John Fredericks Media Network to Acquire WAKM, Franklin, Tennessee
The John Fredericks Media Network says it is in the process of acquiring WAKM-AM, Franklin, Tennessee that will add to its sports division. JFMN says the addition of WAKM-AM will complement WENO-AM, Nashville and the News-Talk Nashville – The Flame digital app and adds that the acquisition represents 
“another major milestone in JFMN’s strategic vision of building the nation’s premier independently owned News-Talk-Sports media network.” JFMN co-founder John Fredericks says, “As we continue to grow across America, Tennessee is a key market for our future. Our mission is simple: deliver compelling News-Talk-Sports programming that people can’t get anywhere else. We’re building platforms that serve our audience – not shareholders – and this expansion is another major step in that vision. We’re proving that News-Talk and Sports belong together. Our audience wants breaking news, honest opinion, and the teams they love – all from one trusted source. That’s exactly what we’re delivering.”
Veteran journalist, author, political commentator, and 77WABC Radio personality Dominic Carter was honored with the American Heritage Award at the Kings County Conservative Party’s Annual American Heritage Reception on July 23 at the Knights of Baron DeKalb in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The event celebrated Carter’s more than four decades in broadcast journalism, recognizing his distinguished career as a radio host, television commentator, author, and one of New York’s most respected media voices.
Frances Vella Marrone, the reception brought together elected officials, candidates, community leaders, and supporters to recognize Carter’s professional achievements while celebrating the values of perseverance, public service, and the American Dream.
Tournament is one of the industry’s signature events. It offers a unique opportunity to play one of the region’s premier courses while spending the day with colleagues, industry leaders, and celebrities, all in support of a charity that provides a vital lifeline to our fellow broadcasters when they need it most.” All proceeds from the tournament directly benefit the BFOA’s charitable mission.
In Full Stack Human: The Mindset Upgrade You Need to Stay Human in a World Ruled by Technology (2026, Wiley Books) Dara Simkin and Tane Hunter describe a 2026 media landscape where people face information overload, shrinking attention spans, negativity fatigue, algorithmic manipulation, and constant distraction.
equity, or Wall Street investors. We answer to one group: our audience. This milestone proves there’s tremendous demand for independent voices delivering news, politics, sports, and commentary people can trust. Truth and clarity are making a comeback.” Company CEO Anne Fredericks adds, “We strive to cover what matters most in people’s daily lives: their country, their community, and their sports teams. News, talk, and sports are simply different expressions of the same mission: giving people truthful information, honest perspective, and a voice. What makes the John Fredericks Media Network different is our independence. No newsroom hierarchy, no C-Suites, no suits and no boardrooms.”
Joe LaCroix says, “Femi’s sports knowledge spans far beyond football, encompassing the entire Charm City sports scene. His fearless opinions and local sports knowledge will complement Ken’s fiery takes and Tim’s sharp insights. We can’t wait for our listeners to experience the next chapter of afternoons with ‘The Final Drive.’” Ayanbadejo’s radio experience began in 2012 with contributions to several programs, including “The Scott Garceau Show,” Ravens game-day radio with Gerry Sandusky, and, most recently, “The Bruce and Femi Show” on “105.7 The Fan.”
reporting. While this chapter has come to an end, I remain committed to the values that have guided my career: serving the public, pursuing the truth, and treating people with fairness and respect. I want to thank my colleagues, mentors, friends, and family – especially my wife and sons – for their support throughout this journey. I look forward to what comes next and the opportunity to continue contributing meaningful work. I will still be broadcasting games, and I will continue to be a member of the Indiana University Radio Network.” This comes on the heels of the spring firing of late morning talk host Rob Kendall and the subsequent exit of late morning co-host Casey Daniels, who left of her own volition. 
2026 for its Edison Podcast Metrics, Business is the seventh most popular podcast genre among weekly U.S. consumers 13+, surpassing Religion & Spirituality, Health & Fitness, and Music, among others. Edison ranks the top 10 Business podcasts and NPR’s “Planet Money” is #1, followed by the Ramsey Network’s “The Ramsey Show” at #2. When ranking shows of all podcast genres, “The Ramsey Show” ranks #41 in the U.S. based on Edison’s Q2 2026 Top 50 Podcasts chart.
House correspondent Willie Nelson will be on-site at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday during the hours Senator Graham’s body will be lying in state and will provide interviews with lawmakers and citizens on the scene who come to pay their respects to Senator Graham. Additionally, on Wednesday SRN nationally syndicated talk host Mike Gallagher will be on-site in Columbia where Senator Graham’s life will be honored, prior to his private burial later that afternoon in Graham’s hometown of Central, South Carolina. 
devoted to chronicling the development and growth of what he envisioned as “the coming talk radio phenomenon of the nineties.” The publication went on to publish as a newspaper on newsprint evolving into a glossy magazine and eventually an online publication fully devoted to serving the needs of talk radio and eventually a variety of spoken word platforms that have collectively become known as talk media. TALKERS also contributed to the growth of the field by producing 28 national conventions / conferences in New York and two in Los Angeles, more than 50 groundbreaking radio rows, dozens of talk show host tours of international hot spots, and thousands of hours of spoken word syndicated and online programming. Throughout its colorful history, TALKERS always maintained a neutral position regarding politics except for, as Harrison puts it, “unwavering support of the First Amendment.”
country, and they deserve both the content and distribution that matches their energy. Between our incredibly entertaining and informative lineup of local hosts and our exclusive partnership with the Texans, we are the ultimate destination for Houston sports fans. Launching ‘95.7 The Fan’ as our tenth FM sports station in the top 10 U.S. markets is a proud milestone and solidifies Audacy’s leadership in local sports audio. We can’t wait to bring this unbeatable coverage to even more fans so they can join the conversation and stay connected to the teams they love.”
dangerous and would allow two or three corporations to dominate local television news, reducing competition, independent journalism, and threatening religious broadcasters.” He noted that conservative organizations including CPAC, the National Religious Broadcasters, and the Zionist Organization of America oppose lifting these ownership limits. Ruddy also took the opportunity to address how broadcasters view the American people, saying, “Polling consistently shows Americans are far more center-right than portrayed by the legacy media. There is a growing disconnect between public opinion and media narratives.” 
Audioboom’s “Stuff You Should Know” keeps its #1 position. Podcasts connected to the news/talk media industry include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” falls one spot to #5; iHeart Audience Network’s “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” rises two places to #15; and Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” tumbles eight places to #20. 
its growing library of films, documentaries, specials, and original programming. SalemNOW general manager Rob Ellis comments, “We’re excited to partner with Kappa Studios and bring their outstanding programming to SalemNOW. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to offering audiences exceptional faith-based and conservative content that informs, inspires, and entertains while continuing to grow the SalemNOW platform.”
TALKERS founder Michael Harrison is this week’s guest on the National Press Club’s official podcast, Update-1, in which he tackles the topic “Predicting the Future of Media Following the Shutdown of CBS News Radio.” Interviewed by noted American University media professor Gemma Puglisi, Harrison addresses such issues as changes in the tenets of journalism and the general shrinkage of radio news. Along the way, he offers his insights into a variety of media and societal topics including the impact of clickbait and what he describes as “the daily dance of affirmation” resulting 
from the trend toward news platforms “targeting” audiences for purely marketing purposes. Harrison defends AI from critics who claim the technology lacks “heart” and that audiences will swing back to the “authenticity” being destroyed by AI slop. Harrison makes the case that what counts is the humanity behind the operation of AI which is “only a tool.” He says, “Blaming AI for shallow content is like attributing shoddy novels to the invention of the word processor.” Harrison boldly predicts that AI and modern technology will hasten the “death of Hollywood” as we know it among other insights into the future of news, entertainment, and communications. Don’t miss this! 
and KCBS, San Francisco – will become available “later this year.” Audacy CEO and president Kelli Turner states, “Audacy’s sports brands are deeply connected to the cities, teams and fan communities they serve, and being able to extend our reach nationally through SiriusXM is a natural fit. We look forward to working together with 
SiriusXM to bring our outstanding talent and content to sports fans and news and talk listeners wherever they are, providing our audiences with more ways to stay connected to the conversations that matter most to them.” SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein adds, “We also recognize the unique role local personalities play in connecting fans with their teams every day. By adding Audacy’s extensive lineup of sports stations, we’re making those trusted hometown voices available to fans wherever they are across North America. Together, we’re delivering an even more complete audio experience – bringing live games, premier national sports talk, and hometown conversations together in one place.”