TALKERS 2026 Video: “Doing Talk on a Music Station”
TALKERS continues to post information-laden videos recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the power-packed day’s events. Today’s entry is a one-on-one conversation titled, “Doing Talk on a Music Station,” which explores the diverse world of talk shows programmed on predominantly music-formatted stations. Many of these shows, usually heard in the morning, are on mostly classic rock or adult contemporary outlets, and are a hybrid of general news/talk radio – leaning heavily on social issues – mixed with a component of celebrity gossip, sports, and the hosts’ personal, real-life stories. They are usually comprised of a host and a co-host or simply two equal co-hosts. The special guest in this video is Mike “Bax” Baxendale, the long running co-host of the wildly successful morning show on classic rock station WAQY-FM (Rock 102), Springfield, MA. Facilitating the dialogue is WPG, Atlantic City morning host Harry Hurley. Baxendale – who is a household name in the Western Massachusetts-Northern Connecticut market – has co-hosted the dominant show for the past 31 years working for a couple of decades with the late John O’ Brien and more recently with Steve Nagle. Don’t miss this! Stay tuned to TALKERS for continuous daily postings of engaging sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this presentation in its entirety, please click here.
