Industry News

Alvord Joins Compass Media in Affiliate Sales

Compass Media Networks names Carter Alvord to the position of associate director of affiliate sales, sports & news/talk programming. Alvord is a 2026 Bucknell University graduate who’s imgbeen interning with Compass Media Networks since June 2024. In his new position he’ll assist with growth of the company’s featured play-by-play sports including NFL Football, NCAA Football & Basketball and heritage news/talk programming including “This Morning with Gordon Deal” and Erick Erickson. Alvord says, “Growing up listening to ‘Anna & Raven’ sparked my passion for radio. It is an honor to join Compass Media Networks, and I am thrilled to work shoulder to shoulder with Rob Blum and the rest of the affiliate sales team to super serve our affiliates and content partners.”

Industry News

New Talker “92.3 The Hub” Launches in Lubbock

Ramar Communications flips KTTU-HD4/K222CQ, Lubbock, Texas to news/talk as “92.3img The Hub – The Voice for Freedom.” The station features Salem Radio Network programming including Mike Gallagher, Hugh Hewitt, Larry Elder, and Scott Jennings, plus Compass Media Network’s Erick Erickson. The station is also airing local agribusiness programming from hosts Tony St. James and Steven Orr in morning drive.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

New Affiliates for Erick Erickson. Nationally syndicated talk host Erick Erickson adds new affiliate stations including WMAC, Macon, Georgia; Virginia Talk Radio Network’s WIQO-FM, WBLT-AM/FM and WMNA-FM; WUSX-FM, Seaford, Delaware; WETR-AM/FM, Knoxville; and WBRP-FM, Baton Rouge.

MIW Management Webinar Set for January 15. Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc are presenting a webinar titled, “Management 101: Becoming an Impactful Leader,” next Wednesday, January 15 at 2:00 pm ET. Media executives including Townsquare Media Group COO Erik Hellum, StreamGuys’ Dara M. Kalvort, Audacy San Francisco’s Kieran Geffert, and WGN Radio’s Mary Boyle will appear as panelists. You can register here.

Industry News

Erick Erickson Show Raises Funds for Hungry for a Day

The nationally syndicated “Erick Erickson Show” helped raise more than $265,000 for Hungry for a Day to provide Thanksgiving meals nationwide. The drive focuses on delivering completeimg holiday dinners – including turkey or smoked ham, sweet or mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, rolls, and pie – to families who might otherwise go without. Erickson says, “Every year, my listeners remind me why this show exists – not just to discuss the issues of the day, but to drive real change in people’s lives. In these tough times, knowing we’ve put food on the table for thousands of families fills me with gratitude. This isn’t about politics; it’s about compassion, faith, and stepping up for our neighbors. Hungry for a Day makes it seamless, and our audience makes it extraordinary with an impact from coast to coast.”

Industry News

Erick Erickson Joins AJC as Opinion Contributor

Nationally syndicated talk radio host Erick Erickson has begun writing opinion pieces for Theimg Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  The Compass Media Networks host is heard in Atlanta on Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM. His first piece was printed in September in the wake of the slaying of Charlie Kirk. His latest column is titled, “Democrats are hungry, Republicans complacent and all politics is national,” and you can read that here.

Industry News

News/Talk Radio Covers Elections

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New York City’s mayoral race was being watched across the country and Red Apple Media’s WABC, New York presented a bi-partisan Roundtable of its hosts and local political figures to analyze and discuss the race. Pictured above in the station’s Studio 77 in Manhattan are (from l-r): WABC owner and talk host John Catsimatidis; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, co-host of 77WABC’s “The Rev & The Rabbi”; Fernando Mateo, NYC businessman, activist, and politician; Dominic Carter, host of the “Dominic Carter Show” on 77WABC; former New York Governor David Paterson; and former Congressman Anthony Weiner. Elsewhere, on the nationally syndicated “Erick Erickson Show,” media personality Megyn Kelly joined to discuss the New York City mayoral election and key races across the country. She and Erickson also explored Charlie Kirk’s influence, the future of the Republican Party, and its path forward. Former Vice President Mike Pence also appeared on the program to discuss his upcoming book, What Conservatives Believe. He and Erickson discussed Pence’s unique relationship with the late Dick Cheney, key accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration, and the troubling rise of antisemitism on both the left and the right. Photo by Michelle Jerson

Industry News

Buffalo’s “The Patriot” to Launch on July 4

Buddy Shula’s new radio station WUSW, Niagara Falls, New York – formerly WHLD – will officially launch its conservative talk format on July 4 as “1270 AM The Patriot.” Shula, who operates oldies WECK in theimg Buffalo market, acquired WHDL from Cumulus Media earlier this year. He says, “I’m thrilled to be debuting a local talk station that deals with real issues. I feel the conservative talk lane is open, and that will give listeners a choice of the type of talk that they really want to hear.” The station will feature syndicated shows including Premiere Networks’ “The Sean Hannity Show,” “Glenn Beck,” “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton,” and “Jesse Kelly,” plus Erik Erickson, Lars Larson, Vince Coglianese, and more. New York State Assemblyman David DiPietro will also host a local program.

Industry News

Erick Erickson’s “4 Things to Know This Afternoon” Debuts

WSB, Atlanta-based, nationally syndicated talk host Erick Erickson is launching a new podcast that givesimg fans their “essential end-of-day rundown of the four most important stories breaking while you were busy.” The Erickson show says “4 Things to Know This Afternoon” delivers “smart analysis of the four biggest headlines shaping the nation and the world in less than ten minutes. From national security to culture, economics to politics, Erick distills the noise into clarity – cutting through the spin with conviction, context, and a clear-eyed view of where things stand.”

Industry News

Erick Erickson Prioritizes Affiliate Station Visits

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Compass Media Networks nationally syndicated talk host Erick Erickson says he’s making it a priority to visit stations for listener and client meet and greets and adds that to reduce the burden on the affiliates, the show is picking up travel expenses for himself and team. Pictured above is Erickson chatting with listeners to WEEB, Southern Pines, North Carolina. Erickson says, “Radio is a far more intimate medium than any other form of media. People get to know you based on voice inflection. Getting into the markets and being in person with our listeners builds the audience connection and is important to me. It’s equally important that I do it without being a burden to the affiliates and working in collaboration with them.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Erick Erickson Wins MRC’s Bulldog Award. WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta-base, nationally syndicated talk host Erick Erickson is honored with the Media Research Center’s MRC Bulldog Award for Outstanding Radio Talk Show. The award is given to Erickson for “following in the footsteps of the revered Rush Limbaugh by blending humor with hard-hitting political analysis.”

“The Road to Cooperstown” Launches. A new season of the baseball podcast series “The Road to Cooperstown” has dropped on SiriusXM. Each episode of features host Jon Paul Morosi sitting down with a different Hall of Famer and the first episode features Philadelphia Phillies great Mike Schmidt.

Industry News

Erick Erickson Show Adds New Affiliates

The Compass Media Networks syndicated “Erick Erickson Show” adds new affiliate stations to its roster.img Now airing the program are Townsquare Media’s KONA-AM, Tri-Cities, Washington; Eifel Tower Broadcasting’s KZHN-AM, Paris, Texas; Vero Beach Broadcasters’ WTTB, Vero Beach, Florida; and Zimmer Midwest Communications’ KWTO, Springfield, Missouri. “The Erick Erickson Show” airs live weekdays from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET.

Industry News

Erickson’s The Gathering Draws 700 to Atlanta

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WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta-based talk radio host Erick Erickson presented the 2024 edition of his conservative politics convention The Gathering in Atlanta over the weekend. Erickson tells TALKERS, “We had 700 people show up in Atlanta from 47 states and Canada. Every one of my radio markets from KYKN in Oregon to WTIC and WICC in Connecticut had listeners present.  Unfortunately, between Tropical Storm Debby and COVID, we didn’t have as many as we expected, but it was still a great turnout. Over two days, I interviewed former Vice President Mike Pence, four governors, three senators, two congressmen, two senate candidates, and more. This was the only interview Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured above) has conducted outside Kentucky since 2019.” He adds, “Next year, we are turning it into a road show. Our sponsors have already agreed to help us take the Gathering into our radio markets.  Since so many radio stations now have limited promotions budgets, we’ll do all the work to get the venue, speakers, and attendees, and let each market find a local sponsor as their own revenue opportunity.”

Industry News

WSB Care-a-Thon Raises More than $2 Million

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Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta hosted the 24th annual 95.5 WSB Care-a-Thon on July 25 and 26, raising $2,037,439 for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. During the two-day radio broadcast WSB hosts Scott Slade, Clark Howard, Mark Arum, Erick Erickson, Eric Von Haessler and Shelley Wynter were joined on-air by patients and families as they shared their stories of resilience, loss and hope. Adding a unique perspective to the broadcast was 95.5 WSB’s newest and youngest host, 15-year-old cancer survivor Lex Stolle, who spoke as both a Children’s patient and a teenager.

Industry News

Legends of Georgia Radio HOF To Welcome Spriggs

 

Atlanta radio programmer Pete Spriggs will be among this year’s inductees to the Legends of Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. He commented to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Rodney Ho, “It’s really great to be recognized with so many fantastic broadcasters. It was a blessing to have Cox Radio hand me the keys [to Atlanta news/talk WSB-AM] to work beside such great talent. We all accomplished some great things together.” Spriggs took over as program director of  WSB-AM in 2000 and served as director of branding and programming. WSB-AM was the top billing radio station in America for four consecutive years. In 2010, Spriggs managed the addition of an FM signal (WSBB) and the departure of Neal Boortz, as well as bringing in new talent such as Herman Cain, Erick Erickson, Eric Von Haessler, and Mark Arum. The station also acquired Rush Limbaugh from cross-town rival WGST. WSB-AM earned multiple Marconi Awards, Friends of Georgia Radioincluding 2018’s “Major Market Station of the Year.” Spriggs retired in February 2020. Also named as part of the third annual Hall of Fame inductees are Rome Radio Partners managing partner Howard Toole; Steve Craig; Bobby Ellerbee; Bob Helbush; Brady McGraw; and Wendy Williams. The Friends of Georgia Radio will celebrate the inductees into the Legends Hall of Fame next month (8/24) at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

The nationally syndicated “Erick Erickson Show” adds new affiliate station KJCE, Austin. Erickson received a welcome to Austin message from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

SiriusXM will present coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft, with live announcements of every selection from every round and in-depth analysis on the SiriusXM NFL Radio channel, as well as additional NFL Draft-focused programming on the SiriusXM College Sports Radio channel. The draft begins Thursday night from Detroit.

Industry News

Cox Media Group Cancels Mark Kaye Show

In a surprise move, Cox Media Group cancels “The Mark Kaye Show” based at its Jacksonville news/talk outlet WOKV-FM and syndicated to O&Os WDBO, Orlando; KRMG-AM/FM, Tulsa and WHIO-imAM/FM, Dayton. The program aired in the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET daypart and the stations are going to replace the show with “The Erick Erickson Show” based at CMG’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta. The Erickson program is syndicated by Compass Media Networks. It appears that producer Hannah Guile is also exiting as a result of this move. TALKERS reached out to Mark Kaye who requested that all questions and inquiries be directed to his agent Heather Cohen at The Weiss Agency.

Industry News

Erick Erickson’s Gathering Draws Almost 1,000 to Atlanta

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WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta-based, nationally syndicated talk radio host Erick Erickson presented “The Erick Erickson Show Gathering” in Atlanta last Thursday through Saturday (8/17-19) that drew almost 1,000 of Erickson’s listeners from his markets across the country. During the event, Erickson conducted 16 hours of interviews with GOP presidential candidates including Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott, and Senators Tom Cotton (AR) and Joni Ernst (IA) plus Congressman Rich McCormick (GA); and Governors Brian Kemp (GA) and Glenn Youngkin (VA). Press from six countries covered the event and more than 90 local television and radio markets ran stories about the event. Erickson says, “Bringing my audience from across America together to be up close with presidential contenders and conservative leaders is something no one else does. This was my tenth time since starting my show on WSB. Since going into syndication with Compass Media earlier this year, it just made sense to expand the footprint of the Gathering to all my listeners and online readers nationwide. We kept the ticket price very low and relied on sponsors because we didn’t want to burden the audience. The conference isn’t intended to be a profit center. It’s to build lasting relationships with affiliates, listeners, and readers.” Pictured above is Erickson (left) interviewing Governor Youngkin (center) and Governor Kemp (right).

Industry News

Audacy’s WSKY-FM, Gainesville-Ocala Unveils New Program Lineup

Audacy announces that news/talk WSKY-FM, Gainesville-Ocala “97.3 The Sky” makes some programming changes that will take effect on Labor Day. Premiere Networks’ “Glenn Beck Program” (10:00 am to 12:00 noon) and the “Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show” (12:00 noon to 3:00 pm) join the lineup. Radio America’s “The Dana Show” with Dana Loesch shifts to theim 10:00 pm to 1:00 am slot. Additionally, the station adds new weekend shows including Compass Media Networks’ “The Erick Erickson Show” (Saturdays, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm), FOX News Radio’s “FOX Across America” with Jimmy Failla (Saturdays, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm), and Todd Herman (Sundays, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm). Audacy Gainesville-Ocala SVP and market manager Peter Rothfuss states, “These strategic changes mark the most significant additions to the station’s talk show roster in years, reinforcing its position as North Central Florida’s premier news and opinion-leading station. The fresh lineup showcases the most influential voices in the region and is designed to propel ‘The Sky’ towards unprecedented growth, especially as the station approaches the highly anticipated election season.”

Industry News

Erick Erickson to Gathering of Politicians, Candidates, and Activists

WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta-based talk radio personality Erick Erickson is presenting a weekend event in Atlanta August 17-19 that brings together A-list politicians, presidential candidates and conservative issues activists. Erickson has previously hosted similar events under the banner of his RedState and The Resurgentim platforms. He says this year there are attendees from 47 states coming to the sold-out program. Erickson says, “This is the tenth of these I have done, and I have to thank Charlie, my producer, for doing so much of the heavy lifting while I have concentrated on doing my show. The format for each individually named speaker is a conversation on stage with me asking them questions from the attendees. The attendees will shortly receive a survey link where they can submit questions for me to incorporate into the conversations. The theme of the conference this year is ‘Forward: Which Way.’” 

Industry News

WSB Care-a-Thon Raises $1.9 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Last Thursday and Friday (7/27-28) Cox Media Group news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta held its 23rd imannual “95.5 WSB Care- a-Thon” to benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, raising $1.9 million. Throughout the two-day radio broadcast WSB hosts Scott Slade, Clark Howard, Mark Arum, Erick Erickson, Eric Von Haessler and Shelley Wynter were joined on-air by patients and families as they shared their stories of resilience, loss and hope.

Industry News

Greenville’s News/Talk 98.9 WORD Adds Erick Erickson Show

Audacy announces that WYRD-FM, Greenville, South Carolina “News/Talk 98.9 WORD” adds the WSB, Atlanta-based, syndicated Erick Erickson show to the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm time slot, effective tomorrow (6/21). Audacy Greenville-Spartanburg SVP and market manager Steve Sinicropi says, “With the arrival ofim Erick Erickson as the new afternoon talk show host on WYRD-FM, an unsurpassed team of talent will serve the Upstate, north Georgia and western North Carolina. Erick’s thought-provoking discussions, unyielding insight and captivating presence will be a welcomed addition to our listeners and partners. Erick will complete News/Talk 98.9 WORD’s incredible lineup, allowing us to provide unmatched content for listeners and the largest and most effective platform for advertisers.” Erickson is syndicated via Compass Media Networks.

Industry News

Erick Erickson Partners with Compass Media for Syndication

WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta-based talk radio host Erick Erickson and Compass Media Networks partner for the syndication efforts of his program. Erickson has been syndicating his program via his own Resurgent Radio LLC to about 30 affiliates but now begins working with Compass to grow the program that airs live from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET.  Erickson says, “We are thrilled to embark on this next chapter of our growth and are so appreciative of our friends and partners who have supported us.” Compass Media Networks CEO and founder Peter Kosann states, “At a critical time in our nation’s history and just as the public starts to turn their attention to the upcoming presidential election cycle, we are thrilled to bring Erick Erickson to the national stage. Erick is a winner by every metric, and we are lucky to call him our friend and colleague.”

Industry News

Erick Erickson Inks Extension with CMG’s “95.5 WSB”

Talk radio host Erick Erickson and Cox Media Group announce that Erickson will continue hosting his popular show for three more years from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm on WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta “95.5 WSB.” His program is also heard on CMG news/talk stations WDBO, Orlando; WGAU, Athens, Georgia; KRMG-FM, Tulsa; WOKV-FM, Jacksonville, and WHIO-AM/FM, Dayton. WSB director of branding and programming Ken Charles says, “For more than a decade, Erick has done a great job of entertaining and informing the WSB audience about the biggest news stories of the day. I’m proud we’ll continue our partnership for another three years, and I’m excited about what new things we can create moving forward. The best is yet to come!” Erickson says, “‘95.5 WSB’ is not just home, it’s the gold standard of talk radio, with incredible leadership from Ken Charles and Jaleigh Long. I fell into the role by accident 12 years ago. It’s not just the longest job I’ve had, it’s three hours of joy every day working with the best people in radio. I simply cannot imagine doing anything else anywhere else with any team other than the hard-working talent at ‘95.5 WSB.’”

Job Opportunity

The Erick Erickson Show Seeks Sales Pro

The nationally syndicated talk radio program is seeking a sales professional. It asks, “Are you picky? We are. ‘The Erick Erickson Show’ is growing nationally and needs to grow its sales team. We’ve got inventory to fill, but we have a real problem. Our host doesn’t like to take money from advertisers who he doesn’t believe in. He thinks he sells best what he likes best. Want to work with a host who doesn’t want to just sell anything but the right thing? Reach out to us. ads@ewerickson.com.”

Industry News

New Affiliates and Distribution Change for Erick Erickson Show

The nationally syndicated “Erick Erickson Show” moves to the Westwood One Wegener distribution systemErick Erickson - WSB from its previous place on the Premiere XDS system. At the same time, program host Erick Erickson tells TALKERS magazine that his show is now heard on Tri-City Radio LLC’s news/talk WJNZ-AM, Mobile daily and on Radio One’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte on weekends.