NAB Announces 2024 Crystal Award Winners
The National Association of Broadcasters announces the 10 winners of the 37th annual NAB Crystal Radio Awards that recognize radio stations for their exceptional year-round commitment to community service. This year’s 2024 NAB Crystal Radio Award recipients were chosen from 50 previously announced finalists. They include news/talk KFI, Los Angeles; sports talk KMVP-FM, Phoenix; news/talk KSL-AM/FM, Salt Lake City; talk WHPT-FM, Tampa Bay; and news/talk WNRP-AM, Pensacola. See the complete list of winners here.
The first of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s March 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The survey covered February 29 through March 27. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media Group’s news/talk WABC rises two-tenths to finish with a 4.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that lifts it to the #9 rank in the market. iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR is steady with a 1.6 share and the #20 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WINS-FM adds one-tenth for a 4.6 share good for the #5 rank. In Los Angeles, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI inches up one-tenth for a 5.5 share that keeps it locked into the #3 rank. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s WGN-AM dips three-tenths, finishing with a 3.2 share and the #9 rank, while Cumulus Media news/talk WLS-AM falls six-tenths to a 1.4 share good for the #25 rank. Audacy all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM is steady with a 5.4 share but falls back to the #4 rank. 
7:00 pm. KNX says, “In her first broadcast town hall as mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass takes the stage at KNX News to take questions from Angelenos on a broad range of public safety-related topics the day after her State of the City address. As the City searches for a new chief to shape the future of the LAPD, Mayor Bass will hear from constituents about what they want that future to look like.” The show is being aired on KNX News 97.1 FM, the Audacy app, and streamed live on YouTube.
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s February PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The February survey covered February 1 – 28. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC adds three-tenths to finish the survey with a 3.8 share (6+, weekly AQH share) but remains ranked #11, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR loses one-tenth for a 1.6 share finish and falls to the #20 rank. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN tacks on four-tenths to finish with a 3.5 share that lifts it to the #8 rank, while Cumulus Media’s news/talk WLS-AM adds two-tenths for a 2.0 share finish and remains ranked #18. Audacy’s crosstown all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM fell eight-tenths to a 5.4 share but only regressed one spot to the #3 rank. 
February 2024 PPM Data – Information for the February 2024 ratings period (February 1 – February 28) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).
Communications’ WNOV-AM, Milwaukee; and Minority Communications’ KJMC-FM, Des Moines. SmileyAudioMedia owner and program host Tavis Smiley says, “Our show’s rapid and continued expansion into key media markets represents an exciting next chapter. As we move deeper into the 2024 election season, we’ll continue to provide our growing listener base with enlightening and empowering programming unapologetically geared toward African Americans and other citizens of color.” The program is heard in Chicago on Midway Communications’ WVON-AM; LEVAS Communications’ WURD-AM, Philadelphia; and Equity Media’s WBOK-AM, New Orleans and plans to announce more new affiliate stations later in the spring.
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The survey period covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC-AM adds half a share to finish with a 3.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #11, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR-AM rises half a share to a 1.7 share that lifts it to the #17 rank. In Los Angeles, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI adds nine-tenths for a 4.5 share finish good for the #3 rank in the market. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM is up a half share, finishing with a 3.1 share and the #10 rank, while Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WLS-AM rises two-tenths to a 1.9 share and moves up one spot to the #18 rank. And in Atlanta, Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM claims the #1 rank after rising 1.2 shares to an 8.6 share. 
January 2024 PPM Data – Information for the January 2024 ratings period (January 4 – January 31) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The ratings period covered December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC adds two-tenths to finish with a 3.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #11, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR tacks on one-tenth for a 1.2 share finish good for the #21 rank, and Audacy’s all-news WINS-FM falls two-tenths to a 3.9 share but rises to the #9 rank. In Los Angeles, iHeartMedia news/talk KFI loses half a share to finish with a 4.6 share pulling it from the #2 to the #4 rank, while Audacy’s all-news KNX-AM/FM loses two-tenths to finish with a 2.5 share good for the #12 rank. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM dips two-tenths for a 2.6 share finish leaving it ranked #11, while Cumulus Media’s news/talk WLS-AM is steady at a 1.7 share good for the #19 rank, and Audacy’s all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM loses three-tenths to finish with a 4.9 share and remaining ranked #4. 
Holiday 2023 PPM Data – Information for the Holiday 2023 ratings period (December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).
The company says that the initiative will achieve these objectives with a robust schedule of climate-themed broadcasts and special programming during the next 12 months, four free community events (one per quarter), two town halls broadcast nationally from Los Angeles, and a savvy social media and marketing campaign. KBLA says its public and private partners in this initiative include: LADWP, Metro, the Port of Los Angeles, CalEndow, California Community Foundation, the Sierra Club, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and others who will join the campaign in Q2, Q3 and Q4. Chief visionary officer and nationally 
syndicated talk host Tavis Smiley says, “The harsher impacts of climate change weigh heavily on communities of color. In these underserved communities, families are less likely to have air conditioning, shade trees, bus shelters, water and energy effective appliances and other infrastructure that’s critical to mitigate a changing climate. As the most ‘trusted, credible and reliable’ media source in Southern California for African Americans and beyond, our talk station is committed to do more than just talk in these troubled times. There is a clear connection between Dr. King’s moral consistence on the notion of reverence for human life or the interconnected nature of life and the future of our world house. On this MLK holiday weekend, KBLA assigns itself the task of elevating the climate conversation by amplifying the voices of those who are most impacted by the climate catastrophes we are all witnessing in real time. In a real sense, climate is king.”
New York; KNX-AM/FM, Los Angeles; and KCBS-AM/KFRC-FM, San Francisco. As part of the deal, CBS News Radio provides its full news and programming to the Audacy stations, including top-of-the-hour newscasts, CBS WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP, breaking news, special events coverage, correspondent interviews, and audio. Paramount Global EVP of podcasting and audio Steve Raizes states, “This new agreement ensures listeners in the top markets continue to get CBS News Radio’s award-winning national and global news for years to come. This new agreement continues our long-running relationship with Audacy and its stations.”
Season.” The station says it “featured an informative, spirited, and sometimes fiery debate about the growing problem of organized retail theft and what can be done about it.” Appearing on the panel of experts were Todd Spitzer, Orange County district attorney; Marc Beeart, director of fraud & corruption prosecutions at the L.A. County District Attorney’s office; 
in need in Southern California. The charity also helps families get back into stable home environments and teaches teens the skills they need to work in the hospitality industry. This year, all 168 Wendy’s restaurants in Southern California continued their partnership and offered customers the opportunity to donate. KFI program director Robin Bertolucci says, “Once again, the KFI audience has come through with incredible generosity and kindness. This is our 13th year and every year we are touched by the giving spirit of KFI listeners. A huge thank you to them and to our partners, Smart and Final and Wendy’s for giving our listeners another way to give back to the community.”