Industry News

Jomboy Media Shows Join Dan Patrick Podcast Network

iHeartPodcasts announces that sports media brand Jomboy Media’s podcasts “Jimmy’s Three Things”im and “Wake N’ Jake” are joining The Dan Patrick Podcast Network, effective immediately. “Jimmy’s Three Things” is hosted by Jimmy “Jomboy” O’Brien (left) and “Wake N’ Jake” is hosted by Jake Storiale (right). Dan Patrick says, “Moments with Jimmy ‘Jomboy’ O’Brien and Jake Storiale are rarely predictable. I love entertainment that surprises and informs, which makes ‘Jimmy’s Three Things’ and ‘Wake N’ Jake’ great additions to my podcast network.”

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iHeartPodcasts – along with creator and producer Lars Jacobson – announce “Fodor’s Guide to Espionage.” This series is based on the true story of popular travel writer Eugene Fodor who secretly used his profession as a cover to spy for the CIA. Taking place in the 1960s, it is a globetrotting, jet-setting spy series centered around the biggest events of the Cold War that will take listeners on an exotic vacation and high stakes spy mission every week.

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One is presenting 24 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball games from Conference Championship Week. Coverage begins tomorrow (3/9) with the Ohio Valley Conference Championship game, and continues through Selection Sunday, March 17, with broadcasts that day of the Ivy League, the SEC, and the American Athletic Championship games. Westwood One will also broadcast Selection Sunday, which will reveal the 68-team field for both the men’s and the women’s tournaments. Jason Horowitz will host Selection Sunday coverage with PJ Carlesimo and Debbie Antonelli as analysts.

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Condolences to WBEN-AM, Buffalo afternoon drive host Tom Bauerle on the passing of his mother Dorothy, who died on March 6 at age 90. Bauerle had been hosting his program from his mother’s home while he served as her round-the-clock caregiver. Bauerle says his listeners may have been aware that he was working from his mother’s home, but he didn’t make a big deal out of it. He tells TALKERS, “I just very much believe that when practicable it is a child’s duty to take care of their parent instead of putting them in a nursing home, and in my case it was practicable, so I did it.”

iHeartPodcasts and “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” will produce a live streaming edition of the program this evening after the conclusion of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address. The stream will move on iHeartRadio’s Twitch channel and Keith Olbermann’s YouTube channel.

Sheri Lynch’s “True Weird Stuff” podcast will focus on female subjects in recognition of Women’s History Month. Lynch says, “I’ve spent my whole life struggling to NOT talk about all the weird things that fascinate me and often make other people uncomfortable, such as reincarnation, near-death experiences, aliens, or the idea that reality is a simulation. It’s hard masking so much weird. ‘The True Weird Stuff’ podcast is where I can bring all the quirky, cryptic, creepy, odd and just plain weird together in one place and share them with my listeners.”

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Podtrac’s February 2024 Podcast Ranker

The New York Times’ “The Daily” remains in the #1 spot on Podtrac’s U.S. Podcast ranker for February (based on unique U.S. monthly audience for participating podcasts) NPR’s “NPR News Now” and “Upim First” are #2 and #3, respectively, with NBC News’ “Dateline NBC” at #4. Other talk radio-related podcasts of note include The Daily Wire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” rising two spots to #7, iHeartPodcasts’ “Stuff You Should Know” up two places to #9, and Dan Bongino’s “The Dan Bongino Show” up one spot to #11. You can see the complete ranker here.

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Audacy’s WRVA, Richmond adds FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” to its daily lineup airing from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

PodcastOne acquires the exclusive sales and distribution rights to Jackie Schimmel’s “The Bitch Bible Podcast.” PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “PodcastOne is thrilled to welcome Jackie and ‘The Bitch Bible’ to the network. From our very first meeting there was an instant connection and our visions for growth were aligned, and we immediately offered Jackie equity in PodcastOne understanding the value she brings to PodcastOne and our partners. Our team at PodcastOne will provide the support needed to improve and expand the show, and we’re incredibly excited to work together to achieve and surpass our mutual goals.”

iHeartPodcasts and host and creator Emily Tisch Sussman announce that the award-winning podcast, “She Pivots,” is now a part of the iHeartPodcast Network. Sussman says, “‘She Pivots’ is changing the cultural conversation around how women talk about and think about their careers. I am excited to join forces with the No. 1 podcast publisher, iHeartPodcasts, and continue to make a show that inspires and empowers women to trust their instincts and skills. I want women to know that everything you have done has given you the toolkit you need to make your pivot. You have everything you need inside of you, and I can’t wait to showcase the stories of women who have proven just that in season three.”

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Research Director, Inc promotes Nicole Somerville to chief operating officer. Somerville joined the company in July of 1998 and has held several prominent positions over the past 25-plus years. In 2022, she began her role as data and production manager where she oversaw the process of transforming raw data into specific, actionable client deliverables.

iHeartPodcasts, Dan Patrick, and Never Ever Productions announce the addition of “Playing Dirty: Sports Scandals” to The Dan Patrick Podcast Network. The new podcast features stories from the dark side of sports – from passport doping and armed assault to car chases and sex scandals. The series is narrated by veteran ESPN personality Jay Harris and written by Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster Jenn Brown and federal prosecutor Francey Hakes.

Audacy launches “Superfly,” a new, weekly spinoff of the comedy podcast, “Fly on the Wall,” created and hosted by Dana Carvey and David Spade. On “Superfly,” Carvey and Spade will riff on current events, pop culture, social clips, and audience submissions with their trademark hilarity, absurdity, and impressions, with guests appearing from time to time.

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iHeartPodcasts debuts episode two of “Finding Matt Drudge,” a limited series podcast hosted by longtime political journalist Chris Moody, who sets out to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Internet’s most enigmatic media mogul. The new investigative audio series will delve deep into the life and career of Matt Drudge, the reclusive figure and founder of The Drudge Report, with the ultimate goal of convincing Drudge to sit down for his first interview in years. Moody says, “Matt Drudge pushed the news industry into the Internet age and his site has remained relevant and engaging for decades. But he hasn’t given an interview in years. We’d like to hear his thoughts on his career, the media, politics and the state of the world. Drudge matters, and we’re interested in what he has to say. Call us, Matt!”

FOX Sports Radio, a division of Premiere Sports Network announces its plans to broadcast live from Las Vegas during Super Week. A number of the network’s programs will broadcast from Las Vegas all week long including “The Dan Patrick Show” from Fontainebleau Las Vegas and several other shows broadcasting from Radio Row at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

SiriusXM announces that subscribers will get access to full coverage of the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend beginning today through Saturday (2/1-3) as SXM broadcasts from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on the SiriusXM NHL Network Radio channel.

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The Newsweek-syndicated talk radio program “The Josh Hammer Show” adds new affiliate station KFTK-FM, St. Louis as the station airs the show on Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Hammer says, “I am absolutely thrilled to join the weekend lineup of ‘97.1 FM Talk’ in St. Louis. I grew up hearing about how my great-grandparents on my mother’s side immigrated to St. Louis from Eastern Europe, so this is personal for me. I can’t wait to take my own brand of hard-hitting, pull-no-punches conservatism to 97.1 FM Talk’s powerful airwaves.”

iHeartPodcasts announces the launch of “Native Land Pod” hosted by Angela Rye, Tiffany D. Cross and Andrew Gillum. The iHeartPodcasts president Will Pearson says, “This new, groundbreaking podcast brings together an electrifying ensemble of hosts, hailing from a wide range of media backgrounds. As we head into an election year, we’re excited to see how ‘Native Land Pod’ elevates the political discourse and empowers listeners with new knowledge and diverse perspectives.”

Audacy enters into a sales and distribution agreement with the Women’s Meditation Network. Founded by Katie Krimitsos, the Women’s Meditation Network offers 17 different guided meditation podcasts created to be easily accessible, approachable, and deeply fulfilling for people of all ages and experience levels, as well as children.

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SiriusXM announces that Morgan Ortagus, former State Department spokeswoman under the Trump administration, will host a Sunday news and foreign policy program that will air from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm ET on the SiriusXM Patriot channel beginning this week (12/10). SiriusXM says, “Every Sunday on her new program, Ortagus will utilize her nearly two-decades of foreign policy expertise to help listeners better understand the key issues around the world, with a heavy focus on Israel and the Middle East.”

“The World,” public radio’s longest-running daily global news program, announces that correspondent Carolyn Beeler becomes co-host of the program beginning January 16. Beeler joins longtime host Marco Werman at the helm of the show produced by Boston-based GBH and PRX.

iHeartPodcasts and Diversion Audio debut “The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told,” a new podcast hosted by true crime writer Mary Kay McBrayer. Each week, Mary Kay will walk the audience through the most riveting true crime stories ever told. iHeartPodcasts says, “The true crime genre too often takes gleeful fascination in crimes against women. Diversion has identified stories in which women are not the victim, but instead are our protagonists. These women can be the perpetrators, such as the murderers or scammers, but may also be the heroes of the story, such as the lawyer, detective, scientist, or family of the victim who never stopped fighting for answers.”

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Actress Shannen Doherty teams up with iHeartPodcasts for her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear.” A press release says, “Shannen Doherty will open up like never before in her new live memoir podcast. ‘Let’s Be Clear’ promises to be a raw and candid exploration of Shannen’s personal journey covering everything from her TV and film credits to her stage four cancer battle, friendships, divorces and more. The podcast will also provide a platform for Shannen to share her life experience, the strength that carried her through difficult times, and her hopes and dreams for the future.”

FOX News Audio debuts a new weekly podcast hosted by FOX News correspondent Benjamin Hall called, “Searching for Heroes with Benjamin Hall.” The podcast highlights inspiring stories of community and compassion, while providing a voice to America’s unsung heroes. The first episode features a look back at the catastrophic injuries Hall sustained while covering the war in Ukraine and the extraordinary efforts that aided his road to recovery. While news gathering in Ukraine in March of 2022, Hall’s car was hit by a projectile missile, leaving him with one working limb and tragically taking the lives of his colleagues, FOX News photojournalist Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova. Since the attack, Hall has been inspired by the incredible efforts of everyday heroes similar to those who went above and beyond to help him throughout his arduous journey of recovery.

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PodcastOne announces deals to extend top performing and fan favorite podcasts “LadyGang,” “Gals on the Go” and “Melissa Gorga On Display.” PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “PodcastOne prides itself on being talent first and ‘LadyGang,’ ‘Gals on the Go’ and ‘Melissa Gorga On Display’ are some of the most talented hosts in the medium. We’re incredibly fortunate to build on a legacy of groundbreaking audio driven entertainment for women. Being able to grow these podcasts in partnership with their hosts has truly been a pleasure over the last several years, and we look forward to what the future has in store.”

VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, adds new affiliate stations in Medford, Oregon and Abilene, Texas. VSiN general manager Len Mead says, “Following new radio affiliates in New Hampshire and North Carolina late this summer, the new football season brings continued expansion of VSiN’s leading sports betting radio network. We’re excited to welcome new fans in Medford and Abilene as we continue to expand our distribution footprint to inform and entertain more listeners than ever before.”

iHeartPodcasts and Novel announce the launch of brand-new weekly podcast, “28 Dates Later with Grace Campbell.” Comedian and writer Campbell goes on 28 dates across two months, only dating people who are the total opposite of her usual type. Listeners not only hear audio from the actual dates, but are also be given a ringside seat to the post-date debrief between Grace and her friends Roz and Dan.

NASCAR crowns it’s Premier Series Champion this Sunday (11/5) at Phoenix Raceway capping its historic 75th Anniversary season. When Motor Racing Network completes its live broadcast from Phoenix, it will signal the end of approximately 350 hours of NASCAR related content produced by the network in 2023.

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iHeartPodcast Unveils New Podcast by Hilarie Burton Morgan

iHeartPodcasts and actress Hilarie Burton Morgan announce a new weekly podcast targeting fans of true crime as they take listeners behind the scenes in each small-town case in the series. This show isim the companion podcast to SundanceTV’s powerful true crime documentary series, “It Couldn’t Happen Here.” Along with key crew from the TV series as her co-hosts, Burton Morgan dives deeper into the cases covered on the show featuring never-before-heard archives and a behind-the-scenes lens of how the team tackles these head-scratching and heart-breaking stories. The “True Crime Story: It Couldn’t Happen Here” podcast encourages everyone to get curious, get involved, and ask how they can help when it appears the system has failed.

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Benztown and Envisionwise are hosting a free webinar for radio professionals titled, “Keeping it Real in the Digital Age,” with host Mike McVay, president of McVay Media, and guests Jackie Parks, founder/CEO of Envisionwise; Peter Smyth, former chairman and CEO of Greater Media, Inc; and Sheri Lynch, co-host of “The Bob & Sheri Show.” The 45-minute webinar on Friday (10/6) at 1:00 pm ET will provide specific tools and strategies for increasing stations’ digital revenue. You can register here.

Audacy announces an expansion of its relationship with Puck and the launch of “About a Boy: The Story of Vladimir Putin” – a five-part documentary podcast series exploring the forces that shaped Russian President Vladimir Putin’s childhood (and life) and why it’s critical to understanding what he might do next in the war against Ukraine. The series is written and narrated by Julia Ioffe, Puck founding partner and Washington correspondent, and one of the leading journalists covering Russia and Putin.

Salem Media Group says “Grace and Truth with Owen Strachan” is joining the Salem Podcast Network. Owen Strachan is provost and research professor of Theology at Grace Bible Theological Seminary and is the author of 20 books, including his latest, The War on Men: Why Society Hates Them and Why We Need Them (Salem Books, 2023). Salem SVP of spoken word Phil Boyce comments, “Salem Podcast Network continues to add multi-talented podcasters who share our worldview. Owen is an amazing voice for what is true and right in America, and adding him to our platform is a home run. I can’t wait to become a regular listener when he gets started.”

iHeartPodcasts announces the return of the “Work in Progress” podcast for its third season. The program features actor, producer, and activist Sophia Bush and in the first two episodes she interviews former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki along with an interview with actor Matthew McConaughey.

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This Thursday (9/21) at 7:00 pm, Townsquare Media’s news/talk WKXW-FM, Trenton “New Jersey 101.5” is presenting a town hall titled, “School Fight: Trans Kids, Parents and Policy,” on gender identification policies in New Jersey’s schools. The discussion will help New Jersey residents understand the complicated and often controversial rules regarding how schools must deal with trans students. New Jersey 101.5’s Eric Scott will lead a discussion “aimed at separating fact from fiction regarding these rules, particularly the ban against parental notification if a student changes gender identity in school.”

iHeartPodcasts and professional dancer Cheryl Burke announce the debut of a new, weekly podcast titled, “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans.” Burke has been a part of the “Dancing with the Stars” franchise since the beginning. “She knows all the secrets, the behind-the-scenes arguments, the flings, the flirting and the fighting. Cheryl Burke is ready to spill all the tea by taking listeners all the way back to season one and up through today for the dance floor drama like you wouldn’t believe.”

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“The Daily” Stays Atop Podtrac’s August Podcast Ranker

According to data from Podtrac (based on U.S. unique monthly audience), The New York Times’ “The Daily” stays atop its Top Podcasts chart for the period of August 2023. The Daily Wire/Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” stayed in its spot at #7, iHeartPodcast’s “Stuff You Should Know”im remained at #9, Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” rose one spot to #11, and FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” fell one spot to #16.  Other data from Podtrac from this report includes: 1) U.S. unique monthly audience increased for all but one of the Top 20 publishers in August 2023 over July 2023; 2) The average U.S. unique monthly audience for the Top 20 publishers was up 13% month-over-month and down 3% over July 2022; 3) Total global downloads for the Top 20 publishers were up 7% month-over-month and flat year-over-year; and 4) The combined audience for the Top Sales Networks was up 15% month-over-month.

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Sports media personality broadcaster Rich Eisen will host the 2023 Marconi Radio Awards Dinner on October 25 during NAB Show New York. Record producer and radio host DJ Scratch, who performed at last year’s event, will provide live music.

iHeartPodcasts announces today that sleep and relaxation podcast, “Nothing Much Happens: Bedtime Stories to Help You Sleep,” joins the iHeartPodcast Network. Since April 2018, “Nothing Much Happens” has delivered peaceful and relaxing content to listeners around the world. The popular series has been widely recognized for its excellence, originality, and production design. As part of the deal, the two will also coproduce and distribute new podcast concepts in English as well as other languages.

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iHeartPodcasts Unveils Podcast Series About Key Iran-Contra Figure

iHeartPodcasts is debuting a nine-part podcast series titled, “Journalista,” the true story of Courtney “Cookie” Hood, a former model and the ex-wife of a Colombian drug cartel kingpin, who was hired to manage the CBS field office in Nicaragua during the civil war in the 1980s. “What starts as another big party for her, ends up beingim the history making adventure of a lifetime, blowing the lid off the Iran-Contra scandal and almost taking down the Reagan presidency.”  Former New York Times bureau chief Stephen Kinzer states, “During the 1980s and 1990s, Cookie Hood was the single driving force behind the most successful television coverage of Central America that appeared across the United States. ‘Journalista’ is a series of stories over four decades in the making and will entrance each listener to the realities of what really happened during that time.”

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Podtrac Releases June’s Top Podcasts, Podcast Publishers

PODTRAC LogoAccording to Podtrac’s latest stats, the average U.S. “Unique Monthly Audience” for the Top 20 publishers dipped 3% month-to-month, but improved by that same percentage compared to June 2022. “Total Global Downloads” for the Top 20 publishers remained steady month-to-month; however, it declined 3% versus this time last year. The combined audience for the Top Sales Networks was up 5% month-to-month. The top ten podcasts by US Unique Monthly Audience (June 2023) are: “The Daily” (New York Times); “Dateline NBC” (NBC News); “Morbid” (Wondery); “Up First” (NPR); “NPR News Now” (NPR); “SmartLess” (Wonderly); “The Ben Shapiro Show” (Daily Wire); “Stuff You Should Know” (iHeartPodcasts); “Pardon My Take” (Barstool Sports); and “The Dan Bongino Show” (Dan Borgino). With a US “Unique Monthly Audience” of 31,625,000 (and 833 active shows), iHeartPodcasts is the top podcast publisher. It is followed by Wondery; NPR; NBC News; New York Times; Daily Wire; The Walt Disney Company; Barstool Sports; Vox Media; and PRX.