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Industry News

No Changes in Top Tier of Podtrac’s November Top Podcasts Chart

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Podtrac releases its Top Podcasts, Publishers and Sales Networks charts for the month of November and the Top Podcasts chart – based on unique monthly audience – shows no movement among the topim five, with The New York Times’ “The Daily” remaining in first place. NPR’s “Up First” is #2 and NBC News’ “Dateline NBC” is #3. Commercial radio-related podcasts of note in the top 20 include The Daily Wire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” – down two spots to #8 – and Dan Bongino’s “The Dan Bongino Show” – down two spots to #11. FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” slipped one place to #16.

Uncategorized

TALKERS News Notes

By Editor | by Editor

Edison Podcast Metrics data from Edison Research indicates that the podcast, “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce,” has skyrocketed in listening over the last two months. Since Travis’ romance with Taylor Swift became public, the show has experienced a staggering four-and-a-half times increase in weekly reach among podcast listeners age 13 and older in the U.S. The influx of Swifties appears to have contributed to these numbers. Not only has the high-profile romance between Kelce and Swift helped grow the show’s weekly reach, but it has also significantly changed the gender breakdown of the show’s listeners. Before the pairing, the show’s listening base was 32% female, now the much-larger audience is 50% women.

AdLarge Podcast Network announces that three programs are joining the network. The company says the inclusion of “The Moments Podcast” featuring Lexi Hidalgo, “Dear Young Married Couple,” and “The Mother Daze ” exemplifies AdLarge’s ongoing dedication to championing and elevating the voices of women in podcasting.

Virtual News Center adds new affiliate KTNK, Lompoc, California to its growing roster of radio stations. Jared Cerullo provides local newscasts for the Sticks Media, LLC station.

Industry News

Cumulus Names Collin Jones to Lead Westwood One

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Cumulus Media announces that Collin Jones adds the role of president of Westwood One to his responsibilities, effective January 1, 2024. Jones, who also holds the title, EVP of corporate strategy & development for Cumulus Media, takes over for Suzanne Grimes who has decided to “embark on the next chapter of her career after eight years.” Jones has served with Cumulus Media since 2011 and is responsible for leading the company’s strategy, corporate development (including major partnershipsim and M&A), and investor relations efforts. Jones has led the Cumulus through several strategic transactions and growth initiatives including the acquisition of Westwood One in 2013. Additionally, he oversees IncentRev, the company’s e-commerce and daily deal platform. Cumulus CEO Mary Berner comments, “With his deep understanding of both Cumulus Media and Westwood One, Collin is uniquely qualified for this role and is well-prepared to harness the full power of our platform to help Westwood One grow. Collin has consistently demonstrated his savvy business acumen, effective management style, and collaborative spirit, and I have full confidence that he has the skills and the vision to build upon Suzanne’s considerable accomplishments.” Berner adds, “I would like to thank Suzanne for her invaluable contributions and her pivotal role in our success. Under her leadership, we launched the top-rated Cumulus Podcast Network, built the multi-platform Westwood One News/Talk franchise, and established the industry-leading Audio Active Group. Throughout her time with Cumulus, she has been a remarkable leader, colleague, and mentor to many, and we are certain she will accomplish great things wherever she chooses to share her talents next.”

Industry News

New Titles and Responsibilities as iHeartMedia Realigns Markets Group

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

iHeartMedia realigns its Markets Group – part of the company’s Multi Platform Group segment –  that “takes advantage of iHeart’s unique scale and multiple platforms; leadership in audio; and its expertise in consumers, monetization and data.” In 2020, iHeart announced that it would group its markets by common needs and characteristics into three different divisions – Region, Metro and Community – to make sharing of resources and experiences easier and more targeted.  The company now names five new division presidents:  Bernie Weiss and Paul Corvino for the Region Division, and Kristin Foley, Chris Soechtig and DJ Hodge for the Metro Division. Tom McConnell, formerly a Metro Divisionim President, will also become a Region Division president. In addition, Nick Gnau, formerly a Community Division president, will become a Metro Division president, and Shosh Abromovich and Dan Lankford will add Nick’s former Markets to their responsibilities as the Community Division presidents. Amy Leimbach, who served as senior vice president of sales for Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, will become president of those Markets. The company also announces changes that will enable it to increase its focus on a number of high-growth opportunities. Kevin LeGrett, president of the iHeart Sports Network, makes the transition from his role as division president of Los Angeles to now focus exclusively on leading and growing the company’s leading Political and Sports platforms. Additionally, Tony Coles, president of BIN: Black Information Network, now leads all multicultural efforts as the president of multi-cultural business and development.  The new division presidents will report directly to Hartley Adkins, president of the iHeartMedia Markets Group, and Coles and LeGrett, as well as Adkins, will report to Rich Bressler, iHeart’s president, COO and CFO and CEO of the iHeartMedia Multi Platform Group. The company will be making this transition over the next few weeks.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

WNRI, Woonsocket, Rhode Island talk radio host John DePetro shared his recent cancer diagnosis with his listeners on Monday (12/4). He stated, “I have cancer and will undergo surgery next week with the team at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and look forward to a complete recovery. I wanted to mention my friend Bernard McGuirk, whose passing last year brought awareness to me and others and certainly effected my approach to the situation.”

Salem Media Group announces that “Man in America with Seth Holehouse” is added to the lineup of the Salem Podcast Network, effective immediately.The podcast will continue to release an episode each weekday.

AdLarge announces that Tom Brady joins its salesforce. In this role, Brady will work directly with EVP of audio sales, Robin Sloan. Brady was most recently senior director, East Coast audio sales at Disney Advertising Sales, in which he led a team overseeing audio sponsorships and ad campaigns for the Disney podcast portfolio and ESPN Radio Network.

PodcastOne acquires the exclusive multiyear sales and distribution rights to New York Times bestselling author and attorney Rabia Chaudry’s and actress Ellyn Marsh’s true crime genre podcast, “Rabia & Ellyn Solve the Case.” Chaudry, who initiated the worldwide sensation podcast “Serial” and served as an executive producer on the HBO documentary series, “The Case Against Adnan Syed,” and Marsh, who starred on Broadway in Enron and Kinky Boots, host the weekly show.

Industry Views

UK Perspective: Shedding Light on DAB and International Radio with Podcast Radio’s Gerard Edwards

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

TALKERS founder Michael Harrison speaks with Gerard Edwards – the founder and CEO of Podcast Radio (podcastradionetwork.com) based in London, UK. Podcast Radio has shown tremendous growth since its launch less than five years ago and is heard worldwide with a menu of podcasts online as well as on air in the UK via DAB radio stations.  The company recently expanded its footprint into North America as a radio program content supplier. Harrison and Edwards take a deep dive into the state of DAB as a 21st century radio broadcast technology in addition to discussing a big picture view of the state of radio in general. Harrison describes Edwards as one of world radio’s rising young visionaries. Listen to the uninterrupted interview in its entirety here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Time Management? Don’t Even Try

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imNews flash: Time cannot be managed. But tasks can.

As we install a new PD at a client station, I will share with you what I’m sharing with him: Four techniques I myself have found EXTREMELY helpful over years of dancing-as-fast-as-I-can in several management positions.

1. “Map” your week. Use a spreadsheet, to create a schedule that doesn’t change week-to-week. Slot-in items like:
a) If you’re on-air: Your show + prep + when you do your daily promo/blog, post/social media, etc.
b) Talent meetings.
c) Regularly-scheduled Boss Time (see “folders’) below.
d) Is there a weekly staff meeting or department heads meeting? Do you routinely meet with sales? Slot it in.
e) In-bin and phone time (see below).
f) Days you’re available to do-lunch, or for sales calls.
g) MBWA time (“Management By Walking-Around”). Build it in.
f) What else?

Tip: Round-up. If something takes 45 minutes, slot-in an hour, to allow for bathroom breaks, checking voicemail, or running-across-the-street for a cuppa cawfee. Consider doing so even if there’s free crankcase coffee there at the station. It’s fresh air. Building in a couple short walks each day can really help you clear your mind between events.

This map you are making is “a living document,” subject to ongoing revision. But plan-your-work-and-work-your-plan, and you’ll find that lots more gets done. You’ll also find that people respond by being more punctual for you.

Tip: Find a hiding place. Always-being-in-your-office tempts interruptions. Two decades of management – and 23 years as a landlord – taught me how some issues that seemed “urgent” to people seeking your attention tend to resolve themselves before the would-be interrupter finds you.

2. Show your boss two file folders, one with your initials on the tab, the other with his/her initials on the tab. Give him/her the one with your initials, and keep the other one. Then, schedule a regular meeting (that goes on your map). The meeting can be weekly, daily, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, whatever. Lock it in, show up on-time.

Pledge to each other that you will avoid ad hoc, single-topic conversations. Unless someone is bleeding or something is on fire, the conversation can wait for a scheduled meeting. Toss a note, or pertinent document, into the folder.

I started doing this when I worked for a particularly “spontaneous” GM. NO NAMES. His half-dozen daily “Got a minute?” interruptions were extremely disruptive. And he was flattered when I showed him the respect of blocking-out Quality Time for issues we shared. Sure, he’d back-slide from time to time. When he did, I would ask, politely, “Do we need to handle this now, or should I put it in The Folder?” He took the hint; and praised me later, during my Performance Review, for suggesting the idea, which he instituted with the sales manager, business manager, and chief engineer. THANK ME LATER FOR THIS ONE.

3. Don’t answer the phone! That’s why there’s voicemail (and caller ID). Phone calls about every little thing are a torturous pause button and invite long workdays and more and taller piles of half-finished tasks. Set aside two times per day to schedule and return calls. Quality Time. Try it, and you will REALLY thank me. And I saved the best for last…

im

4. Touch each piece of paper ONCE. See “In-Bin time” in your weekly map above. Do one-of-the-following with every piece of paper or email that finds you:
a) Deal-with-it instantly (i.e., scribble a response and return to sender), or otherwise bring the issue to closure; OR
b) Send it to someone else (“delegation” in management lingo); OR
c) File it; OR
d) Circular-file-it (sort your mail over the wastebasket); OR
e) There is no e).

Ritualistic as all-of-the-above may seem, YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE if you take these suggestions literally. Things are busy enough that no routine less structured will suffice. And conducting yourself accordingly will send an important message to the people you work with.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Paramount’s CBS Audio Network and Skyview Networks announce a multi-year renewal of their distribution and network audio sales partnership. Skyview president and CEO Steve Jones comments, “I’m excited that CBS and Skyview are actively exploring additional news and entertainment content for audio consumers. By working closely together, we will increase revenue, enhance listener engagement, and expand our dominant position within the audio space.”

SiriusXM announces that electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian offer SiriusXM’s service in new and existing Rivian R1T and R1S models in the U.S. in 2024. Upon launch next year, all new and existing Rivian owners will be able to opt in and activate a three-month SiriusXM trial subscription directly on their vehicle’s center display.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

As reported by Erich Richter in the New York Post, ESPN and SiriusXM sports media personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo admits to losing somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000 in a five-leg parlay on NFL football last weekend. Russo and fellow ESPN personalities Molly Qerim, Marcus Spears, and Stephen A. Smith on “First Take” on November 29. Read the Post piece here.

SiriusXM and Major League Baseball announce today a five-year extension of their broadcasting agreement. SiriusXM has teamed up with MLB to deliver games to fans around the country since 2005 and will continue to air live play-by-play of every regular season and postseason MLB game, as well as select spring training and Spanish-language game broadcasts, through the 2028 season. SiriusXM will also continue to produce the exclusive MLB Network Radio channel.

Advice

Welcome to No-Brand Land!

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Gary Begin
Sound Advantage Media

imBroadcasting executives spend millions building their radio station’s brand in the marketplace. But is it being spent in the right place?

The frontline salesperson is a marketer’s greatest asset in creating brand justice and impact. But if you ask brand managers to look at their brand-building budgets, you’d probably see expenses allocated opposite to what drives brand purchase decisions.

Brand marketers continue to pump big bucks into extensive ad campaigns while doing next to nothing to deliver relevant, brand-supporting messages at the all-important, more significant level—the distance between a company’s sales voice and a prospect’s purchase decision.

What’s the answer?

It probably lies somewhere between (1) the unwillingness of radio stations and brand managers to go further “downstream” with their strategic recommendations and (2) the lack of useful tools to get them there.

Welcome to No Brand’s Land

Increasingly, a company’s branding success depends less on what they sell and more on how they sell it. Selected experts in branding seem to be coming around the idea that the power to make or break your brand-building effort lies not in the quality of your advertising but in the customer’s experience at the point of sale. In radio, that’s your over-the-air product and how your ad rep handles the advertiser.

On one side of No Brand’s Land, brand marketers can control all the implementation, ensuring the advertising campaign is right on, the media coverage generated by your on-air promotion is consistent, your Web site looks the same, and your corporate design is in place.

But on the other side of the No Brand’s Land, salespeople are still doing their own thing. They are cutting and pasting old proposals with outdated information and incorrect messages. They’re fabricating homegrown collateral tools and PowerPoint presentations that are, at best, inconsistent with corporate positioning or, worse, downright inaccurate.

The most frightening thing for brand marketers is that these cobbled-together documents must walk the halls of prospective customers, representing the company’s brand at the most critical points in the sales process. Ouch.

Adding insult to injury, the field-fabrication virus spreads exponentially as this lousy information is perpetuated across the channel on the brand’s intranet.

Crossing Over No Brand’s Land

To navigate and successfully cross No Brand’s Land effectively, marketers must start by adapting brand message creation and delivery to today’s strategic sales processes. Two trends will drive marketers’ efforts to create brand-supporting content that helps salespeople sell.

Trend #1: Value Selling

For more than a decade, sales training and methodology experts have focused on improving the consultative selling skills of salespeople—especially in complex selling environments. The concept is simple: first, salespeople identify customers’ needs; then, they demonstrate the ability of a solution to respond to that customer’s specific needs successfully.

Often called Value Selling or Solution Selling, this dynamic and interactive sales process replaces previously static, one-way techniques that debate the merits of competing features and functions.

While salespeople move toward creating a much more customized sales experience for each prospect, most marketing departments continue to deliver generic messaging using static collateral tools—a one-size-fits-all approach for a one-to-one world. No wonder salespeople are forced to scramble to create custom content, piecemealed from various sources, to demonstrate they have listened to the customer.

The first thing brand managers can do to help is translate their high-level positioning into street-ready value propositions and solution messaging that speak to customers the way salespeople have been trained to sell:

  • Create customer empathy by identifying and demonstrating a proper understanding of the critical do-or-die issues facing your customers. Do that for each level of the decision-making team and link it back to how they do their jobs today.
  • Next, determine and articulate the risks if they do not address these issues. Also, firmly establish and highlight the rewards if they do act. Take special care to find out how your customers will define success—determine what they want to brag about if they are successful in achieving positive results.
  • Then demonstrate how your company’s solution helps them respond specifically—and successfully—to their key do-or-die issues.

Trend #2: Dynamic, Personalized Collateral Building

Value selling has raised the bar, forever changing customer expectations about sales experiences. Customers expect company interactions to be personal, relevant, and tailored to their specific needs.

Meanwhile, marketing departments have tried to keep pace by adopting segmentation strategies, doing their best to tailor messages and create more customer-relevant positioning. However, the tools to deliver these increasingly sophisticated messages through the sales channels have lagged. So, we’ve seen a proliferation of static collateral tools designed to fit every occasion.

Unfortunately, salespeople are neither warehouse managers nor librarians, and they have difficulty tracking and finding suitable materials when needed. In response, marketers have set up sales intranets to supply 24×7 access to support materials.

While these intranets improve accessibility to materials, they don’t resolve the most significant issue facing today’s value-selling salespeople: the need to provide prospects with dynamic, personalized sales communications. With only static documentation, salespeople begin creating unique, customized documents for each sales situation.

Typically, this happens at the expense of the brand and the company. The lack of consistency between radio stations and from salesperson to salesperson—undermines the millions spent on brand awareness advertising. The extra time spent by salespeople crafting these personalized proposals, presentations, and collateral pieces keeps them from time better spent with customers.

Marketing’s big win is that every radio salesperson, even within a multi-entertainment environment, will now communicate a consistent company message. Imagine the brand-building power unleashed when sales reps begin delivering a persuasive, powerful, and pre-approved message at every point of customer contact.

Gary Begin can be contacted at: garybegin10@gmail.com.

Ratings Takeaways

November 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

imNovember 2023 PPM Data – Information for the November 2023 ratings period (October 12 – November 8) has been released for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NFL; NBA; and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are October 2023 – November 2023 (6+).

PORTLAND

News/Talk

KXL 6.9 – 6.9, #3 – #2

KEX 1.7 – 1.6, #21 – #21

KUFO .7 – .8, #24 – #23

KPAM .1 – .1, #34 – #32

News

None

Sports Talk

KFXX 2.0 – 1.8, #18 – #20

KXTG 1.6 – 1.4, #22 – #23

KPOJ .7 – .7, #24 – #24 (Trailblazers)

KFXX Stream  .3 – .2, #28 – #28

KMTT .2 – .2, #31 – #28

Public Radio News/Talk

KOPB 5.9 – 6.4, #4 – #3

KOPB Stream  1.6 – 1.5, #22 – #22

CHARLOTTE

News/Talk

WBT-AM/FM 5.3 – 5.5, #5 – #5

News

WRFX-HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #25

Sports Talk

WFNZ-FM 2.7 – 3.0, #13 – #14 (Hornets)

WSOC-HD3 .1 – DNA, #26 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WFAE 4.0 – 5.4, #10 – #6

WNSC 1.2 – 1.0, #18 – #18

WFAE-HD3 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA  

Notes: Public radio news/talk WFAE’s +1.4 (4.0 – 5.4) represents Charlotte’s largest (6+) October 2023 – November 2023 increase.

The Carolina Panthers’ flagship is classic rock WRFX.

SAN ANTONIO

News/Talk

WOAI 2.8 – 3.1, #13 – #14 (Spurs)

KTSA 2.6 – 2.2, #15 – #17

News

None

Sports Talk

KTFM 1.7 – 1.5, #22 – #22

KTKR .7 – .7, #27 – #27

KZDC .2 – .3, #35 – #33

Public Radio News/Talk

KSTX 1.7 – 2.4, #22 – #16

SACRAMENTO

 News/Talk

KFBK-AM 8.2 – 7.3 #1 – #2

KSTE-AM 2.7 – 3.2, #13 – #11

News

None

Sports Talk

KHTK 1.3 – 1.4, #18 – #18 (Kings)

KIFM 1.2 – 1.1, #20 – #21

KIFM Stream  .1 – .1, #30 – #29 

Public Radio News/Talk

KXJZ 1.8 – 2.4, #15 – #14

KQEI .2 – .2, #27 – #28

KQED .1 – .1, #30 – #29

KUOP DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Note: News/talk KFBK-AM’s -.9 (8.2 – 7.3) represents Sacramento’s largest (6+) October 2023 – November 2023 decrease.

PITTSBURGH

News/Talk

KDKA-AM 3.8 – 4.0, #11 – #8

KDKA-AM Stream  .5 – .4, #23 – #22

News

None

Sports Talk

KDKA-FM 8.0 – 8.0, #3 – #3

KDKA-FM Stream  .2 – .1, #28 – #25

WBGG DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WESA 4.2 – 4.0, #7 – #8

Note: The flagships of the Steelers and Penguins are rock WDVE and alternative WXDX, respectively.

SALT LAKE CITY

News/Talk

KSL-AM/FM 6.9 – 6.1, #2 – #4

KNRS-AM/FM 2.9 – 3.9, #15 – #9

KKAT .1 – .1, #29 – #31

News

None

Sports Talk

KALL 1.8 – 2.2, #20 – #20

KZNS-FM .8 – 1.0, #24 – #24 (Utah Jazz)

KZNS-AM .5 – .7, #26 – #25 (Utah Jazz)

KZNS-AM Stream  .1 – .1, #29 – #31 (Utah Jazz)

KZNS-FM Stream  .1 – .DNA, #29 – DNA (Utah Jazz)

KOVO .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KUER 2.2 – 2.7, #19 – #15

KUMT .1 – .4, #29 – #28

KBYU-HD2 Stream  .5 – .2, #26 – #29    

LAS VEGAS

News/Talk

KMXB-HD3 1.6 – 1.6, #22 – #23

KXNT .5 – .2, #29 – #34

KMZQ .1 – DNA, #36 – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

KWWN 1.0 – .9, #27 – #27

KRLV .3 – .5, #32 – #30 (Raiders)

KKGK .3 – .5, #32 – #30 (Golden Knights)

KENO .5 – .2, #29 – #34

Public Radio News/Talk

KNPR 1.4 – 2.0, #23 – #18

ORLANDO

News/Talk

WTKS 3.9 – 3.9, #10 – #10

WDBO 3.5 – 3.6, #13 – #13

WFLF .9 – .8, #19 – #21

WFYY-HD3 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

WYGM .7 – .7, #22 – #23 (Magic)

WOCL-HD2 .1 – DNA, #28 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WMFE 2.2 – 2.7, #15 – #14

CINCINNATI

News/Talk

WLW 13.5 – 12.0, 22nd consecutive month at #1 (Bengals)

WKRC 5.4 – 5.7, #5 – #5

News

None

Sports Talk

WCKY 1.9 – 2.0, #18 – #15 (Bengals)

WSAI 1.0 – 1.2, #20 – #19

Public Radio News/Talk

WVXU 3.2 – 3.5, #11 – #11

CLEVELAND

News/Talk

WTAM 5.5 – 5.1, #10 – #9 (Cavaliers)

News

WMMS-HD2 .1 – .1, #24 – #24

Sports Talk

WKRK 5.9 – 6.0, #8 – #7  (Browns)

WKRK Stream  .9 – .9, #18 – #19 (Browns)

WARF .2 – .3, #23 – #23

Public Radio News/Talk

WKSU 5.9 – 5.0, #8 – #10

WKSU-HD4 DNA – .1, DNA – #24   

Note: Public radio news/talk WKSU’s -.9 (5.9 – 5.0) represents Cleveland’s largest (6+) October 2023 – November 2023 decrease.

KANSAS CITY

News/Talk

KMBZ-FM 5.5 – 5.5, #4 – #4

KCMO-AM 1.6 – 2.0, #17 – #16

KMBZ-AM 1.2 – 1.2, #21 – #18

KMBZ-FM Stream  .9 – .7, #22 – #21

KCMO-AM Stream  .2 – DNA, #26 – DNA

KMBZ-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

KCSP 3.1 – 3.1, #14 – #14

KCSP Stream  .4 – .2, #23 – #27

Public Radio News/Talk

KCUR 3.2 – 3.6, #13 – #12

KANU-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Oddity: With a +.4 (1.6 – 2.0), news/talk KCMO-AM is in an eight-way tie for Kansas City’s largest (6+) October 2023 – November 2023 increase.

Note: Country WDAF is the flagship of the Chiefs.

COLUMBUS

News/Talk

WTVN 7.5 – 7.4, #4 – #3    

News

WYTS DNA – .1, DNA – #22

Sports Talk

WBNS-FM 8.6 – 10.3, #2 – #1 (Blue Jackets)

WBNS-AM .1 – .3, #21 #21 (Blue Jackets)

WBNS-FM HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #22

WMNI .1 – DNA, #21 – #DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WOSU 3.9 – 4.3, #9 – #8

Up next: November 2023 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford. 

Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry Views

TRUE CRIME: What Would You Do?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Implementers
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network

imWHAT WOULD YOU DO? A very good major market DJ murders his wife and injures her lover upon catching them in the marital bed. An 11-year-old girl was in the house – a witness. The murderer is convicted (second-degree murder/“situational crime”) sent to prison, does his time and is released after a few years for good behavior while incarcerated.

Upon release, the convicted murderer is hired as an on-air talent by at least three publicly held companies, with properties licensed by the federal government and heavily staffed with women employees. “Hey, he’s a good jock!” He works continuously from the time of his release until he retires about 18 years later in 1991.

Within the past decade, major market on-air talent have been fired, chastised, suspended or forced to mumble meaningless public apologies for posting tacky memes, joking about sports sideliner Erin Andrews (at the same time TMZ reporters were making the very same jokes about her on FOX), questioning team owners’ judgements, or posting “inappropriate” remarks on all forms of social media. Entire businesses have been lost because of silly off-air comments by talk hosts or DJs. Dr. Laura is an amazingly great talent.

Many of the job security issues faced by today’s on-air talent are the result of social media posts they made a few years ago – or sometimes things they said a few decades ago. Worse, people in all professions get in trouble for expressions uttered outside of the parameters of their actual jobs. A joke about the boss, a compliment about the attractiveness of a co-worker or mocking a product – in very few words – could easily destroy a career.

Considering this oh-so-touchy environment, would the murderer be hired today, or even allowed in a radio station’s lobby?  No, “Humble” Harve Miller, the murderer, would not be hired today by the very same companies that hired him a relatively few short decades ago.

Based on today’s standards, the CEOs of the companies that did hire Humble Harve should be immediately fired or at least forced to issue written public apologies and be deprived of their bonuses or suffer a claw back of their retirement packages. Immediately. My god! An 11-year-old murder witness! 

Too much? Too late, you say. Not practical? Agree!! Those actions would be just as overwrought as firing or shaming a host about their Erin Andrews joke or meme posted on X.

How likely do you think one of my proudest hires, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, would have a chance to become the number one radio personality in New York City today?

Perspective: memes, jokes, asides, and minor league slander only become big deals when the paranoid company stops time and puts out a public apology. The apology inevitably, not the incident, reaches a much larger audience. The public awareness brought about by the apology or employee firing actually causes damage to all involved.

Walter Sabo has helped some of the largest media companies in the world increase share of audience. Clients have included Conde Nast, SiriusXM, ABC, Gannett, RKO General, American Tower, TuneIn and more. The company he founded, HITVIEWS was the first to identify and monetize online influencers as revealed at the TALKERS New Media Seminar in 2008. His Talk Media Network show, “Sterling On Sunday,” generates significant audience share for stations such as WPHT, Philadelphia; KMBZ-FM, Kansas City; KMOX, St Louis; and KFBK, Sacramento. You can learn about the show at www.waltersterlingshow.com or email Walter at walter@sabomedia.com.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (11/28) Top News/Talk Media Stories

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

The return of Hamas hostages and the pause in Israel-Hamas hostilities; the 2024 presidential race and Nikki Haley earns Koch network cash; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; Thursday’s Gavin Newsom–Ron DeSantis debate; Liz Cheney’s new book; a surging respiratory illness in China; Hunter Biden to testify before House Oversight Committee; the efforts to oust George Santos from Congress; and Rosalynn Carter’s funeral were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Ratings Takeaways

November 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part One

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

imNovember 2023 PPM Data – Information for the November 2023 ratings period (October 12 – November 8) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NFL; NBA; and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are October 2023 – November 2023 (6+).

NEW YORK

News/Talk

WABC 3.1 – 3.0, #11 – #11

WOR 1.2 – 1.3, #23 – #22

WKXW .8 – .8, #25 – #25

WKXW Stream .3 – .2, #37 – #38

News

WINS-FM 4.3 – 4.8, #7 – #6

WCBS-AM 2.3 – 1.9, #15 – #19

Business News WBBR .4 – .5, #34 – #31

WINS-FM Stream .4 – .4, #34 – #34

WCBS-AM Stream .2 – .2, #40 – #38 

Sports Talk

WFAN FM & AM 2.9 – 2.8, #13 -#12 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 1.4 – 1.5 #21 – #21 (Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

WFAN FM & AM Stream .9 – .9, #24 -#24 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils) 

Public Radio News/Talk

WNYC-FM 4.4 – 4.0, #6 – #9

WNYC-AM 1.3 – 1.1, #22 – #23 

LOS ANGELES

News/Talk

KFI 4.5 – 5.1, #5 – #4

KEIB .8 – .7, #32 – #33  (Clippers)

KRLA .6 – .5, #33 – #36  

News

KNX-FM 3.3 – 3.2, #10 – #10

KNX-FM Stream .1 – .1, #39 – #40  

Sports Talk

KLAC 1.3 – .9, #27 – #30 (Chargers, Clippers)  

Public Radio News/Talk

KPCC 2.5 – 2.5, #13 – #15

Flagship of the Rams and Lakers is sports talk KSPN, which is unlisted in this sweep.

Kings’ games are heard on the iHeartRadio app, while games of the Anaheim Ducks are heard on the Ducks stream.

CHICAGO

News/Talk

WGN 3.6 – 3.4, #8 – #10  (Blackhawks)

WLS-AM 1.5 – 1.5, #24 – #23

WLIP .3 – .2, #37 – #41

WVON DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

WLS-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

WBBM-AM & WCFS 5.6 – 5.4, #3 – #3

WBBM-AM & WCFS Stream .1 – .1, #45 – #44

Sports Talk

WSCR 2.5 – 2.3, #14 – #14 (Bulls)

WMVP 1.6 – 1.7, #22 – #19 (Bears)

WSCR Stream .3 – .5, #37 – #33 (Bulls) 

Public Radio News/Talk

WBEZ 3.2 – 3.1, #12 – #11  

SAN FRANCISCO

News/Talk

KSFO 1.6 – 1.6, #20 – #19

KSFO Stream .4 – .4, #28 – #28 

News

KCBS-AM & KFRC 6.6 – 6.5, #2 – #3

KNEW .2 – .3, #32 – #31  

KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .1 – .2, #36 – #34

KKSF DNA – .1, DNA – #37 

Sports Talk

KNBR 3.2 – 3.4, #11 – #9 (49ers)

KGMZ 1.8 – 2.1, #18 – #15 (Golden State Warriors)

KTCT .3 – .6, #29 – #26  

KGO .3 – .2, #29 – #34  

KGO Stream .2 – .2, #32 – #34    

Public Radio News/Talk

KQED 5.3 – 6.7, #3 – #2

KALW .3 – .3, #29 – #31

Note: Public radio news/talk KQED’s +1.4 (5.3 – 6.7) is tied for the highest (6+) October 2023 – November 2023 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.

DALLAS

News/Talk

WBAP 4.5 – 3.5, #4 – #11

KEGL 1.4 – 1.6, #27 – #25  (Mavericks)

KSKY .6 – .6, #33 – #32

KLIF-AM .4 – .5, #37 – #33

KSKY Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA 

News

News – Talk KRLD-AM 2.1 – 2.0, #21 – #21 (Cowboys)

News – Talk KRLD-AM Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #39 (Cowboys)

Sports Talk

KTCK 4.7 – 5.6, #3 – #1  (Stars)

KRLD-FM 3.6 – 4.1, #10 – #5 (Cowboys)

KRLD-FM Stream .2 – .5, #38 – #33 (Cowboys)

Public Radio News/Talk

KERA 2.4 – 3.8, #18 – #6

Note: Public radio news/talk KERA’s +1.4 (2.4 – 3.8) is tied for the highest (6+) October 2023 – November 2023 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets; conversely, news/talk WBAP’s -1.0 (4.5 – 3.5) is Dallas’ largest (6+)October 2023 – November 2023 decrease.

HOUSTON 

News/Talk

KTRH 4.0 – 4.1, #9 – #9  (Rockets)

KPRC .9 – .6, #26 – #28  

News

None

Sports Talk

KBME 1.5 – 1.3, #22 – #22  (Rockets)

KILT-AM 1.5 – 1.3, #22 – #22 (Texans)

KFNC .3 – .2, #29 – #30

KILT-AM Stream .2 – .2, #31 – #30 (Texans)

Public Radio News/Talk

KUHF 1.8 – 2.2, #21 – #20

ATLANTA

News/Talk

WSB-AM & WSBB 8.1 – 8.8, #2 – #1

WFOM .4 – .4, #30 – #29

WGKA .3 – .2, #32 – #33

WSRV-HD3 Stream 2 – .2, #33 – #33

WAOK .1 – .1, #37 – #36

WAOK Stream .1 – .1, #37 – #36

News

WBIN  DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WZGC 3.0 – 3.4, #14 – #11 (Falcons, Hawks)

WCNN 1.8 – 1.2, #18 – #21

WZGC Stream .6 – .4, #27 – #29 (Falcons, Hawks)

Public Radio News/Talk

WABE 3.6 – 3.2, #10 – #13

WRAS  .6 – .9, #27 – #24

Note: Sports/talk WCNN’s -.6 (1.8 – 1.2) is tied for Atlanta’s highest (6+) October 2023 – November 2023 decrease. 

PHILADELPHIA

News/Talk

WPHT 2.1 – 2.2, #15 – #15

WKXW DNA – 1.0, DNA – #24

WPHT Stream .5 – .6, #23 – #26

WURD Stream .6 – .3, #25 – #26

WURD .5 – .4, #23 – #28

WDEL-AM DNA – .1, DNA – #31

WKXW Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA 

News

KYW & WPHI 5.4 – 5.3, #6 – #6

KYW & WPHI Stream .1 – .1, #27 – #31

Sports Talk

WIP 8.2 – 8.5, #2 – #2 (Eagles)

WIP Stream 1.5 – 1.7, #20 – #19 (Eagles)

WPEN-FM 1.2 – 1.3, #21 – #22 (76ers, Flyers)

Public Radio News/Talk

WHYY 3.1 – 2.9, #11 – #11      

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND)

News/Talk

WABC 2.2 – 2.1, #18 – #17

WOR 1.1 – 1.3, #22 – #20

WLIR .2 – .2, #30 – #31

News

WINS-FM 3.7 – 4.1, #7 – #7

WCBS-AM 2.7 – 2.4, #12 – #13

WINS-FM Stream .6 – .6, #25 – #25

Business News WBBR .3 – .3, #29 – #30

WCBS-AM Stream .2 – .2, #30 – #31

Sports Talk

WFAN-FM & AM 3.9 – 3.9 #6 – #8 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 3.0 – 3.3, #11 – #11 (Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

WFAN-FM & AM Stream 1.2 – .9, #21 – #22 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

Public Radio News/Talk

WSUF .2 – .2, #30 – #31

RIVERSIDE

News/Talk

None

News

KFOO .1 – .1, #24 – #22

Sports Talk

KPWK DNA – .1, DNA – #22

Public Radio News/Talk

KVCR .5 – .4 #19 – #20

KPCC .1 – DNA, #24 – DNA

SAN JOSE

News/Talk

KSFO 1.1 – 1.4, #23 – #21

KSFO Stream .2 – .2, #30 – #31  

News

KCBS-AM & KFRC 6.0 – 5.9, drops to #2 after four consecutive months at #1

KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .3 – .3, #29 – #28

KNEW .2 – .3, #30 – #28  

Sports Talk

KNBR 5.2 – 4.0, #5 – #7 (49ers)

KGMZ 2.1 – 1.7, #16 – #18 (Golden State Warriors)

KGO Stream 1.0 – .8, #25 – #26  

KTCT .8 – .8, #27 – #26   

KGO .6 – .3, #28 – #28    

Public Radio News/Talk

None

Sharks’ games are carried on the Sharks Audio Network.

Note: Sports/talk KNBR’s -1.2 (5.2 – 4.0) represents the highest October 2023 – November 2023 decrease by any station in these 12 PPM-markets (6+).

MIDDLESEX-SOMERSET-UNION (New Jersey)

News/Talk

WKXW 6.0 – 6.3, #2 – #3

WKXW Stream 1.0 – .6, #19 – #22

WOR .6 – .6, #23 – #22  

News

WINS-FM 2.3 – 2.1, #11 – #12

WCBS-AM .9 – 1.1, #21 – #18

WINS-FM Stream .3 – .3, #27 – #26

WCBS-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WFAN-FM & AM 3.4 – 3.6, #9 – #9 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 1.2 – 1.4, #17 – #17 (Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

WFAN FM & AM Stream 1.2 – 1.1, #17 – #18 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

Public Radio News/Talk

None 

Up next: November 2023 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.

Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry Views

Monday Memo: We Don’t Just Do Live Audio Anymore

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

What used to be “a radio station” is now the hub of live AND on-demand audio AND video AND text and graphics. As we populate all the platforms with which we share listeners’ attention (and advertisers’ do-re-mi), I’ve gathered tips from the pros:

im

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry News

Sports Journalist Donna de Varona Honored with NY Festivals Lifetime Achievements Award

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

New York Festivals Television & Film Awards announces that it will honor sports journalist, Olympic champion, and award-winning broadcasting pioneer Donna de Varona with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. The New York Festivals Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes prominent industry leaders, innovators, and driving forces in the broadcast industry whose accomplishments haveim advanced their field and made a lasting impression on the industry. It will be celebrated at the Storytellers Gala honoring TV & Film Awards and Radio Awards trophy winners on April 16. Donna de Varona – a U.S. Olympic Hall of Famer – is currently a member of the board of directors of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. She is renowned for covering 18 Olympic Games from multiple networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, and Turner. As a pioneer for women in sports, she played a key role in establishing the Women’s Sports Foundation, serving as its first president and chairman. She chaired the groundbreaking 1999 FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup and contributed to the formation of the very first IOC athletes commission in 1981 during the IOC Congress in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Industry News

Urban One Files Q1 and Q2 2023 Reports

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Urban One has been late with its last few quarterly reports due to issues with its former independent accounting firm’s assessment of the company’s sale of its interest in the MGM Harbor Casino. Now, months after obtaining a new independent accounting firm, the company files 10-Q reports with theim Securities and Exchange Commission for the periods ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023. Briefly, the company’s net revenue for Q1 2023 was $110 million, down 2% from the same period in 2022. The company posted a net loss of $2.7 million for the first quarter. For Q2 of 2023, net revenue was $129.7 million, an increase of 9.2% over the same period in 2022. The company posted a net income of $71 million for that period.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Be Conspicuous When Competitors Are MIA

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imIn a recent column, I outlined win-win radio/TV station alliance tactics. This week, as stations are finalizing 2024 budgets, a tip for advertising your station on TV.

Dominate in January. Why:

— It’s a buyer’s market then, and your message won’t compete with other stations’ promotion. Slaves to conventional wisdom, they will be running DURING the Spring book, because they forgot that radio listening is habit, which will be set long before diaries and PPM will collect data. Smart stations derive a benefit message and set that habit BEFORE the book.

im

— If you can trade for over-the-air stations, the price is right. In January they’re lean too. Can you trade – or afford to pay cash for – cable? Two reasons cable might be a better deal:

1. You can target your signal pattern better than over-the-air channels, whose coverage footprint is bigger than yours; and

2. You can buy channels with programming similar to yours. FOX News Radio affiliate? Buy FOX News Channel (and Newsmax).

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: Seek New Story Sources and Surprise Your Listeners

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Implementers
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network

imEarlier this week, Michael Harrison published his top 10 list of suggestions for being a successful talker. Item number three really caught my eye:

“Avoid worn out talking points. Be original. Always bring something new to the table. Otherwise you DESERVE to be replaced by AI.”

 When consulting client stations, the PD and I will take the on-air team through a pragmatic brainstorm session to discover completely unused source material.

First the material should be intriguing to you and appealing to your listener (singular.) New sources mean surprises and the fastest and most economical method of generating word of mouth, phone calls and cume is to present surprises all day.

1. Close to home. Pay foreground attention to incidents at home. Your home. Events that you may view as mundane could bond you with your listener. Consider that water in the basement, check engine light, parent/teacher conference, bad bank behavior, in-law interference. If any of those experiences has happened to you, you honestly know that they are a bigger deal than speeches in Congress.

2. Search the names of locations that you never discuss. Those searches have revealed to me and my listener that the number one fear in Siberia is the vast forest fires and that as the permafrost melts, it could expose million-year-old deadly viruses. One “Siberia news” search. Try this, search “Keith Fons North Pole Alaska” You will discover a bizarre Christmas story.

3. Local morning TV shows have unique fun stories that you don’t see because you’re listening to the radio. Go to their websites and you will see all of their topics, with audio, dated. 

Take a different approach to proven topics. A trait of successful hosts is that they discuss common topics but take a very different tact. Some examples: When TV legend Ann Bishop of WPLG Miami died, fellow broadcaster Neil Rogers mourned Bishop by saying, “She did nothing for me, sir.”

On crime in Cleveland, the late Mike Trivisonno on WTAM declared, “the best thing that could happen is for the Mafia to come back to Cleveland.”

Howard Stern surprises you every time he opens his mouth. It’s the fresh topics combined with surprising POV=Star. 

Walter Sabo has an outstanding track record advising media companies wishing to increase their share of revenue. His weekly syndicated show Sterling On Sunday aims to provide three hours of completely unique topics.  Contact him at walter@sabomedia.com or 646.678.1110

Industry News

Triton Digital Releases October Podcast Ranker

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Triton Digital releases its ranker of the top U.S. podcasts based on weekly average downloads and nothing has changed at the top of the chart from last month, with NBCUniversal New Group’s “Datelineim NBC” at #1, audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie” at #2, Wondery’s “Morbid” at #3 and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” at #4. Radio-related podcasts of note in this ranker include Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” rising four places to #12, Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Mark Levin Show” up two places to #13, and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Shawn Ryan Show” rising five places to #24. See the complete ranker here.

Industry News

Salem Media Group Third Quarter Revenue Falls 5%

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

The company releases its third quarter 2023 operating results and reports total revenue of $63.5 million, a decline of 5% from the same period in 2022. Salem reports that total operating expenses for the quarter increased 31.9% to $99.8 million, while operating expenses, excluding stock-basedim compensation expense, debt modification costs, gains and losses on the sale or disposition of assets, impairments, depreciation expense and amortization expense increased 0.2% to $61.0 million. The company reports a net loss of $31.3 million for the quarter, an increase of 163% over the same period in 2022. Salem presents operating results by segment and reveals that its Broadcast segment’s revenue was $49 million, down 4.2% year-over-year; its Digital Media segment’s revenue was $10 million, down 2.2%; and the Publishing segment’s revenue was $4.6 million, a decline of 17.5%.

Industry News

Gracies Leadership Awards Honorees Celebrated in NYC

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

im

The Alliance for Women in Media hosted the Gracies Leadership Awards luncheon yesterday (11/13) at Tribeca 360° in New York City, recognizing the outstanding contributions of eight female leaders. This year’s program included the inaugural Gracies Icon Award presented to Premiere Networks personality Delilah. She took part in a fireside chat with RAB president and CEO Erica Farber. The other recipients are pictured above (l-r): Becky Brooks, president, AWM/F, Delilah, Rebekah Dopp, Suzanne Grimes, Susan Larkin, Lori Locke, Rosalyn Durant, Kay Olin, Heather Cohen, Katina Arnold, and Christine Travaglini. Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Alliance for Women in Media

Industry Views

Monday Memo: How Talk Radio Imitates Lunch

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imHere’s actual news copy, from Joe Connolly’s business report one morning on WCBS, NY: “One third of all domestic flights are now late, by an average of one hour.”

Note: That wasn’t the headline, it was the entire story. As-much-as half of Connolly’s script is one-sentence stories. Espresso, not latte. Just the factoids, ma’am. The essence. What the listener would likely retain (and quote later) from the story if copy were longer.

Here’s some HC lore – and promo language – that’ll be familiar to programmers and talent I work with:

The first 5 minutes of the hour are for facts.

The next 55 are for feelings.

Your news people, and/or your network, fuss to make 00-05 a handy digest of the-very-latest-about the stories they reckon to be relevant to your target listener. Your on-air imaging should promise accordingly. Invite busy, in-car listeners to make an hourly appointment, “THROUGHOUT YOUR BUSY DAY.”

The people with whom that benefit statement will resonate are high-TSL users who don’t want to feel “OUT-OF-THE-LOOP, WHEN YOU’RE OUT-AND-ABOUT.” And they’re the listeners your local direct retail advertisers want to meet the most. Every time they stop the car, they spend money.

im

What happens at lunch is what should happen on-air

Picture Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer at that coffee shop on “Seinfeld.”

Suppose Jerry heard Connolly’s report earlier that morning and mentioned that story. Because ratings are a memory test, this is a home run, even if Jerry doesn’t say “WCBS” when he repeats what Joe reported. Joe made a deposit in Jerry’s memory bank. If Jerry does say “WCBS,” it’s a grand slam.

Then, George chimes in: “AN HOUR LATE???  THAT’S NOTHING!  WAIT’LL YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY PARENTS TRIED TO FLY TO FLORIDA LAST WEEK!” Now Elaine and Kramer are engaged; and they too might have stories.

Jerry shared what he heard 00-05, information of interest, facts. George is that first caller you want the screener to put through. Elaine and Kramer are listeners who can relate, might contribute their feelings, and will at least remember.

Because ratings methodology can give you an entire Quarter Hour credit for as-little-as 5 minutes of actual listening, the-most-opportune topics are compelling stories listeners just heard on-hour, which you then offer callers your air to weigh-in-on.

Why? People believe your promos. They stopped-in for their on-hour update. Then, at 05, before an index finger can travel from the steering wheel to the “Kiss” or “Lite” or “Magic” button, engage them.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry News

Brandon Beam Re-Ups with “The Fan” in Columbus

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Sports talk host Brandon Beam signs a new, multi-year deal to remain with Tegna’s WBNS-FM, Columbus “97.1 The Fan.” Beam currently co-hosts “Morning Juice” with Bobby Carpenter weekdaysim from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. In addition to “Morning Juice,” Beam hosts the Ohio State Buckeyes football network post-game show in partnership with “97.1 The Fan” and Learfield/Ohio State Sports Properties and co-hosts the “Bone and Beam United” podcast. Station program director Matt Fishman says, “Beamer is a smart, versatile personality who has excelled in several roles. We are thrilled that he has decided to stay at ‘The Fan.’” Station manager Cody Welling adds, “Brandon is an emerging talent that has worked extremely hard on his development. I enjoy his energy, his passion for the station, and his love for Columbus, our teams, and our fans.”

Job Opportunity

Cumulus Dallas Seeks News Pros

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Cumulus Media’s Dallas news/talk stations WBAP and KLIF-AM have three career opportunities for qualified radio news pros. First, KLIF-AM has an opening for a news anchor on “DFW’s Morning News.” In this position, you’ll work each day with veteran, award-winning anchor, Dave Williams. Candidates must be well read, and able to relate to a 35-64 year old adult and know how to “play the hits of the day”im that resonate with them! The position requires extreme reliability and flexibility. Females are encouraged to apply.  Second, Cumulus is seeking a news director to work with both stations. It says, “This is not a 9 to 5 weekday desk job. If news runs in your blood, if you get an adrenaline rush from breaking stories, if you are hands-on, and you realize the commitment that it takes to win from you and your team, then this job could be for you. Our ideal candidate should possess an extremely good work ethic and have a history of news department success as a news director.” And third, the company is looking for a managing editor for both stations. This is an early morning position from 2:30 am until 10:30 am. The main job is to make sure the shows on both stations have the content they need to have a successful broadcast. Get more information on all of these positions and apply here.

Industry News

iHeartMedia’s 2023 Third Quarter Revenue Falls 3.6%

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

iHeartMedia released its operating results for the third quarter of 2023 and reports revenue of $953 million, a decrease of 3.6% over the same period in 2022. The company reports operating income of $69 million compared to the operating loss of $211 million it reported in Q3 of 2022. iHeartMedia reports a net loss of $9 million during Q3 2023, down significantly from the net loss of $310 million it reported in Q3 2022. The company breaks down revenue into three segments – the Multiplatform Group (broadcast radio, networks, and sponsorship & events), the Digital Audio Group (digital excluding podcast, andim podcast), and Audio & Media Services Group. In the Multiplatform Group, broadcast radio revenue was $455 million, down 6.1% year-over-year, and networks revenue was $116 million, a decline of 8.6%. In the Digital Audio Group, digital excluding podcast revenue was $165 million, an increase of 1.1%, while podcast revenue was $103 million, an increase of 12.5%, year-over-year. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman says, “We’re pleased to report that our third quarter results were at the high end of our Adjusted EBITDA and Revenue guidance ranges. Our Digital Audio Group’s performance reflects the strong flow-through characteristics of the business and Podcasting continues to be a strong growth engine for the Company; additionally, while the Multiplatform Group does continue to be impacted by advertising industry uncertainty, we’ve seen sequential gradual quarter to quarter improvement throughout the year and we remain confident that the Multiplatform Group will be an additional growth engine for the company as the advertising marketplace recovers.”

Industry News

Townsquare Media Third Quarter Revenue Declines 5%

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Townsquare Media reports its financial data for the third quarter of 2023 and says net revenue for the period was $115 million, a decrease of 5% compared to the third quarter of 2022. The company reports a net loss of $36.5 million, compared to the net income of $2.8 million it reported in the third quarter of 2022. Townsquare reports operating results by segment. It’s Broadcast Advertising segment reportsim revenue of $54 million, a decline of 8.6% year-over-year. It’s Subscription Digital Marketing Solutions segment revenue was $20 million, down 12.6% from Q3 of 2022, and its Digital Advertising segment revenue was $39 million, up 5.5% year-over-year. Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson states, “The strong cash generation characteristics of our assets allowed us to produce $39 million of cash flow from operations in the first nine months of 2023, an increase of $7 million as compared to the prior year. We could not be more pleased to share that given our strong cash position, we were able to repurchase and retire approximately $14 million of our Unsecured Senior Notes at a discount during the third quarter, bringing our year-to-date total bond repurchases to $27 million. In addition, we repurchased approximately 94,000 Class A shares in the third quarter (in total, we’ve repurchased 1.7 million shares in 2023), and continue to pay a high-yielding dividend while also investing in our business. We also ended the quarter with a strong cash balance of $38 million and net leverage of 4.49x, retaining financial flexibility moving forward.”

Industry News

Podtrac Releases October Podcast Rankings

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Podtrac publishes data from its October 2023 ranking of the top podcast publishers, sales networks and podcasts. The podcast ranker for the period has The New York Times’ “The Daily” at #1 again, withim NPR’s “Up First” taking over the #2 spot from NBC News’ “Dateline NBC,” which falls to #3. Other commercial radio-related podcasts charting in the top 20 include The Daily Wire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” at #6, Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” at #9, and iHeartPodcast’s “Stuff You Should Know” at #10. The ranker is based on Unique U.S.  Monthly Audience for participating podcasts.

Industry News

Edison Research Releases Top 50 Podcasts for Q3 2023

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Edison Research reveals its Top 50 Podcasts in the U.S. based on reach for the third quarter of 2023 (July 10, 2023 – September 29, 2023) among weekly podcast listeners age 13+. The list ranks podcast networks based on total audience reach from Edison Podcast Metrics and is based on surveys of 5,409im weekly podcast listeners age 13+. The top four shows in Q3 remain unchanged in rank from Q2: “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “Crime Junkie,” “The Daily,” and “This American Life.” Other radio related podcasts ranked on this chart include iHeartPodcasts’ “Something You Should Know” at #9, The Daily Wire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” at #17, Ramsey Networks’ “The Ramsey Show” at #21, and Cumulus Podcast Networks’ “The Dan Bongino Show” at #29.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Benztown announces that the StudioTexter texting service and contesting and communications platform created exclusively for radio stations has signed 28 new affiliates in Q3 and Q4, bringing the total number of station affiliates to 100. Benztown president Dave “Chachi” Denes says, “More than 50% of American consumers respond to a text within two minutes, checking their messages around 11 times a day. StudioTexter is a powerful tool, enabling more efficient and authentic engagement with your audience like never before.”

Salem Media Group, Inc announces that it plans to report its third quarter 2023 financial results after the market closes on November 13, 2023. The company plans to host a teleconference to discuss its results that day at 5:00 pm ET.

Premiere Networks and media executive and consultant Buzz Knight announced a partnership to bring Knight’s podcast “Takin’ A Walk: Music History on Foot” to the iHeartPodcast Network, effective immediately. The show features “insightful conversations with interesting people who discuss their love of music. In each episode, Knight takes listeners on a journey through music history with guests who share stories and insights about musicians, bands and the music they create.”

Industry Views

Pending Business: Fall Back

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President

imWe all need to learn how to fall back. This is not about daylight saving, retreating, or backpedaling. This is about learning from the most valuable brand in tech, the oracle, and the best practices all of us in sales and management must learn to apply.

Let us start with Apple. Demand for the iPhone 15 is not lighting the tech world on fire as slow sales do not even come close to measuring up to the numbers delivered by its predecessors like the iPhone 13 when sales jumped 47% two years ago. What happened to all those Apple fanatics who would line up outside Apple stores or flood the Internet with orders ready to buy the next iPhone?

The must-have Apple loyalists were slowed down by the glitches in the iPhone 15 as we have come to expect design perfection. And why not, when you have nearly 1.5 billion users worldwide and sell nearly 100 million iPhones in the first two quarters of this year? Perfection expectations go hand-in-hand with momentum, innovation, and sales. Perhaps the challenge after 16 years of “new and improved” was too much. Tech is not Tide and Apple is not Procter and Gamble.

What are the lessons we can learn from this lower sales cycle?

— Never assume an unqualified welcome sign from your core customers. We earn the welcome sign every day. Fix the problem faster.

— Always deliver on the promise of new and improved.

— Better to delay than disappoint.

Famed Wall Street guru Warren Buffett recently dealt with losses in several of his holdings by being transparent with his stockholders about the challenges at several of his companies and navigating an unfriendly stock market. This is the same Warren Buffett who supported the Cap Cities minnow (remember that company?) swallowing the ABC Radio whale and still is a stakeholder in media.

The 93-year Oracle of Omaha is nimble enough to shift strategies and adjust his investments to maximize results for his stakeholders.

The Buffett takeaways?

— When performance is not up to expectations, adjust the plan.

— Age can be an asset when experience counts.

— When you are in hole, stop digging.

How many traditional packages and sales promotions have you counted on as sure-fire sellers that unexpectedly failed? What does your fallback plan look like?

Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Radio/TV Synergies

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

im“If you think radio has problems,” consultant Holland Cooke says, “Netflix et al are to television stations what Pandora et al are to music stations. So local news is TV stations’ silver bullet. And – like radio – their need to promote off-air exceeds their promotion budget.” In this week’s column, he outlines tactics for “partnering with a fellow broadcaster who’s also challenged.” Read his column here.