TALKERS Celebrates 35th Anniversary Today
It was 35 years ago today (July 23, 1990) that the first edition of TALKERS rolled off the presses. Then a
newsprint tabloid, TALKERS proclaimed that “talk radio” was, indeed, an “industry within an industry” and worthy of its own, unique full-service trade publication. Founded by pioneering radio broadcaster (KMET, WNEW-FM, WLIR-FM, WCBS-FM, WPIX, KPRI, CBS, Westwood One, RKO) Michael Harrison, who also brought his experience with publications including Radio & Records, Goodphone Weekly, and Billboard to the table, the independent journal went on to produce annual conferences, numerous radio shows, and contribute to the ongoing success and influence of a variety of spoken word formats and talk media offshoots.
Smiley adds, “We launched KBLA Talk 1580 on Juneteenth, two years ago, during the height of the COVID-19 health crisis. We’re extremely proud that in two short years, KBLA Talk 1580 has become a trusted community resource in Los Angeles and beyond. Our mission to enlighten, empower and encourage, resonates with our growing audience.” Additionally, over the past two years the company has launched SAM Digital, its own brand of white label products that are designed to help businesses and service providers reach an even wider audience, grow brand awareness, and increase sales by targeting specific audiences with direct messaging and by measuring the performance of their outreach campaigns. It also recently debuted the SmileyAudioMedia Podcast Network to expand beyond traditional radio broadcasting.
podcast averages more than 13 million monthly downloads. Premiere Networks president Julie Talbott says, “We couldn’t be more proud of what Clay and Buck have accomplished together over the past two years. They had big shoes to fill, and they hit the ground running with their fresh, dynamic and entertaining brand of news talk. The results speak for themselves, and we’re proud to mark this milestone with them as they continue to deliver impressive returns for our partners.”