The most discussed stories yesterday (3/18) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Chief Justice Roberts Rebukes President Trump
2. Trump-Putin Talks
3. Stocks Slide/Recession Fears
4. Musk’s Dismantling of USAID
5. Israel Attacks on Gaza
Broadcasting pro Rich Herrera is the new host of “Richmond’s Morning News” on Audacy’s WRVA/WTVR-HD2, Richmond. Audacy Virginia SVP and market manager Bennett Zier says, “Rich brings an authentic voice to the morning airwaves and a strong commitment to his community. His sharp analysis and ability to
engage listeners in meaningful and entertaining conversation make him a valuable addition to the WRVA team. We’re excited to welcome Rich and continue delivering the news that matters most to our community.” Herrera comments, “I am thrilled to join the WRVA team, a legendary station with a great lineup of hosts and shows. After meeting with Bennett Zier and Zach McHugh and getting the chance to host Richmond’s morning news, I fell in love with the station. My family is excited to make Richmond our home. I want to thank Chris Oliviero and Jeff Sottolano for their support and mentorship, as well as Drew Anderssen, our format vice president, who encouraged me a year ago to transition from sports talk to general news.”
Salem Media Group is selling its remaining Hawaii broadcast properties and digital assets to Malama Media Group. Malama is acquiring country KHCM-FM, sports talk KGU-AM and KHCM-AM/K236CR,
Christian KGU-FM, classic hits KKOL-FM, and news/talk KHNR-AM/K232FL. Salem CEO David Santrella says, “While Salem closes our chapter in Honolulu, I am thrilled to know that these stations are going to a buyer that has a shared passion for the formats we have there and plans to keep those formats intact, particularly the Christian teach and talk and conservative news/talk formats.”
Premiere Networks announces that “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” reaches the 550-affiliate milestone. Recent affiliate additions include: WOWO-AM/FM, Fort Wayne, IN; WTAQ-AM, Green Bay;
KLIX-AM, Twin Falls, Idaho; and more. Premiere Networks EVP of affiliate sales Peter Tripi states, “We couldn’t be happier to celebrate this milestone with Clay and Buck. They’ve worked hard to develop a unique brand that stands out in the marketplace and delivers unparalleled results for our partners. In addition to producing the highest-quality program, their dedication to working directly with our affiliates to drive success in markets across the country is what sets them apart.”
The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces the election of Kristin Cantrell, owner/CEO Seven Mountains Media and CapCity Communications; Kate Riley, president and CEO America’s Public
Television Stations; and Peter H. Smyth, former chairman and CEO Greater Media, to its board of directors. Broadcasters Foundation chair Scott Herman comments, “We are delighted that broadcast executives of this caliber will serve on our Board. Their advocacy for our charitable mission is exemplary. Their input and ideas will help us continue to reach out to broadcasters across America to help those in our business who are in critical need.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/17) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Israel Strikes in Gaza
2. Deportations-Court Orders
3. Russia-Ukraine War
4. Trump’s Trade War
5. Deadly Weather Aftermath
Townsquare Media reports its operating results for the fourth quarter of 2024 and for the full year of 2024. Company CEO Bill Wilson says, “I am pleased to share that Townsquare’s performance improved meaningfully throughout 2024, culminating with fourth quarter net revenue growth of +2.6% year-over-year (on revenue of $117.8 million), and Adjusted EBITDA growth of +25.8% year-over-year, driven by the strong sequential improvement in our two digital businesses and the benefit of political revenue. In
addition, net income (loss) improved $26.9 million year-over-year in the fourth quarter, and $32.1 million in the year, in large part due to a reduction in non-cash impairment charges… Our Broadcast Advertising net revenue declined in-line with our expectations for 2024 (mid-single digit ex-political decline) which aligns with our view that broadcast is a mature cash cow business that will continue to face headwinds going forward, as businesses will continue to share shift from traditional advertising to digital advertising. Thankfully, we are often the beneficiary in that case, as we frequently have the most comprehensive set of digital advertising solutions available in our markets. Digital is and will continue to be Townsquare’s growth engine, and we believe Townsquare’s ability to drive profitable, sustainable digital growth is a key differentiator for our company, and consistent with our strategy of being a Digital First Local Media Company.”
Last year WRVA, Richmond afternoon talk host Jeff Katz promised to get the logo of the Special Olympics of Virginia tattooed if he was able to raise $15,000 for the organization, and he did. This year he promised to walk on 1,200-degree coals a la Tony Robbins if he could beat last year’s amount. Teaming up with his friend, local county Sheriff Karl Leonard, they raised just shy of $18,000! Pictured above is Jeff strolling the coals. Regarding next year’s challenge, Katz says, “We have not decided, but alligator wrestling is under serious consideration.” Katz raises funds for the Special Olympics in honor his favorite Special Olympian, his daughter Julia.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Immigrant Deportations
2. Trump Trade War/Financial Markets Activity
3. Russia-Ukraine War/U.S. Strikes Houthis in Yemen
4. Schumer Blowback
5. Deadly Weekend Weather
Rock radio and television personality Matt Pinfield is out of the hospital and at a rehabilitation center recovering from a stoke that put him in a coma back in January. The 63-year-old Pinfield says he’s eager
to get back to work, “I am so grateful to be alive. The general consensus was that I wasn’t going to make it and here I am! I am overwhelmed and humbled by your love. I am beyond grateful for those that have stuck by me. My radio family includes my listeners, my dear friends, and the wonderful radio companies that continue to support me. It means the world to me. I cannot wait to get back to hosting “Flashback,” KLOS and SoCal Sound. We were told I might not speak or walk again, and my voice is back, and I am doing five hours of physical therapy a day and my walking continues to improve. There is nothing like my radio community. I love you all.”
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/10-14) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories/Topics
1. GOP Budget/Government Shutdown Threat
2. Trump’s Trade War/Financial Markets Plunge
3. Musk-DOGE Activities
4. Department of Education Elimination
5. Russia-Ukraine War
6. EPA Deregulation
7. Greenland Elections
8. Israel-Hamas War
9. U.S.-Canada Relations
10.Big Tech / Misinformation / Censorship
People
1. Donald Trump
2. Elon Musk
3. Vladimir Putin/Volodymyr Zelenskyy
4. Benjamin Netanyahu
5. Howard Lutnick/Doug Ford
6. Chuck Schumer
7. JD Vance
8. Linda McMahon
9. Mike Johnson
10.Jens-Frederik Nielsen
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
The most-discussed stories yesterday (3/12) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Budget Battle/Government Shutdown Threat
2. Trump’s Trade War/Financial Markets Activity
3. DOGE/Elon Musk’s Influence
4. Russia-Ukraine War
5. EPA Deregulation
Red Apple Audio Networks announces that it is offering the new “Anthony Cumia Show” in national syndication. Cumia’s program airs live on WABC, New York on Sunday evenings from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Speaking about his return to terrestrial radio, Cumia says, “I missed radio, and I am thrilled at the
interest from radio stations nationwide. Radio is a great way to engage with the audience, and now that Red Apple Audio Networks is taking the show national, I can’t wait to connect with listeners in other markets.” Red Apple and 77WABC Radio president Chad Lopez states, “Radio clearly wants Anthony Cumia, as dozens of inquiries came in asking about syndication. We shifted into high gear and moved quickly. One of our advantages at Red Apple Media is that we can swiftly pivot to meet market demand.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/11) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trumps Tariff Wars
2. Financial Markets Plunge
3. Department of Education Cuts
4. Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal
5. Greenland Elections
New York City-based comic and former Silicon Valley engineer David Cooper strikes a deal to get his talk show, “The Last Show with David Cooper” on six Canadian signals: CKNW, Vancouver; CFIQ, Toronto;
CHQR, Calgary; CHED, Edmonton; CJOB Winnipeg; and CFPL, London. Cooper is focusing on Canadian markets because he was born in Toronto and was heard in Canada on the iHeartRadio talk network. Cooper says, “It’s what happens when you mix relationship advice, scientific breakthroughs, and the world’s weirdest headlines into one show. Somehow, it all makes sense.” Cooper says the show targets the 25-54 demographic. He also serves as technical director and host at Burning Man Radio during his annual Nevada festival pilgrimage. He adds, “What do I know? Talk radio programmers call it a strategic counterprogramming solution, designed to capture audiences from alt-rock or NPR stations.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/10) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Financial Markets Plunge
2. GOP Spending Bill/Government Shutdown Threat
3. Russia-Ukraine War
4. DOGE/Elon Musk-Trump Relation
5. U.S.-Canada Relations
The New York Times “The Daily” remains in the #1 spot on Podtrac’s February 2025 Top U.S. Podcasts chart based on Unique U.S. Monthly Audience. NPR’s “NPR News Now” and “Up First” are #2 and #3,
respectively. Other podcasts of note include Cumulus Podcasts Network’s “Shawn Ryan Show” at #5 and Dan Bongino’s “The Dan Bongino Show” at #6. DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” rises three spots to the #10 rank in February and The New York Times’ “Ezra Klein Show” debuts on the chart at #15. See the complete chart here.
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Budget Battle/Government Shutdown Threat
2. DOGE/Trump-Musk Relationship
3. Tariffs and Financial Markets
4. Israel-Gaza War/Russia-Ukraine War
5. Mark Carney to Replace Justin Trudeau
Presenting an innovative new industry conference. The launch of a new and innovative TALKERS industry conference – “GENERATIONS 2025” – that will be co-located at the forthcoming Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) conference – IBSNYC 2025 – is set for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8 at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. The four-hour TALKERS event will take place between 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm on Saturday, March 8 in the heart of the iconic IBS gathering. It will feature an array of six dynamic sessions with 19-plus luminary industry speakers including a keynote address, fireside chat, and four panel discussions that will tackle such topics as “Launching and Managing a Career in Talk Radio/Talk Media,” “Old School, New School, Next School: Learning from Each Other,” “Radio’s Place in a Diverse, Digital World,” “Finding and Delivering Truth in an Age of Misinformation,” and much more. TALKERS is also serving as the Presenting Sponsor of the entire IBSNYC 2025 event.
Please click here for the latest, updated agenda.
Please click here for the latest registration information.
Pictured above are TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey (left) and TALKERS VP/associate publisher and Harrison Media Law senior partner Matthew B. Harrison (right) at day one of the IBSNYC 2025 event.
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (3/3-7) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories/Topics
1. Trump Speech to Congress
2. Trump Tariff Whiplash / Economy
3. Trump-Musk Relationship
4. Musk-DOGE Activities / Federal Firings
5. Russia-Ukraine War
6. Israel-Hamas War
7. ICE Deportation Crackdown
8. Trump First Amendment Issues / GOP Town Halls
9. Big Tech / Misinformation / Censorship
10 Healthcare / Avian (Bird) Flu / Measles Outbreak
People
1. Donald Trump
2. Elon Musk
3. Vladimir Putin / Volodymyr Zelenskyy
4. Benjamin Netanyahu
5. JD Vance
6. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
7. Jeff Bezos
8. Mike Johnson
9. Pete Hegseth
10.Al Green
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
BIA Advisory Services is estimating that U.S. local advertising revenue in 2025 will reach $171 billion, excluding political spending, an increase of 6.1% over 2024. BIA vice president of forecasting and analysis
Nicole Ovadia says, “Our latest forecast indicates that local advertising is showing resilience, despite the ongoing changes in the economic landscape. Although we expect core advertising to remain stable, we’ve adjusted our outlook to account for various market factors like interest rates and consumer sentiment and significant changes in media consumption patterns that are driving digital growth.” The forecast indicates strong growth in several sectors: Real Estate at 9.3%, Restaurants at 9.2%, and Retail at 6.8%. The Education and Automotive verticals are also experiencing substantial growth, with increases of 5% each.
iHeartMedia announces that Jordan R. Fasbender, the executive vice president, chief legal officer and
secretary is resigning from her positions with the company, effective on or around April 1. She is taking another position outside of the company. Fasbender will remain in her current position through April 1. iHeartMedia notes that Fasbender’s exit “is not the result of any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (3/5) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. SCOTUS Rejects Foreign Aid Freeze
2. Trump Addresses Congress
3. Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China
4. Russia-Ukraine War
5. Sanctuary City Hearing
As tipped by Anthony Cumia himself via X over the weekend, the former “Opie & Anthony” personality and current host of his own show on CompoundCensored will begin hosting a Sunday evening show on Red
Apple Media’s 77WABC Radio beginning this week (3/9). Red Apple says “The Anthony Cumia Show” will air Sundays from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm ET. Cumia says, “I am beyond thrilled to join 77WABC. They are the only ones doing great radio, and I’m looking forward to having a blast and connecting with my fans. I’m grateful to John [Catsimatidis] and Chad [Lopez] for offering me this opportunity. We’re going to have a great time!” Lopez says, “Anthony has a strong and loyal following who have missed him on New York radio. Anthony brings another element of entertainment to our weekend programming, which is about having fun.”
Cumulus Media names Adam Dobbins vice president/market manager for its Des Moines station group that
includes sports talk KBBG-AM “The Champ” and four music brands. He most recently served with Walnut Media in Omaha. As director of sales. Cumulus Media president of operations Bob Walker says, “We are excited to welcome Adam to Cumulus Des Moines as this is a homecoming for him, having grown up in Des Moines and being a fan of our brands. Adam is an accomplished leader that is passionate about connecting local clients to the power of radio and the digital products we offer to help them grow their business.”