Industry News

Free Fisher House Radio Special Available for Fourth of July Weekend

Fisher House Foundation is offering its Independence Day edition of “The Fisher House Story” to talk stations for free. “The Fisher House Story” radio special is available in varying lengths – three-hour, one-hour, 30-minutes and 25-minutes for news/talk stations plus a 30-minute public affairs version for all radio formats. It’s imghosted by nationally syndicated talk radio pro Larry O’Connor features interviews with wounded warriors and veterans including heroes from Operation Enduring Freedom, the Vietnam War and an incredible, emotional story of one of America’s World War II living legends. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during medical care. Register for the show here.

Industry News

iHeartMedia Cuts Hit KXNO, Des Moines Hosts

As the staffing cuts announced by iHeartMedia become public, we’re learning about some of those who worked in spoken-word formats who’ve been affected. Sports talk hosts at the company’s KXNO, Des Moines exiting the station include: Sean Roberts, imgLucas Strain and Connor Ferguson of the afternoon show “Off The Bench” are out, as are hosts of “The 1st Quarter,” Heather Burnside and Alec Busse. Roberts says in a Facebook post, “Earlier today after our show myself as many others were laid off at iHeart Des Moines. I’m not angry or am going to blame anyone… it’s part of the business. You can have good ratings, good revenue etc… Doesn’t matter… your number on that excel sheet can be picked any day. I sit here proud of my career in radio and proud of what we did at KXnO. I’ve been doing sports talk radio in Des Moines since 2014 and it’s been a hell of a ride with so many people to thank.”

Industry News

Radio Talk Show Host Martha Zoller Passes Away

As TALKERS reported in a breaking news alert yesterday afternoon (6/22), North Georgia-based talk radio mainstay Martha Zoller passed away at the age of 67 on Monday.  Zoller recently announced in TALKERS that she imgwould be retiring from daily talk show hosting later this summer on Jacobs Media’s WDUN-AM/FM, Gainesville, where she presided over a hugely popular midday program since 2019. The decision was made due to heart-related health issues.  She planned to remain with the powerful station as an occasional political consultant and commentator. Zoller, the 2023 recipient of the TALKERS “Woman of the Year” award, was an influential figure in Georgia politics having run for Congress in the U.S. 9th District as a Republican in 2012. Before that she served her first stint as a radio talk show host in North Georgia for a number of years. She was also a member of the State Board of Education representing District 9 in Northeast, Georgia in addition to engaging in a number of other community-oriented activities.

TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison stated, “We knew that she was dealing with heart issues after a recent, unexpected cardiac episode and her withdrawal from a speaking role at the recent TALKERS conference, but this terrible news came as a shock because we all thought she was basically on the mend.  Martha was a woman of great strength, energy, and character – a truly beloved figure in the broadcasting industry. This is a horrible loss to her family and friends, as well as being a devastating blow to talk radio in America.”

Memorial Park Funeral Home Riverside Chapel in Gainesville will be handling funeral arrangements.

See a video excerpt of Zoller accepting the “Woman of the Year” award from TALKERS in 2023 here.

Uncategorized

“Stuff You Should Know” Tops Triton Digital’s May Podcast Ranker

Triton Digital releases its U.S. Podcast Ranker for May (based on weekly average downloads for participating networks) and reports imgthat iHeart Audience Network’s “Stuff You Should Know” rises one place to #1, displacing Audioboom’s “Pod Save America” (#2). Other noteworthy changes include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” falling one spot to #4; Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” moving back four places to #12; and American Public Media Group’s “Marketplace” rising one place to #11. See the complete ranker here.

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Tackles Radio’s Modern Era Challenges

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Pictured above:  The “Gaining Traction in a Noisy Digital World” panel at TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter. Appearing l-r: Moderator Mike McVay, president McVay Media Consulting; Sherry Goldman, founder, Goldman Communications Group; Heather Cohen, president, The Weiss Agency; Rob Carson, host, Newsmax Radio; Ryan McCormick, co-founder, Goldman McCormick PR; and Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, host, “The Joe Pags Show,” Compass Media Networks.

The 28th annual edition of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important national gathering – TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter – took place at the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication on the Long Island, NY campus of Hofstra University last Friday (6/5). It was produced in conjunction with Hofstra’s multi-Marconi Award winning campus radio station, WRHU-FM. The vibrant, sold-out gathering presented 65 speakers and 338 registered attendees engaged in the sharing of perspectives, advice, and ideas within the fertile environment of dynamic collegial networking.

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Pictured above: “The State of Sports Talk Radio” one-on-one session featuring (l-r) facilitator, Harry Hurley, morning host, WPG, Atlantic City, NJ; and special guest, Ryan Hurley, brand manager, WFAN, New York, NY. NOTE: The Hurleys are not related.

The main themes of the 14-hour conference included an intense focus on the future of radio and talk media in the multi-platform digital world of the second quarter of the 21st century.  These included exploration of such existential questions as how to gain profile traction in a noisy world; how to regain the public’s trust in the media; how to meet the challenge of generating revenue in a fractured and challenging economy; what entrepreneurial opportunities exist for individuals and independent companies in this new environment; how to expand programming options; how to recruit new talent; how to attract younger demos; how to deal with the enormous unforgiving power of algorithms in scoring the game; how to effectively control and exploit AI; how to make a living in this business; and so much more.

Speakers and attendees included a cross-section of talk media professionals from the worlds of talent, management, ownership, syndication, journalism, engineering, politics, sports, the law, academia, and music – even pro-wrestling!

Beginning next week, TALKERS will provide in-depth photo, video, and story coverage of the historic event.  Stand by!

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Generates Treasure Trove of Content and Takeaways

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Pictured above:  The “Programming News/Talk” panel at TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter.  Appearing l-r: Greg Stocker, brand manager, WPHT, Philadelphia, PA; Ralph Renzi, CEO, Newsmax Radio;  Lisa Polizzi, brand manager, WBEN, Buffalo, NY;  Michael Czarnecki, program director, WFEA, Manchester, NH;  Allan Lamberti, program director, WICC, Bridgeport, CT; and Phil Boyce, senior VP, Salem Radio Network / Salem News Channel / Salem Podcast Network. imgPictured at left: Moderator, Jeff Katz, host, WRVA, Richmond, VA.

The 28th annual edition of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important national gathering – TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter – took place at the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication on the Long Island, NY campus of Hofstra University this past Friday (6/5). It was produced in conjunction with Hofstra’s multi-Marconi Award winning campus radio station, WRHU-FM. The vibrant, sold-out gathering presented 65 speakers and 338 registered attendees engaged in the sharing of perspectives, advice, and ideas within the fertile environment of dynamic collegial networking.

The main themes of the conference included an intense focus on the future of radio and talk media in the multi-platform digital world of the second quarter of the 21st century.  These included exploration of such existential questions as how to gain profile traction in a noisy world; how to regain the public’s trust in the media; how to meet the challenge of generating revenue in a fractured and challenging economy; what entrepreneurial opportunities exist for individuals and independent companies in this new environment; how to expand programming options; how to recruit new talent; how to attract younger demos; how to deal with the enormous unforgiving power of algorithms in scoring the game; how to effectively control and exploit AI; how to make a living in this business; and so much more.

Speakers and attendees included a cross-section of talk media professionals from the worlds of talent, management, ownership, syndication, journalism, engineering, politics, sports, the law, academia, and music – even pro-wrestling!

Beginning next week, TALKERS will provide in-depth photo, video, and story coverage of the historic event.  Stand by! 

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Presents 65 Speakers, Draws 338 Attendees, Addresses Hot Issues

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Pictured above: Walter Sterling, host of WABC, New York’s and Red Apple Audio Network’s nightly program, “The Other Side of Midnight,” addressing the topic, “Talk Radio: Past, Present, and Future,” at TALKERS 2026.

The 28th annual edition of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important national gathering – TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter – took place at the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication on the Long Island, NY campus of Hofstra University this past Friday (6/5). It was produced in conjunction with Hofstra’s multi-Marconi Award winning campus radio station, WRHU-FM. The vibrant, sold-out gathering presented 65 speakers and 338 registered attendees engaged in the sharing of perspectives, advice, and ideas within the fertile environment of dynamic collegial networking.

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Pictured above: Lee Habeeb, CEO, host, and producer of the wildly successful syndicated program, “Our American Stories,” addressing the crowd about “The Art of Story Telling” at TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter.

The main themes of the conference included an intense focus on the future of radio and talk media in the multi-platform digital world of the second quarter of the 21st century.  These included exploration of such existential questions as how to gain profile traction in a noisy world; how to regain the public’s trust in the media; how to meet the challenge of generating revenue in a fractured and challenging economy; what entrepreneurial opportunities exist for individuals and independent companies in this new environment; how to expand programming options; how to recruit new talent; how to attract younger demos; how to deal with the enormous unforgiving power of algorithms in scoring the game; how to effectively control and exploit AI; how to make a living in this business; and so much more.

Speakers and attendees included a cross section of talk media professionals from the worlds of talent, management, ownership, syndication, journalism, engineering, politics, sports, the law, academia, and music – even pro-wrestling!

Beginning next week, TALKERS will provide in-depth photo and video coverage of the historic event.  Stand by!

Industry News

NPR Names Zylstra Chief Content Officer

NPR appoints Nadine Zylstra its new chief content officer. NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher states, “To meet the evolving needs of our audiences, we knew we needed a visionary leader who understands both the responsibility of our public service mission and imgthe dynamic strategies required to serve audiences in a crowded ecosystem. Nadine brings an extraordinarily rare blend of creative foresight, business acumen, and deep personal commitment to mission-driven storytelling. She is the right leader at the right time to ensure NPR’s journalism and cultural programming find new ways of serving and enlivening American discourse.” Zylstra most recently served as global head of programming and originals for Pinterest

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 – Hailed as a Stunning Industry Revival

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TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison (l) and Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis (r) pictured above in ‘Keynote One-on-One” conversation at TALKERS 2026.

The 28th annual edition of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important national gathering – TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter – took place at the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication on the Long Island, NY campus of Hofstra University this past Friday (6/5). It was produced in conjunction with Hofstra’s multi-Marconi Award winning campus radio station, WRHU-FM. The vibrant, sold-out gathering presented 65 speakers and 338 registered attendees engaged in the sharing of perspectives, advice, and ideas within the fertile environment of dynamic collegial networking.

The main themes of the conference included an intense focus on the future of radio and talk media in the multi-platform digital world of the second quarter of the 21st century.  These included exploration of such existential questions as how to gain profile traction in a noisy world; how to regain the public’s trust in the media; how to meet the challenge of generating revenue in a fractured and challenging economy; what entrepreneurial opportunities exist for individuals and independent companies in this new environment; how to expand programming options; how to recruit new talent; how to attract younger demos; how to deal with the enormous unforgiving power of algorithms in scoring the game; how to effectively control and exploit AI; how to make a living in this business; and so much more.

Speakers and attendees included a cross section of talk media professionals from the words of talent, management, ownership, syndication, journalism, engineering, politics, sports, the law, academia, and music – even pro-wrestling!

TALKERS founder Michael Harrison expressed his deep gratitude to the industry: “We worked day and night for months putting this one together, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Heartfelt thanks to our speakers, attendees, and sponsors, as well as our dear friends and partners at Hofstra University, where it all started for me.”

TALKERS VP / executive editor Kevin Casey states, “We have enough text, photos, and video from this historic media event to keep us busy putting it together and maximizing the intellectual riches for a long time to come. It was a content motherlode!”  TALKERS will provide full coverage of TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter over the coming days, weeks and months on its website, newsletter and video channel. Stand by!

Industry News

The 2026 Heavy Hundred is Published

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The editors of TALKERS announce the publication of the 2026 list of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America – known colloquially as the Heavy Hundred. This annual feature is created by the editors of TALKERS with input from industry leaders and ranks, from one to 100, the most important talk radio hosts in America based of several factors including (in alphabetical order): courage, effort, impact, longevity, potential, ratings, recognition, revenue, service, talent, and uniqueness. To be considered for inclusion on the Heavy Hundred, talk hosts must be working at the time of publication and have a regularly scheduled professional show on the air at a minimum of one terrestrial station or satellite radio station. TALKERS executive editor Kevin Casey says, “This is one of the most difficult features that TALKERS does each year. There are so many deserving hosts working at stations across America for whom a case could be made for their inclusion on this list. With that said, we are proud of all the hard-working hosts who made this year’s Heavy Hundred and congratulate them on receiving this honor.” See the 2026 Heavy Hundred here.

Industry News

NCC and Connoisseur Media Announce Educational Collaboration

Long Island’s Nassau Community College and its award-winning radio station WHPC-FM, announce a collaboration with Connoisseur Media Long Island that is designed to provide students with valuable real-world experiences, professional mentorship, and pathways to careers in broadcasting, marketing, journalism, sales, digital media, and related fields. NCC will imgprovide CMLI with opportunities to engage with students and the campus community through WHPC and select college events. The college will also make available WHPC-produced public affairs programming, as well as student-produced content for potential use across CMLI’s stations. Connoisseur Media regional SVP Kristin Okesson says, “We’re excited to partner with Nassau Community College to help inspire and develop the next generation of radio and media talent. Partnerships like these create a direct pipeline for passionate students to gain real-world experience, build important industry connections, and ultimately become the future superstars of our business. We appreciate Shawn Novatt and the NCC team for their commitment to creating these opportunities, and we look forward to working together to support students as they begin their careers in broadcasting and media.”

Industry News

NYPR Announces Three Promotions

New York Public Radio president and CEO Christy Tanner announces the promotions of Emily Botein, Stephanie Clary and Eileen Delahunty to editorial and creative leadership roles across WNYC and Gothamist, WNYC Studios and WQXR. Botein is now head of WNYC Studios, Clary rises to editor-in-chief of the WNYC imgand Gothamist newsrooms, and Delahunty is now head of WQXR. Tanner says, “Stephanie, Emily and Eileen are exceptional, forward-looking leaders with deep commitment to excellence in journalism, culture and storytelling. As audiences increasingly engage with content across multiple platforms, we’re focused on creating experiences that connect our award-winning newsrooms, podcasts, live events and cultural partnerships. I’m excited to see the continued collaboration across NYPR as we strengthen our mission and help shape the future of public media for the next generation.”

Industry News

Montana Talk Host Wins Congressional Primary

Montana talk radio host Aaron Flint is projected to win the Republican primary for the U.S. House seat for Montana’s 1st imgCongressional District. Flint is host of the morning drive show “Montana Talks” heard across Townsquare Media news/talk stations in Montana, including KBUL, Billings and KMMS, Bozeman. Flint took leave of his radio show to run for office. According to the Associated Press, Flint will face the winner of the four-way race in the Democratic primary. Flint’s campaign says he is emphasizing “making the Montana dream affordable again,” by reducing regulatory burdens on building homes, encouraging trades education and boosting the U.S. timber industry.

Industry News

Lisa Wexler Endorsed by Democrats for Another Term as Probate Judge

Connecticut probate judge and WICC, Bridgeport talk host Lisa Wexler has earned the Democratic Party endorsement to run for another four-year term as probate judge for the Westport/Weston District. This will be the second time Wexler is running as a Democrat, having been elected previously as both a Democrat and as a Republican. Westport attorney Andrew Nevas nominated Wexler. He says, “I have been practicing law for many years, and have appeared before hundreds of judges. I have also appeared imgbefore Judge Wexler hundreds of times in connection with a variety of different matters. I feel confident in saying that I have never appeared before a judge with as much compassion and empathy as Judge Wexler… She always homes in on the issues that are most important to the people involved. For while many judges view cases as purely legal matters, Judge Wexler knows that for the people involved, it can be a daunting, intimidating and frightening experience. She never forgets that the individuals before her are people with hopes, dreams and fears, not just parties to a legal case. She understands the importance of letting people who appear before her have a voice and be heard.” Wexler’s radio program is heard daily from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

Industry News TALKERS 2026

Mike McVay to Moderate Key Panel at TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter

 

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Radio Hall of Fame inductee Mike McVay, president of McVay Media Consulting, will serve as moderator of a panel discussion titled, “Gaining Traction in a Noisy Digital World,” at TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter. The panel, sponsored by C. Crane Radio, will be introduced by Heavy Hundred talk show host Lee Elci of WJJF, New London, CT.  Speakers include (in alphabetical order): Heavy Hundred member Rob Carson, host, Newsmax Radio; super-agent Heather Cohen, president, The Weiss Organization; publicity specialist Sherry Goldman, founder, Goldman Communications Group, Inc.; PR wizard Ryan McCormick, co-founder, Goldman McCormick Public Relations; and Heavy Hundred star Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, host, “The Joe Pags Show.”

The session will be exploring insights and answers to such timely questions as: How does an individual performer, or even an entire company, gain traction in achieving recognition against a backdrop of noise, distraction, ever-changing technology, shrinking attention spans, and endless exotic competition?

TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter will be held just over a week from now, Friday, June 5 at Hofstra University on Long Island. For registration, hotel and sponsorship information, please click here.

Industry News

Lewinsky Podcast Joins AdLarge and the .fwd Network

AdLarge and the fwd. network announce that “Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky” officially joined the fwd. network portfolio. Activist, writer, producer, public speaker, and Vanity Fair contributing editor was recognized at the recent 50th Annual imgGracie Awards, where she received the Gracie Award for “Best Audio Podcast Host” for her program that centers around “meaningful and revealing conversations about identity, resilience and finding our way back to ourselves.” Named one of Rolling Stone’s “Top 10 New Podcasts of 2025” and included in The Guardian’s “20 Best Podcasts of 2025,” Lewinsky’s program about exploring vulnerability, identity, resilience, and how we make sense of the world through the broader lens of reclaiming has featured such notable guests as Miley Cyrus, John Oliver, Lena Dunham, Lizzo, Malala, Olivia Munn, Alan Cumming, and Dylan Mulvaney. She says, “Reclaiming has always been about creating honest conversations around identity, humanity, and what it means to move forward after difficult experiences. I’m excited to partner with the fwd. network, a team that understands the importance of meaningful storytelling and supporting voices that challenge, connect, and inspire.”

Industry News

NAB Statement on Inclusion of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act in House Surface Transportation Package

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has included the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act in a larger transportation bill, moving it closer to becoming law. NAB president Curtis LeGeyt says, “NAB applauds the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for including the AM imgRadio for Every Vehicle Act in its surface transportation reauthorization package. We thank Chairmen Brett Guthrie and Gus Bilirakis and Ranking Member Frank Pallone for their continued leadership on this critical issue and for creating another path to pass this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation. As lawmakers consider policies affecting America’s transportation infrastructure, ensuring continued access to AM radio in vehicles remains essential for public safety. Leaders on both sides of the aisle recognize AM radio’s unique and indispensable role in keeping Americans informed, especially in times of emergency. We appreciate the support of the Act’s nearly 380 House and Senate cosponsors and urge Congress to take swift action to advance this legislation into law.”

Industry Views

Pakman Suggests YouTube Systems are Reducing Exposure for Left-Leaning Indie Channels

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David Pakman, a major online liberal political commentator, is publicly alleging that YouTube’s recommendation and distribution systems are dramatically reducing exposure for left-leaning independent media channels, creating what he describes as an “existential crisis” for progressive political creators on the platform.

In a recent video, Pakman said that since early April, “YouTube has dramatically reduced performance for the vast majority of left-leaning independent media shows,” while asserting that right-leaning content does not appear to be experiencing the same decline.

Pakman framed the issue primarily through platform analytics rather than overt accusations of intentional censorship. He pointed to a sharp decline in impressions – the number of times YouTube displays a video thumbnail to users – while claiming audience engagement metrics remain largely stable.

“We were getting 15 million impressions a day,” Pakman said, explaining that the figure later dropped to approximately 10 million despite what he described as an unchanged audience response rate. “The click-through rate is still close to 8%. But impressions go from 15 million down to 10 million.”

Pakman argued that the consistency of click-through rates undermines the idea that audiences have simply lost interest in progressive political content. “It appears that people are just as interested in hearing from the left on YouTube right now, but they are not being shown the videos,” he said.

He also cited viewer feedback as evidence that something unusual may be occurring within YouTube’s recommendation ecosystem. According to Pakman, subscribers have repeatedly reported needing to manually search for his content despite being subscribed and having notifications enabled.

“You were being suppressed in distribution,” Pakman quoted one viewer as saying. Another viewer reportedly wrote: “I’m not seeing your new videos, and I’ve been subscribed for years.”

Pakman stopped short of alleging direct political targeting by YouTube employees or executives. “I am not arguing that someone at YouTube has flipped a switch and is deliberately suppressing left-wing channels,” he said. Instead, he suggested the platform’s recommendation systems may be reacting to engagement patterns or retention metrics in ways that inadvertently disadvantage certain political content.

At the same time, Pakman said performance on other digital platforms remains strong, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and podcast distribution channels. “Every single other platform is doing fine,” he said. “It’s only YouTube.”

The comments add to a broader ongoing debate among digital creators regarding algorithmic visibility, platform transparency, and the growing dependence of independent media companies on recommendation systems they neither control nor fully understand.

Pakman urged viewers to subscribe directly, enable “all notifications,” and join his Substack mailing list in an effort to reduce reliance on platform algorithms. “We don’t want to rely on AI for recommendations,” he said. “We have to go back to telling the platforms what we want.”

To view David Pakman’s recent video in which he discusses this issue in full detail, please click here.

Industry Views

The Case for Radio “Trading” Shows

By Charles Heller
Host
“Swap Shop Radio”
“Liberty Watch Radio”
KVOI – AM 1030, Tucson

imgAdam Smith‘s “invisible hand” is a metaphor he used to describe how individuals pursuing their own self-interest in competitive markets can unintentionally produce socially beneficial outcomes – such as efficient allocation of resources and increased wealth. Smith uses the phrase in The Theory of Moral Sentiments in 1759 and more famously in The Wealth of Nations in1776.

Radio’s ability to connect to a phone line to air has evolved since its inception in World War II. Barry Gray is widely credited for being an establishing influence for the talk show format (although it is difficult to truly identify “firsts” in radio). As the story goes, initially a disc jockey, Gray was working for New York City radio station WOR in 1945 when bandleader Woody Herman called in while Gray was talking about him. Gray shared his end of the call with the audience, and the spontaneous live narrative was a hit with both his listeners and station managers. This led to the invention of the “delay” unit and contributed to the practice of connecting live listeners to the air.

Since the 1950s, programs all across the country began to arise that offered people the ability to buy and sell their own goods over the radio, starting first in rural markets. One of the longest running of them started in 1950 on WLIL in Tennessee and runs daily from 9:00 to 10:30 am. I have heard programs like it in my travels across the country from Sycamore, IL to Baltimore, MD, which have a Sunday morning trading program. Today, most markets have one form or another of those shows, either on a daily basis in smaller markets, or in some cases, covering large market areas. I heard one in Bentonville, AR station that took calls from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas while I was listening.

These programs enhance people’s ability to live their lives more easily, by offering a format for buying, selling, and trading goods in the free market. Those programs also use the influence of radio to form all important communities of interest that are part of the glue that keeps a free republic together, as the great Tucson Broadcaster John C. Scott said, “over this back yard fence.”

This month marks the start of my 28th year of broadcasting “The Swap Shop” on AM 1030 KVOI. In 27 years, the program has only missed two weeks of broadcast. It has become what the great Dave Sitton of ESPN and FOX used to call “appointment radio” for a lot of folks in the Tucson market. I have listeners in Maine that call in for non-rusted auto parts, and a loyal listener in Traverse City, MI and a submarine hunter in the Navy in Norfolk, VA.

I call Swap Shop, “The unregulated free market, governed only by common courtesy and common sense, where you are free to buy, sell or trade anything lawful and moral.” All of these shows do a lot more for people besides the enabling of the free market. My favorites have been a lady who called in when her parakeet got out, and a fellow who called 45 minutes later from his garage sale where the parakeet flew in. They both just happened to be listeners. Another favorite was an older lady whose husky had gotten out during a thunderstorm. She called in tears. The animal control officer who had the dog in her truck heard it and called her, returning her dog.

My point is that as broadcasters, we are all stewards of that “unseen hand” of the free market, either by enabling the free trade in goods between private parties or enabling our advertisers to become known and trusted by their communities. If you run a Swap Shop type program, or know of one in other markets, I’d like to hear from you. Let’s develop an informal network of us around the country.

Charles Heller hosts “Swap Shop Radio” and “Liberty Watch Radio” 0n AM 1030 KVOI, Tucson.  He can be reached via email at charles@libertywatchradio.com.

Industry News

Free Memorial Day Weekend Show from Fisher House Foundation Available to Radio Stations

Fisher House Foundation is presenting a Memorial Day edition of the radio program, “Together in Mission: The Fisher House Journey,” that’s being made available to stations free of charge. It’s available in varying lengths – three-hour, one-hour, 25 minutes and 30 minutes – for news/talk stations and a 30-minuite public affairs show for all imgformats. The program is hosted by talk radio personality Larry O’Connor and tells the stories of America’s military heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide temporary, free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during medical care because “A Family’s LOVE is Good Medicine.” This year’s program features a special focus on the incredibly inspiring victories our wounded warriors enjoy on the field of competitive, adaptive sports. Fisher House supports the Wounded Warrior Games and the Invictus Games as a vital part of the physical, emotional, and mental healing process for our wounded veterans. Listeners will hear about the riveting war stories detailing the injuries these heroes sustained, the ensuing medical and therapeutic healing process, right through the triumph on the field of international sports, as these brave veterans continue their dedication of service, representing America in international competition. Get information and register for the show here

Industry News

“Talk of Delmarva” Host Kevin Wade Dies

Family, friends, co-workers and talk radio listeners in the Delmarva region are mourning the passing of Kevin Wade, whose radio show imgwas heard on Datatech Digital’s WGMD, Rehoboth Beach and WUSX-FM, Seaford in Delaware. Wade’s primary career was in engineering and technology. But he ran for the U.S. Senate unsuccessfully became a regular guest host on “The Talk of Delmarva.” The station says, “Friends, colleagues, and listeners remember Wade as a determined advocate who never hesitated to stand up for his beliefs. Despite facing health challenges in recent years, he remained engaged in public discourse and continued contributing to conversations important to the Delmarva community.”

Industry Views

When Your Voice Becomes the Product

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

imgFor years, Harrison Legal Group has informed media creators about the legal risks of using copyrighted clips, songs, images, and broadcasts without permission. The issue became central enough to inspire my book, Playing the Clip: The Definitive Digital Media Creator’s Guide to Fair Use (TALKERS Books, 2026). The premise was straightforward: modern media runs on borrowed material, but borrowing comes with legal exposure.

Now the fight is shifting toward something more personal.

The voice itself.

Not the recording. Not necessarily the script. The identity embedded in the sound.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important as AI voice systems improve to the point where listeners can recognize a performer even when the company insists it used a “different actor” or synthetic generation. The Scarlett Johansson dispute with OpenAI may become the defining example. Johansson alleged that OpenAI created a voice assistant that sounded “eerily similar” to her after she declined the company’s request to license her actual voice. OpenAI denied intentionally imitating her and stated the voice belonged to another actress but still paused what they branded the “Sky” voice after backlash intensified.

The case matters because it exposes a legal gray area many creators misunderstand.

A voice is generally not protected by copyright law in the same way a song recording is. But a recognizable voice may still trigger claims involving the right of publicity, false endorsement, unfair competition, or misappropriation of identity. In other words, the legal risk is often not “you copied audio.” The risk is “you exploited identity.”

That distinction matters for broadcasters, podcasters, advertisers, and AI companies experimenting with synthetic hosts, cloned announcers, or celebrity-style narration.

If listeners reasonably believe a celebrity endorsed, participated in, or authorized the content, the legal exposure changes dramatically.

Read more….

Another recent example involves Dua Lipa and Samsung. According to reports, Lipa alleges Samsung used her image on television packaging without authorization, creating the impression she endorsed the product. Samsung reportedly claims the image came from a third-party provider that assured the company all rights were cleared.

That defense may sound familiar to media professionals.

“We got it from somebody else.”

Legally, that is often not enough.

A broadcaster cannot avoid defamation liability merely because a guest made the statement. A publisher cannot automatically avoid infringement exposure because a freelancer supplied the material. And a company may not avoid publicity-rights claims simply because a vendor promised the paperwork existed.

The underlying legal theme is the same: delegation is not immunity.

The AI layer complicates things further because modern systems do not necessarily reproduce exact copies. Instead, they generate approximations that may still evoke a specific person strongly enough to create marketplace confusion.

Courts have dealt with similar issues before. Bette Midler and Tom Waits both successfully sued over soundalike performances used in advertising after declining to participate themselves. The principle is not new. AI simply makes imitation faster, cheaper, and easier to distribute.

That should concern media creators who assume these disputes only affect billion-dollar tech companies.

They do not.

A local station, podcast producer, YouTube creator, or advertiser can now generate celebrity-adjacent voices in seconds. The barrier to entry collapsed. The liability did not.

The safest question is no longer merely “Do we own the audio?”

It is: “Whose identity does this remind people of?”

That answer may determine whether the next lawsuit is really about technology at all.

Or simply old-fashioned commercial exploitation wearing futuristic clothing.

Get your copy of “Play the Clip: The Definitive Digital Media Creator’s Guide to Fair Use” by filling out the request form at HarrisonMediaLaw.com.

Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonLegalGroup.com or read more at TALKERS.com.

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