Jim Farley Passes Away
Radio news legend Jim Farley has died as the result of a heart attack suffered while undergoing surgery to
treat an aneurysm, according to his family. Farley began his career in New York at 1010 WINS and would hold numerous positions in New York and network news over the years, including as managing editor at ABC Radio Networks. He is best remembered for serving as vice president of news & programming at all-news WTOP-FM, Washington from 1996 through his retirement in 2013. He worked as a news consultant after leaving WTOP and lived in Florida with his wife Jo.
story that was used in a Google ad to read: “Harris Picks Tim Walz – 215,000 MN Families Win.” WDAY says it wrote no such headline. Hallstrom tells The National Desk, “They lied to everybody who saw that ad, and they misled them into believing that there is a news organization, with a 100-year history in our community of doing good solid journalism, that not only took sides in a political debate, if you will, but also openly performed cheerleading exercises on behalf of that candidate in their news headlines in their story. That’s wrong.” Washington, DC television outlet WJLA-TV writes, “A source familiar with the Harris campaign’s advertisement team told Axios the campaign buys ads with news links to give more context to voters searching for information about Harris.” Hallstrom responds to that saying, “I don’t care what their intent was or what they were hoping to do. All I care about is what happened to us. We have reporters in our newsroom who have been working in this market for decades to build their credibility as an objective and unbiased reporter.” 
The second of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s July 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey covered June 20 through July 17. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM is steady with a 3.6 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #11, while Hubbard Radio’s all- news WTOP-FM rises 1.2 shares for 10.7 share finish that lifts it to the #1 rank in the market. In Boston, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO adds four-tenths to finish with a 3.3 share and climbs to the #10 rank, while sister all-news WBZ-AM is flat with a 4.7 share but rises one spot to the #6 rank. In Phoenix, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFYI tacks on three-tenths to finish with a 3.8 share that lifts it to the #6 rank, while Bonneville’s news/talk KTAR-FM adds eight-tenths for a 3.1 share finish good for the #11 rank. 
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s June 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period covered May 23 through June 19. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM slips two-tenths to a 3.6 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #11 in the market, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM rises 1.3 shares to a 9.5 share and stays locked in the #2 rank. In Seattle, Bonneville’s news/talk KIRO-FM adds four-tenths to finish with a 4.9 share that lifts it to the #5 rank, while sister conservative talk KTTH-AM adds a half share to finish with a 2.0 share good for the #22 rank, and Lotus Communications’ conservative talk KVI tacks on three-tenths for a 2.1 share good for the #21 rank. In Phoenix, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFYI inches up one-tenth for a 3.5 share but falls back to the #9 rank, while Bonneville’s news/talk KTAR-FM is steady with a 2.3 share and rises to the #18 rank. 
The second of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s May 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including: Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey covered April 25 through May 22. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, DC, Cumulus Media news/talk WMAL-FM declines eight-tenths to finish with a 3.8 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and is ranked #11 in the market, while Hubbard Broadcasting all-news WTOP-FM rises four-tenths for an 8.2 share that keeps it ranked #2. In Boston, iHeartMedia news/talk slides four-tenths to finish with a 2.9 share and the #14 rank, as sister all-news WBZ-AM dips four-tenths to a 4.5 share but remains ranked #7 in the market. And in Seattle, Bonneville news/talk KIRO-FM gains seven-tenths to finish with a 4.5 share lifting it to the #6 rank, while sister conservative talk KTTH-AM rises one-tenth to a 1.5 share and the #23 rank, and Lotus Communications’ conservative talk KVI-AM adds a half share for a 1.8 share finish good for the #21 rank. 
The broadcasts will feature a simulcast live audio feed from Monumental Sports Network’s television broadcast and fans will be able to hear all 25 of the Mystics’ remaining regular season games available on the network this season. While most radio broadcasts will air on The Team 980, select games will air on “106.7 The Fan” (WJFK-FM) and The Bet Washington (WJFK-AM), and all games will be streamed locally on the Audacy app.
Komando Show” content provided to the station on Friday evenings “is getting great traction with listeners” with the audience nearly doubling (Persons 18+) in the 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm hour from Spring ’23 to Fall ’23. Additionally, Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, Atlanta is adding that hour to its lineup on Saturdays from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Hubbard Broadcasting’s WTOP, Washington is adding the “Digital Life Hack” daily feature; and Red Apple Media’s WABC, New York adds both the “Digital Life Hack” and “Daily Tech Update” features.
East, the Newscast category for its July 2023 coverage of the Commanders sale and the Overall Excellence category. The WTOP digital team was recognized overall in the Digital category for WTOP.com. Individual awards went to WTOP reporter Matt Kaufax in the Feature Reporting category for his piece on Martin’s Tavern turning 90 and to WTOP associate producer Veronica Canales in the Excellence in Writing Category for her piece on the Dr. Seuss Experience. WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler comments, “Our team’s mission every day is to deliver the latest news to the DC region and help the people who live in our communities. It is a huge honor to be recognized for that work with six regional Murrow awards.” 
Generally speaking, Major League Baseball radio flagships enjoyed a solid first at bat in Nielsen Audio’s 2024 rating season (March 28 – April 24).
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s April 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey covered March 28 through April 24. Today, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM dips two-tenths to finish with a 4.6 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and slides back to the #6 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM loses one-tenth to finish with a 7.8 share good for the #2 rank. In Boston, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO declines one-tenth for a 3.3 share finish and holds steady at the #12 rank, while sister all-news WBZ-AM rises three-tenths to a 4.9 share, yet it falls one spot to the #7 rank. In Seattle, Bonneville’s news/talk KIRO-FM dips one-tenth to a 3.8 share and slides down to the #10 rank, while Lotus Communications’ all-news KNWN-AM/FM loses one-tenth to finish with a 2.4 share and remains ranked #18. 
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s March 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey covered February 29 through March 27. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media news/talk WMAL-FM rises three-tenths to finish the survey with a 4.8 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that lifts it to the #5 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting all-news WTOP-FM adds three-tenths for a 7.9 share and remains ranked #2. In Detroit, Cumulus Media news/talk WJR dips two-tenths to finish with a 2.3 share but remains ranked #14, while Audacy’s all-news WWJ is steady with a 5.3 share that keeps it ranked #9 in the market. In Phoenix, iHeartMedia news/talk KFYI falls half a share to a 3.0 share and moves back one spot to the #10 rank, while Bonneville news/talk KTAR-FM also loses a half share, finishing with a 2.2 share good for the #18 rank. 
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s February 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey covered February 1 – 28. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways for this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM is steady at a 4.5 share (6+, weekly AQH share) and remains ranked #7, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM, sheds seven-tenths for a 7.6 share but stays ranked #2 in the market. In Boston, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO adds four-tenths to finish with a 3.2 share that lifts it to the #13 rank, while sister all-news WBZ-FM rises three-tenths for a 4.9 share but remains ranked #6. In Detroit, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WJR tacks on four-tenths to finish the survey with a 2.5 share and moves up to the #14 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WWJ loses three-tenths, wrapping the survey with a 5.3 share and falling one spot to the #9 rank. 
Communications’ WNOV-AM, Milwaukee; and Minority Communications’ KJMC-FM, Des Moines. SmileyAudioMedia owner and program host Tavis Smiley says, “Our show’s rapid and continued expansion into key media markets represents an exciting next chapter. As we move deeper into the 2024 election season, we’ll continue to provide our growing listener base with enlightening and empowering programming unapologetically geared toward African Americans and other citizens of color.” The program is heard in Chicago on Midway Communications’ WVON-AM; LEVAS Communications’ WURD-AM, Philadelphia; and Equity Media’s WBOK-AM, New Orleans and plans to announce more new affiliate stations later in the spring.
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WMAL-FM jumps 1.4 shares to finish with a 4.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that lifts it to the #7 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM leaps two full shares to an 8.3 share good for the #2 rank. In Phoenix, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFYI rises two-tenths to a 3.1 share but falls two posts to the #10 rank, while Bonneville’s news/talk KTAR-FM adds four-tenths for a 2.6 share finish and remains ranked #14. In Baltimore, Hearst Television’s news/talk WBAL-AM adds 1.6 shares to finish with a 4.3 share that boosts it to the #9 rank, while WCBM Maryland’s news/talk WCBM-AM tacks on four-tenths for a 1.9 share finish that lifts it to the #15 rank. 
Moshos. Moshos died on January 11 and today (2/14) would have been his 67th birthday. General manager Joel Oxley says, “George helped me so much when I first started at WTOP 30 some odd years ago. I knew little about production and he let me know it. His gruff demeanor and direct style took a minute to get used to. But it didn’t take long for me to realize this guy with the glint in his eyes was a person who cared. Really cared. About his job and doing it right and more importantly about people. He touched so, so many people and made things better for them. Seems only right to name where he spent so much of his time ‘The George Moshos Production Studio.’”