome, is the WIN.  

Strategic “forgetting” requires a unique worldview. An introvert’s worldview. To forget a failure means not caring what colleagues think of new ideas. Innovators do not consider if they are embraced, they care that their idea launched.

Television legend and programmer Fred Silverman recreated broadcast television. He was so successful he was recruited to helm CBS, ABC and NBC. After corporate leadership he was an independent producer commandeering four hours of prime time a week, earning… a lot.

All that mattered to him was getting it on the air. Like all programmers not everything he produced worked. One hit show is a miracle, he created dozens.

To Fred, he was proud of all his shows. He never bragged about the hits because to him, a hit was anything that got on the air. New was a hit.

Fred’s innovations can be seen on TV now. Before Fred, a TV show promo consisted of a slide and a VO. Starting at ABC, Silverman was the first to pull video from a show, edit it into a 30 second hook clip turning it into a fast-paced promo for the show. Each promo aired once. A staff of 150 people was hired to create a brand-new promo every time. Fred would often sit in the edit bays, producing fresh promos. He hated repeated promos. Finance hated him; engineering hated him; scheduling hated him. Nielsen did not hate him.

I sat many an all-nighter in edit bays as Fred’s production partner until what was on the screen matched what was in his head.

The radio greats have similar patterns of behavior: Tom Bigby, Greg Stockard, Ruth Meyer, Howard SternGreg Moceri, Rick Sklar, Skip Eskin, all the legends were/are focused and driven. There is no downtime. When one insists that their precise vision be implemented, they won’t have many friends, but they will have stunning results.

Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com

Uncategorized

“VINCE” Debuts at #7 on Podtrac’s March Podcast Ranker

Podtrac releases its March Top Podcasts ranker for the U.S. based on unique monthly audience andimg NPR’s “NPR News Now” jumps The New York Times’ “The Daily” for the #1 spot. Other moves of note include FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” rising two places to #5 and Silverloch’s “VINCE” (Vince Coglianese) debuting at #7. See the complete chart here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: NAB Show, Survive and Thrive

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgHello from Las Vegas, ever-changing yet timeless. Here this week the NAB Show is “Powering the Next Era of Storytelling.” And it’s about time. While there is now a filibuster-proof U.S. Senate majority to require that cars include AM receivers, some AM stations are being shut off. Over the weekend millions took to the streets and this morning Wall Street braced for more. So, the vibe here is positively rejuvenating.

“If you’re here, you’ve already defied the odds.” 

National Association of Broadcasters president & CEO Curtis LeGeyt congratulated attendees at a perennial event that – on its own – paid for the trip, the NAB Show Small and Medium Market Radio Forum. As big corporate owners make big trade press headlines in big markets, the mojo in the minor leagues is downright invigorating.

Picture speed-dating for great ideas. The room is set up with roundtables. Each half-hour, attendees share what’s working back home, then rotate. Table topics included, “The Secret to Radio’s Digital Ad Success is Being Local First,” and “Podcasting Strategies for Radio,” and “Monetizing High School Sports,” and there were heartwarming stories about “Developing Your Community with Events and Social Media.” And, yes, THE most popular table – to which participants dragged chairs from elsewhere: “AI’s Use Throughout Your Station.”

Did you know that May is National Small Business Month? And National Small Business Week is May 4 to 10? Plan now to do what these plucky broadcasters shared ideas for doing: Use your broadcast and digital assets and your local engagement to, in NAB Show speak: “Unlock the Power of the Creator Economy.”

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“A connection on LinkedIn is worth a hundred on Instagram.”

As corporate cost cuts continue, I’ve been collecting and sharing opportunities. In a recent column here, I described 18 non-radio career options for which your skill set as a broadcaster could qualify you. And in last week’s column I recommended and demonstrated some valuable and FREE tools.

Now – courtesy of ThinkTAP’s Richard Harrington – a road map for selling your services. Here’s the deck from his super-useful session “Working with Brands: How to Get Your Foot in the Door and Stay There.” And don’t let the term “brands” scare you. Think local businesses.

Sampler:

— Your prospects crave the sort of engagement that successful on-air people have accomplished. “Build your Email list!” Harrington urges.
— Then, take every opportunity to engage. Important: “Reply to people who replied” to something you have posted. “Such a small percentage do reply that this makes their day.”
— “Do what you can to pull audience into a place you can control.” Anyone working in the industry we used to call “radio” now needs to be facile with social media and podcasting and video. So, use those skills and tools to “create content that can be used by the brand.”
— Especially opportune: demonstrate how to use what your client sells.

New to selling your services? Generous with his experience, Harrington’s deck will suggest lots of transactional technique.

Our industry, like ‘Vegas, is ever-changing yet timeless.

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

Marciszek Rises to EVP at AdLarge & fwd.

AdLarge and the fwd. network announce that Ilwira Marciszek is promoted to executive vice president,img revenue operations. In this expanded leadership role, she will continue to oversee all digital operations while spearheading strategic initiatives to strengthen partnerships and drive revenue growth. AdLarge CEO Cathy Csukas says, “Ilwira has been an integral part of AdLarge’s growth and success. Her strategic vision, deep industry expertise, and relentless commitment to innovation have propelled our digital revenue and operations forward. As we expand, her continued leadership will be invaluable in shaping the future of our digital business.”

Industry News

Tom Sullivan Announces Semi-Retirement from Daily Radio Show

Nationally syndicated talk radio host Tom Sullivan announces that he is going to semi-retire from the business and his daily talk radio program distributed by Talk Media Network will end on May 30. Sullivanimg says, “I am going to hang up the microphone… not completely… this show will come to a screeching halt on May 30. After that going to dabble in world of podcasting… I feel fine, feel healthy, and want to go out on top. I’ve been doing radio for 45 years… how grateful I am for each and every one of you. It’s time to move down the road and take the microphone from radio to podcast.” Sullivan – a successful financial services advisor – began his radio career in 1980 on KFBK, Sacramento doing daily business news reports. He expanded to hosting a general topic talk show first as a fill-host before getting his own program. He would often fill in for Rush Limbaugh on his syndication show and Sullivan later became one of the original hosts on FOX Business Network.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (March 31 – April 4, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/31-4/4) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

1. Donald Trump’s Trade War
2. The Economy-Jobs-Inflation
3. Wisconsin & Florida Elections Aftermath
4. Musk-DOGE Activities / Tesla Under Attack
5. Israel-Hamas War / Russia-Ukraine War
6. HHS Job Cuts / Health Care / Vaccines
7. Trump vs Judiciary
8. Big Tech / Misinformation / Censorship
9. Tornadoes-Severe Weather / Myanmar Earthquake
10.March Madness / MLB Season Opens

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Elon Musk
3. J.D. Vance
4. Howard Lutnick / Scott Bessent
5. Mike Waltz / Pete Hegseth
6. Benjamin Netanyahu
7. Vladimir Putin
8. Volodymyr Zelensky
9. RFK Jr.
10. Karoline Leavitt

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

House Democrats Announce Brendan Carr Investigation

Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee announce they are launching an investigation into Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s “attacks on the First Amendment and his weaponization of the independent agency.” In a press statement, Committee Democrats accuseimg Carr of “illegally targeting broadcast networks and media companies perceived to be unfavorably covering the Trump Administration – wasting critical agency resources on bogus investigations in the process.” The lawmakers are also questioning Carr’s “commitment to his agency’s independence, given his frequent trips with the president to Mar-a-Lago and his targeting of entities that the president has criticized or sued in his personal capacity.”  Committee Ranking Members says that “under Carr’s leadership, the FCC has harassed CBS for routine editing practices, reinstated lawfully denied complaints against ABC and NBC, launched a bogus investigation into KCBS-AM in San Jose simply for reporting publicly available information, and directed the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to launch investigations into NPR and PBS based on false allegations.” The Committee is requesting documents and communications “related to its investigations of media entities,” “all communications between Carr and current White House officials and between Carr and other Trump Administration officials that relate to investigations,” as well as Carr’s travel records.

Industry News

WWO: Listeners Don’t Tire of Ads

This week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog looks at research commissioned by RAB to investigate “wear-out”: the point where creative testing declines from its peak due to message frequency fatigue. They key findings include: 1) Consumers don’t get tired of ads, only marketers do: Theimg ABX AM/FM radio creative study for RAB proves legendary marketing professor Mark Ritson was right; 2) Wear-out of AM/FM radio ads is virtually non-existent: Only two of 25,000 ads showed a decline in some creative effectiveness metrics. Two major creative effectiveness measures, branding and messaging, showed no wear-out; 3) The two ads showing differences were at the top end of cumulative spending and time in market: Two years in market and $8M+ of spend is where creativeness effectiveness might start to wane; 4) Repeat testing of 10 of the 12 longest running AM/FM radio ads reveals no statistically significant erosion; and 5) The giants of marketing effectiveness and creative testing conclude wear-out is non-existent: Take it from Les Binet/Sarah Carter, ABX, Kantar, System1, and Analytic Partners. See the full blog post here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: “Kill The Feed!”

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgCorporate cost cuts continue. In a recent column here, I described 18 non-radio career options for which your skill set as a broadcaster could qualify you. In just the last couple years, several longtime TV news people I know – who had-it-up-to-here with the hours – reinvented themselves accordingly.

“But radio is all I’ve ever done!” you say? No. Radio is (or was) your platform. And – as clients are accustomed to hearing me say – “Everything we do is storytelling.” So where else can you tell yours?

Tools are available, many free. To illustrate, I wrote a novella (shorter than a novel, longer than a short story). It’s the first fiction I’ve written since a high school homework assignment, and you can download it, also free.

I had an idea for a John Grisham/James Patterson-style thriller. ChatGPT and MS Copilot were my co-authors, suggesting plot twists and critiquing, chapter-by-chapter. After ChatGPT reviewed each one, I ran it through Copilot – like having a team of writers. Both AI tools also created the images you will see on the landing page. Tell either app how you want your web page to look, and it will write the HTML code! And Google Search helped with details.

Every one of those functions was completed in five seconds or less, free. As is Audacity, if you’d rather not spend for your own copy of the Adobe Audition you use (or used) at the radio station. And before you subscribe to Microsoft Office 365, peruse the suite of lookalike tools at OpenOffice.org. Video? Premiere Pro is pricey, but Adobe Express is free and there are shareware alternatives.

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Seen those TV ads TikTok is running to stave-off a USA ban? Storytellers share how they’re making a living there. Could you?

I hope you like my story. But even if you don’t, I hope you will experiment with new ways to tell yours. I’m not saying any of us will write a best-selling novel. But if you do, you can also voice the audiobook version.

Now, grab the armrest, for chilling intrigue, and a damning narrative about the corporate consolidation that plagues broadcasting, set in the beguiling place where we live, populated by pseudonyms (including the author’s) which some will find thinly-veiled: http://getonthenet.com/TalkersPreview.html

That’s your sneak peek. It drops on April Fool’s Day.

Next week, I’ll be reporting here from The NAB Show in fabulous Las Vegas. If you’re going, wear comfortable shoes! But even if you do – and you plan on walking from where shuttle busses drop you off at the Convention Center to the West Hall where most radio and podcasting sessions will be – pack a lunch. It’s a hike!

Better idea: Let Elon Musk give you a free ride… UNDERGROUND, in “The Loop.” He has 100 Teslas zooming through what seems like a high-tech Batcave that his Boring Company is…boring. Here’s video I shot at CES: https://youtu.be/wqqQd9vZnM0

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

Comrex Previewing FieldLink Codec at NAB Show

Broadcasting technology firm Comrex announces that it will preview FieldLink at this year’s NAB Show taking place in Las Vegas. The company says FieldLink is a new hardware-based IP audio codec that serves as a “press box” codec designed to replace expensive wireless mic/IFB solutions and move audio from sideline reporters efficiently to the pressbox. It uses a directional wireless access point (WAP),img sideline reporters can use their smartphones to send and receive high-quality, low-delay audio using the Comrex FieldTap app. FieldLink has pro-grade audio I/O to deliver sideline audio and allow IFB back to reporters. Setup is simple. By scanning a QR code visible on FieldLink’s front panel display, users can easily set their phones to the secure private Wifi network attached to FieldLink and make connections back to the pressbox. An additional upgrade will be available to allow FieldLink to also be your connection back to the studio. Compatible with all Comrex IP codecs, FieldLink can send and receive audio to/from the public internet, while simultaneously handling sideline reporter audio. At this year’s NAB, Comrex will also highlight new offerings for Gagl, the company’s audio subscription service that allows contributors to connect to Comrex hardware IP audio codecs using equipment such as smartphones or laptops.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (March 24-28, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/24-28) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories/Topics 

1. Signal Chat Controversy
2. The Economy-Jobs-Inflation
3. Trump Tariffs / Trump vs Judiciary
4. Musk-DOGE Activities / Federal Firings & Cutbacks / Tesla Under Attack
5. Israel-Hamas War / Russia-Ukraine War
6. Stefanik Withdrawn for U.N. Nomination
7. ICE Deportation Crackdown
8. First Amendment Issues / GOP Town Halls
9. Big Tech / Misinformation / Censorship / Healthcare-Vaccines
10.March Madness / MLB Season Opens 

People 

1. Donald Trump / Elon Musk
2. Benjamin Netanyahu
3. Vladimir Putin
4. Volodymyr Zelenskyy
5. Pete Hegseth / Tulsi Gabbard / Mike Waltz
6. Jeffrey Goldberg
7. Elise Stefanik
8. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
9. JD Vance / Marco Rubio
10.Karoline Leavitt 

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry Views

How to Get a Media Job Right Out of College

Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M. Sterling
Host, “Sterling Every Damn Night”
WPHT, Philadelphia
Host, “Sterling On Sunday,” TMN

imgThank you, TALKERS for placing me on two panels at the IBSNYC conference. All student conferences have one underlying goal: Attendees want to know how to land a starter job in media. Here’s the information I shared with the eager crowd.

1. Decide where you want to live. Until you have a strong, positive reputation in the industry, no company will sponsor a move. It’s not just the cost of moving, it’s the emotional responsibility. If the job doesn’t work out, the company has lost money plus it will have the added burden of taking the recruit from their homeland.

Hiring a local eliminates the risk of an on-air talent not “getting” the city. If, for example, a DJ in New York announces that the store is on “YOUS TON” street rather than HOUSE-TON street, there is all sorts of trouble. In-town candidates have established relationships that will benefit the sales, news and programming departments.

2. Don’t write a resume, you don’t have one. You have a college degree, stories, and opinions. Fresh, new opinions. A good employer will respect a graduate’s perspective on their on-air product or marketing plans. Study the station where you want to work. Listen to elements you hear that are great and those that you could improve. Write it down. Prepare a good-looking WHITE PAPER about what you think works and what could be better. You don’t have to be “right” you just have to demonstrate an understanding of the station and your willingness to do work. No one else is going to write a paper and present defensible ideas. You will win.

3. Flatter. Select the exact company you want to work for and learn every single thing you can about it. It is astonishing how many times I’ve interviewed a prospect and found out that they knew nothing about the company or the station. They just want a job. Needing a job is not a career path. The people whom you will meet have giant egos. Know what that person has accomplished for their company, express your admiration for it, express your deep desire to be a part of it. Signal that you have no desire to work for any other company in town.

Have your goals lined up in your head and be flexible. Your mission is to get in the door. An employee ID is the win. BUT when asked what you would like to do in your career have a thoughtful response. Aimless=mindless.

4. Avoid answering job postings. Companies are often legally obligated to post jobs and 95% of those jobs are already taken. Instead, search deep into your personal and student network to find any associate or friend who may have a pipeline to the higher-ups in your target company.  HR is a bad place to start. Let the CEO of the company send you to HR after they have been impressed by their conversation with you! A courtesy call to HR following the blessings of the CEO – that’s the best strategy.

5. Once you get the job, do anything, learn everything. Tips: Show up 15 minutes before your day starts, don’t leave until you ask your manager if they need you to do anything else. At first, you will be asked to wash the morning show’s dishes! Log recordings! Take in feeds! Respond to listener calls and emails! You will look for ways to showcase your skills and be given a chance to excel. Take your vacation, call in when really sick, but DO NOT take a “personal day.” Yes, that’s how it really works. Welcome to show business.

Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Delete “Our Website”

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

NOT saying delete the site. Delete the phrase “our website” when directing attention there.

im

Simply say your domain name. “On our website” is 1990s-speak that evokes sitting-still at a desktop computer. By now, they understand where your domain name takes them… likely on a smartphone.

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

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (March 17-21, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/17-21) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories/Topics

1. Trump Dismantles Department of Education
2. Trump vs Judiciary
3. The Economy-Jobs-Inflation
4. Musk-DOGE Activities / Federal Firings
5. Israel-Hamas War-Gaza Cease Fire Broken / Russia-Ukraine War
6. Astronauts Return
7. ICE Deportation Crackdown
8. First Amendment Issues / GOP Town Halls
9. Big Tech / Misinformation / Censorship
10.Healthcare / Avian (Bird) Flu / Measles Outbreak

People

1. Donald Trump / Elon Musk
2. Benjamin Netanyahu
3. Vladimir Putin
4. Volodymyr Zelenskyy
5. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
6. Jeff Bezos
7. Mike Johnson
8. John Roberts / James Boasberg
9. Butch Wilmore / Suni Williams
10.JD Vance / Marco Rubio

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

SRN Moves Charlie Kirk to Dennis Prager’s Affiliates

Salem Media Group’s Salem Radio Network is putting host Charlie Kirk onto the Dennis Prager affiliate stations, effective March 31. This move comes as the result of Prager suffering a debilitating injury lastimg November after a fall in his home in which he suffered a spinal cord injury. Prager is going through extensive rehabilitation. Charlie Kirk has been hosting his show live in the same 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET daypart as Prager since October of 2020 and SRN says this will be an easy transition for most stations. Prager and imgSalem have agreed to his return for one hour a day, airing 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET, starting Tuesday, June 3. Salem SVP of spoken word Phil Boyce says, “Dennis may have some physical limitations at the moment, but his wit, wisdom, insights and passion are as strong and as clear as ever and we are delighted at his spirit and resolve to return to his audience. We want Dennis to remain a part of the Salem family and want his millions of loyal fans to continue to hear his voice. Affiliates of Charlie will continue to get the Kirk show with no interruption, and affiliates of Dennis will soon get Charlie Kirk as a strong and able replacement.”

Industry News

Triton Digital Releases February 2025 U.S. Podcast Ranker

According to the February 2025 U.S. Podcast Ranker from Triton Digital, the top of this chart doesn’t change from January with NPR maintaining its grip on the first two spots with “NPR News Now” at #1 andimg “Up First” at #2. Remaining at #3 is Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show.” Moves of note in February include iHeartRadio’s “The Daily Show: Ears Edition” rising five places to #20; Audacy’s “We Can Do Hard Things” falling six places to #25; and iHeartRadio’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” dropping eight places to #37. The Triton Digital U.S. Podcast Ranker is based on weekly average downloads. See the complete ranker here.

Industry News

New York Festivals Radio Awards Unveils 2025 Shortlist

The New York Festivals 2025 Radio Awards announces the 2025 Radio Awards Shortlist. NYFestivals says, “This year’s impressive shortlist features entries across a range of categories, including audiobooks, podcasts, dramas, documentaries, breaking news coverage, entertainment, and music specials.img Pioneering work was submitted by radio stations, networks, prominent production companies, and independent producers worldwide.” Additionally, the 2025 National Press Club Award will go to the highest scoring entry in news program categories including: Coverage of Breaking News Story, Coverage of Ongoing News Story, Nonfiction Series, Investigative Journalism podcast, and News Podcast. The winner will be announced during the New York Festivals 2025 Storytellers Gala virtual event on May 22, 2025. See the entire 2025 Radio Awards Shortlist here.

Industry News

WWO Presents Multiplatform Coverage of NCAA Tournament

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, as the official network audio broadcast partner of the NCAA, isimg presenting coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The network will present all of the games through the National Championship on Monday, April 7. The trio of Kevin Kugler, Robbie Hummel, and P.J. Carlesimo will announce all the action for the Final Four and the National Championship.

Industry News

Audacy Announces Executive Changes

Audacy makes a number of changes to its senior management team beginning with interim CEO Kelli Turner being named permanent president and CEO. In addition to a couple of promotions, the company has parted ways with four of its senior managers as COO Susan Larkin, chief digital officer J.D. Crowley, chief marketing officer Paul Suchman, and general counsel and EVP Andrew Sutor all exit. Promotionsimg include Chris Oliviero rising from market president for New York to chief business officer; Bob Philips shifting from president of networks and multi-market sales to chief revenue officer; and deputy general counsel Mike Dash rising to EVP and general counsel. Audacy chairman and lead media investor in Soros Fund Management Michael Del Nin says, “On behalf of the Audacy board, we are delighted that Kelli Turner has agreed to take on the permanent president and CEO role and lead Audacy through its next phase of reinvention and growth. She is an exceptional media executive who, along with Chris Oliviero and the rest of the Audacy team, will ensure we continue to invest in high-quality content to engage our audiences and provide best-in-class solutions to our partners.”

Industry News

Rich Herrera to Host “Richmond’s Morning News”

Broadcasting pro Rich Herrera is the new host of “Richmond’s Morning News” on Audacy’s WRVA/WTVR-HD2, Richmond. Audacy Virginia SVP and market manager Bennett Zier says, “Rich brings an authentic voice to the morning airwaves and a strong commitment to his community. His sharp analysis and ability toimg engage listeners in meaningful and entertaining conversation make him a valuable addition to the WRVA team. We’re excited to welcome Rich and continue delivering the news that matters most to our community.” Herrera comments, “I am thrilled to join the WRVA team, a legendary station with a great lineup of hosts and shows. After meeting with Bennett Zier and Zach McHugh and getting the chance to host Richmond’s morning news, I fell in love with the station. My family is excited to make Richmond our home. I want to thank Chris Oliviero and Jeff Sottolano for their support and mentorship, as well as Drew Anderssen, our format vice president, who encouraged me a year ago to transition from sports talk to general news.”