Industry News

Talk Media Personality Wayne Allyn Root Emcees Palm Beach GOP Lincoln Gala

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Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated radio and television personality Wayne Allyn Root was the emcee for this year’s annual Palm Beach GOP Lincoln Gala. Root says that after attending the event three years ago, he was honored to be asked to serve as emcee as well as in a speaker role presenting his America’s Top Ten Countdown. Root says that after the event he and his wife Cindy had a late dinner at Mar-a-Lago and chatted with President Trump, who was having dinner with Elon Musk and his son X. They also met old friends former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson (above) and former Trump advisor Roger Stone (below).

Industry News

Salem Unveils Deal with Donald Trump, Jr and Lara Trump

Salem Media Group announces multi-dimensional deal that it says not only adds two of the most influential voices in American media, Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump, but launches the company into an entirely new era of scale, relevance, and cultural power. As part of the deal, Salem acquires a 30% stake in MxM News, a mobile news aggregation app co-owned by Trump Jr., and enters into a longterm servicesimg agreement under which Trump Jr. and Salem will work together to develop a series of high-impact promotional and growth initiatives. At the same time, Salem enters into a strategic agreement with Lara Trump to collaborate on business growth in the digital podcast space, advertiser partnerships, and content innovation. Both Trumps become significant stakeholders in Salem Media. Salem CEO David Santrella states, “These aren’t just partnerships, they’re power moves. Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump bring credibility, energy, and the kind of megaphone that moves markets and shapes public opinion. Their alignment with Salem signals a massive leap forward in our ability to lead the next era of conservative media. Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump aren’t just becoming business partners with Salem, they now also have significant ownership stakes in the company with a major incentive to grow shareholder value which in turn will drive the stock price. It’s definitely an exciting time to be a Salem shareholder.”

Industry News

NAB Files 80 Pages of Comments for FCC Deregulation

The National Association of Broadcasters says it filed comprehensive comments with the Federal Communications Commission in response to the agency’s call for public input under its “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative. NAB says its filing “urges the FCC to seize this moment to fundamentally modernize itsimg regulatory framework, beginning with long-overdue reforms to the national television ownership cap and the local radio and TV ownership rules. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt states, “This is a moment for bold ideas, and NAB is proud to lead the charge. The FCC’s rules should reflect today’s media landscape, not one from decades past. Our filing lays out a clear, actionable path to modernize regulations and empower local radio and TV stations to better serve their communities. We appreciate the Commission, especially Chairman Carr, for launching this important effort. Reforming outdated ownership rules is the essential first step to strengthening local journalism and ensuring broadcasters can continue to survive.” See the entire filing here.

Industry News

KBLA, Los Angeles Presents Remote Altadena Broadcast

Tomorrow (4/16), KBLA, Los Angeles “Talk 1580” radio personalities Tavis Smiley, Dominique DiPrima, and Nii-Quartelai Quartey will participate in the radio station’s community town hall titled, “Theimg Eaton/Altadena Fire: 100 Days and Counting,” from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Robinson Park Recreation Area in Pasadena. There will be a panel of survivors, community leaders, activists, experts, and more to reflect on the 100 days since the fire erupted and address hard and heart questions about where the community goes from here. Tavis Smiley, founder of Smiley Audio Media, says, “I’m looking forward to hearing from our beloved Black Altadenians and learning how KBLA Talk 1580 can continue to support their efforts to find justice and accountability to make them whole.”

Industry News

WWO Blog: The Sales Effect Power of Creative

This week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog reveals data from Advertiser Perceptions, commissioned to annually survey brands and media agencies on the sales contribution of five advertising effectiveness factors: Brand, Creative, Reach, Recency, and Targeting. In February,img Advertiser Perceptions surveyed 301 marketers and media agencies on the sales generated by each of the five sales drivers and as they have for the past six surveys, those surveyed had an average % of perception of creative’s contribution toward driving sales around 20%. But the reality according to one study is that creative’s contribution toward driving sales is actually about 49%. Quatical principle Marc Binkley says, “Creative is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet… it’s a way to supercharge budgets. Emotional, well-branded creative is a way to be more memorable. The goal isn’t just awareness, it’s being memorable in as many buying situations as possible.” See the complete blog post here.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

RTDNA’s Dan Shelley to Retire. RTDNA president and CEO Dan Shelley is reriting at the end of 2025 after more than 25 years with the organization. The RTDNA board of directors voted to approve current executive director Tara Puckey as the new president and CEO beginning in January of 2026.

Two Media Companies Announces Q1 Earnings Reports. Townsquare Media will release first quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, May 8. The company will host a conference call to discuss certain first quarter 2025 financial results that day 8:00 am ET and Saga Communications will release its First Quarter 2025 results at 9:00 am ET while holding a conference call at 11:00 am ET that morning.

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: 5 Books That Will Change Your Life

By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M. Sterling
Host, “Sterling Every Damn Night”
WPHT, Philadelphia
Host, “Sterling On Sunday,” TMN

imgThese books have helped me tell stories, prioritize programming initiatives and manage career strategies. If interested in a book the link connects to its page on Amazon.

You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, By Quentin Schultze. Not what I thought. It’s not about the goofy episodes in the “A Christmas Story” movie. Jean Shepherd, radio star, wrote and narrated the movie. This book deconstructs how Jean told stories. Shepherd was the greatest radio storyteller of all time. He told stories on WOR every single night for 27 years. His one-hour show had no guests, no phone calls, simply his astonishing stories. Author Schultze, a college professor, spent hundreds of hours with Jean discovering how he imagined, enacted and teased his stories. The book is an advanced course for today’s magic makers. https://a.co/d/fHXIBlt

It’s One O’Clock and Here is Mary Margaret McBride, by Susan Ware. We know but a little. The first national star of midday radio was Ms. McBride. She was so popular and powerful that she required seven secretaries to answer her mail. On her show’s 10th anniversary, she packed Madison Square Garden with listener fans and celebrities. Eleanor Roosevelt hosted McBride’s 15th anniversary at Yankee Stadium. Show prep was her life, that’s why her show sounded informal. https://a.co/d/5idc7TC

Dress for Success, By John Molloy. Yes, the book reveals Molloy’s research on success dress, but perhaps more importantly the book helps the reader think like a success. This guide to the C Suite explains how to reach the top of any business. On the air? When preparing for work, consider all the steps we take toward meeting the station’s biggest client and do that every day. On the plane? No sweat pants! If you want to join a club, look like you already belong to it.  https://a.co/d/99XI61d

Effective Frequency: The Relationship between Frequency and Advertising Effectiveness, Compiled by the ANA. The DNA of everything. 100 years of studies on how a listener’s memory works. How many spots actually cause burn? How often should the promo run? Do listeners remember the first or last spot best? How to rotate songs? And why did the original phone numbers have seven digits? This deceptively thin, rich book will startle!  https://a.co/d/foZUreI

The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, by Gertrude Stein. The author was the ambitious patron of the Cubist art movement in Paris. Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and many others were inspired and sponsored by Stein. Alice was her lover. Stein understood that controversy is a possible result of great artwork. Picasso’s first show in Paris caused outrage within the crowd. Watching the gathering’s reaction from the show’s balcony, “Gertrude Stein smiled.” Remember Stein’s reaction to Picasso’s audience the next time “sales” gives a host a hard time! https://a.co/d/1IuU1pV

My life has been changed by these works. How to dress, prep for an interview, cope with controversy, and rotate promos are skills shaped by these classics. Please let me know how they impact you.

Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Produce Your YouTube Videos for Phone Consumption

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

70%+ of views are mobile, where the screen is small and attention spans are short.

— Aspect ratio: Use 9:16 (vertical) or 1:1 (square) so it fills the phone screen.
— The first 3 seconds are critical. Use a bold visual, a teaser question, or a surprising statement.
— Because many watch without sound, add text on-screen using auto-caption tools. Bold, color-coded, animated captions keep attention.

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— Use close-up shots & big graphics. Tiny text or wide shots get lost. Zoom in on faces or products. Make graphics large and clear.
— Ideal length: 15 to 90 seconds for Shorts, or under 3 minutes for mobile-friendly standard videos. Cut filler, pauses, and tangents. Every second should count.
— Keep titles short and clear, i.e., “How To…” or “You Won’t Believe…”  DON’T title it “Episode # ___.”
— Focus on One Idea Per Video. Mobile users are distracted and scrolling fast. Give them one clear takeaway, message, or call-to-action.

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

Mike Gallagher Posts Updates from Plane Trapped on Montgomery Tarmac

Salem Radio Network talk host Mike Gallagher was a passenger on one of the two Delta flights from Mexico that were diverted to Montgomery, Alabama due to severe weather in their destination city of Atlanta. By law, passengers must go through customs and since Montgomery is not an international airportimg there are no customs agents there and the passengers were forced to remain on the planes for more than six-and-a-half hours. The Daily Mail reported the story and included some of Gallagher’s social media posts that he made throughout the night, including this one: “After 12 hours at the overwhelmed Montgomery, Alabama airport – 7 hours trapped on the plane on the tarmac, 5 hours stuck in a cordoned-off area of the airport – they are now boarding people 10 at a time. They are checking off names by pen, one by one. So hey, 16 hours after our original departure, there’s hope! I’m thinking it will take at least an hour to board.” See the Daily Mail story here.

Industry News

AURN Promotes Two in Pittsburgh

American Urban Radio Networks announces two key leadership promotions at its Pittsburgh office. Carrie Cleary is promoted to vice president of program operations and traffic. In her new role, Cleary will leadimg AURN’s programming operations and traffic initiatives. Tracey Lee is also promoted to senior director of program operations, traffic and affiliations. AURN AVP of program operations and affiliations Lenore Williams says, “Both Carrie and Tracey exemplify the leadership, dedication and passion that drive our success. Their deep experience and dedication to AURN’s mission have made them invaluable assets to the team. These promotions are not only well deserved, but also pivotal as we expand our impact and continue to lead the industry in service to our affiliates and advertisers.”

Industry News

BFoA Presents Leadership Awards

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The Broadcasters Foundation of America held its annual breakfast and awards ceremony at the close of NAB2025 in Las Vegas on Wednesday to honor industry leaders for their dedication and vision. Pictured above (l-r) are Leadership Award honorees (other award honorees are noted) Curtis LeGeyt, president & CEO, NAB; Valari Dobson Staab, chairman, NBCUniversal Local; Chris Forgy, president & CEO, Saga Communications; Dennis Lyle, president & CEO, Illinois Broadcasters Association; Richard Bodorff, senior counsel, Wiley (Chairman’s Award); Scott Herman, chairman, Broadcasters Foundation of America (Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award); Susan Larkin, former COO, Audacy; David Kantor, former CEO of Urban One’s Radio Division; with Tim McCarthy, president, Broadcasters Foundation.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

JFMN Launches WV Sports News Service. WVTheTorch.com and the John Fredericks Media Network announce the launch of West Virginia’s newest digital newspaper: WVSportsNation.com. JFMN says this fully integrated West Virginia sports news service is designed to bring Mountaineer fans in both WV and across the country the very best and most in-depth coverage ever created in the Mountain State. WVSportsNation.com is part of JFMN’s growing portfolio of digital news and information platforms.

Season 11 of Katie Couric Podcast Debuts. iHeartMedia announces season 11 of the podcast, “Next Question with Katie Couric.” In this podcast, Couric talks with politicians, DC insiders, and journalists to uncover what’s worth attention (and what’s not). In the first episode, Couric speaks with journalist, documentary filmmaker, and best-selling author Chris Whipple, whose latest book “Uncharted” captures the human drama behind the 2024 election.

Irby Promoted at Baltimore Public Media. The corporation that operates non-commercial outlets WTMD and WYPR in Baltimore announces Danyell Irby is promoted to chief of content for both stations. Most recently, Irby served as executive director of news at WYPR, joining the organization’s leadership team in April 2020. Prior to that, she held multiple editorial and leadership roles at NPR, including anchor, editor, and senior supervising producer of newscasts.

Industry News

Urban One Changes Accounting Firms Again

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Urban One reports that is has notified Ernst & Young LLP that it would be dismissed as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm and that the Audit Committee has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC to serve as its independent registeredimg public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 effective as of April 7, 2025. Urban One says there are no disagreements between it and Ernst & Young. Urban One does say that it reported “material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting” that was disclosed the recent annual report, “some of which has been remediated.” The material weaknesses related to its own internal controls including insufficient information technology general controls. Read the entire filing here.

Industry Views

HC at the NAB: Radio, One Way or Another

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgThese conventions used to be about making-the-most-of those towers behind radio stations that played in several rooms at home and occupied two knobs and six buttons in the dashboard. Back to the future…

“Take every available opportunity to connect with audiences.”

 Longtime programmer turned podcaster Buzz Knight moderated the session, “Cross-Platform Content Wins – Radio and Podcast Success Stories.” And here’s one now, a radio news guy I’d like to clone, WBZ-AM, Boston’s Matt Shearer, the next-gen’ talent whose skill set and perspective yields the sort of content that takes radio beyond those towers.

Shearer told us he “had been making video from my radio pieces. Now, I’m making radio from my video.” Whereupon Alpha Media EVP of content Phil Becker urged broadcasters to “focus on THAT they use you, not WHERE they use you.” And noting that – as “streaming services have divided audiences” – South Carolina Public Radio director Sean Birch recognizes that “We have to hit a bunch of audiences all at once.”

Common thread in panelists’ remarks: Broadcast and podcast listeners “are very different audiences;” and “we have to be where people are.” Still, revenue stacks-up in two piles: broadcast bucks and digital dimes. And Hubbard Radio EVP/programming Greg Strassell reckons, “Any engagement you do is an opportunity to promote the mothership.” Hubbard’s WTOP, Washington simulcasts its on-air programming via YouTube, and Greg says average Time Spend Listening there is 17 minutes.

“Using Social Media to Develop Community”

In this session, Beasley Media Group’s Dave Snyder recommends a Basic Success Framework:

— Understand your community. Rather than thinking platform (“We need to be on TikTok”), limit your reach to platforms that offer the most engagement potential. “Not all platforms will be a fit for your content.”
— Set your goals. What does success look like? Gauge value by engagement counts like Comments and Likes, rather than mere Views.
— Be authentic. Build brand guidelines, and have a moderation policy, and a style/tone guide. AI is a useful tool, “but it’s not authentic.”

Develop Engagement. Social media gives broadcasters a unique potential to:

— Share a behind-the-scenes view as content is created, “how the sausage is made,” giving your community a different perspective.
— Expose the community to content creators’ personalities. Building community is only possible if people feel like they actually “know” you.
— Interact with the audience. “Community building can’t just be about pushing content. Engagement flows two ways.”

Keep it going. “Once you have your Framework and Content plan, then comes the hard part.”

— “Consistency and cadence is probably the most important part of growing a consistently engaged community.”
— “Use ‘the whole buffalo.’ Optimize your content for cross-platform use.”
— Use analytics to “build on what works and chuck what doesn’t.”

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

WAOK, Atlanta Presents 2nd Annual Trailblazer Awards

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Audacy news/talk WAOK, Atlanta hosted its second annual “On Point With Juandolyn Stokes” Trailblazer Awards honoring remarkable women “making significant strides across various fields and leaving an indelible impact on the Atlanta community.” The second annual Trailblazer Awards (pictured above) will broadcast on WAOK’s YouTube channel on Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 7:00 pm ET.

Industry News

MIW Presents Dan Spears with Erica Farber Impact Award

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. names Dan Spears, vice president of industry relations and licensing for BMI, the recipient of the 2nd Annual MIW Erica Farber Impact Award that recognizes individuals who drive meaningful change by actively engaging with impactful organizations and generouslyimg contributing their time, expertise, and resources. Honorees are true champions of service, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to fostering growth and progress within the industry. Spears was presented with the award by Erica Farber on Monday, April 7, at the MIW Lipstick & Lobster Dinner. MIW board president Sheila Kirby says, “Dan is the epitome of a leader who not only advocates for progress but actively makes it happen. His dedication to mentorship, industry collaboration, and fostering new events and opportunities for women is invaluable. We are honored to recognize his contributions with this award.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Tide 100.9 Host Wins ABBY Award. Wyatt Fulton, the brand manager for Townsquare Media’s sports talk WTBC-AM/W261BT “Tide 100.9,” wins Best Sports Talk Show in a Medium Market for his “T-Town Sports Daily” program at the Alabama Broadcasters’ Association ABBY Awards. Fulton tells Tuscaloosa Thread, “I am honored to win my first Abby Award in my first year on the air on ‘Tide 100.9!’ I’m extremely grateful and hope to continue building a reputation as an award-winning multimedia sports journalist in Tuscaloosa.”

NYPR Names New Officer. New York Public Radio president and CEO LaFontaine E. Oliver announces that Thomas J. Reno is been named chief operating and financial officer. Reno joins NYPR from Precision Strategies, a DC-based strategic communications agency.

Industry Views

HC at the NAB: More Than Spots, Less Than Clutter

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgRadio sells advertisers our listeners’ attention. For a hundred years, our inventory has largely been commercials. Now, as our wandering audience leads us to more revenue channels, are we hooked on spots?

“We’re still in the same business. What’s changed is the tool box.”

Salem Media Group EVP, operations and revenue development Linnae Young was among panelists exploring “The Local Advertising Buying Landscape: What are Clients Buying, and how are Radio Sellers Succeeding or Missing Out?” Her laser-like focus is on the client’s need: “The HVAC company has two trucks and wants six.”

Ditto from session moderator Mike Hulvey, the Radio Advertising Bureau’s president & CEO. He called pitching a multi-store McDonald’s franchisee, who heard-him-out, then asked “Will that idea sell a hamburger?”

We sure have ideas. Researcher Gordon Borrell reckons that “the biggest mistake radio stations are making is underestimating the potential [of digital].” Many now sell video advertising. Prospects “don’t have any questions about radio, other than ‘Can you lower the price?’ They have lots of questions about digital.” Be their guide.

And obsess on outcomes. “Stop with the tactics,” urges Marketron senior director of digital strategy Dustin Wilson. “It’s all about solutions-based selling.”

“As radio has encountered increased pressure on revenue, it has often increased spot loads.”

Ad nauseam, in the view of Edison Research co-founder & president Larry Rosin, whose Ted Talk-type session “Considering Spot Loads” was plainspoken.

Radio has violated what Larry calls “The Commercial Broadcast Bargain” – the unspoken deal that content is worth the time spent listening to ads. “We’ve tilted the bargain in an unfair way,” he said, pointing to “fewer, but much longer breaks; and many, many [music] stations now loading all their spots into two interminable breaks per hour.”

Rosin’s team has long tracked listening habits through its Infinite Dial series, and the trend is clear: Radio’s “Share of Ear” never fully recovered after the pandemic; and commercial loads went up during that time.

“The real problem” is not understanding how ‘Infinite’ today’s ‘Dial’ is, “ignoring the fact that there are other things to listen to.” Ad loads tend to be shorter in podcasts and in non-paid streams. These ad-supported competitors never run more than two spots back-to-back. And increasingly, Americans are paying for ad-free content, via SiriusXM, Spotify, YouTube Premium, and others.

Solutions? Larry was clear: “What I’m NOT saying: ‘cut the load and charge more’ in today’s low-demand environment.”

— Even if you can’t lower total inventory, consider more shorter breaks. “Listeners have, or at least had, an internal clock: song (3 minutes) – song (3 minutes) – song (3 minutes) – break (3 minutes). When you ask music radio consumers, a break should be the length of a song. The two long breaks clock simply can’t be the best we can do for advertisers.”
— Bonus on Rating, not Share, which would “reorient radio programmers to consider ALL competitors, not just other local stations. Radio’s insular world hurts it.”
— Don’t demonize commercials – “a disservice to advertisers” – the way we seem to when we call the stop set “a break;” or tout commercial-free hours to pump-up a daypart (then overdose the load in adjacent hours).
— Improve the quality of commercials.

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

Armed American Radio Adds New Affiliates

The nationally syndicated “Armed American Radio” show hosted by Mark Walters adds new affiliateimg stations including KOMY-AM, Monterey-Salinas, California; WSCW-AM, Charleston, West Virginia; and more.

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: Trying is the Real Win

Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M. Sterling
Host, “Sterling Every Damn Night”
WPHT, Philadelphia
Host, “Sterling On Sunday,” TMN

imgSerious business coaches reveal that a common trait of successful people is their ability to immediately forget their failures and to move on. Next idea. Next project. Surrounded by seas of committees, forms, rules and mediocrity, effective leaders know that just trying something, regardless of the outcome, is the WIN.  

Strategic “forgetting” requires a unique worldview. An introvert’s worldview. To forget a failure means not caring what colleagues think of new ideas. Innovators do not consider if they are embraced, they care that their idea launched.

Television legend and programmer Fred Silverman recreated broadcast television. He was so successful he was recruited to helm CBS, ABC and NBC. After corporate leadership he was an independent producer commandeering four hours of prime time a week, earning… a lot.

All that mattered to him was getting it on the air. Like all programmers not everything he produced worked. One hit show is a miracle, he created dozens.

To Fred, he was proud of all his shows. He never bragged about the hits because to him, a hit was anything that got on the air. New was a hit.

Fred’s innovations can be seen on TV now. Before Fred, a TV show promo consisted of a slide and a VO. Starting at ABC, Silverman was the first to pull video from a show, edit it into a 30 second hook clip turning it into a fast-paced promo for the show. Each promo aired once. A staff of 150 people was hired to create a brand-new promo every time. Fred would often sit in the edit bays, producing fresh promos. He hated repeated promos. Finance hated him; engineering hated him; scheduling hated him. Nielsen did not hate him.

I sat many an all-nighter in edit bays as Fred’s production partner until what was on the screen matched what was in his head.

The radio greats have similar patterns of behavior: Tom Bigby, Greg Stockard, Ruth Meyer, Howard SternGreg Moceri, Rick Sklar, Skip Eskin, all the legends were/are focused and driven. There is no downtime. When one insists that their precise vision be implemented, they won’t have many friends, but they will have stunning results.

Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com

Uncategorized

“VINCE” Debuts at #7 on Podtrac’s March Podcast Ranker

Podtrac releases its March Top Podcasts ranker for the U.S. based on unique monthly audience andimg NPR’s “NPR News Now” jumps The New York Times’ “The Daily” for the #1 spot. Other moves of note include FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” rising two places to #5 and Silverloch’s “VINCE” (Vince Coglianese) debuting at #7. See the complete chart here.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: NAB Show, Survive and Thrive

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgHello from Las Vegas, ever-changing yet timeless. Here this week the NAB Show is “Powering the Next Era of Storytelling.” And it’s about time. While there is now a filibuster-proof U.S. Senate majority to require that cars include AM receivers, some AM stations are being shut off. Over the weekend millions took to the streets and this morning Wall Street braced for more. So, the vibe here is positively rejuvenating.

“If you’re here, you’ve already defied the odds.” 

National Association of Broadcasters president & CEO Curtis LeGeyt congratulated attendees at a perennial event that – on its own – paid for the trip, the NAB Show Small and Medium Market Radio Forum. As big corporate owners make big trade press headlines in big markets, the mojo in the minor leagues is downright invigorating.

Picture speed-dating for great ideas. The room is set up with roundtables. Each half-hour, attendees share what’s working back home, then rotate. Table topics included, “The Secret to Radio’s Digital Ad Success is Being Local First,” and “Podcasting Strategies for Radio,” and “Monetizing High School Sports,” and there were heartwarming stories about “Developing Your Community with Events and Social Media.” And, yes, THE most popular table – to which participants dragged chairs from elsewhere: “AI’s Use Throughout Your Station.”

Did you know that May is National Small Business Month? And National Small Business Week is May 4 to 10? Plan now to do what these plucky broadcasters shared ideas for doing: Use your broadcast and digital assets and your local engagement to, in NAB Show speak: “Unlock the Power of the Creator Economy.”

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“A connection on LinkedIn is worth a hundred on Instagram.”

As corporate cost cuts continue, I’ve been collecting and sharing opportunities. In a recent column here, I described 18 non-radio career options for which your skill set as a broadcaster could qualify you. And in last week’s column I recommended and demonstrated some valuable and FREE tools.

Now – courtesy of ThinkTAP’s Richard Harrington – a road map for selling your services. Here’s the deck from his super-useful session “Working with Brands: How to Get Your Foot in the Door and Stay There.” And don’t let the term “brands” scare you. Think local businesses.

Sampler:

— Your prospects crave the sort of engagement that successful on-air people have accomplished. “Build your Email list!” Harrington urges.
— Then, take every opportunity to engage. Important: “Reply to people who replied” to something you have posted. “Such a small percentage do reply that this makes their day.”
— “Do what you can to pull audience into a place you can control.” Anyone working in the industry we used to call “radio” now needs to be facile with social media and podcasting and video. So, use those skills and tools to “create content that can be used by the brand.”
— Especially opportune: demonstrate how to use what your client sells.

New to selling your services? Generous with his experience, Harrington’s deck will suggest lots of transactional technique.

Our industry, like ‘Vegas, is ever-changing yet timeless.

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

Defining Podcasting for the Future

Edison Research and audio advertising agency Oxford Road are releasing a white paper titled, “What is a Podcast?: Preserving its Essence, Structuring for Expansion.” The authors says this report “reveals critical insights into how evolving listener habits, industry fragmentation, and ambiguity in podcast definitions are affecting podcasting’s future growth and commercial viability.” They say that data from a nationallyimg representative survey of over 4,000 people “identifies a significant identity crisis driven by the convergence of audio-only content and video formats popularized by platforms like YouTube and Spotify.” It shows: 1) 72% of Americans 12+ consider recordings of people discussing any topic on YouTube that are also available as audio-only shows elsewhere to be a podcast; 2) Advertisers face significant barriers to investment due to inconsistent standards, fragmented reporting, and unclear attribution; and 3) A clear, shared definition and interoperable measurement are urgently needed to realize podcasting’s full economic potential. Regarding defining podcasts, they propose new working definitions as follows: Podcast (noun): “An on-demand audio-driven program featuring episodic content across wide-ranging themes and formats. Traditionally delivered via open RSS and conversational in nature, it can include platform-based distribution and is commonly supplemented by video.” And Video Podcast (noun): “An episodic, on-demand program centered on spoken-word content, where synchronized visuals meaningfully shape the experience.” You can download the white paper here.  

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

KOA, Denver Wins at CBA Awards gala. KOA, Denver talk host Ross Kaminsky tips TALKERS that his station was honored with a win in the “Best News Coverage of a Single Event” category for the program he anchored after President Trump was shot in Butler, PA. from the Colorado Broadcasting Association at its recent awards gala. KOA, led by program director Dave Tepper, was also named “Station of the Year.”

Cumulus and San Francisco Giants Extend. Cumulus Media’s sports talk KNBR, San Francisco signs a multi-year extension with the San Francisco Giants to continue as the team’s flagship radio station. KNBR has been the official radio broadcast home for the Giants since 1979. Broadcasting personalities include: Jon Miller, Dave Flemming, Mike Krukow, and Duane Kuiper.

680 The Fan and Atlanta Braves Renew. Dickey Broadcasting Company announces the extension of its flagship partnership with the Atlanta Braves. Under the terms of the 12-year extension, “680 The Fan” will remain the exclusive radio home of the Atlanta Braves, providing comprehensive coverage of all games, expert analysis, and exclusive content. Company president David Dickey says, “We are incredibly proud to extend our relationship with the Atlanta Braves. Our shared passion for baseball and dedication to delivering top-notch content to our listeners has been the cornerstone of our success. We look forward to many more seasons of exciting Braves baseball on ‘680 The Fan.’”

Industry News

Thom Brennaman Named New WLW, Cincinnati Morning Host

Numerous media outlets in Cincinnati are reporting that iHeartMedia’s news/talk WLW, Cincinnati isimg naming Thom Brennaman the station’s new morning drive host. Late last week, Mike McConnell told his listeners that he was retiring from the station and that Monday (4/7) would be his last day. Brennaman worked for WLW calling Cincinnati Reds games but stepped down after being caught on a hot mic uttering a homophobic slur during an MLB game on August 19, 2020. Brennaman has been working for the CW calling football games.

Industry News

“Seattle Sports” Debuts “The Cal Raleigh Show”

Bonneville’s sports talk KIRO-AM “Seattle Sports” announces “The Cal Raleigh Show,” starring the Seattleimg Mariners catcher that will air Thursdays at 5:00 pm throughout the 2025 season.  On the program, Raleigh sits down with Mariners insider Shannon Drayer for “engaging and in-depth conversations on “Wyman & Bob.” “Seattle Sports” program director Kyle Brown says, “We’re thrilled to provide our fans with more access to Mariners players and the stories behind the scenes. Cal’s insights into his leadership, his role on the team, and the Mariners’ season will offer fans an even closer connection to the team in 2025.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Women’s Audio Habits Topic of Webinar. Edison Research and SiriusXM Media announce they will unveil the comprehensive Women’s Audio Report in a two-part webinar series on April 15 and April 29. Edison says the report examines women’s audio consumption behaviors, including listener demographics, content preferences, discovery habits, and advertising engagement. You can register here.

Philly Non-Comm Produces Business Competition. WURD-FM, Philadelphia is presenting the “Level Up Pitch Competition and Party” on Tuesday (4/8) at Filter Club in Philadelphia as five women entrepreneurs showcase their innovative businesses in front of a live audience and a panel of expert judges. Tiffany Bacon hosts the event in which one winner will get a marketing and community outreach prize package valued at $5,000. It includes a full advertising and marketing package on WURD Radio, business association memberships and access to mentorship and other resources for entrepreneurs.

Louisville Public Media Names New Chief. The Louisville non-commercial outlet announces that Kenya Young is its new president and CEO, effective May 19. LPM board member John Schriber says, “Kenya Young brings positive energy, meaningful experience, and an exciting vision for the future of public media. She has a warmth and accessibility that impresses everyone she meets and demonstrates a unique ability to connect mission, strategy, and community impact – qualities essential to leading LPM successfully.”

Industry News

Woodward Closes on Springfield, Illinois Stations

Woodward Communications, Inc closes on its purchase of four radio stations in the Springfield, Illinois market that it acquired from Mid-West Family for $990,000. Those stations are news/talk WMAY-FM, AC WNNS-FM, rock WQLZ-FM and classic hits WMAY-AM, plus FM translators W273DR and W234CC. Thisimg comes after Woodward closed on the $4.3 million acquisition of four stations in the market from Neuhoff Media last fall. From that deal, the company spun WCVS-FM to Educational Media Foundation. Woodward’s Springfield market manager Kevin O’Dea says, “All of us at Woodward Community Media look forward to the addition of the Mid-West Family stations to our lineup here in Springfield. These four stations along with our current lineup including Channell450.com and our Digital Services will allow us to enhance our local commitment to our listeners, advertising partners and the Springfield and Central Illinois Community.

Industry News

House Democrats Announce Brendan Carr Investigation

Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee announce they are launching an investigation into Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s “attacks on the First Amendment and his weaponization of the independent agency.” In a press statement, Committee Democrats accuseimg Carr of “illegally targeting broadcast networks and media companies perceived to be unfavorably covering the Trump Administration – wasting critical agency resources on bogus investigations in the process.” The lawmakers are also questioning Carr’s “commitment to his agency’s independence, given his frequent trips with the president to Mar-a-Lago and his targeting of entities that the president has criticized or sued in his personal capacity.”  Committee Ranking Members says that “under Carr’s leadership, the FCC has harassed CBS for routine editing practices, reinstated lawfully denied complaints against ABC and NBC, launched a bogus investigation into KCBS-AM in San Jose simply for reporting publicly available information, and directed the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to launch investigations into NPR and PBS based on false allegations.” The Committee is requesting documents and communications “related to its investigations of media entities,” “all communications between Carr and current White House officials and between Carr and other Trump Administration officials that relate to investigations,” as well as Carr’s travel records.

Industry News

WWNC, Asheville Gets Recognition for Post-Helene Work

When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina last fall, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WWNC, Asheville was a lifeline for residents of the area as cell service was down and power was lost in so many areas. Fast-forward to today and the station is getting some press from CBS News for its work in the ongoingimg recovery efforts. The piece singles out WWNC personalities Mark Starling and Tank Spencer for “amplifying the messages of groups such as Valley Strong Disaster Relief” and more to keep the recovery information flowing. Spencer is quoted saying, “You don’t really notice until times of disaster what your community is really made of. They’re gonna make sure that everybody in that community, that nobody wants for anything.” Spencer adds that in the immediate aftermath of the storm, their work was crucial. “The access to the information saved lives. The only thing that was left standing was AM and FM radio, and I think there’s been a rediscovery of that.” See the CBS News piece here.

Industry News

Hubbard Officially Launches Gamut Podcast Network

Hubbard Radio announces the official launch of the Gamut Podcast Network, what it calls “a dedicated podcast division that represents a bold and strategic expansion into the ever-evolving world of on-demand media. Gamut now stands as the third foundational pillar of Hubbard’s media strategy – alongside its legacy terrestrial radio operations and its digital marketing arm, 2060 Digital.” The company notes thatimg many of the shows within the Gamut Podcast Network have already been established across Hubbard’s markets, but this marks a transformation: from podcasts as supplemental to radio, to podcasts as a focused, scalable business in their own right. Hubbard CEO Ginny Hubbard states, “The launch of Gamut is more than a rebrand; it’s a pivotal evolution for our company. By establishing Gamut as a core component of our business, we are embracing the future of media and ensuring Hubbard’s relevance for the next century.” John Goforth joined Hubbard in August and is serving as vice president and general manager of Gamut Podcast Network. He says, “Gamut is designed to reflect both where the industry is and where it’s going. Yes, we’re building a national powerhouse – but we’re just as focused on lifting up unique voices and staying true to the communities we serve. It’s about reach and relevance. That balance is what makes Hubbard special, and it will make Gamut special too.”

Industry News

Comrex Higlighting New Options for Gagl at NAB Show

Comrex is going to be highlighting new offerings for Gagl service at the NAB Show in Las Vegs next week. Gagl is an audio subscription service that allows contributors to connect to Comrex hardware IP audio codecs using equipment like smartphones or laptops. Gagl Standard enables up to five remote guests orimg hosts to connect to each Gagl session. Gagl + Hotline is a premium tier for US-based clients that enhances the audio quality from mobile phone callers. A 10-digit phone number is provided to Hotline subscribers which allows one contributor in the Gagl session to connect by dialing a number instead of clicking a web link. Gagl Solo is available for individuals to connect to the studio at no cost. Comrex is also unveiling its new FieldLink – a hardware-based IP audio codec that serves as a “press box” codec designed to replace expensive wireless mic/IFB solutions and move audio from sideline reporters efficiently to the pressbox. For more information on FieldLink or other Comrex products visit www.comrex.com.