Industry News

SiriusXM Sets DNC Schedule

Sirius XM
SiriusXM’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention will begin next Monday (8/19) at 7:00 am (ET) with Zerlina Maxwell’s “Mornings with Zerlina” on Progress (channel 127). Throughout the week she’ll interview politicians and experts, as well as provide her analysis of the previous night’s key moments. Another Progress host, Michelangelo Signorile, will walk throughout Chicago’s United Center, interviewing politicians; spokespeople; and experts. “Tell Me Everything” host John Fugelsang (9:00 am – 12:00 noon, ET) will anchor primetime coverage onsite. Meanwhile, SiriusXM POTUS (channel 124) hosts Steve Scully and Julie Mason will do their shows live from Chicago all week. Among others, Mason’s early confirmed guests include Colorado Senator Michael Bennet; Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell; Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley; and Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Weeknight political program “RealClearPolitics” (6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, ET) will broadcast live from the POTUS set on “Media Row” throughout the DNC. In addition to hosting their own shows, Scully and Mason will anchor special primetime coverage from inside the arena starting at 8:00 pm (ET), where they’ll provide analysis and also air the night’s big speeches.

Industry News

NPR Readies Democratic National Convention Plans

NPRNPR and participating member stations will begin coverage of the Democratic National Convention from Chicago next Monday and Tuesday (8/19, 8/20, 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm, ET). Scott Detrow’s recap of the day’s major events will feature insights from NPR correspondents, as well as interviews with newsmakers attending the convention. NPR’s coverage will continue Wednesday and Thursday (8/21, 8/22) beginning at 9:00 pm ET. NPR’s team of reporters in Chicago will include: Liz Baker, Martin Kaste, Sandhya Dirks, Don Gonyea, Tamara Keith, Asma Khalid, Deepa Shivaram, Mara Liasson, Deirdre Walsh, Danielle Kurtzleben, Franco Ordoñez, and Domenico Montanaro. Additional political reporting will be provided by: Sarah McCammon, Ashley Lopez, Elena Moore, Stephen Fowler, Ben Giles, and Ximena Bustillo. Coverage will include live reports from within the convention hall, expert analysis, and interviews with key figures. The “NPR Politics” team will release a podcast episode each night of the convention. NPR will have a reporter stationed outside the arena to capture public reactions and potential protests.

 

Industry News

“Law & Order” To Debut True Crime Podcast Series

Law and OrderA collaboration among iHeartPodcasts, Universal Television, and Wolf Entertainment, unscripted “Law & Order: Criminal Justice System” is scheduled to premiere next Thursday (8/22). It marks the first venture into investigative journalism for the “Law & Order” franchise. iHeartPodcasts president Will Pearson tells TALKERS, “Listener interest in true crime continues to flourish with new stories constantly being sought out across platforms. ‘Law & Order’ is a legendary series. It’s an honor to team up with UTV, Wolf Entertainment, and executive producer Elliot Wolf to develop this original slate of podcasts.” Wolf Entertainment’s EVP/digital Elliot Wolf is co-creator of the upcoming Amazon Prime series “On Call.” He comments, “We’re thrilled to join forces with iHeartPodcasts and UTV to bring the real stories that have shaped our criminal justice system, the bedrock of the ‘Law & Order’ brand, to life. The goal coming in was always to push the boundaries of audio storytelling. This series delivers on that while still being deeply informative and entertaining.” The series will consist of four seasons, each with 12 episodes. The first season will be hosted by former Brooklyn homicide prosecutor Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi and will focus on the American mafia in New York City during the late-1970s.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

ABC Audio has won three Edward R. Murrow Awards. In the “Continuing Coverage” category, it wins for “Start Here: Israel-Hamas War,” while “Reclaimed: The Forgotten League” takes honors for “Excellence in Writing.” In addition, “Start Here: On the Brink” is an award winner in the “News Documentary” category.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of August 12 – 16

Job Opportunity

WICC-AM/FM, Bridgeport Has Talk Show Host and News Reporter Openings

WICCConnoisseur Media Connecticut is looking for a talk show host for weekdays on WICC-AM/FM.  This position will work a four-hour live talk program to air Monday through Saturday.  The ideal candidate will be able to book guests, create compelling local content, field listener phone calls, and pivot subject matter as the local news cycle dictates.  The station also has an opening for a morning news reporter for weekdays. This position will work weekdays during the Melissa in the Morning Show.  The ideal candidate will be able to travel to Fairfield County locations and report live, collect and edit audio, post on social media, and deliver produced stories that can run throughout the day.

Please send your resume and three-minute demo to allan.lamberti@connoisseurct.com with “TALK SHOW HOST” or “MORNING NEWS REPORTER” in the subject line.

Industry News

New Leaders at Cumulus Podcast Network

Cumulus Media promotes Carolyn Chauncey to SVP, marketing and podcasting. In this new role, she’ll lead the Cumulus Podcast Network’s day-to-day operations, content acquisition, editorial, and production. She willim continue to direct corporate marketing for Cumulus Media, Westwood One, and the Cumulus Podcast Network. Since 2016, Chauncey has overseen ad sales solutions, creative services, and audience development for Westwood One. Other moves include Jason Soderberg being elevated to vice president, podcast operations and production in which he’ll be responsible for managing all audio and video production for the podcast network as well as platform relations and Megan Devine being promoted to vice president, podcast sales planning and yield optimization.

Industry News

Joe Rogan Experience Tops Edison’s Q2 Podcast Chart

Edison Research publishes its Top 50 Podcasts in the U.S. (based on reach for Q2 2024 from interviews ofim 5,206 weekly podcast consumers age 13 and older in the U.S.) and the top three remain unchanged from the Q1 2024 data: 1) “The Joe Rogan Experience”; 2) audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie”; and The New York Times’ “The Daily.” Other moves of note include Ramsey Network’s “The Ramsey Show” up one spot to #15; The DailyWire’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” sliding three places to #16; and “The Tucker Carlson Podcast” dropping from #24 to #33. See the complete chart here.

Industry News

NPR Shows Remain Atop Triton Digital’s July Podcast Ranker

There’s no movement among the top four podcasts in Triton Digital’s July 2024 U.S. Podcast Ranker (based on weekly average downloads for participating shows). They are: 1) NPR’s “NPR News Now”; 2) NPR’s “Upim First”; 3) NBCUniversal News Group’s “Dateline NBC”; and 4) audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie.” Moving up to the #5 rank in July was Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show.” Other moves of note include SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show” rising three places to the #10 rank; Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” up four spots to #14; and iHeartAudience Network’s “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” also up four places to the #19 rank. See the full ranker here.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Columnist Patt Morrison writes an interesting piece in the Los Angeles Times about radio call letters. Morrison writes, “This call letter business got codified in 1912, at a ‘radiotelegraph’ conference in London not long after RMS Titanic sank, so the power of wireless communication was very much on delegates’ minds.” This piece also includes images of vintage postcards showing historic radio broadcast studios. See the piece here.

WABC, New York is sending a news team and video crew to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. WABC owner John Catsimatidis says, “The public deserves to be informed on what both sides are saying and doing. We are committed to reporting the truth, so that listeners can make knowledgeable decisions. We were at the Republican National Convention last month, and we will be at the Democratic National Convention, as well.”

Industry News

Radio HoF Induction Event to Be Held in Nashville

The Museum of Broadcast Communications will host the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony atim the Omni Nashville on Thursday, September 19. The Radio Hall of Fame will recognize its 2024 class of inductees at the gala event to be held in Music City for the first time ever. A portion of ticket purchases for the event is a tax-deductible charitable donation to the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Find out more here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (8/14) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The presidential race; the economy; the U.S. migrant crisis; the Israel-Hamas war and the $20 billion U.S.-Israel weapons deal; the Russia-Ukraine war; Hunter Biden’s Burisma allegations; Columbia University president Minouche Shafik steps down; western wildfires & Tropical Storm Ernesto; and the mpox outbreak in Africa were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Industry News

WWO: AM/FM Ads Outperform Social Media Ads

In this week’s Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog post, a number of studies measuring attentiveness (defined as the degree to which those exposed to the advertising are focused on it)im reveal that AM/FM ads far outperform most social media ads. For example, the firm Adelaide found that for revery $1,000 spent on AM/FM ads it would require spending $2,635 on Facebook ads for the same amount of attentiveness. However, it also found that just $698 of YouTube ads would yield the same degree of attentiveness as $1,000 of AM/FM advertising. The blog post also addresses the myth that video ads are necessarily more effective than audio ads. See the full blog post here.

Industry News

Audacy Requests Extension for Debtor-in-Possession Loans

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas Houston Division approved Audacy’s prepackaged plan for reorganization under Chapter 11 on February 20 of this year. But the company isim awaiting the FCC’s blessing on the plan to complete reorganization and its Debtor-in-Possession credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of $32 million matures on August 19, 2024. (This DIP Facility allows Audacy to function during the reorganization period.) Audacy is asking the Court to extend the maturation date to September 30, 2024. Audacy stated in its second quarter 2024 financial report that it expects to receive FCC approval in the third quarter of this year.

Industry News

BFoA Teams with VHI for Voice Care Info

The Broadcasters Foundation of America is teaming up with Dr. Steven M. Zeitels from the patient nonprofit Voice Health Institute (VHI) to offer broadcast industry professionals information about laryngeal and voice care. VHI is a 501(C)3 charity, focused on helping individuals with laryngeal voice and airway care across the country. Dr. Zeitels is the professor of Laryngeal Surgery at Harvard Medical School and theim Director of Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation (MGH Voice Center). Dr. Zeitels says, “The Broadcasters Foundation has done amazing work over many years. I am impressed with their transparency and their commitment to providing aid to broadcast industry individuals in dire need. I am pleased that VHI will partner with the Foundation to help educate broadcasters throughout the US about voice problems they may be experiencing.” Through the efforts of Dr. Zeitels, Julie Andrews (the iconic actress who lost her singing voice) joined VHI at its incorporation as its Honorary Chairwoman. Dr. Zeitels is her current physician and surgeon. Since then, legendary vocalists Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Roger Daltrey of The Who, Lionel Richie, and Keith Urban as well as broadcasters such as Joe Buck and Dick Vitale have provided invaluable support to the VHI to forward its mission.

Industry News

“Money Pit” Host Publishes New Dummies Series Book

im

 Pictured above are “Money Pit Home Improvement Show” host Tom Kraeutler (right) and consultant Holland Cooke (left) as Kraeutler hand-delivers the first autographed copy of Home Maintenance For Dummies to the Block Island, Rhode Island homeowner and “Money Pit” consultant.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (8/13) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The presidential race; Iran allegedly hacks Trump campaign emails; the economy; the primary race involving U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar; the U.S. migrant crisis; Israel and U.S. prepare for Iran attack; Ukraine’s incursion into Russia; and Tropical Storm Ernesto gains strength were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Industry News

Union Comments on Audacy’s WCBS-AM, New York Decision

The radio industry was in shock yesterday after Audacy announced it will shut down the all-news format on New York’s legendary WCBS-AM and lease the signal to Good Karma Brands for its “ESPN New York” sports talk format. The Writers Guild of America East represents news staffers at the station, and it had theim following response to the company’s decision: “The Writers Guild of America East is devastated that Audacy, the second largest radio company in America, today announced that they are shutting down WCBS Newsradio 880, a trusted news source for New Yorkers since 1924. There were 23 WGA East members laid off by Audacy, and we expect the company to comply with the applicable provisions in our collective bargaining agreement, including guaranteed severance. Audacy is the owner of more than 200 radio stations in nearly 50 markets. The closure of WCBS Newsradio 880 is another example of consolidation by a major media conglomerate, which ultimately deprives the public of critical local news stories with different perspectives. Audacy’s decision is even more egregious given that this is a critical election year. This is a giant loss for New York City and the news industry at large.”

Industry News

Kate Stone Exits Bonneville’s KIRO-FM, Seattle

In a post on X, reporter and anchor Kate Stone announces that she is no longer with Bonneville’s news/talk KIRO-FM, Seattle. She states, “As many of you have probably ascertained, I am no longer at KIRO radio. Iim loved my time there, but circumstances change and it was time to move on. I’m deciding next steps, and took some time away to collect myself and reassess my priorities. I still love telling stories, and want to continue to do so. What form that takes is still to be decided. It may end up that I start giving a more pointed (read: opinionated) take on some news and issues than I was able to before. But I also cherish impartial reporting and fairness. It’s the backbone of what I’ve always done and strive to do. That’s why I have remained silent thus far. But I continue to read and listen to both sides of the issues critical to Washington. I remain committed and engaged, even if I don’t have the same platform to speak through.”

Industry News

Angela Reed Appointed to SVP Inside Sales Division at iHeartMedia

iHeartMedia names Angela Reed SVP, Inside Sales Division. The company notes that the Inside Sales Division is a team of nearly 100 full-time employees and over 75 account executives that offer iHeart’s suiteim of broadcast, events, digital and podcast products to advertisers across all markets. In this role, Reed will manage iHeartMedia’s largest individual sales team and create advertising opportunities for brands and iHeartMedia partners across the company’s array of platforms including radio broadcasting, digital, mobile, outdoor, live concerts and events and more. iHeartMedia president of multimarket partnerships Julie Donohue says, “We’re thrilled to welcome Angela and her extensive experience to iHeartMedia. We know she’ll make an immediate positive impact as SVP of our Inside Sales Division, a key role in keeping our company thriving and broadening our reach even further.” Reed most recently served as chief sales officer at Miradore, a purveyor of mobile device management software.

Industry News

Audacy Releases “The Power of Sports” Fandom Study

The study, conducted in partnership with Vision Insights, tells the story of sports fans’ loyalty to content and broadcast brands and that resulting impact that radio delivers for brands and advertisers, especially thoseim that partner with Audacy’s own sports talk stations. Some of the key takeaways from this study include: 1) Sports fans are 4x more likely to trust brands that support their teams; 2) Listeners are 4x more likely to catch a brand’s message on sports radio than on TV; 3) 73% of fans spend more time following their favorite teams on sports audio than sports-related digital media; and 4) Brands that advertise on Audacy sports stations enjoy a 40% lift in usage.  See more about the study here.

Industry News

iHeartMedia Debuts Iowa Sports Radio Network

iHeartMedia Iowa announces the debut of the Iowa Sports Radio Network that will broadcast statewide across five radio stations originating from flagship KXNO-FM, Des Moines. It will also air on KMNS-AM, Siouxim City; KOSY-FM, Cedar Rapids; KXIC-AM, Iowa City; and WFXN-AM, Quad Cities. The company says programming will highlight sports from University of Iowa, Iowa State University, various high schools and other local sports topics. The program lineup is: “The Morning Rush with Travis Justice and Ross Peterson” from 6:00 am to 8:00 am; FOX Sports Radio’s Dan Patrick from 8:00 am to 11:00 am; FSR’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon; “Miller and Condon” from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm; and “The Drive with Heather and Sean” from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Industry News

Report: Parkins to Leave “The Score” for FS1

According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, WSCR, Chicago sports talk host Danny Parkins will leaveim the Audacy station to become part of a new show on FS1. Parkins has worked alongside Matt Spiegel on the afternoon drive program for the past seven years. This summer, Parkins filled in for Colin Cowherd on the cable TV show The Herd and reportedly acquitted himself well. The FS1 show is scheduled to launch this fall. Parkins and Audacy have not commented publicly about the story.

Industry News

Beasley Names Lamar Smith Director of Corporate Engineering

Beasley Media Group announces that Lamar Smith is promoted to director of corporate engineering for the company. Smith has been with the company since 2011 and most recently served as vice president ofim engineering. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing all engineering activities across Beasley’s 57 radio properties throughout the United States. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “Lamar’s commitment, dedication and experience are exactly what we need as the organization continues to evolve and innovate into the future.” Smith, who will remain based in Charlotte, says, “Many thanks to Caroline and the Beasley family for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to being able to lead the engineering division as the company continues to evolve for years to come.”

Industry News

Former Albany Talk Host Melody Burns Dies at 65

The Albany Times-Union reports that former WGDJ, Albany talk host Melody Burns died last week at ageim 65 after a battle with cancer. Burns hosted a show on WGDJ from 2012 through 2014. After leaving her radio show, she became director of operations at Veterans Miracle Center, where veterans and military personnel could get new items they need at no cost. Read the Times-Union obituary here.

Industry News

Jimmy Malone Exits WTAM, Cleveland

Cleveland media personality Jimmy Malone has exited his radio show at iHeartMedia’s news/talk WTAM.im Malone – an unapologetic liberal on a station comprised of conservative talk hosts – anchored the 9:00 am to 10:00 am hour. He posted to X, “I’ll have more to say later, but after decades of loyalty to my company, they fired me after my show today and didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye to my listeners. I’m grateful for all of the support I’ve received for so long.” Malone was a longtime cast member on the “Lanigan & Webster Morning Show” on WMJI-FM, Cleveland. His program on WTAM debuted in April of 2022.