TALKERS News Notes
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is not interested in the potential afternoon drive opening at WEPN-FM “ESPN Radio New York.” James Kratch sums up Russo’s feelings about the idea at Elite Sports New York, writing, “The WFAN legend told Newsday he is happy at SiriusXM and speculation he could return to terrestrial radio to replace Michael Kay is ‘probably not realistic.’ ‘I’m not going to leave Sirius, let’s put it that way,’ Russo told sports media columnist Neil Best. ‘I love Sirius so much. They’ve been good to me. … I’m going to do that as long as they’ll have me, to make a long story short.’” ESPN Radio New York PM drive host Michael Kay’s contract is up and, after 23 years there, it’s expected he may move on.
At SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio, this week is the annual “Players Week” in which several current major league players and top prospects join SiriusXM hosts for special extended feature segments. During this special programming, players have a “national platform, an hour of airtime, and the freedom to guide the conversation and discuss the teams and topics both on and off the field that most interest them.”
Chris Haynes, senior NBA Insider for TNT and Bleacher Report, and Marc Stein, veteran NBA reporter and publisher of The Stein Line on Substack, announce they’ve partnered for the new iHeartPodcast program, “#thisleague UNCUT.” The two insiders “break down the latest hot topics with candor and bold opinions” twice per week.
I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts the updated sales facts below are nowhere to be found in your radio station’s collateral material. This bold challenge is in front of you today as a wakeup call before the calendar becomes your frenemy.
In last week’s column, 
The fourth of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2022 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. 
Dolphins games accessible to fans in new markets. The stations will carry all Miami Dolphins football game broadcasts and play-by-play coverage as well as a pregame show, postgame show and weekly radio show featuring exclusive interviews with Dolphins’ personnel and guests from around the league. Game broadcasts will feature former Dolphins wide receiver Jimmy Cefalo handling play-by-play duties, former Dolphins tight end Joe Rose providing color commentary and former Dolphins linebacker Kim Bokamper giving analysis and updates from the sidelines. iHeartMedia Sports president Kevin LeGrett says, “We are excited about this partnership and honored to be the new broadcast home of the Miami Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins are the city’s premiere sports team and with the massive multiplatform reach and scale that iHeartMedia can provide, we have the ability to deliver great programming and coverage to millions of fans across the state and beyond.”
The third of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2022 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. Nielsen’s Holiday 2022 sweep covered December 8 – January 4. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM loses 1.4 shares to finish the survey with a 6.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and falls to the #5 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX declines nine-tenths for a 2.2 share finish that puts it in the #16 spot. Urban One’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte is steady with a 3.7 share but rises to the #10 rank in the market. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM sheds seven-tenths, finishing the survey with a 4.6 share but rises to the #5 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk KNRS-AM/FM drops 2.3 shares for a 4.4 share finish that drops it to the #6 rank. Audacy’s news/talk KDWN-AM, Las Vegas adds 1.3 shares for a 2.3 share finish that pushes from the #26 rank to #16. And in Orlando, iHeartMedia’s hot talk WTKS-FM is down a full share for a 5.1 share finish and the #7 rank, while Cox Media Group’s news/talk WDBO-AM adds three-tenths to finish with a 4.6 share that boosts it to the #8 rank. 
The second of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2022 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. Nielsen’s Holiday 2022 sweep covered December 8 – January 4. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM loses one-tenth to finish with a 3.4 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) but rises to the #7 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s crosstown all-news WTOP-FM falls eight-tenths but remains ranked #3 in the market. iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO, Boston tacks on one-tenth to wrap the survey with a 2.8 share good for the #13 rank and sister all-news WBZ-AM also adds one-tenth for a 4.8 share finish that puts it in the #6 spot. In Seattle, Bonneville’s news/talk KIRO-FM falls 1.1 shares to finish with a 5.5 share pushing it down to the #3 rank, while Lotus Communications’ all-news KNWN-AM/FM adds three-tenths for a 5.5 share that puts it in a tie for the #3 rank. 
template by which sports talk debate shows were often created. Smith says, “When we think about sports debate shows’ inception, in my opinion it starts with talk radio. And there is no way on earth you can talk about talk radio without bringing up ‘Mike & The Mad Dog.’ This business has changed – and flourished – because of what they accomplished as a dynamic duo spanning 19 years. They are, unquestionably, the standard. So, it’s easy to says that not only am I looking forward to having them reunite on ‘First Take,’ I’m HONORED to have them. Can’t wait.”
base.” But, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “This is a blatant act of political discrimination and censorship against Newsmax.” Newsmax says, “DirecTV pays cable license fees to all top 75 cable channels and to all 22 liberal news channels it carries. Almost all of these channels are paid hefty license fees significantly greater than Newsmax was seeking — and despite the fact that most of the channels have far lower ratings than Newsmax.” Ruddy adds, “The most extreme liberal channels, even with tiny ratings, get fees from AT&T’s DirecTV, but [in their view] Newsmax and OAN need to be deplatformed.” Conservative channel OAN was removed from the DirecTV platform in April of 2022. 
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). Nielsen’s Holiday 2022 sweep covered December 8 – January 4. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC-AM & WLIR-FM dips two-tenths to a 3.1 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) good for the #10 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WINS-AM/FM adds four-tenths to finish with a 4.6 share that lifts it to the #5 rank. Audacy all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM, Chicago dips one-tenth to a 4.8 share that keeps it locked in the #4 rank, while Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN falls two-tenths to finish with a 2.8 share good for the #12 rank. In Dallas, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WBAP, Dallas-Fort Worth tacks on four-tenths to wrap the survey with a 3.7 share that puts it in the #7 rank. And Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta falls one share for a 4.4 share finish good for the #7 rank. 
Barry Armstrong. The program is hosted by Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong and is heard on 14 affiliate stations. Wolfe began his tenure with Money Matters in August of 2014 after many years serving as the VP of programming and operations for sports talk WEEI and news/talk WRKO in Boston. Money Matters says, “Since joining Money Matters, Wolfe has led the growth of the show’s radio network as well as creating new content and sponsorship opportunities for current and prospective clients, negotiating all network contracts, and expanding the show’s digital footprint through a daily live video stream which can be seen on Facebook, Twitch and the show’s website.” In his role as COO, Wolfe will oversee all aspects of the company’s policies and procedures, including finance, network operations, sales, and marketing.
As The Beatles sang, “It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter.” Baseball – even Spring Training while it’s still chilly in March – says “Here Comes the Sun.” That’s what baseball means… to listeners.
Media CEO and WABC owner John Catsimatidis. Catsimatidis states, “I’m happy to welcome Andrew to our WABC family. After working in the White House and taking a run at the governorship of New York, Andrew brings an insider’s perspective on national, state, and local political issues to WABC Radio and its listeners.” Giuliani says, “It’s an honor to be a part of the #1 news/talk station in New York. WABC Radio is a combination of its rich history and incredible rebirth. I’m excited to get on the air and connect with the WABC Radio listeners in New York and around the world.” Giuliani was a special assistant to the president and associate director of the Office of Public Liaison during the Trump administration. In his position, he interfaced between the White House and business, nonprofit, and other groups, meeting with President Donald Trump up to four times a week. He also represented his office in White House meetings on the opioid crisis. A lifelong New Yorker, Giuliani ran for governor of New York in 2021.
NFL, and this year’s Super Bowl coverage marks the 50th time that the network will broadcast the game. Some of the key takeaways from this study are: 1) NFL postseason AM/FM radio listeners are a desirable group of consumers: They are more likely to work full time and have higher disposable incomes compared to NFL postseason TV viewers; 2) The NFL postseason AM/FM radio audience is more engaged with sports: MRI Simmons finds NFL postseason AM/FM radio listeners attend more sporting events, seek out sports information on their phones more often, and play more fantasy sports than NFL postseason TV watchers. The higher levels of engagement translate into greater advertising effectiveness; and 3) NFL postseason AM/FM radio listeners are more likely to make purchases across key consumer categories: Compared to the NFL postseason TV audience, AM/FM radio delivers more consumers who are likely to buy a new or used vehicle, start a new business, or hire a financial advisor. You can see the complete report 
“Last Tuesday night (1/10), I had a ventricular tachycardia event and fell to the floor, and my cardiologist Dr. Shaw, had me transferred to Baylor Scott & White University Medical Center.” He spent the week at the hospital continuing to rest and undergo testing as doctors monitored the situation. But Saturday night (1/14), he had another ventricular tachycardia event. Jay says, “I asked the doctor, ‘How sick am I?’ And he said you are really sick; your heart is done.” Jay has been placed on the heart transplant list. Of the four levels of the list, pending severity, Jay is listed as a level two and it is unknown at this time when a transplant will take place. Jay finished his on-air appearance on Monday by thanking listeners for their prayers, mentioning he intends to document his transplant journey, and check in with the “WBAP Morning News” as he is able. 
quarter of fiscal year 2023, the company expects revenue to be $27 million. It adds that the audio division that includes Slacker and PodcastOne will report revenue of $21.6 million for FY/2023 Q3 and for the first nine months of the fiscal year expects to report revenue of $63.5 million. LiveOne previously announced its intent to spin out PodcastOne as a separate, publicly traded company and plans to IPO Slacker this year.
For 80 years – KICD-AM has been the “local information source” for northwest Iowa and portions of southwest Minnesota. Here’s what they tell TALKERS: We’re looking for someone with the ability, talent and passion to continue KICD’s long tradition into the future. The person for this position will need to live in Spencer, Iowa (or surrounding area). We need someone who understands small-market, local radio and is willing to be involved in the community. Knowledge of radio automation software, Adobe Audition and general computer experience is preferred. This person should also have previous experience on-air; production/imaging creativity; and website/social media skills. The Spencer Radio Group is owned and operated by Saga Communications – a company that invests back into their stations and their people! SRG offers great benefits including – health, vision, dental and 401K. Send your resume and demo to operations manager Kevin Tlam at 
together since my earliest days at Salem. He always impressed me as one of those people that can take an idea and bring it to life. To this day, I can give Danny just the seed of an idea and the next thing you know he has a full-blown working model. I am thrilled to see Danny get this well-deserved promotion.” Salem Media’s president of broadcast media, Allen Power, adds “Dan has consistently set a high standard for everything he has undertaken. His talents are many including creativity, attention to detail, excellence in follow-through, and giftedness in visual marketing and production. Perhaps, his greatest strength is his ability to work with leaders at literally every level of our company to advance Salem’s brand and image. He does all of this with passion, humility, and a great sense of humor. If you look up the definition of ‘go-to’ person, it’s highly likely you’ll see Dan’s smiling face.”
most recently served Ryan Seacrest Enterprises as SVP, sales and corporate partnerships. Wilberding says, “Mike is the consummate marketing and sales innovator with excellent relationships spanning his 30-plus years as a broadcast professional. I have worked with Mike at Viacom/CBS, Spanish Broadcasting and iHeart/Premiere, and have competed with him, as well. His creative approach to working with clients makes him an outstanding addition to Key Networks.” Iverson comments, “I’m excited to be a part of the incredible team at Key Networks and to work with a fresh-thinking, entrepreneurial company setting new standards for radio syndication with pre-eminent brands like Bloomberg Radio. It is energizing to have the opportunity to move quickly and effectively for clients in an environment that feels much like a start-up. I’m also thrilled to join forces once again with Jason Wilberding.”