Round One of September PPMs Released. The first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s September 2022 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 September 2022 sweep covered August 18 – September 14. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York City, Red Apple Media Group’s news/talk WABC drops 1.3 shares to post a 3.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share), falling into a tie at the #11 rank with Audacy’s all-news WINS, which adds two-tenths to finish with a 3.0 share. Although shedding one-tenth for a 4.7 share finish, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI, Los Angeles remains ranked #4. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM dips one-tenth for a 3.5 share finish good for the #9 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM adds three-tenths to finish the survey with a 4.9 share that pushes it to the #3 rank. Cumulus Media’s news/talk WBAP, Dallas-Fort Worth continues its upward trajectory by adding four-tenths to wrap the survey with a 4.9 share that lifts it to the #3 rank. After adding eight-tenths for a 6.3 share finish, Cox Media Group’s news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta remains ranked #5. You can see Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.
New York Festivals Radio Awards 2023 Competition Open for Entries. The New York Festivals 2023 Radio Awards competition is open for entries. New York Festivals Radio Awards 65-year legacy provides a showcase to celebrate world-class storytellers from around the globe. The competition honors creative innovation and excellence in broadcast and audio content across all genres and platforms. NYFestivals VP and
executive director Rose Anderson says, “Journalists today are finding new ways to keep viewers informed and engaged in our ever-changing and interconnected world. Here at New York Festivals, we want to be able to amplify their dedication with categories tailored for those purposes along with stories that show how individual actions can change the world and the ability of the human 
spirit to triumph over adversity.” This year, New York Festivals Radio Awards adds two additional categories that reflect the evolving industry: Investigative Journalism and Best Nonfiction Series. The 2023 Storytellers Gala will take place at the annual NAB Show in Las Vegas on April 18, 2023. This is the 13th year of NYF’s and NAB’s strategic partnership. Radio Award winners will have access to the multi-day event taking place April 15-19, 2023. New York Festivals Radio Awards receives entries from radio stations, networks, and independent producers from over 30 countries around the globe. The mission of the competition is to honor the achievements of the men and women who make up the global audio storytelling community. Also, New York Festivals invites award-winning industry leaders from around the world to become members of their world-class Radio Awards Grand Jury. The 2023 Grand jury will be recruited in the coming weeks. Those jurors will include some of the most world’s recognizable voices and captivating content producers in the radio industry. Entries are judged on production values, creativity, content presentation, direction, writing, achievement of purpose, and audience suitability. To see last year’s winners, click here. To see this year’s categories and for information about entering, click here.
Michael Harrison’s “Idiots” is an Internet Hit. TALKERS founder Michael Harrison has appeared as a guest on a number of major local and national radio talk shows covering several hundred stations across the nation during the past month discussing the musical track “Idiots” on which he appears as lead vocalist with the iconic classic rock band, GUNHILL ROAD. “Idiots” is a remarkably catchy song with an ear-worm hook and provocative lyrics taking aim at what Harrison describes as the “growing wave of idiocy that’s spreading across America and threatening the nation’s democracy.” Harrison wrote the song in collaboration with his bandmates – Steve Goldrich, Paul Reisch and Brian Koonin. Since its release in late August, the song’s music video
(www.idiotsvideo.com) has racked up more than 52,000 views on YouTube alone and gotten both audio and video exposure on hundreds of talk shows and radio station websites from WABC, New York to KXL, Portland. “Ironically, the song has become somewhat of a talk radio hit – if such a strange thing is possible,” says Harrison. “The music stations haven’t a clue what to do with it because it doesn’t fit conveniently into their cookie cutter categories. However, talk radio programmers get it.” Nationally syndicated talk radio star Lars Larson – one of the first to play the song on air – tells TALKERS, “The minute I put ‘Idiots’ on my talk show, emails flooded in. Gunhill Road hit the note that all of us have been sensing for a long time.” One of the song’s qualities that adds to its talk show appeal and support from both liberals and conservatives is its non-partisanship. Harrison calls it an “equal opportunity offender.” Lyrics include such lines as: A fool will always be a fool… left, right, blue or red… it pays to have an open mind, but not an empty head. Another: They (idiots) cherry pick and reaffirm half-baked dumb ideas… agree with almost anything that feeds their hate and fears… always blaming others for their own damn lack of vision… they buy the crap that’s sold them from the merchants of division. That last line is punctuated on the video by the famous “turd” emoji emanating from the rear ends of both an elephant and donkey. Harrison plans to continue the virtual Talk Radio Idiots Interview Tour through the fall. Shows and hosts interested in booking him as a guest can do so by emailing info@talkers.com or calling Barbara Kurland at 413-565-5413. Click here to see the video.
Zimmer Broadcasting Simulcasts Morning Show to KWOS-AM, Jefferson City. The Jefferson City news/talk outlet owned and operated by Zimmer Communications is adding the “Wake-Up Mid-Missouri with Branden Rathert” program to its lineup. The program emanates from the company’s news/talk KSSZ-FM, Columbia, Missouri. The
company says that lead host Branden Rathert has been recognized for his work during the 2010 BP Gulf Coast oil spill, the unrest at University of Missouri in 2015, and has been awarded for documentaries on homelessness and SWAT teams. The program also features local attorney Stephanie Bell, Centralia native Hannah Adkisson, news director Brian Hauswirth, and fellow journalist John Marsh. Zimmer Communications operations manager Chris Carson says, “We are excited to take what has been an extremely successful show for Columbia and bring that to a much larger audience covering a broad portion of the center of the state. The way they approach each news story, no matter how local or national, and provide a take that appeals to every Missouri listener is incredible. Their service work to the community and relationships with newsmakers and political leaders across parties across the state is unmatched by any other radio show statewide! This is going to be fun!”
Bold Gold Foundation’s 7th Annual Event & Dinner to Pay Tribute to Abraham Lincoln. The non-profit arm of the Bold Gold Media Group, The Bold Gold Broadcast & Media Foundation, which supports educational programs that help students prepare for careers in broadcast journalism, announces that Abraham Lincoln will be the focus of this year’s 7th Annual Event and Dinner to be held on Friday, October 28 at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre. The Bold Gold Foundation has chosen the theme:
“Abraham Lincoln – Leadership & Statesmanship in a Nation Divided.” Dr. Matthew Spalding – the Kirby Professor in Constitutional Government at Hillsdale College and the dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale’s Washington, D.C. campus – will keynote the event. Bold Gold president Vince Benedetto says, “Our theme last year centered around Winston Churchill, as a defender of Western Civilization and free speech. Prior to this, we focused on the leadership of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. It seems only appropriate that we now turn our attention to the greatest statesman of the 19th century, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was a leader with great moral courage, who proved extremely capable of communicating and defending the American constitutional order and our founding principles. The purpose of the Bold Gold Foundation is to support the next generation of media leaders. What better way to learn about leadership and the communication of great ideals in times of deep division than by studying Abraham Lincoln?” The Bold Gold Foundation will also be honoring Northeast PA business leader William Rosado, of the Rosado Group and Milford Hospitality Group, with a special citizenship award during this year’s event. The Atlas Award for Citizenship is awarded to individuals who, through their hard work and bold actions, show what is possible to achieve in a free society, and who exhibit extraordinary dedication to the highest ideals of character, community service, entrepreneurialism, patriotism, leadership, and virtue.
KWAM, Memphis Wins TAB Awards. Memphis news/talk KWAM “The Mighty 990” was honored with three Excellence in Broadcasting awards at the recent Tennessee Association of Broadcasters gala and the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Tim Van Horn and Ben Deeter won second place honors for Best Talk Show. Grace Baker and the KWAM staff won first and second place for Best Digital Media. Pictured above are (from l-r): general manager Kevin Davis, KWAM political analyst Steve Gill, KWAM owner Todd Starnes, managing editor Caleb Parke, chief engineer Chuck Condron and CEO Dalton Glasscock.
TALKERS News Notes. The board of trustees of New York Public Radio are naming LaFontaine Oliver the next president and CEO of the organization that includes WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New
Jersey Public Radio. His appointment is effective in January 2023. Oliver comes to WNYC from Your Public Radio (WYPR) in Baltimore, where he currently serves as president and CEO. WNYC says Oliver has led the station “through the unprecedented change of the pandemic while growing revenue and listenership, launching a new health vertical and podcast, and overseeing the acquisition of station WTMD from Towson University. Oliver also drove the significant expansion of the WYPR newsroom and launched a joint operating agreement with digital news startup, The Baltimore Banner.”…..PodcastOne 
adds to its roster podcasts from World Series Champion Nick Swisher, NBA Champion Bobby Portis and retired NFL running back Chris Howard, as well as the recent launch of “Hammered Heroes” hosted by Brendan Fitzgibbons and Sophie Santos. The quartet of shows all launch as part of the expanding PodcastOne’s sports vertical of programming for the podcast network. PodcastOne president Kit Gray comments, “Sports fans are loyal, they’re engaged and they’re passionate. With the growing PodcastOne sports vertical, we are producing and developing exclusive sports content shows from some of the most recognizable names in the game, adding to our diverse roster of original programming that advertisers and listeners won’t get from other networks. Our sports hosted shows offer something for everyone, from the parquet floors of the world of basketball to the spectacle of the wrestling ring.”…..iHeartRadio Raleigh is hosting a Hurricane Ian relief donation drive today (10/5) from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm at a local Walmart Supercenter. iHeartRadio
Raleigh stations – including news/talk WTKK-FM – are encouraging listeners to donate much-needed supplies for those in Florida affected by the storm. “Our team has heard from many Triangle-area listeners who have a connection to Hurricane victims in Florida, whether it be friends or family,” says Trevor Morini, vice president of programming for iHeartMedia Raleigh. “The overwhelming desire to help those victims is what makes us proud to be part of this community.”…..Cox Media Group today kicks off a “Neighbors in Need” initiative at its TV and radio stations in Florida and Atlanta to support those impacted by Hurricane Ian. This follows WSB-TV’s and Atlanta Radio’s highly successful “Convoy of Care” that saw food, water and other provisions sent from Atlanta to those who needed it in Florida. CMG’s on-air talent across its Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa TV and radio stations will use their platforms to broadcast tales of heroism, discuss rescue efforts, and encourage audiences to donate to Hurricane recovery efforts.
Putin’s Ukraine Annexation, Hurricane Ian Aftermath, Trump Legal Issues, Inflation/Recession Fears, Musk & Twitter, Midterms/2024 Presidential Race, Record U.S. Debt, Oath Keepers Trial, and Tom Brady Marriage Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (10/4). The annexation of portions of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin; the search for missing Floridians in Hurricane Ian’s wake and President Joe Biden’s planned visit to the region; former President Donald Trump’s battle with the Department of Justice over the Mar-a-Lago documents; the record high inflation, OPEC’s potential reduction in oil output, and fears of a deep recession in the U.S.; Elon Musk’s reversal of his attempt to get out of acquiring Twitter; the November midterm elections and speculation about the nominees in the 2024 presidential race; the U.S. national debt hits a record $31 trillion; the trial of several Oath Keepers on seditious conspiracy; and rumors of a possible split for Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.
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In case you missed it, honesty was on full display at Friday’s TALKERS 2024: Radio and Beyond conference.
“Generating Talk Radio Revenue in a Digital World.” The session, sponsored by The Ramsey Show, was introduced by syndicated host and radio executive Doug Stephan of the Good Day Show/Stephan Multimedia (pictured at right) and moderated by Lapcom Communications Corp president, Steve Lapa (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media Group; Paul Gleiser, host/owner, KTBB-FM-AM, Tyler, TX; Michael “MZ” Zwerling, host/owner, KSCO/KOMY, Santa Cruz; Todd Starnes, host/president, The Todd Starnes Show Syndication/owner, KWAM, Memphis; and Paul Vandenburgh, host/owner, WGDI, Albany, NY. 