Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

CMG Atlanta Collects Food for Charity. Cox Media Group Atlanta’s radio stations partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to collect 10,700 pounds of food leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. CMG Atlanta VP and general manager David Abel says, “Congratulations to our CMG Atlanta radio team and our incredible listeners for their hard work and generosity. It is an honor serving the needs of our communities and our team couldn’t be happier with the results of this year’s food drive. Being able to provide 20,188 meals will make a real difference for local families who need it most.”

77WABC Partners with Shriners Children’s. 77WABC in New York City partnered with Shriners Children’s for a multi-media campaign that will increase awareness and support for the mission of providing children with The Most Amazing Care Anywhere for Giving Tuesday. Station owner John Catsimatidis says, “Children are our future. We are proud to partner with Shriners Children’s and support their mission of providing specialty medical care to children across the country and around the world.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

MIW Announces Digital Sales Mentorship Program. Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc announces the second annual Digital Sales Mentorship Program designed to accelerate the growth and professional development of women in digital radio sales. It provides one exceptional female seller or manager with personalized, hands-on mentorship from an accomplished industry leader. The selected mentee will receive monthly one-on-one coaching from an experienced mentor, access to digital subject-matter experts, and targeted guidance across key areas of digital revenue strategy. Find out more and apply here.

WABC Presents Future of NYC Presser. Red Apple Media’s WABC, New York is presenting a live press conference at 11:00 am ET on the future of New York City under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. It’s being hosted by WABC’s Dominic Carter with panelists including Red Apple CEO John Catsimatidis, former Governor David Paterson, political activist Fernando Mateo, and Kathryn Wylde president of the Partnership for NYC.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

McVay to Consult Zeno Media. Zeno Media, a global streaming and podcast infrastructure company serving diaspora communities in over 100 countries, announces the appointment of Mike McVay as a strategic advisor. In this role he’ll work closely with Zeno’s leadership team to sharpen content strategy, strengthen programming innovation, and help scale the company’s audio business across traditional, digital, and streaming platforms.

Jones to Interview Couric at Gracies Leadership Awards. The Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) announces that “TODAY” co-host Sheinelle Jones will conduct a fireside chat with award-winning journalist Katie Couric at the November 18 2025 Gracies Leadership Awards at Tribeca 360° in New York City. Couric will be honored with the distinguished Gracies Icon Award in recognition of her groundbreaking career and contributions to media.

WRKO Raises $137k for Disabled Vets. iHeartMedia Boston’s news/talk WRKO raised $137,736 during the tenth annual DAV Radiothon to benefit the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts last Friday. WRKO personalities Jeff Kuhner, Chuck Zodda, Mike Armstrong, and Howie Carr encouraged listeners to donate and raise funds for the DAV of Massachusetts’ homeless shelter and transportation programs. Since 2016, DAV Radiothon has raised over $1,263,000 to benefit veterans in the community.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

SalemNOW Documentary Series Launches. Salem Media Group says that its SalemNOW conservative and Christian streaming service is now streaming “Prescription to Kill,” a true crime docuseries hosted by actor and filmmaker Kevin Sorbo. Salem says the series originated from director Andrew Thibault’s two-year legal battle with the Food and Drug Administration under the Freedom of Information Act that uncovered hundreds of previously withheld reports it says link prescription medications to acts of homicide, including multiple school shootings.

Audacy Hosts Phillies Party. Audacy’s sports talk WIP, Philadelphia – flagship of the MLB’s Phillies – is hosting the second annual Red October Rally today (10/3) from Stateside Live! in celebration of the Phillies’ National League Division Series appearance. WIP is hosting a live broadcast from the team’s postseason rally from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

iHeartMedia Presents Wine on the River Event. iHeartMedia Louisville is producing the sixth annual Wine on the River event on October 11 at The Belvedere in Downtown Louisville. The company’s Louisville stations – including news/talk WHAS – are promoting the event that will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Kentuckiana.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Townsquare Media Announces Q3 Financial Results. Townsquare will release third quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Monday, November 10 and will hold a conference call at 8:00 am ET on that day. The company will also announce its participation in an upcoming investor conference.

Saga Communications Appoints New Board Member. Saga announces the increase of its number of board members to eight and the appointment of Gregg Sutherland to its board of directors. Sutherland was previously a senior partner at Ernst & Young where he served as the strategy consulting practice leader, Global and Americas.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Hayslett Joins Black Effect Podcast Network. Actress, producer, and host Crystal Reneé Hayslett’s talk series, “Keep It Positive, Sweetie” joins Charlamagne Tha God‘s and iHeartMedia’s The Black Effect Podcast Network. She says, “Joining The Black Effect Podcast Network is a meaningful moment for me. KIPS is all about bringing comfort and empowerment to our culture, and I’m honored to welcome my community into this incredible family dedicated to amplifying the powerful conversations that take place on the KIPS couch.”

WUSF Launches Local Talk Show. Public radio outlet WUSF, Tampa debuts, “Florida Matters Live & Local,” a new show that the station says “connects listeners with Tampa Bay’s most influential leaders while opening the phone lines for callers to weigh in on the issues that matter most to them.” WUSF general manager JoAnn Urofsky says, “Our listeners don’t just consume news – they actively shape the conversations that matter. These are tremendously eventful times, and local voices are more crucial than ever, so we’re creating a space where residents can directly engage with the issues defining our community’s future.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Petrowich Joins WYPR. Baltimore Public Media’s WYPR announces that journalist Sarah Petrowich joins the organization’s news team. She previously served with Delaware Public Media. BPM chief of content Danyell Irby says, “It is more crucial now than ever that we continue to hold public officials accountable and provide in-depth reporting on decisions made in Annapolis that affect our daily lives. I am excited that Sarah will bring that needed journalism excellence and ethical reporting to the WYPR news team.”

WJCT Brings Back Health Show. WJCT Public Media in Jacksonville, Florida is brining its flagship health program and podcast “What’s Health Got To Do With It?” back for a fifth season, beginning September 27. The show, hosted by Dr. Joe Sirven, airs on WMFE, Orlando; WMFV, The Villages; WGCU, Fort Myers; WUFT, Gainesville; and WQCS, Treasure Coast.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Stephenson Joins SiriusXM Board. Sirius XM Holdings Inc announces the appointment of Dave Stephenson to the company’s board of directors, effective September 18. He’ll serve on the board’s compensation committee. He currently serves as chief business officer and head of employee experience for Airbnb, Inc. He comments, “I am honored to be joining the board of SiriusXM, a company whose powerful combination of world-class content and technology I have long admired. I am excited to collaborate with the board and management to deliver increased value to listeners and shareholders.”

Newberry Renews with Quu. Quu Inc and its CEO, Steve Newberry, agree to a three-year deal for him to continue guiding the company. Since 2020, Newberry has led the company that has more than 2,000 radio stations using its technology to display real-time music, content, and advertiser messages on vehicle dashboards.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Buffalo’s The Patriot Adding Translators. Radio One Buffalo, LLC announces that conservative talk WUSW-AM, Buffalo “The Patriot” will soon add FM translators W235BC at 94.9 and W227BW at 93.3 to the station’s broadcast. Radio One Buffalo owner Buddy Shula says, “This is a total game changer. Pairing these two powerful metro FM translators with WUSW- AM will give nearly complete market coverage for ‘The Patriot’ on the FM band. We hope to have these FMs approved and running by January 2026.

Audacy’s WIP Helps Raise $610,00 for Autism Charity. Audacy’s annual Eagles Radiothon, that aired live on SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia last week, raised a record-breaking $610,000 for the Eagles Autism Foundation. Audacy Philadelphia SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “Each year, I’m astonished by the generosity of our listeners, fans, and partners during the Eagles Radiothon. It continues to drive us year after year to make a meaningful difference. The whole SportsRadio 94WIP family is proud to help raise money for such an important cause.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Salem and D’Souza to Release New Film. Salem Media Group and D’Souza Media release the official trailer for the film, The Dragon’s Prophecy. This film is based on the book by Jonathan Cahn that explores the October 7 terror attacks in the Middle East and their connection to ancient battles between the Israelites and the Philistines as recounted in the Bible. It features exclusive interviews with major world leaders and Christian voices, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mike Huckabee, Erick Stakelbeck, and Eric Metaxas.

NFL Podcast Network Adds New Shows. The National Football League and iHeartMedia announce the NFL Podcast Network’s fall programming lineup for the 2025 NFL season that includes new programs “Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast with JJ Zachariason” and “NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin.” All shows on the NFL Podcast Network are distributed by iHeartPodcasts.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Schrager Launches Football Podcast. ESPN and Omaha Productions announce that ESPN NFL analyst Peter Schrager is debuting, “The Schrager Hour,” a Wedsnesday show in which Schrager “dives into key storylines and match-ups around the league, taking you behind the scenes of Monday Night Football and recapping his week on the road covering the NFL.” In addition, Schrager will be on the sidelines of Monday Night Football alongside Katie George and will appear regularly across ESPN’s studio programming, including frequent appearances on “Get Up,” “First Take,” “The Pat McAfee Show,” “NFL Live” and “SportsCenter.”

Browns Extend Partnership with Audacy and Good Karma Brands. The Cleveland Browns announced a multi-year agreement with Audacy and Good Karma Brands, reaffirming the stations’ continued roles as the team’s official flagship radio partners for the University Hospitals Browns Radio Network. ESPN Cleveland market manager Tom Olson says, “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Cleveland Browns. This renewal not only extends our tradition of delivering the excitement of Browns content to our fans, but also opens new opportunities to integrate our local partners directly into the fabric of the play-by-play broadcast.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

WEEI/NESN Radio-Telethon Raises $5.7 Million for Cancer. Audacy’s sports talk WEEI, Boston announces that the 2025 WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon raised more than $5.7 million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a new record in the 23-year history of the event. Audacy adds, “With the generous support of the Jimmy Fund community and Red Sox Nation, the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon has now raised more than $78 million to strike out cancer since the first broadcast in 2002.”

Salem Names New Board Chair. Salem Media Group appoints Richard A. von Gnechten as chairman of the board, with responsibilities of overseeing Board and Annual Stockholders meetings. Edward G. Atsinger, III retains the title of executive chairman with responsibilities of overseeing operations of the company and will remain in his role through December 31, 2025.

Saga Announces Dividend. Saga Communications declares a quarterly dividend to stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 26 who will be paid a dividend of 0.25 per share.  Saga says this represents a dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.7%.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Donal Ware Celebrating BOXTOROW’s 20th Anniversary. Sports talk host Donal Ware is celebratingimg his program’s 20th anniversary with a live broadcast on SiriusXM (Channel 380), Big Sports TV, and the BOXTOROW YouTube channel. The event is tomorrow (8/20) in Raleigh at North Hills Main District and will feature appearances by legendary college football coach Bill Hayes, Raleigh sports talk host Adam Gold, Raleigh Mayor Pro Tempore Corey Branch and Durham Mayor Leo Williams.

SiriusXM Unveils College Football Schedule. SiriusXM is presenting coverage of the opening week of the 2025 college football season kicks off by offering 97 live game broadcasts between August 23 and September 1. During the rest of the season, SiriusXM will carry dozens of game broadcasts each week involving teams from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and other conferences, plus Notre Dame, Army, Navy, HBCU football and more.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Salem Acquires Jim Fink Investing. Salem Media Group is acquiring Jim Fink’s suite of investment advisory products, including “Seasonal Stock Alert,” “Options for Income,” “Velocity Trader,” and “Inner Circle.” Salem is launching a dedicated online platform for Fink’s services at JimFinkInvesting.com. Roger Michalski is VP and publisher of Salem’s Eagle Financial Publications and he says, “Jim brings a unique depth of expertise in option spreads and seasonal trading strategies that perfectly complements Eagle’s existing offerings. We are excited to welcome Jim and his colleague Derek Myers to our growing team and to offer their proven insights to our subscribers.”

New Adds for “Amazing Americans.” Kate Delaney’s Talk Media Network syndicated weekend show “Amazing Americans” adds new affiliates as KLIS, St. Louis; WORD-FM, Daytona, and KBNP Portland add the show to their program schedules.

Rob Carson Back in DC. Newsmax talk host Rob Carson reveals that he has relocated to the Washington, DC area after 10 years in Kansas City. Carson says that he has built a studio in Alexandria, Virginia with the assistance and generosity of WGMD owner, Mark Guiliani. He adds that he decided to make the move to be “closer to the action” in DC.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

KUT, Austin Promotes MacLaggan. Public radio outlet KUT, Austin, Texas names Corrie MacLaggan executive editor of KUT News and The Texas Newsroom, effective September 1. She will lead editorial strategy, support collaboration across teams, and focus on growing audiences across digital, radio, and on-demand platforms. She currently serves as managing editor of The Texas Newsroom and will retain oversight of that collaborative, while dedicating more time to KUT News and Texas Standard.

WOR Renews NYC Marathon Deal. iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR, New York and New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that produces 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, agree to a new multi-year expansion of their official radio broadcast partnership. The deal is part of New York Road Runners’ newly launched content studio, East 89th St Productions, and aims to bring the transformative stories of the running community to iHeartMedia’s listeners across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms.

RMWorldTravel Hosts Secretary Duffy. Last weekend, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy was the guest of hosts Robert and Mary Carey during the live national broadcast of RMWorldTravel during the “Chief Travel Leader” conversation. Secretary Duffy and the Careys talked about what’s been accomplished in the first six months of the Trump administration and what lies ahead. Listen to the segment here.

WFAN and Giants Extend Deal. The New York Giants and Audacy’s WFAN, New York extend their play-by-play partnership. WFAN will continue as the flagship station of the team, and as part of the extension, the team will produce monthly Giants programming throughout the year and will continue its weekly preview show, “Big Blue Kickoff Live.” Tiki Barber joins Giants.com’s John Schmeelk as the new pre- and post-game co-host for Giants gameday broadcasts. The voice of the Giants, Bob Papa, alongside Carl Banks and Howard Cross, will continue their in-game responsibilities.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Colin Cowherd Adds 400th Affiliate. FOX Sports Radio’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” reaches the 400-affiliate milestone with the addition of iHeartMedia’s “Rip City Radio 620 Portland” (KPOJ-AM). Cowherd says, “I couldn’t be more excited about the move! The Northwest has always held a special place in my heart! I was so fired up when I got the call from iHeart and am extremely honored that of all the cities, Portland’s KPOJ is my 400th affiliate.”

Benztown Partners with APM Music. Benztown is partnering with production music library APM Music to bring the latter’s work to radio stations. The APM Music library includes 1.3 million tracks in every genre and style from around the world and a constant flow of new releases, with more than 180 new curated new albums, 8,000 new tracks, and 2,000 songs with stems added each month.

Mission Media AI Partners with VSiN. Mission Media AI partners with VSiN, The Sports Betting Network to exclusively represent advertising sales across VSiN’s portfolio of content. Mission Media says the partnership strengthens its growing footprint in the sports space and unlocks new revenue opportunities for VSiN across their multitude of consumer touch points, including eight regional sports networks.

Paragon Welcomes Mikel Ellcessor. Paragon adds longtime public radio professional Mikel Ellcessor as an on-air fundraising consultant. Paragon says Ellcessor’s expertise will complement on-air fundraising consultant Christina Shockley’s specialized and proven approach to strategizing and producing modern, listener-focused, and impactful on-air fund drives and membership campaigns and adds that Paragon is fully situated to provide new fundraising strategies at a time when public radio stations are seeking new revenue solutions.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

BFoA Adds Hopkins to Board. The Broadcasters Foundation of America elects Ray Hopkins, president of Paramount U.S. Distribution, to its board of directors. BFoA chair Scott Herman comments, “Ray is a leader in broadcasting, and we are grateful that he is donating his time and energy to our charitable mission. Ray’s addition to our board of directors will inspire fresh ideas on how to effectively reach broadcasters across America with our message of hope.”

NYPR Appoints Three to Board. New York Public Radio appointments three media professionals to its board of trustees. Gary Knell’s career includes tenures as president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, NPR, and National Geographic. Jenna Weiss-Berman co-founded Pineapple Street Studios, and is currently head of podcasts at Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions. Jeremy Kuriloff is managing director and partner at the Boston Consulting Group.

WYPR Wins Journalism Awards. WYPR, Baltimore “88.1 FM, Baltimore’s NPR station,” wins four awards from the Public Media Journalists Association. The PMJA Annual Awards are designed to recognize the very best in public media work done by local public media outlets.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Beasley Sells Tampa Signal to EMF. Beasley Media Group is entering into a definitive agreement to sell WPBB‑FM, Tampa “98.7 The Shark” Educational Media Foundation. The transaction will mark EMF’s official entry into the Tampa Bay market. Beasley Media Group has owned and operated the 98.7 FM signal since acquiring the station as part of a swap agreement with CBS Radio in 2014, when Beasley officially took ownership of WHFS‑FM, along with five other Tampa Bay stations.

Starnes Delivers Keynote Addresses. Newsmax host and nationally syndicated radio host Todd Starnes was the keynote speaker at the recent National Right to Life Conference and the Kansas Republican Party Convention in Kansas City. He was also a keynote speaker at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Road to the Majority Conference in Washington, D.C. Starnes is currently on a nationwide tour promoting his new book, Star-Spangled Blessings.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

“Building the Black Agenda” Set for Sunday. Urban talk WURD, Philadelphia is presenting its next “Building the Black Agenda” mobilization and live broadcast on Sunday (6/29). The station says its “Building the Black Agenda” initiative has hosted three “Cash Mobs” to support small, Black-owned businesses, the cornerstone of the initiative. This Sunday’s cash mob aims to mobilize listeners and supporters to contribute to WURD Radio’s continued survival and growth. The station has set a $20,000 fundraising goal.

NHPR Files Friend of the Court Brief. New Hampshire Public Radio filed a friend of the court brief making the case for blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order that would defund public media. Along with 28 other public radio organizations, NHPR contends in the brief that Trump’s executive order is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment, that it would upend a system Congress devised to maintain the editorial independence of public media, that it would strip stations of the right to make their own programming choices, and that it violates the Constitutional separation of powers.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Florida’s Voice Radio Adds Affiliates. Conservative talk host Drew Steele’s “Florida’s Voice Radio” program adds new affiliates as WDBO, Orlando; WOKV, Jacksonville; and WROD, Daytona Beach add the program to their lineups. Steele says, “I’m thrilled to join the lineups of WDBO, WOKV, and WROD. Florida has some of the most passionate and engaged listeners anywhere, and I can’t wait to connect with them and be part of what matters to these communities.”

Stefanik Makes News on Sid & Friends. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said on the “Sid & Friends” morning show on WABC, New York that she is considering a gubernatorial run. Politico reports that Stefanik said to Sid Rosenberg, “We need to save New York, and I’m taking a very strong look. I’m going to make a decision in the coming months.”

“The Breakfast Club” Hits Download Milestone. iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network celebrate “The Breakfast Club” podcast surpassing one billion downloads. The show was launched in 2010 on iHeartMedia New York’s “Power 105.1” and the company says it “quickly became a must-stop destination for musicians, entertainers, politicians and the most talked about cultural figures of the moment. Since then, it has amassed a dedicated following captivated by the honest opinions and cultural breakdowns from current hosts DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious and Charlamagne Tha God.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

iHeartMedia Launches “True Crime Tonight.” iHeartMedia announces the premiere of “True Crime Tonight” in collaboration with KT Studios. “True Crime Tonight” will initially launch on more than 20 broadcast radio stations across the country Sunday through Thursday evenings live at 10:00 pm local time beginning June 1. The two-hour show is being led by Stephanie Lydecker, founder and CEO of KT Studios; Courtney McKenna Armstrong, producer and voice of KT Studios’ podcasts; and Baudi Moovan, crime analyst and star of Netflix’s “Don’t F*** with Cats.”

Edison Unveils Infinite Dial UK. At The Podcast Show in London, Edison Research released its finding about UK digital media consumption via it’s the Infinite Dial UK 2025. The study looked at tech ownership, social media usage, online audio, and podcast listening in the UK.

Podcast One Acquires New Shows. PodcastOne announces it broadens its programming slate by adding several new and acquired podcasts to its network. Acquisitions include “Love Murder,” “The Broadside” and “Intrusive Thoughts” by Adam Rippon, with new podcasts “Yestergays” with Justin Sylvester and Blakely Thornton and “A Lot of You Have Been Asking” from comedian Hayden Cohen.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

New Affiliates for “America Tonight.” The nationally syndicated show “America Tonight” starring Kate Delaney adds two new affiliate stations as WORD, Daytona Beach and KLIS, St. Louis both add the program to their lineups. Delaney tells TALKERS magazine that she is celebrating 16 years of hosting “America Tonight.”

Townsquare Officers to Present at Investor Conferences. Townsquare Media’s CEO Bill Wilson, CFO Stuart Rosenstein, and EVP investor relations Claire Yenicay are participating in two upcoming investor conferences – the Barrington Research Virtual Spring Investment Conference on May 29 and the Noble Capital Markets’ Virtual Investor Conference on June 4.

Saga Declares Dividend. Saga Communications’ board of directors is declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on June 27, 2025, to shareholders of record on June 6, 2025. The aggregate amount of the payment to be made in connection with the quarterly dividend will be approximately $1.6 million. The quarterly dividend will be funded by cash on the company’s balance sheet. Including this dividend, the company will have paid over $138 million in dividends to shareholders since the first special dividend was paid in 2012.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Erick Erickson Wins MRC’s Bulldog Award. WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta-base, nationally syndicated talk host Erick Erickson is honored with the Media Research Center’s MRC Bulldog Award for Outstanding Radio Talk Show. The award is given to Erickson for “following in the footsteps of the revered Rush Limbaugh by blending humor with hard-hitting political analysis.”

“The Road to Cooperstown” Launches. A new season of the baseball podcast series “The Road to Cooperstown” has dropped on SiriusXM. Each episode of features host Jon Paul Morosi sitting down with a different Hall of Famer and the first episode features Philadelphia Phillies great Mike Schmidt.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

WGN, Chicago Adds Ted Cruz Show. WGN Radio is adding the Premiere Networks program “Verdict with Ted Cruz” lineup airing Sunday nights at 8:00 pm The program is hosted by Texas Republican Senator and Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz and national radio personality and political commentator Ben Ferguson.

BIA Blogs Offer Tariffs Guidance. BIA Advisory Services is examining the potential effects of new tariffs on local advertising and drafted a report titled, “Understanding Tariff Impact on Local Advertising: Business Vertical Analysis Part 1 and 2.” In two new blogs drawing from that report, BIA offers “When Trade Wars Hit Home: Tariffs and Local Ad Markets,” Part 1 and Part 2 in which it explores how the Trump administration’s trade policies may force businesses to rethink their local advertising strategies, tracking possible changes in advertising spending.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

CTBS Show Hosts Vice President. The Premiere Networks nationally syndicated program “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton” hosted Vice President J.D. Vance yesterday in recognition of the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Topics discussed included tariffs, manufacturing in America, and immigration.

CNN Audio Launches Donie O’Sullivan Program. CNN Audio’s newest podcast series is called “The Account” and the first season is “Persuadable with Donie O’Sullivan,” in which the CNN senior correspondent investigates how and why some individuals are susceptible to modern conspiracy theories. 

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Urban One to Reveal First Quarter Results. Urban One announces that it will hold a conference call for investors, analysts and other interested parties to discuss its results for the first fiscal quarter of 2025 on May 13 at 10:00 am ET.

Ted Cruz Podcast to Air in Detroit. Adell Media announces its Detroit radio station WFDF-AM “Detroit’s News Talk Superstation” begins airing “Verdict with Ted Cruz” to its weekend lineup, effective April 27, 2025.

SiriusXM to Broadcast from Pope’s Funeral. SiriusXM will provide live, on-location coverage of the funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis from St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday 3:30 am ET on The Catholic Channel with the funeral Mass expected to begin at 4:00 am ET. Father Dave Dwyer and Lino Rulli, hosts on The Catholic Channel, will lead the broadcast live from Rome, offering commentary, prayers, and reflections throughout the liturgy.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

SiriusXM Announces NFL Draft Coverage. SiriusXM is presenting live coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft from Green Bay on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The SiriusXM broadcast will be anchored by Jason Horowitz. SiriusXM’s expert analysts will be former NFL scout, coach and front-office executive Pat Kirwan, former NFL quarterback Jim Miller, former coach Rick Neuheisel, and former NFL running back Jacob Hester.

Cumulus Q1 Report Comes on May 1. Cumulus Media will present its first quarter 2025 operating results during a conference call on May 1 at 8:30 am ET. The company will issues a press release with the results prior to the call. 

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Pubcasters to Present NJ Governor Candidates. New Jersey public media network NJ PBS and public radio outlet WNYC announce their live broadcasts covering the New Jersey gubernatorial race with conversations with the candidates. Republican candidates will appear on May 7, at 7:00 pm; Democratic candidates will appear on May 12, at 7:00 pm. The broadcasters say the goal is to have the candidates engage in civil, solutions-based discussion about issues facing New Jersey.

NHPR Nominated for a Peabody. New Hampshire Public Radio and collaborator The Pudding are being nominated for a Peabody Award in the Immersive & Interactive category for “Failures to Act” — reporting that delved into one of the largest youth detention abuse cases in American history that took place in New Hampshire. The reporting revealed the stories contained in more than 1,281 civil lawsuits filed by people who say they were abused as children while in state custody.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Beasley Partners with University of Michigan Athletics.  Beasley Media Group, University of Michigan Athletics, and Learfield’s Michigan Sports Properties announce a multi-year broadcast agreement that makes rock WCSX-FM, Detroit the new flagship radio home for the Michigan Wolverines. WCSX-FM will broadcast all Football, Men’s Basketball, and Men’s Hockey games, along with coaches’ shows and exclusive ancillary programming. In addition, WMGC-FM will carry select Women’s Basketball regular-season games as well as postseason matchups.

Lisa Waks Named to Executive Position. AdLarge and the fwd. network name Lisa Waks EVP of business development and partnerships. In this role, Waks will be leading the business development team in strategic digital partnerships and expanded opportunities for the company and creators across the fwd. network’s portfolio of female-focused content.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

RTDNA’s Dan Shelley to Retire. RTDNA president and CEO Dan Shelley is reriting at the end of 2025 after more than 25 years with the organization. The RTDNA board of directors voted to approve current executive director Tara Puckey as the new president and CEO beginning in January of 2026.

Two Media Companies Announces Q1 Earnings Reports. Townsquare Media will release first quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, May 8. The company will host a conference call to discuss certain first quarter 2025 financial results that day 8:00 am ET and Saga Communications will release its First Quarter 2025 results at 9:00 am ET while holding a conference call at 11:00 am ET that morning.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

JFMN Launches WV Sports News Service. WVTheTorch.com and the John Fredericks Media Network announce the launch of West Virginia’s newest digital newspaper: WVSportsNation.com. JFMN says this fully integrated West Virginia sports news service is designed to bring Mountaineer fans in both WV and across the country the very best and most in-depth coverage ever created in the Mountain State. WVSportsNation.com is part of JFMN’s growing portfolio of digital news and information platforms.

Season 11 of Katie Couric Podcast Debuts. iHeartMedia announces season 11 of the podcast, “Next Question with Katie Couric.” In this podcast, Couric talks with politicians, DC insiders, and journalists to uncover what’s worth attention (and what’s not). In the first episode, Couric speaks with journalist, documentary filmmaker, and best-selling author Chris Whipple, whose latest book “Uncharted” captures the human drama behind the 2024 election.

Irby Promoted at Baltimore Public Media. The corporation that operates non-commercial outlets WTMD and WYPR in Baltimore announces Danyell Irby is promoted to chief of content for both stations. Most recently, Irby served as executive director of news at WYPR, joining the organization’s leadership team in April 2020. Prior to that, she held multiple editorial and leadership roles at NPR, including anchor, editor, and senior supervising producer of newscasts.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Tide 100.9 Host Wins ABBY Award. Wyatt Fulton, the brand manager for Townsquare Media’s sports talk WTBC-AM/W261BT “Tide 100.9,” wins Best Sports Talk Show in a Medium Market for his “T-Town Sports Daily” program at the Alabama Broadcasters’ Association ABBY Awards. Fulton tells Tuscaloosa Thread, “I am honored to win my first Abby Award in my first year on the air on ‘Tide 100.9!’ I’m extremely grateful and hope to continue building a reputation as an award-winning multimedia sports journalist in Tuscaloosa.”

NYPR Names New Officer. New York Public Radio president and CEO LaFontaine E. Oliver announces that Thomas J. Reno is been named chief operating and financial officer. Reno joins NYPR from Precision Strategies, a DC-based strategic communications agency.