TALKERS 2026 Conference Videos Attract 30,000-plus Views on YouTube
The 28th annual installment of the TALKERS conference, TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter, has drawn more than 30,000 views thus far on the TALKERS MEDIA YouTube channel. This year’s installment of longest running and most important talk media industry gathering was held on Friday, June 5 at Hofstra University on Long Island, drawing a crowd of 338 registrants and more than 65 speakers. TALKERS VP / executive editor Kevin Casey comments, “The world-class Hofstra video team at the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication really came through for us in documenting a power-packed day of panel discussions, one-on-one presentations, and keynote addresses making the event’s valuable content available to a wide broadcast industry audience across the nation as well as internationally. We couldn’t be more pleased.” To view the events of that special day captured on video, please click here.
Other key findings include: Sports content acts as a unique bridge between listening and watching experiences, drawing the closest parity between listeners and viewers across top genres; Format choice signals entirely distinct consumer mindsets: the highly structured, utility-driven “Pragmatic Listener” versus the entertainment-seeking, visually focused “Interactive Watcher.”; and Conversion mechanics differ by format, with audio consumers acting as direct digital responders and video watchers acting as high-intent brand translators and social amplifiers. 
agencies, reveals advertiser/agency podcasting discussion and spending intention has hit a 12-year high. Some of the key takeaways include: 1) Nine out of 10 marketers and media agencies say they have discussed podcast advertising for potential investment; 2) Podcast advertising consideration surges to a 12-year high: 75% of brands and agencies say they are likely to consider advertising in podcasts; 3) Podcast spending intention jumps to 74%, a 12-year record; 4) 76% of agencies and advertisers currently advertise in podcasts, a 5X increase since the first IAB podcast upfront in 2015; and 5) “Arnie Semsky’s 5% solution”: It is time for brands to get serious and allocate 5% of digital budgets to podcasting. 
program “Tyler & Cainer,” alongside Tyler Ivens (left) beginning Monday (7/13). Cain fills the spot vacated by Will West who is leaving the program for a digital sales manager position with the company. According to Knox News, Cain has been a regular contributor, producer and host on the station in addition to being host of the “Locked on Vols” podcast and a writer and podcast host for Volquest. 
in the early 1960s. WCNC-TV reports that local radio fan Johnny Caudle has launched a Change.org petition to save some of the history. He tells WCNC-TV, “I heard the land was for sale and knowing the radio background industry the way I do, I know that that probably means the towers are going down and the place is going to be bulldozed and redeveloped. So, I started thinking we need to save something.” Caudle says he’s not trying to kill any deal that would see the land developed but just wants “to preserve something.” The story indicates the property has an assessed value of $3.5 million. Urban One has not made a public statement about the future of the property. 
hour-long morning program with Josh Albrecht. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the program will also air across Audacy’s Wisconsin Sports Radio Network in markets including Greeb Bay-Appleton, Wausau, Madison, and Duluth-Superior. Czaban previously hosted a morning program on iHeartMedia’s then-sports WRNW-FM “97.3 The Game” that iHeartMedia flipped to AC last fall. 
to KSDK-TV, St. Louis, Hoffman Media Group recently took majority ownership of Lee Enterprises, which owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. David Hoffman said in a statement to 
largest print and digital news organizations in the United States. With our planned acquisitions, combined with our existing portfolio of 154 newspapers and our expansion into radio, we expect to become the second-largest media company in the United States by year-end.” Audacy president and CEO Kelli Turner reportedly issued a memo to staff revealing the deal (in which the terms were not disclosed) and stated that Audacy will continue to own and operate the stations until the deal closes and that listeners, advertisers, partners and employees should expect “business as usual” during the approval process. 
November to co-host “The Morning Drive with Dan & Cole” alongside Dan Mathews, who continues to host mornings solo. 
Throughout the TALKERS 2026 conference, there was a recurring theme that bears repeating:
will take on the role of digital sales manager for Cumulus Knoxville. He says he will continue to be heard on air as part of the Tennessee football postgame show. He told his listeners, “I want the next chapter in my life to be where I’m no longer the main character, but that I’m able to help other people to be the best version of the main character themselves.” He added, “I’m tired. This is a grind. This [new management position] opens up more time that I can spend with my wife. This opens up a situation where I can step in and grow other people.” 
