Industry News

Erick Erickson Prioritizes Affiliate Station Visits

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Compass Media Networks nationally syndicated talk host Erick Erickson says he’s making it a priority to visit stations for listener and client meet and greets and adds that to reduce the burden on the affiliates, the show is picking up travel expenses for himself and team. Pictured above is Erickson chatting with listeners to WEEB, Southern Pines, North Carolina. Erickson says, “Radio is a far more intimate medium than any other form of media. People get to know you based on voice inflection. Getting into the markets and being in person with our listeners builds the audience connection and is important to me. It’s equally important that I do it without being a burden to the affiliates and working in collaboration with them.”

Industry News

WVON, Chicago Unveils New Afternoon Show

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WVON, Chicago announces that station PD Atiba Buchanan is teaming up with LaDonna Raeh for the afternoon drive show. This comes after the duo have been filling in for Jesse Jackson Jr. since early March, allowing Jackson Jr. to focus on his national show. The station says, “The duo will focus on keeping listeners up to date on breaking news and topics such as social justice and advancing Black economics. In addition, Buchanan and Raeh will highlight the importance of familial networks by teaming up with experts to discuss strengthening family structures and hosting a weekly segment called ‘Relationship Thursdays.’”

Industry News

“New Jersey 101.5” Presents Energy Cost Town Hall

Townsquare Media news/talk WKXW-FM, Trenton “New Jersey 101.5” is producing a special town hall program titled, “Zapped: The High Cost of Energy in New Jersey,” on Thursday (5/15) live at 7:00 pm.img The station says, “As the June 1 increases loom, state leaders and advocates will discuss the impact on consumers and what can be done. With public outrage mounting over stalled grid upgrades and steep bills, a panel of experts and top officials will explore the reason behind the hikes and the possible solutions that can be implemented to prevent such steep hikes in the future.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (5/12)

The most discussed stories yesterday (5/12) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. U.S.-China Trade Deal
2. Trump’s Middle East Trip
3. Qatar Airplane Gift Controversy
4. Edan Alexander Released by Hamas
5. Newsom’s Anti-Public Sleeping Campaign

Industry News

Frank Morano Leaves WABC Show

WABC, New York overnight talk host Frank Morano is leaving his hosting duties at the Red Apple Media station because of his new role as Staten Island South Shore city councilman. Morano won the seat in a special election and, due to the election schedule, faces a primary election in June and, ifimg successful there, will have a general election campaign to run in the fall for the next term. Morano issued a statement over the weekend regarding his status. He said, “When I was elected, I had expected to continue hosting my radio show until the swearing-in. However, due to concerns about equal-time rules for the upcoming election and uncertainty around what outside work I’ll be allowed to do once I take office, the decision was made that I would no longer host ‘The Other Side of Midnight’ and would step away from the Red Apple Audio Network for now. This wasn’t a decision I made lightly—or one I made at all, frankly—but I completely understand the reasoning behind it. I’m incredibly grateful to the station’s ownership and management for the opportunity to do a show I loved, with a team I respected, for an audience I adored… I do hope to be back on the radio in some form soon. But for now, I’m off the air.  

Industry News

Jon Grayson to Retire from KMBZ-FM, Kansas City

Talk radio pro Jon Grayson is retiring from the business and his current position as midday co-host at Audacy’s news/talk KBMZ-FM, Kansas City. Grayson has been with KMBZ-FM for the past five years, most recently co-hosting middays with Jayne Monacelli. Grayson says, “My wife and I are makingimg some changes in our lifestyle, our geography and our living standards to protect our safety and sanity that include an international move. That simply makes this job no longer feasible.” Reflecting on his career, Grayson remembers getting into the business. “As a kid I was always steered away from potential careers that depended on personal talent alone, since my mom was convinced that people who made their living that way were somehow possessed of a magic that us regular folks don’t have. But the day I first heard talk radio – a day I remember very clearly – I fell in love. I had no choice in the matter. From calling in to talk shows as a college student to beating down the doors of my local station to hire me, this business always held a kind of allure I found irresistible.” During his career, he worked in Tampa, Nashville, and St. Louis, where he worked at KTRS and KMOX. At KMOX he hosted the syndicated “Overnight America” program.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Music Lessons For Talk Radio

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgMusic radio’s competitors were vinyl, then tape, then CDs – before smartphone streaming and satellite radio offered more portability and variety. And before consolidation, broadcasters were under less of the revenue pressure that now commercializes many stations beyond listeners’ tolerance. TALKERS NAB Show coverage included Edison Research founder Larry Rosin lamenting “many, many [music] stations now loading all their spots into two interminable breaks per hour.” I cringe hearing FMs struggle to remain among listeners’ music appliances. And I fret that monologue-heavy talk radio is relinquishing interactive dialogue to social media.

Before moving to all-news, and eventually news/talk, I worked in music formats less-structured than today’s. So now I hear music radio as an outsider, more like a consumer. Which got me wondering: How does my format sound to music consultants? So, I asked several whose work I respect.

Beware the one-joke act

Mike McVay reckons that “listeners want to know a little bit about a lot of things,” a point other colleagues echo. Explaining that “music radio is all about variety,” adult contemporary specialist Gary Berkowitz: “To me, listeners are tired of all this political back and forth. Sure, it has its place, but it’s like if music radio only played five different artists!” Jon Holiday – who customizes station playlists for a variety of formats – asks “are talk listeners getting what they want?” Calling some formats “very artist-heavy,” he thinks stations were right to play so much Taylor Swift in 2024, certainly her year. And 2025 sure is Trump’s, but Holiday calls “banging the same drum all day, every day” the most common flaw he hears on talk radio.

McVay says listeners like “stories that pull on their heart strings. It’s why “NBC Nightly News” ends with a touching story. It’s not fluff. It’s information relief.” He also recommends topics you are likely to overhear at the next table during lunch: “Discretionary Time Information” (binge-worthy shows on Apple+, Max, Netflix). Health. And – lately more than ever – what Mike calls “purse” stories (think: eggs). Been to Costco? On weekends it’s mobbed. Ask any member and they’ll recite a shopping list of Kirkland-brand bargains.

Play the hits

 When Gary Berkowitz – then an accomplished music programmer – took over stately WJR, he “approached it like it was a music station, the only difference was my ‘songs’ were my personalities, news coverage and, at the time, play-by-play of all the major Detroit teams.” He bought a jingle package “to ‘decorate’ the station;” and “got ‘JR involved with everything that was happening in Detroit. All I did was put it all together and present it like my top-40 upbringing taught me.”

I can relate. Before I programmed all-news WTOP, Washington, I had no news experience. I came from a music FM. The WTOP staff I inherited was impressive, and their work was solid, but the station wasn’t “programmed enough.” I was sent there to convert Cume to Average Quarter Hour – the blocking-and-tackling formatics fundamental to music radio. We owned “the Top news…instantly” image, and we said those very words LOTS. But research told us that traffic and weather were “the hits;” and how we presented them moved the needle.

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Great talkers are great listeners 

In every transaction, consumers now expect to interact; and “listeners like to hear others’ voices,” Mike McVay observes: “When the audience is comfortable enough to weigh in with an opinion, their own story, or a reaction, you’ve created a ‘friend circle.’” Jon Holiday tells morning shows he works with to “take time going into breaks to be topical and interact with callers.” And engage by texting and social media. And don’t just push-TO listeners. Be quick to REPLY, and you will make them feel special. 

Yet, in three decades coaching talk hosts, the most unwelcome word I say seems to be “callers.” Imitating gifted Rush Limbaugh, many hosts are prone to windy monologue, rather than inviting the busy dialogue that makes a station sound popular (something local advertisers notice). DJs deftly weaving interactivity into music shows often sound more inviting than sermonizing talkers. Holiday remembers El Rushbo as “a master at having fun, particularly in his early days as a syndicated personality.”

Prescription: Local 

Twenty years ago at the TALKERS conference, publisher Michael Harrison’s advice was elegantly simple: “Give them something they can’t get anywhere else.” Especially now, with so many non-local audio competitors. Regardless of format, helpful local information can increase Occasions of Tune-In per week.

Simply doing local news is a start. But does yours enable the listener by telling what an item means to him or her? On any given day, what you’re overhearing at lunch is something big that’s happening somewhere else. Can you explain the local impact? “National news needs to mean something to me, my community, my region or state,” according to McVay.

With weather so erratic in so many places, owning that image is gold. If you’re news/talk, don’t assume that you’re the market’s weather station. If you’re music, don’t assume you can’t be. Noting typical news/talk demographics, Jon Holiday surmises that, “as we get older, we seem to be more interested in weather.”

And as successful music stations have always done, show up! Gary Berkowitz had WJR go all-in on Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day parade, “with our people all over the parade route. It was better than the TV coverage!”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn

Industry News

iHeartMedia May Face Class Action Lawsuit

In the aftermath of the data breach that affected iHeartMedia in December of 2024, Tennessee resident Cheryl Shields has filed a suit in New York’s Southern District Court alleging that theimg company “did not keep secure including social security numbers, financial account details, and health insurance data.” But the thrust of her complaint is that iHeartMedia delayed notifying users. iHeartMedia didn’t conclude its investigation until last month and began the notification process on April 30.

Industry News

Red Apple Media to Acquire WRCR-AM in the Hudson Valley

Red Apple Media is acquiring WRCR-AM, Haverstraw, New York for an undisclosed sum. The stationimg is owned by Alexander Medecovich. According to a story in the Rockland News, Medecovich endured a personal family tragedy and preceded his eventual exit from the radio business. Currently, WRCR is simulcasting WABC, New York’s content.

Industry News

New York Adds to Budget for Public Radio

New York State Senate passed a $254 billion state budget for 2025-2026 that includes an additional $4 million for public radio stations. New York Public Radio reports that the funding is over and above the $14 million the state gives to public broadcasting, $13 million of which goes to TV stations. The additional allocation was proposed by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal amidst attempts in Washington to cut federal funding for public broadcasting through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. NYPR president and CEO LaFontaine Oliver says, “We’re deeply grateful to State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal for his vision and leadership in proposing this additional funding and to Governor Kathy Hochul, State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Carl Heastie, and the entire New York State Legislature for their support.”

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend (5/10-11)

The most discussed stories over the weekend on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. U.S.-China Tariff Rollback
2. Newark Airport Troubles
3. Trump’s Middle East Trip / Qatar Jet Gift
4. Prescription Drug Executive Order
5. Big, Beautiful Bill

Industry News

KTBB, Tyler Owner Covers Conclave from Rome

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Pictured above is KTBB, Tyler-Longview, Texas owner Paul Gleiser reporting from Vatican City this week. Gleiser – who is not Catholic – got a client to sponsor the station’s covererage of the Conclave (see the station website here). He also filed reports for local TV station KETK-TV, Tyler. Consultant Holland Cooke works with Gleiser’s station and he says, “Just imagine the horse-laff you’d get from a big corporate owner if you proposed sending someone from even a major market station to the Conclave. When you own the station, you may… Our sponsor got umpteen promos, video and blog content, hourly radio hits on our air, and nightly reports on the local TV station where Paul does twice-weekly commentaries.”

Industry News

Katz: Radio Ad-Influenced Consumers Are Valuable

Katz Radio publishes an insight piece based on data from Nielsen Scarborough looking at the action taken by consumers of various measured advertising types. Katz’s analysis concludes that “two-thirds of consumers say they have taken action as a result of an ad in the past three months. One in 4 ofimg those consumers report having taken an action based on radio ads, in particular. Such actions can be recommending something to others, posting or following on social media, visiting a website, going to a retail location, or actually making a purchase. While we do not know which advertisers’ messaging they responded to, we do know that these radio-influenced consumers are highly engaged across categories, making them advantageous to brands – and more valuable than ad-influenced adults in general. Radio-influenced consumers are more likely to be spending money on sports betting, vacations, cars, movies, and retail than the average adult, and even more than other ad-influenced adults.” See the Katz piece here.

Industry News

Urban One Shareholders to Vote on Reverse Stock Split

Urban One, Inc is holding its annual shareholders meeting virtually on June 18. Prior to that meeting, holders of Class A and Class B stock can vote and participate. Among the issues they will vote on is:img “To approve an amendment to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to permit us to effect a reverse stock split of our outstanding Class A and Class D Common Stock, at a ratio within a range between one-for-two and one-for-30, subject to and as determined by a committee appointed by our Board of Directors.” The company’s Board of Directors is recommending a “yes” vote.

Job Opportunity

KWAM Searching for Next Great Morning Show Host

KWAM News Radio in Memphis is hiring a full-time morning show host. Our previous host is leavingimg after four years to take a job on Capitol Hill in Washington. The ideal candidate must have at least three years of talk radio experience with a strong background in politics and news. This position is based in Memphis. Send resume and air check to todd@starnesmediagroup.com.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (May 5 – 9, 2025)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (5/5-9) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

  Stories

1. Tariffs / The Economy / UK Trade Deal
2. Alien Enemies Act / Deportations
3. Big, Beautiful Bill / Medicaid Cuts
4. India-Pakistan Tensions / Russia-Ukraine War
5. Newark Airport Woes / Air Traffic Control Staffing
6. Conclave Elects New Pope
7. DOJ to Drop Abortion Pill Suits
8. Trump’s Alcatraz Order
9. Surgeon General Nominee
10.Columbia Pro-Palestinian Protests

People

1. Donald Trump
2. Jerome Powell
3. Scott Bessent
4. Mike Johnson
5. Keir Starmer / Mark Carney
6. Pope Leo XIV
7. J.D. Vance
8. RFK Jr.
9. Janette Nesheiwat / Casey Means
10.Elon Musk

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

Industry News

Townsquare Media Q1 Net Revenue Dips 0.5%

Reporting its operating results for the first quarter of 2025, Townsquare Media says net revenue for the period was $98.7 million, a decline of 0.5% from the same period in 2024. Townsquare breaks its report into segments and it’s worth noting that Broadcast Advertising net revenue was $41.3 million, a decrease of 9.1% from the same period in 2024, while Digital Advertising net revenue increased 7.6%,img and Subscription Digital Marketing Solutions net revenue increased 4.2%. Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson says, “I am pleased to share that Townsquare’s first quarter results met or exceeded our previously issued guidance, driven by imgthe continued strength of our differentiated digital platform. Additionally, this morning we are reaffirming our 2025 full-year guidance for both net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. In the first quarter, net revenue decreased – 0.5% year-over-year excluding political, and -1.0% in total, meeting our guidance, and Adjusted EBITDA increased +6.2% year-over-year excluding political, and +3.5% in total, exceeding our guidance. In addition, net income declined $3.1 million year-over-year. Digital is and will continue to be Townsquare’s growth engine, and we believe Townsquare’s ability to drive profitable, sustainable digital growth is a key differentiator for our company, and consistent with our strategy of being a Digital First Local Media Company principally focused on markets outside the Top 50 in the U.S.”

Industry News

Saga Communications First Quarter Revenue Falls 4.3%

Saga Communications, Inc reports that net revenue decreased 4.3% to $24.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $25.3 million for the same period in 2024. Station operating expenseimg decreased 2.2% for the quarter to $22 million compared to the same period last year. Saga reports a net loss of $1.6 million for the quarter consistent with the same period last year. Looking ahead, the company says revenue pacing for the second quarter remains uncertain but is improving as the quarter progresses. For the second quarter Saga is currently pacing down mid-single digits. April was down high-single digits. May improved to being down low-single digits and June is approximately flat with the same period last year.

Industry News

Bowen to Lead Sales for Audacy Chicago

Audacy names Robby Bowen vice president and director of sales for its Chicago station group that includes WBBM Newsradio, sports talk “670 The Score” WSCR-AM, and several music brands.img Bowen was most recently VP and director of sales for the company’s New Orleans operations. Audacy Chicago SVP and market manager Kevin Cassidy states, “We look forward to welcoming Robby to Chicago. He is a consummate sales professional and will be an inspirational leader for a sales team that proudly represents six amazing brands plus the Bulls and the Cubs!”

Industry News

NPR, NYTimes Pods Remain Atop Podtrac Podcast Ranker

Podtrac releases its Top Podcasts chart for April 2025, based on U.S. unique monthly audience, and the top five shows remain unchanged from the March ranker. At #1 is NPR’s “NPR News Now,”img followed by The New York Times’ “The Daily” at #2, NPR’s “Up First” at #3, NBC News’ Dateline NBC at #4, and FOX Audio Network’s “FOX News Hourly Update” at #5. Other radio-centric podcasts of note include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Shawn Ryan Show” rising two spots to #6, and Silverloch’s “VINCE” falling 11 places to #18. See the full chart here.

Industry News

Tegna Launches “Austin & Birm” Show Under Shadow of Civil Lawsuit

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Tegna, operator of sports talk WBNS-FM, Columbus “97.1 The Fan” and WBNS-TV, announced the debut of the “Austin & Birm” show, a video podcast now available on both stations’ YouTube channels. The stars, Austin Ward (left) and Jeremy Birmingham (right), are accused in a civil suit of theft, breach of contract and unjust enrichment filed by former employer THE Media. Awful Announcing reports that two are accused of “skimming money from sponsorship and ad deals — funds that were exclusively intended to compensate Ohio State athletes’ appearances on ‘THE Podcast.’ The suit alleges the two even admitted in writing to pocketing a portion of those payments, with Birmingham specifically stating that after paying players, the leftover revenue was split between him, Ward, and an unnamed third party.” Read the Awful Announcing story here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories (5/7)

The most discussed stories yesterday (5/7) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:

1. Big, Beautiful Bill / Potential Medicaid Cuts
2. Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady / The Economy
3. Surgeon General Nomination Swap
4. Columbia Pro-Palestinian Protest
5. Tariffs / UK Trade Meeting

Industry News

Will Cain Live Podcast Recording Benefits DFW-Based Hounds & Heroes

FOX News Chanell and FOX Audio personality Will Cain is doing a live podcast recording from the performance space at Audacy’s KRLD-AM, Dallas “NewsRadio 1080 KRLD” tomorrow (5/8) that will benefit DFW-based non-profit Hounds & Heroes. Audacy VP of news/talk Drew Anderssen says,img “Hosting Will Cain in our performance space underscores the dynamic synergy between our broadcast platforms and live events. This special event will provide NewsRadio 1080 KRLD listeners with an engaging experience while championing a vital cause through our partnership with Hounds & Heroes. We’re proud to facilitate this connection between talent, audience, and community impact.” Cain comments, “I’m incredibly excited to host a live episode of ‘The Will Cain Show’ from the Audacy Dallas performance space. I never wanted a one-way relationship with the audience, so it’s perfect for the show to have an in-studio audience where I can hear from them and talk with Texans. I can’t wait!”

Industry News

Big Radio Names Josh Wescott AM Drive News Anchor

Wisconsin radio company Big Radio names Josh Wescott the morning drive news anchor for its stations in Monroe and Freeport, Wisconsin. Wescott is the former radio news director and morning host at iHeartMedia’s news/talk WIBA-AM, Madison.  Wescott comments, “Good journalism requires aimg lot of good listening and attention to what matters most to those in the communities they call home. Our news will talk about what people are talking about, be factual, and will ask the next question so people can reconnect with their local communities and schools in a way that journalism hasn’t consistently afforded in recent years.  Online and social media disinformation is steadily driving people back to how they used to find out what’s happening, and Big Radio is well-positioned to meet this moment and lead the re-emergence of local radio news in this region and beyond.” Big Radio – owned by father and son Scott and Ben Thompson – owns and operates 10 radio stations in the Monroe, Freeport, Janesville, and Beloit, Wisconsin markets.

Industry News

Beasley Broadcast Group Q1 Revenue Down 10.1%

Beasley Broadcast Group, parent company of Beasley Media Group, reports its operating results for the first quarter of 2025 and reveals net revenue of $48.9 million, a decline of 10.1% from the same period in 2024. The company reports a net loss for the quarter of $2.7 million compared to Q1 of 2024 in which it reported neither a loss nor income due to a $6 million gain on the sale of its BMIimg investment. Other notes from the first quarter include: Revenue from new business accounted for 18% of net revenue; Local revenue, including digital packages sold locally, accounted for 71% of net revenue; Digital revenue was comparable to the first quarter of 2024 but increased 6% year-over-year to $10.8 million, on a same-station basis; Digital revenue accounted for 22% of net revenue; and Digital segment operating margin was 18%. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley says, “Our first quarter results imgreflect the strength of our ongoing transformation and the resilience of our core strategy. While revenue was impacted by persistent macroeconomic headwinds, we mitigated this through disciplined cost management, operational streamlining, and continued momentum in our digital business, resulting in an Operating Loss of $2.0 million and year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA growth. Digital revenue now represents over 20% of total revenue, and the meaningful expansion in digital segment operating income underscores the scalability of our platform and the impact of our strategic investments. As we look ahead, we remain focused on unlocking margin expansion, accelerating our digital evolution, and driving long-term value for our stockholders through thoughtful execution and innovation. We are particularly encouraged by the continued growth in our high-margin digital offerings and the early success of new digital and content initiatives. With a more agile operating structure, a differentiated content portfolio, and deepened advertiser engagement, we believe Beasley is well-positioned to navigate short-term market challenges while building a more durable and diversified revenue base.”

Industry News

Civic Media Wins 38 WBA Awards

Civic Media, operator of 11 news/talk/sports stations (plus a number of music stations) around the state of Wisconsin, is winner of 38 awards from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association that wereimg given out at the recent 2025 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards Gala. Civic Media stations received 11 first place awards, 15 second place awards, and 12 third place awards. Civic Media CEO Sage Weil says, “I couldn’t be more proud of our team’s performance this year, and their ongoing dedication to serving our audiences around the state. We believe that local media plays a critical role in our communities, and it is always great to see the WBA recognizing the quality work being done around Wisconsin, both by Civic Media and the many other excellent organizations.”