Ravens Super Bowl Champ Femi Ayanbadejo to Host PM Drive Show on “105.7 The Fan”
Audacy’s sports talk WJZ-FM, Baltimore “105.7 The Fan” unveils its newest afternoon drive show, “The Final Drive,” hosted by former Ravens linebacker Femi Ayanbadejo with co-hosts Ken Weinman and Tim Barbalace. “105.7 The Fan” brand manager 
Joe LaCroix says, “Femi’s sports knowledge spans far beyond football, encompassing the entire Charm City sports scene. His fearless opinions and local sports knowledge will complement Ken’s fiery takes and Tim’s sharp insights. We can’t wait for our listeners to experience the next chapter of afternoons with ‘The Final Drive.’” Ayanbadejo’s radio experience began in 2012 with contributions to several programs, including “The Scott Garceau Show,” Ravens game-day radio with Gerry Sandusky, and, most recently, “The Bruce and Femi Show” on “105.7 The Fan.”
country, and they deserve both the content and distribution that matches their energy. Between our incredibly entertaining and informative lineup of local hosts and our exclusive partnership with the Texans, we are the ultimate destination for Houston sports fans. Launching ‘95.7 The Fan’ as our tenth FM sports station in the top 10 U.S. markets is a proud milestone and solidifies Audacy’s leadership in local sports audio. We can’t wait to bring this unbeatable coverage to even more fans so they can join the conversation and stay connected to the teams they love.”
and KCBS, San Francisco – will become available “later this year.” Audacy CEO and president Kelli Turner states, “Audacy’s sports brands are deeply connected to the cities, teams and fan communities they serve, and being able to extend our reach nationally through SiriusXM is a natural fit. We look forward to working together with 
SiriusXM to bring our outstanding talent and content to sports fans and news and talk listeners wherever they are, providing our audiences with more ways to stay connected to the conversations that matter most to them.” SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein adds, “We also recognize the unique role local personalities play in connecting fans with their teams every day. By adding Audacy’s extensive lineup of sports stations, we’re making those trusted hometown voices available to fans wherever they are across North America. Together, we’re delivering an even more complete audio experience – bringing live games, premier national sports talk, and hometown conversations together in one place.”
indicates that St. Louis-based Hoffman Media Group will pay Audacy $20 million for its six-station cluster that includes news/talk stations KMOX-AM/FM, KFTK-FM, and four music outlets. Hoffman Media Group is a subsidiary of Hoffman Family Companies and recently acquired the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Audacy’s sports talk WGR-AM, Buffalo serving as the flagship station. Now, the team announces that it has 23 stations signed up as affiliates, including Good Karma-operated WHSQ-AM, New York City (formerly WCBS-AM at 880 kHz) and WESP-FM, West Palm Beach “ESPN West Palm” – both stations operated by Good Karma. In the Buffalo market, games will be heard on Cumulus Media’s rock WGRF-FM.
station streaming, nearly 3x the next closest format; 2) One in four Americans now identifies as a “News Fanatic,” checking the news five or more times a day and actively seeking deeper context – not just headlines; 3) News/talk listeners are more loyal than sports fans. Fifty-four percent are primary listeners who spend most of their listening time with news/talk, compared with 41% for sports; 4) Trust remains news/talk’s biggest advantage. Local news radio is trusted by 84% of listeners – higher than broadcast TV, national news radio, or social media; 5) The audience has significant buying power. Median household income is approximately $95,000, with listeners over-indexing for net worth above $2 million; and 6) The advertising works. Among ad-exposed consumers, news/talk campaigns drive 56% awareness, 47% consideration, and 49% purchase/conversion, while Audacy campaigns generate an average 24% lift in website traffic, with some categories seeing increases as high as 67%. 
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. 
producer and air personality Kenny Kott died from medical complications on Saturday (6/26). Kott was a member of “The Valenti Show with Rico.” Mike Valenti addressed Kott’s passing on Monday’s program, saying that Kott had a medical event in early June that left him hospitalized for the last few weeks and it took a turn for the worse. Valenti says, “Genuinely, I struggle to find the words for this. He’s a part of our dysfunctional family. That’s what this is.”
helping patients with blood cancers or disorders find matching blood stem cell donors. WCCO brand manager Brad Lane comments, “The auction experiences created excitement. Our fans created impact. In an era of infinite content and fractured attention, this event wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was a reminder that radio still matters. It still creates community, inspires generosity, and has the power to turn listeners into neighbors united behind a common cause. We’re honored to help bring people together in support of NMDP’s mission.”
perspective, and multi-platform success that aligns perfectly with our vision for the new ‘97.1 The Fan.’” Audacy notes that Koh is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and sports personality with experience at FOX 11, NBC 4, NFL Network, DIRECTV Sports, and the Clippers Radio Network, as well as national work at Amazon Prime Sports, FuboTV, and EA’s official Madden broadcasts. Beyond the microphone, he is an entrepreneur and educator, co-owning a football analytics website and serving as an adjunct journalism professor.
Buffalo Broadcasters Association reports that the company offered Wenger a different position within the company but he’s electing to pursue new opportunities. Wenger has spent much of his career in Buffalo, beginning in the newsroom at WBEN-AM in 1986. He rose through the programming ranks and eventually into management in his current market manager role. Wenger’s wife, Susan Rose, serves with WBEN-AM as morning news anchor and reporter and she will remain in her position. 
and he comments on company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the rededication to sports programming, “Relieving that financial pressure has been liberating. We’ve got everybody swimming in the same direction. Linear broadcast, streaming digital and on-demand podcasts… they don’t compete with each other. They all sing together, like a maestro with a band.” The Fan produced an NFL Draft watch party on YouTube featuring the station’s hosts and with the success of that decided to do halftime and postgame shows on YouTube during the Knicks’ Finals series. Audacy says those livestreams are part of the reason it brings in one-third of its revenue from digital sources. 
podcasts reach consumers throughout their daily routines, creating repeated exposure and strong recall. Audio also commands our attention in ways many formats can’t.” Additionally, radio personalities do something other formats can’t: “When our favorite hosts vouch for a brand, it feels personal. And that built-in influence doesn’t just capture attention — it sparks action.” 74% of radio listeners polled say they have purchased a brand after hearing an ad from their radio host. Finally, Nelson says the intersection of audio and digital marketing is where consumers are reached. “Audio builds awareness, attention, and trust. Digital marketing captures intent and drives action lower in the funnel. Together they drive measurable results with double digital increases in performance.” 
talent, operations and branding. LaCroix joined the station in 2017 and has been executive producer of the “Big Bad Morning Show” since 2021. Audacy sports format VP Chris Kinard says, “Joe’s dedication over the past year has been nothing short of exceptional, constantly stepping up to support the team and taking on challenges outside his comfort zone. His tireless work ethic and natural ability to bring people together made him the obvious choice for brand manager.”
hosted his last show Saturday (5/30) that turned into a big farewell with co-workers, family and friends packing the Audacy station’s studio. Long served with WCCO for 55 years of his 60-year career. He joined the station in 1971 as program director for the then-music formatted station. He remained with WCCO in numerous capacities, most recently as host of the Saturday morning show. Long says he’s retiring for health reasons but adds that with a little luck and good medical care he’ll be alright.
committed to raising awareness for brain cancer. Audacy Chicago VP of sports programming Mitch Rosen says, “More than 1,900 listeners rallied together to pledge donations, and we are deeply moved by their incredible generosity. Through the stories shared by our hosts and guests, we see firsthand how cancer impacts families. This radiothon is a reminder that no one has to fight alone. Our heartfelt thanks go out to our community, sponsors, team, and our great partner, the Chicago Cubs.”
stations. Audacy says, “The move ensures listeners continue receiving trusted national and international reporting from ABC News Audio, while Audacy stations remain focused on delivering live, local journalism in the communities they serve. Existing ABC News Audio affiliates, including 1010 WINS in New York and KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, will continue their longstanding relationships as part of the expanded collaboration.”
Buffalo to Cumulus Media’s WGRF-FM “97 Rock” as the flagship radio station for the Buffalo Bills Radio Network. The marks a return to “97 Rock” after 14 years with WGR. In the Bills broadcast booth will be Chris Brown, who returns for his fourth season as play-by-play announcer, joined by color analyst and former Bills Pro Bowl center Eric Wood for his seventh season. Bills legend Steve Tasker will join the game day coverage team as the sideline reporter.
day leads up to the New York Yankees pre-game show at 6:35 pm and the play-by-play broadcast with Dave Sims and Suzyn Waldman. WFAN brand manager Ryan Hurley comments, “In a city that lives for baseball, WFAN is proud to serve as the flagship home for the Yankees, and a year-round destination for fans of both New York clubs to stay up-to-date and informed about their favorite team. We are excited to celebrate this legendary rivalry alongside MLB at their New York flagship store and bring the passion New York sports fans have.” 
eponymous program, adding affiliate stations KAAA, Kingman, AZ; KZZZ, Bullhead City, AZ/Laughlin, NV; KKFT, Reno, NV; and KXEX, Fresno, CA. Sanchez’s program airs live from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm nightly on Audacy’s KMXB-HD3/K268CS, Las Vegas “101.5 FM K-DAWN.” Sanches says, “We’re building a platform that reaches audiences on air, online, and on demand. The expansion reflects continued growth of ‘The Steve Sanchez Show’ across both broadcast and digital platforms.”
Curry. The afternoon drive program is “D-Mac & Reiter” starring sports media personality Doug McKain and columnist and sports radio pro Bill Reiter. “97.1 The Fan” brand manager Andrew Williams states, “Los Angeles is a sports powerhouse with a deep connection between teams, fans, and culture, and this new lineup brings together championship-level personalities, veteran player perspective, and sharp analytical expertise. We’re building a full-scale, live and local LA sports network that brings sports to the FM dial and across multiple platforms to meet our audiences where they are. We’re excited to give fans an unparalleled listening and viewing experience that’s as entertaining and authentic as it is insightful.”
and Gabriel Brotman of Soros Fund Management. Audacy president and CEO Kelli Turner states, “The appointments of Walker and Gabe to the Audacy board of directors further advance our ability to capture all the opportunities we see across the fast-changing audio landscape. Their expertise and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our platform, strengthen our partnerships, and drive long-term value for our audiences, advertisers and shareholders.”
Angeles with even more of the best in local news, sports, traffic, and information. Both brands will also be available through the Audacy app, partner streaming platforms, and all social channels.” Audacy West regional president Jeff Federman states, “Los Angeles is the epicenter of the sports world, and ‘97.1 The Fan’ is its new voice. With legendary franchises and global events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon, the time was right to bring our industry-leading sports programming to this market. The Voice of LA Sports will be a 24/7, multiplatform home where fans are part of the conversation every day, building on the same commitment to local connection that has made KNX News a trusted cornerstone in Los Angeles and strengthening our overall offering.” Audacy chief business officer Chris Oliviero adds, “This launch further strengthens Audacy as the unrivaled leader in sports audio, reaching more sports listeners than our eight closest competitors combined. Adding Los Angeles – one of the most passionate and influential sports markets in the country – completes our presence across the top 10 markets and meaningfully expands our reach and scale. It allows us to deliver even greater impact for listeners and partners through premium content, unmatched distribution, and deeper fan engagement.”