Search Results for: talk show hosts

FOX News Channel’s Sean Hannity is scheduled to present the first television interview with the newly sworn in Attorney General Pam Bondi this evening (2/6) “Hannity” (9:00 pm – 10:00 pm ET). Bondi will discuss her first actions as Attorney General and other news of the day. Hannity, ranked number one on the TALKERS Heavy Hundred, continues to be one of the most well-connected talk show hosts in America.  The 2025 edition of the “Heavy Hundred” is due to be published shortly.  Stay tuned…..Super Bowl LIX will be the 52nd time Westwood One will broadcast America’s biggest sporting event.  Kevin Harlan will handle play-by-play duties for the Super Bowl for the 15th straight year, with Super Bowl XXXIV MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner returning for the seventh consecutive year as lead analyst. Gene Steratore re-joins the radio broadcast booth as rules analyst for this year’s Super Bowl, and, for the sixth time, Laura Okmin will patrol the sidelines.  Scott Graham and three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty will host Westwood One’s pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage live from Caesars Superdome, with former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker also contributing to the pregame coverage. For the first time ever, Westwood One will broadcast the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show featuring Grammy-Award winning artist Kendrick Lamar….. Audacy Minneapolis’ 830 WCCO raised over $427,000 for Second Harvest Heartland during the station’s 16th annual “End Hunger Together” radiothon. The event took place February 4, where 830 WCCO broadcast the radiothon live from Second Harvest Heartland from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm CT…..The Broadcasters Foundation of America has announced that the 2025 Philip J. Lombardo Spirit Award will be presented to Katz Media Group and accepted by Mark Gray, its Chief Executive Officer and a longtime BFOA board member, during the BFOA Golden Mic Gala and Fundraiser in New York City on Monday, March 10. The Spirit Award is bestowed upon an individual or company that exhibits the spirit of dedication and relentless drive to the Broadcasters Foundation charitable mission of helping broadcasters in acute need exemplified by its former longtime chairman, Phil Lombardo.

One of talk radio’s most accomplished hosts and programmers, Van Harden has tapped into his long history as a Bible teacher to pen a powerful new book titled Jesus: The Prequel (Xulon Press, 2025).  The book examines the question, “Did Jesus exist before He was born in Bethlehem?” “Absolutely!” says Harden, presenting the Biblical evidence of who Jesus was and what He was doing long before we were born and before He was born as a baby in Bethlehem. There is a listing of these things and an explanation of why any of this matters to anyone, especially the reader.

Van Harden is nationally known for his books, inventions and creative radio broadcasts. He recently retired from a 50-year broadcast career, 35 of which was as morning host and PD of heritage station WHO Radio, in Des Moines, where Ronald Reagan spent many of his early radio years. During his leadership, the station won 13 national Marconi Awards, five of which were awarded to him personally for his morning show. However, Harden tells TALKERS, “The most important thing to me has been my 40 years as a Bible teacher. I speak to many groups, secular and otherwise.” Harden insists on teaching right out of the Bible, which he calls our “Owner’s Manual.” He and his wife Becky live in his childhood home in Iowa. He has three grown children and eight grandchildren. To book an interview with Van Harden please click HERE.

FOX Sports Radio Features Live Broadcast from Orange Bowl.  FOX Sports Radio’s “Two Pros and Cup of Joe” with (pictured above l-r) Brady Quinn, LaVar Arrington and Jonas Knox will broadcast live from Fort Lauderdale, beginning this morning (1/8), as part of the network’s coverage of the Orange Bowl featuring a matchup between Quinn’s alma mater Notre Dame and Arrington’s alma mater Penn State tomorrow (1/9). With a spot in the National Championship on the line for the Fighting Irish and Nittany Lions, “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” will bring all the excitement before, during and after the game as the show broadcasts live from 6:00 am – 9:00 am ET at Le Meridien Dania Beach, the media hotel for the game, from January 8 – 10, 2025.  “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” featuring Quinn – former Notre Dame Quarterback who set 36 single-season and career records, and was a first-round draft pick; LaVar Arrington – College Football Hall of Famer, three-time Pro Bowl Linebacker and No. 2 overall draft pick; and sports radio veteran Jonas Knox is available nationwide on more than 380 stations, in addition to FOX Sports Radio’s channel on iHeartRadio and www.FOXSportsRadio.com.

iHeartMedia and the National Football League Extend Their Multi-Year NFL Podcast Network Partnership. iHeartMedia, the  and the National Football League (NFL) today (1/8) announced an extension to the exclusive partnership that first launched the NFL Podcast Network in 2021. As part of the deal, new original podcasts and NFL Club shows will debut each year, and existing favorites will continue to be available on the NFL Podcast Network. Additionally, iHeart will identify other existing podcasts to join the NFL Podcast Network during the deal, growing the partnership’s reach and scale.  “The NFL Podcast Network continues to grow and capture new audiences, and we’re thrilled to strengthen the successful partnership between iHeart and the NFL with new shows and the addition of more team podcasts,” said Will Pearson, president of iHeartPodcasts. “Our new extended deal is guaranteed to bring fans closer to the game, players and teams they love and keep listeners up to date on the insider information they want to hear.” “We are incredibly excited to continue our partnership with iHeartMedia,” said Brent Lawton, NFL VP of business development and strategic investments. “Since its launch in 2021, the NFL Podcast Network has delivered NFL fans best-in-class storytelling and podcast content, and we look forward to developing new podcasts and more content with iHeart.” The first new show for 2025,“Lots To Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Cassel,” will pair iHeart’s nationally syndicated personality Bobby Bones with former Pro Bowl NFL quarterback Matt Cassel as they talk football, music, current events and their personal lives. Based in Nashville, the hosts will be joined in the studio by celebrity friends as they discuss the hottest topics in football and beyond. Upcoming guests will include music sensations Tim McGraw and Parker McCollum; NFL greats Jared Allen and Boomer Esiason; and more.

Mark Walters’ Syndicated “Armed American Radio” Shows Continue Growth. The long-running, liberty-based syndicated show “ArmedAmericanRadio” and its sister property “AARDailyDefense,” owned and hosted by one of the nation’s leading Second Amendment advocates, Mark Walters, continues to add affiliates.  Walters kicks off 2025 on a roll with new affiliates: KLID-AM, Poplar Bluff, MO; WBNR, Beacon, NY; WKDP-AM Corbin/Lexington, KY; WKDP-FM, Corbin/Lexington KY; KOMY-AM, Santa Cruz, CA; WLNA-AM, Peekskill, NY; WAJZ-FM, Albany, NY; and WGHQ-AM, Poughkeepsie, NY.  Walters, among his many civic activities, is on the Board of Directors of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Today (1/6), KBLA Talk 1580 kicks off its bold new weekday lineup, which includes some of the nation’s most progressive and provocative voices. The new programming includes Dr. Cornel West, renowned scholar and former independent presidential candidate, former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner. They join KBLA White House correspondent Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, and nationally syndicated hosts Tavis Smiley and D.L. Hughley, who already appear weekdays on KBLA Talk 1580, the flagship station of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc., based in Los Angeles.

“I am both humbled and proud that Dr. Cornel West, Nina Turner, and Jesse Jackson, Jr. have joined the KBLA Talk 1580 team as we continue to build the nation’s most innovative and empowering Black talk media platform,” said Smiley, Founder of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. and chief visionary officer for KBLA Talk 1580. “No talk station in America can match the intellectual firepower that launches today, January 6th. KBLA Talk 1580 is proud to have more Black women talk show hosts than any talk station in the country, including Dominique DiPrima, the first Black woman to host her own radio talk show, “First Things First,” in LA morning drive time (6:00 am to 9:00 am).

“After all the rhetoric about Black men during the 2024 presidential campaign, now is the time to pass the mic to Black men of different generations to facilitate conversations people won’t find anywhere else,” concluded Smiley. “It’s going to be a challenging four years. KBLA Talk 1580’s new line-up represents what resistance looks like.”

TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison will be spending a large part of his holiday doing media interviews across America in support of the new Gunhill Road music video, “Don’t Stop Talking.”  The song is an anthem co-written and performed with his bandmates Steve Goldrich, Paul Reisch, and Brian Koonin in celebration of talk radio. The video component of the project, produced by TALKERS associate publisher Matthew B. Harrison, features clips and images of almost 100 different talk show hosts in action from across the industry.  The powerful words and extremely catchy music extoll the virtues of talk radio as a platform for freedom. It encourages hosts and listeners from varied positions on the ideological, geographic, and demographic spectrum to continue using the venue to exercise their First Amendment rights.  It contains lines such as “As long as you’ve got a VOICE, don’t ever stop,” “As long as you’ve got TRUTH, don’t ever stop,” and “As long as you’ve got LOVE, don’t ever stop.”  During the first week of the song’s release, Harrison has appeared on several shows including “The Todd Starnes Show” on Newsmax 2 (pictured above); Walter Sterling‘s “Sterling Every Damn Night” on WPHT, Philadelphia; Harry Hurley‘s “Hurley in the Morning” on WPG, Atlantic City;  “The Dr. Daliah Wachs Show” on Talk Media Network; “The Talk Radio Countdown Show with Doug Stephan” on Radio America and Stephan Multimedia; “The Jeff Katz Show” on WRVA, Richmond;  “Liberty Watch Radio with Charles Heller” on KVOI, Tuson; and “Joe Thomas in the Morning” on WTON, Taunton, VA and TMN.  Appearances coming up Christmas week include “The Howie Carr Show on WRKO, Boston and the Howie Carr Radio Network; “The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano” on the Red Apple Audio Network” (including WABC, New York, WGN, Chicago); and more. Harrison uses the opportunity to discuss the virtues and importance of talk radio in American society, the rapid changes underway in media and technology, and the evolution of pop music as a means of social/political commentary.  Harrison plans to book interviews into January of 2025 in support of the project.  To arrange an interview, please email info@talkers.com. To view the “Don’t Stop Talking” music video, please click HERE.

Gunhill Road, the perennial pop music ensemble that has attracted hundreds of thousands of worldwide followers with its growing repertoire of issue-oriented songs and music videos, released an anthem late last week celebrating talk radio. “Don’t Stop Talking” is an uplifting and infectiously catchy tune about the vital role talk radio plays in supporting American freedom of speech and the First Amendment.  Non-partisan lyrics ring out: “As long as you’ve got a voice, don’t ever stop!” and “As long as you’ve got the truth, don’t ever stop!”  The original composition co-written by band members Steve Goldrich, Paul Reisch, Brian Koonin, and TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison encourages dedicated talk radio practitioners to keep up the good work and valuable service they provide the nation. The images accompanying the music include a dynamic montage of almost 100 individual radio talk hosts in the process of doing their shows. Matthew B. Harrison, who produced the rapidly-paced video components states, “Gunhill Road has achieved enormous internet recognition around the nation and world – much of it fueled by the attention and exposure its unique songs and videos have received on talk radio.  This amazing piece is the group’s way of giving back.”

To view the video in its entirety, please click talkradioforever.com. To arrange an interview with Michael Harrison about the song and talk radio’s vital role in the marketplace of ideas, please email info@talkers.com.  To download the 1:03 or :40 edits of the song, please click HERE or HERE

Gunhill Road, the perennial pop music ensemble that has attracted hundreds of thousands of worldwide followers with its growing repertoire of issue-oriented songs and music videos, released an anthem late last week celebrating talk radio. “Don’t Stop Talking” is an uplifting and infectiously catchy tune about the vital role talk radio plays in supporting American freedom of speech and the First Amendment.  Non-partisan lyrics ring out: “As long as you’ve got a voice, don’t ever stop!” and “As long as you’ve got the truth, don’t ever stop!”  The original composition co-written by band members Steve Goldrich, Paul Reisch, Brian Koonin, and Michael Harrison encourages dedicated talk radio practitioners to keep up the good work and valuable service they provide the nation. The images accompanying the music include a dynamic montage of almost 100 individual radio talk hosts in the process of doing their shows. Matthew B. Harrison, who produced the video visual components states, “Gunhill Road has achieved enormous internet recognition around the nation and world – much of it fueled by the attention and exposure its unique songs and videos have received on talk radio.  This amazing piece is the group’s way of giving back.”

To view the video in its entirety, please click talkradioforever.com. To arrange an interview with Michael Harrison about the song and talk radio’s vital role in the marketplace of ideas, please email info@talkers.com.  To download the 1:03 or :40 edits of the song, please click HERE or HERE

Gunhill Road, the perennial pop music ensemble that has attracted hundreds of thousands of worldwide followers with its growing repertoire of issue-oriented songs and music videos, has released an anthem celebrating talk radio. “Don’t Stop Talking” is an uplifting and infectiously catchy tune about the vital role talk radio plays in supporting American freedom of speech and the First Amendment.  Non-partisan lyrics ring out: “As long as you’ve got a voice, don’t ever stop!” and “As long as you’ve got the truth, don’t ever stop!”  The original composition co-written by band members Steve Goldrich, Paul Reisch, Brian Koonin, and Michael Harrison encourages dedicated talk radio practitioners to keep up the good work and valuable service they provide the nation. The images accompanying the music include a dynamic montage of individual radio talk hosts in the process of doing their shows. Matthew B. Harrison, who produced the video visual components states, “Gunhill Road has achieved enormous internet recognition around the nation and world – much of it fueled by the attention and exposure its unique songs and videos have received on talk radio.  This amazing piece is the group’s way of giving back.” To view the video in its entirety, please click talkradioforever.com. To arrange an interview with Michael Harrison about the song and talk radio’s vital role in the marketplace of ideas, please email info@talkers.com.  For more information about Gunhill Road please visit www.GunhillRoadMusic.com.

Atlanta Hawks and Audacy today (12/13) Extend Their Multi-Year Relationship to Continue Making Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (WZGC-FM) the flagship station of the Atlanta Hawks Radio Network. As part of this agreement, all 82 Hawks NBA games can be heard throughout Georgia on the Atlanta Hawks Radio Network, which consists of affiliate stations in multiple markets and reach millions of listeners throughout the season.  Atlanta Sports Hall of Famer and Georgia Radio Hall of Famer Steve Holman, also known as the Voice of the Hawks, is in his 40th season and has never missed a Hawks’ regular season or playoff radio broadcast. Holman has totaled more than 3,000 consecutive games. Joining him on the broadcast is station brand manager Mike Conti, who has been with the Hawks Radio Network as a pregame, halftime and postgame host, and as a game commentator, since 2014. “We’ve taken great pride in seeing the growth and success of Sports Radio 92.9 The Game as the flagship station of the Atlanta Hawks Radio Network since its inception,” said Hawks’ president of business enterprise and chief commercial officer Andrew Saltzman. “We are excited that our growing fanbase will continue to enjoy Hawks basketball game coverage on The Game along with compelling sports talk every day from their line-up with the most talented hosts in the business.”  “We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with the Atlanta Hawks,” said Rick Caffey, SVP/MM of Audacy Atlanta. “With our partnership now in its second decade, we look forward to continuing our comprehensive Hawks coverage on Sports Radio 92.9 The Game, V103, and worldwide on the Audacy app.”

Something Happenin’ Here!  The remarkable ratings rise, and buzz being created by Walter M Sterling‘s “Sterling Every Damn Night” (10:00 pm – 1:00 am) on Audacy’s WPHT, Philadelphia is worthy of the entire talk radio industry’s attention.  When he started in May, the time period was 18th with a 2.8 Total Adults in Nielsen. In his first month and first hour, the show got a 7.2, # 4. Now the November numbers are a 9.2, total adults, number 2 in Philadelphia.  This is AM only.  No FM.  All this reflects over the air listenership, no stream numbers included.  And to the best of our knowledge, there has been no marketing campaign attached to the success. It’s been organic.  Sterling (A.K.A. legendary consultant Walter Sabo) has taken quite an original approach to news/talk radio in performing the show – mixing a blend of old-time radio sounders and techniques with idiosyncratic, unexpected takes on everyday topics that impact people’s daily lives.  He is clever, funny, surprising and extremely irreverant… And it’s working big time.  A word to the wise: check it out. Don’t let this spark go unfanned.

iHeartMedia Milwaukee’s News/Talk 1130 WISN, the most listened-to radio station in Wisconsin, today announced its new prime-time lineup for 2025, effective January 2, 2025. Michael Harrison describes WISN as “one of talk radio’s pound-for-pound ratings champions.” The new programming lineup features well-known, highly rated show hosts who have decades of broadcasting experience and achievement in the Milwaukee market. “WISN is one of the great success stories in the radio industry over the past decade, in terms of both ratings and overall influence,” said Jeff Tyler, area president for HeartMedia Wisconsin. “We are confident that this latest evolution of WISN’s powerful lineup will meet and exceed the expectations of our listeners and our sponsors.”

Here is the Monday – Friday lineup with brief descriptions:

“The Jay Weber Show” (6:00 am – 9:00 am). The new WISN lineup is built on the same solid foundation as the previous lineup. “The Jay Weber Show” continues its legacy as the highest-rated morning show in Milwaukee, with Jay Weber drawing upon 30+ years of broadcast experience in Milwaukee to offer analysis on the biggest stories of the day, delivered with insight and irreverence.

“The Benjamin Yount Show” (9:00 am – 11:00 am). WISN news director Benjamin Yount retains that title and those duties, while adding an opinion-based analytical show in this late morning slot. For the past several years, Yount has been a primary guest-host on all of WISN’s local programs, and has become known for his candid, no-nonsense perspective.

“Clay Travis and Buck Sexton” (11:00 am – 2:00 pm). Syndicated by the Premiere Radio Networks, Travis and Sexton have amassed the largest radio audience in America, with over 500 affiliates nationwide. Their show tackles the highest profile topics from politics to pop culture, and everything in between.

“The Vicki McKenna Show” (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm). McKenna has been a WISN mainstay since 2007, entertaining and informing listeners with opinions and insights delivered with unparalleled passion. This hour can also be heard in Madison, via simulcast on WIBA-AM.

“The Dan O’Donnell Show” (3:00 pm – 6:00 pm). O’ Donnell takes his top-rated midday show, expands it from two to three hours in length, and moves it to afternoon drive. A former winner of an Edward R. Murrow Award for radio journalism, O’ Donnell blends investigative reporting and hard-hitting commentary with a contemporary style of using audio and the overall radio medium to craft a unique, compelling program that has exploded in popularity.

KBLA Talk 1580 today (12/10) announces a bold new weekday line-up of some the nation’s “most progressive and provocative voices” beginning Monday, January 6, 2025. Dr. Cornel West , renown scholar and former independent candidate for president, and former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. will join KBLA White House correspondent Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey and nationally syndicated hosts Tavis Smiley (9:00 am – 12:00 noon) and D.L. Hughley (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm PT) who already appear weekdays on KBLA Talk 1580, the flagship station of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc., based in Los Angeles.

Dr. West is co-hosting the show “Truth Time” with public intellectual, former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner (12:00 noon – 1:00 pm PT). Each day the two will sound off on the news of the day from what the station describes as an “unapologetically progressive” perspective. “The Jesse Jackson Jr. Show” (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm PT) will feature daily commentary from the former congressman on trending topics and a broad range of guests who will mix it up with Jackson.  “A More Perfect Union” with Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey (4:00 pm – 6:00 pm PT) will serve as a daily pop culture and political news digest with unfiltered conversations, unafraid to say the quiet part out loud “without fluff, fear, or favor.”

“I am both humbled and deliciously proud that Dr. Cornel West, Nina Turner and Jesse Jackson Jr. have decided to join us at KBLA Talk 1580 as we continue to build the most innovative and empowering Black talk media platform in the nation,” Smiley, founder of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. and chief visionary officer for KBLA Talk 1580 tells TALKERS. “No talk station in America can match the intellectual firepower that we will be launching on Monday, January 6th.  KBLA Talk 1580 is proud to have more Black women hosts than any talk station in the country including Dominque DiPrima, the first Black woman to host her own radio talk show in L.A. morning drive, and Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC.  “After all the bickering about Black men during the recent presidential campaign, now is the time to pass the mic to more Black men of different generations to facilitate conversations you won’t find anywhere else,” concludes Smiley. “It’s going to be a rough four years. This is what resistance looks like.”

Listeners can tune into KBLA Talk 1580 live daily by downloading the KBLA1580 app, listen online at the KBLA1580 website, or by watching on the KBLA1580 YouTube Channel. All shows hosted by Smiley, West/Turner, Jackson and Quartey will be available daily on all major podcast platforms after live broadcast.

Early Bird Deadline for the Milestone 50th Gracie Awards Approaching. The AWM Foundation invites all content creators to submit their exceptional work for the historic 50th Annual Gracie Awards. With the Early Bird Deadline approaching on December 12, 2024, now is the time to take advantage of discounted entry fees and secure your place in celebrating the best in media. As the Gracie Awards commemorate 50 years of recognizing excellence, it is more important than ever to honor the exceptional talent in front of and behind the camera and microphone across radio, podcasting, television, streaming, and online programs in news and entertainment. The Gracie Awards recognize contributions from journalists, actors, hosts, producers, showrunners, writers, directors, and other roles that bring impactful stories to life. Each entry directly supports the AWM Foundation, with the Gracies serving as the largest fundraiser of the year.  “This year’s milestone celebration reflects our continued commitment to honoring the talent that shapes the stories of our time,” said Becky Brooks, president of the AWM Foundation. “We encourage local media to participate and take advantage of the best rates and prepare to celebrate together in 2025.”  For a complete list of new and updated categories for 2025, pricing, and submission guidelines, please visit https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/call-for-entries/. Questions can be directed to gracies@allwomeninmedia.org.  The Gracie Awards is the largest fundraiser of the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation which advances women in media through educational programs and scholarships. The Gracie Awards honors exemplary programming and individual talent created by, for and about women. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation has created partnerships and joint initiatives with the Emma Bowen Foundation, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), NCTA – The Cable and Telecommunications Association and other organizations that are philosophically aligned with the mission of the Foundation. For more information about The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and the Gracie Awards please visit allwomeninmedia.org. For the latest news on the Gracies, follow The Gracies on Instagram, X, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Broadcasting Consultant Valerie Geller Drops Third Edition of Classic Book. Beyond Powerful Radio – The New Edition: An Audio Communicators Guide to the Digital World (Focal Press 2024).  In this newly updated edition, industry pros as well as aspirants will find a complete guide to becoming a successful communicator. Beyond Powerful Radio teaches time-tested techniques that work in any format – radio, TV, podcast, or digital. Learn how to get, keep, and grow audiences with powerful storytelling, and become a dynamic presenter. This book holds the tools needed to create winning content; tell compelling stories; build your brand; develop talent; produce a show; report the news; sell; and write commercials. Practical tips and methods from over 50 top experts from across the world of media illuminate interviewing, managing talent, becoming an authentic personality, and getting started in the business. This fully revised edition features new sections on podcasting, social media, storytelling, artificial intelligence, and cross platform synergy.  Whether you’re a professional with years in the industry, an instructor with a class full of media hopefuls, or you are just starting out as a podcaster or radio host, this book will help you reach your goals. A full Instructor Manual is available with complete lesson plans for broadcast instructors.  For more info, please click HERE.

The major story on the minds of talk show hosts and callers yesterday (12/3) remained President Joe Biden‘s controversial pardoning of his son, Hunter Biden. Beyond that, the conversation switched back to the transition of presidential power and controversy over President-elect Donald Trump‘s department nominations and appointments focusing on the embattled nomination of Pete Hegseth to head the Pentagon. Tariffs and a looming trade war came in third followed closely by Trump’s proposed budget cuts and layoffs of Federal employees, the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, the Russia-Ukraine war, the migrant crisis, and health care/abortion rights, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

FOX News Channel and Premiere Networks talk superstar Sean Hannity will host a new long-form interview show for FOX Nation entitled, “Sean” premiering today (12/3) on the platform, announced Lauren Petterson, its president. The new series will feature in-depth sit-down interviews with a variety of guests spanning the world of sports, entertainment, and politics. Pictured above: the episode one kick-off with iconic actor, writer and director Sylvester Stallone alongside his wife, entrepreneur, and model Jennifer Flavin Stallone. In making the announcement, Petterson said, “Sean’s signature political commentary has advanced the cultural conversation while connecting with the FOX News Media audience for more than 28 years. FOX Nation subscribers will have the opportunity to see Sean in a new setting as he conducts long-form interviews with newsmakers and celebrities, delving deep into their life journeys and the challenges and successes they have had along the way.”  Hannity added, “Throughout the course of my career, I’ve had the honor of meeting the world’s most interesting people. It is often the struggles and obstacles they have overcome that make them most captivating. I look forward to sharing these conversations with FOX Nation viewers.”  Featuring a new episode each month, “Sean” captures candid conversations that dive deep into the lives, passions and perspectives of the country’s most interesting people while providing behind-the-scenes stories and unfiltered discussions about the moments that shaped their lives. Following this week’s debut, the second episode will feature a sit-down with Stephen A. Smith, the firebrand commentator and host of ESPN’s “First Take” and podcast “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” In episode three, Hannity will interview celebrity fitness trainer and media personality Jillian Michaels. Additional guests will be announced at a later date.

As the longest-running primetime cable news host in history, Hannity has been known for his provocative style and passionate connection with his audience over the course of his 28 years at FNC. Each night, his primetime program features a signature monologue where he breaks down trending topics of the day, followed by headline-generating interviews. Garnering the highest viewership among cable news in his timeslot, Hannity has averaged nearly 3 million viewers year-to-date, routinely placing as one of the top cable shows overall. Ranked by TALKERS at number one on its “Heavy Hundred” list of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America, Hannity’s radio show is now carried on more than 730 stations.

This Thursday, December 5th, Hannity will serve as the emcee of FOX Nation’s signature Patriot Awards, a ceremony which honors and recognizes America’s finest patriots, including military veterans, first responders and other inspirational everyday heroes.

The major story on the minds of talk show hosts and callers yesterday (12/2) was President Joe Biden‘s controversial pardoning of his son, Hunter Biden. Beyond that, the conversation switched back to the transition of presidential power and controversy over President-elect Donald Trump‘s department nominations and appointments focusing on the nomination of Kash Patel to head the FBI. Tariffs and a looming trade war came in third  followed closely by Trump’s proposed budget cuts and layoffs of Federal employees, the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, the Russia-Ukraine war, the migrant crisis, and health care/abortion rights, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

RNC Chair Michael Whatley Credits WBT Listeners with Delivering NC to Trump.  WBT, Charlotte afternoon drive star Brett Winterble was joined by Republican National Committee chairman, Michael Whatley, yesterday (11/25) to talk about the GOP’s election victories.  During the conversation in which Whatley discussed the election’s immediate impact on issues ranging from wars in the Middle East and Central Europe to immigration and the economy, Whatley credited Radio One’s WBT listeners with helping secure the victory for Donald Trump in North Carolina.  Winterble is a rising star in the talk radio industry currently ranked at # 41 on the 2024 TALKERS “Heavy Hundred” list of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America.  To listen to the conversation between Winterble and Whatley please click here.

The Performance Racing Network (PRN) Taps Brad Gillie to Assume Role of Lead Anchor Alongside Mark Garrow beginning with the 2025 NASCAR season. Gillie will be replacing longtime lead anchor Doug Rice who has retired after a distinguished 36-year career left a void few could fill. “The obvious choice to succeed me is Brad Gillie,” Rice tells TALKERS. “He has been an integral part of our broadcast team for decades. He is an excellent broadcaster that our fans trust and are very familiar with, which I know will make this a smooth transition.”  Gillie has spent more than two decades working in motorsports. His career started in 1998 at Texas Motor Speedway where he spent 16 years in a variety of positions.  In 2006, Gillie began broadcasting live NASCAR events with PRN, where he could be heard in any broadcast position. “I am truly grateful to PRN and Speedway Motor Sports for the opportunity to continue building on a long legacy of exceptional broadcasts,” said Gillie. “It is an honor to move up to the anchor chair and, along with our great team, deliver the excitement of NASCAR to our listeners and affiliate stations. I also want to thank Doug Rice for his friendship and mentorship. His values and commitment to excellence have made PRN an elite network recognized throughout the motorsports and radio industries.”

FOLLOW UP TO YESTERDAY’S STORY: 77WABC, New York Partners with AARP NY, Gristedes and D’Agostinos Supermarkets, and Catholic Charities for Annual 10,000-Turkey Giveaway During Holiday Season.  WABC Radio continues its self-stated “commitment to the community” with its annual 10,000-Turkey Giveaway, in collaboration with AARP New York, Gristedes and D’Agostinos Supermarkets, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. The first 5,000 turkeys will be handed out before Thanksgiving, and the remaining 5,000 will be distributed before Christmas and the Holiday Season. The annual Turkey Giveaway kicked off at 10:00 am yesterday morning (11/25) when turkeys were handed out by John and Margo Catsimatidis, Curtis Sliwa, Sid Rosenberg, and other WABC Radio and New York celebrities from the 77WABC Trolley at St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church on W. 49th St. in New York City. “WABC Radio is an emergency broadcast station, a responsibility that extends to helping people in the greater New York City community year-round,” said John Catsimatidis, owner of Red Apple Media, 77WABC, and Gristedes and D’Agostinos Supermarkets. “Working with AARP New York and The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, we are bringing much-needed help, and hopefully joy, to those in our community who are in need and deserve happiness and a good meal for the Holiday Season.” Pictured above, John and Margo Catsimatidis participating in the holiday initiative.

Westwood One to Cease Distribution of Ben Shapiro Show.  Affiliates of Westwood One’s “Ben Shapiro Show” received a letter from company SVP affiliate sales Stuart Greenblatt on Friday (11/18) notifying them that “Westwood One is ceasing distribution of the Ben Shapiro Show. The final episode will air on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.” Beginning as a major conservative media podcast produced and distributed by The Daily Wire (co-founded by Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing), its reach greatly expanded when Westwood One picked up the program for radio syndication. In January 2019, Westwood One expanded Shapiro’s one-hour podcast-to-radio program, adding a nationally syndicated two-hour live radio show, for three hours of Ben Shapiro programming daily. According to Westwood One, The Ben Shapiro Show was being carried by more than 200 stations, including in nine of the top 10 markets. TALKERS ranks Ben Shapiro at #16 on its “Heavy Hundred” list of The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America.  This plan not to renew the distribution deal between Westwood One and The Daily Wire also includes programs hosted by Michael Knowles and Matt Walsh. No further information is available at press time.

77WABC, New York Partners with AARP NY, Gristedes and D’Agostinos Supermarkets, and Catholic Charities for Annual 10,000-Turkey Giveaway During Holiday Season.  WABC Radio continues its self-stated “commitment to the community” with its annual 10,000-Turkey Giveaway, in collaboration with AARP New York, Gristedes and D’Agostinos Supermarkets, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. The first 5,000 turkeys will be handed out before Thanksgiving, and the remaining 5,000 will be distributed before Christmas and the Holiday Season. The annual Turkey Giveaway kicked off at 10:00 am this morning (11/25) when turkeys were handed out by John and Margo Catsimatidis, Curtis Sliwa, Sid Rosenberg, and other WABC Radio and New York celebrities from the 77WABC Trolley at St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church on W. 49th St. in New York City. “WABC Radio is an emergency broadcast station, a responsibility that extends to helping people in the greater New York City community year-round,” said John Catsimatidis, owner of Red Apple Media, 77WABC, and Gristedes and D’Agostinos Supermarkets. “Working with AARP New York and The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, we are bringing much-needed help, and hopefully joy, to those in our community who are in need and deserve happiness and a good meal for the Holiday Season.”

Nielsen Media Research: Morning Joe Ratings Plummet After Co-hosts Meet with Trump. Nielsen numbers indicate that the MSNBC “Morning Joe” show ratings suffered a significant drop on Tuesday (11/19) after co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski announced that they met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. “Morning Joe” delivered one of its lowest-rated programs of 2024 with just 680,000 viewers and 76,000 in the 25-54 demo on Tuesday. Tuesday was the show’s third lowest broadcast of 2024. Compared to the show’s 2024 average, Tuesday’s broadcast plummeted 38% with viewers and 37% in the 25-54 demo. And compared to Monday’s broadcast, the show was also down double digits seeing a 12% decline with both viewers and A25-54.

WPG, Atlantic City Morning Legend Harry Hurley Makes Prestigious List. The InsiderNJ.com Annual New Jersey Power List 2024 has again placed longtime WPG, Atlantic City morning host Harry Hurley as one of the Garden State’s most politically influential citizens (11/20). It is always released on the Wednesday of the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference. Hurley placed in the #48 position on this year’s list. Power lists are nothing new for Hurley who came in at #25 on the 2024 TALKERS “Heavy Hundred” list of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison says of Hurley, “If talk radio were boxing, Harry Hurley would be its ‘pound-for-pound’ champion.”

Hercules, Hercules! Yup that is Hollywood Legend Kevin Sorbo and WRVA, Richmond Afternoon Mainstay Jeff Katz. Actor Kevin Sorbo was in town to deliver a speech and he took the time to appear on the Jeff Katz Show. Katz presented Sorbo with a Julia Katz bracelet which is made by Emily Morrissey, a local artist with special needs, who sells her work at http://www.emilysbracelets.com  and then donates the profits to a variety of charities including The Friendship Circle of Virginia which benefits from the sale of each Julia Katz bracelet. Julia Katz is the adult daughter of Jeff Katz who has faced special needs challenges since birth and has been the inspiration for the radio star’s enormous humanitarian contributions over the years to money- and consciousness-raising in the Richmond market.

WTOP Reporter Evan Haning Succumbs to Cancer at 74.  Veteran news reporter Evan Haning, whose 50-year radio career included almost a decade as an anchor and reporter at WTOP, Washington, DC has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer. Haning’s career began well before his stint as a reporter at WTOP, from the early 2000s through 2011, and showed his flexibility as a broadcaster. Born in 1950 in Sydney, Iowa, Haning’s radio career began in 1970, shortly after graduating from Simi Valley High School, in California. Haning was in Los Angeles for the Boss Radio boom. In 1973, Haning joined KRLA Radio as a disc jockey. “He came to Washington when he joined WJOK in 1983,” his daughter said. Long before Comedy Central, WJOK was the first all-comedy radio format in the country. By the mid-1980s, Haning became the production director at WWRC, the talk radio station featuring hosts like Joel A. Spivak, Bob Kwesell, and the morning duo of Bruce Alan and Ed Walker.  Haning is survived by his wife Melissa, daughter Amber, son Garrison, and two grandchildren, Matilda and Seneca. Memorial arrangements are pending.

SRN to Present Special Christian Series.  Salem Radio Network (SRN) is presenting a special series this week spotlighting Dr. Erwin Lutzer (pictured above left).  In interviews with SRN News correspondent Lori Tradup (pictured above right) Lutzer— Pastor Emeritus at Moody Church in Chicago—exposes what SRN describes as “the heart of America’s cultural crisis as it impacts pastors in pulpits nationwide.”  In the series, Dr. Lutzer advises Christians to stay rooted in Biblical truths as they grapple with challenges including abortion, transgenderism and other topics. His newest book is titled The Eclipse of God (Harvest House, 2024)

Subject to Senate confirmation, FOX News Channel personality Pete Hegseth has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as defense secretary in his forthcoming administration.  Hegseth is co-host of  “FOX & Friends Weekend” and a decorated U.S. Army veteran who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.  He unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012, has authored several books supportive of the MAGA philosophy, and has been involved in grass roots conservative political activism.  His selection has come as a surprise to Washington-watchers of all political stripes, and it is expected that his nomination will be met with a strong level of political resistance questioning his experience to take on and manage such an enormous responsibility.  Regardless, his nomination illustrates the continuing growth and influence of talk show hosts in the modern-era political arena.

The West Coast’s highly popular talk radio “power couple,” Robin Bertolucci and her husband Don Martin have stepped away from their longtime positions with iHeartMedia (11/8) – Bertolucci as program director of heritage giant KFI AM 640, Los Angeles and Martin as EVP of programming, iHeartMedia Sports (which includes FOX Sports Radio) and PD of sports talk AM 570 KLAC, Los Angeles.After nearly a quarter century of exemplary service in these positions, the ambiguous terms cited for the couple’s simultaneous departure do not mask the general industry observation that they were direct victims of the national radio cutbacks being affected by iHeartMedia as severe cost-cutting measures.  Chris Berry, iHeartMedia EVP of news, will assume the role as interim program director of both KFI and KLAC.

In the New York City market, the morning team of generalist Michael Riedel and sports talker Len Berman has met a similar fate at the legendary AM 710 WOR. Included in the cut – their show’s producer Terry Trahim, after more than 20 years of service to the station.

Multi-talented Scott Sands, iHM SVP of programming for the Ohio-West Virginia area and PD /afternoon host of WSPD, Toledo has also been let go.

Joe Pags impacted. In San Antonio, although he remains one of the most successful syndicated hosts in American talk radio with a rapidly growing roster of more than 170 stations coast to coast, Compass Media Networks star Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo‘s local highly-rated afternoon show of 19 years at his flagship WOAI (where he is a market legend) has been dropped from the lineup as a cost-cutting measure. Pags is one of talk radio’s most notable rising stars and will undoubtedly be okay – but his departure from WOAI is indicative of the wrecking ball nature of these types of budget-cutting measures.

There are more cutbacks being reported at iHM stations throughout the industry.

TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “It is a dark moment in talk radio when the cutback ax falls on such good people who have devoted so much precious time, talent, and loyalty to their company, this industry and our professional community.  I’m in no position to tell companies how to run their businesses and protect their embattled assets in times of financial distress… but on a human level – not to mention in recognition of the fragility of this historic cultural scene to which we all contribute and hold an emotional stake – it’s downright heartbreaking.”

To see a recent interview with Joe Pags conducted by Michael Harrison on the video podcast “Up Close Far Out,” please click here.

In an example of just how contentious sports talk radio can be, long-time Boston sports talk radio host Fred Toucher did not hold back in slamming his old partner, Rich Shertenlieb, whose new show was cancelled this week. Toucher, who now co-hosts “Toucher & Hardy“ on 98.5 The Sports Hub, WBZ-FM, Boston took some time on this morning’s show (11/5) to address ”the elephant in the room.” Shertenlieb‘s new show on local classic rock outlet WZLX had been canceled after five months, and Toucher didn’t seem to have any sympathy for his former partner.  In a story by reporter Nick O’ Malley posted on the news site MassLive.com, “I hate him,” Toucher said. “So, I was happy yesterday when I heard about this. But I was a little disheartened that he still carries none of the responsibility and takes none of the blame and still just can’t be honest.”   Toucher and Shertenlieb co-hosted the “Toucher & Rich” show from 2009-2023, working together to produce one of Boston’s most popular morning shows. However, the show ran into issues in 2023. Toucher missed time due to personal and physical issues, including a stretch of time at an alcohol detox facility. In November, parent company Beasley Media said in a statement that Shertenlieb declined to accept a new contract.  On Monday, Shertenlieb announced that he was “disappointed” that his show was being canceled after just five months. The radio host complained that management forced him to “alter the format” of the show by adding music.  However, Toucher noted Tuesday that Shertenlieb’s show was a “ratings disaster.”  “He not only did not bring in a new audience to that show, he alienated – based on ratings – their entire existing audience,” Toucher said. “He had like a third of the ratings that they got jockless in the morning … Yeah, management might have been a little concerned.”  Toucher said that critics can paint the picture of his reaction however they like. But he did note that he and co-host Jon Wallach say they weren’t alone in celebrating the demise of Shertenlieb’s show.  To see the complete article in MassLive.com, please click here.