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 that
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.”
president Shosh Abromovich says, “I am excited to announce that Jen will be leading the Nebraska-Iowa Area! Jen’s strong work ethic, organizational skills, positive attitude, culture-first mentality and competitive drive make her the perfect fit to elevate this Area to new heights. Her passion for our radio brands and profound understanding of the connection with our audience across all platforms will foster growth within our community, advertising partners and team.”
Corporate cost cuts continue. In 
transitioning to a conservative talk host in the early 2000s. Quinn started his radio career at KQV, Pittsburgh in the 1960s. Quinn partnered with Don Jefferson for the popular “Quinn and Banana” show on WKTQ in Pittsburgh from 1983 to 1992. The TribLIVE story notes that Quinn took a position at WRRK, Braddock, PA where he honed his conservative talk chops. He partnered with Rose Tennent and had a successful run with “The Warroom with Quinn and Rose” on iHeartMedia’s WPGB-FM, Pittsburgh as well as on satellite radio. 
sideline reporters can use their smartphones to send and receive high-quality, low-delay audio using the Comrex FieldTap app. FieldLink has pro-grade audio I/O to deliver sideline audio and allow IFB back to reporters. Setup is simple. By scanning a QR code visible on FieldLink’s front panel display, users can easily set their phones to the secure private Wifi network attached to FieldLink and make connections back to the pressbox. An additional upgrade will be available to allow FieldLink to also be your connection back to the studio. Compatible with all Comrex IP codecs, FieldLink can send and receive audio to/from the public internet, while simultaneously handling sideline reporter audio. At this year’s NAB, Comrex will also highlight new offerings for Gagl, the company’s audio subscription service that allows contributors to connect to Comrex hardware IP audio codecs using equipment such as smartphones or laptops.
was co-host of the morning drive show with co-host Kevin Bowen. Cook was co-host of the midday “Query & Company” program with Jake Query. In the aftermath, Sweeney posted to X: “Let me say this… I loved covering your teams. The @Pacers are a class act organization and covering an NFL team @Colts was something I wanted. Also, it was great working with super dudes like @KBowen1070 and @MarcD1075. I wish them the best, but they won’t need it.” 
is being distributed in the same daypart – 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET – as Dan Bongino’s show prior to the latter’s giving up his media role to take on the deputy director at the FBI. Trump addressed the issue of Greenland and Vice President J.D. Vance’s trip there this week, saying, “We have to have that land because it’s not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth – not just the United States – without it.” The president also addressed the Signal group chat matter, telling Coglianese that it was possibly an innocent error made by a lower-level staffer for national security advisor Mike Waltz. He noted that it did not impact the success of the attack, but that they would determine how the error happened so it would not happen in the future.
stint, effective May 9. In a memo to fellow staffers, Abernethy says, “It has been a privilege to work alongside you during the past 10-plus years with the company, and for some, my 36 years in the industry. Each market, team and person I have had the pleasure to work with has made a lasting impression on me. I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together and confident in your continued success.” 
election, its reporting on the origins of the coronavirus in China, and the investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia during his first term. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) told Maher, “You guys were 0-for-3 on three of the biggest stories in the country.” Maher was also pressed by U.S. Rep. William Timmons (R-SC) about comments she made before she was CEO of NPR in which she called Donald Trump a sociopath, a racist and deranged and asked how she could helm a news organization with that kind of inherent bias. She replied, “There is strong firewall between me and the newsroom,” and said her political thinking and personal worldview have changed in recent years, adding, “I regret those tweets; I would not tweet them again today.” The story notes that Maher said she “respected” the lawmakers’ concerns and promised NPR is doing more under her watch to “beef up our editorial standards” and “make sure we have more points of view reflected in every story.” 
operating income was approximately $38.6 million, an increase of 1.7% from the same period in 2023. Net loss was approximately $35.7 million for the quarter, compared to net loss of $11.0 million for the same period in 2023. Urban One CEO and president Alfred C. Liggins, III states, “Our Adjusted EBITDA of $103.5 million came in at the mid-point of guidance, helped by strong political advertising revenues in the radio division. The radio outperformance was offset by declines in both advertising and affiliate revenues at the cable TV segment, as audience delivery continued to underperform expectations. We are however seeing some stabilization in the first quarter cable TV delivery, which should help to mitigate the continuing decline of linear TV subscribers. First quarter core radio revenue demand weakened, with pacings down 13.6%, although the second quarter is showing signs of improvement, with core pacings currently down 1.7%.” 
establishment in 1970, the RTDNA Foundation has provided more than $1 million in scholarships and fellowships to about 600 aspiring journalists, fulfilling its role as the educational and charitable wing of the Radio Television Digital News Association. Some have gone on to become reporters, producers and news directors, covering local and national issues that matter to their communities. Others have ventured into related professions, such as White House speechwriters, media regulatory attorneys and journalism educators. Several former recipients have also contributed to RTDNA’s leadership by serving as board members, while many have been honored with prestigious Murrow Awards.” 
NAB says, “Local radio stations provide trusted news, sports and entertainment to their communities free of charge, but stations’ ability to do so would be greatly threatened if faced with a new performance tax, on top of the hundreds of millions of dollars local stations already pay each year in copyright and streaming fees.” The second resolution calls on legislators to support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act that would ensure the continued availability of AM in all newly manufactured vehicles. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt comments, “On the heels of an incredibly successful State Leadership Conference, where over 560 local TV and radio broadcasters traveled to Washington, DC to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, congressional support for local radio is strong. State broadcaster associations play a pivotal role in our advocacy efforts, and I am proud to see the collective unity behind these resolutions.”
had a storied career in Chicago media. First at newspapers, he moved to television in 1963 working at WBBM as a news writer, reporter and political editor. From 1973 to 1982, Jacobson co-anchored WBBM-TV’s “The 10 O’Clock News” with Bill Kurtis and the two dominated the ratings for nine years. His “Perspective” pieces date to those newscasts when Jacobson would deliver them live from his office. WGN Radio VP and general manager Mary Sandberg Boyle comments, “I ‘knew’ Walter Jacobson mostly for his TV news work virtually all my life. He and Bill Kurtis revolutionized the look and feel of television news broadcasts in Chicago at CBS 2 and it’s still talked about by those who watched them in the 70s. Working with him at WGN Radio and getting to know him in-person has been an honor. After seeing firsthand his uncompromising devotion to his craft, it’s easy to see why he is the media legend that he is. Walter’s personality, contributions and ever unique ‘Perspective’ will be greatly missed.”
by Brandon Contes for Awful Announcing, he writes that Bernstein was taken off of his regular afternoon show with co-host Marshall Harris after threatening to reveal the identities of a follower’s children as retaliation for that person accusing Bernstein of lying about releasing a fish that he had caught and posted a picture of. Bernstein write on social media, “I never respond to trolls, but questioning my sportsmanship and conservation awareness sets me off. Wanna fight? I’m a bad enemy. Want your kids involved?” 
in Texas and several other conservative talk personalities, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr posted the following to his X account, “The recent surge in ‘swatting’ attacks against conservatives is a dangerous form of political violence. I’ve been in touch with law enforcement to ensure they have access to the trace back resources that locate a call’s originating point. Bad actors will face accountability.” So far, no one has been hurt in these swatting incidents. If you missed Joe Pags’ account of what happened to him, 
Thank you, TALKERS for placing me on two panels at the IBSNYC conference. All student conferences have one underlying goal: Attendees want to know how to land a starter job in media. Here’s the information I shared with the eager crowd.
streamed via the Audacy app within the Royals broadcast territory. Audacy Kansas City SVP and market manager Roxanne Marati says, “We’re thrilled to extend our longstanding partnership with the Royals and, for the first time ever, bring every pitch, hit, and home run to fans on crystal-clear FM. As the premier home for everything Kansas City sports, we’re proud to be the go-to destination for Royals fans and keep them connected to their favorite team throughout the year.”
Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley says, “2024 was a transformative year for Beasley as we took decisive actions to strengthen our balance sheet, streamline our operations, and position the company for long-term success. Through disciplined cost management and strategic capital initiatives, we achieved approximately $20.0 million in annualized expense reductions, improved our leverage profile, 
and enhanced our financial flexibility. These efforts, combined with the continued momentum of our digital business—now representing nearly 20% of total revenue—have reinforced our ability to navigate industry challenges while capitalizing on new growth opportunities in audio and digital media. As we enter 2025, we remain focused on executing our strategy to drive sustainable revenue growth, expand our digital offerings, and optimize our sales approach. We see substantial opportunities in harnessing data-driven insights, enhancing direct-to-consumer engagement, and providing our advertisers with cutting-edge marketing solutions. With a refined portfolio of premium brands, a leaner and more agile cost structure, and a strengthened financial foundation, Beasley is well-positioned to accelerate our digital evolution and deliver long-term value for our shareholders, audiences, and partners.”
key findings of this edition of the study include that podcast consumption has reached an all-time high with 70% of Americans age 12+ having listened to a podcast; 51% of those Americans age 12+ having watched a podcast; 73% of Americans age 12+ having consumed a podcast in either audio or video format, representing an estimated 210 million people; and 55% of Americans age 12+ now being monthly consumers. The study also looked at in-car audio use and finds that among americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month (88%), 40% have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and 33% actively use one of these systems. 
November after a fall in his home in which he suffered a spinal cord injury. Prager is going through extensive rehabilitation. Charlie Kirk has been hosting his show live in the same 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET daypart as Prager since October of 2020 and SRN says this will be an easy transition for most stations. Prager and 
Salem have agreed to his return for one hour a day, airing 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET, starting Tuesday, June 3. Salem SVP of spoken word Phil Boyce says, “Dennis may have some physical limitations at the moment, but his wit, wisdom, insights and passion are as strong and as clear as ever and we are delighted at his spirit and resolve to return to his audience. We want Dennis to remain a part of the Salem family and want his millions of loyal fans to continue to hear his voice. Affiliates of Charlie will continue to get the Kirk show with no interruption, and affiliates of Dennis will soon get Charlie Kirk as a strong and able replacement.”
“Up First” at #2. Remaining at #3 is Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show.” Moves of note in February include iHeartRadio’s “The Daily Show: Ears Edition” rising five places to #20; Audacy’s “We Can Do Hard Things” falling six places to #25; and iHeartRadio’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” dropping eight places to #37. The Triton Digital U.S. Podcast Ranker is based on weekly average downloads. 
“NewsTalkST” brand is filling the hole in middays due to the end of the “Dan Bongino Show” by moving “The Allman Report” with Jamie Allman to the 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm daypart and expanding the “The Vic Porcelli Show,” hosted by Porcelli and Ken Williams to 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. NewsTalkSTL president of programming Jeff Allen says, “This is the first major change to our prime time weekday lineup since we launched nearly four years ago, which speaks to how important this expansion is for our station and our listeners. Listener feedback over the past few weeks made it clear this was the lineup they wanted, and we’re excited to deliver it.”
commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission has been the honor of my life. With my extraordinary fellow commissioners and the incredible career staff at the agency, we have worked hard to connect all Americans, promote innovation, protect consumers, and ensure national security. I have learned so much from my time in this position, particularly when I have heard directly from Americans on the issues that matter to them. I have been inspired by the passion, engagement and commitment I have seen from colleagues, advocates, and industry. Over the next few weeks, I look forward to working with the chairman and my fellow commissioners, and all FCC staff, to further the mission of the agency.” Starks is one of two Democrats currently serving on the Commission.
include Chris Oliviero rising from market president for New York to chief business officer; Bob Philips shifting from president of networks and multi-market sales to chief revenue officer; and deputy general counsel Mike Dash rising to EVP and general counsel. Audacy chairman and lead media investor in Soros Fund Management Michael Del Nin says, “On behalf of the Audacy board, we are delighted that Kelli Turner has agreed to take on the permanent president and CEO role and lead Audacy through its next phase of reinvention and growth. She is an exceptional media executive who, along with Chris Oliviero and the rest of the Audacy team, will ensure we continue to invest in high-quality content to engage our audiences and provide best-in-class solutions to our partners.”
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.”
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.”
fires on the historic Black middle-class community of Altadena, California. The company says, “This groundbreaking series will explore the significance of Altadena, its legacy and the personal stories of survivors and community members who lived through one of the region’s most destructive natural disasters.” The series is hosted by Black Information Network journalist Mimi Brown.
producer and host at the station. “ESPN Chicago” director of content Danny Zederman says, “We are excited to add Jeff to the ‘ESPN Chicago’ White Sox broadcast crew. We know fans of the Sox will appreciate his knowledge and will connect with him as a lifelong fan of the club. Meller has been a member of the ESPN Chicago team for 20 years! He has great passion for the Sox and all Chicago sports. This is a ‘dream job’ for him and we know he will add great value to our broadcasts.”
camera app showed the image you see in the photo here – a man who appears dressed as a cop with an AR-15 outside his house. Pags says he quickly called 911, identified himself, told the operator he thought he was being swatted and asked if the police were at his house. After confirming that it was the police, Pags was able to get the officers to stand down and they were assured there was no reason to be there. Pags tells his listeners that the goal of the swatters was to get him to grab his gun and go outside, in which case he likely would have been killed. 
There has never been more news. And news has never been more quotable. It costs two-plus cents to make a penny.
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.”