KFI, Los Angeles Presents “Maui Island Inferno” Radio Show and Podcast
iHeartMedia news/talk KFI, Los Angeles is presenting the special program “Maui Island Inferno,” hosted by award-winning investigative journalist Steve Gregory (right). The program features exclusive interviews
conducted by Gregory, who was on the island of Maui covering the wildfires, including the devastating fire in the historic town of Lahaina. The show explores the government’s response, the views of Maui islanders, and what happens next. iHeartMedia says, “Gregory became 
the center of controversy when, during a press conference, he pushed Hawaii Governor Josh Green for answers and access to the fire scenes. Local and national media covered the exchange and became the foundation for other reporters to push back, seeking transparency and accountability.” The radio special and podcast are produced by Gregory and Jacob Gonzalez for iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the iHeartRadio Podcast Network.
exits his role as director of programming for the Los Angeles operations that includes news/talk KRLA AM 870 “The Answer,” Christian talk KKLA-FM, and Christian contemporary KFSH-FM. Tyler tells TALKERS magazine he’s ready to apply his 20-plus years of director of programming and on-air experience in Los Angeles to his next successful situation. You can contact him at: 
The first of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s July 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. Nielsen’s July 2023 sweep covered June 22 – July 19. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York City, Red Apple Media news/talk WABC-AM/WLIR-FM sheds two-tenths to finish with a 3.2 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and falls back to the #11 rank, while Audacy’s crosstown all-news WINS-AM/FM rises six-tenths to a 4.9 share and climbs to the #6 rank. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN adds two-tenths for a 3.2 share finish that lifts it to the #10 rank, while Audacy’s crosstown all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM tacks on four-tenths to finish the survey with a 5.0 share but falls back to the #4 rank. And in San Francisco, Audacy all-news KCBS-AM/KFRC-FM rises eight-tenths to wrap the survey with a 6.7 share that leaves it ranked #2, while Cumulus Media’s crosstown news/talk KSFO dips one-tenth for a 1.9 share finish good for the #17 rank. 
July 2023 PPM Data – Information for the July 2023 ratings period 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.
and entrepreneurs. The company says Smiley will continue to serve as managing editor of his signature show with SmileyAudioMedia, Inc producing and syndicating the program. The program’s first affiliate station is Equity Media LLC’s talk WBOK, New Orleans. Smiley says, “We’re excited to bring our radio program to listeners across America. Our innovative programming with groundbreaking, exclusive interviews has filled a void for African American and progressive listeners in Southern California and soon in markets throughout the United States.” Smiley was honored with the “Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of Speech” – a.k.a., the Freedom of Speech Award – from TALKERS magazine at this year’s TALKERS 2023 conference held on June 2 at Hofstra University.
Nashville Public Radio, which includes WPLN “News 90.3” (and triple A WNXP), appoints Robert Sanchez as its chief operating officer. Nashville Public Radio president/chief executive officer Steve Swenson comments, “Rob brings a wealth of experience and expertise to help us as we continue our rapid growth to expand our public service to Nashville and Middle Tennessee. His extensive background in both news and music programming is unique in our industry.” Sanchez notes, “I’m grateful to Steve Swenson and the board of directors for entrusting me to help lead the many digital and audio services Nashville Public Radio offers. I’m invigorated to join an organization that functions at such a high level of public service and community engagement.” For the past five years, Sanchez was vice president of news for iHeartMedia Boston news -news/talk hybrid WBZ-AM and iHM’s northeast regional news director. He previously was director/news and programming for Washington, DC’s WNEW-FM “All News 99.1”; assistant news director of New York all-news WCBS-AM; and programming/operations manager for Los Angeles’ KBLA “1580 Talk Radio.” Among persons 6+ in Nielsen Audio’s May 2023 survey period, WPLN ranks #14 and is trending 2.8 – 2.9 – 3.3 (March – April – May, 6+).
Smiley adds, “We launched KBLA Talk 1580 on Juneteenth, two years ago, during the height of the COVID-19 health crisis. We’re extremely proud that in two short years, KBLA Talk 1580 has become a trusted community resource in Los Angeles and beyond. Our mission to enlighten, empower and encourage, resonates with our growing audience.” Additionally, over the past two years the company has launched SAM Digital, its own brand of white label products that are designed to help businesses and service providers reach an even wider audience, grow brand awareness, and increase sales by targeting specific audiences with direct messaging and by measuring the performance of their outreach campaigns. It also recently debuted the SmileyAudioMedia Podcast Network to expand beyond traditional radio broadcasting.
being produced by the award-winning team of Steve Gregory and Jacob Gonzalez with associate producer Nick Pagliochini. KFI says, “Parents and protesters continue to gather at school board meetings around the country to express their frustration over districts’ that try to introduce books and language which address the transgender community and other LGBTQ+ issues. Faith-based leaders have also joined the protests along with advocacy groups that represent parents of public-school students. Critics say these issues should be addressed exclusively in the home while supporters say it is critical to be inclusive of all lifestyles to better prepare children for the real world. ‘He Said, She Said, They Said…’ features multiple sides of the issue. There is also a companion podcast with extended content that will be available immediately following the broadcast on the iHeartRadio App.”
an illustrious career in LA radio, from LOVELINE’s inception on KROQ through the show’s network syndication and MTV. We’re thrilled to have Ann joining our iHeart LA team.” Ingold was most recently serving as producer on ITV’s weekly live Facebook Watch program and consulted Los Angeles radio shows for Audacy and Meruelo Media. She comments, “I want to thank Robin and everyone at KFI for being so welcoming.”
The first of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s May 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). Nielsen’s May 2023 sweep covered April 27 – May 24. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York City, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC-AM & WLIR-FM is steady at a 3.7 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) but slides from the #10 rank to #11, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk WOR dips two-tenths to a 1.7 share and remains ranked #18. iHeartMedia’s KFI, Los Angeles is flat with a 4.3 share but falls back to the #5 rank in the market. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN adds one-tenth to finish with a 3.3 share and rises one spot to the #9 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM loses two-tenths to finish with a 4.2 share but rises to the #3 rank in the market. 
May 2023 PPM Data – Information for the May 2023 ratings period 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).
Radio, and KGFJ Radio among others, joins such former recipients of the award as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’ Reilly, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, Bob Grant, Thom Hartmann, Alan Colmes, Joe Madison, Karen Hunter, Al Franken, Brian Lamb, Norm Pattiz, Ian Freeman and others dating back to the origins of TALKERS in the late 1980s. Some two years ago, Smiley’s media company acquired an AM radio station in Los Angeles, the former hip hop legend KDAY, and transformed it into a new station and format – KBLA Talk 1580 – where he’s assembled an outstanding on-air staff, including himself, with the 
passionate mission of, as he puts it, “unapologetically serving people of color and who are politically progressive.” In making the announcement of this year’s recipient, TALKERS founder Michael Harrison states, “This is our longest-running and most-important award. Mr. Smiley has risen to the enormous talk radio challenge of providing underserved African Americans and progressives with a major commercial platform in the nation’s second largest market with a worldwide reach. In today’s political environment and struggling AM radio industry, it doesn’t get any more ‘First Amendment’ than that.” Tavis Smiley was presented the award by Harrison at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. 
Jewish Committee. The AJC is a global advocacy organization that monitors Antisemitism around the world and offers education and support to the Jewish community as well as engaging with leaders at the highest levels of government. KFI program director Robin Bertolucci says, “I, along with others, recently watched in horror as anti-Semitic protesters were seen making Nazi salutes to passersby on the 405 freeway. As broadcasters, it is our duty to educate and inform our listeners and this podcast brings attention to the unseemly underbelly of Antisemitism which is sadly alive and well online and in our communities.” Other guests include Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean and director of Global Social Action Agenda for the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles; Dr. Matthew Schumacher, a clinical and operational psychologist who is on assignment with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau; Dr. Michael Berenbaum, curator of the installation of the only authorized traveling exhibition of Auschwitz; Rabbi Michael Barclay, founding rabbi of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village, California. 
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producer and director Justine Bateman. Other panelists include Ramsay Brown, chief executive officer of the A.I. Responsibility Lab, Brandie Nonnecke, co-director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, and others.” Audacy Southern California regional president 
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s April 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). Nielsen’s April 2023 sweep covered March 30 – April 26. 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 is steady with a 3.7 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) but falls one spot to the #10 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk WOR stays put with a 1.9 share and remains ranked #18. iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI, Los Angeles adds two-tenths for a 4.3 share finish and rises to the #4 rank. In San Francisco, Audacy’s all-news KCBS-AM/KFRC-FM falls seven-tenths to a 7.3 share but remains ranked #1 in the market, while Cumulus Media’s crosstown news/talk KSFO rises half a share to a 1.8 share that lifts it to the #19 rank. Cox Media Group’s news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta tacks on four-tenths for a 7.0 share finish and remains ranked #3 in the market. 
Westwood One syndicated series “Off The Record With Mary Turner” in which she presented interviews with and personality profiles of some of the biggest musical stars of the day. Turner and Pattiz were married in the early 80s and the two shared what friends described as a happy relationship until his death this past December at 79 due to throat cancer. Turner had her own health issue battling substance abuse in the early 90s, which she bravely overcame. She became a UCLA-certified drug and alcohol counselor and received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She went on to be appointed chairwoman of the Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison, who worked with Turner at both KMET and Westwood One says, “Mary Turner was one of the main pillars upon which the great KMET was built. Nicknamed ‘The Burner,’ she was a pioneer in album rock radio and an iconic role model for women in the industry. She was solid on the air – providing music fans a panoramic window into the culture. She related to artists with an authenticity that engendered trust and they really opened up to her.” As of press time, further details on this story are not available.
and 2022 guiding the charitable organization to more than quadruple the amount of financial aid it distributes to radio and TV professionals in acute need from $400,000 to nearly $2 million last year. “I am very proud to have known Jim for nearly 40 years as a colleague and a friend,” said Scott Herman, chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation. “Jim believed deeply in helping others and his passion and enthusiasm for life always lit up a room. He always saw the positive in every person and every situation.” Prior to his service to the industry as president of the BFoA, Thompson had been president and CEO of Group W Radio, the second largest radio company in the country during his leadership, and along with Mike Craven was co-owner of Liberty Broadcasting, a 19-station radio group concentrated on the East Coast. He began his broadcasting career as an account executive at KYW-TV, Philadelphia in 1971, where he rose to vice president and general manager. An innovator and visionary, Thompson created the Radio-Mercury Awards to encourage and reward excellence in radio creative. He served on the boards of the Radio Advertising Bureau and the Advertising Council, was vice chairman of the Pennsylvania State Broadcasters Association and a member of numerous committees, including the NAB Radio Futures Committee. A member of the U.S. Army, Thompson served in Vietnam. The presentation will be made by talk show host Harry Hurley of WPG, Atlantic City at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island.
that national sports talk radio networks are “in a losing race against time.” Reimer says that long ago, sports fans were starved for sports talk and would tune in to national programming like ESPN’s. But now, he says, “The whole idea of national sports radio is anathema to the concept of destination programming. The content is supposed to be boilerplate, because hosts are expected to placate listeners across the country.” Fans who want to hear national sports hosts like Dan LeBatard or Bill Simmons can simply download their popular podcasts. 
The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s March 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). Nielsen’s March 2023 sweep covered March 2 – March 29. 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 & WLIR-FM “77 Talk Radio” dips two-tenths to a 3.7 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) but rises one spot to the #9 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk WOR rises two-tenths to finish with a 1.9 share good for the #18 rank. iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI, Los Angeles is unchanged with a 4.1 share and remains ranked #5 in market, while Audacy’s crosstown all-news KNX-FM climbs four-tenths to a 3.3 share and rises to the #10 rank. In San Francisco, Audacy’s all-news KCBS-AM/KFRC-FM adds two full shares to finish the survey with an 8.0 share and leaps from #3 to #1 in the market. Cumulus Media’s news/talk WBAP, Dallas shoots up eight-tenths for a 3.4 share finish that lifts it from the #16 rank to #12. 
the Minority Photo-Journalism Institute are making a tangible difference in our community by helping students pursue careers in journalism and communications. KBLA ‘Talk 1580’ strongly believes in enlightening, empowering and encouraging tomorrow’s reporters, editors and potential talk radio hosts. Hopefully, our scholarships make a difference.” The scholarship donations were raised at KBLA’s February 28, 2023, Black History Month luncheon in tribute to Black legends in Los Angeles media.
the actual distribution or movement of service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas and goals, and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor customers’ preferences.