Monday Memo: The Future of Radio isn’t Radio, It’s Reach
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
As a newly minted program director (remember them?), I found the 1980 “NAB Radio Programming Conference” downright enchanting. New-tech cart machines (remember them?) would FIND the splice! And after the cart played, a flashing light saved careless DJs from accidentally playing it again.
Back to The Future: Hello from fabulous Las Vegas, where radio has been folded-into what is now called The NAB Show. Among sessions I will be attending here this week:
- “Improving the Listener Experience,” which has suffered from cutback-after-cutback;
- And I will be the guy typing as fast as I can at “The Local Advertising Buying Landscape: Find Out What’s Driving Digital Sales, Revenue and Growth Opportunities.”
At the annual TALKERS conference 20+ years ago, publisher Michael Harrison coined the term “Media Station,” meaning: “Analog-rooted media such as radio stations, TV stations, and newspapers will have the digital capability of assuming each other’s roles in the multi-platform environment of the 21st century. No media brand will be limited to the AM/FM dial, the VHF/UHF TV set, the printed page delivered to the front porch, or even a specific channel. Every small AM radio station could be a sleeping SiriusXM Satellite Radio.”
This year’s NAB Show goes-there, with, among other sessions:
- “Hot Digital Trends: What to Know About Video, Podcasts and AI;” and
- “The Omni-Media Landscape: Mapping Reach, Affinity, and the Future of Media.
Recently, when CBS Legal wouldn’t let Stephen Colbert air his interview with surging Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D), he posted it to YouTube, where it got roughly FIVE TIMES the views his TV show gets most nights. So… with technology now enabling individuals, I sure won’t miss:
- “A Crew of One: Solo Storytelling Strategies,” where the NAB Show says we will “Learn how to manipulate space and time as a solo storyteller, getting set up for success, working with multiple cameras, and keeping the flow from start to finish.”
- Ditto “The Ultimate Creator Studio Tips and Tricks;” and
- “The Fandom Flywheel: Building Scalable Media Ecosystems in The Bravoverse.”
With Uncle Sam’s big birthday looming, there’s “America 250: Owning the Moment – How Radio and TV Will Drive Community, Culture and Revenue in 2026;” and “The First Amendment and Press Freedom in Today’s Media Landscape.”
If you are in ‘Vegas this week, look for me at all-of-the-above. Maybe we can grab a cuppa cawfee. And no matter WHAT the dealer is showing, always-always split Aces and 8s. If you aren’t here, look for my NAB Show report again here tomorrow.
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn


bring together leaders from Nevada’s Jewish community, educators, advocates, and law enforcement professionals to advise the governor on emerging challenges, community safety concerns, and long-term policy solutions.” Stock tells TALKERS, “The group will provide an important opportunity for Jewish community leaders to share their perspectives and ensure that Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo hears directly from those affected as we work together to address antisemitism in Nevada. Policy recommendations will be due by April 15, shaping the agenda for Nevada’s 2027 legislative session.” Stock hosts his daily morning program “Vegas @ 8” on news/talk KXNT and produces commentaries that air three times per day on the Audacy station.
Cutting edge technology is on display — and on wheels — this week here in Las Vegas.
the company through the end of 2027. As part of the new contract, Sanchez moves to the 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm daypart on news/talk “101.5 FM K-Dawn Las Vegas” airing on KMXB-HD3/K286CS. Sanchez states, “I’m excited to continue to be part of a great media brand like Audacy and I’m very excited to go back home to evenings where it all started for me. This move allows me to continue to grow our Gen-X audience while focusing on continued content creation for our fast-growing social media platforms and new stand-alone videocasts.”
Hello from Las Vegas, ever-changing yet timeless. Here this week the NAB Show is “Powering the Next Era of Storytelling.” And it’s about time. While there is now a filibuster-proof U.S. Senate majority to require that cars include AM receivers, some AM stations are being shut off. Over the weekend millions took to the streets and this morning Wall Street braced for more. So, the vibe here is positively rejuvenating.
hosts to connect to each Gagl session. Gagl + Hotline is a premium tier for US-based clients that enhances the audio quality from mobile phone callers. A 10-digit phone number is provided to Hotline subscribers which allows one contributor in the Gagl session to connect by dialing a number instead of clicking a web link. Gagl Solo is available for individuals to connect to the studio at no cost. Comrex is also unveiling its new FieldLink – a hardware-based IP audio codec that serves as a “press box” codec designed to replace expensive wireless mic/IFB solutions and move audio from sideline reporters efficiently to the pressbox. For more information on FieldLink or other Comrex products visit
the “Private Economic Council” – a Washington, DC-based organization composed of “influential business leaders, entrepreneurs and economists promoting free market tax policies, advocating for taxpayers, and helping to support and promote President Trump’s economic agenda.” It also includes former Trump senior economic advisor and former member of the Wall Street Journal editorial board Steve Moore, Papa John’s founder John Schnatter, and former U.S. congressman and current Liberty University School of Business Dean Dave Brat.
The third of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s July 2024 PPM survey is released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey period covered June 20 through July 17. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM adds half a share to finish with a 5.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) lifting it to the #4 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX jumps four-tenths to a 2.2 share good for the #17 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOAI rises 1.1 shares for a 4.2 share finish and the #11 rank, while Alpha Media’s news/talk KTSA dips two-tenths to a 1.2 share but rises one spot to the #21 rank. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM tacks on one-tenth to finish with a 6.2 share but slides back on spot to the #3 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KNRS-AM/FM rises a full share for a 4.1 share finish and climbs one spot to the #11 rank.
responsible for overseeing the Fort Myers and Tampa, Florida markets. In addition to serving as Ft. Myers market manager, AJ Lurie will now oversee sales across the state. Mac Edwards will oversee the Charlotte and Fayetteville markets. Kent Dunn will continue to lead the Augusta market. Mary Menna will lead the company’s Boston, Philadelphia, and New Jersey markets. Kevin Rich, who currently serves as Beasley Media Group vice president of operations, will now also be responsible for overseeing the company’s Las Vegas and Detroit-based operations. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley states, “These changes reflect the company’s continuous commitment to streamline our sales efforts and drive revenue in an efficient manner across multiple platforms throughout the company.”
The third of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s June 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey period covered May 23 through June 19. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM drops eight-tenths for a 5.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) finish that leaves it ranked #5 in the market, while iHeartMedia news/talk KEX adds one-tenth for a 1.8 share that lifts it to the #18 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOAI rises three-tenths to a 3.1 share and remains ranked #13, while Alpha Media’s news/talk KTSA dips a half share to finish with a 1.4 share leaving it ranked #22 in the market. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM rises 1.2 shares for a 6.1 share finish that lifts it to the #2 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KNRS-AM/FM is steady with a 3.1 share but rises to the #12 rank. 
airing on Audacy talk outlets WCCO, Minneapolis and KMXB-HD3, Las Vegas “K-DAWN.” Red Apple Audio Networks distributes the show live from 1:00 am to 5:00 am nightly. Morano comments, “I’m incredibly grateful to be on both of these great radio stations. I’ve dreamt of being on the radio in Minnesota ever since Jesse Ventura ran for governor. It’s great to be on a station that has so many independent thinkers. As far as ‘K-DAWN’ goes, I’m absolutely thrilled to be on the air in Las Vegas, a 24/7 city. It’s great to talk to an audience in a city that’s up all night.”
The third of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s May 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey covered April 25 through May 22. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, although Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM dipped six-tenths to a 5.8 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share), it remains ranked #2, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX-AM rises one-tenth to a 1.7 share stays in the #20 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOAI-AM is steady with a 2.8 share but falls back to the #13 rank, while Alpha Media’s news/talk KTSA slides back two-tenths to a 1.9 share good for the #19 rank. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM loses 3.2 shares to finish with a 4.9 share and regresses to the #4 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KNRS-AM/FM adds half a share for a 3.1 share finish that lifts it to the #14 rank.
The third of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s April 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey covered March 28 through April 24. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM sheds one-tenth for a 6.4 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) but remains ranked #2 in the market, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX-AM dips two-tenths to a 1.6 share good for the #20 rank. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM shoots up 1.4 shares for an 8.1 share finish and remaining ranked #2, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KNRS-AM/FM is steady with a 2.6 share but climbs two spots to the #15 rank. In Kansas City, Audacy’s news/talk KMBZ-FM adds three-tenths to finish with a 5.6 share keeping it ranked #4, while Cumulus Media’s news/talk KCMO-AM falls half a share to wrap the survey with a 1.5 share, pulling it down to the #18 rank.
showroom on Thursday (5/9) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Talk show host Alan Stock and afternoon host Sam Mirejovsky will moderate the event that will be free to the public. KXNT brand manager Mark Bonilla states, “As the premier talk radio station in Las Vegas, ‘News Talk Radio 840 AM’ is dedicated to providing a platform for informed discussion and debate by offering voters the opportunity to hear directly from the leading candidates about their visions for the future of the city.”
March 2024 PPM Data – Information for the March 2024 ratings period (February 29 – March 27) has been released for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.
If you’re looking to jump-start – or optimize – your video interview technique, this session alone was worth the trip to Las Vegas. Washington-based video content strategist/producer/interviewer
The third of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s February 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey period covered February 1 – 28. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM slips one-tenth to finish with a 6.9 share (6+, weekly AHQ share) but remains ranked #2 in the market, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX-AM adds three-tenths for a 1.5 share finish good for the #21 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOAI sheds three-tenths to finish with a 2.7 share and falls one spot to the #14 rank, while Alpha Media’s news/talk KTSA is steady at a 2.3 share but rises two spots to the #16 rank. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM rises nine-tenths for a 6.4 share finish but remains ranked #2, while iHeartMedia’s KNRS-AM/FM dips four-tenths to a 3.1 share but stays put at the #13 rank.
The third of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM shoots up 2.1 shares for a 7.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) finish and rises to the #2 rank in the market, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX-AM adds one-tenth to finish with a 1.2 share good for the #22 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOAI adds six-tenths to wrap the survey with a 3.0 share good for the #13 rank, while Alpha Media’s news/talk KTSA tacks on half a share for a 2.3 share finish that lifts it to the #18 rank. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM rises 1.9 shares to finish with a 5.5 share and climbs to the #3 rank, while, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KNRS-AM/FM adds 1.3 shares for a 3.5 share finish good for the #13 rank.
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.”
The third of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey period covered December 7, 2023, through January 3, 2024. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways for this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM falls a full share to a 4.9 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) dropping from the #3 rank to #6, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX-AM loses one-tenth to finish with a 1.1 share good for the #21 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia news/talk WOAI dips three-tenths to a 2.4 share good for the #15 rank, while Alpha Media’s news/talk KTSA sheds two-tenths to finish with a 1.8 share and is steady at the #19 rank. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM declines 2.8 share for a 3.6 share finish that leaves it ranked #9, while iHeartMedia news/talk KNRS-AM/FM dips six-tenths to a 2.2 share good for the #17 rank.
WWL-AM/FM, sports talk WWWL-AM, and four music brands. Barron succeeds Kevin Cassidy, who was named SVP and market manager of Audacy Chicago in December. Additionally, Bob Mackay assumes the role of vice president of sales for Audacy Dallas after serving in the same post in Austin. And three regional presidents add responsibilities to their regions as Doug Abernethy picks up regional and direct oversight of Audacy Austin, Brian Purdy adds regional oversight for Audacy Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee, and Mark Hannon assumes regional oversight of Audacy Minneapolis. Audacy COO Susan Larkin comments, “We have a very strong leadership team that has enabled us to make strategic changes and promote talent with multi-year track records of success. These leadership moves continue to position our local brands to deliver exceptional listener experiences and client value while reinforcing our commitment to excellence in the communities we serve.”