Tag: TALKERS

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (August 18 – 22, 2025)

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (8/18-22) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

1. Russia-Ukraine Negotiations
2. Texas & California Redistricting
3. The Economy/Fed Policy
4. Tariffs
5. Federal Takeover of DC
6. The Epstein Files
7. ICE Raids
8. Israel-Gaza War
9. Trump vs The Smithsonian
10.Trump Voting System Criticisms / Newsmax-Dominion Settlement

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Vladimir Putin
3. Volodymyr Zelensky
4. Greg Abbott
5. Gavin Newsom
6. Jerome Powell / Lisa Cook
7. Jeffrey Epstein / Ghislaine Maxwell
8. Kristi Noem
9. Pam Bondi
10.Benjamin Netanyahu

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry Views

Could Your Own Podcast Become Your AI Competitor?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer

mattybharrisonImagine a listener “talking” to an AI version of you – trained entirely on your old episodes. The bot knows your cadence, your phrases, even your voice. It sounds like you, but it isn’t you.

This isn’t science fiction. With enough content, it’s technically feasible today. A determined developer could transcribe archives, fine-tune a language model, and overlay a cloned voice. The result wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be recognizable.

Whether that’s legal is another question – one circling directly around fair use.

Why It Matters

For most content creators, archives are their most valuable asset. Yet many contracts with networks, distributors, or hosting platforms quietly grant broad rights to use recordings in “new technologies.” That language, once ignored, could be the legal hook to justify training without your permission.

Fair use is the fallback defense. Tech companies argue training is transformative – they aren’t re-broadcasting your show, only using it to teach a machine. But fair use also weighs market harm. If “AI You” pulls listeners or sponsors away from the real thing, that argument weakens considerably.

Not Just Theory

Other industries are already here. AI has generated convincing tracks of Frank Sinatra singing pop hits and “new” stories written in the style of Jane Austen. If that can be done with a few books or albums, thousands of podcast episodes provide more than enough material to train a “host model.”

Talk media is especially vulnerable because its product is already conversational. The line between “fan remix” and “AI imitation” isn’t as wide as it seems.

What You Can Do

This isn’t about panic – it’s about preparation.

— Review your contracts: confirm you own your recordings and transcripts.
— Register your work: enforceable rights are stronger rights.
— Decide your stance: licensing your archives for training might be an opportunity – if you control it.
— Emphasize authenticity: audiences still value the human behind the mic.

The Takeaway

Could your podcast be turned into your competitor? Yes, in theory. Will it happen to you? That depends on your contracts, your protections, and the choices you make.

Fair use may ultimately decide these battles, but “fair” is not the same as safe. Consider this example a reminder: in the AI era, your archive is not just history – it is raw material.

Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonLegalGroup.com or read more at TALKERS.com.

Industry Views

When the Library Talks Back

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

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By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer

imgImagine SiriusXM acquires the complete Howard Stern archive – every show, interview, and on-air moment. Months later, it debuts “Howard Stern: The AI Sessions,” a series of new segments created with artificial intelligence trained on that archive. The programming is labeled AI-generated, yet the voice, timing, and style sound like Stern himself.

Owning the recordings might suggest the right to create new works from them. In reality, the answer is more complicated – and the music industry offers a useful comparison.

Music Industry Precedent

Sony, Universal, and others have spent hundreds of millions buying music catalogs from artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and Queen. These deals often include both composition rights and master recordings, giving the buyer broad control over licensing and derivative works.

In music, the song and the recording are the assets. In talk content, the defining element is the host’s persona – voice, cadence, and delivery – which changes the legal analysis when creating new material.

Copyright and Persona Rights

Buying a talk archive usually transfers copyright in the recordings and any scripts. That permits rebroadcast, excerpts, and repackaging of original programs.

It does not automatically transfer the host’s right of publicity – control over commercial use of their name, likeness, and in many states, their distinctive voice. In Midler v. Ford Motor Co. (1988), the court ruled that imitating Bette Midler’s voice in a commercial without consent was an unauthorized use of her identity.

This means a company can own the shows without having the right to make new performances in the host’s voice unless the contract clearly grants that right.

The AI Factor

AI technology can replicate a host’s voice, tone, and style with high accuracy, producing entirely new programming.

Outside broadcasting, a recent AI-generated George Carlin special – written by humans but performed by a voice model trained on decades of his work – sparked debate about rights and legacy.

In talk radio, similar AI use could create “new” episodes featuring well-known hosts. Even with clear labeling, right-of-publicity claims may arise if the host or their estate never authorized it. Disclaimers may address consumer confusion but do not remove identity-rights issues.

Why It Matters

This applies to more than national figures. Any broadcaster or podcaster with a substantial archive could face it. Selling or licensing a library could give the buyer the tools to replicate your voice without your participation.

For buyers, the ability to produce new content from archived material has commercial appeal. But without the right to use the host’s voice for new works, it carries significant legal and reputational risk.

Contracts Decide

The key is in the contract:

— Did the talent assign rights to their name, likeness, and voice for future works?
— Is use limited to original recordings or extended to derivative works?
— Does it address future technologies, including AI?

Older agreements often omit these points, leaving courts to decide. Future contracts will likely address AI directly.

Takeaways

For talent: Know what you are transferring. Copyright ownership does not necessarily include your future voice.

For buyers: Owning an archive does not automatically give you the right to create AI-generated new material in the original host’s voice.

For everyone: As AI advances, control over archives will depend on the contracts that govern them.

Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonLegalGroup.com or read more at TALKERS.com.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (August 4 – 8, 2025)

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (8/4-8) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

1. Trump Tariffs
2. The Economy / Fed Policy
3. Texas Redistricting Battle
4. Potential Trump-Putin Meeting
5. The Epstein Files
6. Fort Stewart Shooting
7. ICE Raids / Detention Camp Plans
8. Israel-Gaza War
9. DOJ’s Trump-Russia Investigation
10.Sydney Sweeney Controversy

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Jerome Powell
3. Greg Abbott
4. Vladimir Putin
5. Jeffrey Epstein / Ghislaine Maxwell
6. Quornelius Radford
7. Kristi Noem
8. Pam Bondi
9. Benjamin Netanyahu
10.Sydney Sweeney

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry Views

They Say YOU Infringed – But Do THEY Own the Rights?

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Legal Group, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer

imgYou did everything right – or so you thought. You used a short clip, added commentary, or reshared something everyone else was already posting. Then one day, a notice shows up in your inbox. A takedown. A demand. A legal-sounding, nasty-toned email claiming copyright infringement, and asking for payment.

You’re confused. You’re cautious. And maybe you’re already reaching for the fair use defense.

But hold on. Before you argue about what you used, ask something simpler: Does the party accusing you actually own the rights?

Two Main Reasons People Send Copyright Notices

1. They believe they’re right – and they want to fix it.  Sometimes the claim is legitimate. A rights-holder sees their content used without permission and takes action. They may send a DMCA takedown, request removal, or ask for a license fee. Whether it’s a clip, an image, or a music bed – the law is on their side if your use wasn’t authorized.
2. They’re casting a wide net – or making a mistake. Other times, you’ve landed in a mass enforcement dragnet. Some companies send thousands of notices hoping a few people will pay – whether or not the claim is strong, or even valid. These are often automated, sometimes sloppy, and occasionally bluffing. The sender may not own the rights. They may not even know if what you used was fair use, public domain, or licensed.

Mistakes happen. Bots misidentify content. Images get flagged that were never protected. Even legitimate copyright holders sometimes act too fast. But once a notice goes out, it can become your problem – unless you respond wisely.

The First Thing to Check Is Ownership

Most creators instinctively argue fair use or say they meant no harm. But those aren’t the first questions a lawyer asks.

The first question is: “Do they have standing to bring the claim?”

In many cases, the answer is unclear or flat-out “no.” Courts have dismissed copyright lawsuits where the claimant couldn’t show ownership or any active licensing interest. If they can’t demonstrate control over the work – and actual market harm – they may not have the right to sue.

What To Do If You Get a Notice

— Don’t panic. Not all claims are valid – and not all claimants are in a position to enforce them.
— Don’t assume fair use will protect you. It might, but only after ownership is clear.
— Don’t engage emotionally. Responding flippantly can escalate things fast.
— Do get help early. A media attorney can help you assess whether the claim is real – and whether the sender has any legal ground at all.

Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonLegalGroup.com or read more at TALKERS.com.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (July 28 – August 1, 2025)

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (7/28-8/1) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

1. The Epstein Files
2. Tariff Deals
3. Fed Interest Rates Policy
4. Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
5. Colleges Settle with Trump
6. U.S.-China Trade Negotiations
7. ICE Raids
8. Texas Redistricting Map
9. Russia-Ukraine War
10.Deadly NYC Shooting

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Jeffrey Epstein
3. Ghislaine Maxwell
4. Bill Clinton
5. Barack Obama / Joe Biden
6. Jerome Powell
7. Benjamin Netanyahu
8. Mike Johnson
9. Vladimir Putin
10.Shane Tamura

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

Date and Details Set for 10th Annual Music Industry Reunion in SoCal

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

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Many readers and subscribers of TALKERS trace their radio industry roots back to the golden days when the radio programming and record promotion businesses were so symbiotic that the major trade publication serving this two-headed conglomeration was actually called Radio & Records: “The Industry’s Newspaper.”

On September 10, 2025, music and radio industry veterans from across the USA will come together at the 10th Annual Music Industry Reunion. The event will again take place at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas, CA. Doors open at 6:30 pm. The Music Industry Reunion prides itself on bringing together the best of the music business from around the world for this special evening of memories, laughter, and hugs. Past reunions in New York and Los Angeles have reunited over 500 industry influencers, industry legends and icons as well as the brightest radio, music, management, publicity, and marketing professionals in the business. Attendees can enjoy hot hors d’oeuvres as well as chips and salsa, along with $5 tequila shots. Additionally, the Sagebrush Cantina’s full menu will be available to purchase.

According to TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison, “For those of us who were lucky enough to be a part of that wild and crazy chapter of pop culture biz history – especially as it played out in Southern California – this is one of the greatest, most beloved industry events of the year… pure history, nostalgia, and fun!”

Advance tickets are $35 (+Eventbrite service processing fee) and available at this link: https://tinyurl.com/mir10th

The luxurious Anza Hotel has King Suites available at a special Music Industry Reunion rate of $118, which includes access to the hotel’s bar, pool, gym, and free parking. It’s just a few minutes’ walk to the event. Use Code: 250911LA10 at 818.222.5300 or follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/mir10hotel

Connect with The Music Industry Reunion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MusicBusinessReunion The 10th Annual Music Industry Reunion is coordinated by legendary music biz promoters Jon Scott and Kenny Ryback. Jon Scott 818.601.1283 jonpaulscott@gmail.com Kenny Ryback 747.666.5465 kenny.ryback@gmail.com

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (July 21 – 25, 2025)

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (7/21-7/25) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

1. The Epstein Files
2. The Economy / Trump vs Powell
3. Trump Negotiates with Colleges
4. U.S.-Japan Tariff Deal
5. Gaza Violence-Food Crisis
6. House Approves “Golden Dome” Funding
7. ICE Raids
8. Coldplay Couple
9. Extreme Weather
10.Ozzy Osbourne/Malcom Jamal Warner/Hulk Hogan/Chuck Mangione Deaths

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Jeffrey Epstein
3. Ghislaine Maxwell
4. Jerome Powell
5. Mike Johnson
6. Scott Bessent
7. Marco Rubio
8. Andy Byron / Kristin Cabot
9. Ozzy Osbourne / Malcolm Jamal Warner
10.Hulk Hogan / Chuck Mangione

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

TALKERS Celebrates 35th Anniversary Today

By TALKERS | by TALKERS

It was 35 years ago today (July 23, 1990) that the first edition of TALKERS rolled off the presses. Then aimg newsprint tabloid, TALKERS proclaimed that “talk radio” was, indeed, an “industry within an industry” and worthy of its own, unique full-service trade publication. Founded by pioneering radio broadcaster (KMET, WNEW-FM, WLIR-FM, WCBS-FM, WPIX, KPRI, CBS, Westwood One, RKO) Michael Harrison, who also brought his experience with publications including Radio & Records, Goodphone Weekly, and Billboard to the table, the independent journal went on to produce annual conferences, numerous radio shows, and contribute to the ongoing success and influence of a variety of spoken word formats and talk media offshoots.