John Catsimatidis Set to Keynote 28th TALKERS Conference Heading Stellar Lineup of 60-plus Speakers
WABC, New York / Red Apple Audio Networks / Worldwide News Network owner John Catsimatidis has been named keynote speaker for TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter set for Friday, June 5 on the campus of Hofstra University. 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 – entrepreneurism. John Catsimatidis is presently setting a stunning 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. The entire agenda of TALKERS 2026 will be video recorded including one-on-one interviews with attendees as well as speakers for later playback to a worldwide audience. For the latest agenda, hotel and sponsorship info, please click here.
Gracie 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.”
music brands. iHeartMedia area president Matt Bell says, “Margie’s passion for this business, her commitment to the Mansfield and Marion communities and the relationships she built over nearly four decades have left an incredible mark on our company and everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her. She has been a trusted leader, mentor and advocate for both our employees and our partners, and her presence will truly be missed. We are deeply grateful for everything she has contributed to iHeartMedia and wish her nothing but happiness and success in this next chapter.” Reflecting on her career, Tasseff comments, “Spending 39 years with one employer is truly uncommon. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built together over the years — from the friendships and partnerships to the impact we’ve made through local radio. I’ve been fortunate to grow professionally while working with outstanding colleagues and serving a community that has meant so much to me. These stations will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Public media firm WNYC in New York names Sonia Rao the culture reporter joining the WNYC / Gothamist newsroom. Rao will cover the arts, with a specialty in film, television, and food. She has covered arts and culture for a decade, most recently as a features reporter and critic at The Washington Post.
Adam 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.
focused opportunity called, “We Need A 4th,” giving listeners the chance to bid online for the opportunity to join either the Fred Toucher, Rob ‘Hardy’ Poole & Jon Wallach foursome or the Tony Massarotti, Mike Felger & Jim Murray foursome. The highest bidder for each group will earn a coveted spot as the fourth player. Massarotti states, “We launched this event 15 years ago with the goal of combining our passion for sports, entertainment, and giving back. To see how much this tournament has grown over the years – and the incredible support from listeners, sponsors, and local organizations – has been truly rewarding. We’re excited to make this year’s event another memorable day for a great cause.” Since its launch in 2011, the “Who’s Your Caddy” Golf Classic has raised more than $300,000 for charities including Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Care Unit, Jaylen Brown’s 7uice Foundation, and now Special Olympics Massachusetts. 
Radio has always been about connection, the feeling of belonging to something larger than yourself, of being drawn into a story told by a voice you trust. Perhaps, that’s why you tune in as well. There is little that is more rewarding for us than finding a way to connect you to what you want to hear, whether that’s your favorite jazz station, a particular show, or your former alma mater’s student-run station. It’s why we do what we do, and why we show up for the people who keep those stories alive.
The Radio Hall of Fame announces this year’s class of inductees and among them are iHeartMedia chairman Bob Pittman and WFAN, New York morning drive personality Boomer Esiason. The 2026 inductees will be honored at the 2026 Induction Ceremony on Thursday, October 8 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. 
high since 2022 and 28% indicate they commute some days; 2) 85% of average Americans are commuting to work, slightly less than marketers and media agencies (92%); 3) Since AM/FM radio is the “soundtrack of the American worker,” it is the ideal media platform for advertisers; 4) AM/FM radio’s share of ad-supported audio in the car has been consistently dominant at an 83% share, according to Edison Research’s Q1 2026 “Share of Ear” report; 5) Average Americans are clocking slightly more days at work (4.7) compared to the advertising industry (4.4); and 5) Marketers/agencies and average Americans are most likely to work in the office Monday through Thursday with Friday seeing the lowest % of in-office work for both groups. 
officer Justin Chase comments, “Rick has been a steady, respected leader and a true partner across our teams. From leading nationally as a format leader at Summit Media and guiding successful multi-format brands in Tampa, New York, and Los Angeles, Rick brought an incredible depth of experience and strategic vision to Beasley. He has always led with passion, integrity, creativity, and a genuine commitment to both the brands and people around him. We’re grateful for the impact he made across the Tampa cluster and throughout the company, and we wish Rick and his family nothing but the very best in the future.”
debuted on the internet as a live, video-based podcast on July 31, 2023, and recently streamed its 350th episode. Peters tells TALKERS, “We went from no presence on TikTok to the top one percent in five months. And amazingly, relatively speaking our average views by TikTok standards aren’t that high. But we generate so much content – from four shows weekly we’re posting about 40 shorts a week – that apparently that makes up for it.” 
Although I don’t have a machine to play it, I have saved the cart. December 9, 1980, the sad morning-after John Lennon died, Charles Osgood, doleful: “I read the news today. Oh boy.” That morning’s CBS World News Roundup – and on-hour newscasts throughout that day – delivered more moments that would keep you sitting in a parked car at your destination. As they would 3 months later when President Reagan was shot. Then soon again when Pope John Paul II was severely wounded in St. Peter’s Square. And five years yonder, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds into its flight.
fighters. ‘The Pennsylvania Posse’ brings together some of the toughest and most influential conservative voices in the Keystone State.” Appearing on the program will be GOP strategist and political insider Mike Barley, Pennsylvania State Senators Doug Mastriano and Jarrett Coleman, and Pennsylvania State Representative Stephanie Borowicz. JFMN adds, “‘The Pennsylvania Posse’ will tackle the biggest issues facing Pennsylvania and the nation: election integrity, border security, energy independence, inflation, parental rights, government corruption, the economy, and the battle to save the American Dream.” This show joins the other state-focused weekly programs: “Texas Truth Line” (Tuesdays), “Peach Crew” (Wednesdays), “DC Dispatch” (Thursdays), and “Virginia Gang” (Fridays).
formats. 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. 
many other prominent political and religious leaders including Rev. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse; Pastor Allen Jackson of World Outreach Church in Tennessee; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Evangelist Alex McFarland; U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC); Dr. Erwin Lutzer, former head of Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute; and United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. SRN vice president of News and Talk Programming Tom Tradup says, “This special series will give national prominence to the religious freedoms Americans are blessed to enjoy in the words of men and women who are strong leaders in both political and religious life in our nation.”
a year ago. Additionally, Urban One reports a net loss of approximately $3.1 million for the period, compared to the net loss of $11.7 million it reported in Q1 of 2025. Urban One CEO and president Alfred C. Liggins, III states, “First quarter revenue was soft across all divisions, with TV down 18.5%, Digital down 33.5%, Radio down 6.4% and Reach Media dropped by 17.0%. We had budgeted for a down-quarter in our Radio and TV divisions, but not at Reach Media and Digital… In Radio, our Miller Kaplan local Radio revenues were down 5.5% year-over-year vs the market down 7.1% and national was down 8.2%, vs the market down 6.7%. Including local digital, first quarter Radio revenue was down 2.8%. We did approximately $1.0 million in gross political advertising in the first quarter and have another $1.0 million on the books for the second quarter. Radio second quarter is pacing down 2.6%. We are in a turnaround situation at Reach Media, where we continue to be impacted by a weak marketplace, key client attrition and sales team re-building. Digital also had a soft first quarter, driven by weak advertiser demand but second quarter is forecasted to be up, and there is optimism for the back half of the year based on the current sales pipeline.”
Kevin Kinkead at Crossing Broad reports, The station will be ending local weekday programming at 6:00 pm, airing a two-hour “best of” show from 6 to 8, and then shifting to national programming afterward. That’s according to super-secret sources. It means the Fanatic will broadcast its normal daypart lineup – Kincade and Salciunas in the morning, Marks and Brace middays, and then ‘Unfiltered’ with Bill Colarulo and Ricky Bo in the afternoon, but there will no longer be Fanatic hosts doing local shows after 6 p.m. For instance, no Kevin Cooney or Brendan Gunn on the evening shift, which had been generically branded as “Philly Sports Tonight.” 
(FNN), and 2060 Digital have achieved consistent growth in revenue, profitability, and audience reach. The organization is on track to exceed last year’s performance and outperform its 2026 budget, reflecting strong results across digital, audio, video, and social platforms.” Oxley adds, “Our success is the result of extraordinary people doing exceptional work every day. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented journalists, finance people, marketers, sales professionals, tech people and leaders in the industry.” Hubbard Broadcasting president and CEO Ginny Hubbard states, “Joel’s leadership, integrity, and deep commitment to excellence have shaped this organization for decades. His impact on our people and our brands is lasting, and we are grateful for his remarkable service. We are also incredibly grateful that he is willing to continue offering his experience and expertise to the company once he steps away from leading WTOP-WFED’s daily operations and strategy.”
2025. Looking at Salem’s business segments, the company reports Broadcast Programming Revenue (from local and national block programming) of $17.2 million in Q1 of 2026, while Broadcast Advertising Revenue (national & local spot, network advertising) was $9.27 million during the quarter. Meanwhile, Salem’s total digital revenue for the period was $18.1 million. Salem Media announced this week that it is in the process of being acquired by WaterStone in a stock purchase deal that will take the company private. 
For 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.
this deal will “strengthen Salem’s longterm mission across radio, digital media, streaming, podcasting, television, and publishing.” Company co-founder and board member Edward Atsinger III says, “For the last 10 years the Atsinger and Epperson families have been looking for a successor that would continue to carry the torch of delivering quality Christian and conservative media into the next generation and beyond. When we met with WaterStone some 24 months ago we believed it was a divine appointment. WaterStone is deeply aligned with the vision we had when our families founded this company.” Richard von Gnechten is chairman of Salem Media’s board of directors and president of WaterStone. He comments, “This is about building on what makes Salem unique. Salem has spent decades earning the trust of listeners, ministries, advertisers, and audiences by staying true to its mission. WaterStone believes deeply in that mission and in the people behind it. This partnership gives Salem additional strength and longterm stability while creating new opportunities to expand its reach for the future – which is why we are making this investment.” This deal is expected to close in August, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
adds that it recorded operating income of $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to an operating loss of $0.3 million in Q1 of 2025. The increase in operating income was driven primarily by the sale of its Fort Myers stations. Beasley also reported net income of approximately $3.2 million compared to a net loss of $2.7 million, reported a year ago. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “While first quarter results continued to reflect pressure in certain legacy advertising categories and an uneven pace of recovery across our markets, we made meaningful progress against the strategic priorities we outlined over the past year. Importantly, we continue to see strong momentum in digital, particularly in our owned and operated products, which grew year-over-year on a same station basis and now represent an increasingly important contributor to both revenue quality and long-term profitability. Markets with stronger digital adoption continue to demonstrate greater revenue stability, reinforcing our confidence in the long-term direction of the business.”
These are scary times. People on all sides of the mic are on the front lines. Not just “them,” otherwise referred to as the audience. We try to fool ourselves into thinking that society and civilization are relatively “safe.” However, simply being alive and stepping outside in the morning, turning on the computer, or checking the annoyingly smart phone, puts us smack dab in the middle of a war. Literally and figuratively. But like so much else in this modern era, this war lacks foundation.
Audio Group continued its strong momentum, with revenues up 18% year over year, slightly ahead of our guidance, while our Podcasting revenues grew 26.9% compared to prior year, above our guidance. We are announcing a new savings initiative that will generate an additional $50 million of annualized savings, in addition to our previously announced $100 million of in-year 2026 savings, as well as now paying minimal cash taxes in 2026, which we expect will have a $150 to $200 million impact over the next 3 years. And today we are reaffirming our Full Year Adjusted EBITDA guide of $800 million and our Free Cash Flow guide of $200 million.” The company is also expecting the increase in programmatic revenue to be some $200 million (+50%) during 2026. 
could not have anticipated today’s streaming options. This resolution reflects growing concern that sports programming is increasingly fragmented across exclusive digital platforms, forcing fans to purchase multiple subscriptions, maintain reliable broadband access and navigate a maze of services just to follow their favorite teams. It calls on congress to assess whether these evolving distribution practices are covered under the law, serve the public interest and preserve broad fan access to sports programming.” NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt says, “We commend the state broadcasters associations for their leadership and engagement on this important issue. Local television remains the only universally available video platform in America, delivering live sports, trusted local news, emergency information and essential public service to every community. Policymakers should put fans first and ensure that the future of sports distribution preserves broad access through free, local broadcast television.”