Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

FOX News Channel’s Laura Ingraham will present a town hall with former President Donald Trump on February 20 in Spartanburg, South Carolina at 7:00 pm ET on “The Ingraham Angle.”

“The Money Pit Home Improvement Show,” co-hosted by Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete, announces that it adds stations in Los Angeles and Houston, and “upgrades its exposure” in New York, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Boston. The program is now heard on 450 stations across the U.S. Kraeutler says he attributes this growth to radio stations’ interest in programming that addresses homeowners’ Do-It-Yourself solutions, and advertiser demand for related products and services, “especially on weekends, when homeowners are planning and shopping for what they need to get the job done.” Segrete adds, “Taking on a home improvement project can be daunting, so Tom and I offer callers clear, step-by-step suggestions to do the job themselves or guidance on hiring a pro.”

Motor Racing Network is broadcasting live today (2/14) from Daytona 500 Media Day where representatives from the network will talk with every driver attempting to win at the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. The 2024 Daytona 500 is Sunday (2/18) with Motor Racing Network coverage beginning at 1:30 pm ET and airing on 350 radio stations across the U.S.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (2/13) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The U.S. House votes to impeach Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; Democrat Tom Suozzi wins special election for George Santos’ House seat; concerns about President Joe Biden’s age and the presidential race; the Fani WillisNathan Wade relationship; former President Donald Trump petitions the Supreme Court in his claim of presidential immunity; Trump’s NATO comments and the Russia-Ukraine war; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the latest report on inflation and the state of the U.S. economy; and the controversy over country music stations “refusing” to play Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” song  were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Milk It

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imIf last week’s column didn’t out me as an utter Smerconish fan-boy, this week’s will. Find his 2/10 CNN show online. It may be the best hour of cable news Talk TV I’ve ever seen; and having hosted several hundred myself, I don’t say so casually.

After Special Counsel Robert K. Hur’s report on President Biden’s mishandling of classified material characterized him as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” Michael’s poll asked: “Should Jill Biden suggest to her husband that he not seek re-election?”

50,504 votes (not a misprint): 63.85% Yes, 36.15% No.

Guest James Carville quipped that “Today is the youngest you’ll ever be for the rest of your life;” and he noted that LBJ didn’t drop out of the 1968 race until March.

Meanwhile, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejects Donald Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution for the potential crimes tied to trying to stay in office despite losing the election…AND polls consistently demonstrate that most Americans don’t want a Biden-Trump rematch in 2024. Undaunted, Nikki Haley asks “do we really want two 80-year-olds” to be the choice?

With all due respect to Rush Limbaugh for leading the vaunted “Talk Radio Revolution” back then, this format’s golden age is NOW. We are in the suspense business. Milk it.

TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison asks, “Does the current crop of hosts, trained to preach to their target audience choirs, have the skill and balls to take advantage of the frustrated – even desperate – mood of the greater American public outside their narrow-minded core followers? And will their bosses allow them to even try?”

While I share his concern, I am advising news/talk stations that the “news” component is MUCH more tactically opportune than the “talk” – even for FOX News Radio affiliates which program major syndicated political hosts. ABC and CBS newscasts are also big assets, appointment listening if we promote overtly.

Specific goal: Add occasions-of-tune-in. How: “With SO much changing SO quickly now, stay close to the news. Check-in for a quick [name of network] update, every half hour…here. [dial positions, call letters].”

Local news people: This tactic will better expose your work too. Emulate your network’s writing style, latest-aspect-first, short sentences, use sound, and sound different than last hour.

Hosts: LISTEN. If callers barely let you get a word in edgewise, you’re playing this just right.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of The Local Radio Advantage: Your 4-Week Tune-In Tune-Up,” and “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins”and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend

President Joe Biden’s age and the presidential race; former President Donald Trump’s Russia-NATO comments; the aftermath of Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin; Israel’s rescue of two hostages as Palestinians say more than 100 are killed in Rafah; the U.S. Senate advances a $95 billion foreign aid package; the uncertain fate of Trump’s immunity claim before the Supreme Court; Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hospitalized again; and the run-up to Sunday night’s Super Bowl LVIII were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of February 5-9

The battle in Congress over legislation to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the failure of House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, followed by former President Donald Trump’s legal battles at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Industry News

Wayne Allyn Root, “We Did This!”

Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated talk radio host Wayne Allyn Root celebrates the 8th anniversary of his talk radio show (2/7). The anniversary coincides with the Nevada GOP primary that saw GOPim candidate Nikki Haley come in behind “None of the Above Candidates.” (“None of the Above Candidates” is choice that has been on Nevada ballots since 1975.)  Root tells TALKERS that he came up with the strategy of convincing his audience to vote “None of the Above” to support Donald Trump and claims, “This is Exhibit A for the power of talk radio. Look at the vote totals. The number of ‘None of the Above’ voters almost exactly matches the number of listeners to my Vegas and statewide Nevada radio show. We did this. My Nevada audience almost single-handedly ended Nikki’s presidential ambitions.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s (2/7) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The U.S. migrant crisis and Congress’ failure to pass border control and aid to Ukraine and Israel legislation; SCOTUS to hear the Donald Trump election eligibility case; the Fani WillisNathan Wade relationship; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the Russia-Ukraine war and Tucker Carlson’s claim he’ll interview Vladimir Putin; U.S. military strikes on an Iran-backed militia in Iraq; Super Bowl LVIII and MAGA’s Taylor Swift-NFL conspiracy theory; the atmospheric river bringing floods and mudslides to Southern California were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (2/6) Top News/Talk Media Stories

A federal appeals court rules former President Donald Trump does not have immunity from prosecution; the U.S. House fails in a vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; under pressure from Trump, Senate Republicans are expected to block the bipartisan border deal and aid for Ukraine and Israel package; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the Russia-Ukraine war; the 2024 presidential race; a Michigan jury finds Jennifer Crumbley guilty of manslaughter; and Tucker Carlson’s visit to Moscow and his expected sit-down interview with Vladimir Putin were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (2/5) Top News/Talk Media Stories

House Republicans reject a bi-partisan plan to stop migration at the border in exchange for aid to Ukraine; today’s House vote on impeaching Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; the 2024 presidential race; Secretary of State Anthony Blinken meets with Saudi crown prince to drum up support for Gaza cease fine; the heavy rains and mudslides in Southern California; MAGA’s Taylor Swift-NFL conspiracy theory; Donald Trump’s legal battles; the Fani WillisNathan Wade relationship; Toby Keith dies at 62 after a battle with cancer; and King Charles III steps away from official duties to undergo cancer treatment were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend

Negotiations in Congress over border legislation and aid to Ukraine and Israel; the U.S. military strikes Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria; MAGA’s Taylor Swift-NFL conspiracy theory; the 2024 presidential race; Donald Trump’s legal battles; the Fani WillisNathan Wade relationship; Sunday evening’s Grammy Awards; an atmospheric river drenches Southern California; and Apple’s Vision Pro headsets hit stores were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (1/31) Top News/Talk Media Stories

U.S.-Iran tensions; the U.S. migrant crisis and the Articles of Impeachment against Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the 2024 presidential race; Ron DeSantis vs Disney; former president Donald Trump’s legal battles and the allegations against Fani Willis; the Russia-Ukraine war and Ukraine’s plea for aid; the testimony from tech leaders about online safety at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing; and the FBI announces Chinese hackers threaten critical U.S. infrastructure were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (1/30) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The U.S. migrant crisis and the House votes to move forward with Articles of Impeachment against Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; the 2024 presidential race and MAGA versus Taylor Swift; the deadly attacks on a U.S. military base in Jordan that Joe Biden blames on Iran; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the U.S. battle against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea; the Fani Willis allegations; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; and the FBI announces Chinese hackers threaten critical U.S. infrastructure were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (1/29) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The deaths of three U.S. servicemembers in Jordan and military tensions between the U.S. and Iran; the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the 2024 presidential race; the U.S. migrant crisis and the impeachment of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; the Fani Willis affair allegations; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; and the liquidation of Evergrande and the state of the Chinese economy were some of most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend

The 2024 presidential race; Jordan drone attack kills three U.S. servicemembers; U.S. migrant crisis and the negotiations in congress over aid for Ukraine; House Republicans release articles of impeachment against Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; the Fani Willis affair allegations; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; the Israel-Hamas war; and the liquidation of China’s Evergrande were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of January 22-26

The 2024 presidential race was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the U.S. migrant crisis tied with congress’ negotiations on military aid to Ukraine, followed by Donald Trump’s legal battles tied with the allegations Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis had a romantic relationship with a Trump prosecutor at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories

The presidential race and Donald Trump’s victory in New Hampshire’s primary; the efforts in congress to pass border security legislation and provide aid to Ukraine; Trump’s legal battles; the Israel-Hamas war and Benjamin Netanyahu’s criticism of Qatar’s mediation efforts; the U.S. military’s battles against Houthi rebels; the FAA begins an inspection process to get Boeing’s 737 Max 9 back in the air; the Russia-Ukraine war and the downing of a military plane carrying 74 people; and the Arizona GOP’s Kari LakeJeff DeWit controversy were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories

The presidential race and Donald Trump’s victory in the New Hampshire primary; Trump’s legal battles and the Fani Willis controversy; U.S. migrant crisis and the SCOTUS razor wire ruling; the Israel-Hamas war and Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition to a Palestinian state; more troubles crop up for Boeing; financial troubles at the Los Angeles Times; the Doomsday Clock; AI and social media; the Oscar nominations and the snub of Barbie director Greta Gerwig and lead actor Margot Robbie were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (1/22) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The presidential race and the New Hampshire primary; Donald Trump’s legal battles; the accusations of Georgia AG Fani Willis having an affair with Trump special prosecutor; the U.S. migrant crisis and the SCOTUS ruling allowing border patrol to cut razor wire installed by Texas; U.S. accuses Iran of supporting Houthi rebels attacking ships in the Red Sea; and 24 Israeli soldiers are killed during operations in Gaza were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.