TALKERS News Notes
Covino & Rich Broadcasting from All-Star Game. FOX Sports Radio’s “Covino & Rich” are broadcasting from the MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta this week. While “The Dan Patrick Show” is on vacation, a special edition of “Covino & Rich” will broadcast in the show’s 9:00 am to 12:00 noon ET timeslot. Post-game coverage will continue Wednesday, July 16 with a broadcast from iHeartMedia Atlanta’s studios.
iHeartMedia Memphis Presenting Chicken & Beer Festival. iHeartMedia Memphis, including news/talk WREC, is presenting the seventh annual Memphis Chicken & Beer Festival on Saturday, August 16 on the field of the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis. A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit local charity Merge Memphis.
Townsquare to Reveal Q2 Financial Results. Townsquare Media will release second quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The company will host a conference call to discuss certain second quarter 2025 financial results that day at 8:00 am ET.
morning drive personality Travis Justice in January of this year. New in morning drive are Heather Burnside (who moves from the PM drive show) and Alec Busse hosting “The 1st Quarter.” Ken Miller and Trent Condon continue in the 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm slot, and program director and personality Sean Roberts partners with Lucas Strain for the afternoon drive “Off the Bench” show. Overtime Iowa – a “best of the day” program – airs from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
“750 The Game.” He most recently served as program director for iHeartMedia’s WBGG, Miami “Big 105.9.” MacLeod states, “I’m looking forward to working with some of the amazing talent we have in Portland, and leading this cluster to new heights. KXL is a heritage news/talk leader in Portland and I couldn’t be more honored to be part of this team.” Alpha Media stations are being acquired by Connoisseur Media in a deal that is expected to close in the fall.
assistants, televisions and gaming consoles. iHeartMedia president of business development and strategic partnerships Michael Biondo says, “This is an exciting day for our industry as the addition of Audacy’s stations to iHeartRadio maximizes 
radio’s presence across the country as the most listened to and trusted medium for audiences and consumers. This move gives our listeners even more opportunities to connect with the stations and content most relevant to them, aligning with our mission to always meet our audiences where they are and enhance their experience.” Audacy chief business officer Chris Oliviero states, “We believe in the power of being everywhere, and this partnership is a meaningful step in our strategy to ensure our iconic stations, talent and programming are available wherever and however audio is consumed.” 
the next three decades, Tyler held numerous leadership positions, including market manager roles in both Madison and Milwaukee. In 2010, Tyler was promoted to region president and later moved to Minneapolis in 2015 to serve as regional president for iHeartMedia. He rose to division president in July 2018 before returning to Wisconsin in 2022 to lead as metro president and most recently area president. Tyler says, “Broadcast radio has been my life. I’ve worked in every aspect of this business and have been fortunate to work for tremendous leaders who helped shape my career, including the creative and innovative team at iHeartMedia. I’m grateful to have worked with so many talented, dedicated professionals in vibrant broadcast markets, serving advertisers and creating meaningful partnerships. I’m excited to begin a more flexible chapter of life with my family, while continuing to support our sports partnerships in the short term.”
at how iHeartMedia handled the process of using AI to translate and voice-clone the original podcast hosts. iHeartPodcasts president Will Pearson is quoted saying the AI translations faced two main challenges: ensuring accuracy and preserving each show’s unique tone. iHeartMedia worked with the company Speechlab to clone the voices of the hosts use them to read the show’s transcript in multiple languages. Pearson also says about a quarter of his company’s downloads come from outside the U.S. 
and Mandarin, with plans to expand to even more shows and languages in the future. Host Jay Shetty says, “We have been fortunate to build a huge global audience that continues to reach more people around the world every day. One of the questions I get asked most is, ‘When will the podcast be in Spanish? When will it be in Hindi?’ And now, not only those, but several more languages as well. Expanding into more languages gives us the special opportunity to serve our audience better and bring these conversations to even more people. I truly believe this will deepen our impact, extend our reach and push forward our mission to make the world happier, healthier and more healed.” iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne says, “Global podcast listenership continues to rise, with podcast consumption significantly growing in regions such as Latin America, Europe, India and other parts of Asia. Podcast translation is an exciting step forward as content continues to globalize, allowing us to bring our catalog of hit shows and talent to these regions, helping us reach new audiences and bring fresh, insightful content worldwide.”
group’s CEO. As part of the new deal, Hyphenate and Longoria will executive produce a slate of new original podcasts with iHeartMedia’s My Cultura. She says, “Storytelling shapes how we see ourselves and how the world sees us, and podcasting is one of the most intimate, accessible and powerful ways to connect with audiences and share meaningful, authentic conversations. There’s never been a more urgent time to elevate Latino voices and talent. Through this partnership between Hyphenate and iHeart’s My Cultura, we’re building a bigger platform for stories that reflect the richness and complexity of our community.”
over for Jeff Evans, who was recently promoted to vice president of radio for HMG. Pickett previously served as director of content for Townsquare Media in Boise and as regional vice president at iHeartMedia, “further strengthening his background in multi-market and multi-format programming, talent development, and creating engaging on-air content. His broad experience and passion for mission-driven media make him uniquely equipped to lead WayFM into its next season of growth and innovation.”
Nathan Fischer, and fellow farm department contributors are teaming up to produce the debut show this Saturday (6/7). WHO adds, “‘We Speak Farm Saturday’ builds upon all that’s delivered throughout the week during ‘The Big Show’ with a Market Recap, a weekly ‘Agriculture USA’ segment from the USDA, insightful conversations on Iowa farming, agronomy and food, and will also cover topics such as gardening, farmers markets, rodeos and county fairs.” WHO program director Cole Blair comments, “We are always looking to deliver more for the hard-working farmers and all those involved in Iowa’s agriculture industry at WHO, so we’re proud to expand our Ag programming with the launch of ‘We Speak Farm Saturday.’ When farmers and Ag industry workers get in the truck, tractor or workplace on Saturday it’s only right we’re there with them, too.”
iHeartRadio, the deal includes a cross-marketing collaboration of both brands throughout the BIG3 season with promotion nationally across iHeartMedia’s multiple platforms including broadcast radio, podcast digital, social and live events, with a heavy focus in “game” markets including Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and others. iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne says, “We are very excited about our new partnership with BIG3 and having the opportunity to provide play-by-play coverage and promotional support to build further brand awareness, introducing the game to millions of more fans. We look forward to bringing the passion and excitement of BIG3 to our listeners on a local and national level week after week.”
and executives and increases awareness of the Broadcasters Foundation charitable mission. This event will be co-hosted by Angela Yee, BFOA Ambassador and nationally syndicated host of “Way Up with Angela Yee.” Also hosting will be Pedro Rivera, reporter and anchor for ABC7’s Eyewitness News. Closing out the night will be Long Island singer-songwriter Camryn Quinlan. BFoA president Tim McCarthy says, “We are thrilled that there has been such an overwhelmingly positive response to our Media Mixers. During today’s dramatic changes in the media landscape, more broadcast professionals – entry, junior, and senior levels – want to get together to exchange experiences and brainstorm for the future.”
distributed over 30 podcasts with Bloomberg Media that offer critical news alongside compelling storytelling across the world of business and finance. We are thrilled to continue our partnership to develop, distribute and monetize this impressive lineup and grow our audience worldwide. With an impressive lineup of upcoming shows in the pipeline, our renewed partnership will continue to leverage iHeart’s massive audience reach to expand upon Bloomberg’s community of listeners and provide them with engaging content across the current economic landscape.”
company “did not keep secure including social security numbers, financial account details, and health insurance data.” But the thrust of her complaint is that iHeartMedia delayed notifying users. iHeartMedia didn’t conclude its investigation until last month and began the notification process on April 30. 
lot of good listening and attention to what matters most to those in the communities they call home. Our news will talk about what people are talking about, be factual, and will ask the next question so people can reconnect with their local communities and schools in a way that journalism hasn’t consistently afforded in recent years. Online and social media disinformation is steadily driving people back to how they used to find out what’s happening, and Big Radio is well-positioned to meet this moment and lead the re-emergence of local radio news in this region and beyond.” Big Radio – owned by father and son Scott and Ben Thompson – owns and operates 10 radio stations in the Monroe, Freeport, Janesville, and Beloit, Wisconsin markets.
experience and a proven track record of success in our industry. His leadership and vision will be instrumental in driving our continued growth and success in the Memphis and Tupelo markets. Leon is not only a seasoned professional but also a dedicated supporter of the community actively involved in various initiatives, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact. This passion for service and his strategic approach to market challenges make him the perfect fit for this role. I am confident that under Leon’s leadership, we will achieve new heights and continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients and partners.”
brought together podcast fans and The Black Effect Podcast Network’s top talent for a day of live podcast recordings from network’s most popular shows including ‘Trap Nerds Podcast,’ ‘Good Moms, Bad Choices,’ ‘R&B Money Podcast with Tank and J. Valentine,’ ‘Naked Sports with Cari Champion’ and ‘Woman Evolve with Sarah Jakes Roberts.’” 
well as the company’s Government Affairs, Business Affairs and Privacy teams. Hillman was most recently chief legal officer for Venu Sports. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman comments, “David has very relevant experience across a range of media businesses, as well as specific familiarity with the audio industry. We believe his wealth of experience will make him an ideal addition to the iHeart executive team as we continue to grow our momentum as the #1 audio company in America.”
for change through an integrated media campaign including special on-air reports, news features, public service announcements, social media engagement, a dedicated microsite, and community partnerships.” BIN president Tony Coles says, “As a network committed to amplifying underrepresented voices, it is our responsibility to shine a light on the alarming disparities that Black women face before, during and after childbirth. This campaign is about advocacy, action, and partnership. By working with trusted community organizations and The BIN Local Roundtable, we can help raise awareness and ensure every Black mother receives the care and support she deserves.”
humbled and honored to be taking over the time slot occupied by Tom Sullivan at KFBK, a radio station with a rich history of producing superior news/talk programs. Never have I enjoyed producing and delivering a program more than these last six years as I have co-hosted the morning news show on KFBK with Cristina Mendonsa. I’m very proud of our accomplishments and grateful for the opportunity 
to have worked with Cristina and everyone behind the scenes who made it happen. Now it’s on to a new chapter.” Mendonsa continues as host of “The KFBK Morning News” and will be joined by Mark Demsky, who will serve as news anchor and present special report segments. Demsky joined KFBK last year after serving as a sports anchor and reporter at KTXL-Fox 40 in Sacramento. Mendosa says, “This next chapter is about helping listeners wake up to what really matters, stories that affect their lives. After 30 years in journalism and a multi-generational connection to Northern California, our goal is to bring listeners smart, relevant news with a balanced perspective, cutting through the noise to bring more insight.” 
naming Thom Brennaman the station’s new morning drive host. Late last week, Mike McConnell told his listeners that he was retiring from the station and that Monday (4/7) would be his last day. Brennaman worked for WLW calling Cincinnati Reds games but stepped down after being caught on a hot mic uttering a homophobic slur during an MLB game on August 19, 2020. Brennaman has been working for the CW calling football games. 
iHeartMedia says the Asia Pacific podcast market was valued at US $373.57 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 30.2% to $3.1 billion value from 2024 to 2031. iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne comments, “We’ve seen the strong growth of the Asian markets – both on a domestic level and with influence across global markets and we are excited to partner with Mammoth Media Asia to launch the first-ever slate of iHeartPodcasts developed in Asia.”
2019. iHeartMedia CEO and chairman Bob Pittman says, “When we began this journey together back in 2019, Brad was only able to promise us one term as a director due to his enormous commitments to Altimeter and its portfolio companies, and we’re grateful he gave us five terms. We appreciate all the contributions he made during that time, especially his experience and view of technology and the future – which helped us determine how to make the technology transitions we needed to maximize our revenue opportunities in an increasingly data-focused and technology-led marketplace. He’s had a significant impact on iHeart’s success and our vision for the company’s direction.” The company announces that its board of directors is nominating Robert Millard to stand for election at the its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 13. Millard is a director of Evercore, an international investment bank, and co-founder and former Chairman of the Board of L3 Technologies, a major defense technology company.
recovery efforts. The piece singles out WWNC personalities Mark Starling and Tank Spencer for “amplifying the messages of groups such as Valley Strong Disaster Relief” and more to keep the recovery information flowing. Spencer is quoted saying, “You don’t really notice until times of disaster what your community is really made of. They’re gonna make sure that everybody in that community, that nobody wants for anything.” Spencer adds that in the immediate aftermath of the storm, their work was crucial. “The access to the information saved lives. The only thing that was left standing was AM and FM radio, and I think there’s been a rediscovery of that.”