TALKERS Conference 2024 Set for Friday, June 7
Powerful Speaker Roster Being Set for TALKERS 2024 – Glenn Beck, Fred Toucher and Brian Kilmeade to Appear in Key Roles
The 27th annual presentation of the longest running and most important national talk media gathering scheduled for Friday, June 7 at Hofstra University on Long Island is being organized with 60+ industry notables set to speak. Highlights include a special guest keynote address by Premiere Networks superstar Glenn Beck in addition to exclusive morning and afternoon “Fireside Chats” with WBZ-FM, Boston (“98.5 FM The Sports Hub) morning co-host Fred Toucher and FOX News Radio/FOX News Channel host Brian Kilmeade, respectively.
The power-packed, one-day event will again be presented by TALKERS in association with the prestigious university’s multi-award-winning station WRHU Radio. TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey says, “We are delighted to be able to join forces again with our colleagues at Hofstra – the site of our very successful 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2016 events – and enjoy the remarkable resources that its Lawrence Herbert School of Communication brings to the table.” TALKERS 2024 will boldly address key issues – some existential – facing the talk radio and talk media industries at this dramatically critical juncture of rapidly accelerating technological and societal change as well as identifying the remarkable opportunities inherent in these developments. The focus, as always, will be on talk radio and its changing relationship with the larger arena of “audio” and “video” including podcasting, satellite, and digital venues. News/talk, sports talk, all-news, and general talk will be amply covered. The conference will also provide participants with unique and powerful networking opportunities.
The speakers already confirmed include (in alphabetical order) Dr. Asa Andrew, host/owner, The Doctor Asa Show/The Doctor Asa Network; Michael “Bax” Baxendale, morning co-host, WAQY-FM, Springfield, MA; Glenn Beck, host, “The Glenn Beck Show”/Premiere Networks; Vince Benedetto, CEO/founder, Bold Gold Media Group; David Bernstein; GM, broadcast operations, TALKERS; Scot Bertram, GM, WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM; Grace Blazer, VP, national NTS brand coordinator, director of news and AM programming Florida region, iHeartMedia Miami; Phil Boyce, SVP, spoken word format, Salem Media Group; Ops VP, New York region/WMCA/ AM 970 The Answer; Bill Brady, owner/host, KFNX, Phoenix; John Caracciolo, President/CEO, JVC Broadcasting; Howie Carr, host, Howie Carr Radio Network; Kathy Carr, president, Howie Carr Radio Network; Kevin Casey, VP/executive editor, TALKERS; Heather Cohen, president, The Weiss Agency; Alex Fife, VP operations, Southeast, iHeartMedia – Total Traffic & Weather Network; Rob Finnerty, host, “Wake Up America,” Newsmax TV; John Fredericks, owner/host, John Fredericks Radio Network; Mike Gallagher, host, Salem Radio Network; Dom Giordano, host, WPHT, Philadelphia; Steven Goldstein, CEO, Amplifi Media; Dave Gorab, VP/GM, talk programming, SiriusXM Satellite Radio; Lee Habeeb, CEO/host, “Our American Stories”/American Private Radio; Lee Harris, director, integrated operations, NewsNation/WGN, Chicago; Matthew B. Harrison, VP, associate publisher TALKERS/senior partner, Harrison Media Law; Michael Harrison, publisher, TALKERS; Ron Hartenbaum, managing member, WYD Media; Scott Herman, chairman, Broadcasters Foundation of America; Bill Hess, corporate program director, news/talk, Cumulus Media/PD, WMAL, Washington, DC; Harry Hurley, host, WPG, Atlantic City; Victoria Jones, executive director, DC Radio Company; Jeff Katz, host, WRVA, Richmond; Brian Kilmeade, host, FOX News Radio/FOX News Channel; Kraig T. Kitchin, CEO, Sound Mind, LLC; Chris Krok, host, WBAP, Dallas; Scott Lakefield, APD, WOR, New York; Steve Lapa, president, Lapcom Communications Corp; Josh Leng, CEO/founder, Talk Media Network; Danielle Lin, host, “The Art of Living and the Science of Life”; Chad Lopez, president, WABC, New York/Red Apple Audio Network; Mark Lukasiewicz, dean, Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, Hofstra University; Mike McVay, president, McVay Media Consulting; Frank Morano, host, WABC, New York/Red Apple Audio Networks; John T. Mullen, GM, WRHU-FM/WRHU.org, Hofstra University; Chris Oliviero, market president, Audacy New York; Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, host, “The Joe Pags Show”; Deborah Parenti, publisher, Radio Ink/RBR+TVBR; Walter Sabo, consultant, Sabo Media Implementers/host “Sterling On Sunday,” TMN; Greg Stocker, brand manager, WPHT, Philadelphia; Tavis Smiley, host/owner, KBLA, Los Angeles/Smiley AudioMedia; Todd Starnes, host/president, The Todd Starnes Show Syndication/owner, KWAM, Memphis; Doug Stephan, CEO/founder, Stephan Multimedia/host “Good Day” morning show; Julie Talbott, president, Premiere Networks; Joe Thomas, owner/PD/morning host, WTON, Staunton, VA; Fred Toucher, co-host, morning show, WBZ-FM, Boston (“98.5 The Sports Hub”); Paul Vandenburgh, owner/host, WGDJ (Talk 1300), Albany, NY; Dr. Daliah Wachs, host, Genesis Communications Network; Lisa Wexler, host, WICC, Bridgeport. CT; Brett Winterble, host, WBT, Charlotte; Larry Young, host, WOLB, Baltimore; and Martha Zoller, host, WDUN, Gainesville, GA. More speakers will be named in the coming days.
Attendance at the conference is limited to members of the working media and directly associated industries as well as communication students enrolled in accredited learning institutions. All attendees will be required to register in advance on the phone payable by credit card. Because attendance will be limited and the agenda outstanding, the conference is again expected to be an early sellout. The all-inclusive registration fee covering convention events, exhibits, food, and services for the day is $379. Because space will be limited and a sellout is anticipated, all registrations are non-refundable. To register for TALKERS 2024 or to obtain sponsorship information, call Barbara Kurland at 413-565-5413. The closest hotel to the conference is the nearby Long Island Marriott-Uniondale but it is nearly sold out. For a list of area hotels within a short drive to Hofstra, please click here.
proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and has filed a proposed Plan of Reorganization that incorporates the terms of the RSA and is subject to approval by the Court. Under the terms of the RSA, a supermajority of debtholders committed to vote in favor of the Plan, which, when approved, will reduce Audacy’s funded debt from approximately $1.9 billion to approximately $350 million. Audacy’s debtholders will receive equity in reorganized Audacy. Audacy expects that the Court will hold a hearing to consider the approval of the Plan in February and to emerge from bankruptcy once regulatory approval is obtained from the Federal Communications Commission. Audacy has filed with the Court a series of customary “First Day Motions” to obtain Court authority for the Company to continue operating its business in the ordinary course without disruption to its advertisers, vendors, partners or employees. Audacy expects to operate normally during this restructuring process under its current leadership team. 
AudioPack has 20 pieces of audio available to download including SFX and musicbeds. It includes party ambiance, sunny musicbeds, Labor Day listener drops, glass clinking, beer-drinking, BBQ sizzlin’, pool splashing SFX. 
iHeartMedia’s financial by segment, broadcast radio revenue was $429 million, a decline of 7.2% over Q2 of 2022. Network radio was $122 million (down 4.2%), digital revenue (excluding podcast) was $164 million (down 1.6%), and podcasting revenue was $96.7 million (up 12.9%). iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman says, “We are pleased to report that our second quarter 2023 results reflected Adjusted EBITDA slightly above the midpoint of the guidance range, and more than double the Adjusted EBITDA we generated in the first quarter, and our consolidated revenue were above the guidance range. The continued positive performance of our Digital Audio Group, led by our Podcasting business, and the significantly improved relative performance of our Multiplatform Group during this soft advertising period, are encouraging metrics for us, and we’re seeing indications of improving macroeconomic trends which we expect to have a positive impact for us in the second half of the year, with most of that impact in Q4.”
the journal refers to AM, FM, online and satellite talk radio, cable news/talk TV, and talk podcasting.
Springfield, MA, joined TALKERS as its managing editor almost a quarter-of-a-century ago in 2000. The big story during that pre-9/11 year was the excruciatingly inconclusive presidential election between Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore that took over a month to settle.
format phases including a full color magazine and eventually a daily online operation geared to providing news, advice and opinions to professionals involved in programming, managing, marketing and operating an array of related platforms in what has come to be known as talk media. This includes most popular forms of spoken-word AM and FM radio, plus online programming, podcasting, cable television and satellite broadcasting. During this period, TALKERS has produced and presented 26 national conventions in New York and another three in Los Angeles. Add to that more than 35 regional, national and international forums about the field and countless radio rows including several at the White House in conjunction with both the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. TALKERS remains and will continue to be a non-partisan proponent of the First Amendment with a great love and passion for talk media’s roots in the century old medium of radio.
on his long-running “Urban View” channel program on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The two legendary radio figures took a deep-dive into the subjects of podcasting, AM radios in cars, the role of boomers in today’s culture and the way in which the annual TALKERS Heavy Hundred list is compiled. Don’t miss this conversation! 
streaming, podcasting, and wagertainment properties. Under Davis’ leadership, the team will be responsible for sales and execution, managing the entire client lifecycle.” Audacy chief revenue officer Brian Benedik comments, “No medium delivers more value for sports than audio. People are spending more time than ever with broadcast radio, streaming and podcasts, and the demand for compelling sports content across these channels is growing exponentially. Through our best-in-
class sports audio portfolio, powered by over 150 flagship team partnerships, iconic local broadcast brands, award-winning podcasts and sports betting content, Audacy is uniquely positioned to capitalize on a new sales strategy in this arena.” Audacy says, “From 1990 to 2005, Davis was key in building WFAN into America’s #1 sports radio station, overseeing local and national sales, programming and marketing, helping shape it into the highest-grossing station in the country.” Davis rejoined Audacy in 2018 to lead the reboot of Traffic Weather Information Network’s on-air content and ad operations teams. 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, “quantifies annual podcast advertising revenues generated over the past year, analyzes revenue share by ad category and content genre, and forecasts future revenues through 2025.” The study says the top revenue-generating content genres are Sports (15%), Society & Culture (14%), and Comedy (14%) and have taken the lead from News and Political Opinion content (down from 19% to 12%). IAB VP, media center Eric John says, “In-person sports, lifestyle events, and in-store shopping have come back in a big way, taking the lead from news which held the top revenue genre spot since 2018. Podcasting revenue naturally reflects that shift in consumer behavior and it will be interesting to watch how the balance changes going forward.” He adds, “Both mass and niche advertisers like the audiences, targeting, and ROI along with the brand-safe and suitable environments that podcasting offers.” 
company posts a Q1 2023 net loss of $35.9 million, an increase of 225% compared to Q1 of 2022. Audacy chairman, president and CEO David J. Field states, “First quarter revenues were down 5.7% with local sales significantly outperforming national as challenging ad market conditions persisted. Cash operating expenses were up 3% during the quarter but are expected to be below prior-year levels for the remainder of 2023. Notwithstanding the difficult economic headwinds, we remain steadfastly focused on delivering significantly higher future levels of Adjusted EBITDA, capitalizing on our multiple growth drivers and our differentiated premium competitive position in the dynamic audio market. We are making progress on each of our drivers, including our podcasting and digital marketing solutions businesses, our reinvented streaming audio platform, our emerging ad tech and ad products, and our enhanced national enterprise business development efforts. In addition, we are encouraged to see some positive signs in our auto business as we continue our vigorous work to weather the storm and await future improvements in market conditions.”
order): Heather Cohen, SVP, The Weiss Agency; Steve Goldstein, CEO, Amplifi Media; Ron Hartenbaum, managing partner, WYD Media; Chris Oliviero, market president, Audacy New York; David Pakman, talk show host/commentator, The David Pakman Show; and Larry Young, talk show host, The Larry Young Podcast.
planners). Suchman writes that this argument “is among the ultimate tussles between media planners and publishers. While some may lean more heavily toward video, we at Audacy respectfully disagree.” He makes a five-point argument in audio’s favor saying it wins in reach, time spent using, is more immersive, activates all senses, and drives recall. 
One thousand or so of the sellers that I mentioned sit in the multi-platform group, and they certainly sell all the assets we have. We have this mantra at the company that ‘Any seller can sell anything any day of the week wherever they live and work,’ and that has rung pretty true. That’s driven most of our growth in podcasting over the last two, three, four years at the company.” He also credits iHeartMedia’s history as a radio company with educating him about how radio personalities have developed the art of conversation. “But I have learned firsthand and talked a lot about the extent to which broadcast radio talent has honed this craft of conversation over the last hundred years and certainly the last few decades, and the extent to which that has driven our medium, just sheer talent hitting the medium, but also with an awareness of the medium.” 
It looks like the podcast business is hitting those ever-present speedbumps.