Pending Business: Post-Game
By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President
In case you missed it, honesty was on full display at Friday’s TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond conference.
Sometimes honest or transparent B2B conversations are difficult to digest. But when the truth is presented in an open forum designed to educate and motivate better to listen closely.
High five to keynoter Glenn Beck who shared his personal journey from the bottom to the top. His keynote was clear, honest messaging. Fame and fortune are no substitute for being true to yourself, honest about why and what you do in this business. What will you contribute that will make a difference? Love him or hate him, Beck is a proven, successful professional at what he does best: make you think.
Straight forward hallway conversations with fellow panelist Vince Benedetto, CEO of Bold Gold Media, were philosophical eye openers. Vince is a young, successful owner operator of small and medium market radio stations. Why is radio perceived as a “still is” good business when all his teams know is today’s success? Did someone tell him sales orders rolled in on fax machines? If that was the case, maybe radio stations should go back to faxing. Vince has no rear-view mirror, no experience with the “good old days” – just today’s and tomorrow’s successful opportunities. I explained to Vince, I’ve worked with the frenemy, and it is the generation ahead of him. We who overlook and assume the basics of over 90% radio listenership. It is us who need a look in the mirror!
A moment of honesty comment from John Caracciolo, CEO of JVC Media, was short and to the point, “Where are the bankers?” Nowhere near most local radio station owner operators. Maybe that will change as more terrestrial radio owners, managers, and talent fast forward embracing the future of digital and social media integration.
The research Salem Media Group SVP Phil Boyce shared was inspiring and thought provoking. His numbers tell the compelling story of audience dynamics and choices, especially when we hear how people are listening to radio for longer periods of time. Does anyone honestly care to pitch that key sales point?
Let’s wrap this column up with three key takeaways from the conference:
1. The radio business is alive but wrestling with a future crowded by aggressive competition from the new digital/social media frontier.
2. Successful leaders need trusted, experienced collaborators. Learn from the great Warren Buffet.
3. It takes passion, commitment, expertise, and a great team to stage the annual TALKERS conference. Thank you, Michael Harrison. I learned a lot!
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.
Bill Doyle from the co-host role. The new “Deminski & Moore” show airs from 2:00pm to 7:00 pm. Deminski states, “The stupid robots in grocery aisles, your phone that fell in a toilet, the governor’s hairstylist somehow avoiding charges, the fact that Kylie still doesn’t understand how to eat M&Ms, the neurosis we all have and never dare talk about. Kylie is fun, smart, and unique. I love the wide range of topics we’ll be able to cover.” Moore says, “I’m excited to partner with Jeff Deminski. He’s one of the hardest-working and most genuine people I know, and you can hear his passion through the airwaves. He can make me laugh, think critically, and argue with him all before we hit our first traffic break!”
is launching a private placement offering seeking to raise up to $225 million.” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy adds, “While achieving significant success, Newsmax has stayed true to our mission of providing Americans with honest and real news. Now more than ever, especially in this election year of 2024, America needs Newsmax and you can join with us as an investor.” The current private offering currently consists of shares of the Company’s Series B 7% Convertible Preferred Stock for a maximum Offering amount of up to $225 million.
approximately $2.1 million compared to net income of $34.3 million for 2022. For the first quarter of 2024, net revenue was approximately $104.4 million, a decrease of 5% from the same period in 2023. Broadcast and digital operating income was approximately $32 million, a decrease of 18.5% from the same period in 2023. Net income was approximately $7.5 million compared to a loss of $2.9 million for the same period in 2023. Urban One CEO and president Alfred C. Liggins, III states, “Our Adjusted EBITDA for FY23 came in just above the high-end of our previous guidance at $128.4 million. As expected, we suffered a drop in radio division broadcast cash flow as a result of reduced political advertising compared to Q4 2022. Other divisions performed broadly in line with expectations, although the continuing churn in cable television subscribers remains an industry-wide concern. For Q1 our national radio revenues were hit by tough comparatives on a handful of large clients plus a general softness in the market. Second quarter radio pacing’s are sequentially better, with same station core revenues down mid-single-digits and low-single digits including political… We are optimistic about political advertising revenues for the remainder of the year, which should benefit both our radio and digital divisions. During Q1 we repurchased $75 million of our 2028 notes at 88.3%, and we ended the quarter with approximately $155.7 million of cash.”
Township, Pennsylvania over a disputed tax bill. This settlement in principle remains 
News Now” and “Up First” at #2 and #3 respectively. Other podcasts of note include FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” rises one spot to #7; The DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” moves up one to #8 and “The Dan Bongino Show” also climbs one spot to #9. 
bestselling author Joe Garner. The podcast is being co-executive produced by Paul Bahr of Peachtree Sound and Ron Hartenbaum of WYD Media. Garner says, “In each episode, we explore the hidden aspects of everyday life. From why popcorn pops to the science behind your favorite songs. ‘OK Now You Know’ offers a fresh look at the world around us.” Hartenbaum adds, “We’re not just sharing information; we’re inspiring curiosity. ‘OK Now You Know’ makes every day a chance to learn something new.”
Saturdays at 10:00 am ET on SiriusXM’s bipartisan P.O.T.U.S. channel. This show will contain major interviews and showcase conversations and debates with Mediaite writers and editors, along with top reporters from various outlets. These roundtable discussions will cover the intersection of media and politics, the inner workings of the media world, and the biggest industry stories of the week. The inaugural episode features an in-depth interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.
podcasts in the United Kingdom, but UK podcast listeners love Joe Rogan as his “Joe Rogan Experience” show is #1 for the survey period there as well as in the U.S. The only other U.S.-produced podcast making the top 25 for Q1 of this year in the UK was The New York Times’ “The Daily,” finishing #22.
from London tomorrow and Sunday (6/8-9) as the Phillies take on the New York Mets in the MLB’s London Series. to broadcast Major League Baseball’s London Series as the Phillies take on the New York Mets June 8 and 9. To celebrate the weekend, “The WIP Morning Show” broadcast live from Passyunk Avenue, London’s Philadelphia-themed bar, this morning (6/7) and will do the same on Monday (6/10).
Pelicans had been heard on iHeartMedia’s WRNO-FM. Audacy New Orleans SVP and market manager Dan Barron states, “We are honored to extend our partnership with the New Orleans Saints and excited to bring the New Orleans Pelicans into the WWL family. This agreement reaffirms our dedication to providing fans with the best sports broadcasting in the region. We are proud to be the go-to source for Saints and Pelicans coverage and are excited to bring every thrilling moment to our listeners.”
podcast dedicated to telling the stories of the all-time great players who are enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The new program, titled, “The Road to Cooperstown,” debuts on June 8 and airs every Saturday at 9:00 am ET on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio channel. Season one will run from June through October and each week’s episode will feature a long form conversation between SiriusXM host Jon Paul Morosi and a different Hall of Famer.
introduced to their audience. Brittany Arneson and Kendall Mark will host the “Brittany & Kendall” show beginning July 8. Arneson joined KTMY in 2019, filling in on the “Lori & Julia” show as well as hosting events and assisting with social media and video content. She also previously served with KQRS-FM and as a co-host of the “Tom Barnard Podcast.” Mark has been serving with KMSP-TV “FOX 9” and as part of “The Jason Matheson Show.”
titled, ‘The Chosen One.’ This song was inspired by the media firestorm across the globe in July 2019 when I said on my Newsmax TV show Trump was ‘like the King of the Jews and the Chosen One.’” Root debuted the song on his Real America’s Voice TV show, “The Root Reaction” and on his Talk Media Network nationally syndicated radio show. Root adds, “In light of this unprecedented persecution, indictments and now unjust conviction of President Trump, this is the perfect song and video, at the perfect time, and the perfect place, to lift the spirits of President Trump and the MAGA world, and to show the world President Trump is on a mission from God to make America great again.” 
columnist John Heilemann called, “Impolitic with John Heilemann.” New episodes will drop each Tuesday and Thursday. Audacy Podcasts EVP Jenna Weiss-Berman says, “We couldn’t be more excited to expand our thriving Puck slate with ‘Impolitic’ especially in this election year. John is a singular political journalist whose incisive and insightful analysis and reporting will keep listeners informed leading up to November and beyond.”
downloads, listens, or views never contemplated a device utilized by multiple people. What we have uncovered is that there is actually a fair amount of co-listening to podcasts that takes place. Whether it be with kids, friends, or family, the podcast industry is leaving ears on the table. There is a richer consumption story to be told as it is not just one person per download. For agencies and media planners, being able to examine co-listening by genre or podcast can offer invaluable insights into reaching the true audience.” Other notable findings include: 1) Marketers targeting people with a side hustle will find a rich concentration among men, heavy, and 18-34 podcast consumers; 2) Podcast pioneers and women like to go back to listen to back episodes and episodes they missed; 3) YouTube has been the most utilized podcast listening platform in the U.S. over the past year and a half: 31% say it is the platform they use the most, followed by Spotify (21%) and Apple (12%); and 4) As the world’s entertainment search engine, YouTube is the dominant podcast discovery platform where audiences are more likely to find podcasts. 
WTOP.com, Outstanding Newscast and the Best in Show Award for all radio for Outstanding News Operation. WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler comments, “In addition to the breaking news, traffic and weather WTOP offers, we have also made a concerted effort to offer a balanced news diet to our consumers across platforms. There are great ‘good news’ stories happening across the DC region every day. It is a great honor to see some of them honored in this way.”
Almost everything I know about pricing strategy I learned from domestic airlines. Guess what? Airlines are at it again and I hope you are watching and learning.
reach. “Republicans listen to more AM/FM radio than other groups, with an index of 109 (or 9% more listening than average). The ad-supported spoken-word channels on SiriusXM are a particularly efficient place to find Republicans, with an index of 146. Meanwhile, podcasts stand out as the more efficient platform for reaching Democrats, indexing at 121. And what about those elusive Independents, who often tip an election? Both streaming music, and in particular music videos on YouTube, over-deliver for these potential voters, with indexes of 103 and 123 respectively.” Edison adds, “Regardless of the party that buyers are trying to reach with political ads, audio stands out as a superior pathway to reaching voters. Audio provides enormous audiences and often a far less cluttered political environment than other ad channels.”
digital. iHeartMedia Cleveland market president Keith Hotchkiss says, “We are delighted to announce the well-deserved promotions of Cindy Hunter and Lauren O’Brien within our sales leadership team. Their exceptional skills, dedication, and vision will undoubtedly propel our market forward and reinforce our commitment to delivering innovative solutions and remarkable experiences for our clients.”
East, the Newscast category for its July 2023 coverage of the Commanders sale and the Overall Excellence category. The WTOP digital team was recognized overall in the Digital category for WTOP.com. Individual awards went to WTOP reporter Matt Kaufax in the Feature Reporting category for his piece on Martin’s Tavern turning 90 and to WTOP associate producer Veronica Canales in the Excellence in Writing Category for her piece on the Dr. Seuss Experience. WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler comments, “Our team’s mission every day is to deliver the latest news to the DC region and help the people who live in our communities. It is a huge honor to be recognized for that work with six regional Murrow awards.”