Industry News

Podtrac’s February 2024 Podcast Ranker

The New York Times’ “The Daily” remains in the #1 spot on Podtrac’s U.S. Podcast ranker for February (based on unique U.S. monthly audience for participating podcasts) NPR’s “NPR News Now” and “Upim First” are #2 and #3, respectively, with NBC News’ “Dateline NBC” at #4. Other talk radio-related podcasts of note include The Daily Wire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” rising two spots to #7, iHeartPodcasts’ “Stuff You Should Know” up two places to #9, and Dan Bongino’s “The Dan Bongino Show” up one spot to #11. You can see the complete ranker here.

Industry News

Wertlieb and Norville Honored at BFoA Golden Mic Gala

The Broadcasters Foundation of America honored Hearst EVP and COO Jordan Wertlieb with its Golden Mic Award at a gala event at the Plaza Hotel in New York City last night (3/5). The organizationim also bestowed its 2024 Edward F. McLaughlin Lifetime Achievement Award upon Emmy-winning news anchor Deborah Norville. The annual gala is a major fundraiser for the BFoA, which provides financial assistance to broadcasters in acute need. One of last night’s most poignant moments was a video of Foundation grant recipient Terrie Commare bravely sharing of the death of her TV general sales manager husband Luke Commare losing his life to brain cancer and how the BFoA stepped in with a monthly grant to help the family make ends meet. 

Industry News

Joey Reynolds Recovering from Fall

im

Radio personality Joey Reynolds is pictured here at a New York hospital recovering from a fall at his Manhattan apartment on February 28. Reynolds’ friend Art Vuolo tells TALKERS thatim Reynolds fell from his bed, head-first onto a hardwood floor where remained in various stages of unconsciousness for more than 20 hours before being found by his landlord. Vuolo will travel to New York in two weeks. Well-wishers may send cards for Reynolds to: PO Box 55 Walled Lake, MI 48390. Emails are being collected by Vuolo at artvuolo@aol.com. Pictured with Reynolds here are: Reynolds’ daughter Kristen Marti on his right and friend Karen King behind Reynolds’ sister Judy.

Industry News

FCC Approves WMVP-AM, Chicago Transmitter Move

The Federal Communications Commission approves the transmitter moves and nighttime power reduction requested by Good Karma Brands for WMVP-AM, Chicago. The FCC denied the objectionim filed by Albert Adam David, who claimed the changes would create interference for other licensees. Good Karma proposes to relocate the WMVP facility approximately 31 kilometers to the currently licensed nighttime transmitter site of WCPT-AM, Willow Springs, Illinois. Good Karma proposes to retain WMVP’s Class A designation, operating frequency (1000 kHz), and 50 kW daytime operating power, but reduce nighttime operating power to 37 kW while diplexing nighttime transmissions with WCPT (WCPT broadcasts at 1.5 kW on a different frequency).

Industry News

Nashville’s “104.5 The Zone” Renews Buck Reising Show

Nashville sports talk host Buck Reising renews his contract with Cumulus Media to continue as host of the midday program, “The Buck Reising Show,” on WGFX-FM “104.5 The Zone.” Reising also hosts an NFL podcast called “The Install Live,” with executive producer and co-host Greg Cosell, in addition toim other content he creates with the station’s partnership with A to Z Sports. Cumulus Nashville VP and market manager Allison Warren says, “In the heart of Middle Tennessee, where sports pulse through our veins, we proudly announce the contract extension for our dynamic midday host, Buck Reising. Our airwaves resonate with the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the unwavering passion of fans. As the must-listen sports station, we’re more than a frequency; we’re the heartbeat of every game, every play, and every championship.” Reising comments, “I’m so grateful to ‘The Zone’ and Cumulus for believing in and investing in Lucas, Jackson, and me. We could not be happier to continue to do the show for such an incredibly supportive audience and the city that we love. We’re just getting started.”

Industry News

WRVA, Richmond’s Jeff Katz Raises Funds for The Friendship Circle

im

Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon talk host Jeff Katz (right) alongside former President Donald Trump (left) during Trump’s March 2 visit to Richmond. Katz is presenting Trump with a “Julia Katz Bracelet” created by Emily Morrissey of Emily’s Bracelets.  Morrissey and Julia Katz are young women with a variety of special needs and disabilities who have received services from The Friendship Circle. During the month of March, Morrissey is offering “The Julia Katz Bracelet” as a fundraiser for The Friendship Circle of Virginia in recognition of Julia’s 21st birthday on March 7. Jeff Katz recently helped raise more than $17,000 for The Friendship Circle and to kick off the special Julia Katz bracelet he personally presented one to Trump. They are available at www.emilysbracelets.com

Industry News

KYW, Philadelphia Honors 2024 GameChangers

Audacy’s all-news KYW, Philadelphia awarded its annual GameChangers honors, recognizing 10 people making a difference in communities of color around the Philadelphia region at a ceremony at the company’s Philadelphia office on February 28. KYW Newsradio community impact reporter Racquelim Williams, who has been highlighting the GameChangers honorees throughout February, hosted the ceremony. The 2024 recipients were nominated by audience members, selected by a panel of previous honorees and vetted by KYW Newsradio editorial staff. Audacy Philadelphia SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “We are delighted to honor the exceptional individuals who are driving positive change and making a profound impact within communities of color across Philadelphia. This yearly program highlights their unwavering dedication to making lasting contributions to this community, and we’re proud to leverage our platform to shine a light on their great work.”  See more about GameChangers here.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Audacy’s WRVA, Richmond adds FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” to its daily lineup airing from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

PodcastOne acquires the exclusive sales and distribution rights to Jackie Schimmel’s “The Bitch Bible Podcast.” PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “PodcastOne is thrilled to welcome Jackie and ‘The Bitch Bible’ to the network. From our very first meeting there was an instant connection and our visions for growth were aligned, and we immediately offered Jackie equity in PodcastOne understanding the value she brings to PodcastOne and our partners. Our team at PodcastOne will provide the support needed to improve and expand the show, and we’re incredibly excited to work together to achieve and surpass our mutual goals.”

iHeartPodcasts and host and creator Emily Tisch Sussman announce that the award-winning podcast, “She Pivots,” is now a part of the iHeartPodcast Network. Sussman says, “‘She Pivots’ is changing the cultural conversation around how women talk about and think about their careers. I am excited to join forces with the No. 1 podcast publisher, iHeartPodcasts, and continue to make a show that inspires and empowers women to trust their instincts and skills. I want women to know that everything you have done has given you the toolkit you need to make your pivot. You have everything you need inside of you, and I can’t wait to showcase the stories of women who have proven just that in season three.”

Industry Views

Pending Business: Baked-In?

By Steve Lapa
Lapcom Communications Corp
President

imIs that host read you are pitching “baked-in?”

No, I am not talking baked in the content, as in before the break with all the produced commercials. I am talking about “baked-in” the audio that will live on as long as that show is available.

Still confused? You should ask someone who has handled an actual audio podcast avail. Some advertisers and their ad agencies are shaping the future and “baked-in” is a fundamental element of the new-think that is pushing the needle on podcast CPM, while your team struggles to compete for low CPM based on old school models that are dropping like flies.

The good news is that host read is still the gold standard that moves the listener to action. The bad news is radio station sellers are hanging onto older strategies that have little room in a future filled with millions of audio podcasts that contain no music and feature comedy, news, talk, opinion, lifestyle, sports, politics, entertainment, financial, medical, legal, self-help, religion, even foreign language – as in nothing but the human voice and a little production.

Sound familiar? I call it the great sales equalizer: the host read.

So how can this magical host read have such a dramatic impact in this super-crowded environment, yet be so underappreciated on radio stations coast to coast? Let us look at the three legs of the sales stool that have never changed.

1. The seller. Most radio sellers are presenting the host read the same way they did since their first order. What is new, different, and exciting in the way you present your talent today?

2. The audience. Size matters, intimacy matters, performance matters. Can you demonstrate how your host-audience relationship fulfills those criteria and generates a response for your advertisers?

3. The inventory. Why do we still have the same number of host reads in every hour of a show? Anyone have the courage to vary the inventory or pricing throughout a show?

The podcast world is leading the way to a future filled with:

1. Baked-In host reads.
2. Pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll price differences.
3. Commercial inventory limits.
4. Impression delivery options that demonstrate clear accountability.

There is a bright future in audio sales that will look and feel different from what we take for granted today. Make sure you are on the right side of the wave and not stuck in the mud.

Steve Lapa is the president of Lapcom Communications Corp. based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lapcom is a media sales, marketing, and development consultancy. Contact Steve Lapa via email at: Steve@Lapcomventures.com.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: The Local Radio Advantage, Part 3

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imIt’s not your imagination. The world has gone daffy. The USA is all-but boots-on-the-ground in rough neighborhoods around the world. Weather is getting even wackier. The next gun nut could open fire, at any moment, anywhere. 2024 campaign? It’s a long way to November. And even in this rebounding economy, supermarket prices still hit-home… if you can get there.

Here in Southern New England that could take up to an hour longer, as tens of thousands are inconvenienced every day, and will be for months – possibly two years we’re told – after an abrupt bridge closure along Interstate 195. Your daily commute is torture if you live here; and an unpleasant surprise awaits when you head to Cape Cod this summer, or if you’re just passing through this intersection where I-195 joins Maine-to-Miami I-95, the main artery through the most densely populated parts of the USA.

The good news for listeners is that serious structural defects were spotted BEFORE a deadly bridge collapse like we’ve seen in Minnesota and Pennsylvania and elsewhere in recent years. The good news for local media is that information changes throughout the day, and day-to-day, as the Department of Transportation continuously modifies lane merges and detours to cope. If you’re driving, you can’t NOT listen.

im

Presume that listeners are wondering “What NEXT???” If your station is known-for-knowing, listeners will keep coming back for more. Last week and the week before here, we demonstrated simple tweaks that make local news copy instantly more and helpful and relevant and understandable. This week: setting an expectation and delivering. Two tips:

Invite overtly. Try this imaging statement that has proven effective for setting a listening appointment to on-hour newscasts: “SO much is changing, SO quickly now. Stay close to the news.” Example: If you’re an affiliate, call it “a quick FOX News update, every half hour, throughout your busy day.” Doing so empowers the customers our local advertisers want pulling into the parking lot.

Then, make it sound different than last hour. Advance the story.

Example: news that “The New York Times is buying Wordle” broke in afternoon drive.

Next morning, same copy, word-for-word.

Better next-morning lead: “Wordle will remain free… for now.”

Avoid the listener thinking, “You already told me that,” by leading with a different aspect than last time. Every effort you make to sound fresh is well worth it.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “The Local Radio Advantage: Your 4-Week Tune-In Tune-Up,” and “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News

Cumulus Launches “106.1 The Ticket” in New Orleans

Cumulus Media flips WKRN-FM, New Orleans from country to sports talk as “106.1 The Ticket.” The station will air FOX Sports Radio programming and several local shows. In addition to FSR shows suchim as “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” and “The Dan Patrick Show,” the station will air “Inside New Orleans with Eric Asher” from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, followed by “All Access with Ken Trahan” from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Cumulus Media New Orleans RVP and market manager Pat Galloway says, “The love and passion of New Orleans’ sports fans is amazing. It starts in the playgrounds and ends up in the Superdome and Smoothie King Center, and now we can talk about it all the time on the all-new ‘106.1 The Ticket.’”

Industry News

SiriusXM Names van Mosel SVP of Podcast Strategy

SiriusXM appoints Sarah van Mosel to the new role SVP, podcast strategy. Van Mosel previously served as chief revenue officer with Stitcher, the aggregator that SXM Media acquired for $353 million back in 2020. In a memo to staff, SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein says, “As podcasting continues to be a major driver of growth in our overall business, we are organizing theim best team in the industry to power our next chapter… A major area of focus is expanding our relationships with top podcasts as we look to grow both our exclusive content portfolio and support our successful advertising business. To help us achieve our goals, we decided to bring in an expert to champion SiriusXM in the marketplace. I am thrilled to welcome Sarah van Mosel back to SiriusXM in a new role as SVP of podcast strategy, reporting directly to me. In this role, Sarah will develop a targeted podcast acquisition strategy as well as source and attract up and coming new talent to the SiriusXM Podcast Network.” Greenstein says van Mosel will work with SVP of podcasting content Adam Sachs.

Industry News

“Election Channel” Debuts on TuneIn

TuneIn is launching its new “Election Channel” ahead of Super Tuesday to “give listeners easy access to news coverage around the presidential primary election day.” TuneIn says, “The channel features aim comprehensive collection of the top national and regional news stations to help listeners stay up to date on the latest in the race to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election in November. The ‘Election Channel’ brings together all voices and viewpoints to empower listeners to stay informed on all party news.” TuneIn adds that its coverage includes national and global news networks and stations, including NBC News NOW, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News Radio, Newsmax and Progressive Voices, plus local stations across the country.

Industry News

iHM Lets Women Take the Mic on March 8

In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, iHeartMedia presents “Women Take the Mic” in which women will lead the conversation all day across the company’s music stations and also present 10 International Women’s Day special episodes from top female-hosted podcasts including Angela Yee’sim “Lip Service,” “Chiquis and Chill,” “Dear Chelsea with Chelsea Handler,” “The Nikki Glaser Podcast,” “The Psychology of Your 20s,” “Reasonably Shady,” “Therapy for Black Girls,” “There Are No Girls On The Internet with Bridget Todd,” “Very Special Episodes with Dana Schwartz,” and “Womanica.” Each of these shows will feature women sharing their personal stories of shattering stereotypes, creating opportunities, and inspiring the next generation to find their own voice and share it with the world.

Industry News

Mirta Lourenço is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast

Mirta Lourenço is the chief of media development and media in emergency for UNESCO based at the agency’s headquarters in Paris. She is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” The name UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization which is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its stated mission is to promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. Podcast host and TALKERS founder Michael Harrison served as executive advisor to UNESCO for the recent 13th annual celebration of UN World Radio Day 2024 which gave him the opportunity to work directly with Lourenço, who heads the project each year. According to Harrison, “This year’s theme was a celebration of radio’s first century informing, educating and entertaining with the purpose of bringing global attention to the medium’s continuing importance and vitality in the 21st century while acknowledging the challenges it and all heritage media face in the digital era.” Harrison adds, “Mirta Lourenço is a true champion of global media supporting its potential and responsibility to serve the public good. She is a first responder to the first responders. Her work transcends the boundaries of nationality, ethnicity, and language. It includes media platforms of every structure – commercial, public, community, corporate and governmental. She diligently operates at a smorgasbord of diversity at the center of the media world.” Harrison and Lourenço discuss the state of international radio from her global perspective. Listen to the podcast in its entirety here. 

Industry News

New Season of Pittman Podcast Debuts

iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman begins production of the sixth season of his podcast,im “Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman,” in which he speaks with leaders, entrepreneurs and visionaries across music, film, live entertainment, marketing and more. The first episode of this season features Kellyn Kenny, AT&T’s chief marketing and growth officer, who has also served with such companies as Microsoft, Hilton, Capital One and Uber.

Industry News

iHeartMedia Q4 2023 Revenue Down 5.25%

iHeartMedia reports its operating results for the fourth quarter of 2023 and for the full year of 2023. The company’s consolidated revenue for Q4 of 2023 was $1.06 billion, a decline of 5.25% from Q4 of 2022. The company reports net income of $13.9 million during Q4 of 2023. For the full year of 2023, revenue was $3.75 billion, a decline of 4.1% from the full year of 2022. iHeartMedia reports a net loss of $1.1 billion for the full year of 2023 compared to the net loss of $262.6 million it reported for the full year ofim 2022. iHeartMedia breaks down its operations into segments and here’s what it reports for the full year of 2023: Broadcast Radio revenue was $1.75 billion (down 7% from 2022), Networks revenue was $466 million (down 7.3%), Podcast revenue was $407.8 million (up 13.8%), and Digital (excluding Podcast) revenue was $661 million (basically flat). iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman states, “We’re pleased to report that our fourth quarter results were in line with our previously provided Adjusted EBITDA and Revenue guidance ranges. This quarter the Digital Audio Group achieved the highest Adjusted EBITDA and margin in its history, illustrating the success of this high growth business. We view 2024 as a recovery year in which the company returns to growth mode – we expect to see our Multiplatform Group performance improve quarter by quarter throughout the year, and we expect our Digital Audio Group, including our industry leading podcast business, to continue to grow and reinforce its leadership position in the segment.”

Industry News

Cox Media Group Cancels Mark Kaye Show

In a surprise move, Cox Media Group cancels “The Mark Kaye Show” based at its Jacksonville news/talk outlet WOKV-FM and syndicated to O&Os WDBO, Orlando; KRMG-AM/FM, Tulsa and WHIO-imAM/FM, Dayton. The program aired in the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET daypart and the stations are going to replace the show with “The Erick Erickson Show” based at CMG’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta. The Erickson program is syndicated by Compass Media Networks. It appears that producer Hannah Guile is also exiting as a result of this move. TALKERS reached out to Mark Kaye who requested that all questions and inquiries be directed to his agent Heather Cohen at The Weiss Agency.

Industry News

Edison Research: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Listening Matters

According to data from Edison Research’s Share of Ear study, the listening habits of Americans change depending on whether they live in an urban, suburban or rural setting. Edison says, “Those who live in rural areas spend a much higher portion of their audio listening time with AM/FM radio, as compared withim those living in suburban or urban areas. Rural listeners spend 43% of their daily audio listening time with AM/FM radio and radio streams, compared with urban listeners who spend 34% of their time with AM/FM radio and radio streams. Meanwhile, Urban listeners spend over twice as much of their daily audio time with podcasts as rural listeners. Urban listeners spend 13% of their daily audio time with podcasts compared with rural listeners who spend 6% of their daily time with podcasts.” Interestingly, if you combine the AM/FM listening and podcast listening numbers for Urban, Suburban and Rural listeners, these numbers are essentially the same – between 47% and 49%. Edison notes, “It appears that the ‘time budget’ for radio and podcasting combined is consistent across locations; it is just the apportionment of that time that varies.”

Industry News

WJR, Detroit Raises $1.6 Million for Salvation Army

im

Cumulus Media news/talk WJR, Detroit helps raise $1,637,238 for The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit combat hunger and homelessness during its 37th Annual Bed & Bread Club Radiothon held last week (2/22-23). The 27-hour radio fundraiser featured on-air personalities Rene Vitale, Mike Parsons, Guy Gordon, Lloyd Jackson, Jamie Edmonds, Kevin Dietz, Tom Jordan, Marie Osborne, Paul W. Smith, Mitch Albom (pictured above right), Ken Brown, Kevin O’Neill (pictured above left), Dan Aronson, and Bed & Bread Club founder and Detroit Radio Hall of Famer Dick Purtan. The annual Bed & Bread Club Radiothon has raised more than $44.8 million since Dick Purtan’s first Radiothon in 1988.

Industry News

Taylor Jukes Named SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia San Diego

iHeartMedia names Taylor Jukes SVP of programming for the San Diego station group that includesim news/talk KOGO-AM, talk KLSD-AM, sports talk KGB-AM, and five music brands. iHeartMedia San Diego market president Noreen Ippolito says, “We are so excited to welcome Taylor into our San Diego cluster. Her knowledge of the audio business and track record speak for themselves. We are eager for Taylor to bring her skill set and big ideas from Miami to an already incredible cluster of stations.”

Industry News

Mike Church Show Begins AM/FM Syndication

Talk media personality Mike Church – longtime host of the morning drive program on SixiusXM’s The Patriot Channel – is bringing his Internet-based talk program to terrestrial radio. Church’s company, The Crusade Radio Network,” says, “We are delighted to announce that after seven years of singularim devotion to Internet radio broadcasting, we are launching ‘The Mike Church Show’ into terrestrial radio syndication! The launch date of ‘The Mike Church Show’ will be March 1 and the show will begin its repatriation of AM/FM radio in Atlanta, Georgia’s #7 U.S. radio market on WXKG “The King”! Church adds, “We’ve always known that terrestrial radio was going to play a part in our industry leading development of Internet radio, we just didn’t know in what way. Over the last two years, that role began to materialize with the dearth of quality talk shows and the opportunities to fill that gap left by the wrecking ball that was consolidation’s march through local radio properties.” The program airs live from 7:00 am to 10:00 am ET.

Industry News

Civic Media Unveils Permanent Lineup

Civic Media finalizes its new midday program lineup that airs across its 12 Wisconsin stations, including flagship WAUK-AM/W266DR, Waukesha. “Matenaer On Air,” starring Jane Matenaer, airs from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, “The Todd Allbaugh Show” airs from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, and “The Maggie Daunim Show” airs from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Program director Kathryn Lake comments, “Wisconsinites will play a crucial role this year in determining who represents the state in Madison and in the nation’s capital. The experience Jane Matenaer, Todd Allbaugh and Maggie Daun bring to the midday microphones will provide listeners across the state compelling stories and important updates about what is happening in their communities and throughout Wisconsin.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

The NFL’s New York Jets are moving their radio play-by-play from Good Karma Brand’s ESPN New York (WEPM-AM/FM) to iHeartMedia’s rock WAXQ-FM “Q104.3” beginning with the 2024 season. Good Karma is ending its lease of WEPN-FM this year and will continue to air the sports talk format on WEPN-AM and digital platforms.

Lemonada Media is bringing the David Duchovny-hosted podcast “Fail Better” to its network. Duchovny says, “I’ve been a connoisseur of failure for a long time, obsessed with the mistakes we make or the fear of making. I like thinking about how those mistakes, coupled with the futility of trying to avoid them, shapes our lives. If failure is something we all do so often, why are we so afraid of it? Working with Lemonada to explore this part of human nature is a gift in itself, and a meta-exercise for me in doing something new – hosting a podcast – which frankly fills me with my own fear of failure.”

SiriusXM is doing its annual MLB Network Radio Spring Training Tour, in which it visits all 30 MLB team camps in 17 days to give listeners a comprehensive preview of every club as they prepare for the 2024 MLB season. Shows will be hosted by former general managers Jim Bowden, Jim Duquette and Steve Phillips, former major leaguers Kevin Frandsen, Eduardo Perez, Xavier Scruggs, and Ryan Spilborghs, as well as Mike Ferrin and Dani Wexelman. 

Audacy partners with three-time NBA champion Danny Green for his weekly podcast, “Inside the Green Room with Danny Green.” In addition, Green will serve as an Audacy insider, frequently appearing as an NBA analyst on Audacy sports stations across the country.