The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Gunhill Road, the perennial pop music ensemble that has been creating issue-oriented reflections of the times since the iconic “Back When My Hair Was Short” hit the charts in the early 70s, is back with another powerful music video. The brand new, gritty rocker, “Close My Ears,” captures the sheer angst of today’s anxiety pandemic fueled by contentious talk media
and the gut-wrenching chaos of informational overload. Non-partisan lyrics cry out: “Too much information clogging up my brain… and I can’t change the station; it’s driving me insane!” Co-written and performed by band members Steve Goldrich, Paul Reisch, Brian Koonin, and Michael Harrison, the dramatic images accompanying the music include a dynamic montage of exasperated people being driven to the brink of madness by the pressure of what feels like non-stop, negative NOISE. Produced by Matthew B. Harrison, the video asks, is the remedy to drop off the grid and go live in the woods? Gunhill Road has amassed a huge worldwide following gathering almost a half million listens, views and downloads driven largely by airplay and exposure on talk radio! To view “Close My Ears,” please click here: closemyears.com. To arrange an interview about the song and the times it reflects with band member (and TALKERS publisher) Michael Harrison please email info@talkers.com or call 413-565-5413. To check out the launch of Michael Harrison’s national media tour in support of the new “Close My Ears” music video, check out his October 9 appearance on the Lee Elci morning show on WJJF (94.9 News Now), New London, CT and Patriot.TV by clicking here.
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Every talk host knows the move: play the clip. It might be a moment from late-night TV, a political ad, or a viral post that sets the table for the segment. It’s how commentary comes alive – listeners hear it, react to it, and stay tuned for your take.
That simple act is powered by a fragile piece of legal machinery known as the Fair Use Balancing Act. Without it, half of talk radio, podcasting, and online news/talk commentary wouldn’t exist. Fair Use allows creators to quote, parody, or critique copyrighted material without permission – but only when the new use transforms the old. It’s the backbone of what we now call “react” or “remix” culture.
Fair use isn’t a license; it’s a defense. When you rely on it, you admit you used someone else’s work and trust that a judge will see your purpose – criticism, news, education – as transformative. That’s a high-wire act few think about when the mic is hot.
The doctrine works on a sliding scale: courts weigh four factors – purpose, nature, amount, and market effect. In plain English, they ask, Did you change the meaning? Did you take too much? Did you cost the owner money? There are neither checklists nor guarantees.
That flexibility is what makes American media vibrant – and also what keeps lawyers busy. Each decision takes time, context, and money. The price of creative freedom is uncertainty.
The same logic now drives the debate over AI training and voice cloning. Machines don’t “comment” on your broadcast; they absorb it. And if courts treat that as transformative analysis instead of reproduction, the next generation of “hosts” may not need microphones at all.
For broadcasters, that’s the new frontier: your archives, tone, and phrasing are training data. Once ingested, they can be repurposed, remixed, and re-voiced without violating traditional copyright rules. The Fair Use Balancing Act may protect innovation – but it rarely protects the innovator.
Fair use was designed to keep culture evolving, not to leave creators behind. It balances a creator’s right to profit against society’s right to build upon shared work. But balance only works if both sides know the weight they’re carrying.
Every time you play the clip, remember you’re exercising one of the oldest and most essential freedoms in media. Just make sure the next voice that plays you is doing the same thing – for the right reasons, and under the same rules.
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@HarrisonMediaLaw.com
The Department of War is asking news organizations to sign an agreement to adhere to strict reporting procedures – including a ban on reporting on classified information – to have access to Pentagon officials and, in an unusual show of solidarity in these times, ABC News, CBS News,
CNN, FOX News Media, NBC News, and Newsmax are declining to sign the agreement. A joint statement from ABC News, CBS News, CNN, FOX News Media, and NBC News says, “Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues. The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections. We will continue to cover the U.S. military as each of our organizations has done for many decades, upholding the principles of a free and independent press.” Newsmax adds, “We are working in conjunction with other media outlets to resolve the situation. We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further.”
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
The most common mistake podcasters make is assuming the microphone alone creates an audience. Too many would-be hosts hit Record without a clear strategy for WHY they’re doing a show, WHO it’s for, and what makes it DIFFERENT from millions of other podcasts.
Here’s where radio people have an edge. They already understand what makes audio work, fundamentals instructive to pure-play podcasters:
Know your listener. The #1 podcasting error is failing to define the audience. A show that tries to appeal to “everyone” ends up resonating with no one. In radio, you wouldn’t program an AC station to please hard rock fans; the same logic applies here. Create a mental picture of your ideal listener and talk to that person… as an individual. A radio show might have thousands of listeners, but they’re listening one-at-a-time. Podcasting is even more intimate. It’s the opposite of “Hi everybody.”
Prep like it matters. Many podcasters think conversation is enough. But even the loosest-sounding successful shows are tightly structured. Radio taught you this already: segments, clocks, and story arcs keep things moving. Format your podcast.
Edit ruthlessly. The average podcast listener has thousands of options. Rambling is death. Trimming, pacing interviews, and cutting inside jokes shows respect for your listener’s time. Walking-the-walk, TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison takes a mere 44 seconds to explain in this video.
Be consistent. If your show drops sporadically, you won’t build loyalty. Listeners want reliability, whether weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Radio wouldn’t move a morning show around the schedule; don’t do it with your podcast.
Think discoverability. A podcast isn’t a “Field of Dreams” (if you build it, they will come). Great audio needs marketing: social media clips, smart SEO in show notes, cross-promotion, and ideally, visibility on your broadcast platforms.
Make it about them, not you. This is the big one. Too many podcasts are self-indulgent — hosts talking about what interests them. Successful shows flip the script: What does my audience care about, and how can I deliver it in a way only I can?
The bottom line: Radio has invested 100 years doing what podcasting is just learning — creating focused, disciplined, listener-first audio. Bring those habits with you, and you’ll click, while others are still figuring it out.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a media consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Since TALKERS ran the following story yesterday (10/9), we learned about another angle to this story and have updated it.
There is no unity for the various conservative media outlets fighting for both viewers/listeners and the approval of the Trump Administration. Since 2016 it’s been widely reported that President Donald Trump watches FOX News Channel constantly. But a recent interview with Donald Trump Jr. by Chris Salcedo on Newsmax TV indicates that, at least for the president’s
eldest son, FNC is in the doghouse. Newsmax published an account of the interview which quotes Trump Jr. saying, “Honestly, I don’t watch it anymore because it is so ridiculous. They try so hard to be unbiased that they’re actually biased against conservatives at this point. But this shouldn’t be surprising. These are networks that banned me for two-and-a-half. I’m barely on anymore. I know my father was banned.” However, TALKERS has learned that Donald Trump Jr. appeared on FOX News Channel four times recently – on August 13 and September 3, 11, and 12. He told Salcedo 
“FOX’s approach has left conservatives silenced while Democrats and establishment figures get free rein.” The president recently complained about FNC in a post on Truth Social in which he singled out White House correspondent Peter Doocy for talking to Arizona Senator Mark Kelly about his healthcare agenda. He wrote, “Why is Fox News and Peter Doocy putting on Democrat Senator Mark Kelly to talk about, totally unabated or challenged, Healthcare?” SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly recently complained about FOX News Channel’s coverage of Charlie Kirk’s slaying, saying, “It’s really bothering me how FOX News is talking about Charlie, like he was theirs — he wasn’t. It’s a lie. Just stop.”
iHeartMedia has been cutting staff at radio stations across the country and talk hosts are part of this reduction in force. Some of those affected by the cuts include sports talk radio personalities Steve Czaban – who co-hosted the Czabe & Butch program with Brian Butch on the
company’s WRNW-FM, Milwaukee “97.3 The Game,” and KBME-AM, Houston “SportsTalk 790” morning host Sean Salisbury. Salisbury tweeted, “It’s been a hell of a run the last 8 years [at] SportsTalk 790. I fully understand the financial decisions that corporate has to make. I appreciate the great bosses at iHeart that I got to work with and here in Houston, who have become friends too. Very grateful for good coworkers and the talent you hear daily on the SportsTalk 790 lineup. I’m so blessed to have worked with special teammates/friends on my show every morning, you know my love for you guys!” Also, a victim of this latest round of cuts is Salt Lake City market manager Joyce Wirthlin.
Nationally syndicated talk media personality Wayne Allyn Root recently visited the White House and met with President Donald Trump. Root says, “I’ve had the honor of interviewing President Trump on my TV and radio shows 16 times. I’ve also opened for him at many Las Vegas rallies. And I’ve been honored to attend many White House events – including White House Christmas and Hanukkah parties and the Abraham Accords. But this was my first Oval Office visit. What an honor. God bless America. I know my dad – a blue collar Jewish butcher from Brownsville, Brooklyn – is watching down from heaven with pride!” Pictured above are (from l-r): Cindy Root, Wayne Allyn Root, and President Donald Trump.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Beaumont, Texas talk radio host Al Caldwell is named the 2025 Man of the Year by The Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. Caldwell is the morning drive host on iHeartMedia’s KLVI, Beaumont “News Talk 560.” iHeartMedia says that Caldwell has been a cornerstone of
Beaumont region for over five decades known for his authenticity, passion, and a deep love for Beaumont and its people. Caldwell is now 89 yet he continues to wake up at 4:00 am to entertain and inform his long standing and loyal fan base. Chamber president Amy Lavoi says, “Al Caldwell is more than just a radio personality – he’s the voice of our community. Through decades of broadcasting and public service, Al has uplifted this city with his humor, insight, and compassion. We are honored to recognize him as our 2025 Man of the Year.” Caldwell comments, “This community has given me so much over the years and being recognized by the Chamber as ‘Man of the Year’ is truly humbling. I love telling stories, sharing laughs, connecting with listeners, and waking up before the sun to be part of their day.” The award will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on October 7 at the Beaumont Civic Center.
By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter Sterling, Host
WPHT, Philadelphia, “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night”
TMN syndicated, “Sterling on Sunday”
As a media consultant, my team has had the privilege of being engaged extensively by members of the C-Suite. Becoming a member of the C-Suite is a common goal. To get into any group, acceptance often depends on acting and appearing like established members. Here are some of the actions observed of business masters whom we consulted:
Arrive First
Let’s start with Walter Anderson, CEO PARADE magazine. PARADE was then owned by Newhouse and was the most-read publication in the English language with 30-million-plus readers. Walter Anderson was a rock star. For years he was an award-winning editor and proud of his publication. He was a gifted leader. Smart writers and graphic designers want to work for Anderson. He’s that guy! It was an honor to have lunch with him… always at the Four Seasons.
Lunch at 12:30 pm. I’d arrive at 12:25 pm – Anderson was well seated. Lunch at 12:30, I’d arrive at 12:15 pm and Anderson was well seated. I had to arrive at 11:30 am to “beat” him to the 12:30 pm table. When I finally arrived at 11:30, he was startled that I arrived first. Score! I shared this story with the manager of the Four Seasons, Julian Niccolini. Julian smiled and said, “The most powerful person always arrives first.”
Arriving first is control, preemptive and, yes, powerful. Arrive first in all actions. The first one in a room can rearrange the chairs and name plates. Arriving first for a meeting gives a person a moral upper hand!
Answer Emails Fast
Our clients have included a long list of CEOs, presidents, and CBOs. Who answers their emails first? The most powerful: Bob Pittman, CEO, iHeartMedia; Julie Talbott, president, Premiere Networks; Kelli Turner, CEO, Audacy; Bob McAllan, CEO, Press Broadcasting; Joe Clayton (deceased), CEO Sirius; Scott Greenstein, president, SiriusXM; Kraig Kitchin, CEO, Soundmind; Tim McCarthy, CEO, Broadcasters Foundation; Alan Shaw, CEO, Centennial Broadcasting; and Chris Oliviero, CBO, Audacy all answer their email super fast. (There are other contacts who answer fast, but this is the CEO/president list.) Most of the other CEOs and presidents who answer late or not at all are bankrupt.
Thank You First
Powerful people send thank you notes – fast. After an event, they send thank you to the host before going to bed. Powerful execs study when people in their industry get an award or promotion and then write notes of congratulations – and stamp it. No emails. Those real letters are saved – forever. Thank you, Cathy Black!
Know Thy Numbers
Powerful executives are never vague about numbers. Vagueness invites suspicion and erodes confidence. BUT, the powerful are not driven by the numbers. The numbers are not front and center in conversations.
RKO chairman Tom O’Neil hired my company to consult all of their radio stations. Tom was charming, in charge, and larger than life. RKO owned Frontier Airlines. Over lunch, he casually mentioned the passenger load on Frontier that day. He knew those numbers and the ratings for WOR midday. Pass the bread.
Once a year, PARADE and all Newhouse pubs presented their business plans to the Newhouse brothers directly. Participating in that meeting, I saw that the Newhouses expected the CEOs to know their numbers. The CEOs of their pubs presented the numbers. No CFOs, no accountants, and no business managers were allowed in the business plan meetings. CEO direct to owner.
C-Suite members show up first, answer emails fast, know their numbers cold and send thank you notes.
Walter Sabo has been a C-Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers.. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com.
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Jimmy Kimmel’s first monologue back after the recent suspension had the audience laughing and gasping, and, in the hands of countless radio hosts and podcasters, replaying. Within hours, clips of his bit weren’t just being shared online. They were being chopped up, (re)framed, and (re)analyzed as if they were original show content. For listeners, that remix feels fresh. For lawyers, it is a fair use minefield.
Playing the Clip, Owning the Take
Audiences increasingly expect their favorite talkers to “play the clip,” whether it is from Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Sid Rosenberg, or Charlamagne tha God on The Breakfast Club (a show that seems to go viral every other week), and then add their own color commentary, the kind of play-by-play that makes it feel like the home team is calling the action. That format works. It gives context, tone, and a sense of immediacy that no transcript can match. Done right, it is what transforms a broadcast from just a recap into a fulfilling cultural conversation.
But with every replay comes a risk. Fair use does not mean free use. Courts weigh factors like how much of the original work you used, whether your purpose was transformative, and whether your use cuts into the market value of the original. Playing a short excerpt of Kimmel’s joke before riffing on it? Likely fair. Running half the monologue and treating it as your A-block? That edges into trouble, both legally and from a programming perspective. Why would anyone want to hear your take if your “take” is mostly replaying someone else? That is not adding to the common zeitgeist; it is just echoing it.
The Podcaster and Broadcaster Dilemma
Radio hosts have long leaned on “newsworthiness” as a shield. Podcasters often assume the same rules apply. But here is the distinction: news clips and comedy bits are not treated equally in court. A station rebroadcasting a press conference is serving public information. A podcast re-airing Kimmel is competing directly with Kimmel’s own clips on YouTube. One informs, the other risks replacing.
And while linking to ABC or YouTube is a courtesy, just as crediting them in the video itself might be, it does not replace the traffic (and ad dollars) Kimmel’s team expects. The law does not guarantee creators compensation for commentary, but judges do consider market harm. If your listeners stop watching the original because your show already gave them the “best parts,” you have tilted the scale against yourself. John Oliver is often credited (though no one seems able to find the clip): “People are always going to say stupid things, and you’re always going to be able to make jokes about that, but it should be the last thing you add in, because it is the easiest thing.”
Whether he actually said it or not almost proves the point. Recycling someone else’s words without context is the laziest move in the book. And if you cannot find the source? That is about as meta as fair use gets.
The Takeaway
Here is the smart play: use less and say more. A 20-second clip followed by two minutes of commentary is transformative. A five-minute clip with a shrug and a chuckle is not. Audiences do not tune in to hear Kimmel again. They tune in to hear what you think about Kimmel. The moment you let someone else’s content carry your show, you lose both legal ground and creative authority.
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@HarrisonMediaLaw.com or read more at TALKERS.com.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Looming Government Shutdown
2. Deadly Michigan Church Attack
3. National Guard to Portland Battle
4. Comey Indictment
5. Russia Attack on Kyiv
Beasley Media Group brings Jon Marks back to its airwaves for the “Middays with Marks” show from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on WPEN-FM, Philadelphia 97.5 The Fanatic,” beginning Monday (9/29). Marks, whose show replaces Mike Missanelli in the midday slot, served WPEN-FM in
several capacities over the past 20 years but was most recently with crosstown sports talker WIP-FM co-hosting with Ike Reese. Beasley Media Group Philadelphia Paul Blake says, “Jon Marks is a proven leader and a trusted voice in Philadelphia sports. His credibility, passion, and connection with our audience will be instrumental in driving The Fanatic’s continued growth and success in the market.” Marks comments, “I’m beyond excited for this opportunity. Philadelphia is the best sports city in the country, and the fans here are as passionate as they come. To be able to talk sports with them every day in this new time slot is an honor, and I can’t wait to bring that same energy and passion to middays on The Fanatic.”
By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter Sterling, Host
WPHT, Philadelphia, “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night”
TMN syndicated, “Sterling on Sunday”
Have you noticed a profile pattern for the mass shooters and political assassins? 20-30 years old. Living at home or close.
Here’s a deep dive, highly predictive profile that was written by a true radio GREAT:
“He’s a crown prince as a teenager. A crown prince when he suddenly finds his crown gone and he’s just a commoner and he must enter the next stage of life – well I’ll tell you what happens: He generally doesn’t, that’s why you have a new generation of guys who have not taken on family or familiar responsibilities.
They are not about to give up the Crown Prince role and so we have a whole new generation of porn readers who will forever and ever and ever be catered to, and they get to the point where they cater to themselves. Many of them never grow up.
There is more than one guy who is 30 years old today who is totally, completely being supported by his mother and father. And as a matter of course, because he is after all a Crown Prince and a Crown Prince has prerogatives and one of them is to live off the family larder, he will continue to do this throughout most of his life.
This is a very new thing in America, and I say we have not seen the end of it. We’ve only seen the very beginning of it now. He who is really searching for identity.
I’m gonna make a suggestion here. I will suggest that this man is a dangerous man. Any man who has been suppressed, any man who has lost identity is a man who is prone to take up with wild, divergent, and often quite dangerous and irrational political crusades merrily to give himself his own identity, something, some charge that he can ride on.”
Jean Shepherd
WOR Radio Star
Author, A Christmas Story
from audiobook, LIFE IS, 1965
Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers.. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Charlie Kirk Memorial
2. The Economy / Fed Rate Cut / Record Dow
3. Kimmel Cancelled / Disney-FCC Controversy
4. Homan Investigation Revealed
5. Canada, UK & Australia Recognize Palestine
Premiere Networks and radio & podcast personality, writer and actor Phil Hendrie announce a partnership to bring the long-running podcast, “The World of Phil Hendrie,” to iHeartPodcasts. The 30-minute program will continue to be available Monday through Friday on iHeartRadio. “I’m just so excited to be reunited with Premiere and Julie Talbott. Even Bobby Dooley is happy! I’m excited to work with the incredible team at iHeartPodcasts and bring our unique world to an even wider audience.”
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination shook the talk radio world. Emotions were raw, and broadcasters across the spectrum tried to capture that moment for their audiences. Charles Heller of KVOI in Tucson shared in these pages yesterday (9/16) how he, in that haze of grief, played what he thought were tribute songs by Ed Sheeran and Adele. Only later did he realize they were AI-generated.
Heller deserves credit for admitting his mistake. Many would have quietly moved on, but he turned the incident into a public reflection on accuracy and the challenges of this new AI age. That honesty does not weaken him – it underscores his credibility. Audiences trust the host who owns a mistake more than the one who hides it. In this business, candor is currency.
Still, the programmer in me sees an on-air opportunity. Imagine a segment called “AI or Authentic?” – play generated songs alongside real ones and invite the audience to decide. It could be informative and fun: interactive, funny, and a perfect spotlight on the very problem that fooled him. I’m sure there are folks out there who have already done this.
Here’s where the lawyer in me speaks up. Falling for a convincing fake is a mistake, not malice. For public figures like Adele or Sheeran, defamation requires proof that a host knew something was false or acted recklessly. A one-off error doesn’t reach that bar.
But liability doesn’t end there. Misattribution can raise right-of-publicity concerns. Saying Adele recorded a song she didn’t isn’t defamatory – but it can still be an unauthorized use of her persona. Intent doesn’t always matter. The safer route is clear labeling: “This may be AI.”
For those of us behind the glass, the lesson is simple: mistakes happen. But doubling down without context? That’s how little errors become legal problems. The law is forgiving of a slip in judgment. It is less forgiving if the same content is repackaged as fact without transparency.
Heller’s story isn’t embarrassing – it’s instructive. In the AI era, every broadcaster faces the same challenge: how to verify what feels authentic. The answer isn’t to shy away from the technology. It’s to make sure you control the punchline – not the algorithm.
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@HarrisonMediaLaw.com or read more at staging.talkers.com/.
By Larry O’Connor
Talk Radio Host
WMAL-FM, Washington, DC
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, one would expect every company that owns a talk radio station, every network that syndicates conservative voices, and every corporation that employs talk radio hosts to issue a unified statement of defiance. This was not just an attack on Charlie; it was an attack on the entire industry of talk radio, on the free exchange of ideas, and on the First Amendment itself. Yet, shockingly, most of these companies have remained silent. That silence is unacceptable. At a moment like this, the industry should stand shoulder to shoulder and declare to the world: we will not be intimidated, we will not be silenced, and we will never abandon the microphone.
We Will Not Be Silenced
The news of Charlie Kirk’s brutal murder has shaken us to our core. For those of us behind a microphone each day, it was not just an attack on a friend, a colleague, or a leader – it was an attack on our entire industry, our movement, and the very principle of free speech.
Charlie was more than a conservative activist. He was a broadcaster, a communicator, a man who understood the power of radio and its unmatched ability to reach Americans where they live, work, and drive. He embraced our medium because he knew it could bypass the gatekeepers and speak truth directly to millions. And for that reason – because he was effective, fearless, and unrelenting – he was targeted.
Let’s be clear: this was not random violence. This was political violence. It was meant to silence a voice. And in silencing that voice, it was meant to intimidate the rest of us. To scare us into pulling our punches. To warn us that telling the truth has consequences.
Well, here’s the truth: we will not be intimidated, and we will not be silenced.
Conservative talk radio is the last truly free public square in America. We don’t answer to corporate boardrooms in New York or Silicon Valley. We answer to our listeners – the American people. Every morning and every afternoon, millions tune in because they know they will hear what the mainstream media refuses to cover. They come to us because they trust us to tell it straight. And if anyone thinks the murder of Charlie Kirk is going to drive us off the airwaves, they don’t understand who we are.
The history of talk radio is the history of resilience. From Rush Limbaugh to Charlie Kirk, our voices have endured smear campaigns, advertiser boycotts, government threats, and now, tragically, deadly violence. Yet every time they try to shut us down, we come back stronger. Every time they think they’ve broken us, our audience grows.
Charlie’s death is a wound, but it is also a call to arms – not with weapons, but with words. Words of truth. Words of conviction. Words that cannot be cancelled, cannot be censored, and cannot be silenced by fear.
As an industry, we stand together today. Whether you broadcast from a major market station or a small-town affiliate, whether your show runs nationally or locally, we are united. Charlie’s microphone may have been forced into silence, but ours will burn brighter because of it. We will carry his message, his courage, and his relentless pursuit of truth forward.
To Charlie’s family, we grieve with you. To our listeners, we stand with you. And to those who think violence can silence ideas: you are wrong. The ideas of liberty, faith, and American exceptionalism will ring louder than ever.
Charlie Kirk is gone, but the cause he championed lives on. His voice echoes in every one of ours. And we will keep talking. We will keep broadcasting. We will keep fighting – together.
Because in the end, freedom always wins.
Larry OConnor is the morning drive host at Cumulus Media’s WMAL-FM, Washington, DC. He can be emailed at stagerightblogger@gmail.com.
By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter Sterling, Host
WPHT, Philadelphia, “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night”
TMN syndicated, “Sterling on Sunday”
Amazon learned that there are high volume sales for specific categories of products. High demand equals high value to the seller. Items such as diapers, printer ink, staplers, batteries, etc. Being brilliant, Amazon created “Amazon Basics.” Same products, white labeled. Amazon doesn’t manufacture batteries; they just slap their logos on what America needs most. That’s why Mr. Bezos has a bigger boat than you.
Radio listeners have high demand for basic elements. The demand for these ingredients is often based on need rather than preference. Needed ingredients delivered by radio represent high value to the radio industry:
– Weather reports
– Traffic reports
– Is everything ok? News reports
– News bulletins
– Local news
– Closings
The first sign of trouble was when radio stations chose to promote a cable channel by presenting “Weather Channel Weather.” Tip: research shows the most respected source of weather is the National Weather Service and a station can pull that for free, any time. No disrespect to the Weather Channel but, can’t radio do weather? Giving away that position to TV is foolish.
Weather is even more important than one might think. Yes, a listener can get it from multiple online sources, but the listener is listening to the radio. The listener needs the weather NOW, live, local. Failing to do weather forces the listener to leave you. (That’s why, on the local and national “Sterling” show, we have meteorologist, Dr. Dave Eiser and Brad Your Grandma’s weatherman presenting the weather through the program.)
Do a Google trend search. Compare WEATHER, SEX, JESUS, TRUMP. Weather will win.
TRAFFIC. An argument I lost was with a 50kw station that had the traffic image because they had a traffic copter. To save $200,000 they were going to take it down. I said, “Fire me but don’t take down the copter.” They took it down. The reason to do traffic is not 100% to give traffic reports, it is – more importantly – to prove that the station is live, and to prove the station sees everything. Breaking news will compel listeners to check with the station that can report it from the air, live!
There is no reason to stop doing traffic and weather because an all-news station is doing it. Those are essential must-have elements for all listeners regardless of format. If we want to own the dashboard, it is best to present top-of-mind information to drivers. Live!
FOX News seems to present a “Bulletin” every few minutes… FOX NEWS ALERT. A radio station doesn’t have to follow the AP Style Guide to define “bulletin.” You can air a bulletin or an alert whenever you want. Urgent, compelling, turn up the radio. Pulling the listener in with sounders, big intros, all that stuff claims your position as the source of better-know-it information.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED. By stripping a station of the costs of bulletins, weather, traffic, and local news we have made radio less valuable. Those “costs” were/are investments in content valued by listeners. Too many stations have trashed essential ingredients for the sake of a false economy. Radio revenues go down each quarter as stations cut costs each quarter.
Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers.. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com.
Last Wednesday’s 10th Annual Music Industry Reunion in Calabasas, California brought together more than 170 of the industry’s finest, according to organizers Jon Scott and Kenny Ryback, making it the “best ever.” The gathering saw radio, record, artists, managers, producers, lawyers, legends and pros flock to the Sagebrush Cantina. Scott and Ryback say, “While mini-reunions of KLOS, KTYD, KROQ, TEN-Q and other radio stations flourished, clans from A&M, MCA, WB, EMI/Capitol Records, Casablanca Records and other labels met up and swapped war stories from ‘back in the day.’ They are thankful to sponsors Technotainment, Rockaway Records, and The Hollywood Show for their support.
Audacy and Australian broadcasting company Southern Cross Austereo enter into an agreement for Audacy’s library of digital content to be available on the LiSTNR digital audio platform and for SCA to be the
exclusive sales rep for the Australian market. With this deal, Australian advertisers will be able to access Audacy’s titles as part of their audio campaigns. The partnership broadens the breadth of available content for LiSTNR audiences and increases the reach for clients, with access to a range of titles including “Office Ladies with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsley,” “Fly on the Wall with David Spade and Dana Carvey,” “Search Engine,” “The Moth” and dozens of podcasts from CBS Sports and CBS News & Entertainment.
In an opinion piece for TALKERS, radio pro Erik Cudd writes, “In such a time as this, because radio is the medium I know best and love most, I write this appeal to those influential in news/talk. My hope is that you will step forward once again as the architects and innovators you have always been and raise a rallying cry for this unique moment. The freedoms and ambitions that make the format so vital also create challenges. By design, it invites sharp opinions, spirited disagreement, and cultural edge. Those qualities are its strengths. But in our current climate, they also carry the risk of drifting into tribalism and rhetoric that can spill over into something more dangerous. This is not an implication that I believe news/talk is responsible for the death of Charlie Kirk. I would like to be crystal clear. What I am saying is that a perfect storm has been gathering for many years, and no one can deny the polarized, charged landscape we now inhabit. And that storm is not radio’s sole responsibility.” Read Erik Cudd’s entire piece here.
Audacy’s WFAN, New York enters into a strategic partnership with creator-led digital sports media company Jomboy Media to air the “Talkin’ Yanks” show each Saturday at 2:00 pm ET. Audacy chief business officerand New York market president Chris Oliviero says, “WFAN and Jomboy Media both are committed to bringing Yankees fans the most relevant and engaging content of their favorite team whenever and wherever they want to consume it. Together, the combined influence and reach of both brands will elevate the experience for the pinstripe faithful and shine an even greater spotlight on New York’s all-time pastime, baseball.”
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Kirk Slaying Aftermath
2. The Economy / Tariffs / Fed Rate Cut
3. Russia Incursions into NATO Airspace
4. ICE Raids / Guard to Memphis
5. The Emmy Awards
By Erik Cudd
From my teenage years to today, radio has been the career of my adult life. When I first began listening in my teens, I was drawn less to the music and more to the conversation. I tuned into stations not for my favorite songs, but because I enjoyed hearing people talk, debate, and share ideas. Over my lifetime, I have seen many changes in the medium. The news/talk format, in particular, has always fascinated me for its mix of news, commentary, and immediacy.
In such a time as this, because radio is the medium I know best and love most, I write this appeal to those influential in news/talk. My hope is that you will step forward once again as the architects and innovators you have always been, and raise a rallying cry for this unique moment. The freedoms and ambitions that make the format so vital also create challenges. By design, it invites sharp opinions, spirited disagreement, and cultural edge. Those qualities are its strengths. But in our current climate, they also carry the risk of drifting into tribalism and rhetoric that can spill over into something more dangerous.
This is not an implication that I believe news/talk is responsible for the death of Charlie Kirk. I would like to be crystal clear. What I am saying is that a perfect storm has been gathering for many years, and no one can deny the polarized, charged landscape we now inhabit. And that storm is not radio’s sole responsibility. Television, social media, and digital platforms have found their profit margins in spaces that thrive on provocation. Cable news leans on conflict. Social media algorithms reward outrage. Digital outlets chase clicks and controversy. Radio is part of this broader ecosystem, not apart from it. And while no single medium created our current atmosphere, each has a role to play in reflecting on its impact and considering how best to move forward.
This is not about drawing a simple line between “toxic” and “non-toxic” content. Such judgments are rarely clear, and program directors deserve the benefit of the doubt. Yet it may be worth asking whether radio, like all media, could benefit from a renewed look at how editorial choices can help keep conversations as civil and constructive as possible. Debate and controversy will always be part of the medium, but escalation does not need to be the only outcome.
The September 10 tragedy underscored this in more ways than one. Beyond the event itself, the aftermath played out across digital spaces, where ordinary citizens made comments that, while protected speech, resulted in lost jobs, reputational damage, and news coverage. The lesson is not that speech should be curtailed, but that our civic discourse is increasingly fragile. And because radio is one of the most intimate and influential media, its choices ripple outward into that discourse in profound ways.
Audiences are noticing. As someone in my early 50s, squarely within talk radio’s target demographic, I should be a loyal listener. Yet I find myself tuning in less often, not from a lack of loyalty, but because I long to hear more voices who can thoughtfully engage both sides of an issue, giving each perspective a fair hearing and treating every listener as though their view matters. That is why I believe there may be room to pull back a bit, to allow for more variety, nuance, and genuine curiosity in how issues are approached.
Serious does not mean boring. Civility does not mean dull. Across platforms, authenticity and curiosity consistently earn audiences. Podcasts like SmartLess and Armchair Expert succeed not by stoking outrage but by elevating storytelling and connection. Public affairs series such as Frontline and American Experience continue to attract loyal audiences through rigorous, measured reporting. Nonfiction authors like Malcolm Gladwell and Brené Brown demonstrate that thoughtful exploration can reach mass audiences. These examples are proof that depth and balance can succeed when executed with energy and creativity.
Radio is uniquely positioned to do the same. The path forward is not retreat from controversy but innovation. Maybe it begins by encouraging new hosts who bring curiosity, empathy, and an equal openness to both sides of an issue, alongside conviction. It could include piloting alternative formats in off-peak slots where experimentation can thrive. It will require recalibrating success metrics to value loyalty, digital engagement, and cross-platform trust, not just short-term spikes. And it may also mean weaving national voices together with local conversations so that stations strengthen both their reach and their roots.
I do not write this from a high perch. I write as a member of the audience who also walked the halls of the station and still believes in the power of the medium. My words are not meant as accusation but as an open hand in friendship. What I am asking is simple: perhaps it is time for a more purposeful, deliberate engagement of conversation in the conference room. To sit together and ask if everything that airs is doing what it should. To take a long, hard look at whether anything might need to be discussed, reconsidered, or rebalanced in light of what we have all just witnessed.
Radio, because of its intimacy and reach, is uniquely positioned to lead by example. By being more proactive in its own yard, radio could encourage the same self-reflection across media, and even among the public itself. That is not retreat. That is leadership.
Radio still matters. Its intimacy can at times divide, but it can also renew. The question is not whether talk radio will remain bold, it always will, but whether it can channel that boldness in a way that builds the public square rather than fractures it.
The opportunity is here: to prove that freedom and responsibility can coexist, and that doing so is good for the culture, and good for the business.
Erik Cudd has worked in radio and media since 1991. He can be emailed at erik@cudd.us.
The board of directors of the New York State Broadcasters Association names Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis the New York Broadcaster of the Year for 2025. Catsimatidis will be honored at the NYSBA Broadcast Leadership and Hall of Fame Luncheon in New York City on October 22. NYSBA president David Donovan says, “We are honored to have him as NYSBA’s Broadcaster of the Year. John has had unparalleled success turning around 77WABC and expanding Red Apple Media throughout the country. He has led legislative efforts to keep AM radio in vehicles, a vital issue for all New Yorkers.” Catsimatidis comments, “Thank you, Dave and the Board of the New York State Broadcasters Association for this honor. Radio is an integral part of listeners’ lives and often the only source of information during times of disaster. I ask everyone in radio to alert their listeners that car manufacturers are risking lives by taking AM off the dashboard of new cars. Together, we can stop this, and we must stop it.” Catsimatidis entered the radio business with the purchase WABC-AM in March 2020 and has since added WLIR-FM, Hampton Bays and WRCR-AM, Haverstraw to his portfolio of stations.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump’s “War” on Chicago
2. The Epstein Files
3. GA Hyundai Plant Raid
4. Russian Drone Strikes on Ukraine
5. The Economy /Trump’s Trade War
After 40 years on the air in the Rochester market, legendary radio personality Brother Wease is exiting iHeartMedia’s talk WAIO-FM where he’s been hosting the late morning show for the past two years (he’d been hosting the morning drive show there since November of 2008). According to the Democrat & Chronicle, Brother Wease told his audience that the company is flipping the talk station to rock and he, along with air personality Deanna King, are being let go. Brother Wease launched his on-air career on rock WCMF in 1984 in overnights and moved to morning drive in 1985. The show took off and became a highly successful one in the market for years. He left WCMF in late 2007 after contract talks with then-Entercom broke down and resurfaced on WAIO. Read the Democrat & Chronicle story here.
The Tennessean reports that Nashville sports media personality Jared Stillman is relaunching his Stillman & Co. program as a podcast on the 440 Sports on-demand audio network. Stillman recently exited WPRT-FM,
Nashville “102.5 The Game” after being unable to strike a deal to renew his show. The new program will air live weekdays at 2:00 pm and goes online as a podcast by 3:30 pm that day. He tells the paper, “I was fortunate enough to have what I feel is an incredibly loyal core audience and I plan to provide for them a daily show every day that isn’t behind a paywall and 440 Sports gives me that opportunity. With very limited commercial interruption, the podcast should be able to get most people in Nashville through their afternoon commute.” Read The Tennessean story here.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Troops in DC / Trump vs City Mayors
2. Shanghai Cooperation Organization Meeting / Modi-Putin Talks
3. House Committee Epstein-Maxell Accusers Meeting
4. The Economy / Fed Policy
5. Trump Health