HC at the NAB: Radio, One Way or Another
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
These conventions used to be about making-the-most-of those towers behind radio stations that played in several rooms at home and occupied two knobs and six buttons in the dashboard. Back to the future…
“Take every available opportunity to connect with audiences.”
Longtime programmer turned podcaster Buzz Knight moderated the session, “Cross-Platform Content Wins – Radio and Podcast Success Stories.” And here’s one now, a radio news guy I’d like to clone, WBZ-AM, Boston’s Matt Shearer, the next-gen’ talent whose skill set and perspective yields the sort of content that takes radio beyond those towers.
Shearer told us he “had been making video from my radio pieces. Now, I’m making radio from my video.” Whereupon Alpha Media EVP of content Phil Becker urged broadcasters to “focus on THAT they use you, not WHERE they use you.” And noting that – as “streaming services have divided audiences” – South Carolina Public Radio director Sean Birch recognizes that “We have to hit a bunch of audiences all at once.”
Common thread in panelists’ remarks: Broadcast and podcast listeners “are very different audiences;” and “we have to be where people are.” Still, revenue stacks-up in two piles: broadcast bucks and digital dimes. And Hubbard Radio EVP/programming Greg Strassell reckons, “Any engagement you do is an opportunity to promote the mothership.” Hubbard’s WTOP, Washington simulcasts its on-air programming via YouTube, and Greg says average Time Spend Listening there is 17 minutes.
“Using Social Media to Develop Community”
In this session, Beasley Media Group’s Dave Snyder recommends a Basic Success Framework:
— Understand your community. Rather than thinking platform (“We need to be on TikTok”), limit your reach to platforms that offer the most engagement potential. “Not all platforms will be a fit for your content.”
— Set your goals. What does success look like? Gauge value by engagement counts like Comments and Likes, rather than mere Views.
— Be authentic. Build brand guidelines, and have a moderation policy, and a style/tone guide. AI is a useful tool, “but it’s not authentic.”
Develop Engagement. Social media gives broadcasters a unique potential to:
— Share a behind-the-scenes view as content is created, “how the sausage is made,” giving your community a different perspective.
— Expose the community to content creators’ personalities. Building community is only possible if people feel like they actually “know” you.
— Interact with the audience. “Community building can’t just be about pushing content. Engagement flows two ways.”
Keep it going. “Once you have your Framework and Content plan, then comes the hard part.”
— “Consistency and cadence is probably the most important part of growing a consistently engaged community.”
— “Use ‘the whole buffalo.’ Optimize your content for cross-platform use.”
— Use analytics to “build on what works and chuck what doesn’t.”
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
Birmingham, Alabama headquarters. SummitMedia CEO Carl Parmer states, “Joe brings a wealth of experience and a new perspective to the SummitMedia team. He’s a dynamic, high-energy leader who, I know, will guide our results-oriented teams to new levels of success.” Parmer adds that he expects Bell to bring innovation across platforms, strengthening the company’s competitiveness and longterm growth across media platforms. Bell comments, “Success lies in leading with vision, inspiring a high-performing team and unlocking new revenue opportunities across our traditional and digital platforms. Summit has built a team of great people — with great products and great markets — that equal great opportunities.” 
and Fort Myers. Stacie Waldrop, who has been serving as the digital sales manager for Beasley’s Tampa-based radio cluster, is promoted to RVP of digital sales in which she’ll oversee digital sales for the Fort Myers market in addition to Tampa. And Randy Cable, formerly the director of sales for Beasley’s Fort Myers radio cluster, is promoted to regional director of sales in which he’ll oversee all sales operations for both the Tampa and Fort Myers markets. Beasley regional VP Ron deCastro says, “I am excited to announce these well-deserved promotions. Randy, April, and Stacie each bring unique skill sets that will greatly enhance our ability to serve the needs of advertisers and listeners in both markets.”
Beasley Media Group has announced the official launch yesterday (8/28) of Augusta Today, a new online news site. Augusta Today will focus on local news in, around, and about the Greater Augusta metro area. Developed with the goal of giving people both “the stories they want and the news they need,” the hyper-local publication features established Augusta-area writers and media figures such as Ashley Brown, Austin Rhodes, and Kris Fisher. Augusta Today will be free. “Free and easy – that’s the mantra,” says editor-in-chief Steven Uhles. “We wanted to make sure that these stories were not blocked by a paywall and that our conversations with the community remain unfettered and unencumbered.” Inspired by both the classic daily newspaper model and the more free-wheeling approach of alternative weeklies, Augusta Today has been developed “to educate as well as entertain” featuring breaking local news, sports coverage, lifestyle features and an array of columns. “We all are extremely excited about Augusta Today and what we believe it will mean to this community,” Kent Dunn, VP/market manager of Beasley Media Group tells TALKERS. “We see this as a great addition to our portfolio of radio stations here in the Augusta market and a real extension of our local-first approach to engaging with the community.” To visit Augusta Today please 
Beginning on September 3 at 12:00 noon ET, Bloomberg Radio, will begin broadcasting its 24-hour all business news format on Beasley Media Group’s 92.9/WBOS-FM HD1.
engineering. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing all engineering activities across Beasley’s 57 radio properties throughout the United States. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “Lamar’s commitment, dedication and experience are exactly what we need as the organization continues to evolve and innovate into the future.” Smith, who will remain based in Charlotte, says, “Many thanks to Caroline and the Beasley family for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to being able to lead the engineering division as the company continues to evolve for years to come.”
2003 and 2004 Super Bowl winning radio broadcasts, followed by the inaugural “Felger & Mazz” show. Throughout its 15-year history, the station has received numerous industry accolades, including the National Association of Broadcasters’ Marconi Award for “Sports Station of the Year” in 2011, 2014, 2019 and 2023. Station program director Rick Radzik says, “For me, being with the station since day one, I have always felt proud and privileged to be a part of the ‘Sports Hub’ team these past 15 years. We look forward to celebrating the milestone all next week on air and online with many stories and recollections from our on-air talent.”
responsible for overseeing the Fort Myers and Tampa, Florida markets. In addition to serving as Ft. Myers market manager, AJ Lurie will now oversee sales across the state. Mac Edwards will oversee the Charlotte and Fayetteville markets. Kent Dunn will continue to lead the Augusta market. Mary Menna will lead the company’s Boston, Philadelphia, and New Jersey markets. Kevin Rich, who currently serves as Beasley Media Group vice president of operations, will now also be responsible for overseeing the company’s Las Vegas and Detroit-based operations. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley states, “These changes reflect the company’s continuous commitment to streamline our sales efforts and drive revenue in an efficient manner across multiple platforms throughout the company.”
and Macy’s. In this newly created corporate position, Snyder will be responsible for overseeing digital marketing and building revenue opportunities on behalf of the company with an emphasis on newsletters, SEO, websites and affiliate marketing as well as leading the developers working across the organization. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “We could not be more thrilled to welcome Dave into the Beasley family. His marketing expertise is exactly what we need as we continue to build new revenue streams on behalf of the company.”
Mike Missanelli is a possible replacement. He writes, “Jonny Marks reported last week that the Mike/Fanatic reunion looks to be in place ahead of football season. My understanding is that 97.5 is also high on Bill Colarulo and Amy Fadool as new pieces. Colarulo hosts weekends and has filled in on P.M. drive while Fadool had been co-hosting alongside Cooney.” For his part, Cooney posted the following to Facebook: “Wanted to say thanks to all who listened over the years during my time at The Fanatic. Loved the conversations and getting to know a lot of you. They told me today they are moving in a different direction.”
relief pitcher – joined the afternoon drive show in August of 2022. Beasley Philadelphia cluster manager Paul Blake comments, “Ricky was a fierce competitor on the mound during his 12-year career in Major League Baseball. His grit, toughness, and strong work ethic make him an ideal co-host for our afternoon show on ‘The Fanatic.’ We’re thrilled to announce his renewal.” Bottalico says, “I am happy to be back with Tyrone and ‘The Best Show Ever.’ I will continue to work hard to bring my best every day. As a group, we are striving to be better every chance we get!”
Former MLB relief pitcher/26-year Philadelphia Phillies radio analyst Larry Anderson; Beasley Media Group account representative Tina Costello; iHeartMedia, Philadelphia news/community affairs director Loraine Ballard Morrill; and long-time (now retired) all-news KYW, Philadelphia anchor/“Reporters Roundup” host Steve Nikazy are among those who will be entering the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia (BPOP) Hall of Fame. Along with six others, these four will be inducted into the Hall at the nonprofit’s gala in approximately four months (11/22). Hosting the BPOP Hall of Fame event will be 15-time Emmy winner/2015 inductee CBS News Philadelphia morning and noon anchor Jim Donovan and former WPVI-TV, Philadelphia sports anchor/2005 HOF honoree Scott Palmer. Founded in 1962, The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia honors the broadcast history of Philadelphia, supporting the next generation of broadcasters through scholarships and educational opportunities and recognizing those who have made lasting contributions to the industry. 
During a presentation last week at Beasley Media Group Boston, the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association awarded 11 scholarships totaling $30,000. Scholarship checks were presented by MBA’s immediate past chair/Beasley Media Group vice president/market manager Mary Menna and MBA executive director Jordan Walton. According to Menna, “Beasley Media is proud to have participated in the MBA Student Broadcaster Scholarship for many years. It’s a worthwhile investment in supporting the next generation of radio and television employees.” Walton commented, “The MBA and its members have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in our future broadcasters. We look forward to watching this group succeed in broadcasting in the years to come.” Menna and Walton delivered brief remarks to the scholarship winners before BMG Boston sports talk WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” morning hosts Fred Toucher and Rob “Hardy” Poole spoke to the winners about their paths into broadcasting. Student Broadcaster Scholarships are given to students pursuing a career in over-the-air broadcasting and enrolled at a two or four-year accredited school.
Audacy Philadelphia sports talk WIP “Sports Radio 94” names 
Group’s New Jersey operations that includes sports talk WCTC-AM, New Brunswick “FOX Sports New Jersey” and six music brands. Mann most recently served as client services manager at the company’s Boston station group. Beasley SVP and regional market manager Dan Finn states, “We’re all very excited that Dan Mann will be returning to New Jersey full time and in a larger capacity as digital sales manager. Dan is a consummate professional and is the perfect person to take us to the next level.”
executives companywide. Beasley Media Group CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “We are very excited to be among the early users of SPECai. The technology is a game-changing tool for our sales teams to quickly and easily produce great-sounding spec spots for clients in minutes that don’t sound AI-generated, making them very compelling for advertisers. It’s amazing technology for our industry.”
sales manager. He most recently served as a senior digital account executive. Beasley Philadelphia cluster manager Paul Blake says, “Jim Antes’ leadership and passion have been a driving influence within our company, making him the perfect 
choice for director of sales. Jim’s ability to inspire and motivate his team, combined with his deep understanding of the market, positions him to lead our sales division to new heights. His exceptional ability to build strong relationships with both advertisers and employees has been instrumental in our success and will continue to drive our growth. We are equally excited to highlight Greg Beran’s rising star status as a digital leader. Greg has grown within our company, consistently demonstrating innovative thinking and a keen understanding of the digital landscape. His commitment to excellence and ability to drive digital sales initiatives have set him apart as a dynamic and influential leader. Greg’s promotion to digital sales manager is a testament to his hard work, creativity, and strategic mindset, all of which will play a crucial role in our continued success in the digital arena.”
he will report directly to president Bruce Beasley and will be responsible for overseeing WMMR-FM, WMGK-FM, WXTU-FM, BEN FM, 97.5 The Fanatic, WWDB 860 and Camden’s WTMR 800. He states, “I am deeply honored and thrilled to take on the role of cluster manager for Beasley Media Philadelphia. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Beasley family for their unwavering trust and confidence in me. It is an incredible privilege to lead one of America’s premier groups of radio stations and digital content creators, and I look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and innovation in the media industry.”
broadcasts starting three hours before each kickoff with “Patriots Preview.” Jim Murray continues as the main pregame host, with Marc Bertrand also hosting some select games. Chris Gasper, Boston Globe columnist and co-host of the popular “Gasper & Murray Show,” returns for his 10th season as the pregame co-host. Station PD Rick Radzik states, “The Patriots have been a cornerstone of our programming since we launched the ‘Sports Hub.’ As the team enters this new era, I’m thrilled that ‘98.5 The Sports Hub’ will be the home of the game broadcasts for the next decade, while also continuing to provide an outlet for Pats fans to talk football year-round.”
-FM, Philadelphia “97.5 The Fanatic.” Egan posted confirmation of his exit on X, saying, “So last night I got laid off from the Fanatic. I figured it was coming when I heard there were cuts, & the writing was on the wall when I got moved to nights.” As Crossing Broad notes, “Egan was one of the longest-tenured employees remaining at the station. He began as an intern in 2011 and then became a street teamer and producer.” 
the chief engineer for Cumulus Media in Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola, Florida. Beasley says Ringer will be responsible for transmitter and studio maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs of the market’s RF systems, maintaining and utilizing Wheatstone and WheatNet for audio routing and broadcasting, and other related duties. Ringer comments, “Having been raised in studios and transmitter sites, I feel that broadcast engineering is in my DNA. My father has been a broadcast engineer for more than 40 years and has taught me most of what I know. I credit him with instilling an unwavering work ethic in me as I watched him work tirelessly through my childhood years. I have been working in radio for more than 25 years and love every aspect of what I do.”
McKone is named the new headline anchor and co-host on the station’s “Zolak & Bertrand” midday program. McKone takes over for Rob “Hardy” Poole, who moved to mornings with Fred Toucher on the station in January 2024. McKone has been a part-time on-air personality at the station since 2013. In addition to co-hosting and providing headlines on all weekday and weekend shows across the station, he has served as studio host for the Celtics and Bruins radio broadcasts.
CEO/president, Gray Television; Mary Menna, vice president & market manager, Beasley Media Group; and Carlson Mozdiez, vice president, digital business operations, Audacy; alongside moderator Sarah Foss, chief technology officer, Audacy, will engage in a candid conversation exploring the evolving landscape of sports business and the significant role women play in shaping its future. The panel will dive deep into the emergence of multiplatform sports coverage and how it has reshaped the business landscape of the sports industry, and how media professionals have leveraged multiplatform sports to enhance audience engagement and reach a diverse set of viewers. 
writer Bob Cooney to middays. The question Tornoe asks is what about Mike Missanelli? “Rumors have been swirling in sports radio circles the past few days about the return of Missanelli, once the station’s biggest star, whose sudden exit from his afternoon show in 2022 after 15 years shocked listeners.” Tornoe says that Missanelli has been in contact with management but there’s nothing to report and Missanelli isn’t talking. PD Scott Masteller tells the paper, “Mike’s name has come up. He’s a great talent, and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. A lot of people are interested in the radio station right now. So, I’ll leave it at that.” The current PM drive show is “The Best Show Ever?” hosted by Tyrone Johnson, Ricky Bottalico and Jenn Scordo. 