LOOKING AHEAD to the Second Half of the Third Decade of the 21st Century
By Michael Harrison
TALKERS
Publisher
With the conclusion of 2025 at hand, we are entering the second half of the third decade of the 21st century. It will be a remarkably transitional period for the talk radio industry and its closely associated fields in talk media, as well as media-in-general.
Here’s what’s going to happen:
The age old “radio station” paradigm as a brick-and-mortar business/cultural/communications center will disappear. After more than a century, it will be financially and physically impractical to operate the process of “radio” as a federally licensed production company tethered to a broadcast tower that houses programming, sales, and a roster of creative practitioners under one roof on an employee-based payroll. Radio “stations” will be more of an esthetic meme than an actual physical place on a dial coming from a specific business space with desks and “departments.” Programming and sales – local, regional, and national – will be provided by “outside” sources. Most “talent” will operate as either independent contractors or employees (or “partners”) of these outside companies. Local-ness and/or national-ness will not depend upon actual location of sources but rather focus of content. The biggest challenge facing radio station owner/operators will be to transition their “media station” brands from being licensed entities to effectively competing in the “dark jungle” or “high seas” of unlicensed platforms… without going broke.
In the wider world of media:
AI is going to put “Hollywood” out of business. Oh, there will still be a nebulously geographic place in Southern California called “Hollywood” but it will no longer be mythically based on big studios, production companies, and star talent.
And lovers of freedom will come to recognize the communications arm of “Big Tech” as the greatest threat to liberty facing humanity since World War II.
More on the above in 2026.
Happy holidays!
Michael Harrison is the publisher of TALKERS. He can be contacted at michael@talkers.com.
Network TV often delivers Nielsen hashmarks. No viewers! The no numbers reports started coming in over 20 years ago and they met with silence. Often on Holiday nights, long weekends, NBC, CBS, ABC or FOX delivered no measurable audience. Simultaneously, online video stars were attracting millions of views. In 2007, the media world witnessed the audience shift from broadcast TV to online video. In the following years, media buyers made the definition of a bad investment: Between the time a buy was placed on network TV to the day of air, the audience diminished. Every month. Year after year.
1972. The company was headed by Dr. Jerrel Jones, who passed recently. His daughter, current owner and president Mary Ellen Jones, says, “My parents built The Milwaukee Courier and WNOV to give Milwaukee’s Black community a voice when few existed. Passing that responsibility forward was not taken lightly. Civic Media is committed to honoring that legacy while investing in the future of trusted media.” The company says that Dr. Robert “Biko” Baker will join as operations manager for both the radio station and newspaper. Civic Media CEO Sage Weil comments, “Acquiring The Milwaukee Courier and WNOV is both an opportunity and a responsibility. These are trusted institutions with deep roots in Milwaukee, and our role is to steward that legacy while investing in their future – modernizing operations, expanding digital reach, and ensuring they continue to serve the community with integrity. We’re proud to have Dr. Robert ‘Biko’ Baker lead this work.”
Mason says, “Ramon is the perfect embodiment of what The Zone stands for – local sports passion, credibility, and connection. His instincts, stories, and relatability make our mornings stronger and our sports brand more authentic.” Foster comments, “I am thrilled to announce the extension of my media career with ‘104.5 The Zone’ for the foreseeable future. Engaging in lively discussions about sports, life, and pop culture with our passionate listeners each morning has been instrumental in my seamless transition from the NFL. The Zone’s impressive reach in Nashville, its surrounding areas, and nationwide through digital platforms is truly unparalleled. I eagerly anticipate continuing to grow alongside our fans, the station, and Nashville and surrounding cities for many years to come. I appreciate everyone who’s supported me, my wife and kids, Zone Family, and our listening audience I run into often while out in the community. Thank you again!”
The Problem Is No Longer Spotting a Joke. The Problem Is Spotting Reality
continue to be a member of the prestigious organization’s Advisory Board in 2026. Upon receiving this latest appointment (12/9), Harrison stated, “I am honored to be associated with this great group that continues to grow and inspire broadcasting artists and professionals around the world to achieve new levels of quality and positive societal influence – not to mention, unite and provide a sense of cohesiveness to the global media community.” The NY Festivals issued the statement about its Class of 2026: “We anticipate wonderful submissions from around the globe before the deadline. Our Storytellers Gala will salute Radio trophy winners in the spring. Combined with our TV & Film Winners, it will be a celebration of innovative storytellers across all platforms.” 
co-host of “The Bottom Line,” beginning Monday (12/8). Brenberg will continue his role with the network co-hosting “The Big Money Show” alongside McDowell, Jackie DeAngelis and Taylor Riggs. Brenberg says, “It’s been great to work with Dagen on ‘The Big Money Show’ and I am excited to join her on ‘The Bottom Line’ where we can continue our conversations surrounding the biggest market movers and business drivers that are impacting Main Street, Wall Street, and everyday Americans.”
Dan Mathews and Cole Thompson. Thompson has been with KBME for the past year producing “The A-Team” on the station and hosting, “The Night Cap.” Mathews began his career covering Houston sports and worked in Atlanta at Audacy’s WZGC-FM and Dickey Broadcasting’s WCNN-AM. Station program director Chris Gordy states, “We’re thrilled to add Cole to mornings, alongside Dan. Both guys eat, sleep and breathe all things Houston sports, and bring a passion and enthusiasm to kick off each morning right.”
social media that she has exited the Beasley sports talk station. “4.5 years ago I started my journey at 97.5 The Fanatic. Today was my final day. While this was unexpected I was able to come out of college and work my dream job. Not many people get to do that. I love my morning show fam (chat too fam bam). I’m always wishing nothing but the best for everyone who works there. I’m not going anywhere with my Flyers/ESPN+ jobs. I LOVE radio. That I will miss. Go birds and thank you all for supporting me live out my dream. It did come true. How lucky am I??”
In an industry built on speed – breaking news, live liners, commercial deadlines – “pause” can feel like a luxury radio can’t afford. But Kevin Cashman’s The Pause Principle: Step Back to Lead Forward (Wiley) argues the opposite: pausing isn’t weakness, it’s a competitive advantage. For local radio leaders, the message couldn’t be timelier.
If you’re a news/talk station, be known-for-knowing what’s happening. My client stations routinely invite tune-in “for a quick [name of network] news update, every hour, throughout your busy day.”
stories of America’s heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. This program is appropriate for the entire Veterans Day Weekend and is a fitting, patriotic, and inspirational holiday programming alternative for all formats. Listeners will hear their emotional stories fighting for our freedoms, how they sustained their injuries, and the welcoming homes Fisher House provides for them and their loved ones while they endure their painful and painstaking recoveries. 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 lnvictus 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. For more information on this radio special, available cash and barter free, contact Larry O’Connor at 562.665.9537 or 
policy in the National Women’s Soccer League and teammates Sarah Gorden and Angelina Anderson who strenuously object to the idea. Travis – co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – said on the program, “If you are a male soccer player, and you are listening to us right now, D1, I would encourage you to go to open tryouts. If you make a women’s soccer team or they ban you – just say you identify as a woman – if you make a women’s soccer team, I’ll pay you 100 grand. Challenge out there for every man listening to us right now. I want one of you out there to try to make a women’s pro soccer team – just tell them if they question you, ‘hey, I identify as a woman,’ and I want you to make the team because if they don’t have this rule in place, it would be transphobic for them to stop you from being able to become a male identifying as a woman professional athlete. And I think you might be able to score fifty goals in a year and maybe this is what needs to happen in the National Women’s Soccer League.”
authentic voices in audio are powerfully shaping culture, building true community, and driving measurable brand performance.” Based on the results of the Audio Creator Impact Study, the webcast will highlight “how deep authenticity and strategic alignment fuel results across the entire customer journey.” 
Confidence is down. Costco is mobbed.
The groaning and moaning that “radio is losing younger demos and will die tomorrow” misses the point. What attracts younger audiences? What has always attracted younger audiences? NEW STUFF. New clothes, shows, slang, ideas… NEW. When you “found” radio, you found a top 40 station that was saturated in the latest music, events and ATTITUDE. Radio remains vital by presenting and celebrating new, shocking, contest prizes, revolutionary ideas, hosts, jocks… NEW.
throughout North America will continue to have access to every NBA game on SiriusXM as well as select WNBA game broadcasts and the exclusive 24/7 SiriusXM NBA Radio channel. Additionally, the SiriusXM app features 30 dedicated NBA team channels, providing official radio commentary for each team.
– A Tribute to Law Enforcement, at its studios in Manhattan that begins with a press conference at 10:00 am followed by a roundtable discussion and lunch. Owner John Catsimatidis will host NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, DEA president Scott Munro, and NYPD chief of transit Joseph Gulatta and others.