Massachusetts Pubcasters to Merge
According to a piece in the Boston Globe, two of Massachusetts’ biggest public media firms are merging. Boston’s GBH and Western Massachusetts-based New England Public Media (NEPM) say the moves is to “expand 
local journalism across the state.” GBH president Susan Goldberg tells the paper the proposed merger of GBH, NEPM, and Cape and Islands radio station CAI will form “one of the largest and most trusted statewide public media newsroom networks in the Commonwealth.” Goldberg adds, “In a media landscape that is constantly changing, and particularly in the 
wake of federal defunding of public media, we are finding new ways to be as impactful as possible for the communities we serve. Simply put, we are stronger together.” Goldberg tells the Globe they have no plans to reduce staff and are planning to invest in new roles. The story adds, “According to the proposal. NEPM will continue to operate as the primary public media provider in Western Massachusetts, maintaining its studios in Springfield and at the University of Massachusetts. Its brand and programming – including local news, music, and educational shows – will remain in place.”
May the Fourth be with you today, as DJs and talk hosts are bumping with Star Wars music. And with Mother’s Day looming, 
morning program on Cumulus Media’s WMAL-FM, Washington, DC. O’Connor also serves as editor of Salem’s Townhall.com. Salem says, “By aligning O’Connor’s leadership role at Townhall.com with his national radio and television presence – and his growing digital footprint – Salem is further strengthening its integrated, cross-platform content strategy. This move positions O’Connor at the forefront of conservative political discourse while reinforcing Salem Media’s role as a leading destination for news, commentary, and influential voices.” Salem SVP of content Phil Boyce adds, “Larry is the go-to media voice for the people shaping policy in our nation’s capital. He’s built a show insiders rely on and an audience that cares deeply about the direction of the country. We’re proud to 
expand that success across our national lineup, leading the conversation every morning across America.” O’Connor says, “We’re excited to bring ‘O’Connor & Company’ to a broader national audience while maintaining the strong foundation and audience connection the show has built in Washington. At the same time, we’re building the future of media across radio, streaming, and digital platforms with Townhall and the Salem News Channel. Salem’s integrated vision aligns perfectly with my work across platforms, including my daily streaming show “LARRY,” and makes this an incredibly exciting next chapter. I’m also thrilled that my longtime collaborator and executive producer Heather Hunter will continue with the program as we expand nationwide.”
University on Long Island. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “The selection of ‘Cats’ as keynoter is in keeping with one of the major themes of this year’s edition of the iconic industry event – radio, talk media, and entrepreneurism. John Catsimatidis is presently setting the greatest example of entrepreneurism at work in giving an injection of much needed energy, focus and life to the medium of radio.” Harrison will serve as facilitator of the presentation in a Q&A / interview style format – a role he has played before with the dynamic billionaire media, grocery, and energy mogul.
Catsimatidis will be joined by more than 60 speakers comprised of legendary industry figures as well as fresh faces and rising stars. A detailed agenda including speakers and schedule – a “who’s who” of industry luminaries – will be posted in TALKERS this coming Tuesday (4/28). See the link below for the names of all speakers booked to date.
Harrison continues, “This important conference will illuminate the forward path of the expanding talk media universe, including all aspects of digital communications from AI and podcasting to streaming networks. As has been its tradition, this latest TALKERS conference will approach the onrushing future of the talk business from a radio perspective. This crucial gathering will cover the new undeniable realities of the radio business for those who not only want to survive but thrive as well. It will be about opportunities, networking, and entrepreneurism for individuals in talent, programming, sales, marketing, and management who are serious about staying in the game.”
2025. The company reports declines in all segments of its business; even digital revenue was off 8.3% ($33.5 million). Network spot revenue was down 25% ($33 million), and broadcast spot revenue was $67.7 million, a decline of 16.3% from Q1 of 2025. Cumulus president and CEO Mary G. Berner says, “We are pleased to report first quarter earnings. The Court’s recent approval of our reorganization plan marks a pivotal milestone in strengthening our financial foundation and positioning the company to compete in the evolving media landscape. While we await FCC approval of the plan, we remain focused on leveraging our core strengths to drive long-term value creation.”
Stations I work with are confronting a generational revenue issue: Local direct retail business owners who are Baby Boomers are retiring. And their heirs are moving the radio dollars that built their parents’ businesses to search engine optimization and elsewhere-digital. The narrative we present them: “Radio is ‘a reach engine’” for the digital content people their age personally favor. In this mode, the station feels less like “your father’s Oldsmobile;” and more present tense. Many of these next-generation businesspeople are avid podcast listeners, and that presents an opportunity.
YouTube less than 20 minutes after the shots were fired with analysis and perspective including multiple videos from different angles, as well as his own experiences over the years attending D.C. events. Tradup adds, “I am so very proud of our Salem news professionals at SRN News and TOWNHALL.com who quickly and concisely kept our audiences up-to-the-minute as this unprecedented drama unfolded.”
provocative podcasts, unexpected live experiences, and new research, tools and planning solutions, Bubbler is designed to get brands into the conversation in fresh ways.” As part of its launch, Bubbler announces a partnership with iHeartMedia to develop and distribute a slate of original business and marketing podcasts, with more than 10 original podcasts slated for this year. President of iHeartPodcasts Will Pearson says, “The iHeartPodcast Network has always been focused on the new genres and audiences we can reach through this incredible medium – and the ‘business-to-business’ space is a perfect example of that. Creating a slate in podcasting for marketing executives to have meaningful, deep conversations with each other about the world of business and advertising will have immense value for our listeners and brand partners alike.”
TALKERS magazine associate publisher) Matthew B. Harrison, a work designed for today’s news/talk media environment where audio, video, screenshots, and quotes are not just supporting elements – but serve as the actual content itself. This technique has become particularly prevalent on YouTube and even cable news/talk TV but increasingly appears in audio form as what used to be called “actualities” – sound from another source.
book explains the legal concept of fair use not as a permission structure, but as a legal defense raised after copying has already occurred – an uncomfortable but essential distinction that underpins the entire analysis.
Cumulus’s relationships with advertisers, goodwill, and market share, and push it towards financial collapse. The District Court accordingly enjoined Nielsen’s anticompetitive conduct. 
Nielsen’s brief attacks those findings as speculative, asserting that Cumulus never showed any real risk of bankruptcy or any other non-compensable harm, but one of those irreparable harms has now come to pass: After a motions panel stayed the injunction, Cumulus declared bankruptcy—citing “the Nielsen network tying policy” as a significant contributing cause. The other harms identified by the District Court remain today and have become increasingly urgent, as Cumulus will lose access to Nationwide this September.” TALKERS associate publisher and Harrison Media Law senior partner Matthew B. Harrison comments, “Cumulus has fundamentally shifted the posture of this case. What began as a forward-looking claim of irreparable harm is now being presented as a realized outcome, following its Chapter 11 filing. The appellate court is no longer being asked to prevent potential damage, but to assess whether the harm that has already occurred can be attributed to Nielsen’s challenged conduct — or to broader economic pressures facing the radio industry.”
My notes from a real useful session with Amazon’s Andy Slater, Audacy’s Michael Biemolt, and YouTube’s Neha Taleja, moderated by WTOP’S John Wardock.
ratio of the three measurement types and it’s notable that more than half of Joe Rogan’s consumption is audio. For comparison, the audience for Candace Owen’s “Candace” (#9) is mostly from video and video clips – split evenly between the two. “The Tucker Carlson Show” (#10) audience is predominantly from video clips, while The New York Times’ “The Daily” (#6) is almost exclusively consumed via audio. 
iHeart Audience Network’s “Stuff You Should Know” returns to the #1 spot. Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” is steady at #3, while Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” falls eight places to #14. 
newscast that some 700 stations respected enough to put on their air. Schwalb tells the Tribune, “Conversations have been going on since the announcement, and I think we get closer and closer to a decision every day. But we have to be very careful and be very diligent about making sure the product that we select is going to make sense from a listener perspective and a revenue perspective as well… CBS has been a great top-of-the-hour news piece for a long time, but it’s a very small percentage of what we do in a given hour between business, traffic and weather together on the eights, local news – the strongest local newsroom in Chicago radio.” 
with the station across town anymore. It’s competing with 50,000 news brands, nearly half a million podcasts, and an infinite scroll of feeds that never sleep.
As a newly minted program director (remember them?), I found the 1980 “NAB Radio Programming Conference” downright enchanting. New-tech cart machines (remember them?) would FIND the splice! And after the cart played, a flashing light saved careless DJs from accidentally playing it again.
The Key Networks nationally syndicated “Tony Katz Today” program adds new affiliates as WFDF, Detroit “910 Superstation” and WHBO-AM/W233CV, Tampa add the program to their lineups. The program airs daily from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET from flagship WIBC-FM, Indianapolis.
“I had a good run. I spent every cent I ever made… I would have rather saved some, but you can’t take it with you. I love you all. Thank you so much.” Barnes began his radio career in the 1980s at WEOK-WPDH in Poughkeepsie, followed by a nearly four-year run as an afternoon news anchor and reporter for WGHQ-WBPM in Kingston. He served as morning news anchor and news director for WSYR, Syracuse; worked at “All News 99.1 WNEW” in Washington, DC, as well as with USA Today Channel on SiriusXM in Washington; FOX News Radio in New York; and The Blaze Radio Network in Washington. DC. 
sports insight, humor, and a natural storyteller’s instinct that resonates far beyond the studio. Station programming operations manager Paul Mason comments, “Ron is a game‑changer. He brings energy, curiosity, and joy to everything he touches. Watching his growth – not just as a broadcaster, but as a leader and connector – has been incredible. His ceiling truly doesn’t exist, and we’re excited to see what this next chapter brings.” In addition to his work with “104.5 The Zone,” Slay serves as a college basketball analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network.
role with Crossover, Murphy will work to secure new content as well as to expand the company’s client portfolio. Crossover managing member Sue Freund says, “We’ve known and worked with John for many years; his excellent relationships throughout the content and advertising communities make him a tremendous addition to our team in building strategic partnerships with clients, agencies, and content providers as we continue to grow. He has a proven track record of building high-performing sales organizations, monetizing premium content, and delivering performance-driven advertising solutions for brands, agencies and media partners.” Murphy comments, “I’m excited to be joining Crossover Media Group. The team has built a strong reputation for delivering results-driven solutions for both creators and advertisers, and I look forward to contributing to that momentum. There’s a clear opportunity to unlock new growth across partnerships, and I’m eager to help scale the business while driving meaningful value for clients.”
show is hosted by Carl “Killer Carl” Brown and has been on the air for almost a decade and is part of the John Frederick Radio Network. Seaboard marketing solutions consultant Bob Stei says, “We welcome all shows that affiliates will desire. Carl seems to put his own views and thoughts first, and they are not based on just ideology. That is refreshing.” The program currently airs on stations throughout America including WJFM, Richmond; WJFV, Norfolk; WBRG, Lynchburg; and WLMB, Atlanta.
Time Spent Listening to podcasts has now surpassed TSL with spoken word radio. And both are fraught.
of 2025, net revenue was $741.6 million, a decrease of 10.3% from 2024. For the full year 2025, the company posted a loss of $200.7 million. Cumulus reports by segments and for all of 2025, broadcast revenue was $116.2 million, a decline of 22.2% from 2024. Even digital revenue fell in 2025 to $151.3 million, down 1.9%. Cumulus Media president and CEO Mary G. Berner says, “The Company’s recently announced financial restructuring marks an important step toward meaningfully reducing the debt burden that has constrained the business. Looking ahead, we remain focused on building on the core strengths of the Company to maximize value.”
The rise of independent, talk show-style political commentary on YouTube has created a new class of media actors who do not see themselves as broadcasters, journalists, or publishers. They see themselves as creators. That distinction is real in terms of identity, tone, and platform. It is not real where it matters most: liability.
deceased, known or unknown, in New Mexico who has made a meaningful impact on their community, through service, leadership, sacrifice, or simply showing up when it matters most. On May 4th, News Radio KKOB will begin announcing honorees, with four individuals recognized each weekday, leading up to a culminating event later this summer. KKOB program director Aaron “Buck” Burnett says, “250 Flags is about recognizing the people who don’t always get the spotlight. New Mexico is full of everyday heroes, and this gives us a chance to tell their stories and honor them in a meaningful way.”
from February in the top five as NPR’s “NPR News Now” stays in first place. Some moves of note include DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” rising one spot to #6; Silverloch’s “The Dan Bongino Show” falling two places to #11; and NPR’s “The NPR Politics Podcast” climbing 10 places to #19. 
Assessing the hourly threat to the very existence of the medium of radio is a popular hobby among conventioneers. The audience levels for radio are astonishingly constant since 1970, but according to “radio people,” they are living at the edge of a volcano. Spotify radio, SiriusXM radio, Pandora radio, TuneIn radio, Internet radio, there are all kinds of radio! General Motors wants to throw AM/FM radio out of the car as in “do you really need radio in the car?” Radio’s response to the in-car-removal threat is by promising non-stop typhoons and hurricanes.
the flagship for the Portland Fire. Select games will also simulcast on KRSK-FM “105.1 The Fan.” Portland Thorns games will air on KNRK-HD2 with 10 select games airing on “910 ESPN Portland.” Audacy Portland SVP of sales Ryan Cooley states, “We’re incredibly proud to welcome the Portland Fire and the Portland Thorns to the FAN Sports Network. Our city has long been a leader in supporting women’s sports, and we’re especially excited to welcome the Fire back to Portland after over two decades.”
In “
TALKERS “Heavy Hundred” national prominence for years, originally launching his daily three-hour “The Dr. Asa Show” on its flagship radio affiliate, iHeart’s WLAC, Nashville. Andrew has subsequently and simultaneously returned to his roots as a professional wrestler and recently joined TNA Wrestling as the company’s ringside physician and head of sports medicine.
Markets Group, including the radio stations, the iHeart live events and sponsorships; the radio networks businesses, including Premiere and TTWN; the Enterprise Business Development Group; and data targeting and attribution products for broadcast radio. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman states, “We couldn’t be more pleased that Ann Marie will be leading the growth and innovation efforts for our company’s largest segment. In addition to helping businesses and brands grow effectively and efficiently, the Multiplatform Group has been an important engine to develop our own important new businesses – including podcasting and the iHeartRadio digital service – as well as our iconic live music events and awards shows. We look forward to the additional growth that will come as we move broadcast radio into the digital buying world through our data services and programmatic platforms.” The company also announced that Bernie Weiss will be promoted to president of the Markets Group. Weiss will oversee the operations of the company’s 160 markets. Weiss was previously COO of the iHeartMedia Markets Group.
Suarez aboard as a contributor. FOX says Suarez will provide legal and political analysis across all network platforms. Suarez served as mayor of the city of Miami for two terms from 2017 to 2025. Currently, Suarez serves as president of Alpha Wave Global, an investment firm with nearly $30 billion in assets under management and is Of Counsel at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.