Industry News

WJJF Host Lee Elci Running for State Senate in Connecticut

Lee Elci is the morning host at Red Wolf Broadcasting’s news/talk WJJF-FM, Montauk, New York and he announces that he’s throwing his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate for the Connecticut State Senate in the 20th District. Numerous Connecticut media outlets are reporting the story, including LymeLine, and Elci tells the imgnews site, “There’s a great quote from Theodore Roosevelt back in 1910 about being ‘a man in the arena,’ I think it’s time for me to get in the arena and try to do what’s right.” Elci is entering the race a bit late after the candidate endorsed by the Connecticut Republican Party in May – Ron LaBonte – says he’s no longer able to run for the office currently held by Democrat Martha Marx. The Connecticut State Legislature is a part-time body that meets for several months during the first half of the year. Elci says he could do both jobs if he wins the race. Elci tells LymeLine he will continue to do his show and will not talk about his campaign or issues involving towns in the district. See the LymeLine story here.

Industry News

Lee Harris Exit from Red Apple Media Triggers Dust Storm of Mystery

The story of noted radio news executive Lee Harris‘s surprising departure (8/12) from his role as senior vice president of news and programming at Red Apple Media’s WABC, New York and its Worldwide News Network (WWNN) has left a dust storm of conflicting details and speculation in its aftermath on radio message boards, social media and industry trades.

imgHarris joined Red Apple Media on May 4 as VP of news for WABC and the new Worldwide News Network, which launched May 23. Six weeks later, Red Apple promoted him to SVP of news and programming, expanding his authority across WABC, WWNN and Red Apple Audio Networks. On August 12 – roughly 100 days after his hiring – company CEO / owner John Catsimatidis announced Harris’s departure. Catsimatidis stated he had requested Harris’s resignation following a dispute involving a longtime employee returning from medical leave. Red Apple later attributed the separation to differences involving “leadership style.” Harris said he had decided to return to his longtime independent business developing broadcast technology products, but neither side identified a replacement nor fully explained in detail whether Harris resigned voluntarily or was dismissed.

Seasoned radio industry veterans know that it is a common practice for the actual details of such endings of employment to remain ambiguous. It is also known that strong-minded members of a company’s staff in both talent and management can be prone to butt heads within the minefield of corporate structure.

In this story, everything beyond that remains unproven. Early forum speculation suggested political or ideological incompatibility, but no reporting supports that theory; available off-record information specifically contradicts it. The returning employee’s identity also remains unconfirmed, as does the precise sequence of resignation and dismissal. The safest conclusion is that this was an internal management conflict subsequently framed by Red Apple as a personnel-related termination and by Harris as a voluntary career change.

Industry News

Gaines and Rose Exit Cumulus’ KFRU, Columbia

As Cumulus Media continues its culling of local personalities at its stations across the country, the majority of those being let go served at music outlets. But there have been talk hosts also getting pink-imgslipped including KFRU, Columbia, Missouri talk hosts David Gaines and Simon Rose. Gaines posted to Facebook: “As of this week, I’m no longer with Columbia’s heritage radio station KFRU. Corporate downsizing, the elimination of Cumulus Media positions nationwide, hit our market this week. That’s the nature of this business. Despite this setback, I’m writing this with a sense of gratitude. These past 18 years have been such a wonderful stretch of my career. I’ve worked with so many talented and creative people. Been a part of countless wonderful events. Interviewed multiple local and state leaders, and interesting guests from all walks of life.” Rose’s wife Jenna posted to Facebook: “Simon Rose has come to the end of a legendary run in local radio. He weathered plenty of rounds of belt-tightening over the years, but this time was the one he didn’t survive. The hardest part for him isn’t the ending itself – it’s that he didn’t get the chance to say a proper goodbye to the listeners on either station. He wants them to know how much being part of their lives has meant to him. They have been with him since before we were married and took daily interest in him and our growing family. Thank you for that.”

Industry News

RTDNA Announces Regional Murrow Award Winners

The Radio Television Digital News Association is revealing the imgwinners of the 2026 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners. They are grouped by regions and broken down by television and radio as well as by market size. RTDNA says national winners will be celebrated at the Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala on October 12 at Gotham Hall in New York City. See all the winners here.

Industry News

WJR’s “Appliance Doctor” Joe Gagnon Dies at 84

Longtime WJR, Detroit personality Joe Gagnon – host of “The Home & Appliance Show” – died yesterday (8/13) at the age of 84. Gagnon was known to generations of listeners as “The Appliance imgDoctor.” His obituary says he “built a distinctive broadcasting career around consumer advocacy, home-appliance expertise and his ability to make practical advice entertaining.” His radio program was on the air for more than 25 years and was heard beyond Detroit on stations around the country. His consumer advocacy transcended radio; he worked as a fraud investigator for Detroit Consumer Affairs and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. During a live WJR broadcast from Novi, Michigan, “Radio’s Best Friend” Art Vuolo shot video of the event and you can see that here.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (August 10-14)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (8/10-14) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. U.S.-Iran War / Strait of Hormuz Control
  2. Primary Races / DSA Candidates
  3. Trump’s Air Force One Ruse
  4. Trump Vaccine Order
  5. Reflecting Pool Controversy
  6. Karoline Leavitt to Exit Post
  7. Cyberattacks on U.S. Water Systems
  8. Cyclosporiasis
  9. Gas Prices / The Economy
  10. AOC on ABC

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. Masoud Pezeshkian
  3. Abdul El-Sayed
  4. Max Miller
  5. Francesca Hong / David Crowley
  6. RFK Jr.
  7. Karoline Leavitt
  8. David Hearn
  9. Todd Blanche
  10. AOC

To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.

Industry News

Salem Media Q2 Revenue Down 15.2%; Net Loss Narrows Significantly

Salem Media is a company in transition as it prepares to go private after a deal to be acquired by WaterStone was announced in May. That deal has WaterStone acquiring all outstanding shares of Salem Media common stock for $1.00 per share, representing approximately a 250% premium over Salem’s recent trading price. imgFor the second quarter of 2026, Salem’s net revenue was $45.9 million, a decrease of 15.2% from the same period in 2025. On the plus side, Salem’s net loss for the quarter was $3.4 million, a dramatic 81% decline from the $17.6 million net loss it reported a year ago. By segment for the quarter, Salem’s broadcast advertising revenue was $17.85 million, a dip of 11.3% compared to Q2 of 2025; broadcast programming revenue was $34.3 million, a decline of 6.3%; and digital revenue was $32.7 million, a decrease of 12.5%.

Industry News

Beasley’s 2026 Second Quarter Net Revenue Falls 16.7%

Beasley Broadcast Group’s financial report for the second quarter of 2026 reveals net revenue of $44.1 million, a decrease of 16.7% from the same period in 2025. The company posts net income of $84.3 million, a big turnaround from the net loss of $154,175 that it reported in Q2 of 2025. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “While second quarter results continued to reflect pressure across portions of the traditional advertising marketplace, imgwe are encouraged by the progress we’re making in transforming Beasley into a more diversified, higher-margin media company. Our digital and local direct spot businesses continue to build momentum, our cost structure is significantly more efficient than it was a year ago, and we remain focused on improving the quality of our revenue. We believe these initiatives are creating a stronger operating foundation and positioning the company for more consistent financial performance over the long term. At the same time, we continue to execute against the financial priorities we established at the beginning of the year. We are operating with discipline, allocating capital thoughtfully, and taking deliberate actions to strengthen our balance sheet through debt reduction, portfolio optimization, and improved financial flexibility. These efforts, combined with our ongoing operational initiatives, are designed to improve cash flow generation and create long-term value for our shareholders. Looking ahead, our strategy remains unchanged. We are focused on delivering sustainable revenue growth, expanding EBITDA through continued operating discipline and higher-margin revenue, and further reducing leverage over time. While the broader advertising environment remains dynamic, we believe the actions we are taking today are positioning Beasley to emerge as a stronger, more profitable, and more resilient company.”

Industry News

Saga Communications’ Q2 2026 Net Revenue Down 6.5%

Reporting its operating result for the second quarter of 2026, Saga Communications says net revenue for the period was $26.4 imgmillion, a decline of 6.5% from the same period in 2025. Saga’s net income for the quarter was $960,000. In the report, Saga said it sold 24 towers and other assets that brought it $10.7 million.  Saga Communications reports $27.8 million in cash and short-term investments as of June 30, 2026.

Industry News

Bill Carroll Returns to “Newstalk 1010” in Toronto for Midmorning Show

Canadian talk radio host Bill Carroll, who spent six years as a talk host at iHeartMedia’s KFI, Los Angeles, is returning to the station he worked at earlier in his career. He’s been hosting “The Morning imgRush” program on Bell Media’s CFRA, Ottawa for the past 10 years. Now, he’ll also do a one-hour, Toronto-focused show from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on CFRB “Newstalk 1010.” Last fall, Bell Media and iHeartMedia announced a long-term extension of their partnership that created the iHeartMedia Canada digital platform. That relationship has brought content, including more than 360 licensed Canadian radio stations across 170 markets, hundreds of thousands of podcasts, playlists, and on demand content to Canada.

Industry News

Simon Conway Interviews Administration Officials

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Pictured above is WHO, Des Moines afternoon drive host Simon Conway (center) with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (left) and Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn (right) at a local restaurant where Scalise was speaking in support of Nunn. Later in the day, Conway interviewed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the WHO studios. Conway tells TALKERS, “WHO Radio is still a huge attraction for these senior members of House Leadership and indeed the Trump Administration. It’s an honor to chat with them.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (8/12)

The most discussed stories yesterday (8/12) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. U.S.-Iran War / Strait of Hormuz Control
  2. Primary Races / DSA Candidates
  3. Trump’s Air Force One Ruse
  4. Karoline Leavitt to Exit Post
  5. ICE Tactics / Electric Gloves
Industry News

Zimmer Petitions FCC for Ownership Cap Exemption

Zimmer Communications files a request with the FCC to waive the ownership cap for its acquisition of four radio stations from Mid-West Family Broadcasting that includes sports talk KOSP, Springfield, Missouri “102.1 The Won” and three music brands. imgZimmer argues in its filing that relief from the ownership cap would not adversely affect competition in the Springfield, Missouri market and notes that if approved, its revenue share in the market would be 33.6% (up from its current 8.5%), while SummitMedia’s revenue share is currently 34.8%. Zimmer goes on to add that in terms of audience share, Zimmer would have 21.3% of the market’s audience compared to iHeartMedia’s 22.3%. Additionally, Zimmer points out that, if approved, 18 different owners would control stations in the Springfield market.

Industry Views

Is the Algorithm Your New Program Director?

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By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer

 

imgYou post five clips from yesterday’s program. Four do fine. The fifth, an argument with a caller, explodes. It gets more views, more comments, more shares and more click time than anything else you posted.

So tomorrow you post another argument.

That one performs too. Before long, you are clipping more confrontations because confrontation travels. Then maybe the show itself begins to change. You stay on the angry topic a little longer. You take the provocative call you might once have dumped. You learn what gets rewarded.

Nobody at YouTube, Facebook or TikTok called and told you to make an angrier show. The algorithm did not order you to do anything. It simply showed you what produced a reaction, and you reacted to the reward.

Radio people have seen versions of this forever. The phones light up, so we stay with the topic. A feature appears to perform well in PPM, so it gets another quarter hour. Ratings rise, so management asks for more of whatever seems to be working.

Digital distribution makes that feedback faster, more visible and harder to ignore. It also adds another wrinkle: the platform may use strong engagement to give the next clip more distribution. The reward is not just a good number on a report. It may be a bigger audience tomorrow.

That makes analytics tremendously useful. They can show what attracts attention, what holds audience and what helps people discover your program. But a measurement tool can become a programming influence if you start chasing every spike.

A good host learns from the audience without becoming a hostage to it. A good programmer knows what works without assuming that whatever gets the biggest reaction is automatically the best show.

Use the algorithm to distribute your work. Learn from what it tells you. Make money wherever the audience finds you.

Just don’t appoint it the role of program director.

For the larger discussion of ratings, PPM and digital distribution, read The Algorithm Is Listening at TALKERS.com here.

Matthew B. Harrison, associate publisher of TALKERS, is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonMediaLaw.com or read more at TALKERS.com.

Industry News

Christian Outdoors Joins Salem Media’s LifeAudio Network

Salem Media reveals that “Christian Outdoors Podcast” – hosted by outdoor writer, author and speaker Pete Rogers – joins the company’s LifeAudio Christian podcast network. Salem notes that “Christian Outdoors Podcast” was “created to give outdoor enthusiasts a platform to talk openly about their faith – something imgRogers found largely absent in mainstream outdoor media.” Tommy Lynch serves as director of content acquisition for LifeAudio and he says, “LifeAudio is thrilled to welcome Christian Outdoors to the network – it’s a whole new niche for us, opening the door to hunting, fishing, and outdoor content rooted in faith. It’s the kind of authentic conversation that resonates in trucks, on job sites, and around campfires, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us.” Rogers comments, “‘Christian Outdoors’ is excited and humbled to be the newest member of the LifeAudio Network. Joining this respected team will enable us to continue to reach folks and share our passion for the outdoors and Jesus in one place. Being part of LifeAudio will enable us to reach more believers with the good news of Jesus.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (8/11)

The most discussed stories yesterday (8/11) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. Primary Races
  2. U.S.-Iran War / Strait of Hormuz Control
  3. Trump’s Air Force One Ruse
  4. Trump Vaccine Order
  5. Severe Midwestern Storms
Industry News

iHeartMedia Posts Consolidated Q2 Revenue Up 4.7%

It’s second quarter earnings season and iHeartMedia reveals that its Q2 consolidated revenue was $977 million, an increase of 4.7% over the same period a year ago. The company posts a net loss of $82.4 million, down 1.3% from the $83.5 million is posted in Q2 of 2025. iHeartMedia reports financial data by segments and its Multiplatform Group (which includes broadcast radio and network radio) saw revenue fall 2% to $536 million. Broadcast radio revenue for the quarter was $397.6 million, up 0.5% from Q2 of 2025, and network revenue was $103.7 million, down 3.8%. The imgcompany’s Digital Audio Group revenue was $364 million, up 12% over Q2 of 2025, with the podcast segment rising 21% on revenue of $162 million. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman comments, “We’re pleased with our second quarter results, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $152 million, slightly above the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range. Our consolidated revenue was $977 million, up 4.7% compared to the prior year quarter and above our guidance. Our podcast revenue momentum continues, up 20.7% compared to prior year, and in addition to helping propel our growth as the #1 podcast publisher, our broadcast radio assets have also allowed us to develop and drive the new video podcast marketplace – an incremental growth opportunity for us, including on streaming video services including Netflix and Disney+ and Hulu, which we announced today. And our work in building our digital assets continues to pay off; this is the sixth consecutive quarter in which the Digital Audio Group Adjusted EBITDA is larger than the Multiplatform Group Adjusted EBITDA.”

Industry News

Carr Congratulates Thumann Severs on FCC Nomination

President Donald Trump is nominating Danielle Thumann Severs for a seat on the Federal Communications Commission. She has served two stints at the FCC focusing on matters before the Wireline Competition Bureau, the Public Safety and Homeland imgSecurity Bureau, as well as the agency’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr states, “I want to congratulate Danielle on her nomination to serve as a Commissioner on the FCC.  Danielle is a dedicated public servant and has worked with skill and distinction on some of the most important matters before the agency.  Danielle has delivered policy wins across the FCC’s economic agenda – from bridging the digital divide and protecting consumers to advancing public safety.  With the advice and consent of the Senate, Danielle would make a terrific Commissioner.”

Industry News

Wayne Allyn Root to Interview President Trump

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Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated talk media personality Wayne Allyn Root is interviewing President Donald J. Trump for the 17th time since Trump was first elected in 2016 – something that Root tells TALKERS, “Has to be a record.” Root says the interview – scheduled for next week – leaves nothing off the table. Moreover, Root tells TALKERS that he is proud to be an ally of the president’s “in his defense of the Jews and Israel and a defender against antisemitism.” See the promo for the interview here.

Industry News

“After The Morning After” Getting “Outstanding” Download Numbers

St. Louis sports talk personality and producer Ken “Iggy” Strode, along with show personalities Tim McKernan, Doug Vaughn, and imgJackson Berquette have been hosting the “After The Morning After” live at 11:00 am on Hubbard Media’s KPNT-HD2 and streaming on YouTube since April. Iggy tells TALKERS that after getting laid off in the fall of 2024, he wasn’t sure he wanted to get back into radio but decided to give it a go when Hubbard proposed the new show and he’s glad he did. He says, “It has been so much fun, and the download numbers are outstanding.” The show follows “The Morning After” that airs from 7:00 am to 10:00 am.

Industry News

Shawn Ryan and Ezra Klein Rise in Podtrac’s July Podcast Ranker

There are no changes at the top of Podtrac’s July 2026 Top Podcasts ranker (based on U.S. unique monthly audience); audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie” remains #1, followed by The New img York Times’ “The Daily” at #2, and NPR’s “NPR News Now” at #3. Movers in the top 20 include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Shawn Ryan Show,” which climbs three places to #12; The New York Times’ “The Ezra Klein Show,” which rises six places to #17; and Los Angeles-based comedian Tim Dillon’s eponymous show, which jumps five spots to #19.  See the chart here.

Uncategorized

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (8/10)

The most discussed stories yesterday (8/10) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

  1. Trump Vaccine Order
  2. U.S.-Iran War / Strait of Hormuz Traffic
  3. Primary Elections
  4. Columbia Earthquake
  5. Cyberattacks on U.S. Water Systems
Industry News

Beasley Delays Q2 Financial Report

Beasley Broadcast Group announces it is postponing the reporting of its financial results for the second quarter of 2026 to “allow imgadditional time to finalize the tax accounting treatment relating to the refinancing and debt restructuring that the Company completed during Q2 2026.” Beasley notes that it will announce the new release date and the time and date of its conference call that it expects will happen before this Friday (8/14).

Industry News

Gomez Remains Outspoken About TV Cap Elimination

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is not backing away from her criticism of the Commission’s recent vote to eliminate the television ownership cap. On Friday (8/7), she stated: “The FCC’s decision to eliminate the 39 percent national audience reach cap is unlawful on its face. Congress set this cap in federal law, and only imgCongress can change it. I am not alone in that conclusion. Republicans with deep firsthand knowledge of this issue agree. Former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly has been unequivocal that the FCC lacks authority to change the cap. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who negotiated the 39 percent compromise, has stressed that Congress wrote the cap into law specifically to keep the FCC from changing it. And Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz has said he is skeptical a change can be made absent an act of Congress.”

Industry Views

The Algorithm Knows What You Did But It Doesn’t Know Why

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By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer

 

imgA viewer watches the same political clip three times. The platform sees a powerful signal: this person stopped, stayed, and came back. What it cannot reliably know is whether the viewer loved the argument, hated it, was factchecking it, or was showing it to someone else in disbelief. The algorithm knows a viewer watched. It does not necessarily know why. That is why YouTube looks beyond viewing itself to other signals of appeal, engagement, and satisfaction.

That distinction matters to broadcasters because digital analytics can look much more intelligent than they really are. An algorithm can measure behavior with extraordinary precision, but behavior is not motive. PPM taught radio a version of the same lesson. Nielsen’s meter can passively detect exposure to encoded audio, but the resulting audience measurement cannot tell a programmer why someone listened or why audience levels changed.

Livestreaming creates the opposite problem. Instead of too little explanation, the host suddenly gets too much of it. The chat is moving. People are demanding another topic, praising a guest, attacking a caller, or announcing that the segment is dying.

That feedback is valuable, but the people typing are not necessarily representative of the people listening. Radio hosts should already understand this because callers have never represented the entire audience. They represent the portion motivated enough to pick up the telephone. Livestream chat is the same phenomenon at digital speed.

The danger comes when these two imperfect signals reinforce each other. The dashboard says engagement jumped. The chat says, “More of this.” A host can easily conclude that the audience has spoken when what actually happened is that a particularly active portion of the audience became particularly visible.

Good broadcasters have always listened to the audience without surrendering the show to it. Digital tools make that listening faster and more detailed, but they do not eliminate the need for judgment.

The algorithm knows what people did. The chat tells you what some people said. The programmer still has to decide what either one means.

For the larger discussion of ratings, PPM, algorithms and digital distribution, read The Algorithm Is Listening here: https://talkers.com/category/industry-views/

Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonMediaLaw.com or read more at TALKERS.com.