Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Cumulus Media Announces Two New Podcasts from the Rich Eisen Podcast Network. Actor O’Sheaim Jackson, Jr. is hosting the new weekly podcast “No-Contest Wrestling” with co-host TJ Jefferson the show combines Jackson’s and Jefferson’s unique takes on sports entertainment by interviewing the biggest stars, going behind the scenes with untold stories from the world of wrestling. The second show is “The Jim Jackson Show,” hosted by two-time All-American and 14-year NBA veteran Jim Jackson. In this show, Jackson covers basketball from the college game to the highest levels of the NBA. Eisen says, “I’ve been in a constant search for new, fresh, thought-provoking, and entertaining voices to add to our growing podcast business, and I’m thrilled to add both O’Shea Jackson, Jr. and Jim Jackson to the roster.”

VSiN Partners with Interstate 15 Agency. VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, announces a strategic partnership with sports and entertainment marketing agency Interstate 15. Following the network being acquired in 2021, VSiN was bought back by Musburger Media and says it is now “poised to further enhance its brand and broaden its reach.” VSiN president and chief business officer Brian Musburger says, “We’re excited to leverage this partnership to enhance VSiN’s brand and further accelerate our growth. With Jason Gastwirth’s vast understanding of entertainment strategy and his relationships in Las Vegas, Jamie Fritz’s connections to sports legends and Greg Cannon’s track record creating, launching and building brands, Interstate 15’s proven expertise will help VSiN tap into the cache and star power that make Las Vegas the entertainment capital of the world.”

WGRT, Port Huron, Michigan Signs with Virtual News Center. Port Huron Family Radio, Inc. station will use daily newscasts anchored by JP bZett. Station GM Marty Dorn says, “We are thrilled to partner with Virtual News Center to bring timely and reliable news updates to our radio station listeners.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Virtual News Center adds a new affiliate station as Hometown Multimedia, LLC’s WCTR, Chestertown, Maryland begins using its local newscast service anchored by Peter Kileen.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation announces the inaugural Gracies Day of Giving on July 26, in honor of the late Gracie Allen’s birthday. Funds raised on this day will enable the AWMF to continue its tradition of students participating in the Gracies Leadership Awards Fellowship program and attending the event. AWMF president Becky Brooks says, “Generous donations will allow us to continue offering vital resources and opportunities to young women who are poised to make significant contributions to the media industry.”

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

FOX News Media is presenting live programming surrounding the 2024 Republican National Convention beginning Sunday, July 14 through Thursday, July 18. Originating from Milwaukee, the network’s convention coverage will be presented across all of FOX News Media’s platforms, including FOX News Channel, FOX Business Network, FOX News Audio, FOX News Digital and FOX Nation.

Virtual News Center adds Lake Cumberland Broadcasters, LLC’s WJRS, Jamestown, Kentucky to its roster of radio affiliates. Virtual News Center will provide daily local newscasts anchored by Jayme Monacelli.

TuneIn and the Big 12 Conference announce a partnership that includes the launch of a 24/7 Conference-branded audio station on TuneIn ahead of the Big 12’s college football season kickoff on August 29. Additionally, TuneIn Premium will offer fans in-game coverage.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

PodcastOne enters into a new agreement with Kelly Stafford for her “The Morning After with Kelly Stafford & Hank” podcast for exclusive distribution and advertising sales rights. The podcast starring the wife of LA Rams QB Matthew Stafford and Detroit TV news personality Hank Winchester launched in 2021 and joined the PodcastOne network in 2022. PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “Kelly is a leading voice in the parenting influencer space. She has been a big part of our network, and we are thrilled to have her extend with us. We love the recent addition of Hank as co-host of ‘The Morning After’ and can’t wait to see where the show goes moving forward.”

GCN-syndicated talk host Dr. Daliah Wachs adds Jeri Lyn Broadcasting’s adult contemporary KHTS-AM/K251CF, Santa Clarita, California to its roster of affiliate stations. KHTS airs the program on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Virtual News Center adds Four Corners Broadcasting, LLC’s five stations serving the Durango, Colorado market to is roster of affiliates. Local newscasts are being anchored by Sandi Conner.

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TALKERS News Notes

Edison Podcast Metrics data from Edison Research indicates that the podcast, “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce,” has skyrocketed in listening over the last two months. Since Travis’ romance with Taylor Swift became public, the show has experienced a staggering four-and-a-half times increase in weekly reach among podcast listeners age 13 and older in the U.S. The influx of Swifties appears to have contributed to these numbers. Not only has the high-profile romance between Kelce and Swift helped grow the show’s weekly reach, but it has also significantly changed the gender breakdown of the show’s listeners. Before the pairing, the show’s listening base was 32% female, now the much-larger audience is 50% women.

AdLarge Podcast Network announces that three programs are joining the network. The company says the inclusion of “The Moments Podcast” featuring Lexi Hidalgo, “Dear Young Married Couple,” and “The Mother Daze ” exemplifies AdLarge’s ongoing dedication to championing and elevating the voices of women in podcasting.

Virtual News Center adds new affiliate KTNK, Lompoc, California to its growing roster of radio stations. Jared Cerullo provides local newscasts for the Sticks Media, LLC station.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Virtual News Center announces that it adds five of First Media Services, LLC’s Albany, Georgia stations to its roster of affiliate stations. Virtual News Center is providing local newscasts anchored by Jared Cerullo.

Public radio outlet WBUR, Boston relaunches its mobile listening app. The enhanced features allow listeners to never miss a live moment. The upgraded version of the application allows users to easily rewind, scrub and pause live broadcasts with a swipe. Plus, shows like “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered” and “Marketplace,” as well as WBUR podcasts, are available to stream or download.

Industry News

News Notes

  • Audacy’s Cadence13 podcast studio and Tenderfoot TV announce the expansion of their relationship through 2024, with an agreement that includes the renewal of hit series “Up and Vanished,” “To Live and Die in LA,” “Culpable” and “Radio Rental”; a new slate of weekly podcast series; ongoing series development; and a first-look opportunity at new limited series. Cadence 13 chief content officer Chris Corcoran says, “Tenderfoot TV is at the top of its game and we’re thrilled to expand our relationship with them and continue to create innovative, thought provoking and compelling content.”
  • Virtual News Center adds Radio Cleveland, Inc’s WMJW, WAID, WKDJ, and WCLD in Cleveland, Mississippi to is roster of affiliate stations. Virtual News Center is providing local newscasts anchored by JP bZet.
  • The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that sports talk WNML, Knoxville personality John Hyams is retiring from the station after 25 years on air. He currently co-hosts the “SportsTalk” show with John Wilkerson. Hyams began a journalism career in the 1960s and transitioned to sports radio in 1998. He worked for many years at the News Sentinel. He says, “Not everyone can say they have loved their job spanning seven decades. I can. But now it’s time to say good-bye… But I’m ready for the daily grind to end. I’m ready to pass the torch. As the great John Ward once said when he retired: ‘It’s time.’”

Advice

Monday Memo: Earwitness News

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

 

BLOCK ISLAND, RI — Buzz-of-The-Biz in recent days: WTOP-FM, Washington offers newsroom staffers voluntary separation buyouts. Even radio’s top-billing station – owned by venerable Hubbard – is feeling the pinch. “Welcome to the club,” broadcasters elsewhere shrug.

Disclosure: I programmed that station for seven years in the 1980s, and hired some of the voices still heard there. And in today’s “gig economy,” with remote work now so commonplace, there’s new opportunity for the nimble.

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