Kraig T. Kitchin is This Week’s Guest on Harrison Podcast
Noted talent manager, advisor and chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, Kraig T. Kitchin is this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.” Harrison states, “Kraig is one of the smartest, most-respected and congenial behind-the-scenes movers and shakers in the radio industry. His illustrious career goes back decades and his positive contributions to the radio business – including advising some of its greatest talents including the late Rush Limbaugh – have been indelible and immeasurable.” Kitchin was honored several weeks ago by the TALKERS magazine editorial board with the highly prestigious Jim Bohannon Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in Radio. Since 2008, he’s been president of the talent management firm, Sound Mind, LLC. He also serves as a strategic advisor to Oxford Road, a media placement agency with more than 50 clients specializing in audio advertising. Kitchin also serves as chairman of the Radio Hall of Fame to which he was appointed in 2014. Prior to launching his own firm, after working his way up in the industry through local radio and then national agency sales, he was one of the founders of Premiere Radio Networks in 1987. Harrison and Kitchin discuss the quirky role of ego and psychology in the talent business as well as today’s rapidly changing fabric of communications and culture. Don’t miss this! Listen to the entire podcast here.
on his long-running “Urban View” channel program on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The two legendary radio figures took a deep-dive into the subjects of podcasting, AM radios in cars, the role of boomers in today’s culture and the way in which the annual TALKERS Heavy Hundred list is compiled. Don’t miss this conversation! 
years, I have been working two daily jobs. The time has come for me to focus my full energies on ‘The MJ Morning Show’… This is bittersweet as it has been a joy and privilege to host ‘The Schnitt Show’ and I am forever grateful to our affiliates, sponsors, partners, and most importantly our listeners for supporting the show for so many years.” Compass Media Networks CEO Peter Kosann says, “How many people in the history of radio have hosted two-daily, drive time shows, targeting two completely different audiences, and doing it successfully for over two decades? The answer is virtually no one else. Kudos to Todd for his work ethic, creativity, ingenuity, and talent. It has been an honor to serve as Todd’s syndication partner all these years and we look forward to working with him on this next chapter.”
more “significant on-air layoffs” affecting ESPN personalities that could come as early as next week. Johnson, Williams and Kellerman have other roles with ESPN and their individual status with the company is not certain, but Marchand speculates that contract buyouts by ESPN are a possibility. ESPN will put a morning show back on the network, but the talent will need to make significantly less than the “Keyshawn, JWill and Max” hosts were making. 
Dawn Davenport is seen every Saturday on the college football sidelines, and her relationships and knowledge of the SEC are huge assets for ‘104.5 The Zone’ listeners. Ron Slay is an SEC Player of the Year for the Tennessee Volunteers Men’s Basketball team and is a beloved natural entertainer.” Cumulus Nashville VP/market manager Allison Warren and program director Paul Mason say, in a joint statement, “Today, we celebrate the powerhouse trio Brent Dougherty, Dawn Davenport and Ron Slay. They have proven time and again to be a driving force behind 104.5 The Zone’s success, dominating the ratings and capturing the hearts of our listeners. They have an undeniable chemistry—a lightning in a bottle connection that brings our audience together. We are grateful to our clients, who have become our biggest fans, for choosing this remarkable station and these influential personalities to support their local businesses.”
Lucid, Bose, Samsung and Xbox, as well as on the TuneIn mobile app and TuneIn.com. The agreement also gives Audacy access to TuneIn’s advertising supply and brings select TuneIn original content to the Audacy digital platform. Audacy chief digital officer J.D. Crowley 
comments, “Streaming of AM/FM Radio is one of the fastest growing segments of all digital audio today. As consumer demand for Audacy’s best-in-class local audio content continues to increase, we’re committed to meeting the listener wherever they wish to consume, and we’re delighted to expand the availability of our unique live sports, news, and personality-driven audio content to over 200 new TuneIn-supported platforms. We’re equally thrilled to welcome TuneIn’s premium exclusive content to the Audacy digital platform.”
Hosting Career.” The session, sponsored by C. Crane, was introduced by managing partner, Goldman McCormick PR and syndicated host, Ryan McCormick (pictured at right) and moderated by WPHT, Philadelphia host, Dom Giordano (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Heather Cohen, SVP, the Weiss Agency; Martha Zoller, host, WDUN-AM/FM, Gainesville, GA; Frank Morano, host WABC, New York; Rich Valdes, host, Westwood One; and Jeff Katz, host, WRVA, Richmond, VA. 
“Generating Talk Radio Revenue in a Digital World.” The session, sponsored by The Ramsey Show, was introduced by syndicated host and radio executive Doug Stephan of the Good Day Show/Stephan Multimedia (pictured at right) and moderated by Lapcom Communications Corp president, Steve Lapa (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media Group; Paul Gleiser, host/owner, KTBB-FM-AM, Tyler, TX; Michael “MZ” Zwerling, host/owner, KSCO/KOMY, Santa Cruz; Todd Starnes, host/president, The Todd Starnes Show Syndication/owner, KWAM, Memphis; and Paul Vandenburgh, host/owner, WGDI, Albany, NY. 
Erick Erickson as the new afternoon talk show host on WYRD-FM, an unsurpassed team of talent will serve the Upstate, north Georgia and western North Carolina. Erick’s thought-provoking discussions, unyielding insight and captivating presence will be a welcomed addition to our listeners and partners. Erick will complete News/Talk 98.9 WORD’s incredible lineup, allowing us to provide unmatched content for listeners and the largest and most effective platform for advertisers.” Erickson is syndicated via Compass Media Networks. 
daypart and join current co-host Brandon Tierney as Tierney’s longtime partner Tiki Barber moves to afternoon drive alongside Evan Roberts. Barber’s new role comes as Craig Carton leaves Audacy’s sports talk WFAN, New York to focus on his morning show at FS1. 
4,000 largest US stocks as of April 28, 2023, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the US all-cap Russell 3000 Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the Large-Cap Russell 1000 Index or Small-Cap Russell 2000 Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes. Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $12.1 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s US indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider.
LP, a 39-station group which he later sold to Cumulus Broadcasting in 2000 for $258 million. At this time, he pioneered notable progress in integrating legacy media with emerging digital technology. In 2004, he formed Connoisseur Media which now operates 13 radio station brands and digital assets in five markets. Highly respected and celebrated industry-wide for his outspoken candor and bullish approach to radio station ownership, Jeff Warshaw serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters, the executive committee of the Radio Advertising Bureau, and is chairman of the Nielsen Audio advisory council. Harrison describes Warshaw as “one of the most knowledgeable, emerging forces to be reckoned with among radio industry leaders and a potential leader in the next wave of radio station consolidation.” The two discuss the intersection between ratings, revenue, and corporate culture. Not to be missed. 
alongside Evan Roberts. This news comes several days after Craig Carton announced that he will leave WFAN on June 30 after agreeing to focus on his FS1 morning program. Barber has been co-hosting the 10:00 am to 2:00 pm show on WFAN with Brandon Tierney. 
Class A Common Stock and 1,125,000 shares of Class C Common Stock). The purchase price of $14.6 million was funded with cash on hand. Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson states, “We could not be more pleased to share that given our strong cash position, we were able to repurchase approximately 8.5% of our total shares outstanding (and nearly half of MSG’s ownership in Townsquare), capturing a positive return for our shareholders. Due to our strong cash flow generation, we have demonstrated Townsquare’s ability to support a high-yield dividend and repurchase debt and equity, while also simultaneously investing in the future of our digital growth engine. This repurchase is immediately accretive to shareholders and we thank our board of directors for their vote of confidence in our medium and long-term business plan to grow revenue and profits.”
brought Carton back to WFAN after he served a year in prison for fraud. He said, “I had a saint in my corner. A gentleman by the name of Chris Oliviero. He has maintained his support of me as a friend and a brother through all the ups and downs of my radio career. When I got myself in trouble, he came and visited me. He told me if I ever got my life back in order and figured out why I made the bad decisions I made, he would be there for me. No guarantees of a job, but that he would never stop being my friend. Having a guy like that as your friend, I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Not only is he my friend, but he paved the way for me to come back to WFAN.” The WFAN website says Carton will continue to do his weekend gambling addiction program, “Hello, My Name is Craig” show that airs on WFAN on Saturday mornings. He added, “WFAN has meant the world to me. If WFAN didn’t give me the opportunity to come back and restart a career, no joke, I’m unemployable… so, walking away from WFAN is not easy. WFAN is my home.”
years ago on KLIF and then ‘The Ticket’ you could tell he was a special communicator. He truly is one of Dallas radio’s great storytellers and he kept it going with Susquehanna and then Cumulus all these years. Not many have that kind of staying power. We wish him every happiness in his well-deserved retirement.” Hitzges states, “I’m so proud to be a part of what ‘The Ticket’ has built – a ratings dominator in a fantastic sports city. I shall so miss the daily ‘rush’ of being on the air. But after 48 consecutive years on the air in Dallas doing sports talk, it’s time to move on to the next phase of my life, whatever that may be.”
We’re confident there will be many qualified applicants seeking to take advantage of this fabulous partnership.” Wisconsin is the second state to partner with MIW, which is hoping to expand to all 50 states. Minnesota launched the first partnership last year. MIw board president Ruth Presslaff comments, “Welcome Wisconsin! We are so appreciative of the support the Wisconsin broadcasters are showing by launching this mentorship program with MIW. Many thanks to Michelle Vetterkind and everyone at WBA.” Applications are due July 7. 
May 2023 PPM Data – Information for the May 2023 survey period has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie,” followed by Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Ben Shapiro Show,” which rises from #4 to #3. Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” was steady at #7, while the company’s “The Matt Walsh Show” climbed two spots to #19. The Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” fell two spots to #21. 
Weiss-Berman, Audacy’s EVP of podcasts. Also, Pineapple Street co-founder Max Linsky is been named senior podcast strategist for Audacy’s podcast division. In this 
role, he will continue to executive produce projects, as well as collaborate on podcast strategy for the company overall, advise Finkel and Berry in their new roles and work closely with key partners. Linsky says, “As everyone who has worked with Bari or Je-Anne knows, they are the perfect team for this job. Bari has been here since day one, and Je-Anne joined once we were part of Audacy — the combination of those two vantage points, plus the shared vision for where podcasting is headed, makes me just so excited for this next era.”