TALKERS News Notes
iHeartMedia and Packers Extend Relationship. The NFL’s Green Bay Packers and iHeartMedia Milwaukee announce a multi-year renewal of their broadcast partnership to continue delivering Packers football and comprehensive gameday coverage. Game broadcasts emanate from WRIT-FM, Milwaukee “95.7 BIG FM” and are also heard on iHeartMedia’s WOKY-AM, Milwaukee “FOX Sports 920”; WIBA-AM/FM, Madison and WBIZ-FM, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
WNYC to Launch New Limited Series. Public radio outlet WNYC, New York is unveiling two new limited series that will join the live broadcast schedule for the fall. “Please Advise,” is a call-in advice program, and “Who’s Running This Place?” is a call-in politics program. WNYC says, “Covering a wide variety of topics, including elections, transportation, relationships and personal finance, these programs will offer New Yorkers more consistent opportunities to learn from experts, ask their own questions and find new ways to connect with the city.”
continue co-hosting “The Clay & Buck Show.” Travis’ new sports media platform Sport & State is partnering with iHeartMedia for a podcast network and with advertising sales across digital and web content. Premiere Networks president Julie Talbott states, “Clay Travis is one of the most dynamic and influential voices in talk radio, and we’re thrilled to continue our long-term partnership with him. His ability to engage audiences, spark meaningful conversations, and deliver results for our station partners and advertisers has been extraordinary, and we look forward to continued growth and success together.”
thrilled to have Tommy join the Salt Lake City team. His winning track record, industry expertise, and commitment to excellence make him a tremendous addition to iHeartMedia. Tommy’s leadership will inspire those around him and help position our team for even greater success in the years ahead.” Castor comments, “I’m honored to join the iHeartMedia team in Salt Lake City and lead such a talented group of professionals. This market has an incredible media landscape and strong community connections. I look forward to building on the SLC team’s success and positioning iHeartMedia as the premier media partner in the marketplace.”
2:00 pm daypart. iHeartMedia region program director Bryan Erickson says, “We’re excited to have Matt and Ross bringing their unique blend of energy, insight and humor to mornings. They’ve built a strong connection with Houston sports fans, and we’re confident they’ll be a great way to start the day. We’re equally excited for Dan Mathews to take over middays, where his deep sports knowledge and strong local perspective will continue to serve listeners throughout the day.”
media buying workflow.” The press release explains: “Unlike traditional automation, which follows predefined workflows, agentic media buying enables AI agents to evaluate campaign objectives, identify opportunities and execute approved media buying decisions dynamically within clearly defined business rules. Human expertise remains central to strategy, governance and oversight, while AI improves the speed, efficiency and adaptability of campaign execution.” The companies say they plan to implement the technology for broadcast audio in the near future.
contracts. The two were part of a round of layoffs at the station last month. The two posted to X: “‘Beyond the Bench’ will not be airing for the time being. We are currently being pursued in a legal matter by our past employer, and as a result, we need to step away temporarily while that situation is addressed. We sincerely appreciate everyone who has supported the show and hope to be back soon. In addition, we will provide updates as we are able and will let everyone know when we have more information. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.”
with Mike Hardge and Mark Henry air from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. Station program director Bryan Erickson says, “With the 2026 college football season just around the corner, this move gives Longhorn fans another hour of the in-depth analysis, big-name interviews and passionate discussion they’ve come to expect from Hardge and Henry.”
company’s Digital Audio Group revenue was $364 million, up 12% over Q2 of 2025, with the podcast segment rising 21% on revenue of $162 million. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman comments, “We’re pleased with our second quarter results, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $152 million, slightly above the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range. Our consolidated revenue was $977 million, up 4.7% compared to the prior year quarter and above our guidance. Our podcast revenue momentum continues, up 20.7% compared to prior year, and in addition to helping propel our growth as the #1 podcast publisher, our broadcast radio assets have also allowed us to develop and drive the new video podcast marketplace – an incremental growth opportunity for us, including on streaming video services including Netflix and Disney+ and Hulu, which we announced today. And our work in building our digital assets continues to pay off; this is the sixth consecutive quarter in which the Digital Audio Group Adjusted EBITDA is larger than the Multiplatform Group Adjusted EBITDA.”
iHeartMedia Philadelphia announced today (8/6) that Daija Moore-Evans has been promoted to digital content manager, effective immediately. In her new role, she will lead the market’s digital content efforts across iHeartMedia Philadelphia’s six-station cluster, which spans music, talk and news formats, driving audience growth and engagement across broadcast, digital and social platforms. In this role, Moore-Evans will lead the cluster’s digital content strategy, audience engagement, and social media initiatives. She will oversee the development and execution of digital content designed to expand audience reach, strengthen brand engagement, and support the company’s on-air and online platforms. She reports to Jeff Hurley, SVP of programming, iHeartMedia Philadelphia. Hurley tells TALKERS, “Daija has already made a tremendous impact on our team, and this promotion is well deserved. Her creativity, work ethic, and vision make her the perfect person to lead our digital efforts into the future.”
remains bedrock equipment.” Some of the findings include: 1) Around half of all respondents stated they would outright refuse to purchase a vehicle that lacks an AM/FM radio; 2) More than seven in 10 consumers view AM/FM radio as an essential feature that should come standard as basic equipment in all new vehicles. This places its perceived importance on par with smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto) and significantly ahead of satellite radio or built-in subscription music apps; 3) Around half of respondents indicated that if an OEM decided to completely remove AM/FM radio from its lineup, they would instantly have a less favorable perception of that car brand; and 4) This brand erosion and purchase refusal is significantly more pronounced among buyers aged 55+, creating a massive hurdle for brands relying on loyal, returning buyers. 
edition of the show will emanate from Jay Leno’s Garage, with special guest, Jay Leno. Wolfe says, “For 20 years we’ve never tried to fit into a radio format. We’ve simply tried to make people laugh. The cars brought people to the show, but the stories, characters, the guests and the friendships are what kept them coming back every Saturday. We’re grateful to everyone who’s been part of the journey and excited to welcome a whole new audience.” iHeartMedia division president Eddie Martiny states, “John Clay Wolfe has built one of the most entertaining and engaging programs in radio, and we’re excited to expand his reach across our platform. Growing ‘The John Clay Wolfe Show’ to nearly 120 iHeart stations is a testament to the strength of the show and our shared commitment to delivering compelling, relevant programming to our listeners. We’re proud to partner with John and look forward to continuing this incredible growth together.”
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. 
November to co-host “The Morning Drive with Dan & Cole” alongside Dan Mathews, who continues to host mornings solo. 
owned-and-operated digital inventory both locally and nationally, including digital, audio, podcasts and creator-led content, creating a more unified path for advertisers to activate multi-platform campaigns at scale. iHeartMedia chief business officer Lisa Coffey comments, “Advertisers are increasingly looking for media solutions that combine scale, intelligence and simplicity across channels. By combining Amazon Ads’ shopping insights and advertising technology with iHeart’s audio leadership, we’re creating a more seamless, data-informed way for brands to create more effective campaigns across sound and sight.”
Lucas Strain and Connor Ferguson of the afternoon show “Off The Bench” are out, as are hosts of “The 1st Quarter,” Heather Burnside and Alec Busse. Roberts says in a Facebook post, “Earlier today after our show myself as many others were laid off at iHeart Des Moines. I’m not angry or am going to blame anyone… it’s part of the business. You can have good ratings, good revenue etc… Doesn’t matter… your number on that excel sheet can be picked any day. I sit here proud of my career in radio and proud of what we did at KXnO. I’ve been doing sports talk radio in Des Moines since 2014 and it’s been a hell of a ride with so many people to thank.”
company works to become more nimble. The memo also notes that while it will be creating new roles to this end in the future, the unfortunate reality is that some people are going to lose their jobs. “We have given this a great deal of thought and do not take this step lightly; we are deeply grateful for the contributions of those affected, and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition.”
consumption (64%) comes from broadcast radio, yet up until today, it has lacked the targeting and measurement infrastructure available in digital. iHeartMedia’s broadcast radio stations reach more than 278 million consumers every month, and now with AudioGraph, for the first time, advertisers can plan, target, measure, and attribute that audience using privacy-safe, ID-informed insights with digital-like precision.”
commitment to fueling the future of sport by connecting fans with the athletes and moments that define the next generation of the game. We’re proud to amplify NXXT Golf’s mission through the power of radio, podcasts and streaming audio – bringing new audiences to the sport and supporting the next generation of elite talent.” As a cornerstone of the partnership, iHeartMedia will serve as a title and presenting sponsor across NXXT Golf’s premier event portfolio – including the NXXT Faldo Junior Tour, the NXXT Women’s Pro Tour, and the season’s most prestigious championship events.
Cumulus Media VP of programming operations Doug Hamand says that he is retiring at the end of June. Hamand served for more than two decades with iHeartMedia and its predecessors before joining Cumulus Media in the corporate programming role. He posts to Facebook, “I’ve had a ball. It’s hard to believe that when I started 48 years ago, this day would ever come — but here we are. I’m excited to share that I will be retiring at the end of June.”
only stations and its catalog of podcasts will now be available on the LG Radio+ app that’s included on LG Smart TVs running webOS 6.0 and above. iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne comments, “We are excited to integrate iHeartRadio into LG Radio+. This integration reflects our commitment to meeting listeners everywhere they are, making premium audio content even more accessible in a seamless experience across the connected home.”
off – at least for now. That the two media firms were in preliminary talks first broke in early May. As DealBook notes, there is a history between the two companies: “Liberty SiriusXM Group, once an affiliate of John Malone’s media empire, used to hold significant stakes in both companies. Liberty SiriusXM eventually sold its stake in iHeartMedia (primarily a broadcast radio company) and split off its ownership of SiriusXM (primarily a satellite radio company) into a separate entity.”
music brands. iHeartMedia area president Matt Bell says, “Margie’s passion for this business, her commitment to the Mansfield and Marion communities and the relationships she built over nearly four decades have left an incredible mark on our company and everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her. She has been a trusted leader, mentor and advocate for both our employees and our partners, and her presence will truly be missed. We are deeply grateful for everything she has contributed to iHeartMedia and wish her nothing but happiness and success in this next chapter.” Reflecting on her career, Tasseff comments, “Spending 39 years with one employer is truly uncommon. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built together over the years — from the friendships and partnerships to the impact we’ve made through local radio. I’ve been fortunate to grow professionally while working with outstanding colleagues and serving a community that has meant so much to me. These stations will always hold a special place in my heart.”