Search Results for “net” – Page 9 – TALKERS magazine

“Mike Crispi Unafraid” Joins Salem Podcast Network

By TALKERS | January 10, 2023 by TALKERS

Salem Media Group announces that the program “Mike Crispi Unafraid” officially joins the Salem Podcast Network. The daily show is hosted by television reporter, talk show host, and political operative Mike Crispi. Salem says, “During the 2020 election, he provided live coverage of political rallies and grassroots conservative events on Right Side Broadcasting. In the last year, he has hosted one of the most popular live shows on Rumble. He has worked on multiple campaigns at both the state and federal levels, including his own congressional campaign in New Jersey. Crispi comments, “It is a great honor to join forces with Salem Media. I have long admired their hosts, programming, and vision for the future of conservative media. This podcast has been a success since we started it last year, and I couldn’t think of a more genuine and authentic partner to help take it to the next level.”

Driven by Talk Radio, Gunhill Road Song “Idiots” Continues to Resonate on Internet

By TALKERS | January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 by TALKERS

The sharply satirical song “Idiots” from the forthcoming fifth album by heritage rock band Gunhill Road continues to gather an international following on the internet. Released in August 2022, the music video of the catchy song passed the 70,000 unique views mark this weekend on YouTube – making it the most-listened-to song in the 53 year old band’s colorful history since its 1973 hit single “Back When My Hair Was Short” (also a provocative social commentary). TALKERS founder Michael Harrison, who along with Steve Goldrich, Paul Reich and Brian Koonin, is a member of Gunhill Road and co-writer/lead vocalist for “Idiots,” says, “We are so grateful to talk radio for embracing this song and giving it an amazing amount of airplay – either in snippets or the entire piece – that has driven interest in the song, downloads on the internet and views of the video. Fortunately, the words and theme of ‘Idiots’ ties into talk radio’s topic menu, psyche and environment in a non-partisan, ‘equal opportunity offender’ way. I mean, who can stand the negative impact that widespread idiocy is having on our society, culture and democracy?” To view the “Idiots” music video, please click here. To arrange having Michael Harrison as a guest, please email info@talkers.com.

Syndicated Host Rob Carson Debuts on ‘The Pulse of New Hampshire’ Network

By TALKERS | January 3, 2023January 4, 2023 by TALKERS

Newsmax Radio’s “The Rob Carson Show” begins airing live today (1/3) on Binnie Media’s multi-signal network of news/talk stations branded “The Pulse of New Hampshire.” Carson’s program airs from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm on WTSN-FM, Dover; WTPL-FM, Hillsborough; WEMJ-FM, Laconia; as well as two HD2 signals. Newsmax says the network reaches a combined population of nearly a million listeners. Newsmax Radio CEO Lee Kinberg says, “I know firsthand the power of Binnie Media’s talk stations and we look forward to working with their great team and bringing Rob Carson to one of the most politically influential audiences in the country.” Binnie Media VP of programming Michael Czarnecki comments, “In the world of talk radio, we find so much of the same programming. We are thrilled at the addition of Rob Carson as this move, along with the recent addition of ‘America at Night’, and the rest of our dynamic lineup, make for a unique form of talk radio. Offering educated discussions and different perspectives on the topics of each day.” Carson’s program is now airing in 16 rated markets. In addition to the radio show and podcast, “Rob Carson’s What in the World,” a humorous review of the week’s news, airs every weekend on Newsmax TV.

Sabo Sez: Mitch Reed’s Deserved Award

By TALKERS | August 7, 2026August 7, 2026 by TALKERS

By Walter Sabo
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Host, The Other Side of Midnight
WABC, New York / Red Apple Audio Networks

The Radio Hall of Fame has just announced their “Legends” inductees, and it includes B. Mitchell Reed. YES!

One of the minor injustices of radio is the curious legacies of Tom Donahue and B. Mitchell Reed relative to the creation of free-form progressive rock radio. They were best friends with parallel careers. Both were top-of-their-game “screaming” Top 40 DJs. Tom in San Francisco, Mitch in LA and NYC. Top earnings, ratings, and both around 40 when they went to the Monterey Pop Festival. There they learned that their teens were changing fast. Harder rock, anger about Vietnam, and drugs. They knew their style of radio was out of synch with the moment.

Every day on his way to work in LA, Mitch drove past the Pasadena Presbyterian church and noticed a radio antenna on the grounds.

The tower was pumping out an FM signal that covered Los Angeles, broadcasting from the basement of the church. Underground. Mitch talked to the preacher he met along the way. And he bought time on the station at night and experimented with playing hard rock and a new form of presentation. His friend Donohue sent tapes from San Francisco, and the two of them created “free form” radio (also referred to as “underground” radio) from the basement of the church. The frequency became KPPC-FM.

Note: both of them created free-form radio at risk to their careers and income while over the age of 40. Tom continued as a progressive rock jock in San Francisco, and Mitch became an icon in Los Angeles as an album rock jock on KLOS and KMET. Oddly, Tom gets more of the image and credit, but they were very much partners.

BMR MH — B. Mitchell Reed (l), his wife Carol (c), and Michael Harrison (r) at KMET, Los Angeles in the late seventies.

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 “The Other Side of Midnight” is heard on WABC, New York and the Red Apple Audio Network 1:00 am – 5:00 am. 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. He can be phoned at 646-678-1110.

Dickey Broadcasting Announces Expanded Lineup on Sports Radio 680 The Fan

By TALKERS | August 7, 2026August 7, 2026 by TALKERS

Dickey Broadcasting Company announces, “an exciting new chapter” for Sports Radio 680 The Fan in Atlanta as veteran broadcaster John Kincade joins Matt Chernoff weekdays from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm for the all-new “Kincade & Chernoff Show.” The pairing brings together two of Atlanta’s most respected and recognizable sports radio personalities. The new show will feature the latest sports news, interviews, and debate.

As part of this programming change, station personality Chuck Oliver will continue to play an “impactful” role on The Fan while expanding his focus on “The Chuck Oliver Show,” heard across the Southern Sports Today Network. According to station management, Oliver remains an integral part of 680 The Fan’s programming and will continue to provide the station’s signature college football coverage and analysis through exclusive segments, special features, and fan-favorite promotions including “Win Chuck’s Dinner.” With his nationally recognized expertise, Oliver will also devote additional attention to growing “The Chuck Oliver Show,” further expanding coverage of SEC and ACC football, the College Football Playoff, recruiting, and the biggest stories from across the college football landscape throughout the Southeast.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all of our brands,” said David Dickey, president of Dickey Broadcasting Company. “John and Matt are an outstanding combination for afternoon drive, and our listeners should know that Chuck Oliver isn’t going anywhere. Chuck remains a huge part of The Fan and will continue to be our premier voice for college football through regular appearances, features, and promotions, while also expanding the reach of ‘The Chuck Oliver Show’ across the Southern Sports Today Network. These moves strengthen our commitment to delivering best-in-class sports programming both locally and throughout the Southeast.”

New England Talk Radio Icon Howie Carr to Give Public Talk on Corruption, Crime, and Politics at Hyannis Arts Hall

By TALKERS | August 4, 2026August 4, 2026 by TALKERS

Long known as the kind of radio talk show host who can “draw a crowd,” legendary New England personality, best-selling author, newspaper columnist, and broadcasting entrepreneur Howie Carr will bring his passion, wit, and personal experiences in journalism to the Hyannis Arts Hall stage on Sunday, August 16, where he will speak from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Carr, host of the largest regionally syndicated talk radio show in New England, will bring his unmistakable blend of outspoken passion and confrontational conservative politics to what is expected to be a sellout live audience. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com. In 2015, Howie Carr launched The Howie Carr Radio Network, the first major host-owned radio network in New England. Carr quickly grew his network from a few stations in Massachusetts to more than 20 terrestrial radio stations across New England. The Howie Carr Radio Network is the only radio network reaching a majority of the 14 million people living in New England. Carr has authored numerous books, including the bestselling The Brothers Bulger, Hitman, and other works focused on Boston’s underworld and political corruption. Copies of some titles will be available for sale at his appearance.

The Algorithm is Listening

By TALKERS | August 4, 2026August 5, 2026 by TALKERS

By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer

Radio once measured the audience… now digital platforms use the audience to decide what happens next

Radio programmers have always watched the audience. The difference for programmers today is that the audience can now watch back, respond instantly, influence the show, and determine whether the next person ever receives it.

That is the practical meaning of an algorithm for a broadcaster. It is not a mysterious robot hiding inside the black box of an enigmatic social platform. It is a set of instructions used to make decisions. On YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify, Twitch, and other services, those instructions help determine which content gets shown, to whom, in what order, and under what circumstances.

Radio has used simpler forms of algorithmic thinking for decades. A music clock is a set of instructions. So is a rule prohibiting two songs by the same artist within a specified period. Or two female vocals in a row. A programmer who schedules news at the top of the hour, traffic twice an hour, and the strongest feature before a commercial break has created a decision system.

Digital algorithms do something more consequential. They do not merely organize the program. They organize the audience around each individual piece of content.

From diaries to PPM

The traditional radio diary asked selected listeners to record what they heard and when they heard it. Nielsen defines the diary as a measurement method in which respondents manually record their listening habits. Those reported habits are then used to estimate listening across a larger market.

The system was necessarily crude. A diary could show that someone reported listening to a station during morning drive. It could not reliably establish whether that person loved the program, ignored it, hated it, stayed because the station was playing in a waiting room, or simply remembered the call letters incorrectly.

Still, the diary produced an enormously valuable number. Ratings influenced advertising rates, station formats, talent contracts, syndication opportunities, and management decisions. The ratings service measured the audience, but the station still controlled the programming and the transmitter.

The Portable People Meter changed the speed and granularity of that feedback. PPM panelists carry a small device that detects inaudible identification codes embedded in participating broadcasts. Instead of relying entirely on a listener’s memory and written entry, the meter passively detects exposure to encoded audio.

That gave programmers something closer to immediate feedback. They could study audience movement within smaller portions of a show, identify apparent tune-out points, compare features, evaluate commercial breaks, and make changes much more quickly.

PPM therefore became the bridge between traditional ratings and algorithmic distribution. The diary remembered the audience. PPM observed the audience more closely. Both still produced information for human beings to interpret.

A programmer could see a decline and decide to shorten a segment. The meter did not shorten it. A consultant could conclude that a feature hurt retention. The PPM system did not prevent tomorrow’s listeners from hearing it.

The algorithm closes that gap.

Salem’s WNYM, New York (AM 970 The Answer) Teams with Hofstra’s WRHU-FM to Produce Series of 9-11 Tributes

By TALKERS | August 3, 2026August 6, 2026 by TALKERS

In an impressive example of the productive synergy that can be generated by the teaming of campus and professional spoken word radio organizations,

.png — Jim Berghorn

Salem’s WNYM, New York (AM 970 The Answer) is running a series of vignettes collectively titled “Courage, Sacrifice and Commitment” during the months of August and early September, featuring tributes to 9-11 first responders. These short form productions highlight stories of New York City’s heroes and give first-person perspectives on what happened the day of and after 9-11. The stories are being produced by Hofstra University / WRHU-FM student journalist Annie Siddique, who has developed into what has been described by WNYM and WRHU management as a “master interviewer” in organizing and producing this campaign. To sample an episode of the program featuring a profile of retired FDNY Lt. Jim Berghorn, please use player below, or click here.

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Monday Memo: Trust is the New Currency

By TALKERS | August 3, 2026August 3, 2026 by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

It is now the ultimate competitive advantage, and for broadcasters it’s a survival strategy. In The Five-Year Century: Bold Leadership and Accelerated Outcomes in the Age of AI, Mihir Shukla and Nancy Hauge explain how—as artificial intelligence accelerates change and demographics reshape the audience—trust becomes the only durable asset radio and television can bank on.

The book describes a 2026 world where the “twin engines” of growth—population and productivity—have stalled. Birth rates are plunging, workforces are shrinking, and productivity has flatlined across most industries. Meanwhile, AI is compressing decades of innovation into months. This collision creates what the authors call “The Five-Year Century,” in which the pace of change overwhelms institutions built for slower times—broadcasting, for instance.

Radio and television were built on industrial-era assumptions: mass audiences, standardized programming, rigid schedules, and hierarchical decision-making. Those assumptions worked when the audience was broad, predictable, and captive. On February 9, 1964, the Beatles tripled Ed Sullivan’s ratings. Back to the future…

AI is rewriting the rules of content creation, distribution, and consumption. Personalized news feeds, customized ad loads, and algorithmic programming are expectations. Younger audiences don’t wait for a newscast; they expect a feed. They don’t tune in; they scroll. They don’t accept one-size-fits-all; they demand one-size-fits-me.

In this environment, trust becomes the new currency because it’s the one thing AI cannot manufacture.

Broadcasting’s advantage has always been credibility. When a storm hits, people still turn to local radio. When a shelter-in-place alert hits their phone, they still switch on local TV. That instinct is powerful, but it’s not permanent. Trust must be earned continuously, especially as AI-generated misinformation floods the ecosystem.

The book’s chapter on the “Trust Economy” makes a critical point: trust accelerates outcomes. High-trust organizations move faster, innovate more boldly, and adapt more effectively. For broadcasters, trust accelerates audience loyalty, advertiser confidence, and community relevance. But trust now requires new behaviors.

It requires transparency about how AI is used in newsrooms. It requires clarity about what is human judgment and what is machine assistance. It requires authenticity as AI-generated talent becomes increasingly commonplace—and increasingly convincing.

Trust requires broadcasters to lean into what humans do best: context, empathy, moral reasoning, and community connection. The book reminds us that “work worthy of human potential” is work that machines cannot replicate. For broadcasters, that means storytelling, accountability journalism, and the human presence that makes local media local.

By all means, assign AI the routine tasks: editing, logging, transcription, versioning, and production. Then reinvest the human time you save in the relationship between a station and its community. In The Five-Year Century, trust isn’t just a virtue. It’s a conspicuous differentiator. It’s the currency that will determine which broadcasters thrive and which fade into the noise of an algorithmic world. As our industry suffers workforce cutbacks, we risk downsizing trust.

To read two sample chapters and watch a short video interview with the authors, click here.

Holland Cooke is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn.

Radio Hall of Fame Announces “Legends” Inductees

By TALKERS | August 3, 2026August 3, 2026 by TALKERS

The Radio Hall of Fame announced today (8/3) the selection of nine 2026 Legends inductees. These individuals were selected by the Radio Hall of Fame’s 2026 Nominating Committee, which meets annually to recognize deceased individuals who made significant contributions to the radio industry. The Radio Hall of Fame is housed within the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

The following nine radio legends take their place in the Radio Hall of Fame immediately:

Lin Brehmer — on-air personality
Vivian Carter — on-air personality and record company executive
Dale Dorman — on-air personality
Gary Krantz — network radio and syndication executive
Wink Martindale — on-air personality, game show host, and television producer
B. Mitchell Reed — on-air personality
Pierre Robert — on-air personality
Polito Vega — on-air personality
D.E. “Duke” Wright — radio station owner and executive

Dennis Green, co-chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, tells TALKERS: “The Radio Hall of Fame is proud to honor this year’s Legends inductees, whose extraordinary careers have helped define the history and enduring impact of radio. From iconic on-air personalities to visionary executives, each has left an indelible mark on our industry and earned their rightful place in the Radio Hall of Fame.”

Kraig Kitchin, co-chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, adds: “It’s an honor and privilege to witness the induction of these radio industry legends. We hope this recognition of their industry contributions benefits their family, colleagues, friends, and listeners.”

The Radio Hall of Fame will recognize its 2026 class of inductees at the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Fairmont Chicago. Tickets are on sale now at RadioHallOfFame.com. A portion of each ticket purchase is a tax-deductible charitable donation to the Museum of Broadcast Communications.`

FCC’s Gomez Comments on ABC-Disney Case After Public Comment Period Closes

By TALKERS | July 31, 2026 by TALKERS

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez continues to address the Commission’s forcing ABC/Disney to go through an early license renewal for its eight owned-and-operated television stations ostensibly for “news distortion.” After the recent close of the public comment period in the matter, Gomez states, “When given the chance to weigh in on whether to allow the FCC to continue its campaign of censorship and control, the American public showed up in a big way, and the vast majority who spoke up delivered the same message. They believe in the value of their local news, they trust those who cover their communities, and they understand that the FCC has no business deciding who is a journalist and what counts as real news. A small number of partisan voices tried to hijack this process into a referendum on a network they dislike, but the public refuses to let local stations become collateral damage in the FCC’s political games. The FCC has no authority to police the ideological balance of the airwaves, and no matter what this Commission does next, the record now makes clear that this was never a genuine search for the public interest.”

Gomez’s press release adds, “In the docket covering the early license renewal proceeding, the agency received more than 150,000 comments. In the docket covering the FCC’s effort to unwind a more than two-decade old precedent recognizing the interview portion of ‘The View’ as a bona fide news program, the agency received nearly 80,000 comments. In both dockets, totaling more than 230,000 comments, the vast majority of commenters defended the stations and rejected the FCC’s attempt to use its licensing authority to punish constitutionally protected speech.”

WTOP Ends 103.9 FM Simulcast; K-Love Takes Over

By TALKERS | July 31, 2026 by TALKERS

Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM, Washington will cease its simulcast on the Frederick, Maryland station WTLP-FM (licensed to Braddock Heights) at 103.9 FM and the company will begin leasing it to the Christian music network K-LOVE on August 1. WTOP general manager Joel Oxley states, “Our main signal on 103.5 FM covers most of Frederick County’s population and with the advent of streaming, listeners can get us anywhere in the country.” WTOP began simulcasting on 103.9 FM in 2007.

Sabo Sez: It’s All Media

By TALKERS | July 31, 2026July 31, 2026 by TALKERS

Sabo Sez: It’s All Media

By Walter Sabo
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Host, The Other Side of Midnight
WABC, New York / Red Apple Audio Networks

“It’s all media,” declared accomplished media executive Jack Griffin when confronted with brand new definitions of content and content distribution. Jack, for years, was president of Meredith Publishing, Time Inc., and The Tribune Company. I met Jack when he was publisher of PARADE magazine. Jack is pragmatic, won’t waste your time and spots BS faster than most humans. We were listening to discussions of the impact of online media versus traditional media, and his line was running out. Jack declared “It’s all media” and the meeting blessedly ended. The phrase haunts me and it is being proven true every second of every day.

Steve Goldstein, CEO of Podcast consultancy, AMPLIFI, published a white paper on the growing acceptance of podcasts in the dashboards of media buyers. The paper tackles the challenge industry committees have had defining a podcast! [link]

Answer: It defines a podcast as an on-demand, spoken-word show intelligible with your eyes closed – video and RSS are both allowed, neither required.

The definition of a podcast is simple, broad, and can be met by any podcaster! And every person and entity is making a podcast. Follow that through to what Griffin declared.

VOGUE magazine puts out podcasts constantly. By most definitions they are really good and brand appropriate. Pretty, gossipy, urgent and current. Much more entertaining than the magazine. The New York Times has more podcast viewers than newspaper readers.

The ever-prescient Michael Harrison was right on the money more than two decades ago when he coined the term “media station” to describe the multi-media platform potential of ANY then-traditional venue such as radio and TV stations, newspapers, magazines, books, and cinema. The media station has since become a reality and the podcast is one of its main engines.

NPR leads the top 20 lists of podcasters, and they can sell advertising in their podcasts without violating their prime directive.

It’s all media

When brands evolve from their original product and mission to a podcast, their methodology for success changes but not their definition of success. Brands want revenue and profit. If a brand’s assets can generate the most profit through podcasts, then podcasts will become their business.

Audience time with media is the target. Capturing their time. Not viewership, listenership, readership, attention: T I M E because it’s ALL MEDIA.

Ultimately a corporate entity’s starter business could be shuttered in order to grow its podcast. Good to note that every single newspaper and magazine publisher has one fantasy: Get rid of the paper. Your competition isn’t WXXX it is becoming the VOGUE podcast.

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 “The Other Side of Midnight” is heard on WABC, New York and the Red Apple Audio Network 1:00 am – 5:00 am. 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. He can be phoned at 646-678-1110.

TALKERS News Notes

By TALKERS | July 31, 2026 by TALKERS

NYPR Announces Collaboration with URL Media. New York Public Radio is collaborating with URL Media, a network of more than 50 independent publishers and content creators serving diverse communities across the United States. NYPR president and CEO Christy Tanner says, “New coalitions, bold approaches, and radical collaborations such as our work with URL are essential as we lead a new era of democracy where journalism and creativity thrive, facts unite us, and power answers to the people. Our collaboration with URL Media is a call to action and an invitation to reimagine how creators and media organizations can collectively amplify impact and build community.”

WUSF Plans Expanded Election Coverage. Listener-supported radio station WUSF, Tampa announces a project to produce dramatically expanded news coverage and resources for voters in advance of elections across Florida this year. The station says it is enlisting more reporters into this effort, including journalists from the WUSF newsroom, plus student journalists from the University of South Florida, and partner public media stations across the state. WUSF general manager Leslie Laney states, “The result is the residents of this state will have access to some of our strongest-ever election coverage. And as part of our public service mission, all of this coverage will be free – not behind a paywall.”

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (July 27-31)

By TALKERS | July 31, 2026 by TALKERS

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (7/27-31) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

U.S.-Iran War / Hamas Disarmament Deal
Fauci Hearing
Graham Ceremonies
ICE Operations
Gas Prices / Financial Markets / Fed Policy
Trump Polls / November Mid-Terms
Mail-In Voting Reforms
Blanche Confirmation Delay / Comey Prosecution
Mitch McConnell Health
European Wildfires

People

Donald Trump
Benjamin Netanyahu
Anthony Fauci / Rand Paul
Lindsey Graham / Darline Graham
JD Vance
Tom Homan
Kevin Warsh
Mike Johnson
Todd Blanche / James Comey
Mitch McConnell

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

MIW Announces Fourth Annual Speak Up! Mentorship Program

By TALKERS | July 30, 2026 by TALKERS

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio says the application window is open for its Fourth Annual Speak Up! Mentorship Program in partnership with Media Staffing Network. The application period runs through Friday, August 28. The program was created in honor of the late founder of Media Staffing Network, Laurie Kahn. MIW says Speak Up! is a year-long mentorship program designed to empower women working in small- and medium-market radio stations across all departments. One outstanding candidate will receive personalized mentorship from MIW’s network of female broadcast leaders, complemented by executive coaching from Media Staffing Network’s certified coaches. Get more info and apply here.

JFMN Partners with Past the Wire Sports

By TALKERS | July 29, 2026 by TALKERS

The John Fredericks Media Network enters into a relationship with the sports wagering media company Past The Wire Sports that will the company’s content appear across JFMN’s more than 20 terrestrial radio stations and connected TV, as well as its digital assets, beginning August 3. JFMN notes that Past The Wire Sports has evolved from a horse racing media brand into a platform covering sports wagering, prediction markets, professional sports, premium video programming, and proprietary technology.

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (7/27)

By TALKERS | July 28, 2026 by TALKERS

The most discussed stories yesterday (7/27) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

U.S.-Iran War / Trump to Meet with Netanyahu and Zelensky
Trump Asks SCOTUS to Approve Mail-In Voting Reforms
Rand Paul Releases Fauci Diary Content
Trump Polls / November Midterm Elections
Wildfires

Monday Memo: AI Can’t Fake Real

By TALKERS | July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 by TALKERS

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

In Full Stack Human: The Mindset Upgrade You Need to Stay Human in a World Ruled by Technology (2026, Wiley Books) Dara Simkin and Tane Hunter describe a 2026 media landscape where people face information overload, shrinking attention spans, negativity fatigue, algorithmic manipulation, and constant distraction.

The irony is that radio may win the future not by becoming more like technology, but by becoming more human. In an age of artificial everything, that’s the sustainable competitive advantage local radio has. And the more crowded the media landscape becomes, the more valuable radio’s unique strengths become.

Consider what today’s digital platforms do best. They personalize content as algorithms learn what users like and deliver more of it. Streaming services can build custom playlists. Social media feeds are tailored to individual interests. AI can generate content instantly.

What those platforms cannot do is belong to a community. Spotify doesn’t know why I-95 is jammed. TikTok doesn’t care that the town council just approved a controversial zoning change. An AI-generated playlist can’t tell listeners where to find shelter during a storm or why Friday night’s high school football game matters. Local radio can. And as media becomes increasingly global, local content becomes increasingly scarce. And scarcity creates value.

Citing research, the book points to another opportunity: Digital platforms are optimized to trigger emotion, especially outrage and conflict – the 1990s talk radio caricature on steroids. The result is a public that often feels overwhelmed, exhausted, and anxious.

Listeners want information, and are looking for context, usefulness, connection, and (dare we?) a reason to smile. Stations willing to do more than simply amplify the argument du jour become indispensable. Winners deliver local information, from trusted voices, a genuine connection that answers the listener’s constant question: “What’s in this for me?”

Click here to read a free sample chapter of “Full Stack Human: The Mindset Upgrade You Need to Stay Human in a World Ruled by Technology.”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

WIBC-FM News Director John Herrick Exits

By TALKERS | July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by TALKERS

News/talk WIBC-FM, Indianapolis news director John Herrick reveals that he’s been let go by the Urban One station after three years as news director. He posted to Facebook: “I am proud of the work we accomplished and the stories we were able to tell on behalf of our listeners. I especially appreciate the trust and support of the people who welcomed us into their lives through our reporting. While this chapter has come to an end, I remain committed to the values that have guided my career: serving the public, pursuing the truth, and treating people with fairness and respect. I want to thank my colleagues, mentors, friends, and family – especially my wife and sons – for their support throughout this journey. I look forward to what comes next and the opportunity to continue contributing meaningful work. I will still be broadcasting games, and I will continue to be a member of the Indiana University Radio Network.” This comes on the heels of the spring firing of late morning talk host Rob Kendall and the subsequent exit of late morning co-host Casey Daniels, who left of her own volition.

“The Ramsey Show” Ranked #2 Business Podcast by Edison

By TALKERS | July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by TALKERS

Edison Research spotlights the world of Business podcasts – shows focusing on personal finance, corporate management and finance, entrepreneurship, and wealth management – consumed in the U.S. and writes that based on data from the first quarter of 2026 for its Edison Podcast Metrics, Business is the seventh most popular podcast genre among weekly U.S. consumers 13+, surpassing Religion & Spirituality, Health & Fitness, and Music, among others. Edison ranks the top 10 Business podcasts and NPR’s “Planet Money” is #1, followed by the Ramsey Network’s “The Ramsey Show” at #2. When ranking shows of all podcast genres, “The Ramsey Show” ranks #41 in the U.S. based on Edison’s Q2 2026 Top 50 Podcasts chart.

SRN to Cover Graham Services

By TALKERS | July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 by TALKERS

Salem Radio Network is presenting comprehensive coverage of ceremonies honoring the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday, July 28 at the U.S. Capitol and at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, as well as on Wednesday from the State Capitol in Columbia, South Carolina. SRN News says White House correspondent Willie Nelson will be on-site at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday during the hours Senator Graham’s body will be lying in state and will provide interviews with lawmakers and citizens on the scene who come to pay their respects to Senator Graham. Additionally, on Wednesday SRN nationally syndicated talk host Mike Gallagher will be on-site in Columbia where Senator Graham’s life will be honored, prior to his private burial later that afternoon in Graham’s hometown of Central, South Carolina.

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (July 20-24)

By TALKERS | July 24, 2026 by TALKERS

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (7/20-24) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

U.S.-Iran Hostilities Intensify
Houthi Red Sea Attacks / Oil Prices Climb
U.S.-Saudi Arabia Nuclear Deal
House Passes Military Spending Bill
Hegseth on Capitol Hill
Trump Defers CA and MN Medicaid Payments / Trump Tariffs
ICE Killings
Primary Races
Darline Graham to Run for Full Term
Tropical Storm Bertha

People

Donald Trump
Mohammed bin Salman
Benjamin Netanyahu
JD Vance
Marco Rubio
Mike Johnson
Pete Hegseth
Jay Feeley / Amish Shah
Darline Graham
Mitch McConnell

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

TALKERS Marks 36th Anniversary

By TALKERS | July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 by TALKERS

Today marks the 36^th anniversary of the launch of the broadcast industry trade journal, TALKERS. The first issue of TALKERS rolled off the presses as a tabloid-style newspaper on Monday, July 23, 1990.

The publication was the brainchild of Michael Harrison, who had already made his mark as a radio broadcasting pioneer (often referred to as “the father of AOR radio”) and trade magazine editor (Radio & Records, Billboard) when he conceived a periodical devoted to chronicling the development and growth of what he envisioned as “the coming talk radio phenomenon of the nineties.” The publication went on to publish as a newspaper on newsprint evolving into a glossy magazine and eventually an online publication fully devoted to serving the needs of talk radio and eventually a variety of spoken word platforms that have collectively become known as talk media. TALKERS also contributed to the growth of the field by producing 28 national conventions / conferences in New York and two in Los Angeles, more than 50 groundbreaking radio rows, dozens of talk show host tours of international hot spots, and thousands of hours of spoken word syndicated and online programming. Throughout its colorful history, TALKERS always maintained a neutral position regarding politics except for, as Harrison puts it, “unwavering support of the First Amendment.”

“Stuff You Should Know” Remains Atop Triton’s U.S. Podcast Ranker

By TALKERS | July 23, 2026 by TALKERS

Triton Digital publishes its U.S. Podcast Ranker (based on weekly average downloads for participating networks) for June 2026 and Audioboom’s “Stuff You Should Know” keeps its #1 position. Podcasts connected to the news/talk media industry include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” falls one spot to #5; iHeart Audience Network’s “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” rises two places to #15; and Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” tumbles eight places to #20. See the complete ranker here.