Industry News

Beasley and Investors Heading Toward Refinancing Agreement

On Friday (3/20), Beasley Broadcast Group filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealing it is entering into a Transaction Support Agreement with 98.7% of holders 11.000% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2028 and 76.5% of the aggregateimg outstanding principal amount of the 9.200% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2028. This exchange offer includes an exchange of all of the Existing Second Lien Notes for newly issued 10.000% Senior Secured Second Lien PIK Notes due 2027 at an exchange ratio of 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Second Lien Notes tendered for exchange, and an offer to purchase up to $15,899,000 of the Existing First Lien Notes at a price equal to 100% of the par value thereof.


The upshot of this is that if these offers are accepted, lien holders will have a lot of control over how the company operates. They will be allowed to appoint a director to sit on the company’s board of directors. But the most telling part of this plan is that it allows for lien holders to exchange their debt for equity – meaning they could assume control of the company. Beasley provided “cleansing information” to lien holders in the form of a profit & loss statement ahead of its 2025 Q4 and 2025 full year financial statements that indicates a significant decline in audio net revenue “driven by continued weakness across the industry as a result of reduced consumer sentiment.”  We’ll know soon enough whether this goes forward as the Transaction Support Agreement will terminate on May 15, 2026 if it’s not consummated.

Industry Views

Take Back the Airwaves: Why Radio’s Future Belongs to Main Street, Not Wall Street

By John Caracciolo
President/CEO
JVC Broadcasting

imgThe recent shutdown of CBS News Radio isn’t just another media headline – it’s a wake-up call. A clear example of what happens when decisions about our information, our communities, and our voices are made in corporate boardrooms disconnected from real life.

This wasn’t a programming failure. It wasn’t a lack of audience. It was an accounting decision – made by people who don’t live in the communities radio serves, don’t rely on it, and don’t understand its true value. And that’s exactly why they got it wrong.

Radio has never been more important. In an era flooded with misinformation, algorithm-driven content, and faceless digital noise, radio remains immediate, local, and – most importantly – trusted. It’s the one medium that still shows up live, every day, in real time, for real people.

Radio isn’t dying. It’s being stripped down by people who don’t know how to grow it. But here’s the truth: this moment isn’t just a loss – it’s an opening. A rare and powerful opportunity to rebuild something better. Because what’s missing right now isn’t demand. It’s leadership. This is the moment to create a new kind of radio network – one built not for Wall Street, but for Main Street. A network designed to empower local stations, not replace them. One that helps stations monetize their greatest strength: localism. Local voices. Local news. Local advertisers. Local trust.

Let’s be clear about something: consolidation itself isn’t the enemy. When done right, consolidation can be a powerful tool – one that strengthens local newsrooms, provides resources, and creates the scale needed to compete in a modern media landscape. But there’s a line. When consolidation is used purely for profit – when it strips stations of their local identity, cuts talent, and replaces service with spreadsheets – that’s when it fails. Profit must be our servant, not our master. The future of radio depends on getting that balance right. We need smart, strategic growth that invests in journalism, expands local reporting, and gives stations the tools to thrive – not survive. We need leadership that understands scale should support localism, not suffocate it. That’s where the opportunity is right now.

The future is a network that works differently – a network that partners with local stations to amplify their voices, not drown them out. One that provides national scale where it matters – news gathering, distribution, sales infrastructure – while keeping content authentic and rooted in the community. A network that helps local stations win. Because local radio doesn’t need to be replaced – it needs to be reinforced.

Imagine a network that:

  • Delivers credible, trusted national news while allowing stations to localize and own the story • Builds shared revenue models that actually benefit local operators.
  • Gives advertisers access to both national reach and local impact.
  • Invests in talent, not cuts it.
  • Uses modern tools – digital, streaming, social – to extend radio’s reach without losing its soul.

That’s not just possible – it’s necessary. This is how we make radio competitive again. Not by shrinking it, but by strengthening what made it great in the first place. And let’s be honest – no one is better positioned to build this than the people who actually believe in radio. We have the tools. We have the experience. We have the relationships. And most importantly, we understand the audience because we’re part of it.

This is the time to act. The vacuum left by corporate retreat is real, and it won’t stay empty for long. Either Main Street steps in to rebuild radio with purpose, or something else will fill that space – and it won’t have the same commitment to trust, community, or truth.

So, let’s not waste this moment. Let’s take back the airwaves from bureaucratic investors who see radio as a line item instead of a lifeline. Let’s build a network that works for stations, communities, and listeners. Let’s make radio great again – not by looking backward, but by building forward. This isn’t the end of radio. It’s the beginning of its next chapter. And this time, we’re writing it. Let the revolution begin my friends, who’s with me?

John Caracciolo is the president and CEO of JVC Broadcasting.  He can be emailed at johnc@jvcbroadcasting.com or phoned at 631-648-2525.  

Industry Views

Providing Support and Comfort to the Suffering Masses

By Pamela Garber, LMHC
Grand Central Counseling Group
New York

imgIn ongoing discussions about the dwindling relevance of radio in the modern world, the medium is grudgingly defended as a reliable “first responder” during times of public emergencies.

Nothing beats having an old-fashioned battery powered radio handy when confronted by hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, blackouts, and (dare I say it) weapons of war. Yes, radio is quite useful in the thick of natural “disasters” when the grid goes down, and the lights go out.

However, we are missing a huge opportunity by limiting radio to the roleimg of modern-day media Sterno.

I’ve been a practicing therapist in New York and South Florida for the past 25 years, and although not a host, I have served, and continue to participate, as a guest on broadcasts across the nation, discussing the emotional connections between hot news topics and people’s feelings. I am not alone in the perception that people of my profession have performed for decades as fully invested members of the talk radio family.

During this period, it has become obvious that the one-time talk radio mainstay of the in-house or “go to” mental health professional has become an endangered species. Some of the biggest names in radio were practicing therapists. They were a familiar part of the talk (even news/talk) format. Without turning this into a historical essay or a scold, it is sad to note that most of them are gone.

Ironically, now more than ever, the deeply troubling events in the world, the nation, and our local communities, constituting news and statistics, are bringing deep emotional pain and crippling anxiety to the masses… especially the kind of people likely to tune in to talk radio. Professionals. Businesspeople. Workers. Parents.

Looking for younger demos? Gen-Z is perhaps the most anxiety-plagued segment of the population. These “kids” need support, guidance, and understanding.

Hurricanes and heat waves are not the only disasters that call for the helpful and healing power of radio.

The hot topics of the day: crime, inflation, corruption, disease, ignorance, racial strife, and identity politics – not to mention the ever-lingering threat of nuclear devastation – are not merely subjects (and excuses) to vent blame, anger and hate. They contribute to an environment of deep fear and institutionalized discomfort. There are millions of real-life, personal “disasters” going on out there, exacerbated by relationship betrayals and family breakdowns, that make a heavy snowstorm feel like an adventure by comparison.

Stoking people’s fear and anger with cherry-picked cherry bombs is only a small part of the equation when it comes to serving the desperate needs of both current and potential listeners.

It would be a good thing to bring back to the talk radio menu some psychology shows and professional purveyors of emotional clarity, available in the local communities, as guests to dole out much sought compassion, empathy, guidance, and old fashioned advice.

Pamela Garber, LMHC is a practicing therapist based in NYC and South Florida and a longtime guest mental health commentator on radio and television news programs across the nation. She can be contacted by phone at 646-745-6709 or email at Pamelagarber@gmail.com.  Her website is Grandcentralcounselinggroup.com.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (March 21-22)

The most discussed stories over the weekend (3/21-22) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERSresearch:

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Infrastructure Threats
  2. Oil Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  3. Robert Muller Dies
  4. Fatal LaGuardia Plane-Truck Crash / TSA Staffing-ICE Agents to Airports
  5. CBS Shuttering News Radio Service
Industry News

CBS News Announces Cuts; CBS News Radio to Shut Down

According to a report in Variety, CBS News is laying off about 6% of its staff and will shut down the CBS News Radio service that is used byimg approximately 700 stations. Variety reports that these cuts come under new management at Paramount Skydance and are part of CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss’ plans to “make CBS News more relevant to younger, digitally savvy generations.” It’s expected that the personnel cuts will affect between 60 and 70 people. See the Variety story here.

Industry News

Congressional Subcommittee to Review Telecom Act of 1996

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology announce that next Thursday (3/26) the subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, The Telecommunications Act of 1996: 30 Years Later. Chairmen Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09) say in a statement, “The communications marketplace has transformed dramatically in the 30 years since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law. This hearing will examine what parts of the law have worked, what have not, and how Congress can build on those lessons to modernize our laws to promote innovation, strengthen competition, and drive investment in modern communications networks.”

Industry News

“The Meidas Touch” Tops Podtrac’s February Multi-Channel Podcast Ranking

February 2026 is the second month of Podtrac’s multi-channel podcast ranking – combining audio, video, and video clips – to arrive at its total U.S. consumption. For February, the Meidas Touch Network’s newsimg program “The Meidas Touch” is #1, followed by Joe Rogan’s comedy podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” at #2. Rising to #3 in February was Goalhanger’s history show “The Rest is History.” Interestingly, the overwhelming majority of “The Meidas Touch” consumption is via video and video clips, while “The Rest is History” consumption is primarily audio only. Notable changes from the January ranking include Candace Owens’ “Candace” rising four places to #6, Red Seat Ventures’ “The Tucker Carlson Show” climbing five places to #10, and DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” falling two places to #15. See more here.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (March 16-20)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/16-20) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War
  2. Strait of Hormuz Blockade / Energy Prices Soar
  3. Allies Decline to Join the War
  4. Kent Investigation / Mullin Confirmation Hearing / Intelligence Directors Testimony
  5. Fed Stands Firm on Rates / Low Level of U.S. Job Creation
  6. SAVE America Act
  7. Bondi’s Epstein Files Testimony
  8. DHS Funding-TSA Staffing
  9. U.S.-Cuba Relations / Cesar Chavez Bombshell
  10. Trump Postpones China Trip

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. Benjamin Netanyahu
  3. Mojtaba Khameini
  4. Pete Hegseth
  5. Joe Kent
  6. Markwayne Mullin
  7. Tulsi Gabbard / Kash Patel / John Ratcliffe
  8. Jerome Powell
  9. Pam Bondi
  10. Dolores Huerta / Cesar Chavez

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

NYFestivals to Honor Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Stephen Capus

New York Festivals Television & Film Awards and Radio Awards are honoring distinguished news leader Stephen Capus, president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and former president of NBC News, with the New York Festivals 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2026 Lifetime Award recipient will be celebrated at the annual Storytellers Gala, recognizing TV & Film Awards and Radio Awards trophy winners from around the globe will be streamed on May 21, 2026. Capus says, “It is a profound honor to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award and beimgrecognized alongside this esteemed community of storytellers. This honor is not mine alone, but a testament to the journalists I’ve worked with throughout my career – especially my RFE/RL colleagues who are committed to showing the world what is happening inside places like Ukraine and Iran. Their passion for excellence and dedication to the truth inspires me each day. My deepest gratitude to my family, whose support has made all of this possible.”

New York Festivals says, “Under Capus’s leadership, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty continues its mission to promote democratic values by delivering accurate, uncensored news and fostering open debate in countries where free press is threatened and disinformation is pervasive. Reaching nearly 50 million people each week, RFE/RL fills a critical gap in regions where independent journalism is restricted, banned, or still emerging.” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s programs have earned multiple awards from New York Festivals TV & Film and Radio Grand Juries.  Most recently are 2025 Gold Tower for Human Rights Documentary “How Russian Forces Hunted Down A Ukrainian Shopkeeper In Bucha Bloodbath” (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service); 2025 Gold  Tower for Sports Podcast “Gordafarid” (RFE/RL’s Persian-language service Radio Farda); 2024 Bronze Tower for Social Justice Podcast “Vida” (RFE/RL’s Persian-language service Farda); and 2024 Gold Tower for Human Rights Documentary for “Silent Deportation” (RFE/RL).

Industry News

NRG Media to Sell Northern Wisconsin Stations to Midwest Communications

NRG Media is divesting its Northern Wisconsin stations in the Wausau and Rhinelander markets in a proposed sale to Midwest Communications’ WRIG, Inc subsidiary. This deal includes sports talkimg WOBT-AM and 11 other signals and FM translators. NRG CEO Mary Quass states, “We are proud of the great broadcasters in Wisconsin that we have proudly worked with and are happy they will continue serving Wisconsin with WRIG, Inc.” Midwest Communications president Peter Tanz comments, “Mary and her entire team have built an outstanding community service organization in Wisconsin. For over a century, the Wright family has proudly called Central Wisconsin home. We are honored to add NRG’s Wisconsin stations to our home market.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/18)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/18) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Strike on South Pars Gas Field
  2. Strait of Hormuz Blockade / Energy Prices Soar
  3. Kent Investigation / Mullin Confirmation Hearing / Intelligence Directors Testimony
  4. Fed Stands Firm on Rates / Low Level of U.S. Job Creation
  5. Bondi’s Epstein Files Testimony
Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/17)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/17) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Strait of Hormuz Blockade
  2. Oil Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  3. SAVE America Act
  4. Epstein Files / Bondi Subpoena
  5. DHS Funding-TSA Staffing
Industry News

Nielsen Releases National Audio Today Report

Nielsen, using its own data as well as data from Edison Research’s Share of Ear Study, publishes its Audio Today 2026 report. Some of the key findings include: 1) that radio reaches 93% of all U.S. adults monthly, outperforming smartphones (89%), TV (84%), and PCs (76%). Its reachimg is nearly universal among Hispanic (94%) and Black (93%) consumers; 2) AM/FM radio commands more than 80% of all ad-supported audio time in vehicles. Nearly three-quarters of out-of-home radio use during peak drive times occurs in the car, placing brands closest to the point of purchase; 3) however, a significant “perception gap” exists; while marketers often rank radio low for effectiveness, Nielsen data reveals it delivers the highest ROI of any platform trailing only social media; and 4) radio and podcasts combined account for more than 80% of all daily ad-supported audio time, while streaming music accounts for only 15%. See the report here.

Industry News

AURN Partners with AdGrid for Cultural Audience Accelerator

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) announces a strategic partnership with advertising technology platform AdGrid to launch the “Cultural Audience Accelerator.” AURN says the new initiative isimg “designed to help brands reach and engage multicultural audiences across today’s digital media landscape.” AURN CEO Chesley Maddox-Dorsey says, “AURN has always been committed to helping brands connect authentically with multicultural audiences. Our partnership with AdGrid allows us to expand that connection beyond audio and into the broader digital ecosystem, giving advertisers new ways to reach these influential audiences with scale, cultural relevance and measurable results.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/16)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/16) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War / Allies Decline to Enter War
  2. Strait of Hormuz Blockade / Oil Prices / Financial Markets Activity
  3. Trump China Visit Delayed
  4. U.S.-Cuba Relations
  5. Epstein Files
Industry News

Townsquare Media Reports 2025 Q4 Revenue Down 9.6%

Townsquare Media releases its operating results for the fourth quarter of 2025 and for the full year of 2025. The company reports net revenue of $106.5 million in Q4, a decline of 9.6% from the same period in 2024. For the quarter, the company posted a net loss of $4.8 million after notching net income of $25 million in Q4 of 2024. Reporting on its segments, theimg company says Total Digital Segment Profit decreased 14.8%; Digital Advertising Segment Profit decreased 28.0%; Subscription Digital Marketing Solutions Segment Profit increased 12.0%; and Broadcast Advertising net revenue decreased 17.8%. Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson comments, “I am pleased to share that Townsquare’s fourth quarter and year end results met our previously issued net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance, reflecting our team’s hard work in the current environment. We are proud that the execution of our Digital First Local Media strategy allowed us to deliver excellent results for our clients, while also outperforming competitors and gaining market share. In 2025, net revenue decreased -2.8% year-over-year excluding political, and -5.2% in total, and Adjusted EBITDA decreased -3.0% year-over-year excluding political, and -12.2% in total. Importantly, due to our strong expense management, Adjusted EBITDA margins excluding political were constant year-over-year, despite revenue declines. In addition, our full year net loss improved by $1.2 million year-over-year, to a net loss of $9.8 million.”

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Anatomy of a Results-Producing Spot

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgLet’s start with what NOT to do, The 7 Deadly Sins Of Small Business Advertising:

  1. Talking about yourself too much. Customers care lots less about your story than their problem.
  2. Using clichés. “Quality service,” “relaxing atmosphere,” “friendly staff,” and “committed to excellence” are noise. WORST: the hollow “for all your ____ needs.”
  3. Listing everything you do. Think: message, not menu.
  4. Trying to sound big. Avoid that corporate sound I described in last week’s column here. It distances you from your prospect.
  5. Trying to be clever instead of clear. If they don’t get it instantly, they move on. And you risk seeming unserious.
  6. Too much copy, so the spot sounds rushed, a motor-mouth pitch. Instead, let it breathe.
  7. Ending with a weak call to action. “Visit us today” is not a call to action. It’s a shrug.

Your messaging will instantly improve if – in the words of George Constanza – you “do the opposite” of committing these sins.

A strong ad has four parts:

  1. A clear, strong opening line. “When you lie in bed at night, do you hear a scratching sound?” The opening line should speak directly to the customer’s life. Note Magic Words “you” and “your.” Start in their world – with their dilemma – and walk-them-into your world, how you fix it.
  2. A simple promise. Tell them what they get —  not what you do. “Call before noon and sleep on a new mattress tonight.” Problem solved. A promise is emotional, not technical.
  3. A reason to believe. Keep it short. “Sameday service, even on weekends,” or “We’ve solved this problem for 20 years.”
  4. A strong call to action. Tell them exactly what to do next. Be specific and immediate. “Click to find out – in just seconds – to find out what your house is worth.” Or “Instant cash for your car. Call for our offer.”

This is #3 in my 3-part series about optimizing commercial copy, the fundamentals we’re covering in Sales meetings as I visit client stations this spring. If you missed the first two installments, here are “If It Doesn’t Matter to the Customer, It Doesn’t Matter” and “Your Local Advantage.” And help yourself to my free E-book, “Spot-On: Commercial Copy Points That Earned The Benjamins,” 12 more pages of what-worked, collected in my travels.

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

New York News Icon Ernie Anastos Dies at 82

Longtime Emmy-winning New York City news anchor Ernie Anastos hasimg died at the age of 82. Anastos worked at the local New York affiliates of ABC, CBS and FOX. In recent years, he hosted a feature on WABC Radio titled, “Positively Ernie.” Red Apple Media Group CEO John Catsimatidis commented on Anastos’ passing saying, “Ernie was a friend for 50 years. He was always there for every charity and worked tirelessly to help people — especially New Yorkers.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (March 14-15)

The most discussed stories over the weekend (3/14-15) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. U.S.-Israel-Iran War
  2. Strait of Hormuz Blockade / Oil Prices / Financial Markets React
  3. Trump’s Scheduled China Trip
  4. FCC’s Carr Threatens Broadcast Licensees
  5. The Oscars
Industry News

FCC Commissioner Gomez to Host ’96 Telecomm Act Anniversary Webinar

On Tuesday (3/17) at 12:00 noon ET, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez will host a webinar featuring panel conversations with communications and technology policy experts who lived through the creation and implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. That year, Gomez served as a legal advisor in the FCC’s Commonimg Carrier Bureau, helping implement the Act. In the webinar titled “30th Anniversary of the 96 Act: What Did We Learn?” panelists will explore how lessons from the past 30 years can drive innovation and competition for consumers today. Topics will include artificial intelligence, media, competition, convergence, access, and cybersecurity. The three separate panels will include Panel 1 looking at “The Legislative Process That Led to the Act; Panel 2 will address “FCC Implementation of the Act”; and Panel 3 will focus on “Today’s Challenges.” Interested parties can join online via the FCC Events Webpage or visit https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2026/03/30th-anniversary-96-act-webinar-what-did-we-learn. No registration required.

Industry News

iHeartMedia to Present 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards

On Monday at SXSW in Austin, the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards will beimg presented at ACL Live at the Moody Theatre at 8:00 pm ET. Actress, comedian and host of the “Thanks Dad” podcast, Ego Nwodim, will emcee this year’s iHeartPodcast Awards, actor and comedian Will Ferrell will open the show and Holly Frey, host of “Stuff You Missed in History Class,” will be the winners correspondent. The full list of the 2026 iHeartPodcast Awards categories and nominees can be found here.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (March 9-13)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/9-13) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. U.S.-Iran War Expands
  2. Strait of Hormuz Blockade / Oil Prices
  3. Financial Markets React
  4. MAGA Fractures
  5. Michigan Synagogue Attack
  6. Virginia Old Dominion Shooting
  7. Drone West Coast Threat
  8. Epstein Files
  9. Save America Act
  10. Senate Housing Affordability Package

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. Pete Hegseth
  3. Benjamin Netanyahu
  4. Mojtaba Khameini
  5. Vladimir Putin
  6. JD Vance
  7. Xi Jinping
  8. Pam Bondi
  9. Jeffrey Epstein
  10. Mike Johnson / Gavin Newsom

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

Salem Media’s 2025 Total Net Revenue Down 10.5%

Salem Media Group reveals its operating results for 2025 and reports total net revenue of $212.7 million, a decline of 10.5% over 2024’s reported $237.6 million. The company’s total operating expenses roseimg 3.9% to $252.4 million in 2025. After posting net income of $16.2 million in 2024, the company is reporting a net loss of $34.6 million in 2025. Salem reports revenue by segments and the erosion of its broadcast advertising revenue was dramatic after it shut down its Christian music formats and sold numerous radio stations, falling 36% — from $62.6 million in 2024 to $40.75 million in 2025. However, the company’s digital revenue (including advertising, streaming, downloads, and subscriptions) rose 5.5% from $83.8 million in 2024 to $88.4 million in 2025.

Industry News

Edison: Moving Ad Spend from TV to Podcast Improves Reach

Edison Research says that data shows moving 5% of the broadcast and cable TV spend in a marketing plan, brands can achieve “outsized results in audience reach.” In this example, using data from Nielsen Podcast Fusion powered by Edison Podcast Metrics, a leadingimg pharmaceutical brand’s original buy targeting adults 18-54, 100% of the budget was allocated to traditional television, with 87% to broadcast and 13% to cable. This achieved a reach of 39%. By shifting only 5% of the total spend away from the usual go-to television outlets, and into podcasts, reach increased significantly. Reach among those ages 18-54 went from 39% in the old campaign to 55% in the new campaign, a lift of 41%. Note that this is shifting dollars, not adding dollars. The brand reached 26 million additional people without increasing the advertising budget.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/11)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/11) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. World Addresses Oil Supply Issues / Financial Markets Tensions
  2. Operation Epic Fury / Iran Bombs Oil Facilities & Middle East Ports
  3. Trump’s Kentucky & Ohio Affordability Tour
  4. Epstein Files
  5. Unfair Trade Practices Probe / Tariffs Ruling
Industry News

Judge Rules Against Talk Hosts Denied Washington State Capitol Press Access

A trio of conservative media figures – including KVI, Seattle afternoon drive host Ari Hoffman – failed in their bid to get a temporary restraining order that would force the state legislature in Washington to give them access to parts of the Capitol building only accessible to bona fideimg journalists. The attorney for Hoffman and co-litigants Brandi Kruse and Jonathan Choe argued that the “process used to deny them press credentials was vague and arbitrarily applied, violating their due-process rights, and withholding access because of they disagree with the lawmakers’ political views violates their constitutional rights of free speech and free press.” U.S. District Judge David Estudillo denied the TRO, saying, “The three failed to show that they are likely to succeed on their free press or due process claims, and the ‘House has a substantial interest in ensuring the reporters it permits to access the House floor meet the credential standards promulgated so the House may debate and pass laws without interruption or lobbying in that space.’” This story, as reported by KSL-FM, Salt Lake City, says, “The Washington State Capitol Correspondents Association guidelines for granting press passes says the person must be ‘a bona fide journalist’ and there must be a line ‘between professional journalism and political or policy work.’ The association shifted the credentialing process to the Legislature after the three threatened a lawsuit in 2025. The Senate eventually issued the passes, but the House took over the process and denied the pass requests.” The three say they will appeal. See the KSL story here.

Industry News

RTDNA Presents 2026 First Amendment Awards Tomorrow

The RTDNA Foundation will recognize 12 individuals and organizations at tomorrow’s 2026 First Amendment Awards being presented at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. RTDNA Foundation president Tara Puckey says, “At a time when the rights guaranteed by the Firstimg Amendment are challenged on every front, the journalists, organizations and individuals we honor today stand as powerful examples of courage, integrity and unwavering commitment to the free flow of information. Their work informs, supports and strengthens our communities, and it definitely protects the core principles that make a free press essential to democracy. We are proud to shine a spotlight on these champions of press freedom and to celebrate their vital contributions.” Honorees include recently retired WGN, Chicago news anchor Steve Bertrand; former “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens; and FOX News pentagon reporter Jennifer Griffin. See more here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/10)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/10) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. Operation Epic Fury / Iran Strikes Cargo Vessels
  2. Oil Prices Soar / Financial Markets Jitters
  3. Georgia Special Election / GOP Midterms Concerns
  4. Epstein Files / DOJ Investigation Request / New Mexico Ranch Probe
  5. Save America Act
Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (3/9)

The most discussed stories yesterday (3/9) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. Operation Epic Fury
  2. Oil Prices / Strait of Hormuz Blockade / Financial Markets Respond
  3. Midterm Predictions
  4. Georgia Special Election
  5. Anthropic Sues Pentagon
Industry News

Cumulus Media’s Pre-Pack Reveals Plan for Secured Lenders to Operate Company

Cumulus Media’s filing with the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas outlines the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. In the plan’s introduction, the company lays out the reason for the Plan that, if approved by the Court, will put control of the company into the hands of an “ad hoc group of secured lenders.” After a 2018 restructuring that greatly reduced the company’s debt, and consistent efforts in the ensuing years in which it employed cost-imgreduction and asset-optimization initiatives, it went into refinancing mode in May of 2024, pushing loans that matured in 2026 into 2029. The filing states, “Despite these measures, ongoing industry revenue declines and macroeconomic headwinds continued to constrain liquidity and free cash flow. As a result of these various pressures, in the last quarter of 2025, the Company, with the assistance of its advisors, began to explore various strategic alternatives and potential liquidity-enhancing transactions. After considering the available options, the Debtors and their advisors determined that the best path forward was to implement a comprehensive recapitalization transaction either out-of-court or through the filing of prepackaged chapter 11 cases.” The key provisions of the Plan are: “2029 Secured Claims will be canceled in exchange for 95% of the equity in the reorganized Company” and “Other Funded Debt Claims will be canceled in exchange for 5% of the equity in the reorganized Company.” Additionally, the current Board of Directors will be discharged and it will be up to the new Board whether it keeps any or all of the current organization’s corporate officers.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (March 7-8)

The most discussed stories over the weekend (3/7-8) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERSresearch:

  1. Operation Epic Fury / Mojtaba Khameini Named Supreme Leader
  2. Oil Prices / Financial Markets Tumble
  3. Noem Ouster Aftermath
  4. Mamdani IED Attack
  5. AI / Memory Chip Shortage
Industry News

Top Podcasts Steady on Podtrac’s Latest Ranker

There was no movement in the top five on Podtrac’s February 2026 Top U.S. Podcasts ranker based on unique U.S. monthly downloads forimg participating networks. In order from #1 to #5 are NPR’s “NPR News Now,” The New York Times’ “The Daily,” “Up First from NPR,” NBC Universal’s “Dateline NBC,” and FOX Audio Networks’ “FOX News Hourly Update.” Other talk radio-related shows of note include DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” at #7 and Silverloch’s “The Dan Bongino Show” at #9.  See the complete chart here.