ABC7 Chicago has video of the former towers for WCFL, WLUP-AM and ESPN 1000 in the 100 block of 39th Street in the suburb of Downers Grove being demolished. The station’s coverage notes “they were not the original towers. The towers went up in 2003 to replace the original towers that were erected in 1932.” See the video here.
The most discussed stories yesterday (6/2) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Big, Beautiful Bill / National Debt
2. ICE Arrests / Student Visas Policy
3. Ukraine Drone Strikes on Russia
4. Colorado Fire Attack
5. Deadly Gaza Violence
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
“Fewer than half of Americans plan to travel this Summer,” according to a Bankrate survey, and “cost is a major concern.”
— Just 46% plan to travel, 38% domestically and 15% internationally (with some overlap between the two).
— 65% of non-travelers cite a lack of interest in traveling currently. “Not being able to take time off work and travel being too much of a hassle both came in at 16%.”
— “The expense of everyday life tops the reasons people can’t afford to travel.”
— “15% of respondents said they were worried about flight safety. That comes on the heels of several high-profile aviation incidents in the United States.”
This isn’t bad news. It’s an open door.
Programming/Promotion ideas:
— Local Day Trips vignettes (within 90-minute drive)
— Grilling tips (local chef? listener suggestions?)
— Weekend activities/events calendar
— Near the water? “Shorecast”
— Online Staycation Directory
— Listener photos (garden, patio, pool, grill-N-chill)
Any/all-of-the-above are sponsorable. Prospects:
— Outdoor furniture retailers
— Home improvement stores (paint, decking, lighting)
— Grill/smoker shops & barbecue supply
— Pest control services
— HVAC (air conditioner tune-ups)
— Pool and hot tub installers, maintenance
— Gazebo/screenhouse/awning installers
— Water parks/mini golf/drive-in movies
— Ice cream stands, craft breweries
PS: Tomorrow’s bumpers:
“Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry, and “Desiree” by Neil Diamond. Both begin “It was the third of June…”
Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
Winners in this year’s annual Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association have been announced. The RTDNA competition has been presented since 1971 and now
encompasses four divisions: Local TV and Radio; Network, Syndication Service, Program Service TV and Radio; Digital News Organizations; and Student Awards. RTDNA says the Murrow Awards “recognize local and national news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. Murrow Award-winning work demonstrates the excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession.” You can see the winners across the 14 regions here.
iHeartMedia and BIG3 – the professional three-on-three basketball league – announce a deal that makes iHeartMedia the audio home of BIG3 games. The league’s eighth season tips off on June 14 at Allstate Arena in Chicago with play-by-play on CBS and iHeartRadio. In addition to BIG3 games streamed live on
iHeartRadio, the deal includes a cross-marketing collaboration of both brands throughout the BIG3 season with promotion nationally across iHeartMedia’s multiple platforms including broadcast radio, podcast digital, social and live events, with a heavy focus in “game” markets including Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and others. iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne says, “We are very excited about our new partnership with BIG3 and having the opportunity to provide play-by-play coverage and promotional support to build further brand awareness, introducing the game to millions of more fans. We look forward to bringing the passion and excitement of BIG3 to our listeners on a local and national level week after week.”
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump Tariffs Ruling
2. Big, Beautiful Bill
3. Ukrainian Drone Attack on Russia
4. Colorado Flamethrower Attack
5. ICE Arrests / Student Visas Policy
Connoisseur Media CEO Jeffrey Warshaw is suing Soros Fund Management for breach of contract, unfair trade practices and more in Connecticut Superior Court. In the complaint, Warshaw alleges that he had a deal with Soros Fund Management’s Michael Del Nin in 2022 and began working together “to try to acquire
Cox Radio, with Del Nin agreeing that Warshaw would manage the business as CEO upon successful acquisition.” While both parties were doing due diligence on the CMG deal, Warshaw learned that an Audacy majority stake holder was willing to sell its stake in the company. Warshaw says he steered SFM and Del Nin to the deal that made SFM a majority stake holder of the new Audacy in early 2024. Warshaw alleges he was promised he’d be the next CEO of Audacy or that he would get 5% of SFM’s profits from the Audacy acquisition. After that though, Warshaw says Del Nin balked and denied there was ever an agreement, calling any such claims “fabricated.” Warshaw is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and asking that the court award specific performance of their agreement.
According to SFGate, Cumulus Media San Francisco made the transition to its new broadcast center at “2001 Junipero Serra Blvd. in an office complex near Daly City’s Century Theatres.” The news site reports
that the KNBR “‘Papa and Silver’ midday show signed off from the 750 Battery St. studios just before 2:00 pm. After a break, the ‘Dirty Work’ afternoon show went live from Daly City.” The story notes that sports talk KNBR was originally KPO-AM when it launched on April 17, 1922 with its tower on top of the Hale Brothers department store at 901 Market Street. Read the SFGate story here.
iHeartMedia Launches “True Crime Tonight.” iHeartMedia announces the premiere of “True Crime Tonight” in collaboration with KT Studios. “True Crime Tonight” will initially launch on more than 20 broadcast radio stations across the country Sunday through Thursday evenings live at 10:00 pm local time beginning June 1. The two-hour show is being led by Stephanie Lydecker, founder and CEO of KT Studios; Courtney McKenna Armstrong, producer and voice of KT Studios’ podcasts; and Baudi Moovan, crime analyst and star of Netflix’s “Don’t F*** with Cats.”
Edison Unveils Infinite Dial UK. At The Podcast Show in London, Edison Research released its finding about UK digital media consumption via it’s the Infinite Dial UK 2025. The study looked at tech ownership, social media usage, online audio, and podcast listening in the UK.
Podcast One Acquires New Shows. PodcastOne announces it broadens its programming slate by adding several new and acquired podcasts to its network. Acquisitions include “Love Murder,” “The Broadside” and “Intrusive Thoughts” by Adam Rippon, with new podcasts “Yestergays” with Justin Sylvester and Blakely Thornton and “A Lot of You Have Been Asking” from comedian Hayden Cohen.
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (5/26-30) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
1. Big, Beautiful Bill / National Debt
2. Trump Tariffs Rulings
3. Trump vs Harvard / Chinese Student Visas Policy
4. Musk to Leave DOGE
5. Israel-Gaza War / Iran Nuclear Talks
6. Russia-Ukraine War / Trump-Putin Tensions
7. FBI-ICE Arrests
8. Golden Dome Defense System
9. Pardons & Commutations
10.Diddy Trial
People
1. Donald Trump
2. Mike Johnson
3. Alan Garber
4. Elon Musk
5. Benjamin Netanyahu
6. Vladimir Putin
7. Xi Jinping
8. Jake Tapper
9. Todd & Julie Chrisley
10.Sean “Diddy” Combs
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
Forty-nine-year radio pro E. Curtis Johnson is retiring from Cumulus Media’s KMJ-AM/FM, Fresno “News Talk 580 and 105.9” where he’s been serving as co-host of the afternoon drive show alongside Philip Teresi since March 2023. His final show is tomorrow (5/30). Johnson says, “I was truly excited to get the gig here at
KMJ a little over two years ago. I’ve enjoyed working with Philip and the entire staff has welcomed me as one of their own. I thought I’d be here longer, but some unexpected health issues made the decision to retire the right choice for me. It was a hard decision to make, but I’m comfortable that I’ve made the right call for my quality of life. I will miss this team.” KMJ program director Blake Taylor comments, “It was great working with a true professional who brought great insights and a unique skill set to our audience. We’re going to miss E. I trust he’s going to take full advantage of the time off. He deserves it!”
Edison Research says that according to a new custom survey it is conducting, the radio industry now knows exactly what time Americans 13+ wake up on weekdays. According to the survey, just over 30% of
Americans 13+ are awake by 6:00 am during the weekday. The two most popular half hour increments Americans set their alarms for are between 6:00 am-6:30 am and 7:00 am-7:30 am. For radio station programmers wondering how important the 5:00 am hour is, just over 14% are awake by 5:00 am with another 17% rising sometime during the 5:00 am hour. Edison says other data indicates most Americans are waking up slightly later than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic shifted routines and schedules to spend more time in the home.
“The Financial Exchange” Joins SiriusXM. “The Financial Exchange with Michael Armstrong and Chuck Zodda” – heard on 14 stations across New England including flagship WRKO, Boston – will begin airing on SiriusXM’s Business Radio channel on June 2 from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon ET. Money Matters Radio COO Jason Wolfe comments, “In a world where listeners have numerous ways to consume the content they love the most, adding an incredible brand like SiriusXM will help us expand our reach to a new audience that we’re excited to be a part of. We can’t wait to get started.”
WTOP Adds “Bloomberg Business of Entertainment.” Bloomberg Audio’s “Bloomberg Business of Entertainment” is being added to the program schedule at Hubbard Radio’s all-news WTOP-FM, Washington, DC. Bloomberg says the 60-second radio report “takes listeners behind the scenes of the entertainment industry’s biggest stories. The micro-feature provides captivating snippets of the entertainment industry’s most compelling stories of the day and is tailor-made for stations of virtually all formats and market sizes.”
Froney Joins FOX Weather. FOX News Media’s FOX Weather brings Bayne Froney aboard as an on-air
meteorologist. Froney most recently served with WLEX-TV, Lexington, Kentucky. She comments, “I’m looking forward to working with the talented group of meteorologists at FOX Weather. I can’t wait to continue exploring my fascination with meteorology and work with some of the best in the industry.”
NCAA Division I Women’s College World Series Presented by Westwood One. Cumulus Media’s Westwood One is distributing the NCAA Division I Women’s College World Series to stations across the country live from USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. Coverage starts today (5/29). The broadcast crews for the double elimination games will feature Ryan Radtke and Chris Plank as play-by-play announcers, along with former University of Oklahoma outfielder and two-time WCWS champion Erin Miller, and Hall of Famer and University of Arizona three-time WCWS champion Leah (O’Brien) Amico as analysts.
The most discussed stories yesterday (5/28) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Judges Block Trump Tariffs
2. Musk to Leave DOGE
3. Chinese Student Visas Scrutinized
4. Trump Pardons & Commutations
5. Israel-Gaza War / Iran Nuclear Talks
This week’s blog post from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group looks at the effects of reach on and advertiser’s “mental availability.” The piece quotes authors Les Binet and Sarah Carter from their book, 66 Ways To Screw It Up: How Not to Plan, “The single most important factor
driving brand preference is ‘mental availability’: how well known a brand is, and how easily it comes to mind. Brands with low mental availability tend to struggle, rejected in favor of more familiar rivals. Or not considered in the first place. Brands with high mental availability don’t have to push so hard to sell, so tend to have higher market shares and better margins.” The authors also advise, “Always aim to get more customers from all segments of the market. It’s the main way brands grow.” The blog post concludes that AM/FM radio makes your media plan better by increasing reach. One example is illustrated as follows: Edison’s “Share of Ear” study of ad-supported audio reveals the combined persons 18+ daily reach of Pandora and Spotify is only 12% of Americans. Adding podcasts causes reach to surge to 29%. The introduction of AM/FM radio lifts daily reach to 74%. See the full blog post here.
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is taking her First Amendment Tour to Los Angeles today (5/28) for an event at Cal State LA. She says, “I launched this effort to defend the First Amendment from those who use it as a weapon against the very freedoms it protects. That’s why I’m excited to join
Free Press for the very first stop of our First Amendment Tour outside of Washington. Together, we must continue to stand up for free expression and push back against the Administration’s growing campaign of censorship and control.” Gomez’s office says that as part of her tour, Gomez is partnering with consumer and civil society organizations across the ideological spectrum to participate in speaking engagements and listening sessions focused on protecting the rights and freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment. Most recently, she held an event in partnership with the Center for Democracy and Technology, spoke at the Media Institute, and participated in a workshop held by the Competitive Enterprise Institute and TechFreedom.
iHeartMedia’s BIN: Black Information Network announces its collaboration with The Obama Foundation to advance community engagement with youth. “This multi-year collaboration — the first of its kind for BIN — brings together its mission to inform, educate and elevate Black voices with The Obama Foundation’s commitment to empowering individuals and communities to create lasting
change. Both organizations share a vision of advancing equity, social justice and civic engagement for future generations.” BIN president Tony Coles adds, “This powerful collaboration will deliver important, unbiased information to our audiences, promote civic engagement, and foster inclusive dialogue. In today’s news environment, our responsibility is to ensure the stories, commitment and goals of civic and community leaders are heard by our listeners and carried forward by future generations.” BIN will advance the mission of the Obama Presidential Center in the runup to opening in 2026 by sharing and distributing stories focused on President Obama’s legacy, community-driven initiatives on the South Side of Chicago and engaging in national conversations around equity, democracy and change.
New Affiliates for “America Tonight.” The nationally syndicated show “America Tonight” starring Kate Delaney adds two new affiliate stations as WORD, Daytona Beach and KLIS, St. Louis both add the program to their lineups. Delaney tells TALKERS magazine that she is celebrating 16 years of hosting “America Tonight.”
Townsquare Officers to Present at Investor Conferences. Townsquare Media’s CEO Bill Wilson, CFO Stuart Rosenstein, and EVP investor relations Claire Yenicay are participating in two upcoming investor conferences – the Barrington Research Virtual Spring Investment Conference on May 29 and the Noble Capital Markets’ Virtual Investor Conference on June 4.
Saga Declares Dividend. Saga Communications’ board of directors is declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share to be paid on June 27, 2025, to shareholders of record on June 6, 2025. The aggregate amount of the payment to be made in connection with the quarterly dividend will be approximately $1.6 million. The quarterly dividend will be funded by cash on the company’s balance sheet. Including this dividend, the company will have paid over $138 million in dividends to shareholders since the first special dividend was paid in 2012.
The most discussed stories yesterday (5/27) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump vs Harvard
2. Big, Beautiful Bill / National Debt
3. Trump Pardons Chrisleys
4. New Student Visa Policies
5. Russia-Ukraine War / Trump-Putin Tensions
Longtime Philadelphia-based radio talk show host Dom Giordano is launching a new weekly podcast today (5/27) devoted to exploring America’s politically charged education system with a focus on protecting the rights of parents to engage in school choice and select the best school for their child. The show will feature a blend of commentary from Giordano on the hottest aspects of the evolving issues plus interviews with leaders from the American education system.
A presentation of Giordano Productions, LLC, the program is titled, “Old School, New School, Next
School with Dom Giordano” – a phrase inspired by the recent TALKERS conference “Generations 2025” held earlier this year in conjunction with IBS NY 2025. The podcast will be carried on the industry’s major platforms.
Long referred to as the Dean of Philadelphia News/Talk Radio, Giordano, the seasoned midday (12:00 noon – 3:00 pm) host of Audacy’s WPHT, has been a mainstay of local Philadelphia talk radio since 1987 where he has developed a national reputation in the industry for his knowledge and even-handedness. He offers an intelligent “guy next door” sensibility on the full spectrum of contemporary issues with a particular strength in education that goes back to his local roots in Pennsylvania.
Born and raised in South Philly, Giordano began his unique path to broadcasting as a high school teacher in the Delaware Valley, where he received widespread media coverage for his innovative teaching and motivational techniques. He was hired at WWDB Radio in 1987, becoming one of the nation’s first teachers-turned-talk show hosts. In 2000, he joined CBS-owned-and-operated (now Audacy) WPHT where he has been ever since. A perennial fixture on the TALKERS “Heavy Hundred” – the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America – he is a frequent guest commentator on the national cable news/talk TV channels and writes frequent columns for newspapers throughout the region.
The podcast’s debut installment today features a conversation with special guest Ryan N. Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Consortium – an aggregation of more than 50 labor unions and 40,00 workers. Giordano tells TALKERS, “We focused on how and why this major labor leader could be such a strong supporter of school choice.” Boyer states, “I’d be a hypocrite to oppose school choice – because I’ve exercised it myself.”
Next week’s second installment will feature an interview with Stacy Garrity, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The discussion will address the cost savings of school choice and how the issue will play out in the upcoming governor’s race against one of the Democrats’ leading presidential candidates, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
To listen to “Old School, New School, Next School with Dom Giordano,” please click HERE.
Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon host Jeff Katz at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond participating in the first-ever “Say Their Names” marathon. Katz joined some 200 people chosen – including Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin – to recite the names of the almost 12,000 Virginia military heroes who died in service of their nation. The marathon took place over the course of 12 hours and included those who died in conflicts from World War II through the Global War on Terror.
Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio announces the opening of the application window for the “MIW Elevating Women in Programming Mentorship.” MIW says the program offers “a transformative year-long experience, connecting the mentee with some of the most accomplished programming
minds in the business. Through personalized conversations, strategic connections, and unique opportunities, the program aims to empower and elevate the mentee’s career within the radio industry.” This mentorship is open to one female brand manager, content/program director, assistant program director, or music director from any U.S.-based format. “The ‘MIW Elevating Women in Programming Mentorship’ program is a cornerstone of our mission to empower women in radio,” says MIW board president Sheila Kirby. “This initiative not only fosters personal and professional growth but also builds a stronger and more inclusive future for the industry. We’re excited to welcome another talented mentee into this life-changing program.” Learn more and apply here.
Pictured above at South Carolina’s Walhalla Performing Arts Center is WORD-FM, Greenville talk host Joey Hudson (left) taking part in an onstage ceremony honoring Gospel artist Jason Crabb (second from left). During the event, Crabb was presented with a proclamation from South Carolina State Senate president Thomas Alexander (second from right) lauding him for his many contributions to Christian music as well as “his strong walk of faith.”
The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
1. Trump’s Putin Criticism / Russia-Ukraine War
2. EU Tariff Pause
3. Big, Beautiful Bill
4. Memorial Day Holiday
5. Gaza Peace Plan
By Walter Sabo
a.k.a. Walter M Sterling
Host, Sterling Every Damn Night
WPHT, Philadelphia
Sterling On Sunday, Syndicated, TMN
Dozens of brand-new audio hardware and software companies have been launched during the past 20 years. These start-ups are usually funded by venture capital money. VC money is not invested to return a profit, it’s poured in to – pour it in. Their money is “different” than the cashflow that fuels your business. Start-up money buys time to profit.
Amazon lost money its first 10 years. Spotify launched in 2008 and turned a full year profit for the first time – last year.
MOST venture-backed start-ups do not make it to profit, they close.
With virtually unlimited funds and no deadlines, what are the strategic markers for success of most fresh, new audio businesses? Having performed due diligence for many start-ups, this is an informed summary of their goals:
— Significant distribution of the product.
— Robust, broad-appeal content offerings
— Proven metrics for securing advertising dollars
— Positive cultural impact
— Embraced by late-stage adopters
— Advertiser credibility
Hold radio to the above checklist. 92% of the population has a radio – more households than own a TV. Radio’s distribution is elegant, wireless, and free. Streaming? Yes, radio has streamed to the car since 1938. How’s UCONNECT or APPLE PLAY working in your KIA? Buffering now? Bluetooth pairing? At-home streams cost about $1,000 for a computer, $100 a month for WiFi, $150 for software upgrades and repairs. Radio distribution: turn it “ON.” No startup audio service will match radio’s distribution system.
Mature means predictable. Content offerings on radio are understood, accepted, and quickly adjusted if not appealing. Audio start-ups are rarely run by execs with audio entertainment experience. Their execs tend to be recruited from two groups: techs and discoverers. Techs because somebody has to make it work. Discoverers because you would be shocked at how many audio newcomers were funded on the wacky premise that AM/FM fails to see how badly Americans want to hear brand new music! Lurking among workers within the streaming and satellite communities is the harsh prejudice that pros with actual radio experience are satanic dinosaurs.
Most start-ups flirt with doing good for the country, ie; positive messaging, lots of jazz or world music. AM/FM has hardcore positive impact witnessed by the fact that most public radio stations enjoy ratings dominance. No other medium – none – raises more money for community charities than AM/FM.
Driving a new product past the innovators, early adopters, early majority to late majority is the path to success in any industry. AM/FM reached late majority when Bing Crosby had his own show. How’s mom doing with Spotify?
Advertiser credibility: Procter & Gamble returned to radio in the early 2000s. Last year P&G landed near the top of radio advertisers. Procter has no sense of humor or time for nonsense. If P&G buys a lot of radio, end of story. Again.
Not legacy media. Proven media.
Walter Sabo has been a C Suite action partner for companies such as SiriusXM, Hearst, Press Broadcasting, Gannett, RKO General and many other leading media outlets. His company HITVIEWS, in 2007, was the first to identify and monetize video influencers.. His nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at sabowalter@gmail.com.
Bonneville International’s news/talk KSL NewsRadio in Salt Lake City unveils a new late morning show titled “Inside Sources” and hosted by Greg Skordas and Dr. Holly Richardson. This comes after the recent departure of Dave Noriega and the announced retirement of Debbie Dujanovic who
together hosted the “Dave & Dujanovic” show. Dr. Holly Richardson is a former state legislator who currently serves as editor of Utah Policy and a columnist for the Deseret News. Greg Skordas is a defense attorney, former prosecutor, and former candidate for Utah Attorney General. Bonneville president and COO Tanya Vea says, “This reflects our commitment to provide Utahns with smart, solution-oriented news and analysis. Greg and Holly bring a rare depth of expertise, perspective, and connection to our community, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the KSL NewsRadio lineup.” KSL program director Kevin Larue adds, “Our evolving lineup reflects what KSL NewsRadio stands for—credible voices, engaging conversations, and a deep connection to the community. No matter the topic or the time of day, our listeners know we have them covered.”