TALKERS 2026 Video: Panel Discussion – “The Big Picture”
TALKERS continues to post videos of sessions recorded at the TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter conference recently held at Hofstra University (6/5). More than 65 speakers participated in the day’s events. Today’s entry is a high-powered panel discussion titled, “The Big Picture.” Moderated by TALKERS founder Michael Harrison, the panelists include (in alphabetical order): Steve Jones, president, CEO, and chairman, Skyview Networks; Frank Morano, member, New York City Council / former host, WABC, New York; Chris Oliviero, chief business officer, Audacy; Tavis Smiley, owner / host, KBLA, Los Angeles; and Rich Valdés, host, “This is America with Rich Valdés.” The fast-paced conversation focuses on the question “What is ‘radio’ and what does it need to do to survive and thrive in the digital era?” It explores changing technology, sociology, revenue generation, entrepreneurism, algorithms, programming options, race relations, the generational divide, and more. Not to be missed! Stay tuned to TALKERS for daily postings of sessions from the 28th installment of the longest running and most important annual talk media industry gathering. To view this dynamic discussion in its entirety, please click here.
The stations I work with make big money with live endorsement spots delivered by familiar local on-air personalities. Remember them? With most AM/FM broadcast hours now robotic or non-local, your relationship with the listener is precious and can be leveraged… carefully.
program is hears on more than 550 stations nationwide. Two years later, Premiere launched The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Podcast Network currently offering eight news, politics and culture podcasts. Premiere Networks president Julie Talbott says, “We’re so proud to celebrate this milestone with Clay and Buck. They had enormous shoes to fill when we launched this show, and they’ve surpassed our expectations in every way. Clay and Buck have built a dynamic, high-impact brand of talk radio that continues to grow across multiple platforms and delivers unmatched results for our affiliate and advertising partners. We look forward to celebrating many more milestones together!”
the organization. BFoA chair Scott Herman says, “We are honored to welcome Michael and Tim to the Broadcasters Foundation board of directors. Both are highly accomplished leaders whose careers reflect excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to our industry. Their insights, relationships, and strategic vision will be invaluable as we continue to grow awareness of the Foundation’s mission and ensure that broadcasters across the country know that help is available when they need it most.”
This bill, if passed, would: 1) Hold individuals or companies liable if they produce an unauthorized digital replica of an individual in a performance; 2) Hold platforms liable for hosting an unauthorized digital replica if the platform has actual knowledge of the fact that the replica was not authorized by the individual depicted; 3) Exclude certain digital replicas from coverage based on recognized First Amendment protections; and 4) Largely preempt State laws addressing digital replicas to create a workable national standard.
consumption (64%) comes from broadcast radio, yet up until today, it has lacked the targeting and measurement infrastructure available in digital. iHeartMedia’s broadcast radio stations reach more than 278 million consumers every month, and now with AudioGraph, for the first time, advertisers can plan, target, measure, and attribute that audience using privacy-safe, ID-informed insights with digital-like precision.”
Obama Presidential Center today (6/19) from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. The station says, “Juneteenth is more than a holiday. It is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a people who transformed adversity into achievement and hope into progress. On this historic day, tune in as your favorite WVON hosts bring you live coverage, special guests, and community reflections from this momentous occasion.”
programming strategy and content development for WABC Radio and Red Apple Audio Networks. Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis states, “Lee is a game-changing talent. His ability to build winning content, lead high-performing teams, and understand what audiences want is second to none. As we continue growing WABC Radio, the Worldwide News Network, and Red Apple Audio Networks, Lee will play a critical role in shaping our future and driving our success worldwide.” Harris, who spent nearly 30 years as a news anchor at 1010 WINS, joined Red Apple Media six weeks ago. He says, “Red Apple Media is one of the most exciting and innovative companies in broadcasting today. Under John’s vision and Chad [Lopez’s] leadership, the company is building something truly unique in American media. I’m honored by this opportunity and energized by the challenge ahead. Together, we’ll continue creating compelling programming, expanding our national and international footprint, and delivering content that informs, entertains, and connects with audiences across the country and around the world.”
progressive perspective.” KBLA contributor Dr. Cornel West says, “Tavis Smiley’s programming fills a content vacuum across the United States and is needed more now than ever. Under Tavis’ bold leadership, KBLA and its program hosts have helped to influence, educate, and engage previously marginalized people across this country. I’m excited for what the future holds.” Smiley says, “Five years ago, on Juneteenth, we launched KBLA Talk 1580, with the goal of providing news and information to a part of Los Angeles that had been ignored or pushed to the side for decades. We’re now syndicated in almost 50 markets across the United States with more growth on the horizon. The best is truly yet to come.”
that iHeart Audience Network’s “Stuff You Should Know” rises one place to #1, displacing Audioboom’s “Pod Save America” (#2). Other noteworthy changes include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” falling one spot to #4; Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” moving back four places to #12; and American Public Media Group’s “Marketplace” rising one place to #11. 
back if he leaves before the end of the term of the agreement. For each complete calendar year of the term of the deal, Thompson is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to $300,000 with the opportunity to earn up to 132% of the target bonus for superior performance. Also, provided that the material weaknesses identified in the company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025, are remediated, at the end of the term of the Agreement, Thompson is eligible to receive bonus compensation in the amount of $850,000. He is also eligible to receive certain stock-based compensation. 
years. Salem CEO David Santrella says, “Linnae has earned the respect of people across this company and throughout our industry. She knows our business inside and out and has been a driving force behind Salem’s success for more than three decades. Her leadership has made a lasting impact across Salem, and I’m excited to see her take on this expanded role.” Also effective October 1, Jeff Reisman becomes EVP of operations overseeing operational leadership across Salem’s local broadcast markets nationwide. About Reisman Santrella says, “Jeff is a 
trusted leader in our company and has spent more than two decades serving Salem with excellence. He understands what makes our local markets successful and has spent years building strong teams and helping people grow. I am confident he will continue to strengthen our broadcast operations and help keep Salem moving forward.” The company adds that in conjunction with these leadership changes, Mark Durkin, senior vice president, Jeff Mitchell, regional vice president, and Chad Gammage, regional vice president, will also assume expanded responsibilities supporting Salem.
the lines were cut again on Sunday, May 31 aafter a similar incident on April 19. Wendell tells the paper, “This time they must have used a cutting tool of some kind because it was a clean cut on the wire… I think it’s the same group that doesn’t like what’s going on at the radio station.” He adds, “It’s a federal offense because the station is licensed federally by the FCC,” and notes that “a conviction carried a fine of up to $250,000, up to 10 years in prison, and five years of probation.” 
the availability of professional sports programming on free, over-the-air broadcast television. The resolution comes amid growing frustration among baseball fans over the increasing number of games being placed behind streaming paywalls and spread across multiple subscription services. Morano, who previously served as host of the late-night program on WABC, New York, states, “Baseball is America’s pastime, but in New York it’s also our pastime. For generations, families could turn on the television or radio and follow their hometown team. Today, fans are often expected to juggle multiple subscriptions and streaming platforms just to watch a season’s worth of games. That’s bad for consumers, bad for working families, bad for seniors, and ultimately bad for the future of the game itself.”
Channel’s live coverage begins on June 24 and concludes on Sunday, July 5, taking place from historic locations as the National Mall, Liberty State Park, Philadelphia, Mount Rushmore, and Teddy Roosevelt’s Presidential Library, among others. Throughout the network’s special coverage, “FOX & Friends,” “America’s Newsroom,” “America Reports,” “The Five,” “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “The Ingraham Angle,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” “Gutfeld!,” “FOX & Friends Weekend,” “FOX News Live with Aishah Hasnie,” “FOX News Sunday,” “The Sunday Briefing” and “The Big Weekend Show” will all broadcast live from the National Mall as the nation’s capital hosts the event highlighting all 50 states as well as U.S. territories during the Great American State Fair.
available. McCormick apologizes to fans for the gap in new shows. “Sorry for not being in touch for a while. Last year, one of my closest friends and frequent ‘Outer Limits’ contributor Joyce Keller unexpectedly died. This one hit hard and I needed to step away from the show for a bit.” New episodes include “cutting-edge voices in consciousness and freedom” such as David Icke, Dane Wigington, Jeff Berwick, Kim Iverson, Larken & Amanda Rose, Dr. Andrew Kaufman, Martin Armstrong, Whitney Walker, Swami Satchidanand, and Laura Shamanic Self.
Buffalo Broadcasters Association reports that the company offered Wenger a different position within the company but he’s electing to pursue new opportunities. Wenger has spent much of his career in Buffalo, beginning in the newsroom at WBEN-AM in 1986. He rose through the programming ranks and eventually into management in his current market manager role. Wenger’s wife, Susan Rose, serves with WBEN-AM as morning news anchor and reporter and she will remain in her position. 
Salem Media CEO David Santrella states, “Allen and I have worked together for nearly 25 years in a variety of roles at Salem. His leadership, his ability to inspire those around him, and his incredible understanding of our business will be missed. Beyond his business accomplishments, he has led with integrity, humility, and a genuine commitment to serving others. While we will miss his daily leadership, we are grateful that he will continue serving Salem as a senior advisor.” Power looks back at his career saying, “Fifty years ago today, on June 15, 1976, I started my first job in broadcasting. I have spent more than half of my career at Salem and it has been such a blessing to devote my efforts to spreading the message of the gospel through broadcasting. I am grateful to the Atsinger and Epperson families, Joe Davis, Dave Santrella and my many wonderful Salem colleagues and ministry partners. After five decades of hard work, the next chapter will be about investing my time and gifts in faith, family, and worthwhile organizations. After a sabbatical, I will decide where and how to do that.” Salem says it will announce additional leadership appointments and succession plans in the coming weeks.
sports talk radio. Andelman, along with Jim McCarthy and Mark Witkin, launched “The Sports Huddle” on WBZ-AM, Boston in 1969. The show would move to Boston signals WEEI, WHDH and back to WEEI in 1991 and those who keep track of this sort of stuff say he broadcast more than 13,000 shows. Broadcast historians often refer to the program as one that “came to define the genre.” Andelman retired from radio at the end of 2010. 
the United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Texas to continue to operate in a way that allows it to satisfy liabilities through October 27, 2026. Specifically, the Court is extending the “Removal Period” within which the Cumulus may remove civil actions from the previous deadline of June 2 to October 27. Cumulus is awaiting approval from the FCC as it is processing the FCC Long Form Application for the transfer of its licenses.
and he comments on company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the rededication to sports programming, “Relieving that financial pressure has been liberating. We’ve got everybody swimming in the same direction. Linear broadcast, streaming digital and on-demand podcasts… they don’t compete with each other. They all sing together, like a maestro with a band.” The Fan produced an NFL Draft watch party on YouTube featuring the station’s hosts and with the success of that decided to do halftime and postgame shows on YouTube during the Knicks’ Finals series. Audacy says those livestreams are part of the reason it brings in one-third of its revenue from digital sources. 
“Baseball is back!” was welcome in April (especially after a rough winter in many places). But it sounds embarrassingly old by now.