Industry News

News Anchor Marcy Williams to Retire from 95.5 WSB

Longtime WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta news anchor Marcy Williams is retiring from the Cox Media Group station after a 31-year career there. Williams began her WSB Radio career as an overnight anchor, and quickly rose through the ranks to become the anchor of the “Atlanta’s Morning News” program. She says, “I’ve spentim 30 years as the first female co-anchor of ‘Atlanta’s Morning News.’ With a little back-of-the-envelope math, I calculate I’ve written more than 300,000 stories over those three decades. Now it’s time for me to write a new chapter.” Station news director Amanda Moyer comments, “Marcy has been a leader and an example in our newsroom for more than three decades. Her recent Gracie award win is the perfect cap to her long tenure at WSB as the first, and to this day, the only female lead news anchor on ‘Atlanta’s Morning News.’ She will be deeply missed, but our loss is her granddaughter’s gain.”

Industry News

Ramsey Network’s Brian Mayfield Retires

Ramsey Solutions announces that Brian Mayfield – a 15-year staffer who spent the past five years as executive vice president of Ramsey Network – retires from the company. The company says that under Mayfield’s leadership “The Ramsey Show” has grown into the second-largest syndicated talk radio show in America with 640 radio affiliate stations, more than 1 billion podcast downloads and over a billion YouTube views. Dave Ramsey says, “Over the last 15 years, Brian Mayfield has truly become one of the top talk radio executives in the nation and a good friend while he has been with Ramsey Solutions. His early retirement is a loss for all of us at Ramsey and the industry.” Mayfield states, “It has been an honor to work alongside Dave and the rest of the team. I am very proud of the success we have seen to date, but I am even more excited to watch and experience the success of Ramsey Network into the future as a fan. We are sometimes faced with situations that dictate change, I’m embracing mine and looking forward to quality time with my wife and family — I’m truly blessed.” Broadcast veteran Blake Thompson, Ramsey’s first producer when the show began, was named executive vice president of Ramsey Network last year. He will continue to serve in that role.

Industry News

KMOX, St. Louis Personality Carol Daniel to Retire

The Audacy news/talk station announces what it calls “a bittersweet day at KMOX” as longtime station personality Carol Daniel announces her retirement. KMOX says, “Carol has been a fixture of KMOX for 28 years of her 40-year-long broadcast career. She’s told the stories of St. Louisans with care, compassion and curiosity, and her work has been recognized throughout the region — she was named Press Club Media Person of the Year, she received the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists Living Legend Award and the Media Hall of Fame Award, and she is a nominee for the Lincoln University Alumni Hall of Fame. Outside of her career in radio, Carol is a wife and mother, author, motivational speaker, and ministry co-leader, and looks forward to spending time with family in her retirement. Carol has produced countless impactful, in-depth interviews in her time here, most recently as the host of the expanded ‘Total Information AM.’ Her last day with KMOX is May 25. We will be sad to see her go but are so excited for her as she takes on this new chapter.”

Industry News

Howard Simon to Retire from WGR, Buffalo

Sports talk WGR, Buffalo announces that its longtime morning drive host Howard Simon is retiring from his position with the station on March 3, after a radio career of more than 33 years. After attending college in Buffalo, Simon launched his radio career in 1989 on WJJL, Niagara Falls. He eventually left to work in Toledo, Ohio but returned to Western New York and has spent the last 18 years with Jeremy White as his co-host in mornings on Audacy’s WGR. Simon says, “I’ve been very lucky to have worked alongside some wonderful people at WJJL, WBEN, Empire Sports Network and finally at WGR. I wish I could list everyone by name, but that isn’t possible. Let me just say, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my many co-workers over the years. I’ve made some great, lifelong friendships, while getting a chance to do something I truly loved. I would like to mention my co-host for the last 18 years at WGR, Jeremy White. That is the longest I worked with anyone by far! Jeremy is super talented, extremely creative, and has a great feel for what topics will be of most interest to our listening audience.”

Industry News

KOH, Reno PD and Host Dan Mason Retires

After a career spanning 49 years, Dan Mason retires from the industry and his position at program director and afternoon host at Cumulus Media’s KOH, Reno. Mason has programmed KOH for the past 28 years, during which the station’s achieved two finalist nominations for the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Awards. He has also served as vice-chair of the Nevada Emergency Communication Committee that oversees the Emergency Alert System for the state of Nevada. Mason launched his career in 1974 at WLRC-FM in Whitehall, Michigan. Cumulus Reno VP and market manager Jennifer Odom says, “The day has come to announce my colleague, mentor, and friend Dan Mason’s retirement. His unwavering dedication to KOH for over 28 years, exceptional work ethic, and commitment to excellence have never faltered through any situation. News Talk 780 KOH is the powerhouse it is today because of Dan. Working with Dan has been one of the highlights of my career. We will miss Dan “Mad Dog” Mason immensely and wish him the very best in his retirement.” Mason comments, “It has been an honor to helm this extraordinary radio station for 28 years, but the time has come for someone else to take the mantle. My wife of 42 years is ready for that Alaskan cruise she’s had her eye on!”

Industry News

Hersholt Retires from KNWN-AM/FM, Seattle; Calvert to AM Drive

Today (1/13) is the last day on the air for KNWN-AM/FM, Seattle morning drive news anchor Gregg Hersholt.  He’s retiring from Lotus Communications’ “Northwest Newsradio” after five decades on the air in Seattle. Hersholt says, “Thank you to those who have listened along the way and the many great people I have worked for. I feel truly blessed.” KNWN program director Rick Van Cise says, “Gregg gave every story he covered the importance it Hairstyle - Facedeserved. While his are big shoes to fill, we are pleased to announce the appointment of ‘Northwest Newsradio’ reporter Brian Calvert to the morning co-anchor post with Manda Factor. Brian’s engaging personality, news credibility and unique storytelling make him a great fit.” Calvert comments, “It’s been a thrill to be a part of one of the best morning teams ever in radio as a reporter, and now an honor to co-host the broadcast.”

Industry News

Michael Cohen Interviews Trump for WABC Radio Show

Michael Cohen – President Donald Trump’s former attorney and “fixer” – interviewed the president for his radio show on WABC, New York that will air in its entirety on his Sunday program that airs from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Cohen – who was sentenced to three years in prison for lying to congress and failing to report millions in imgincome testified against Trump in congress and in court. But Cohen says he’s spoken with Trump several times over the past year and the president agreed to do the interview.  WABC says, “The coming-together of these two political heavyweights comes at a particularly intriguing time. Cohen and Trump have been publicly at odds for years, making this unexpected sit-down impossible to ignore. Whatever the answer, Cohen interviewing Trump is sure to generate attention and plenty of questions about what happened to one of the most complicated relationships in modern politics.”

Industry Views

The Algorithm Knows What You Did But It Doesn’t Know Why

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

 

imgA viewer watches the same political clip three times. The platform sees a powerful signal: this person stopped, stayed, and came back. What it cannot reliably know is whether the viewer loved the argument, hated it, was factchecking it, or was showing it to someone else in disbelief. The algorithm knows a viewer watched. It does not necessarily know why. That is why YouTube looks beyond viewing itself to other signals of appeal, engagement, and satisfaction.

That distinction matters to broadcasters because digital analytics can look much more intelligent than they really are. An algorithm can measure behavior with extraordinary precision, but behavior is not motive. PPM taught radio a version of the same lesson. Nielsen’s meter can passively detect exposure to encoded audio, but the resulting audience measurement cannot tell a programmer why someone listened or why audience levels changed.

Livestreaming creates the opposite problem. Instead of too little explanation, the host suddenly gets too much of it. The chat is moving. People are demanding another topic, praising a guest, attacking a caller, or announcing that the segment is dying.

That feedback is valuable, but the people typing are not necessarily representative of the people listening. Radio hosts should already understand this because callers have never represented the entire audience. They represent the portion motivated enough to pick up the telephone. Livestream chat is the same phenomenon at digital speed.

The danger comes when these two imperfect signals reinforce each other. The dashboard says engagement jumped. The chat says, “More of this.” A host can easily conclude that the audience has spoken when what actually happened is that a particularly active portion of the audience became particularly visible.

Good broadcasters have always listened to the audience without surrendering the show to it. Digital tools make that listening faster and more detailed, but they do not eliminate the need for judgment.

The algorithm knows what people did. The chat tells you what some people said. The programmer still has to decide what either one means.

For the larger discussion of ratings, PPM, algorithms and digital distribution, read The Algorithm Is Listening here: https://talkers.com/category/industry-views/

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

Industry News

John Knicely, Kevin Kugler, Steve Lundy and Ken Siemek to enter Nebraska Broadcasters Association (NBA) Hall of Fame

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The Nebraska Broadcasters Association will induct John Knicely, Kevin Kugler, Steve Lundy and Ken Siemek into the NBA Hall of Fame on Tuesday, August 11, in Lincoln during the NBA Annual Convention. Established in 1972, the NBA Hall of Fame will grow to 127 members with these pending inductees.

From his start as a TV sportscaster through his 34 years as a news anchor on Omaha’s WOWT-TV, John Knicely set a long-term standard for credibility and trust in Nebraska’s most competitive television market before retiring in 2025.

Kevin Kugler has the most extensive play-by-play résumé of any Nebraskan, and he continues scaling new heights on a national level.

In a career approaching 50 years and still counting, Steve Lundy has entertained listeners and served local communities on some of Nebraska’s most legendary radio stations. He got his on-air start in 1977 at KHUB in Fremont, and over the next 23 years, Steve was heard in Omaha on WOW, KOIL, KEFM, KQKQ and KKAR. After four years on Lincoln’s KLIN, Steve joined Omaha’s country music-formatted KXKT in 2004, where he currently serves as co-host of “Steve & Gina in the Morning.”

Over the course of his 44 years on KOLN, Lincoln, and KGIN-TV, Grand Island, meteorologist Ken Siemek led the stations’ weather department through massive technological changes—from handwritten weather symbols and temperature readings to the latest radar and satellite weather-forecasting technology. He retired in 2025.

Industry Views

The Algorithm is Listening

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

Radio once measured the audience… now digital platforms use the audience to decide what happens next

Radio programmers have always watched the audience. The difference for programmers today is that the audience can now watch back, respond instantly, influence the show, and determine whether the next person ever receives it.

That is the practical meaning of an algorithm for a broadcaster. It is not a mysterious robot hiding inside the black box of an enigmatic social platform. It is a set of instructions used to make decisions. On YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify, Twitch, and other services, those instructions help determine which content gets shown, to whom, in what order, and under what circumstances.

Radio has used simpler forms of algorithmic thinking for decades. A music clock is a set of instructions. So is a rule prohibiting two songs by the same artist within a specified period. Or two female vocals in a row. A programmer who schedules news at the top of the hour, traffic twice an hour, and the strongest feature before a commercial break has created a decision system.

Digital algorithms do something more consequential. They do not merely organize the program. They organize the audience around each individual piece of content.

From diaries to PPM

The traditional radio diary asked selected listeners to record what they heard and when they heard it. Nielsen defines the diary as a measurement method in which respondents manually record their listening habits. Those reported habits are then used to estimate listening across a larger market.

The system was necessarily crude. A diary could show that someone reported listening to a station during morning drive. It could not reliably establish whether that person loved the program, ignored it, hated it, stayed because the station was playing in a waiting room, or simply remembered the call letters incorrectly.

Still, the diary produced an enormously valuable number. Ratings influenced advertising rates, station formats, talent contracts, syndication opportunities, and management decisions. The ratings service measured the audience, but the station still controlled the programming and the transmitter.

The Portable People Meter changed the speed and granularity of that feedback. PPM panelists carry a small device that detects inaudible identification codes embedded in participating broadcasts. Instead of relying entirely on a listener’s memory and written entry, the meter passively detects exposure to encoded audio.

That gave programmers something closer to immediate feedback. They could study audience movement within smaller portions of a show, identify apparent tune-out points, compare features, evaluate commercial breaks, and make changes much more quickly.

PPM therefore became the bridge between traditional ratings and algorithmic distribution. The diary remembered the audience. PPM observed the audience more closely. Both still produced information for human beings to interpret.

A programmer could see a decline and decide to shorten a segment. The meter did not shorten it. A consultant could conclude that a feature hurt retention. The PPM system did not prevent tomorrow’s listeners from hearing it.

The algorithm closes that gap.

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Industry News

Salem’s WNYM, New York (AM 970 The Answer) Teams with Hofstra’s WRHU-FM to Produce Series of 9-11 Tributes

Annie SiddiqueIn an impressive example of the productive synergy that can be generated by the teaming of campus and professional spoken word radio organizations,

Jim Berghorn

Salem’s WNYM, New York (AM 970 The Answer) is running a series of vignettes collectively titled “Courage, Sacrifice and Commitment” during the months of August and early September, featuring tributes to 9-11 first responders. These short form productions highlight stories of New York City’s heroes and give first-person perspectives on what happened the day of and after 9-11. The stories are being produced by Hofstra University / WRHU-FM student journalist Annie Siddique, who has developed into what has been described by WNYM and WRHU management as a “master interviewer” in organizing and producing this campaign. To sample an episode of the program featuring a profile of retired FDNY Lt. Jim Berghorn, please use player below, or click here.

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Industry Views

The Advertiser Gave Us an AI Commercial… Isn’t that Enough?

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

Synthetic audio can turn one clearance problem into two
An advertiser sends a finished commercial to a station. The script came from one AI platform, the announcer’s voice from another, and the music arrived inside the final audio file. The production value is surprisingly good for a dental office. Then someone notices that the announcer sounds remarkably like Matthew McConaughey. He does not say “alright, alright, alright,” exactly, but he says something close enough to make the association obvious.

A conventional infringing commercial may misuse a song, recording, photograph, or written copy. An AI commercial can create the same copyright problem while adding another: the unauthorized commercial use of a recognizable person’s identity. One file can therefore produce two entirely different claims.

Copyright protects original expression, including scripts, music, and sound recordings. It generally does not give anyone a copyright in the sound of a natural voice. That does not make a distinctive voice free for advertisers to imitate.

Tom Waits established the distinction decades before generative AI. After Waits declined to participate in a Frito-Lay campaign, the company used a singer who imitated him in a radio commercial. Waits successfully pursued claims for voice misappropriation and false endorsement. AI now makes that imitation faster, cheaper, and potentially more convincing. Waits v. Frito-Lay

The rights do not travel together 

Clearing the script or music does not clear the voice. Permission from the person whose voice was cloned does not clear protected material that the system may have reproduced. The station needs to ask two questions: Who owns everything in this commercial, and whose identity is doing the selling?

There is another wrinkle. The AI company may possess defenses that do not travel with the finished audio. In Walters v. OpenAI, ChatGPT falsely accused radio host Mark Walters of embezzlement. OpenAI defeated the defamation claim because the recipient encountered warnings that the system could be inaccurate, did not believe the accusation, verified that it was false, and did not republish it. Walters also failed to prove the necessary fault or damages. Walters v. OpenAI case summary

That ruling did not grant AI companies blanket immunity. It does suggest an uncomfortable result for broadcasters. A provider’s warning that its output requires verification may help protect the provider while making it harder for a station to argue that airing the output without checking was reasonable. The company that generated the problem may have a better defense than the broadcaster that delivered it to the public.

California’s AI Transparency Act, operative August 2, 2026, now requires certain large AI providers to offer detection tools and place provenance disclosures in generated audio, images, and video. Those tools may help identify origin. They do not establish copyright clearance, consent, accuracy, or authority to imitate someone. California AI Transparency Act

Stations should require advertisers to warrant both ownership and permission for identifiable voices or likenesses, backed by indemnification. AI has not replaced the old clearance problem. It can place a second problem beside it, then leave the broadcaster holding both.

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

Industry News

Ravens Super Bowl Champ Femi Ayanbadejo to Host PM Drive Show on “105.7 The Fan”

Audacy’s sports talk WJZ-FM, Baltimore “105.7 The Fan” unveils its newest afternoon drive show, “The Final Drive,” hosted by former Ravens linebacker Femi Ayanbadejo with co-hosts Ken Weinman and Tim Barbalace. “105.7 The Fan” brand manager imgJoe LaCroix says, “Femi’s sports knowledge spans far beyond football, encompassing the entire Charm City sports scene. His fearless opinions and local sports knowledge will complement Ken’s fiery takes and Tim’s sharp insights. We can’t wait for our listeners to experience the next chapter of afternoons with ‘The Final Drive.’” Ayanbadejo’s radio experience began in 2012 with contributions to several programs, including “The Scott Garceau Show,” Ravens game-day radio with Gerry Sandusky, and, most recently, “The Bruce and Femi Show” on “105.7 The Fan.”

Industry Views

Harrison: Don’t Believe that AI Lacks “Heart”

imgTALKERS founder Michael Harrison is this week’s guest on the National Press Club’s official podcast, Update-1, in which he tackles the topic “Predicting the Future of Media Following the Shutdown of CBS News Radio.” Interviewed by noted American University media professor Gemma Puglisi, Harrison addresses such issues as changes in the tenets of journalism and the general shrinkage of radio news. Along the way, he offers his insights into a variety of media and societal topics including the impact of clickbait and what he describes as “the daily dance of affirmation” resulting imgfrom the trend toward news platforms “targeting” audiences for purely marketing purposes. Harrison defends AI from critics who claim the technology lacks “heart” and that audiences will swing back to the “authenticity” being destroyed by AI slop. Harrison makes the case that what counts is the humanity behind the operation of AI which is “only a tool.” He says, “Blaming AI for shallow content is like attributing shoddy novels to the invention of the word processor.” Harrison boldly predicts that AI and modern technology will hasten the “death of Hollywood” as we know it among other insights into the future of news, entertainment, and communications.  Don’t miss this!  To listen to the podcast in its entirety, please click here.

Industry News

Nielsen: Audio Still the Backbone of Podcast Consumption

Nielsen issues the results of data from an analysis of consumers’ consumption of podcasts. The study finds that while more people are seeing video-enabled podcasts, audio remains the absolute foundation of the ecosystem, with 90% of all monthly podcast consumers choosing to listen, while 62% engage by watching. imgOther key findings include: Sports content acts as a unique bridge between listening and watching experiences, drawing the closest parity between listeners and viewers across top genres; Format choice signals entirely distinct consumer mindsets: the highly structured, utility-driven “Pragmatic Listener” versus the entertainment-seeking, visually focused “Interactive Watcher.”; and Conversion mechanics differ by format, with audio consumers acting as direct digital responders and video watchers acting as high-intent brand translators and social amplifiers. See the report here.

Industry News

Sid Rosenberg Among 2026 NYSBA Hall of Fame Inductees

The New York State Broadcasters Association officially announces the 2026 inductees into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at the Rainbow Room in October. This year’s class includes WABC, New York imgmorning drive host Sid Rosenberg. In addition to Rosenberg, this year’s class includes: Bill Ritter – journalist/ anchor – WABC-TV, New York; Rosanna Scotto – journalist/anchor – WNYW-TV (FOX 5), New York City; Dan Miner – station manager – WCKM-FM, WCQL-FM, WWSC-AM & FM, and WDKM-FM, Glens Falls; Pete Cloutier – morning co-host & sales – WCKM-FM, Glens Falls; Chuck Samuels – VP & general manager – WHAM-TV, Rochester (retired); and Bob Krummenacker – VP & General Manager – WBNG-TV, Binghamton (retired).

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Video: “Doing Talk on a Music Station”

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TALKERS continues to post information-laden videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is a one-on-one conversation titled, “Doing Talk on a Music Station,” which explores the diverse world of talk shows programmed on predominantly music-formatted stations. Many of these shows, usually heard in the morning, are on mostly classic rock or adult contemporary outlets, and are a hybrid of general news/talk radio – leaning heavily on social issues – mixed with a component of celebrity gossip, sports, and the hosts’ personal, real-life stories. They are usually comprised of a host and a co-host or simply two equal co-hosts. The special guest in this video is Mike “Bax” Baxendale, the long running co-host of the wildly successful morning show on classic rock station WAQY-FM (Rock 102), Springfield, MA. Facilitating the dialogue is WPG, Atlantic City morning host Harry Hurley.  Baxendale – who is a household name in the Western Massachusetts-Northern Connecticut market – has co-hosted the dominant show for the past 31 years working for a couple of decades with the late John O’ Brien and more recently with Steve Nagle. Don’t miss this! Stay tuned to TALKERS for continuous daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Radio’s 2027 Talent Strategy: Destination by Design

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgIf your station is outside the top 50 markets, you already know the pressure points. A mature workforce stretched thin. Fewer applicants for on air and production roles – specifically the younger creators who don’t see radio as their first creative outlet. And a competitive landscape where streaming, satellite, and podcasts divert attention with the gravitational pull of a black hole.

But radio can absolutely attract these next-gen creators. We just can’t do it with yesterday’s playbook. In “Future Work World,” Barry Winkless argues that organizations must intentionally design themselves to “excite, entice, and engage” the next generation of talent. He’s talking about the future of work broadly – but his framework fits independent local radio like a blueprint. Especially in medium and small markets, where stations are fighting a two-front war: defending local relevance while competing with global audio giants. Accordingly…

  1. Redesign roles for the “Work Salad” generation.

One of the book’s core ideas is the rise of “work salads” – workers who blend skills, platforms, and creative identities rather than fitting neatly into a single job description. That’s today’s creator economy in a nutshell. For radio, this means offering roles like host+podcaster+social storyteller; or news voice+explainer video creator+local events personality. Younger creators don’t want an airshift. They want a mix – a portfolio of creative outputs. Stations that offer that mix will win talent that would otherwise bypass radio entirely.

  1. Make your station a Designed Destination.

Winkless’ “Destination Designer” mindset recommends environments where people want to be, because the place itself inspires them. For radio, this means a workplace that feels flexible, fluid, and creatively alive. You don’t need a big market budget to create a big market feel. You need intentionality and a willingness to break from “how we’ve always done it.” Turn a legacy operation into a future ready talent magnet.

  1. Use AI the way creators already do.

In one of the book’s fictional “jumps,” Winkless introduces the “cowerka,” an AI assistant that handles tasks, anticipates needs, and frees humans to focus on what only humans can do. AI can help prep shows, suggesting ways to localize trends and topics. Nextgen creators already use AI as a collaborator. Stations that embrace this reality will feel familiar – and attractive – to them.

  1. Sell the one thing no competitor can match: Local Reach

Streaming platforms offer scale. Podcasts offer intimacy. Satellite offers variety. Only radio offers local presence at scale.

Creators want audiences – podcasters hunger for what radio has: cume. Broadcast radio can give them something TikTok can’t: instant legitimacy in a real community. As I have explained here previously, we position client stations as reach engines: Instead of asking creators to serve radio, radio serves creators.

  1. Tell a Better Story About Who You’re Becoming

Winkless’ “Next Level Storytelling” chapter cautions that your recruitment story can’t be: “We need someone to do afternoons.” Instead: “We’re building the next chapter of local media, and we want creators who want to shape it.”

Creators don’t join job descriptions. They join stories.

The Bottom Line

Local radio doesn’t need to out tech the tech giants. It needs to out human them. By redesigning roles, modernizing culture, embracing AI, and positioning radio as a creator platform – not just a broadcast outlet – stations can attract the next generation of talent that will keep them relevant, resilient, and indispensable.

Your RIGHT NOW opportunity: As fill-in voices cover for vacationing full-timers, you can preview 2027 talent options. To help them smooth-out any rough edges – and assess how well they take direction – here are 12 Tips for the guest-hosts who are not career broadcasters and don’t share our second-nature performance routines.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Video: “Programming News/Talk Radio”

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TALKERS continues to post a plethora of videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is a panel discussion titled, “Programming News/Talk Radio,” which explores the intricacies of spoken word radio’s most popular and influential format – news/talk.  Moderated by WRVA, Richmond afternoon star, Jeff Katz, the panel includes (in alphabetical order): Phil Boyce, senior VP, Salem Radio Network, Salem News Channel, Salem Podcast Network; Michael Czarnecki, program director, WFEA, Manchester, NH; Allan Lamberti, program director, WICC, Bridgeport, CT; Lisa Polizzi, brand manager, WBEN-AM, Buffalo; Ralph Renzi, CEO, Newsmax Radio; and Greg Stocker, brand manager, WPHT, Philadelphia. Stay tuned to TALKERS for continuous daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click here.

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Video: “Brave New World” – A Look at Campus Broadcasting and Radio’s Next Generation

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TALKERS continues to post a motherlode of videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is a panel discussion titled, “Brave New World,” which explores the future of radio by presenting an informed overview of what’s happening in campus broadcasting. Moderated by Salem Radio Network and WMAL, Washington, DC syndicated star, Larry O’Connor, the panelists include (in alphabetical order): Scot Bertram, GM, WRFH, Hillsdale College; George Capalbo, VP / chief technical officer, Backbone Networks; Dr. Andy Gladding, chief engineer, Salem Media of New York / chief engineer, WRHU, Hofstra University; Shawn Novatt, director, 90.3 WHPC, Nassau Community College / VP, conference & community colleges, Intercollegiate Broadcasting System;  and Norm Prusslin, founder, advisor, WUSB-FM, Stony Brook University. Stay tuned to TALKERS for continuous daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click here.

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Video: “What Does Talk Radio Have in Common with Pro Wrestling?”

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TALKERS continues to post a treasure chest of videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is a spellbinding one-on-one presentation titled, “What Does Talk Radio Have in Common with Pro Wrestling?”  The facilitator is WPG, Atlantic City morning host Harry Hurley.  The special guest is the one and only Dr. Asa Andrew.  “Doctor Asa” – a multimedia star – is the host of his own nationally syndicated health and wellness talk radio show. In addition, he is the head of medicine and ringside physician for TNA professional wrestling, as well as an occasional wrestler himself. Hurley and Andrew take a deep dive into the theatrical aspects of presentation and storytelling that talk radio and pro wrestling have in common – and the result is nothing short of fascinating. Stay tuned to TALKERS for continuous daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click here.

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Video: Panel Discussion – “Independent Station Ownership”

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TALKERS continues to post a tsunami of videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is an enlightening panel discussion titled, “Independent Station Ownership.”  The moderator is John Caracciolo, founder / CEO, JVC Broadcasting. Panelists include Vince Benedetto, founder / CEO, Bold Gold Media Group;  Paul Gleiser, owner / operator, KTBB, Tyler, TX; Joe Thomas, co-owner / morning host,  WTON, Staunton-Harrisonburg, VA; and Paul Vandenburgh, owner / morning host, WGDY, Albany, NY. The discussion covers a candid exploration of the challenges and solutions facing independent station and group operators at this point in the evolution of the industry.  It presents a cautiously optimistic but realistic view of radio and station ownership as a going concern. Not to be missed! Stay tuned to TALKERS for continuous daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click here.

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Video: Joe Pags Advises “Be Ready When You Get That Call”

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TALKERS continues to post a cornucopia of videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is an advisory message from Compass Media Networks syndicated talk radio star Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo titled, “Be Ready When You Get That Call.” Introduced by programming legend David Bernstein, Pags advises radio broadcasters to be ready to take advantage of all the marvelous technology available to continue broadcasting independently on a moment’s notice when you get the dreaded call from your station or platform claiming that “budget cuts” are forcing their hand to drop your show. Don’t miss this informative and inspirational address! Stay tuned to TALKERS for daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. There’s plenty more to come next week. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click here.

Industry News TALKERS 2026

TALKERS 2026 Video: Panel Discussion – “Gaining Traction in a Noisy Digital World”

Gaining Traction copyTALKERS continues to post a treasure trove of videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is an extremely informative panel discussion full of takeaways titled, “Gaining Traction in a Noisy Digital World.” The featured speakers include introducer Lee Elci, host, WJJF, New London; moderator Mike McVay, president, McVay Media Consulting; and panelists (in alphabetical order) Rob Carson, host, Newsmax; Heather Cohen, president, The Weiss Agency; Sherry Goldman, founder, Goldman Communications Group; Ryan McCormick, co-founder Goldman McCormick PR; and Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, host, “The Joe Pags Show.” Take a deep dive into the complicated world of social media and generating content designed to get noticed in a world of distraction. Don’t miss this! Stay tuned to TALKERS for daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this dynamic discussion in its entirety, please click here.

Industry Views

Former CBS Radio Head Dan Mason Guests on TALKERS Podcast – Discusses New Memoir, Colorful Career, Biz Philosophy, and the State of Radio

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Dan Mason, former president / CEO of CBS Radio, is this week’s special guest on the TALKERS video podcast, “Up Close Far Out.”

Podcast host Michael Harrison and Mason engage in a robust conversation about radio prompted by the release of Mason’s new book, FEARLESS: The Life and Times of a Media Maverick.  All profits generated by the sale of the memoir are being donated to the Broadcasters Foundation of America – the non-profit organization that helps those in need in the radio and television industries that Mason serves as chairman emeritus.

Mason is one of the most influential radio broadcasters of the modern era.  As head of CBS Radio from 2007 to 2015, he oversaw all aspects relating to the company’s portfolio of 117 stations across 26 markets, including all the top 10. In a prior stint at CBS Radio, he held the presidency from 1995 to 2002.  In addition to his roles at CBS, he advised and managed a number of other major broadcast organizations including serving as president of Westinghouse’s Group W Radio in the early 1990s

In 2016, Mason was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and, in 2022, into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. He was a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters, which presented him with the 2012 National Radio Award for outstanding leadership within the radio industry.  Michael Harrison states, “Dan Mason was one of the major leaders who guided radio from the analog to the digital era.”

To view this conversation in its entirety, please click here.