Ongoing Coverage of TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond
The 27th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running, and most important national event took place on Friday, June 7 at Hofstra University on Long Island. TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond was an advance sellout. The power-packed, one-day agenda featured a roster of more than 60 speakers from all ends of the talk radio and related talk media industries including talent, station owners, CEOs, programmers, technical experts, journalists, syndicators, and a wide variety of visionaries. The annual talk media industry tradition was presented by TALKERS in association with the prestigious university’s multi-award-winning station WRHU Radio and Hofstra’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication. Key discussions included “Gaining Traction in a Noisy World,” “The Case for AM Radio,” “Generating News/Talk Revenue in the Digital Era,” “The State of Sports Talk Radio,” “The Brave New World of Technological and Generational Change,” “Programming News/Talk Radio,” “Perspectives on Hosting Television Talk,” “Philanthropy and Community Service,” “The Art of Story Telling,” “Talk Radio Programming Opportunities Beyond Politics,” “Meeting the Challenges of Being a Talk Talent,” “The Big Picture of Radio’s Role in a Rapidly Changing World,” and “The State of the First Amendment” among others. As the volumes of data generated by this gathering are sorted out, TALKERS will provide in-depth, detailed coverage of the conference in the days and weeks ahead including posting videos of its key segments. See a selection of photos from TALKERS 2024 Radio and Beyond below.
Super-agent, Heather Cohen, president of the Weiss Agency (l) pictured with her super-client Fred Toucher, morning co-host on WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub” Boston (r) at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. Cohen spoke on the “Brave New World” panel and Toucher was the fireside chat guest on “The State of Sports Talk Radio.”
New England power couple: Howie and Kathy Carr played important roles at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. Howie Carr, host, the Howie Carr Radio Network (l) was this year’s recipient of the Jim Bohannon Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement (2024 TALKERS Lifetime Achievement Award) in addition to speaking on the “Behind the Mic” panel discussion. Kathy Carr, president, the Howie Carr Radio Network (r) appeared on the “Generating News Talk Revenue in the Digital Era” panel.
This great shot of Chris Oliviero, market president, Audacy New York was captured in the ever-buzzing hallway of Hofstra University’s Lawrence Herbert School of Communication – home of TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. Oliviero spoke on the panel, “The Big Picture.”
Former recipient of the TALKERS Humanitarian of the Year award, Larry Young, host, WOLB, Baltimore (l) is pictured with his assistant Vernon Streeter (r). Young presented a stirring tribute to the late talk radio legend Joe Madison of SiriusXM Satellite Radio, who passed away earlier this year.
Kraig T. Kitchin, CEO, Sound Mind, LCC and co-chair, Radio Hall of Fame (l) is pictured right outside Hofstra University’s “Studio A” soundstage with TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond producer/director Michael Harrison (r). Kitchin – last year’s recipient of the TALKERS Lifetime Achievement award – spoke on the “Big Picture” panel which was moderated by Harrison.
Longtime WPHT, Philadelphia superstar, Dom Giordano smiles for the TALKERS camera during one of the very quick breaks between sessions at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond. Giordano, the “dean of Philadelphia talk radio” spoke on the “Behind the Mic” panel.
Under the lights: Another segment of the capacity crowd of attendees at TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond is pictured in the Hofstra University Lawrence Herbert School of Communication “Studio A” TV soundstage where the entire event was captured on video. TALKERS will begin posting the video recordings of the conference next week bringing its exciting content to a worldwide audience.
More pictures from TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond — as well as videos of panels and presentations — still to come!
within the realm of the company going forward?” “How can radio remain true to its roots and mission as an audio medium and theater-of-the-mind without missing the opportunities provided in a multiplatform environment?” plus more. Pittman says that this is a “golden moment” for both radio and the larger field of audio in which it is and will remain a major player. He pointed out that “25% of iHeart’s stations do not play music” and that more and more shows on the company’s music stations are “actually talk shows that play little or no music at all.” He reaffirmed the company’s awareness that personality plays an important role in the presentation of music and it is its intention to pivot back in that direction. He candidly addressed the divide between the coastal elites who influence the direction of national media but are largely out of touch with the heartland and the rest of real America. 
the industry as a number of car manufacturers unveiled controversial intentions to eliminate AM radios from the dashboard of electric and even gas vehicles going forward. In making the announcement about this additional agenda element, TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison stated, “The automobile issue is rocking the industry and John Catsimatidis has been stepping up to the plate in defense of both radio and good sense. He brings his formidable influence into the arena and we are delighted that he will be delivering a major address to that effect on June 2 at the conference. He has become a radio hero, and this will be another key moment in his growing legacy… and hopefully in prolonging the valuable life of both the AM and FM bands.”
and 2022 guiding the charitable organization to more than quadruple the amount of financial aid it distributes to radio and TV professionals in acute need from $400,000 to nearly $2 million last year. “I am very proud to have known Jim for nearly 40 years as a colleague and a friend,” said Scott Herman, chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation. “Jim believed deeply in helping others and his passion and enthusiasm for life always lit up a room. He always saw the positive in every person and every situation.” Prior to his service to the industry as president of the BFoA, Thompson had been president and CEO of Group W Radio, the second largest radio company in the country during his leadership, and along with Mike Craven was co-owner of Liberty Broadcasting, a 19-station radio group concentrated on the East Coast. He began his broadcasting career as an account executive at KYW-TV, Philadelphia in 1971, where he rose to vice president and general manager. An innovator and visionary, Thompson created the Radio-Mercury Awards to encourage and reward excellence in radio creative. He served on the boards of the Radio Advertising Bureau and the Advertising Council, was vice chairman of the Pennsylvania State Broadcasters Association and a member of numerous committees, including the NAB Radio Futures Committee. A member of the U.S. Army, Thompson served in Vietnam. The presentation will be made by talk show host Harry Hurley of WPG, Atlantic City at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island.
balance between local, national, and multiplatform elements of the ever-evolving talk media space. Brian Kilmeade is a nationally known talk star hosting separate shows on FOX News Radio and FOX News Channel (TV). His syndicated radio show is carried on Long Island (where he also lives) by news/talk WRCN-FM, Riverhead “Long Island News Radio.” The station which serves Eastern Long Island is owned by JVC Broadcasting of which John Caracciolo is president/CEO. Harry Hurley, morning host at WPG, Atlantic City, NJ (and regular guest host on FOX News Radio who occasionally fills in for Kilmeade) will serve as moderator of what promises to be a fascinating three-way conversation. 
