Industry News

WVHU-AM, Huntington Parts Ways with Host Tom Roten

Longtime morning drive talk host Tom Roten exits iHeartMedia’s news/talk WVHU-AM, Huntington,im West Virginia. Roten posted the following to social media: “For 22 years, my morning talk radio show was the #1 show in the Huntington, WV market. The most recent ratings period showed the station overall at #5 in the market, #1 for AM stations (highest ever ranking). Unfortunately, iHeart is going in a different direction and I was dismissed. While my future is uncertain, you can still access my podcasts from Spotify and other streaming services.”

Industry News

Urban One Files Preliminary Q1 2023 Financial Results with SEC

Relative to the preceding story, on Friday (9/29) Urban One filed an 8-K Form containing its preliminary financial results for the first quarter of 2023. The company reports consolidated revenue of $109.9 million, a decrease of 2% from the same period in 2022. Urban One breaks down its report into segments and states that its broadcast radio division brought in revenue of $35.2 million, an increase of 11.7% over the same period in 2022. For the first quarter of 2023, Urban One reports a net loss of $1.5 million compared to the net income of $16.5 million it reported in the first quarter of 2022.

Industry News

FOX Sports Radio Unveils “Overpromised with Covino & Rich” Video Podcast

FOX Sports Radio is debuting a new, weekly video series and podcast starring Steve Covino and Rich Davis called, “Overpromised with Covino & Rich.” The duo hosts the daily afternoon program on the FSRim network, and this new project takes the audience “on a wild ride through the hottest headlines, trends, and debates that didn’t quite make it onto their daily radio show.” New episodes are posted Wednesdays on FOX Sports Radio’s YouTube page, and the podcast is available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

Industry News

Liz Truss Inks Book Deal with Salem’s Regnery Publishing

Salem Media Group announces that its book unit Regnery Publishing signs a deal with former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss that includes the publishing of her new book, Ten Years to Save the West, scheduled to be released on April 16, 2024. The press release states, “Around the world, many supposedlyim conservative political parties have been captured by the same left-wing influences that set the agenda and frame the debate in so many institutions, including the media, academia and the corporate world. Drawing on her 10 years of service in Tory governments – when she often found herself to be the only conservative in the room – the scrappy champion of limited government and individual freedom exposes the threat of the massive, unaccountable administrative state and the complacent political and corporate establishment.”

Industry News

Bret Baier Signs Extension with FOX News Media

FOX News Media and Bret Baier agree to a multi-year contract extension that allows him to continue his roles as chief political anchor and anchor & executive editor of “Special Report.” Baier will continue to coim-anchor 2024 election coverage and host “The Bret Baier Podcast” on FOX News Audio. President and executive editor Jay Wallace says, “We are thrilled to have Bret continue leading our political coverage as we head into the 2024 election season and beyond.” Baier has been the anchor of “Special Report” on FOX News Channel since January 2009, when he took over for the legendary Brit Hume who created and launched “Special Report” in 1998.

Industry News

LARadio.com Publisher Don Barrett Dies After Battle with Cancer

Beloved chronicler of Los Angles Radio People, Don Barrett, has died at 81 after a battle with liver cancer.im The message, “In an ordinary instant – cancer has taken LARadio.com,” is posted on the publication’s site – a reference to the writings of author Joan Didion. Barrett was profiled by the LA Daily News last month after he was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer.  You can read that piece here. Barrett built the LARadio.com site to promote his Los Angeles Radio People books that sought to “highlight every radio personality who was ever on the local [Los Angeles] airwaves between the years of 1957-1994 (first edition).” Barrett is survived by his wife Cherie (pictured here).

Industry News

SiriusXM to Present Town Hall with Chris Christie

SiriusXM and New England College in Concord, New Hampshire announce that former New Jersey Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Chris Christie will take part in a town hall event with P.O.T.U.S. channel host Steve Scully. The special program takes place before an audience at the school tomorrow (9/12) at 1:00 pm ET. The former governor is also expected to take questions from audience members.

Industry News

Talk Media Commentator C.C. Carter Shares Touching 9/11 Audio Podcasts with Radio

Longtime talk media host, commentator and director of the Good For You Network (www.goodforyounetwork.comClaire Carter (a.k.a. C.C. Carter) is making the audio files of two of her compelling short-form podcasts about 9/11 available at no cost for airplay on interested radio stations in time for this coming Monday’s 22nd anniversary of the tragic attack on America.

The first titled, “Never Again Should There Be a 9/11,” (8:00) is a plea for American government andim society alike to learn from the mistakes made before, during and after the tragedy so as to prevent such an atrocity from happening again. Carter tells TALKERS, “On the Sunday after 9/11, I listened to a sermon titled, ‘Making Sense of the Senseless.’ Its overriding message was: We cannot allow all these people to have died in vain. We need to do good in their name. And so to honor and remember all those who died, all those who survived, all those involved in the rescue and recovery efforts, as well as all those whose lives will never be the same, I have written and recorded a moving, memorable and thought-provoking piece, ‘Never Again Should There Be a 9/11,’ with the music, ‘Help is on the Way’ composed and performed by composer, David Friedman. It is all the more compelling when you watch the video on YouTube.” Carter adds, “We came together then. Can we come together again for the sake of the well-being of our nation and world. And what will it take to prevent such a horrific act from happening again? Thank you for caring and getting the vocals, the music and the video to as many people as possible around the world – including government officials who need to ensure our safety and security.” View the video here.

Regarding the podcast, “Reflections on 9/11,” Carter says, “Two months after 9/11, I went down to the World Trade Center site to pay my respects. I walked over to the makeshift ‘Teddy Bear’ memorial site, where people had spontaneously left notes and cards – and teddy bears. I wanted to write down some of what was left, because it was meant to be heard. I wanted to give voice to peoples’ hearts and heartache. And so, I ask you to listen to the raw emotions emanating from their hearts. ‘Reflections on 9/11’ (4:11) with music by Gunhill Road that you can download here. Please share with everyone you know. Remembering all those beautiful souls who left us that day is the least that we can do – and so much more.” Download “Never Again Should There Be a 9/11” here. To arrange a timely interview with C.C. Carter contact Victoria Jones at DC Radio Company. 917-865-3991 or victoria@dcradiocompany.com.

Industry News

Talk Host Mark Simone Inks New Deal with WOR, New York

New York City talk radio personality Mark Simone signs a new, three-year deal with iHeartMedia’s news/talk 710 WOR to continue hosting the 10:00 am to 12:00 noon show. Simone says, “There’s no betterim place to be in the radio world than iHeartRadio. Thanks to the finest broadcasting executives around, Tom Cuddy, Thea Mitchem and Bernie Weiss for making it all happen. Walking to work every day is like walking through the Radio Hall of Fame. Just to get to my studio, I pass Elvis Duran, Jim Kerr, Charlamagne tha God, Angela Yee and other all-stars.” WOR program director Tom Cuddy adds, “When I joined WOR almost 11 years ago, Mark was my first hire. Since then, it’s been a blast watching Mark grow into becoming the highest-rated radio talk host in his time slot, along with digital numbers that are among the highest in the country.”

EDITOR’S APOLOGY:  The above story about Mark Simone’s new contract at WOR originally ran yesterday (9/5) in TALKERS.  Unfortunately, our art department utilized a combination of hand-rendered illustration, CGI and AI in creating a headline banner image that apparently missed its mark.  The premise was to depict Simone as the proverbial “800 pound gorilla” of New York radio in which his avatar – a Simone lookalike – inspired by the legend of King Kong, was depicted as a determined figure climbing the Empire State Building.  As it turned out, the King Kong reference was not clear to our readers because there was no actual ape depicted and Simone received a large number of emails telling him that TALKERS ran a photo of the wrong guy.  We meant it to be a caricature but our creative plan backfired.  Simone was upset by the image telling TALKERS, “I have had dozens of caricatures done of me in the past. They are usually somewhat cute.  Never had a problem with them. Yours looked hideous and really cheap. When radio people try to do it, they have no skill at it… no one thought it was a caricature and no one thought it was me. The 13 emails I got from radio execs asked me why you used a picture of someone else, so they never thought for a second it was supposed to be a caricature and no one noticed anything to do with the Empire State Building.”  TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison issued the following statement, “Simone is right.  Looking back at it now, with the increased objectivity of having a full day to think it over, I can understand why he was upset, although there was nothing specifically disparaging about the image. It just wasn’t clear that it was meant to be him and that he was supposed to be climbing a building in an iconic scenario.  After all, a media personality’s sound and image are their brand and they must be protective of its depiction.  We have subsequently pulled the banner from the website and replaced it with a more standard format with the same copy but a different graphic (see above).  The irony is Mark Simone and I have been friendly for more than three decades and I’ve often stated that he is one of the greatest and most successful radio personalities in New York and the nation, not to mention a top notch human being. I still think that.  All of us at TALKERS deeply regret this mistake which was the result of an overly-zealous attempt at being creative. In the world of publicity there’s the old saying ‘as long as they spell your name correctly.’ Well, I guess in this case we spelled Mark Simone’s face wrong.”

Industry News

Jeff Katz Scores Exclusive Interview with RFK Jr

im

Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive host Jeff Katz (left) with Democratic Party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr (right). Katz says that during Kennedy’s visit to Richmond, he granted just one interview and says the two “spent just shy of 30 minutes one-on-one, chatting about everything from the economy to ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm'” (Kennedy is married to Cheryl Hines who starred as Larry David’s wife on the hit show).

Industry News

Jake Kemp and Dan McDowell Agree to Cease Podcasts Until Mediation with Cumulus

The latest chapter in the disagreement between Cumulus Media’s KTCK-AM/FM, Dallas-Fort Worth and former midday air personalities Jake Kemp and Dan McDowell includes the duo agreeing to not produce any newim podcasts, including “The Dumb Zone,” before they and Cumulus go into mediation over Cumulus’ charge that the two have violate their non-compete and other clauses in their contracts with the company. The court-ordered mediation was moved from yesterday (8/22) to next Tuesday (8/29).

Industry News

WABC’s Frank Morano Hangs with The Sopranos Cast Members

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Pictured above is WABC, New York overnight host Frank Morano with some of the cast of “The Sopranos,” who stopped by his “The Other Side of Midnight” program to talk about why people still care about “The Sopranos” so many years later, cigars, and the fascinating lives of the actors. In the photo are (l-r): Dan Grimaldi, who played Philly and Patsy Parisi; Morano; Robert Funaro, who played Eugene Pontecorvo; and Jason Cerbone, who played Jackie Aprile, Jr.

Industry News

Missouri Talk Host Settles with Feds in COVID Misinformation Case

The St. Louis-Post Dispatch reports that chiropractor and talk radio host Eric Nepute, who broadcasts on East Central Broadcasting’s “Real Talk Radio Network” on Missouri stations KRTK-FM, Hermann; KVMO-FM, Vandalia; and KTRE-FM, Steelville, has settled with the federal government. Nepute was being sued in federalim court under the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act for peddling false information about the COVID pandemic in order to sell supplements and vitamins. The trial was set to begin on August 21 before Nepute and prosecutors agreed to pay an $80,000 fine and refrain from marketing his vitamin products as effective preventatives against COVID-19. Nepute and Quickwork LLC – a company in which he is part owner – were targeted by federal officials after Nepute claimed on his “Real Talk with Dr. Eric Nepute” program that vitamin D and zinc supplements could prevent or cure COVID-19. Nepute signed a consent order in 2021 agreeing not to disseminate information that his supplements could prevent COVID but in 2022 he caught the government’s attention for saying vitamins were more beneficial than the COVID vaccine. Read the Post-Dispatch story here.

Industry News

NAB Sides with Canadian Broadcasters in Meta News Blocking

The National Association of Broadcasters, in response to Meta blocking news on Facebook and Instagram for Canadian users after the passage of Canada’s Online News Act, joins the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in decrying the move. NAB president Curtis LeGeyt and CAB president Kevin Desjardins say in a joint statement, “As national associations representing broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada, the Nationalim Association of Broadcasters and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters strongly urge lawmakers to support legislation that enables news providers to negotiate with dominant digital platforms for fair terms and conditions when our content appears on their platforms. Meta – a nearly trillion-dollar company – repeatedly chooses to restrict news content for its users to avoid compensating news producers for the value it gains on their vital journalism. These retaliatory tactics demonstrate Meta’s monopolistic dominance over the advertising marketplace and its ability to dictate how radio and TV broadcasters, newspapers and others can reach audiences online. Rather than working to ensure its users have access to trusted news and information, Meta is holding news content on its platform hostage. Policymakers should not reward Meta’s coercive behavior. At a time when misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated content proliferate online, the future of democracy relies on the accessibility of fact-based, trustworthy journalism.”

Industry News

Westwood One: Marketers Underestimate Consumers Time Spent with Media

According to this week’s blog from the Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group, marketers and agencies tend to dramatically underestimate the amount of time consumers spend with certain media, including AM/FM radio. Based on data from Nielsen’s Total Audience Report, “Marketers/agencies dramaticallyim underestimate time spent with AM/FM radio. While they believe Americans spend 9% of their media time with AM/FM radio, the reality is 15%.” Why is this? The report cites two reasons. First, longtime ad agency executive Bob Hoffman says, “How can professional people who work in an industry that is largely constructed on media behavior be so astoundingly misinformed? The answer is pretty simple… marketers always overestimate the attraction of new things and underestimate the power of traditional consumer behavior.” Second, marketing professor Mark Ritson adds, “There is increasing global evidence that marketers are basing their media choices on their own behavior or that stoked by the digitally obsessed marketing media, rather than actual audience data.” Read the blog post here.

Industry News

New Radio Feature “The Good News with Dr. Benjamin Chavis” Debuts

The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc announces the launch of “THE GOOD NEWS with Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr” This 60-second daily radio commentary is the first offering from the new USBC Radio Network. It is being distributed in collaboration with KMG Networks, aim division of Krantz Media Group and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. A press release states, “‘THE GOOD NEWS’ will ignite a transformative spark, propelling the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc into an unprecedented realm of influence. The highly anticipated USBC Radio Network, launching in August, will seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive USBC Media Network. This united effort, in partnership with KMG Networks-will empower and extend our collective reach, ushering in a future filled with boundless possibilities for all.”

Industry News

Joe Madison Reverses Role with MH on This Week’s Harrison Podcast

Heavy Hundred titan Joe Madison recently interviewed TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison (6/20) 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, happenings at TALKERS 2023 and the way in which the annual TALKERS Heavy Hundred list is compiled. Now, that compelling conversation is the basis of this week’s installment of the award-winning PodcastOne series, “The Michael Harrison Interview.”  Don’t miss this conversation! Listen to the audio here

Industry News

Benztown Inks Deal with ARC Software Inc

Benztown agrees to a deal with ARC Software, Inc to make ARC the primary affiliate research and maintenance tool for the company and its audio network, Benztown Radio Networks. Benztown VP, sales &im operations Masa Patterson says, “For years, we have been dealing with CRM programs with inferior functionality designed for other industries. With ARC, Jason [Bailey] has created the Porsche of CRM/database software specific to the network radio space, and you know how Benztown appreciates a good performance vehicle. We love the product and partnership.”