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Kagan: WGN-AM, Chicago Valued at $58.4 Million. Media analysis firm Kagan, now an offering of S&P Global Market Intelligence, issues a report on the volume of mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. broadcasting market during the second quarter of this year and concludes that Tribune Media’s news/talk WGN-AM, Chicago is worth $58.4 million. Tribune Media – the television stations and sole radio property – is being acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group and WGN-AM will become one of just four stations owned by the TV giant. The others are Seattle properties hot AC KPLZ, all-news KOMO-AM/FM, and news/talk KVI. The Kagan report focuses largely on television deals but also reports on Emmis’ sale of KPWR, Los Angeles and notes Saga Communications’ exiting the TV business with its sale of television assets to Morgan Murphy Media. See the report here.

Newsmax Granted White House Briefing Room Seat. The Boca Raton, Florida-based conservative news organization was one of three to be granted a designated, permanent seat in the White House briefing room by the White House Correspondents’ Association. Newsmax joins Westwood One and Britain’s The Daily Mail in gaining the coveted full seat that puts the organizations on equal footing with outlets such as the Washington Post, Fox News and MSNBC. Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “This is truly an honor to be selected by our journalistic peers for this privilege. It testifies to Newsmax’s strong news brand and our enormous reach.” Reuters staffer Jeff Mason serves as WHCA president and he says, “The board considered multiple criteria during this decision-making process, including regular briefing attendance and commitment to the White House beat. We did not want scarce real estate going unused. We also looked at news outlets’ audiences, both in terms of reach and in terms of preserving (or in some cases adding) diversity in the briefing room. We took stock of the changing landscape of our industry.”

Gilbert to Host Night Show on ‘Real Talk KGX’ in Palm Springs. Coachella Valley radio personality Marshall Gilbert is joining Desert Broadcasters’ news/talk KKGX, Palm Springs “Real Talk KGX” to host the nightly 7:00 – 9:00 program, beginning Monday (7/10). Gilbert has been a presence on the radio in the market for the past 23 years. Station GM Garry Wing comments, “He’s been an integral voice in talk radio in the desert for more than two decades and we’re delighted that he’s chosen to join KGX as we continue to build on the notion that talk radio can be entertaining, compelling and interesting, without the anger, yelling and fake outrage that has permeated the airwaves for years.” The station notes that Gilbert learned a lot about local politics from his mentor Sonny Bono, serving as his campaign manager, and later as a member of the Palm Springs Airport Commission.

TALKERS News Notes. Well-known talk radio consultant Walter Sabo has for some time been dabbling first hand in the on-air aspect of the business, hosting a Sunday evening talk program on CBS RADIO’s WPHT, Philadelphia as Walter Sterling. Now, Mr. Sterling will be testing the waters of nationally syndicated radio as he fills in for Westwood One’s Jim Bohannon next Monday and Tuesday (7/10-11)…..Sports media pro Rock Riley is now the afternoon drive host on Genesis Communications’ Florida spots talk duo WHBO, Tampa and WHOO, Orlando – collectively branded SportsTalkFlorida. Riley is a former Bright House sports television personality who was with the network for 18 years…..With its new relationship with Fishnet Syndication full steam ahead, Dave Graveline begins offering a daily, consumer tech tips feature to radio stations. It’s called, “Into Tomorrow Daily with Dave Graveline,” and the program launches on Monday (7/10). Graveline says, “We give an entertaining and informative glimpse about consumer tech in a short, 60-second vignette every weekday. It’s kind of a condensed version of our weekly, three-hour weekend show that’s been on the air for 22 years!”…..In the wake of the controversy surrounding CNN’s decision to seek out the creator of the Trump vs CNN wrestling video and allegations the news organization is blackmailing that person, the Melanie Morgan/Brian Maloney-operated Media Equality Project is demanding CNN terminate reporter Andrew Kaczynski. His “KFile” project is responsible for tracking down the creator of the video that President Trump tweeted. The Media Equality Project is encouraging supporters to contact CNN advertisers to let them know they won’t support their products until Kaczynski is gone.

TALKERS 2017 Convention Videos Continue Posting Today (7/6) with Norm Pattiz Podcasting Presentation. The entire agenda of the recent Talkers 2017: A New Era national talk media convention has been video recorded and its sessions are being posted to Talkers.com – one event per day. Already posted are the “Welcoming Remarks” by WMAL, Washington, DC afternoon drive host Larry O’ Connor (including an introduction by TalkersRadio GM David Bernstein); the special presentation “You HAVE Options” by consultant Holland Cooke (including an introduction by Yappy Days author Bernadette Duncan); the “Fireside Chat” between TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison and Premiere Networks/Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity (with introduction by Westwood One host Jim Bohannon); the “Fireside Chat” between TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian and WFAN, New York sports talk show host Mike Francesa (with introduction by Sabo Media CEO Walter Sabo) and the special presentation “The Trump Effect: Latest Research of Interest to News/Talk Radio” by Salem Radio Network SVP Phil Boyce (with introduction by Pioneer Valley Radio GM/host Brad Shepard). Posted today (7/6) is the special presentation “Podcasting and Local Radio” by PodcastOne excutive chairman Norm Pattiz (with introduction by Hubbard Radio SVP/programming Greg Strassell). Within the following days and weeks, every session will be posted and will remain on Talkers.com for the rest of the year. The Talkers 2017: A New Era video page is sponsored by Backbone Networks, Broadcasters General Store and Comrex Corp. To view the video page of Talkers 2017: A New Era, please click here.

NAB to Honor David Field with National Radio Award. At the Radio Luncheon at this year’s 2017 Radio Show in Austin on September 6, Entercom Communications president and CEO David Field will be presented with the National Radio Award. NAB executive vice president John David says, “David’s passion for radio and his business savvy have led Entercom to new heights. We look forward to recognizing him for his continuous dedication and significant contributions to the business.”

North Korea ICBM Test-Trump Warning, CNN-Trump Wrestling Video Blowback, NPR-Declaration of Independence Flap, Trump Antietam Donation, NYC Cop Slain, Trump Visits Poland, Violent Chicago Fourth Weekend, Wimbledon Matches, and MLB Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (7/5). North Korea’s successful test of an ICBM and President Donald Trump’s warning to the hermit kingdom; CNN faces blowback from critics accusing the news organization of blackmailing the Reddit user who originated the Trump-CNN wrestling video; the flap over NPR’s 4^th of July tweeting of the Declaration of Independence and numerous critics’ failure to recognize the document and calling it an incitement to violence against the president; President Trump donates his paycheck to restoration projects at Antietam battlefield; the high-profile slaying of a New York City policewoman; Trump’s visit to Poland prior to this week’s G20 Summit; the aftermath of Chicago’s violent 4^th of July weekend in which more than 100 were shot with 15 dead; the matches at the Wimbledon tournament; and Major League Baseball action were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Doug Gottlieb Coaches USA Team in 20^th World Maccabiah Games. Pictured above is FOX Sport Radio syndicated sports talk personality Doug Gottlieb (left) with the USA Open Men’s Basketball team competing at the 20th World Maccabiah Games from July 4-18 in Israel. Gottlieb is leading a team of twelve Jewish athletes, ages 18-35, at the games, which is the world’s third-largest international sporting event, with more than 9,000 total participants representing 75 countries. While there, Gottlieb is broadcasting his program live from Israel. He is a three-time alumnus of Maccabi USA, having represented the United States as a member of the Open Men’s Basketball Team at the 15th World Maccabiah Games in 1997, the Pan-American Maccabi Games in Mexico City in 1999, and the 16th World Maccabiah Games in 2001, winning bronze, gold and gold medals, respectively.

Former CNN Anchor Frank Sesno Guests on Harrison Podcast. Former CNN anchor, White House correspondent and Washington, DC bureau chief Frank Sesno joins host Michael Harrison as this week’s guest on the award-winning PodcastOne series “Up Close and Far Out.” Sesno is currently the director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University. He’s written a new book, Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change (Amacom, 2017) in which he dissects the art and importance of asking the right questions as a journalist and in everyday life. Harrison and Sesno discuss the techniques of good interviewing plus the current relationship between the White House press corps and the Donald Trump administration, as well as the profound effects that social media and digital technology are having on society. To listen to the entire podcast, please click here or click on the “Up Close and Far Out” player box located in the right-hand column on every page of Talkers.com.

Music Radio News and Career Moves. A new urban format officially launches on low-power FM KTGP, St. Louis as “Mix 99.5.” According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the station is being run by SVP and operations manager Lou Thimes, Jr and features a number of well-known St. Louis radio personalities, including: Jim Gates, Niecy Davis, Tossin’ Ted, Nappy DJ Needles, Calvin King, Edie B, DJ VuDu, and Darrel “EZ” Eason. Music runs the gamut from mostly classic R&B to specialty shows including gospel music, blues, jazz, old-school hip-hop and talk…..Air personality “Hot Rod” Thompson joins Entravision’s country KNTY, Sacramento “101.9 The Wolf” to host the afternoon program. Thompson was most recently at Townsquare Media’s country KCTR, Billings, Montana “Cat Country 102.9.”

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

TALKERS | February 21, 2017

Mary Walter Joins WMAL-AM/FM, Washington’s ‘Mornings On The Mall.’ Radio pro Mary Walter is named the co-host of the “Mornings On The Mall” program on Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-AM/FM, Washington. Walter is working with co-host Brian Wilson. She takes over for Larry O’Connor, who recently moved to the afternoon drive daypart. Walter was most recently with iHeartMedia’s WHAS, Louisville, hosting the evening program. She’s been a frequent guest host on WMAL in addition to guest host stints on FOX News Radio and SiriusXM’s The Patriot channel. WMAL program director Bill Hess comments, “Mary’s experience, energy, and familiarity to our audience made her the perfect addition to our team.”

WTMJ, Milwaukee Announces New Midday Show. The new midday show at E.W. Scripps’ WTMJ, Milwaukee is being unveiled. The station moved Jeff Wagner to the late morning slot that opened up with the retirement of Charlie Sykes at the end of last year. Now, taking over the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm slot is the “Scaffidi & Bilstad” show with Steve Scaffidi (center) and executive producer Erik Bilstad (left). Scaffidi was most recently mayor of suburban Oak Creek and an account executive at the Leonard & Finco Public Relations firm. He’s resigned from both posts to join WTMJ. Station VP/GM Tom Langmyer states, “We’re pleased to welcome Steve to our team. He brings a great depth of knowledge and local connection to add to his take on the news of the day. Steve is a Wisconsin native, has a deep background and so much life experience, beyond broadcasting.” News anchor and reporter Colleen Boland (right) will man the newsroom during the program. The show debuts on February 28.

ABC News Radio Makes Staffing Changes; Gearing Towards Covering Breaking News. An ABC News Radio spokesperson tells TALKERS magazine that the news organization is making staffing changes that signal a shift from putting its primary resources into newscasts and focusing more intently on the coverage of breaking news, “reflecting immediacy and producing additional program content” for their approximately 1,575 affiliates. ABC News Radio says it has parted ways with a handful of employees but is in the process of hiring for a number of positions that will exceed those eliminated. Those include: Affiliate Solutions Manager, Associate Producer, Country Reporter/Producer, Urban Reporter/Producer, and WGA Newswriter/Producer. An ABC News Radio spokesperson tells TALKERS, “These changes allow ABC News Radio to provide more two-ways, breaking news and anchored coverage which have become more important to stations. It is never easy when fellow employees leave and we wish the very best to these colleagues. The media landscape is always evolving and it’s critical we’re meeting stations’ needs every step of the way.”

Erik Kuselias to Host Daily Talk Show on Genesis Communications Florida Talk Stations. Known primarily for his work in the sports media business, Erik Kuselias is expanding his reach in Florida by hosting a daily, two-hour talk show on Genesis Communications-owned news/talk outlets WWBA, Tampa and WIXC, Titusville (on the Space Coast). Kuselias – a former ESPN and NBC Sports personality – currently hosts a morning drive sports talk show on the company’s sports talk duo WHBO, Tampa and WHOO, Orlando. He’s continuing in that role in addition to the new program that airs from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. WWBA program manager Tom Paleveda states, “This is a natural progression for EK. We launched EK on the sports stations in both Tampa and Orlando last year. He is incredibly talented and will produce one of talk radio’s best programs. He will also continue to provide his brand of content on the company digital platforms, ‘News Talk Florida’ and ‘Sports Talk Florida.’”

Bubba the Love Sponge Files New Counterclaim Against Nielsen. The first time Bubba the Love Sponge filed a counterclaim against Nielsen, the court denied the motion ruling that it was difficult to discern the relevant facts due to the heavily redacted documents supplied by plaintiff Nielsen. That counterclaim included third parties Cox Media Group and CMG employee (and WHPT, Tampa personality) Mike Calta. But the denial was without prejudice, allowing Bubba’s lawyers to try again. And he has, this time leaving Cox and Calta out of the counterclaim. The counterclaim still alleges Nielsen entered into a conspiracy with Cox Media Group to get Bubba off the air in Tampa and interfere with his ability to do business with Beasley Media Group (owner of Tampa affiliate WBRN). The specific counterclaims are: Tortious Interference with Contractual and Business Relationships, Violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and Civil Conspiracy.

KFYO, Lubbock, Texas Names Dave King & Matt Martin Morning Hosts. Friday (2/17) was the last day for the “First News with Tom Collins and Laura Mac” on Townsquare Media’s news/talk KFYO, Lubbock, Texas. Assuming the morning show role are Dave King (right) and Matt Martin (left). The station says, “Both Dave and Matt are easy going, view the world from a conservative viewpoint, and want to interact with KFYO listeners. King is owner of Dave King Advertising in Lubbock. Matt Martin is a realtor with The Wyatt Team at Keller Williams.

Neuhoff Ups Byerly to DOS and Associate GM for Decatur Station Group. Moving up from her general sales manager position at Neuhoff Communications’ Decatur, Illinois cluster is Kathy Byerly. She’s now director of sales and associate general manager for the group that includes news/talk WSOY, sports talk WDZ, hip hop WCZQ “HOT 105.5,” CHR WSOY-FM “Y103,” and country WDZQ “95Q.” Neuhoff COO Mike Hulvey states, “Kathy is a wonderful success story. She has grown a career from the front desk to market leadership. You can’t get much better than that. The group of Decatur stations and digital products are not only the market leaders, they also have been recognized among the best in the industry. Kathy will help support those traditions while driving more business to our advertising partners.”

Hanging Out at the Club. Nationally syndicated Westwood One talk host Michael Savage and his son, Rockstar energy drink founder Russ Weiner, crossed paths with President Donald Trump at the chief executive’s famous Palm Beach, Florida private club, Mar-a-Lago, this weekend. They were attending a dinner hosted by Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy when the president stopped by to say hello. Pictured (l-r): Ruddy, Trump, Savage, and Weiner.

Limbaugh-Touted Book Debuts at #6 on NYT Bestseller List. The latest book by conservative writer David Horowitz – Big Agenda: President Trump’s Plan to Save America – debuted on the New York Times Bestseller list at #6 in the hardcover nonfiction books and e-book/hardcover nonfiction categories. Newsmax reports that the book was released the week of President Trump’s inauguration and is being praised by Rush Limbaugh, among other conservative media figures, for its predictions about Trump’s agenda. Horowitz is founder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center.

New Trump Travel Order, McMaster Named National Security Advisor, Trump’s Sweden Comment, McCain vs Trump, UK’s Anti-Trump Debate, Uber Sexual Harassment Scandal, Yiannopoulos Controversies, and NBA-NHL Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (2/20). The Trump Administration issues new travel order exempting green card holders; President Donald Trump names Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster national security advisor; the controversy over Trump’s allusion to crime in Sweden and filmmaker Ami Horowitz’s allegations that violent crime there has spiked due to immigrants; Republican Senator John McCain’s role as a major critic of Trump’s policies; the British House of Commons debates denying President Trump’s state visit; the allegations of sexual harassment at Uber’s corporate headquarters and the company’s hiring former AG Eric Holder to investigate; the controversies surrounding media figure Milo Yiannopoulos, including his being uninvited to CPAC and Simon and Schuster refusing to release his book; and NBA and NHL action were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

TALKERS News Notes. Phoenix market broadcast legend Pat McMahon is being roasted on March 15 at local comedy club Stand Up Live in an event being organized by Bonneville news/talk outlet KTAR-FM. The “Tip of the Hat to Pat” roast is being hosted by KNIX personality Tim Hattrick and will feature rock legend Alice Cooper, as well as local celebrities Jude LaCava from Fox 10, John Holmberg from KUPD, authors Jana Bommersbach and Rita Davenport and former ADL director Bill Straus. McMahon says, “I’m feeling both honored and terrified at the prospect of this event. But you can be sure that I’ll be able to dish it out, just as well as I can take it.”…..New York Mets flagship station WOR, New York announces it will air play-by-play for 15 spring training games, beginning on February 24 when the Mets take on the Boston Red Sox…..The New York Times recently published a feature story about Premiere Networks host George Noory. In the piece, the “Coast to Coast AM” host discusses how “Coast to Coast AM” has evolved over the years, his open approach to stories and topics, and his relationship with his audience. Read the story here.

Music Radio News and Career Moves. At the Atlanta cluster of Cox Media Group, Jaleigh Long is promoted to director of sales. She moves up from her general sales manager role. She’ll oversee the sales efforts for news/talk WSB-AM/WSBB-FM, CHR WSB-FM “B98.5,” classic hits WSRV “97.1 The River,” urban contemporary WALR “Kiss 104.1 FM,” and country simulcast WNGC/WTSH “Your Georgia Country.”…..At Mid-West Family Broadcasting’s rock WXRX, Rockford, Illinois “104.9 The X,” Zander – who’s been morning host and PD since joining the station in August of last year – moves to the afternoon drive slot. At the same time, Lori joins the station from crosstown competitor WKGL “96.7 The Eagle.”…..In the Lexington, Kentucky market, iHeartMedia drops sports talk on the simulcast of WWTF-AM and translator W239DJ at 97.7 FM and flips it to rock as “WTF 97.7 Lexington’s Rock Alternative.” Air personalities include Aly, Big Rig, Audrey, and Shroom…..Binnie Media says good bye to classic music on its WBQX, Thomaston, Maine and translator W245AA, Portland at 96.9 FM. WBQX takes on the classic hits format “FRANK FM” while the translator is simulcasting country station WTHT, Auburn “99.9 The Wolf.”

iHeartRadio Music Awards Announces Best New Artist Nominees. When the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards take place on Sunday, March 5 at the Forum in Los Angeles, one of the awards to be given will be the Best New Artist. The ultimate winner will be chosen by fans from all categories of popular music. The first step was naming the nominees in each category. Now, the finalists have been named. They are: Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist: The Strumbellas; Best New Country Artist: Kelsea Ballerini; Best New Hip-Hop Artist: Chance the Rapper; Best New Latin Artist: CNCO; Best New Regional Mexican Artist: Joss Favela; Best New Pop Artist: The Chainsmokers; and Best New R&B Artist: Bryson Tiller. The awards show will be televised live on TBS, TNT and truTV at 8:00 pm ET and simulcast on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide, as well as on iHeartRadio.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

TALKERS | January 5, 2017

Emmis Communications Reports 2016 Fiscal Q3 Numbers; Radio Segment Basically Flat. For the company as a whole – which includes radio, publishing and emerging technologies – net revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same period a year ago. But publishing took the big hit. Emmis Communications’ radio segment was basically flat – down 0.4%. For the first nine months of the company’s fiscal year (March-November), the radio segment was down 1.2%. In its filing with the SEC, the company explains, “For the nine-month period ended November 30, 2016, our performance exceeded the market average [as per Miller Kaplan data] in St. Louis, but we lagged the market average in New York, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Austin…Our weak performance in Los Angeles mostly related to a format competitor that began directly competing against our station there in February 2015. The revenue impact has been most pronounced since the fall of 2015. Emmis expects net revenues in Los Angeles will be up slightly from prior year for the three-month period ended February 28, 2017.” Emmis chairman and CEO Jeff Smulyan states, “Emmis Radio is not accustomed to underperforming its markets. I was disappointed in our performance, but remain hopeful that recent ratings gains in Los Angeles and Austin, coupled with continued stellar performance in St. Louis, will lead to better performance in fiscal 2018. The general sluggishness in the radio industry makes the need for NextRadio all the more important. NextRadio, the smartphone app that provides free, portable FM radio listening, recently surpassed 10 million downloads and 25 million listening hours. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are now FM-enabled across all major wireless carriers in the United States and we reached an agreement with Sprint that keeps NextRadio preloaded on their Android devices. If NextRadio succeeds, as I believe it will, it will help solve major challenges for every radio station, including ours: establishing a one-to-one relationship with our listeners, regaining our portability, and making us relevant to a generation that thinks terrestrial radio is uncool. NextRadio gives us new, interactive revenue opportunities with current and potential advertisers – and it takes the compelling content created every day and provides a new platform for it.”

WABC, New York Expands ‘Bernie and Sid’ Show. New York City news/talker 77 WABC Radio officially announces the expansion of the late morning “Bernie and Sid Show” by an hour – now airing from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Both Bernard McGuirk (right) and Sid Rosenberg (left) continue their roles on Cumulus Media’s WABC-based “Imus in the Morning” program – McGuirk as sidekick and Rosenberg as sports anchor. It was a year ago that WABC launched the “Bernie and Sid” show that the station describes as delivering the duo’s “passionate conversation about the biggest topics in New York and across the nation” featuring “incredible guests and interaction with great New York listeners.” WABC program director Craig Schwalb comments, “Bernie and Sid came out of the chute strong and haven’t slowed down. We are thrilled to add more time to this great show.”

FNC Moves Tucker Carlson into Megyn Kelly’s Slot. With Fox News Channel star Megyn Kelly now moving to NBC News, the cable news outlet announces that Tucker Carlson will move to the 9:00 pm ET slot held by Kelly. Carlson launched a 7:00 pm ET show on FNC in November and Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch says, “In less than two months, Tucker has taken cable news by storm with his spirited interviews and consistently strong performance. Viewers have overwhelmingly responded to the show and we look forward to him being a part of Fox News’ powerful primetime lineup.” Taking over Carlson’s 7:00 pm ET slot is longtime FNC anchor Martha MacCallum.

Stan Hubbard, Nina Totenberg, and Steve Jones Honored with RTDNA First Amendment Awards. The 2017 First Amendment Awards honorees have been named by the Radio Television Digital News Association. There are five awards that will be presented at a ceremony at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC on Tuesday, March 14. Hubbard Broadcasting CEO, president and chairman Stan Hubbard will receive the First Amendment Leadership Award. NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg will receive the RTDNF Lifetime Achievement Award. ABC News Radio VP and general manager Steve Jones will receive the First Amendment Service Award. Bloomberg Politics co-managing editors Mark Halperin and John Heilemann will receive the First Amendment Award. And, CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker will receive the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award. RTDNF chair Kathy Walker comments, “At a time when freedom of the press is facing unprecedented challenges, our honorees stand up for values that are critically important to democracy.”

2017 Consumer Electronics Show. “It’s getting hard to find a computer here.” Media consultant Holland Cooke reports, from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. In today’s report, read how one popular Christmas present is both a radio friend and foe. Click here for more.

Russian Hacking Allegations, Future of ObamaCare, Chicago Torture Case, WaPo Fake News Incident, Trump vs Ford and GM, Obama Lame Duck Actions, and NFL Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (1/4). The debate over whether Russia was involved in the hacking of DNC emails and President-Elect Donald Trump’s backing of Julian Assange’s assertion it wasn’t versus the CIA’s belief it was; the Trump Administration’s intention to repeal the Affordable Care Act; the case of a man with special needs tortured live on Facebook in Chicago; criticism of the Washington Post’s incorrect reporting of the Russian hacking of the U.S. electrical grid via a Vermont utility; Donald Trump’s challenges to automakers Ford and General Motors to not move American jobs to Mexico; the actions being taken by President Obama to preserve his administration’s legislation; and the NFL playoffs were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Odds & Sods. In the Orlando market, iHeartMedia announces that talk WTKS-FM “Real Radio 104.1” program director Jack Bradshaw is now also overseeing the programming at sports talk W245CL “96.9 The Game.”…..Sports talk radio programmer Jason Barrett – president of Barrett Sports Media – reports he’s entering the podcasting space with a new, weekly show that will “give media professionals and sports radio and television fans a deeper look into the careers, strategies, and experiences of the industry’s best personalities, contributors, programmers, and executives.” Barrett’s first episode hits the “air” on February 8…..Pubcaster WBUR, Boston – the market’s NPR affiliate is inviting public radio journalists, age 35 and under, to submit entries for the annual Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize. Eligible works will have been broadcast or published between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. The $5,000 Schorr Prize – sponsored by WBUR and Boston University, and funded by Jim and Nancy Bildner – recognizes a rising star in public radio and seeks to inspire a new generation of journalists to stretch the boundaries of the medium.

Entercom Splits WAAF, Boston Simulcast; Launches Urban ‘The New 97.7.’ For years, Entercom has been simulcasting rock outlet WAAF (licensed to suburban Westborough) on the 107.3 frequency and on WKAF (licensed to south suburban Brockton) on the 97.7 frequency. Now, the company splits that and launches an urban outlet on WKAF branded “The New 97.7, Boston’s #1 For R&B.” Entercom says for WAAF the simulcast “delivered little appreciable audience beyond the primary station’s booming signal.” Programming the new urban outlet is Chris Malone, who arrives from Cumulus Media’s WRBO and WKIM in Memphis. The station is being consulted by Jay Dixon, KBLX/KRBQ, San Francisco director of programming and operations Elroy Smith, and Sean Ross, VP of music and programming for Edison Research. Entercom New England VP/market manager Phil Zachary says, “Boston has a higher concentration of African-American consumers than San Francisco or Los Angeles, but no rated urban signals. The prospect of reaching almost 8% of the population with one radio station in a top 10 market is almost inconceivable in 2017.”

CBS RADIO Flips WZMP, Philly to AC as ‘Today’s 96.5.’ The former CHR outlet drops the hit intensive “96.5 AMP’ brand and re-positions WZMP as a workplace-friendly adult contemporary as “Today’s 96.5.” Bobby Smith is serving as the station’s program director. He states, “This is a station that will make you forget that you’re still at work, with one great song after another, while delivering on the promise of having fewer interruptions so you can always look forward to hearing another great song.”

iHeartMedia Orlando Promotes Brian Mack and Dwight Ricketts. At the Orlando cluster of iHeartMedia, Brian Mack is being named the new program director for adult contemporary WMGF “Magic 107.7.” In addition, Mack will become the vice president of branding for the cluster. This is a newly created role in which he’ll oversee the marketing strategy for the company’s nine radio stations. He will also continue to serve as the program director for CHR WXXL “XL 106.7.” At the same time, “104.5 The Beat” afternoon personality Dwight “D-Strong” Ricketts is named PD for the hip hop outlet heard on translator W283AN (licensed to Altamonte Springs).

Matt Cord Moves to Mornings at WBEN, Philadelphia. Making the move from rock to adult hits is Matt Cord, who is partnered up with Kristen Herrmann for the morning drive show on Beasley Media’s WBEN-FM, Philadelphia. Cord was most recently evening personality on the company’s sister rock outlet WMMR. Cord says, “Coming from WMMR, I know how important and powerful morning radio can be. Moving to mornings on BEN FM is a great opportunity for me to stay with Beasley Media Group and offer another great option for Philly morning radio listeners. I’m thrilled to work with Kristen, too. She’s super talented. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

More Music Radio News and Career Moves. In the Denver market, Kroenke Sports Entertainment names Bo Jaxon program director and morning personality (alongside Jenny D) at its country KWOF “92.5 The Wolf.” Jaxon, who takes over for Ed Hill, continues his role as program director for the company’s hot AC KIMN “MIX 100.”…..In San Francisco, KFOG morning host Matt Pinfield announces he’s taking some time off from duties at the Cumulus Media triple A station to deal with his alcohol abuse issues…..Rick Daniels is named the brand manager at Leighton Broadcasting’s country KYCK, Grand Forks, North Dakota. He replaces Brandon Young…..At Impact Radio Group in Boise, Curtis Booker moves up from APD and afternoon personality to program director for hot AC KZMG “My 102.7.”

PPM Analysis: CHR. Managing editor Mike Kinosian presents this analysis of the performances of CHR-formatted stations based on data from the December 2016 PPM survey from Nielsen Audio. Find out which stations saw the biggest (6+) increases from November to December and from December 2015 to December 2016. Also, five CHR outlets ranked #1 in their respective markets (6+) in December. Find out which ones, and more, here.

Friday, December 16, 2016

TALKERS | December 16, 2016

Hubbard Radio Phoenix Names Karis VP/Sales. It marks a return to the day-to-day radio business for Susan Karis, who is appointed vice president of sales for Hubbard Radio Phoenix. She has spent the last nearly four years as group publisher of Cities West Publications and will begin her new duties in several weeks. Hubbard Radio Phoenix market manager Trip Reeb comments, “Having someone of Susan’s stature and background join our cluster and company is an incredible opportunity.” Karis remarks, “Every once in a while, an opportunity comes along that you just know is right – joining Hubbard Radio Phoenix is one of them. I am excited to come back to radio with Trip and his team, and to become part of Hubbard Radio.” For seven years, Karis was Phoenix-based executive vice president of operations for iHeartMedia (Clear Channel); one year as senior vice president of operations; and six years as market manager/director of sales. Prior to that, the Arizona State University grad logged 13 years (1985 – 1998) as general sales manager for Nationwide Communications. Karis replaces Jeff England, who became market manager of Hubbard’s stations in Chicago. The Hubbard Radio Phoenix cluster consists of classic rock KLSX (6.0, #2, 6+, Nielsen Audio PPM, November 2016); KUPD “Arizona’s Real Rock” (5.1, #3, 6+); KDKB “93.3 Arizona’s Alternative” (2.4, #19, 6+); KAZG “Oldies 1440 & 92.7” (1.2, #26, 6+); and KDUS “AM 1060 NBC Sports Radio” (.1, #32, 6+). The market leader is iHeartMedia adult contemporary KESZ (6.3, 6+).

Johnston Joins Beasley Las Vegas As GSM. After five months as senior account executive at crosstown Cox Business, Karolyn Johnston is appointed general sales manager of Beasley Media Group’s five-station Las Vegas cluster. Beasley Las Vegas director of sales Mark Sturcken states that years ago, he “had the pleasure working alongside Karolyn. Her energy, enthusiasm, relationships in the Las Vegas market, knowledge and passion for our business are second to none. With more than two decades of media experience, Karolyn brings tremendous value to our leadership team.” According to Johnston, she is “so happy to be on board. There are great things on deck for us [owing to] Beasley Media Group’s reputation in Las Vegas, along with the smart, seasoned roster of media professionals that make up this group. I simply could not be more delighted to be a part of this team as we move into the new year.” Johnston previously was integrated marketing specialist at iHeartMedia Las Vegas; account executive for Cumulus Media Atlanta; senior account manager for Atlanta’s WQXI-AM “The Zone”; and an account executive for Seattle’s KIRO-TV. From November 2002 to March 2009, she was an account executive at Cox Media Group Las Vegas. With their November 2016 Nielsen Audio PPM (6+) average quarter hour share and market rank in parentheses, Beasley Las Vegas consists of classic hits-oldies KKLZ (7.2, #1); urban-rhythmic oldies KOAS “Old School 105.7” (4.8, #4); country KCYE “The Coyote” (2.5, #15); hot AC KVGS “Star 107.9” (2.3, #19); and talk KDWN (1.1, #24).

Figueredo Named WOKV Director/B&P. Most recently assistant director of branding and programming for Cox Media Group Orlando talker WDBO-FM, Nick Figueredo transfers to similarly-programmed Jacksonville sibling WOKV as director of branding and programming. Cox Media Group Jacksonville director of radio operations Todd Shannon remarks, “After working closely with Nick over the past three months as we interviewed for the position, it became very apparent that he has the passion, vision, and leadership to take WOKV to even greater ratings success.” Figueredo – who has worked for the company’s Orlando cluster the past seven years – notes, “I am very excited and thankful for this amazing opportunity. From the day I was hired at WDBO-FM, I knew my future was with Cox Media Group. I am now taking the next step in my career.” Powered by a hefty October 2016 – November 2016 gain of +1.7 (7.2 – 8.9, 6+), WOKV finishes first in Nielsen Audio’s November 2016 Jacksonville PPM report.

Mason to Mark KEX Homecoming. After leaving KEX, Portland three years ago, Mark Mason will return to the iHeartMedia talk facility for a daily three-hour air-shift beginning next month (1/23). Along with the late Dave Anderson, Mason co-hosted “The Mark & Dave Show” on KEX. He notes that Anderson’s passing and his own health issues involving a blood clot in his leg changed his perspective on life. “It has been such a tumultuous ride that when I found myself able to breathe again, I felt an overwhelming need to take control of my life again,” he writes. “My decision to come back home to KEX was part of it.” Most recently, the public-address announcer for the NBA’s Portland Trailblazers was an on-air talent at crosstown Pamplin’s KPAM-AM. Just over three weeks ago (11/23), Michael Castner departed KEX to begin a podcast. Among persons 6+ in the November 2016 Nielsen Audio PPM, KEX finishes in a four-way tie at #17 (2.1), while Alpha Media talker KXL-FM is at #6 (4.9, 6+). KEX adult contemporary sibling KKCW “K-103” and public KOPB are tied for the lead (7.7, 6+).

Crowley Chosen As NSC Senior Director/Strategic Communications. Immediately rumored to be in line for a position in the Trump administration, former syndicated radio host Monica Crowley will be senior director of strategic communications for the National Security Council. “I am deeply honored, humbled, and grateful to be asked by the president-elect to join the extraordinary national security team he is assembling,” the Fox News Channel commentator and Washington Times columnist comments. “With vision, courage, and moral clarity, he is committed fully to re-establishing America’s singular place in the world. He is also committed to selecting the best people for the jobs of keeping the American people safe and the country secure. It will be a great privilege to serve with them.” Prior to her combined 10 years of doing syndicated talk radio for Westwood One and Talk Radio Network, Crowley spent four years as an on-air host in New York City on Cumulus Media talker WABC.

Pinto Promoted to BMG VP/Information Technology. Two-year Charlotte-based information technology director for Beasley Media Group – Nick Pinto – is bumped up to vice president of information technology. The company’s chief technology officer Mike Cooney comments, “Nick has proven himself over the past several years and he was invaluable during our recent Greater Media acquisition. Nick will be overseeing the capital budget for IT and supervising the IT managers in the local markets. His strong customer service skills made him the obvious choice for this new corporate position.” Pinto remarks, “I am honored to join our dedicated Beasley corporate team. I have always believed that working hard will you give you many rewards – this promotion is one of them. My thanks to Mike Cooney for his faith in my abilities and to market manager Bill Schoening for his constant support for more than a decade.” Pinto has been overseeing the IT infrastructure in Beasley Media Group’s Charlotte cluster since 2004.

Public WUSF Adds Colombini as Producer. Former WCBS-AM, New York City reporter Stephanie Colombini is named producer of “Florida Matters,” the public affairs show of University of South Florida-owned WUSF, Tampa. In addition, Colombini will contribute to state and local news coverage as part of the “Health News Florida” team. WUSF Public Media general manager JoAnn Urofsky states, “Stephanie will be a wonderful addition to our news team. She has a wide variety of skills, and I know she will play a major role in enhancing ‘Florida Matters’ and many other WUSF programs; we are fortunate to have her here.” New York native/Fordham University graduate Colombini comments, “It is a real honor to join such an esteemed group of journalists. I am excited to start covering news in the Sunshine State.” WUSF ranks tenth (4.1) among persons 6+ in Nielsen Audio’s November 2016 PPM report, while Cox Media Group adult contemporary WDUV “Lite Favorites” is the pacesetter with a 9.4 (6+).

Odds & Sods. Budget cutbacks at KNX result in the departure of three familiar voices. Exiting the CBS Radio Los Angeles all-news operation are mid-day anchor Linda Nunez, who had been with the station the past 26 years; sports director Steve Grad (23 years with KNX); and reporter Ed Mertz who transitioned to KNX in 2009 from former news cluster-mate KFWB where he had been since 2000 ….. Word out of the Windy City via reliable source RobertFeder.com is that after three years on Chicago’s WLS-AM, Westwood One’s Michael Savage will disappear from the Cumulus Media talker at the end of the year. WLS-AM had been delay-broadcasting Savage from 9:00 pm – 12:00 midnight ….. Ordinarily, an item about a forthcoming movie wouldn’t warrant much of our attention. In this case, however, it is he identity of the executive producer of “Let There Be Light,” a film about an atheist finding religion, that is noteworthy as it is none other than … Premiere Networks’ host and Fox News Channel talent Sean Hannity ….. In its sixth annual, 17-hour, December 1 “Pasta-thon,” iHeartMedia Los Angeles talker KFI raised over $320,000 and collected 90,000 pounds of food for “Caterina’s Club.” Throughout the KFI “Pasta-thon,” station personalities Bill Handel, Aron Bender, Jennifer Jones Lee, Gary Hoffman, Shannon Farren, John Kobylt, Ken Chiampou and Tim Conway Jr. were on-site, encouraging listeners to donate packaged pasta, jars of pasta sauce, and money to help feed underprivileged children. Everything gathered helps provide a balanced meal every night to more than 1,800 low-income children in over 15 cities in Los Angeles and Orange County ….. Earlier this month (12/3), Alpha Media talker WFTL, West Palm Beach helped to raise more than $40,000 as part of the city’s “Walk to Cure Arthritis.” Station on-air talent Rich Stevens comments, “My mom has been affected by this awful disease and I see the pain it causes her. Now that I have been involved, I know it has nothing to do with age. It can affect anyone at any age, which is why I wanted to be part of this great cause to help find a cure.” Arthritis Foundation development manager Lisa Roeberg remarks, “It was truly inspiring to see so many of our arthritis champions taking another step toward victory.” ….. When Townsquare Media-owned WPGG “Talk Radio 104.1,” Atlantic City (New Jersey) morning man Harry Hurley learned that 100 children who attend Pleasantville’s Christian Ministry Impact of God Church were not going to have Christmas this year, he thought “that was unacceptable” so, the “Hurley in the Morning Charity” is writing a cash grant for the church today (Friday, 12/16). Hurley tells TALKERS, “I have partnered with Atlantic County Toys for Kids program and, we have obtained 100 new children’s toys for the church. I am also going to help raise $500 more in cash donations on-air this morning.”

‘Tis The Season. Celebrating last night (Thursday, 12/15) at the Beasley Media Group Las Vegas Christmas party are Las Vegas-based GNC Network syndicated personality Dr. Daliah Wachs, MD, FAAFP; market general manager Tom Humm; and KDWN program director-news director-morning anchor John Shaffer.

Trump Transition/Cabinet Nominees Top News Talk Stories for Week of December 12-16. The transitioning of the Trump Administration and President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees were the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Talkers Ten^TM for this week. At #2 was the allegation the Russian government was responsible for hacking the DNC computers, tied with the CIA’s refusal to testify before congress on the matter. Coming in at #3 was Donald Trump’s meeting with Silicon Valley executives, followed by the Federal Reserve’s raising of interest rates and the record high Dow Jones industrial average at #4. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com View this week’s entire chart here.

Monday, December 12, 2016

TALKERS | December 12, 2016

‘Format Adjustment’ Pushes Bubba the Love Sponge from Beasley’s WBRN, Tampa. There’s not a lot to go on from the press release from Beasley Media Group issued this morning. It simply says that, due to a “format adjustment” on rock/talk hybrid WBRN, Tampa “No Rules Rock,” the Bubba the Love Sponge show is no longer being carried by Beasley in the Tampa market. As for Fort Myers, Beasley says, “Beasley looks forward to continuing its relationship with Bubba and The Bubba the Love Sponge show on WRXK, Ft. Myers ’96K-ROCK.’” WBRN is currently airing Christmas music with a new format to launch on 12/26. The signal was formerly WHFS-FM and aired a sports talk format when CBS RADIO owned it. After Beasley’s acquisition of the signal, the station became WBRN – “Bubba Radio Network” – in February of 2015 airing a hybrid of Bubba’s show and hard rock. Later in 2015, the station rebranded as “No Rules Rock” after Bubba was found to have been involved in a PPM survey tampering incident.

iHeartMedia Programmer Chris Kampmeier to Retire; Rick Everett Named New RVP of Programming. Regional vice president of programming Chris Kampmeier is retiring from iHeartMedia’s North Florida Region at the end of the year and rock WJRR and sports talk WYGM-AM, Orlando PD Rick Everett will assume the RVP role. In addition to WJRR and WYGM, iHeartMedia also operates talk WTKS “Real Radio 104.1,” CHR WXXL “XL 106.7,” Spanish music WRUM “Rumba 100.3,” news/talk WFLF, hip hop WTKS-HD “104.5 The Beat,” and adult contemporary WMGF “Magic 107.7.” Speaking about his retirement, Kampmeier says, “Going out on my own terms and on top is a good thing! My partnership with our amazing executive team has been deeply satisfying and I am grateful for their support over the years. My biggest honor has been to serve alongside the programmers and air talent and the wondrous creativity they bring every day. I am proud to have been a radio man for the last 47 years and am excited for the long term future of our industry.” Rick Everett says he’s grateful for this new opportunity. “I want to thank [North Florida Region president] Linda Byrd and [EVP of programming] Gene Romano for this incredible opportunity and I’m especially grateful to Chris for his mentorship over the last 19 years, which helped make this opportunity possible. I look forward to working with the North Florida Region to continue its track record of success, and bring our radio station brands to new heights!”

KRDO-FM, Colorado Springs Newsman Paul Richards Dead at 55. Colorado Springs radio pro Paul Richards, a.k.a. Paul Mundt, was found dead in his home yesterday (12/11) at the age of 55. Richards worked at several market stations during his career, including for the last four years as news director at Pikes Peak Television-owned news/talk KRDO-FM. Station general manager Tim Larson comments, “All of us here at KRDO are saddened by Paul’s passing. He was always upbeat and a true professional. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children. He will be greatly missed.” Richards leaves behind a wife and five children.

Herskovitz: It’s All in the Sell. Radio sales maven Al Herskovitz writes today about one of the hardest job to fill in radio: that of the sales pro. He says that sometimes a potential successful account executive is right under one’s nose. He asks, “Where do you find such people? Sometimes within your own operation….an on-the-air person who will never become the next Sean Hannity. Or in businesses where you shop regularly and the salesperson offers suggestions of other items to buy.” Read more here.

Trump Cabinet Nominations, U.S.-China Relations, Biden in 2020?, Russia’s U.S. Election Influencing Allegations, Islamic State Retaking Palmyra, the Soaring Dow, and Sunday’s NFL Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The chatter over President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees; the tenuous relations between China and the Trump Administration over Trump’s call to the president of Taiwan; speculation over Vice President Joe Biden’s potential run for president in 2020; controversy over allegations Russia was involved in propelling Donald Trump to the presidency via “fake news” stories; Islamic State’s move to retake the historic city of Palmyra; the Dow Jones industrial average’s record high; and Sunday’s NFL contests were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Report: Susan Olsen Out at LA Talk Radio. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, former “Brady Bunch” actress and Los Angeles radio personality Susan Olsen is no longer co-hosting “Two Chicks Talkin’ Politics” on the online LA Talk Radio platform. The story indicates that a social media kerfuffle between Olsen and actor Leon Acord-Whiting devolved into Olsen using derogatory terms for homosexuals aimed at Acord-Whiting. LA Talk Radio was founded in 2008 by Sam Hasson.

Friday, November 18, 2016

TALKERS | November 18, 2016

WBAP, Dallas to Donate JFK Assassination Recordings to Sixth Floor Museum. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 was chronicled locally by WBAP, Dallas. Now, the Cumulus Media news/talk station announces it is going to donate 21 original recordings of the events and coverage on WBAP leading up to, including and following the assassination to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. WBAP says these original “day-of” recordings are key materials documenting how this historic news event was reported to local audiences in 1963. Museum executive director Nicola Longford says, “The Museum is committed to preserving not only artifacts and documentation about the assassination itself, but also about the cultural legacy of that pivotal event in history. We are especially excited for this generous donation because it shows the vivid local perspective of this tragic day.” The donation project was spearheaded by WBAP operations manager Tyler Cox, who says the recordings will be officially transferred to the Museum on Monday, November 21 at 10:30 am. “The preservation of these original recordings has long been a goal of ours at WBAP. The Sixth Floor Museum is the logical place for this audio glimpse of life in Dallas/Fort Worth on this fateful day to be preserved, and we’re pleased to make this donation to the Museum.”

The Class of 2016. Last night in Chicago, the National Radio Hall of Fame class of 2016 was inducted in a ceremony at the Museum of Broadcast Communications. This year’s class consisted of: George G. Beasley, Delilah, The Jeff & Jer Showgram (Jeff Detrow, Jerry Cesak, Tommy Sablan), Eric & Kathy (Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart), Steve Harvey, Bob Kingsley, Kidd Kraddick, Tony Roberts, Neil Rogers and Michael Savage. Pictured above are (from l-r): MBC’s Bruce Dumont, Mix Group president Jason Garte, Tony Roberts, Delilah, Bob Kingsley, Kathy Hart, Eric Ferguson, Tommy Sablan, Jeff Detrow, Jerry Cesak; and NRHOF chairman Kraig Kitchin.

Jeff Katz Renews with WRVA, Richmond. Talk radio pro Jeff Katz inks a contract with iHeartMedia to remain host of the afternoon drive program on news/talk WRVA, Richmond, where he’s been the host for the past three years. iHeartMedia Richmond SVP of programming Zac Davis states, “We are excited to have Jeff build on his brand at Richmond’s legendary WRVA. He has shown an immense effort at endorsing a portfolio of clients that’s beneficial to our advertisers.” Katz says, “I’m energized by digital engagement and new engagement with our fans through our social channels on WRVA. iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet in Richmond and its programming and content are available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; online via its branded digital sites; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio.”

CBS RADIO Partners with Facebook for Amber Rose Podcast. This effort by CBS RADIO, CBS Local Digital Media and Facebook is making the “Loveline with Amber Rose” podcast on the Play.it platform available fans as it “airs” live every Thursday evening at 10:00 pm ET via Facebok Live. The show is hosted by feminist, author, model and actress Amber Rose, and features sex therapist Dr. Chris Donaghue plus guests who share intimate experiences and stories about love and sex. CBS RADIO SVP of business development Jeff Shultz says, “Facebook is a great partner to help us realize our multi-platform vision for the future of CBS RADIO. First we reimagined the iconic ‘Loveline’ franchise as a podcast with a fresh and authentic personality. Now we are presenting a live video version on an easily accessible social platform that has mass reach and appeal.”

Odds & Sods. In the Dallas market, Jeff Mitchell is promoted from director of sales to general manager for Salem Media Group’s operations here. Mitchell previously served with iHeartMedia’s crosstown cluster prior to joining Salem six-and-a-half years ago…..At Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze Radio Network, “The Morning Blaze” co-host and producer Skip LaCombe exits. LaCombe – away from his duties there on leave – Tweets that he will not be returning and underscores that he was not fired from the position. “Glenn, Doc [Thompson] and TheBlaze were all great to me. I needed change.”…..TuneIn is presenting live play-by-play and team-specific programming for the basketball games of 149 universities. TuneIn states that each college station gives fans “worldwide 24/7, free access to live play-by-play audio streams, as well as on-demand programming. Twenty-two of the current Men’s AP Top 25 teams are available on TuneIn as well as select women’s powerhouse programs.”…..Sun Broadcast Group celebrated its eight-year anniversary yesterday (11/17). CEO Jason Bailey reflects, “When we opened our doors in November 2008 Barack Obama had just been elected president, the iPhone App Store had just opened and the global financial crisis had started to grip the nation with the collapse of Lehman Brothers…Eight years later so much is different. What hasn’t changed, however, is Sun’s commitment to this great industry and our unwavering goal to be a better kind of radio company while having fun along the way.”…..The newsroom of The Washington Examiner and personality Michael Graham are presenting a daily podcast on developments in the Trump transition, plus analysis of policy implications and names swirling in the rumor mill of Washington, DC. You can check out the podcast here.

Trump Administration Transition Tops Talkers Ten^TM for Week of November 14-18. The actions of the transition team for President-Elect Donald Trump were the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio during the week, landing atop the Talkers Ten^TM. Coming in at #2 was the various Trump protests across the country. At #3 was the state of the Democratic Party, followed by U.S.-Russia relations at #4. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.

Brian Kilmeade Book Tour Hits Orlando. Pictured above is Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio personality Brian Kilmeade (right) being interviewed by WDBO, Orlando personality Gene Wexler (left) during Kilmeade’s visit to Orlando. Kilmeade’s new book, Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History (Sentinel 2016), is on the New York Times bestseller list. Last Friday, Kilmeade did his daily radio show from WDBO’s studios, took part in a WDBO listener event in the Stanley Steemer Performance Studio at Cox Media Group Orlando, and attended a book signing where more than 600 fans waited for a selfie and an autograph.

Cool Program Director Position Open. Heritage station KLIN, Lincoln, Nebraska is searching for the ideal candidate to program the top-rated news/talk/sports station in one of the nation’s truly vibrant cities. And you’ll also lead the flagship station for one of the country’s most elite college franchise programs – the Nebraska Cornhuskers! Strategic vision, leadership, ability to innovate and inspire. If this describes you, then our PD opening may be the perfect fit. In addition to directing a talented staff with local programming and news, your assets also include the nation’s leading talk programming, from Rush to Hannity. Experience in programming a news/talk station is a requirement. Must be self-motivated, possess excellent communication skills, have a real desire to coach, develop and build talent and have the drive to win on the air and in social media. Send us your resume with ratings history, aircheck and anything that tells your story so we feel compelled to pick YOU! Contact Steve Albertsen, Operations Manager, NRG Media. 4343 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68510. E-mail salbertsen@broadcasthouse.com. Please place Program Director in the Subject line. NRG Media is an equal opportunity employer.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

TALKERS | November 9, 2016

Cooke: Talk Radio’s Dream Come True? Media consultant Holland Cooke writes today, “After nearly two years of campaign noise, many Americans were eager ‘for it to end.’ But November 8 was a beginning. And with the manners our parents preached now scorned as political correctness, the noise will only get louder. In the social media era, broadcasters’ challenge is to cut through that clutter. Donald Trump will be President of The United States, and the implications for radio’s top format are profound.” Read more here.

iHeartMedia Shows 1.2% Rise in Third Quarter Revenue. Reporting third quarter financial numbers, iHeartMedia’s revenue was $857 million – up 1.2% from the same period in 2015. For the first nine months of the year, iHM revenue was $2.46 billion – an increase of 3.3% over 2015. In a statement, chairman and CEO Bob Pittman touts some of the company’s initiatives and events. “We continue to grow our audiences across our broadcast radio, outdoor, digital, social, mobile and events platforms, while advancing our transformation as a digital-facing, data-rich company built on the power of broadcast radio and out-of-home. “This quarter, we were excited to announce the reimagining of live radio with our two new subscription services, iHeartRadio Plus and iHeartRadio All Access, set to debut in January 2017. In addition, at both iHeartMedia and outdoor, we continue to invest in programmatic buying platforms and research analytics tools to leverage our assets for the benefit of our marketing and advertising partners, and at Americas outdoor and International outdoor, we continue to realign our resources to expand our digital out-of-home networks.”

Cumulus Media Dips 1.1% in Third Quarter. That figure is for the company as a whole and is a percentage change based on net revenue of $286.1 million for the third quarter of 2016. For the first nine months of this year, revenue is $841.9 million, down 2.1% from the nine month-period in 2015. Cumulus breaks the company into two segments – the Radio Station Group, and Westwood One. The latter has been the most troublesome for Cumulus. Westwood One net revenue was down 5.5% over the same period in 2015 while the Radio Station Group was basically flat – up just 0.7% on revenue of $206 million. President and CEO Mary Berner says, “A year into our turnaround effort, we have made considerable progress against our operational priorities while leading the industry in ratings growth. Though our performance in the quarter was negatively impacted by headwinds which have challenged us all year, we see evidence that our work is paying off financially as we gained share this quarter for the first time in at least four years. As we seek to maintain the momentum of our initial strategies, we have now also launched a focused effort to improve sales execution as the next logical step in our turnaround plan.”

Cox Media Group’s WDBO-FM, Orlando First to Declare Trump Winner in Florida and Nationally. Orlando news/talk “News 96.5 WDBO” is saying it made two “unprecedented moves” in covering the election on Tuesday night. Director of programming Drew Anderssen says his station called Trump’s Florida victory minutes before the Associated Press. “Our in-house statistician watched returns county-by-county from the State of Florida, rather than relying on other national media outlets, which led to my decision to call Florida a victory for Trump.” Later in the evening, Anderssen says the station projected Trump to be the next president more than two-hours before “the Associated Press or any other national news outlet.” He adds, “We were looking at all scenarios and talking with our Washington DC bureau’s Jaime Dupree, who has 30 years of experience monitoring elections from Capitol Hill. Along with our ‘News 96.5 WDBO’ in-house team, it was a clear to us that it was statistically not possible for Hillary to win. I trusted my team and stood by their experience when we went on the air at midnight projecting Trump the winner.” WDBO morning host Joe Kelley scored a rare, morning-after interview today. Kelley says, “We wrote his number down from the caller ID during yesterday’s interview. We called the number today thinking ‘there’s no way he’ll answer,’ but he did.”

The Trump vs Clinton Race; the U.S. House and Senate Races; Hillary Clinton’s Email Problem; Marijuana Legalization; and the NFL’s Sinking Ratings Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (11/8). The presidential election; the U.S. House and Senate races the battle for control over Congress; the lingering issues relative to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for State Department business; the several states with marijuana legalization on the ballots and shifting attitude across the country; the weekend’s NFL action and the league’s sinking ratings were among the top news/talk stories yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Beasley’s SEC Filing Details Q3 Results. The company announced last week that its net revenue of $27.7 million in the third quarter of this year represents a 5.6% increase over the same period a year ago. The Form 10-Q filed with the Securities Exchange Commission includes information about what constituted the $1.5 million year-over-year increase. Beasley Broadcast Group notes, “Significant factors affecting net revenue included a $1 million increase in advertising revenue from our Tampa-Saint Petersburg market cluster, a $0.4 million increase in advertising revenue from our Charlotte market cluster, and a $0.3 million increase in advertising revenue from our Fayetteville market cluster – partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in advertising revenue from our Wilmington market cluster. Net revenue for the [quarter]…also included $0.5 million of political advertising from the 2016 elections.”

Rob Graham Retires from WINA, Charlottesville. News director Rob Graham is retiring from Saga Communications’ news/talk WINA, Charlottesville after 32 years with the station. He’d also worked in his home state of Iowa at KWPC and KFMH in Muscatine and KLNT and KLNQ in Clinton during his career. He left radio for two years in 2000 to work in the public relations business.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

TALKERS | October 25, 2016

CRTV Digital Network to Launch in December. Production firm CRTV is announcing plans to launch a new digital network in December “uniquely rich with honest and informative conservative content seen nowhere else in any medium anywhere.” The company (parent of the Conservative Review) partnered with Mark Levin (left) back in February to debut the digital video program “LevinTV.” Now, CRTV is adding conservative media personalities Michelle Malkin (center) and Mark Steyn (right) to the mix. CRTV chief content officer Chris Crane comments, “We have partnered with the best thinkers and storytellers out there and given each the resources to design their own show in their own voice on their own custom set reflective of each of their personalities.” Mark Levin adds, “With the huge success of ‘LevinTV’ launched earlier this year, we decided to accelerate plans. We know people have rejected liberal media bias and there is an enormous demand for straight, bold, conservative talk and they will get it here from a wide variety of talent. This is much bigger than any of us. It is about our beloved audience. This is a movement with millions of liberty lovers who know cable TV content doesn’t square with their worldview. Proudly conservative in content, CRTV will allow popular personalities, presenting scholarly thought, culture to comedy, the liberty to be themselves. And, viewers will have the freedom to consume straightforward, candid, unfiltered, commercial-free content whenever and wherever they want.” CRTV is a subscription-based service available on digital and mobile devices for $99 per year or $12 per month.

CBS RADIO Names Radiate Media New Traffic Data Provider. The 10-year deal between CBS RADIO and iHeartMedia’s Total Traffic Network ends on March 31 of 2017 and CBS is announcing that it has chosen Radiate Media as its new broadcast content traffic partner, effective April 1. In a statement, CBS RADIO says Radiate will supply it with customized traffic data for its over-the-air radio stations in 26 markets, as well as on corresponding station websites. Radiate Media will sell sponsorships within traffic reports to national network advertisers while CBS RADIO will continue to sell sponsorships to local and regional advertisers. CBS RADIO COO Scott Herman states, “We are excited to work with Radiate Media to deliver superior traffic reports to our local listeners who rely on our stations for timely updates and alerts. The new arrangement allows for Radiate to better serve national network advertisers, while giving CBS RADIO maximum flexibility to deliver unique marketing opportunities to our local and multi-market partners.”

Genesis Simulcasts WHOO, Orlando’s Erik Kuselias Show to WHBO, Tampa. Back in April, sports media personality Erik Kuselias joined Genesis Communications to begin hosting a sports talk show on Orlando’s WHOO and the company’s SportsTalkFlorida.com platform. Now, Genesis announces the show – airing 6:00 am to 9:00 am – will also be heard on the company’s WHBO, Tampa. Kuselias comments, “Tampa has always been one of my favorite sports towns. It’s incredibly underrated because it has smart, diverse sports fans. I think my show and the city will be a great match and I’m honored to be part of their scene.”

Nielsen Audio Releases Round One of October 2016 PPM Data. The first of four rounds of October 2016 PPM ratings data from Nielsen Audio has been released for 12 markets including: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The October 2016 survey period covered September 8 (the first game of the NFL season) – October 5. You can find the complete 6+ ratings numbers from subscribing stations here. Additionally, TALKERS/RadioInfo managing editor Mike Kinosian provides his “Twelve Takeaways” from this group on the main page of our sister publication here.

Michael Harrison and Richard Neer Get ‘Up Close and Far Out’ with Baseball and the World Series. Veteran WFAN, New York sports talk show host Richard Neer is this week’s guest on the PodcastOne international hit “Up Close and Far Out with Michael Harrison” paying tribute to what used to be called America’s National Pastime and talking about the unusual “battle of the underdogs” nature of the 2016 World Series. The discussion focuses on the importance of sports teams to their local communities and the people who grew up loving them. It covers changes in the relative popularity of sports in the US (baseball, football, boxing and horse racing) and even brings up Ronald Reagan’s early career as a baseball play-by-play pioneer. Harrison and Neer engage in a pop cultural-oriented sports dialogue unlike most heard on sports talk radio. To listen to this fun and illuminating conversation in its entirety, please click here or click on the “Up Close and Far Out” player box located in the right-hand column on every page of Talkers.com and RadioInfo.com.

The 2016 Election, Battle Against Islamic State in Mosul, Soaring ObamaCare Premiums, Enlistment Bonus Scandal, Friday’s Cyber-Attack, France to Demolish Calais Immigrant Camp, Josh Brown Spousal Abuse Controversy, Cubs-Indians World Series, and Weekend NFL Action Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (10/24). The presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as well as the U.S. House and Senate races; the fight against Islamic State in the battle to assume control of the Iraqi city of Mosul; reports of soaring premiums under the Affordable Care Act; the scandal at the California National Guard forcing thousands of soldiers to repay unqualified-for enlistment bonuses; the attack on U.S. DNS servers that greatly affected parts of the Internet on October 21; France begins to move immigrants from “the jungle” camp in Calais; controversy over the NFL’s handling of the Josh Brown spousal abuse admissions; anticipation for the Chicago Cubs vs Cleveland Indians World Series; and the weekend’s NFL action were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Odds & Sods. KSTE, Sacramento-based, syndicated morning duo Armstrong & Getty is working to mobilize its listeners to help war veterans by signing a WhiteHouse.gov petition to ask congress to forgive the debts of the thousands of California soldiers who are being forced to repay enlistment bonuses a decade after they went to war. Through improper action by California National Guard recruiters, thousands of soldiers were given enlistment bonuses for which they may not have qualified. Many are now being asked to repay those bonuses. Jack Armstrong says, “We are outraged. Our listeners are outraged. We are going to get something done about this. The United States cannot mistreat our veterans like this.” Joe Getty adds, “It’s time that the bureaucrats and politicians honor our promises to our vets and honor the will of the people. And it’s absolutely indisputable that these vets not get screwed. We are going to hold the politicians’ feet to the fire.”…..Award-winning political journalist Soledad O’Brien and National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Gordon Smith are being featured in a keynote session on the intersection of media and politics at the NAB Show New York on November 9 – the first day of the two-day conference at the Javits Convention Center in New York City…..Pictured at right, Gizmo the Clown (left) stopped by the KHTE-FM, Little Rock studios to visit with afternoon personality Dave Elswick (right) to discuss recent “scary clown” sightings in the Central Arkansas area.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

TALKERS | August 9, 2016

Williams Appointed SVP/MM of Emmis Indianapolis. Eleven-year Radio One Indianapolis market manager Chuck Williams joins cross-town Emmis as senior vice president and market manager of its four-station cluster as well as its statewide news service, Network Indiana. Williams succeeds Charlie Morgan, who served in that capacity the past seven years before being named interim market manager of Emmis New York earlier Emmis this year. Emmis president and chief operating officer Patrick Walsh explains, “We have competed against Chuck throughout his career and always viewed him as a gifted, high integrity leader uniquely positioned to build on our foundation of success in Indianapolis. We are thrilled he has agreed to lead our team. With his deep knowledge of the Indianapolis radio market and the advertisers it serves, we expect him to jump right in and assist our talented team to continue to grow and prosper.” Williams comments, “I have long been an admirer of the Emmis culture, their people and their unfailing pride and leadership in the industry and their communities. Charlie Morgan built outstanding heritage stations with very talented people. I am looking forward to joining [Emmis Indianapolis vice president of sales] Tracey Bean, [VP/programming] Bob Richards, and the whole team at Emmis.” Before joining Radio One, Williams was general manager of Bonneville Chicago; he is the past chair of the Indiana Broadcasters Association. With each station’s share and market rank in parenthesis, here’s how the four Emmis Indianapolis outlets performed in the July 2016 Nielsen Audio PPM report: adult contemporary WYXB “B-105.7” (6.4, #4, 6+); country WLHK “Hank” (5.1, #7, 6+); talk WIBC (3.8, #11, 6+); and sports WFNI “The Fan” (2.1, #15, 6+).

Conservative Talker Andrew Wilkow Celebrates 10^th Anniversary on SiriusXM. Today (8/9) marks the 10th anniversary of talk show host Andrew Wilkow‘s “The Wilkow Majority” on SiriusXM’s “Patriot Channel.” Wilkow carved out his niche over a period of time, then expanded upon it in the 12:00 noon ET to 3:00 pm ET time slot as an alternative to Rush Limbaugh. A member of the TALKERS 2016 “Heavy Hundred,” Wilkow has become one of the biggest stars created by SiriusXM. He tells TALKERS, “I am honored and delighted to be on Sirius for so long, and appreciate my extremely loyal and passionate audience.” He says that the show’s nickname, “The Next Generation of Great Talk Radio,” still applies 10 years later.

Bott Radio Network Extends Mid-Missouri Footprint. Adding three FM signals in Columbia (at 100.9); Fulton (92.5); and St. Robert-Fort Leonard Wood (106.5), Bott Radio Network (BRN) expands its Christian talk network in mid-Missouri. All are rebroadcasting BRN’s 50,000-watt station at 89.9 FM from Bott-Radio-Network Columbia and Jefferson City. Mid-Missouri area manager Sue Stoltz comments, “These three new signals will be a blessing to many in mid-Missouri and the surrounding area where even more people can now hear quality Christian talk radio. I am excited about how this will benefit mid-Missouri families and our business sponsors.” BRN president and chief executive officer Rich Bott notes, “We are excited about this opportunity to reach more people with God’s word. This is a wonderful step forward to strengthen families and change lives through Bott Radio Network’s quality bible teaching, Christian news and information programming.” The addition of the new signals brings BRN’s number of stations nationwide to 107, including 46 in Missouri.

Silver Sensations. American divers Steele Johnson and David Boudia proudly display their silver medals to Steve Mason (left) and Kevin Kugler (second from the right), who are covering the Rio Olympics for Westwood One Sports.

Odds & Sods. Anchor/producer Heather Jordan (formerly Heather Martinez) exits Cox Media Group Orlando talker WDBO-FM to succeed Libby Denkmann as afternoon news anchor for “The John & Ken Show” on iHeartMedia Los Angeles’ KFI. Her lengthy radio resume includes stops in Dallas (KRNB); Miami (WEDR “99 Jamz” and WHQT “Hot 105”); Denver (KDJM “Jammin’ 92.5”); Kansas City (KPRS “Hot 103 Jamz”); and Des Moines (WHO). In addition, Jordan has done television work for WBBM-TV, Chicago; KTVT-TV, Dallas; and WFOR-TV, Miami ….. Longtime Pittsburgh Penguins radio producer pags Ray Walker (Ray Weitzel), 56, passed away Sunday (8/7) of complications from lymphoma. He joined the NHL team’s broadcasts in September 1999. His wife is iHeartMedia classic hits-oldies WWSW “3WS,” Pittsburgh on-air talent Sheri Van Dyke ….. Recently added affiliates to Joe Pagliarulo‘s “Joe Pags Show” are: KUIK, Portland; WPTR, Albany, New York (Empire News Network); WAIX, Albany, New York (Empire News Network); WHBY, Appleton, Wisconsin; WAAM, Ann Arbor, Michigan; KERV, Kerville, Texas; WDMJ, Marquette, Michigan; and WIAN, Ishpeming, Michigan. Pagliarulo is now on more than 60 stations.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

TALKERS | July 5, 2016

Shannon Burke Wins ‘Casting Call’ for WYAY, Atlanta Talk Show. Program director Greg Tantum says audience response to Shannon Burke’s appearance on Cumulus Media’s WYAY, Atlanta “NewsRadio 106.7” during the on-air auditions – or Casting Call – was an “overwhelming audience favorite.” As a result, Burke is inked to a deal to host the 9:00 am to 12:00 noon program on WYAY. Burke was most recently with Cox Media Group’s WHPT, Tampa “102.5 The Bone.” He’s also worked on the Bubba the Love Sponge show, iHeartMedia’s WTKS, Orlando “Real Radio 104.1” and WFLF, Orlando “540 WFLA.” Tantum says, “[Burke’s] show creatively combines intelligent talk with humor, entertainment and a connection with the Atlanta lifestyle.”

WCBM, Baltimore’s Tom Marr on Medical Leave After Suffering Stroke. The longtime Baltimore news, talk, and sports radio figure suffered a stroke on Sunday (7/3) that the family says happened as a result of complications from recent back surgery. WCBM, Baltimore’s Tom Marr will be on medical hiatus while he recovers. Marr has been with WCBM since 1988 when the Mangione family acquired the station. Prior to coming to WCBM, Marr spent 21 years at the former WFBR (now WJZ-AM) in Baltimore as a newsman and Orioles play-by-play announcer.

Baghdad, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh Terror Bombings, The Presidential Race, FBI’s Clinton Email Investigation/Bill Clinton-Loretta Lynch Meeting, The Fourth of July Holiday, and Kevin Durant Joins Golden State Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The deadly terror attacks in Baghdad, three sites in Saudi Arabia and in Bangladesh; the activities of presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton; the status of the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for State Department business, tied with Bill Clinton’s controversial meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch; the Fourth of July holiday; and NBA star Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Randi Rhodes Returns to Talk Show Hosting; Teams with Nicole Sandler for One-Two Progressive Punch. Florida-based progressive talk host Nicole Sandler (right) tells TALKERS magazine that she and Randi Rhodes (left) are debuting four hours of live progressive talk on the Internet as Rhodes gets back behind the mic for the first time since her Premiere Networks show ended in May of 2014. Sandler says, “Randi Rhodes and I have teamed up to produce and broadcast four daily hours of fierce, independent, entertaining and informative progressive talk radio streaming live weekdays.” The Nicole Sandler Show runs live from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET and The Randi Rhodes Show follows immediately, airing live from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET. Sandler’s show moves from its previous “Radio or Not” home to NicoleSandler.com. Rhodes is broadcasting from her studios in Delray Beach, which were funded by Rhode’s listeners via a Kickstarter campaign. Sandler says that in addition to their own streaming channels and their respective websites, the Randi Rhodes show and the Nicole Sandler show are also heard on The Progressive Voices channel and app, and a few other select streaming stations around the world.

Hyper-Local Online Talk Media Station. For the fifth consecutive year, legendary Western Massachusetts radio personality Brad Shepard served as the voice and emcee of the regionally iconic East Longmeadow Fourth of July Parade yesterday (7/4). Shepard is the GM and star personality on the hyper-local Pioneer Valley Radio (PioneerValleyRadio.com) launched a year-and-a-half ago after Shepard left his long-running morning show at local iHeartMedia news/talk outlet WHYN, Springfield. Shepard tells TALKERS, “Pioneer Valley Radio features a format that can best be described as ‘full-time public affairs with personality.’ We are achieving tremendous traction with this concept and it is gratifying to works within an exciting medium that operates so closely with the heart and soul of its local community. This platform has quickly become the favorite of this region’s most civically active citizens. It is a qualitative bonanza for advertisers that functions within that mindset.”

WGOW-AM/FM, Chattanooga ‘SportTalk’ Host Gary Haskew Dead at 74. Longtime Chattanooga sports reporter and talk host Gary Haskew, a.k.a. “Dr. Basketball” died on July 4 after suffering a massive heart attack. Haskew hosted the afternoon program “SportTalk” on the Cumulus Media station. WGOW interim PD Bill Lockhart comments, “Gary was an incredible talent, an excellent storyteller, a true original, and the largest of larger-than-life characters. In a world of wanna-bes, posers, and imitators, Gary was the genuine article – a man’s man, an entertainer extraordinaire, with a love for people. We are all lucky to have had Gary in our lives.”

TALKERS 2016: Bridging the Generations – ‘Millennials and the Media’ Panel Now Posted for Viewing. TALKERS continues to add Livestream video recordings of the various presentations, addresses and discussions at TALKERS 2016: Bridging the Generations. The 19^th annual installment of the longest-running and most important national talk media industry convention took place Friday, May 20 on the fabulous campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. The latest event from the convention being posted today (7/5) is the panel discussion “Millennials and the Media” moderated by TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey. Speakers on the panel include (in alphabetical order): Mike “Bax” Baxendale, morning co-host, WAQY-FM, Springfield, MA “Rock 102”; Ethan Bearman, host, KGO, San Francisco; Vince Benedetto, president/CEO, Bold Gold Media Group; Mike Calta, host, WHPT-FM, Tampa “Rock 102”; Meghan McCain, host Premiere Networks; and John T. Mullen, director of operations, Radio Hofstra University. To view the video in its entirety, please click here.

Odds & Sods. The WOAI, San Antonio-based “Joe Pags Show” – hosted by talk radio personality Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo – renews its relationship with Compass Media Networks to be exclusively distributed by the firm into the next decade. Joe Pags says, “The team at Compass Media Networks is extraordinary. As I focus on putting on a great show and serving my stations, listeners and sponsors, this team is hitting it out of the park consistently bringing in new affiliates and revenue.”…..CBS Radio News is offering coverage of the 2016 political conventions to affiliate stations that will fit their needs. CBS News will provide a variety of coverage from the 2016 Republican and Democratic National Conventions from Cleveland and Philadelphia – long- or short-form coverage, updates several times an hour, one-on-one interviews, and social media opportunities…..Podcasting pioneer Blubrry is partnering with StreamGuys to enable podcasters to expand their audience and reach through internet radio streaming. StreamGuys’ new Podcast2Radio option lets Blubrry customers effortlessly convert podcasts into linear internet radio streams delivered to new audiences through StreamGuys’ robust, cloud-based content delivery network. This increased distribution is complemented by rich analytics and statistics from StreamGuys that enhance the ability for Blubrry users to measure and track their growing listener base…..At Beasley Media Group’s Atlanta sports talk WWWE, “Sports Joc Show” host Wayne Gandy (right) is announcing that Waverly T. Lucas II (left), a former member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Atlanta Ballet is the first recipient of the “Man of Honor” award. This award is presented by ex-NFLer Gandy once a month from June through September. This award pays tribute to men who display integrity, honor, hard work, sacrifice and kindness to others. Lucas is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Ballethnic Dance Company, the choreographer of more than 30 ballets and is the creator of Danseur Development Project, a program with a unique approach to the athletic development and mentoring of young males in dance.

Friday, June 24, 2016

TALKERS | June 24, 2016

New Jersey Broadcasters Association Annual Conference a Success in Atlantic City. The 69^th annual NJBA convention just wrapped up two-days at Caesars Atlantic City (6/22-23) and by all measures was a successful event. Several hundred broadcasters from the Garden State and beyond gathered to discuss the state of the radio industry both regionally and nationally. The theme of the conference was “The Power of Broadcast” and it included sessions on programming, sales and technology as well as an awards ceremony, Hall of Fame induction and radio row. TALKERS/RadioInfo special features correspondent Jeff McKay was in attendance and provides coverage of the sessions and speakers. To read it in its entirety, please click here.

WGN Extends Its Programming ‘Man’ Through 2019. Six-year vice president of content and programming for Tribune Chicago talker WGN, Todd Manley will continue in that role through (at least) December 2019. WGN Radio president and general manager Jimmy de Castro states, “Todd makes it fun to come to work every day. He is a content musician that drives our incredible spoken-word content across a multitude of platforms.” Manley remarks, “I am in awe of the effort our personalities and producers put forth each day. They are each driven to make sure WGN listeners never ever miss a story. I am grateful to Jimmy de Castro and [president, Tribune Broadcast Media] Larry Wert for the commitment to continue building this great team.” TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison comments, “I am so pleased to hear this news. Todd Manley is one of the most thoughtful and creative programmers in the talk field today.” Manley’s prior titles at WGN include imaging director and creative director. Before joining the station, he was program director/brand manager of KTRS, St. Louis. In addition, he has worked at cross-town Chicago outlets WXRT (as director/creative content) and WCKG (as production/imaging director). Among persons 6+ in Nielsen Audio‘s May 2016 PPM survey period, WGN ranks seventh (3.7); CBS Radio all-news WBBM-AM is on top with a 6.4 (6+).

MLB Flagships: Part Three. In the third of a multi-part series, TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian recaps the performance of Major League Baseball‘s radio flagships. In a ratings overview based on data from Nielsen Audio’s May 2016 PPM survey period, Mike highlights each key station’s 6+ share; 6+ market rank; month-to-month and year-to-year fluctuations; flagships by league/division; and he unveils a new component to this overview. More than twice as many MLB flagships are in their markets’ top five in May (31%) versus March (14%). Average (6+) year-to-year decreases of MLB flagships in March, April, and May though far outweigh typical increases. See the third installment of this exclusive special feature piece regarding MLB flagships here.

Media Outlets Seek Access to Orlando Shooting 911 Calls. Nearly two-dozen media organizations filed a lawsuit Thursday (6/23) against the city of Orlando asking for the release of city phone recordings related to the mass shooting earlier this month at the Pulse nightclub. The suit challenges the city’s contention that those calls are exempt from public records laws because they record the killing of a person. The media consortium argues that the Orlando shooting is similar to the Sandy Hook school shooting, in which a Connecticut court ruled that related 911 calls were not confidential despite state laws that restricted the release of child abuse records. The media organizations argue that, “There is strong public interest in fully evaluating how first responders and police reacted during the most critical phases of this incredible tragedy. To be sure, the news media do not approach this petition with any preconceived notion that the city somehow acted inappropriately. Indeed, the audio recordings may well serve to substantiate and justify any action taken.” The city of Orlando made its own filing with the court, arguing release of the recordings is exempt under Florida public records law and that the FBI says releasing the recordings could damage the ongoing criminal investigation into the attack that left 49 people dead.

Townsquare Media Atlantic City & The Shore Officially Names Ruble Market President. It is “official,” in that, Michael Ruble had been market president and chief revenue officer for Townsquare Media‘s Atlantic City & The Shore’s (New Jersey) properties on an interim basis. He now handles both of those responsibilities without the “interim” prefix. Senior vice president of operations Rob Williams notes that, “Mike has been an exceptional leader in Atlantic City for years, building a terrific team that has consistently performed at a high level. In Toms River, we have a team with significant strengths and talents; wonderful brands; and the foundation to grow to new heights with Mike’s leadership.” Three of the company’s Monmouth and Ocean County stations include talkers WOBM-AM, WADB, and WPGG. The rest of its outlets in that area are adult contemporary WOBM-FM “Soft Rock 92.7”; hot AC WJLK “The Point”; AC WFPG “Lite Rock 96.9”; sports WENJ “97.3 ESPN“; hot AC WSJO “SOJO 104.9”; classic rock WCHR “The Hawk”; and WPUR “Cat Country 107.3.” Ruble joined Townsquare Media five years ago as market manager-general sales manager. He previously was a market manager-general sales manager with Millennium Radio Group; national sales manager for Citadel Broadcasting; and an account executive with Spring Broadcasting.

WDNC, Raleigh Shifts Reese & Kmac to Mornings. The midday “Sports Shop with Reese & Kmac” is moving into morning drive on Capitol Broadcasting’s WDNC, Raleigh “The Buzz.” According to Capitol’s sports radio operations manager Dennis Glasgow, the program will be the first African-American sports talk morning show in the Raleigh-Durham market. Glasgow comments, “We’ve wanted to bring more diversity to our listeners that would reflect the Raleigh-Durham population, and we will do that by bringing a very entertaining and energetic show with ‘The Sports Shop.’” Reese & Kmac replace “The Morning Show with Mike, Lauren & Demetri.” The company says Mike Maniscalco and Demetri Ravanos have exited the station but Lauren Brownlow will continue regular, on-air appearances on both WCMC-FM “The Fan” and “The Buzz.” In addition to her radio appearances, Brownlow will continue to contribute to WRALSportsFan.com. “The Sports Shop” will be made available via WRALSportsFan.com and with the WRALSportsFan App.

“Brexit” Fallout Felt in U.S. Following yesterday’s “Brexit” vote by Brits to separate from the European Union (Thursday, 6/23), several major United States-based media companies such as Fox, Viacom, Netflix, and Apple opened their stateside trading days down billions of dollars in stock valuation. Netflix and Apple though were among those surging back within the first 10 minutes of the U.S. trading day. The Pound dropped to its lowest valuation in decades, and stock prices overseas sunk. British Prime Minister David Cameron has stepped down, vowing there will be a new PM in place by October. In a statement of support from the White House, President Barack Obama comments, “The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision. The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is enduring, and the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone of U.S. foreign, security, and economic policy.” Given economic implications domestically and abroad, this is bound to be among talk radio’s biggest topics today.

The Presidential Race Returns to Top of Talkers Ten^TM. The activities of presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio during the week, landing atop the TALKERS Ten^TM. At #2 was the gun legislation push in congress tied with the investigation into Omar Mateen and the Pulse nightclub massacre. Following at #3 was the Supreme Court’s deadlock on a challenge to President Obama’s immigration executive orders, and at #4 was Thursday’s “Brexit” vote by Britons. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. View this week’s entire chart here.

Monday, June 13, 2016

TALKERS | June 13, 2016

Cox Media Group Orlando Holds Live Roundtable Discussion on All Six Stations. Orlando news and radio personalities today broadcast a two-hour live panel discussion about the weekend massacre at Orlando’s Pulse night club. The program aired on all Cox Media Group stations in the market and will include the following talent: host and moderator Joe Kelley of news/talk WDBO “News 96.5,” AJ and Ashley from WWKA, the “Obie and Lil Shawn Morning Show” from WPYO “Power 95.3,” Monica May from WCFB “Star 94.5,” Denise Ryan from WMMO and also joining the panel will be Brian Kilmeade, host of “Fox & Friends” on Fox News Channel and host of “Kilmeade & Friends” on Fox News Radio.

Talk and News Radio respond to Orlando Massacre. The early Sunday morning assault on unsuspecting club-goers in Orlando is turning out to be the deadliest mass shooting in America, carried out by a suspected militant Islamist. Most Americans woke up to news of the massacre on Sunday morning and network radio news was on top of the story, updating the details as they became available. Salem Radio Network nationally syndicated talk host Mike Gallagher is pictured at right at a vigil for the victims in a park a short distance from the scene of the crime – the Pulse nightclub. On the scene with national and international media, Gallagher spoke with victims, their families and others in preparation for today’s program live from Orlando…..CBS Radio News correspondent Jim Krasula is pictured at left on Orange Avenue in Orlando – a half block from the Pulse nightclub. Krasula was joined by colleagues Peter King and Steve Futterman as CBS Radio News provided long and short form coverage of the crime.

Orlando Nightclub Massacre, the Presidential Race, ‘Voice’ Contestant Slain, Stanford Rape Sentencing Aftermath, Muhammad Ali Funeral, and NBA-NHL Finals Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The massacre of 50 and wounding of many others at a gay nightclub in Orlando by a suspected militant Islamist; the activities of the candidates for president; the murder of former “The Voice” contestant Christina Grimmie at a public event in Orlando; ongoing talk about the sentencing of a former Stanford student convicted of rape; the funeral of boxing legend Muhammad Ali; and the NBA and NHL Finals were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend.

Nielsen Audio Releases Fourth Round of May 2016 PPM Data. The fourth of four rounds of May 2016 PPM ratings data from Nielsen Audio has been released for 12 markets including: Austin, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Providence, Raleigh, Norfolk, Nashville, Greensboro, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Hartford. The May 2016 survey period covered April 21 to May 18. You can find the complete 6+ ratings numbers from subscribing stations here. Additionally, TALKERS/RadioInfo managing editor Mike Kinosian provides his “Twelve Takeaways” from this group on the main page of our sister publication here.

Rich Zeoli’s Rendell Interview Sparks Warren VP Qualification Chatter. Philadelphia talk radio personality Rich Zeoli’s WPHT afternoon drive program started a bit of a media fire after former Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell told Zeoli that U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was “in no way ready to be vice president.” Zeoli tells TALKERS magazine that “Rachel Maddow mentioned it in her interview with Senator Warren last night [Thurs. 6/9]. Politico, Breitbart, BuzzFeed, Mediaite, Realclearpolitics, and several other national sites picked up the story and several even properly credited my show!”

Haute Mom Adrianna Costa Launches PodcastOne Show. Popular blogger Adrianna Costa – the woman behind the Haute Mom’s Life blog is launching a podcast component to her brand, in partnership with PodcastOne. Costa’s career includes numerous gigs as an entertainment reporter and a reality show personality. In her new podcast, she “extends the ‘celebration of the Hottie in every Mommy.’” Costa says, “I’m truly bursting at the seams with excitement about this latest venture teaming up with PodcastOne! What a killer opportunity to share new ways to simplify and enhance lives through this unique, no-holds-barred forum where we’ll delve into the vast world of mommyhood.”

Seacoast Media Group Launches Internet Radio Station in NH and Coastal Maine Market. New Hampshire-based Seacoast Media Group – a subsidiary of Pittsford, New York-based GateHouse Media – is launching an internet radio station branded Edge Radio. Seacoast publishes the Portsmouth Herald, the Rochester Times, the Hampton Union, the Exeter News-Letter, and Fosters Daily Democrat. The streaming station launched this morning at 6:00 am with former WOKQ, Rochester staffer Megan Brady hosting the morning talk show.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

TALKERS | April 7, 2016

PPM Reliability Issue Re-Surfaces at Philadelphia Conference. Last year’s intense debate over the reliability of Nielsen Audio’s PPM technology and the promise by 25-Seven Systems that its Voltair processing unit can improve detection of a station’s PPM encoding is being renewed. The issue came to the fore at yesterday’s 2016 New Radio Conference in Philadelphia presented by Jerry Del Colliano. Premiere Networks star Sean Hannity and Harker Research’s Richard Harker presented a session titled, “Nielsen – Getting Around a Rigged Ratings System,” during which Harker presented his own study showing how talk radio suffers under the PPM methodology. Nielsen’s John Snyder was there and took the stage to argue Harker’s and Hannity’s points. But the most newsworthy moment took place when Hannity told Snyder he would sign an affidavit promising not to take part in a class action suit against Nielsen if the company would agree to meet with them on the matter. Snyder agreed. This issue will be addressed at the 2016 Bridging the Generations conference at Hofstra University on May 20 when TALKERS magazine publisher Michael Harrison conducts a “Fireside Chat” with Sean Hannity.

Salem to Present Special Luncheon Discussion at TALKERS 2016 on the Relationship Between News/Talk Radio and the Conservative Movement in America. The TALKERS editorial board is pleased to announce the addition of a very special presentation sponsored and produced by Salem Radio Network that will take place during the 1:00 pm luncheon at TALKERS 2016: Bridging the Generations on Friday May 20^th on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. It will explore the ongoing, complex relationship between the news/talk radio format and the evolving state of the conservative political movement in America. Moderated by Salem Media Group SVP Phil Boyce, the speakers will include Salem syndicated stars (in alphabetical order) Larry Elder, Mike Gallagher and Hugh Hewitt. Speaking on behalf of the board, TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “This is very exciting! Phil Boyce is one of the acknowledged programming gurus in the talk media space and the star power and intellectual mass of Elder, Gallagher and Hewitt on one panel will be extremely informative and dynamic. This is a subject that is widely misunderstood and misrepresented in the mainstream press. It should prove quite interesting indeed.” The agenda for this event – the 19^th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest-running and most important national convention – continues to grow providing an impressive who’s who of the field’s most notable figures from all ends of the spectrum in programming, sales and technology. However it is nearing a sellout, so register now. For registration, sponsorship, hotel and agenda information, click here.

Erik Kuselias to Host Mornings on WHOO, Orlando. Sports media personality Erik Kuselias is launching his new morning show on Genesis Communications-owned sports talk outlet WHOO, Orlando “Sports Talk 1080 The Team,” on Monday (4/11). During his career, Kuselias has worked at ESPN, The Golf Channel, and, most recently, as a personality with NBC Sports Radio. In addition to airing from 6:00 am to 9:00 am on WHOO, the program will be streamed on its SportsTalkFlorida.com platform.

Former WKRK, Cleveland Personality Charged with Money Laundering. According to a report from Cleveland.com, former WKRK, Cleveland “92.3 The Fan” producer and personality Joseph Gerard Spooner, a.k.a. J.G. Spooner, is facing a charge of money laundering after allegedly shifting $7,300 from a GoFundMe account to his personal bank account. The GoFundMe account had been set up by Spooner to collect donations to help a childhood friend of his — Allyson Thadeus-Zappe – who was suffering from cystic fibrosis. She died in 2015. Her family reports that Spooner offered to use his name recognition in the market to help raise funds for Allyson. The family never saw any of the money donated to the account. A subsequent investigation by police led to the charges. CBS RADIO told Cleveland.com that Spooner had recently been terminated from his position. Read the story here.

The Presidential Race, Battle Against Islamic State, U.S. Immigration Policy/European Migrant Troubles, Miss. Religious Freedom Law, and Merle Haggard Dies Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (4/6). The activities of the candidates for president and the aftermath of the Wisconsin primary; the ongoing fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria; debate over the immigration and refugee policies in the U.S. and the related migrant problems Europeans are dealing with; the new Mississippi law that allows businesses to refuse to serve gays based on religious reasons; and the death of country legend Merle Haggard were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio during the week, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Friday, January 8, 2016

TALKERS | January 8, 2016

KFI’s Carroll Announces His Departure. With approximately 90 seconds remaining in Thursday’s (1/7) broadcast, KFI, Los Angeles midday talent Bill Carroll revealed he is leaving the iHeartMedia talk property effective immediately. In addition to sharing his reason for departing KFI (#9, 3.4, 6+, December 2015 Nielsen Audio PPM), Carroll implored his listeners to grant an election-day request. “Hey, I wanted to say one thing before I wrap up the show today,” Carroll began, as he sought to “explain” his “cryptic New Year’s Day tweet” which many people asked him about on Facebook. “[My wife Sylvie and I] have been considering this for a while and we came to the conclusion that it is time to get closer to home.” Carroll’s father passed away in 2010; Scotland born/Canada raised Carroll joined KFI in February of that year. “I did not get to see him much,” he lamented. “My mother is older so we are leaving. We still do not know exactly where we are going to land [but] this is my last show – maybe we will talk again in the future.” That led Carroll to rhetorically ask, “Can you just do one final favor for me? For God sakes, when I am gone, do not elect Donald Trump. You are better than that. Do not let anger sweep you away. Do not elect Donald Trump. I came to live among you because I admire you for your graciousness, your openness, and your religious freedoms. Don’t elect Donald Trump – I am begging.” It is unclear how long it will be before KFI program director Robin Bertolucci names a permanent replacement for Carroll; apparently, several guest hosts will be utilized in the station’s 10:00 am – 1:00 pm slot. Prior to his six-year KFI tenure, Carroll worked in Toronto at CILQ “Q-107,” and CFRB-AM. The 56-year-old Carroll appears at #47 on TALKERS’ 2015 “Heavy Hundred.”

Obama ‘Guns’ Town Hall Top News/Talk Story of the Week. Thursday night’s “town hall” on gun control presented by CNN and the White House along with President Obama’s announced plans to use executive power to alter some gun laws were the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio during the week, landing atop the Talkers Ten^TM. At #2 this week was the presidential race. Coming in at #3 was the battle against Islamic State, followed by the Saudi Arabian and Iranian diplomatic break and the growing rift between Shiite and Sunni-majority Middle Eastern states at #4. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.

WTMJ, Milwaukee to Present Special Program ‘Beyond Making a Murderer.’ The Netflix original program “Making a Murderer” is attracting large audiences across the country but in Wisconsin, where film subject Steven Avery is currently incarcerated, the case is now the subject of a special program to be presented this weekend on E.W. Scripps-owned news/talk WTMJ, Milwaukee. The special, “Beyond Making a Murderer,” will present update coverage of the case of convicted murderer Avery. The station says it has covered the Avery story since the beginning. The Netflix series has sparked a petition demanding a presidential pardon, curious tourists are traveling to Wisconsin, and critics are claiming there’s more to the story. WTMJ vice president and general manager Tom Langmyer says, “The story of Steven Avery is not only a big story in our backyard but also a story of national significance. WTMJ is Wisconsin’s Radio Station and we are leading the way with exclusive interviews and expanded local coverage to advance the story.” This weekend, “Wisconsin’s Morning News” host Gene Mueller will anchor a two-hour special “WTMJ Presents: Beyond Making a Murderer” that will air on Saturday at 7:00 pm and on Sunday at 11:00 am, immediately prior to coverage of the Packers vs Redskins playoff game. WTMJ executive producer of news Erik Bilstad will anchor coverage live from Manitowoc, Wisconsin with one-on-one interviews, videos and exclusive digital coverage. WTMJ program manager Eric Brooks adds, “‘Wisconsin’s Radio Station’ is working to go beyond the documentary, to talk with the people involved in the case and give our audience updated information. We are talking with family members, justices, jurors, law enforcement, and prosecutors to learn everything new we can. WTMJ is providing content for not only our Wisconsin audience, but for those interested worldwide.”

Radio’s Hot New (Old) Format: ‘The Puddle.’ In an opinion piece published today (1/8), ABC Television director of business continuity Howard B. Price writes about the sensational amount of global interest in Periscope’s “The Puddle” – a camera shot at a puddle of water in the U.K. Price says the people watching the puddle on their smartphones have “rediscovered the magic of radio…If you really believe all radio is local – and GREAT local radio is all about making compelling content out of the everyday events and observations in the communities it serves — then ‘the puddle’ can be seen as a metaphor for what radio’s core mission has always been, and which it used to execute better than any other medium.” Read his entire piece here.

Kibler Named iHeartMedia’s EVP Multi-Cultural Marketing. Executive vice president of operations for iHeartMedia‘s Texas major markets Kelly Kibler is appointed executive vice president of multi-cultural marketing. According to iHeartMedia chair and chief executive officer Bob Pittman, “Kelly has been a constant innovator in this company. She is the perfect choice to head up our focused multi-cultural advertising efforts at the market level. Her success as executive vice president of operations, as well as in her role as a sales leader and market president and her leadership of numerous iHeartMedia initiatives, have enabled her to grow her career with us. We look forward to her using all of her experience and relationships to build this new capability for our company.” The bilingual Kibler comments, “I could not be more excited to take on this new position at iHeartMedia, using the tools and experience we’ve developed in Texas and applying them across our 150 markets in a space that continues to grow in both importance and footprint across America.” Kibler began her career in 1991 at Telemundo. Before becoming iHeartMedia’s executive vice president of operations for the company’s major markets in Texas, she was a market president in Dallas, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

Emmis Confirms Layoffs; Executive Pay Cuts. After a fiscal third quarter report that showed a 5.1% drop in radio net revenue, Emmis Communications is confirming that it has laid off 32 company staffers and instituted pay cuts for corporate senior executives. During the recent conference call with investors, Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan stated, “We’ve made some changes and they’re very painful changes. This is always very, very hard for us.” The moves are designed to trim some $5.3 million from the radio sector’s budget.

Rich Broadcasting Adds Three Signals to News/Talk KID, Idaho Falls. The announced expansion of Rich Broadcasting’s heritage news/talk KID, Idaho Falls will expand the reach of the station within the Idaho Falls market and some 90 miles east to the Jackson, Wyoming market. The company says, beginning Monday, KID “Newsradio” will be heard on KQEZ-FM in Idaho Falls and to KSGT-AM, Jackson and translator K242BU at 96.3 in the Jackson market. KID, Idaho Falls is also simulcast on KIDG-FM, Pocatello, Idaho. Rich Broadcasting president Richard Mecham says, “KID has served the eastern Idaho market since 1928 and we are both pleased and excited to substantially expand its impact and coverage with the addition of three more frequencies, which not only will substantially expand its geographical reach but also, and very significantly, will enhance its nighttime coverage. With the addition of 106.3 FM, it now will be heard regionally from Ashton to Pocatello. Additionally, we are very pleased to expand the KID brand into the Teton County radio market, and in the process enhance the synergy between the eastern Idaho and Jackson markets. We look forward to providing to our listeners the very best in news and information for years to come.”

CES 2016 Wrap Up. Radio consultant Holland Cooke files his final report from Las Vegas where this week he’s been attending the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. Today he writes about the ubiquitous phone camera, drones, the head-on challenges facing television, and new technologies that are doing what radio stations traditionally helped people do. Read Holland Cooke’s entire report here.

Odds & Sods. The digital production field and studio tool suite Control Room Pro is now being used at stations including CBS RADIO’s WFAN, New York; Bonneville’s WTOP-FM, Washington; iHeartmedia’s WIOD, Miami; and news/talk WHO-AM and sports KXNO-AM in Des Moines, The suite of tools is produced by Harris Media and is repped by AdLarge Media…..Next Thursday and Friday (1/14-15), (and for the second time in the last three weeks!) Sid Rosenberg and “Imus in the Morning” executive producer Bernard McGuirk are sitting in for “Curtis & Kuby” co-hosting the midday show at Cumulus Media’s WABC, New York.

Pittman to Receive BFoA Golden Mike Award. Jackson, Mississippi native Bob Pittman began his radio career at the age of 15 and the iHeartMedia chair/chief executive officer is set to be honored with the Broadcasters Foundation of America‘s 2016 “Golden Mike” award. Broadcasters Foundation vice chair Dan Mason declares, “Bob is an extraordinary broadcaster. As an architect of today’s iHeartMedia, Bob’s focus on innovation – and his deep belief in broadcast radio – has expanded radio into new areas and platforms. We are proud to recognize his contributions to broadcasting.” Pittman states that, “Radio reaches more Americans than any other medium. [It is] the best friend in the seat next to them and their trusted companion and information source across multiple platforms. I feel extremely fortunate to be in broadcasting during the most exciting time in our industry’s history. I am grateful to the Broadcasters Foundation for this honor, and I thank them for their deep commitment to supporting our broadcast colleagues in their times of need.” Pittman programmed WMAQ, Chicago and famously became program director at WNBC, New York at the age of 23. Also included on his impressive, extensive resume is being co-founder/programmer of the team that created MTV; CEO of MTV Networks; AOL Networks; Six Flags Theme Parks; Quantum Media; Century 21 Real Estate; and Time Warner Enterprises. He was chief operating officer of America Online and later of AOL Time Warner. Pittman was named one of Advertising Age‘s “10 Marketers Who Changed American Culture”; received the Robert F. Kennedy “Ripple of Hope” award; and he was named one of LIFE Magazine‘s “Five Original Thinkers of the 1980s.” He will receive his “Golden Mike” award next month (2/29) at New York City’s Plaza Hotel.

Broadcaster Poe Declares Congressional Candidacy. Former Florida Democratic Party chair Bob Poe made his intentions official yesterday (Thursday, 1/7) that he is seeking to represent Florida’s 10th congressional district, which is based in west Orlando. The 61-year-old Poe comments that, “Many people are aware that I’ve been blessed with a tremendous amount of success in my life – but what most people don’t know is that my success had some humble beginnings. I come from this community. I became successful because of what I learned in this community, and I think I bring a very different perspective of how we grow the economy. I didn’t graduate from college, but I built a technology business that I’m proud of and that keeps people safe, because I never quit. Too many politicians today are too busy playing the game of musical chairs – running for one office and then another – to truly stand up and fight for us.” Prior to a nine-year run as president of Emergency Communications Network, Poe spent three years as vice president and general manager of WMMO, Orlando; four years as director of broadcasting and sponsorship sales for the NBA‘s Orlando Magic; and 12 years as vice president and general manager of Orlando talk station WKIS and the Florida Radio Network.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

TALKERS | December 9, 2015

Hillsdale College Launches Talk Radio Initiative. The Hillsdale, Michigan conservative liberal arts college is preparing to bring its low-power FM radio station WRFH into the lives of its students. Operating since this past summer and airing exclusively patriotic music, the station is poised to begin becoming a part of the school’s journalism studies. Although the school does not offer a Journalism major – it prefers all students major in traditional liberal arts — Hillsdale’s John Miller (a former 18-year staffer at The National Review) says the radio station will offer a hands-on approach to this form of broadcasting. “We have a demanding core at the college. You learn journalism by doing journalism — not by sitting in a classroom listening to a professor rattle on about it. We do a little bit of classroom instruction, but we try to put students in a position where they can practice journalism at our campus paper or at the radio station. I teach a class about writing style, but we do not lard up our curriculum with all kinds of courses that justify our jobs. I am one of the few professors on campus who does not possess a PhD. I got this job because of my work experience.” How the station came into being and what the school’s plans are for the station is an interesting story. Read TALKERS managing editor Mike Kinosian’s piece about “Radio Free Hillsdale” here.

Russ Rollins Re-Ups with iHeartMedia’s ‘Real Radio 104.1’ in Orlando. The ringleader of the “Monsters in the Morning” show on iHeartMedia’s hot talker WTKS-FM, Orlando “Real Radio 104.1” announces he’s inked a three-year extension with the station. Russ Rollins says he’s had offers to go to other stations in other markets but he’s never entertained them because his heart is with WTKS and he’s proud of what his show has accomplished over the past 24 years. “We introduced a multi-cast show that is goofy and fun. With songs, skits, bits, jokes, swerves and live events no radio show has been able to reproduce – a show not meant to change the world, just meant to brighten your day. I’m proud to say this is what ‘Real Radio 104.1’ has become today…Real Radio has been the gold standard and the anomaly in this industry. No other market has been able to reproduce what we at ‘Real Radio’ have created. I’m proud of that.”

KXTG-AM, Portland Signs New PM Show ‘Fletcher and Chop.’ A new afternoon drive sports talk show begins on Alpha Media’s KXTG-AM, Portland “750/102.9 The Game.” Current Alpha Media Portland personalities Fletcher Johnson and Pork Chop sign a multi-year deal to host “Afternoons with Fletcher and Chop.” Johnson has been with Alpha Media since 2009, and Pork Chop since 2011. Alpha Media EVP of programming, Scott Mahalick says, “It gives me great pleasure to once again be able to promote from within the ranks of Alpha Media and showcase the talents of two of our rising knowledgeable sports experts. What sets them apart is the humor, entertainment and unique perspective these two Portlanders bring to the audience.”

Salem Media Group Takes KDZR, Portland Conservative Talk and Business. The former Radio Disney outlet in Portland, Oregon is now airing a conservative talk and business talk format featuring talk shows from Salem Radio Network. Salem announced its intent to purchase the station (along with four other former Radio Disney properties) back in September. The station is airing SRN’s Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Hugh Hewitt, Steve Deace, and Eric Metaxas plus business shows hosted by Ray Lucia, Moe Ansari, Del Walmsley and Bill Gunderson. Station general manager Dennis Hayes says, “We are proud to be launching our new station to serve the Portland community with quality news and business programming.”

Odds & Sods. From New York City, talk personality Kevin McCullough reports that his program “After Hours with Kevin McCullough” is doing well in its new time slot on Salem Media Group-owned WNYM “AM 970 The Answer.” McCullough says his show moved from the 10:00 pm to 12:00 midnight slot to the 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm slot in early November…..There’s a new head of comedy at SiriusXM as the satcaster announces Jack Vaughn is the SVP of comedy programming. Vaughn comes to SiriusXM from his most recent position with New Wave Entertainment where he was SVP, production and distribution. There he was the creator of Comedy Central Records, the Grammy Award-winning record label that was home to comedians such as Mitch Hedberg, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Dane Cook, Kevin Hart, Lewis Black, Daniel Tosh, and Denis Leary among others…..ABC Radio is presenting a special series titled, “Countdown to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” It runs through Friday, December 18 with each feature including “audio from legendary Star Wars cast members, past and present as well as various interviews from celebrities who share their love for the franchise as well as their excitement about the new film.”…..WAMU, Washington public radio talk personality Diane Rehm is retiring after next fall’s presidential elections. Rehm began hosting the midday show on American University’s WAMU in 1979. Her show is syndicated to approximately 200 stations across the country.

Trump ‘Muslim Ban’ Proposal, 2016 Presidential Race, San Bernardino Shootings Aftermath, Islamic State Using U.S.-Made Weapons, Paris Summit-Climate Change Controversy, Star Wars: The Force Awakens Hype, and Golden State Undefeated Streak Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (12/8). The furor of Donald Trump’s unwillingness to back down on his call to stop all Muslims from being granted entrance into the U.S.; the activities of the rest of the candidates for president in 2016; the ongoing investigation into the background of the two shooters in the deadly San Bernardino slayings; a report that Islamic State is using old, U.S.-made weapons; the negotiations taking place in Paris at the climate summit and the controversy over global warming theories; the intense interest in the new film Star Wars: The Force Awakens; and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors continuing its undefeated season were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

TALKERS Affiliate Roundup. News from WYM Media states that both the Thom Hartmann show and the Leslie Marshall show are now being heard in the Phoenix market on KPHX. Also, effective today (12/9), the Stephanie Miller show is being heard daily in morning drive on KCAA, Loma Linda, California and its translator K293CF, Moreno Valley at 106.5 FM…..“Into Tomorrow” with host Dave Graveline begins airing on WRKO, Boston on Sunday mornings beginning this weekend.

The Importance of Musical Soundtracks to Films. Two of modern cinema’s leading composers, the multi-award-winning brothers Mychael and Jeff Danna, join Michael Harrison in this week’s installment of PodcastOne’s international hit, “Up Close and Far Out.” The Danna Brothers composed the stunning soundtrack of the new Disney/Pixar animated feature “The Good Dinosaur” and discuss the techniques that went into creating a soundscape for the larger-than-life computer imagery generated in this latest animated epic. The fascinating conversation also delves into the role movie music plays in manipulating the emotions of the viewer as well as the rise of “World Music” as a genre influencing pop culture in Western society. To hear the entire conversation please click here or click on the “Up Close and Far Out” player boxes in the right-hand column on every page of Talkers.com and RadioInfo.com.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

TALKERS | September 23, 2015

Rathert Named Morning Host at KSSZ, Columbia, Missouri. Taking over the morning drive program on Zimmer Radio & Marketing Group-owned news/talk KSSZ, Columbia, Missouri “HotTalk 93.9 The Eagle” is Branden Rathert. He was most recently afternoon drive personality at ADX Communications’ WNRP, Pensacola “Newsradio 1620.” Zimmer director of programming Jamie Mac states, “We are excited to welcome Branden to ‘Wake Up Columbia’ on ‘93.9 The Eagle.’ We feel Branden’s unique perspective, where he is able to take a specific topic and come at it in a non-traditional way, will translate very well in the Columbia market. His passion for making great radio, strong work ethic and creativity make him a great addition for our station and the talk radio community here locally.”

CBS RADIO’s Mick Anselmo to Retire. Senior vice president and market manager for CBS RADIO’s Minneapolis cluster, Mick Anselmo, announces he’s retiring from the company at the end of the year. Anselmo has been managing radio stations in the Twin Cities for more than 20 years – for iHeartMedia and the old AM/FM and Chancellor groups – with the last seven spent working for CBS RADIO. The company is searching for Anselmo’s replacement to oversee news/talk WCCO “Newsradio 830,” country KMNB “BUZ’N @ 102.9” and adult hits KZJK “104.1 Jack FM.”

Jeanine Pirro Podcast Debuts on PodcastOne. A new, weekly program featuring FOX News personality and former New York District Attorney Jeanine Pirro is launching on PodcastOne. Titled “Due Process,” the podcast will “provide the legal insight behind breaking news, high profile court cases and political issues, in addition to welcoming analysts and experts on these topics.” The show will also include TED speaker and content strategist Terri Trespicio joining Pirro each Monday. PodcastOne founder Norm Pattiz comments, “Jeanine has the intellect and the energy to do a great podcast. It will be entertaining, interesting, and deal with exciting subjects. It’s great to add her to our lineup, and it’s always good to know a judge.”

Odds & Sods. Southeastern radio pro Dave Cobb is named the general manager for MARC Radio’s seven-station Gainesville, Florida cluster that includes news/talk WRZN “NewsRadio 980.”…..Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania-based Forever Media is buying sports talk WGET “ESPN Sports” and country WGTY in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from the Times and News Publishing for $4.2 million.

CBS Sports Radio’s Jim Rome Visits Tampa. Nationally syndicated sports talk personality Jim Rome visited affiliate WHBO, Tampa “Sports Talk 1040 The Team” recently, taking part in a meet-and-greet during a live remote at Beef O’ Brady’s Restaurant. The Genesis Communications-owned station says, “Hundreds of Rome fans attended, giving Jim a standing ovation as he entered the restaurant. Jim made it a point to talk to every fan, sign autographs, and take photographs. People were lined up for hours to talk with him.” Pictured here are (from l-r): Rome show producer Kyle Brandt, Genesis president Bruce Maduri, Rome, and Sound Mind LLC chief Kraig Kitchin.

Nielsen Calls Audible to Publishing September Stats. Rather than spreading out the release of ratings information over four days as it typically does with its monthly data, Nielsen Audio is opting to consolidate its September PPM results into two – next Tuesday (9/29) and Wednesday (9/30). The first batch of markets is unaffected by the decision and will get their September numbers next Tuesday as originally planned. Those markets are New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Dallas; Houston; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario (Los Angeles’ Inland Empire); San Jose; and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The second group not only moves up one day, it will join group one – meaning 24 (rather than 12) markets will have data released next Tuesday. Group two consists of Washington, DC; Boston; Detroit; Miami; Seattle; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis. Stations from the remaining 24-PPM markets (groups three and four) get to see the outcome of the September 2015 sweep next Wednesday. Group three is Portland; Charlotte; Pittsburgh; Sacramento; San Antonio; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Kansas City; Orlando; and Columbus. Comprising group four are facilities in Austin; Milwaukee; Indianapolis; Providence; Raleigh; Norfolk; Nashville; Greensboro; West Palm Beach; Jacksonville; Memphis; and Hartford.

Ben Carson Muslim Controversy, Walker Drops Out/2016 Presidential Candidates, Pope Francis’ U.S. Visit, Russia’s Military Support of Syria, Muslim Migrant Issue, VW Emissions Scandal, Afghan Child Abuse Claims, David Petraeus’ Congressional Testimony, and Xi Jinping Visits U.S. Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (9/22). The controversy over GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson’s statement he would not support a Muslim for president; Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker drops out of the presidential race tied with the activities of the rest of the 2016 presidential candidates; Pope Francis’ visit to the United States; reports of military support for Syria’s Assad regime by Russia; the issue of Muslim immigrants in Europe and the U.S.; the emissions scandal plaguing Volkswagen; the controversy over allegations the U.S. military instructs personnel in Afghanistan to ignore sexual abuse of young boys by Afghan military commanders; former CIA director David Petraeus’ apologizes for relaying sensitive material to former mistress; and Chinese president Xi Jinping visits the United States were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Monday, August 24, 2015

TALKERS | August 24, 2015

NextRadio’s Future Analyzed in Indy Business Journal. The business publication based in Emmis’ chairman Jeff Smulyan’s hometown has published a story that looks at the next 12 months – a period it reports experts say “will determine whether Smulyan’s years-long quest ultimately succeeds or fails.” Of course, the Indianapolis Business Journal is referring to NextRadio – the initiative that seeks to have cell carriers activate the FM chips in smartphones. As radio industry watchers are probably aware, NextRadio has deals with Sprint, AT&T and one in the hopper with T-mobile to turn on the FM chips in smartphones sold by those carriers. The next target is Verizon. Obviously, carriers make their money off data usage and the NextRadio app allows users to listen to FM radio stations using a fraction of the data they would use accessing services like Spotify or Pandora. So, gaining the cooperation of carriers is a challenge. The piece also notes that there is a hurdle to leap in getting the advertising industry on board as media buyers tell the paper the radio industry needs to get triple the current total of 4 million users in order to have the attention of the ad industry. But NextRadio president Paul Brenner tells IBJ, “We’ve been talking to national ad agencies in the biggest markets and we haven’t found one yet that hasn’t fallen in love with this in five minutes.” IBJ’s Anthony Schoettle writes, “NextRadio’s interactivity allows stations for the first time to offer coupons and on-the-spot purchase opportunities to listeners. Revenue sharing from these new ads likely will be key in attracting and maintaining deals with cell phone providers.” Read his entire piece here.

Salem Media Group Adds John & Leah Show to Seven O&Os. The Envision Networks-syndicated weekend program “The John and Leah Show” featuring hosts John Ziegler and Leah Brandon is added to seven new stations owned by Salem Media Group. They are: KRLA-AM, Los Angeles; KNTH, Houston; KLFE-AM, Seattle; KCBQ-AM, San Diego; KTKZ, Sacramento; WGTK-FM, Greenville, South Carolina; and WLSS, Sarasota, Florida. Salem Media Group SVP/spoken word format Phil Boyce comments, “John and Leah is a wild ride across all kinds of topics including the hot stories of the week. I promise you will learn something and be entertained. John and Leah have been doing great radio since their KFI [Los Angeles] days, and the ride now continues on Salem stations. Welcome aboard!”

Odds & Sods. Radio news pro Monica Rix is leaving her position at Cox Media Group’s WDBO-FM, Orlando “News 96.5” to become a Manhattan-based reporter for FOX News Radio…..CBS RADIO adds a daily, two-hour live program to its Play.it platform hosted by pro wrestling star Taz, called, “The Taz Show: Bodyslams & Beyond.”…..Former WUCS, Hartford “97.9 ESPN” and Maxim Radio personality Michael Bower is sitting in for Jeff “Defo” DeForrest on iHeartMedia’s sports talk WINZ today (8/24) and tomorrow (8/25)…..The Bubba The Love Sponge Foundation has donated $2,200 to the Gulfport Pirates Youth Football Program. The Gulfport, Florida program has had to overcome financial difficulties, putting its season at risk, as it attempts to overcome a $12,000 deficit. League vice president Sophia Dottin told Bubba their team works with low-income, high-risk children.

Volatile World Markets Top News/Talk Topic Over the Weekend. Issues-oriented talk radio, as monitored by TALKERS magazine, was strongly focused on the financial markets activities both in the United States and across the world during broadcasts over the weekend. The markets – most of which closed sharply down on Friday – opened to volatility this morning (8/24). Aspects of the greater discussion included the relationship between the United States’ and China’s economies, political responsibility for markets stability, and economic recovery and jobs creation in America.

WMAL, Washington’s Larry O’Connor Ties the Knot! Oklahoma City was the site of WMAL, Washington radio personality Larry O’Connor’s marriage ceremony to his lovely bride Meredith. Telling us that it was an honor to serve as his best man, WPHT, Philadelphia morning host Chris Stigall sends TALKERS magazine this great selfie from the nuptials. Pictured (from l-r) are: Stigall, Meredith O’Connor, Larry O’Connor, and maid of honor Jacqueline.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

TALKERS | June 10, 2015

Salem Radio Network Presents ‘National Town Meeting’ on Police and Race Issues. This “national town meeting” will be a local and national simulcast with KSKY, Dallas morning personality Mark Davis and Salem Radio Network syndicated personality Mike Gallagher and will air tomorrow (6/11) from 9:00 am to 12:000 noon ET. Salem says, “In the wake of recent high-profile incidents including urban riots in Baltimore and last weekend’s suburban ‘pool party’ controversy in McKinney, Texas, Gallagher and Davis…will co-anchor an SRN National Town Meeting on minority/police relations in America. Gallagher adds, “We hope this SRN National Town Meeting will continue a nationwide dialogue on why so many recent incidents have been magnified by the issue of race, and also produce solid answers on how we can all — Americans of all colors and creeds — move forward together as a society.”

Cox Media Group’s Orlando Stations to Produce ‘Unity in the Community.’ Both news/talk WDBO “News 96.5” and urban contemporary WCFB “Star 94.5” in Orlando will simulcast a special program called “Unity in the Community: A Live Discussion About the Current Role of Both Law Enforcement and Citizens in our Communities” tonight at 7:00 pm. The program will feature a panel of experts to share what law enforcement is doing in Central Florida, and answer questions from concerned citizens. They will discuss the roles and responsibilities of both law enforcement and citizens when dealing with each other. Panelists will include: Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demmings, Orlando Police Chief John Mina, Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith, former Chief Judge Belvin Perry, and Crimeline executive director Barb Bergen. The panel discussion will be co-moderated by WDBO’s Joe Kelley and WCFB’s Monica May.

USA Radio Networks to Syndicate Kevin Jackson Show. The Kevin Jackson program is being syndicated live from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm ET by USA Radio Networks, beginning July 20. The young, black conservative contributes to Breitbart, Human Events, and American Thinker and is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity, “The Factor with Bill O’Reilly” and MSNBC. He is the author of The Big Black Lie (Black Sphere 2009) and Sexy Brilliance and Other Political Lies (FastPencil Wavecrest 2011). On his new relationship, Jackson comments, “I’m happier than a tornado in a trailer park to be part of the USA Radio Networks family, and can’t wait to take on Rush Limbaugh. Conservative talk radio has needed new blood for some time, and I’m just happy to know a vampire. America will get something different, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring it.” USA Radio Networks chief content officer Tim Maranville says, “Kevin blurs the lines that have so divided our country yet does it in a way that creates a conversation about solutions. Plus he’s wicked funny!”

Larry Mendte Named Morning Host at WILM, Wilmington. Former longtime Philadelphia TV news anchor and radio host Larry Mendte is named morning drive personality at iHeartMedia’s Delaware news/talk stations WILM, Wilmington and WDOV, Dover. Company regional market president Chris Walus states, “Larry is an extraordinary talent who has the unique ability to engage audiences across all demographics. He has an impressive record of success in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Diego. Delaware listeners will be incredibly impressed with his ability to connect, engage and inform.” In addition to his work in Philadelphia, Mendte has served at 77WABC in New York; “Access Hollywood” in Los Angeles, WBBM-TV and WLS-AM in Chicago.

‘105 The Ticket’ in Minneapolis Drops Local Talk. Ousted local radio personality Bob Sansevere tells the Pioneer Press that the Cumulus Media-owned trimulcast of WGVX, WRXP, and WGVZ – branded as “105 The Ticket” – wasn’t able to put up a ratings fight against the sports talk competition in the market and that’s probably why his show and “Radioactive Sports” with Mike Morris and Ben Holsen were canceled. The station is now airing the entire slate of CBS Sports Radio Network programming.

WCHV, Charlottesville Talk Host Joe Thomas’ Morning Show Simulcast on Television Outlet. The “Joe Thomas in the Morning” program on WCHV, Charlottesville, Virginia is now being simulcast on Gray Television’s “all-local, all-the-time Newsplex Now” channel. Thomas, who also serves as program director for Monticello Media-owned WCHV, comments, “I was told back in the Bayside (NY) High School TV studio that I should go into radio because I would never be happy in television since I would never be able to have the irreverent fun I displayed in class. It took 32 years, but I’m going to prove my teacher wrong!” Thomas says he’s also on the lookout for short-form video content that could be included in the TV broadcast to create a unique viewer experience. Reach out to him with suggestions at jthomas@cvillestations.com.

Odds & Sods. The Los Angeles Lakers and ESPN O&O KSPN, Los Angeles announce they have agreed to an extension of their radio play-by-play deal through the 2021-22 season. “ESPNLA” will carry all 82 regular-season games as well as the entire preseason and every playoff game. John Ireland will continue as the play-by-play commentator for the Lakers radio broadcasts, with Laker great Mychal Thompson remaining as the color analyst. Both are ESPNLA personalities – Ireland co-hosts the “Mason and Ireland” show and Thompson co-hosts the “Thompson and Trudell” program…..TheBlaze Radio Network’s Buck Sexton fills in for Rush Limbaugh on the Premiere Networks syndicated program today (6/10). TheBlaze says Sexton is the only personality who has guest hosted for Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck.

Syndicated Talk Host Danielle Lin Takes Show to India. Dynamic health and lifestyle talker Danielle Lin took her syndicated radio talk show, “The Art of Living and the Science of Life,” to Bangalore, India reporting on the new trend of “Medical Tourism.” She tells TALKERS, “Going global makes perfect sense in a podcast world. I have discovered first hand that international expansion is not only lucrative…it’s essential in a digital world. With a strong list of sponsors primed from US relations, linking countries like India was a natural fit for expanding my US brand. The money flows in both directions as companies create bonds by targeting niche markets. By producing valuable content on the national platform, we were able to translate the same conversation with the growing middle market in Bangalore. We started early enough in our planning to build a base that would connect us to a worldwide listenership.” Lin adds, “The local and international conversations are relevant to everyone when it comes to improving life.” Lin (second from left) is pictured here with the leading Ayurvedic physcians at AyurVAID Hospital in Bangalore.

Texas Pool Party Incident, ISIS Military Progress/U.S. Iraq Policy, Obama Trade Deal, New York Prison Break, News from Apple WWDC, Bilderberg Group/G7 Meetings, Caitlyn Jenner Case, and NBA-NHL Finals Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (6/9). The fallout from a police officer’s actions at a Texas pool party; the continuing success of ISIS in Iraq and questions about the U.S. military’s policy in Iraq; the TTP trade deal and concerns over lack of understanding of what the pact contains; the search for two convicted murderers who escaped from a New York prison; news of the new digital music platform from Apple from the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference; questions about future global policies as the Bilderberg Group meets in Austria and the G7 summit takes place; ongoing chatter about the Caitlyn Jenner case and transgender issues; and the NBA and NHL Finals were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio during the week, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Monday, June 8, 2015

TALKERS | June 8, 2015

WGMD, Rehoboth Beach Afternoon Host Sanctioned by SEC. The new PM drive host at Resort Broadcasting’s WGMD, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware – Todd Schoenberger – has been sanctioned by the Securities Exchange Commission for fraud. According to the News Journal, Schoenberger admitted to fraudulent conduct in a case in which he convinced four investors to pony up $130,000 for a hedge fund he said had $65 million under management, but in reality contained no assets at all. Schoenberger began his new gig with the station on June 1 and this story broke later in the week. He was still with the station on Friday (6/5), however it’s unclear what his status with the station will be going forward. Schoenberger has been a regular guest on Fox News, CNBC, CNN and Bloomberg.

WTKS-FM, Orlando Morning Host Russ Rollins Sued by Estranged Wife. The bit aired on iHeartMedia’s WTKS-FM, Orlando “Real Radio 104.1” in which Monsters in the Morning ringleader Russ Rollins was served divorce papers while on the air has led Rollins’ estranged wife Samantha Boomer to sue him. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Boomer, who is being represented by Gloria Allred, is suing alleging defamation and invasion of privacy. The suit seeks damages for emotional distress from the video of the bit and the related social media postings. The complaint states that Rollins (and employer iHeartMedia) “decided to take something that is painful, personal and private and make it public entertainment for profit and ratings. This public disgrace and embarrassment has caused so much pain and disruption that I had to contemplate moving my family from the community that I love.” During the bit, it was implied that Boomer asked that the papers be served while Rollins was on the air. That was not true and iHeartMedia published a retraction on the station’s website but that was too late for Boomer.

Mentally and Emotionally Coping with the Uncertainty of Speech No-Go Zones. According to psychiatrist and TALKERS contributor Renee Kohanski, MD, coping with the uncertainty of “Speech No-Go Zones” can be emotionally challenging to a radio talk show host trying to strike a balance between being provocative, authentic, original and edgy – without falling victim to the often-stifling forces of political correctness that can instantaneously terminate a talent’s career in a puff of controversy. Kohanski offers several tips to talkers on how to manage the stress of this situation and be prepared personally, professionally and even legally for that unwanted knock on the door by the political correctness police. They include such measures as staying up-to-date on industry issues and standards in this regard, keeping documentation of key conversations about artistic expectations with corporate superiors, developing a relationship with a trusted mentor and maintaining a personal support system of advisors and representatives. To read Dr. Kohanski’s entire article, please click here.

Salem Media Group to Buy Two More former Radio Disney Signals. The two stations are in the Dallas and Boston metros. The Texas station is KMKI-AM, Plano, Texas and is a class B with 5,000 watts daytime. The Boston signal is WMKI-AM, another 5,000-watt class B at 1260 on the dial. The prices for the two are $3 million and $500,000 respectively. Salem Media Group already airs its news/talk format in the Dallas market on KSKY and this will be signal number six for the company in that market. As for the Boston station, Salem owns three signals in the market – Spanish Christian teaching on WWDJ, and English Christian teaching on both WROL and WEZE. Will the company bring its news/talk format populated by Salem Radio Network personalities to the market on WMKI? The tantalizing speculation that the company could provide Premiere Networks’ Rush Limbaugh (soon to exit WRKO) with a new home on WMKI if it chooses to go news/talk, is already being discussed by industry watchers. But Limbaugh would likely cost Salem a lot of cash and the company does not have a history of paying big money for a talent like Limbaugh when it has its own stable of quality, conservative talk hosts. Still, eyes will be on Boston as this transaction develops.

WEEO, McConnellsburg, PA Hires Mayor for AM Drive. The Magnum Broadcasting-owned news/talk station serving the Chambersburg, Pennsylvania region is hiring Chambersburg borough Mayor Darren Brown to serve as morning host. A story in Public Opinion News says 35-year-old Brown began doing an “Ask the Mayor” show on WEEO “NewsTalk 103.7 FM” in January of this year and he decided he’d like to try radio full time. Station general manager Patrick Ryan tells the paper he was up for it. “Can you think of a better host for a local news radio show than the mayor? As mayor he certainly knows how to talk. He’s at every ribbon-cutting in town and champions local issues that everyone needs to know about.” The station says he’s currently the “anchor-in-training” for the “First News” program. There’s no word on how the station will handle the equal time issue if and when Brown runs for re-election.

Monday, June 1, 2015

TALKERS | June 1, 2015

Agenda Set – 65 Speakers to Address Sold Out Crowd and Tackle Key Industry Issues at Big Apple Talk-Fest. The power-packed, day-long agenda for Talkers New York 2015 is set and promises to provide the event’s sold-out crowd of industry professionals with a stimulating and informative experience. “Add to that,” says TALKERS executive editor Kevin Casey, “a marvelous display of the latest technology pertaining to the modern-day industry along with an atmosphere conducive to priceless networking opportunities – and you have one of, if not the, most productive installments in the 18-year history of this colorful convention.” TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison adds, “We put a tremendous amount of thought and planning into this agenda – maximizing our attendees’ precious time – and I am pleased to say we are ready to send its program guide to the printer.” Harrison continues, “Talkers New York 2015 will address everything from news-talk to sports-talk and beyond — covering just about every popular permutation of spoken word radio heard today on AM, FM, satellite, and internet. We will be discussing the challenges of audience measurement and running broadcast operations large and small. We will explore the nuances of navigating careers in talent, marketing and management as well as working with social media, podcasting and controversial content.” Although all registrations for the event are sold out, there are still a handful of prime sponsorship opportunities available. For information, please call 413-565-5413. Talkers New York 2015 sessions and speeches will be broadcast at a later date on Talkers TV and other media venues, plus it will be a location venue for the shooting of two documentary film projects about talk radio and pop culture currently in production. To see the complete agenda, please click here.

Shaquille O’Neal Podcast to Be Part of PodcastOne Roster. Retired NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal debuts a new audio show on PodcastOne called “The BIG Podcast with Shaq” and featuring co-host John Kincade. PodcastOne says that he’ll invade “the podcast world with his 10 million social media followers and countless millions of fans worldwide…‘The BIG Podcast with Shaq’ is a fun, topical and slightly irreverent weekly talk, news and entertainment show filled with all-star guests, controversy and the crazy life of Shaq himself.” New episodes will be available every Monday. On his debut show, Shaq hosts former teammate and actor Rick Fox, discusses the Deflategate controversy, and responds to recent reports that he threatened to murder Kobe Bryant.

‘Chris Brown’s True Stewardship’ Debuts Today on Salem Signals. The new program produced by Ramsey Solutions and designed for the Christian teaching format is debuting on 20 Salem Media Group stations today. “Chris Brown’s True Stewardship,” is hosted by financial expert, pastor and speaker, Chris Brown. It’s a daily half-hour call-in show “focusing on helping people get control of their money by teaching them biblically based financial principles. Drawing from his experience as a businessman and pastor, Brown provides expert advice and solutions to callers’ questions on various financial issues including debt, retirement, wealth building, and relationships and money.”

Bubba the Love Sponge Airs in Mornings on New Denver Market Pot-Themed Station. Marco Broadcasting creates a talk/rock music hybrid targeted to the marijuana smokers in the Denver market on simulcast KBUD, Golden, Colorado (AM 1550) and translator K231BQ, Golden, branded “Smokin’ 94.1.” Station owner Marc Paskin says, “I have created a unique radio format. There is no radio station anywhere in the country like ‘Smokin 94.1.’ There is not a better fit for our mornings than Bubba the Love Sponge. He loves weed, fast cars, hot girls, and rock music. I think Bubba will take Denver by storm!” Bubba comments, “Rock music and smoking pot have historically gone together like peanut butter and jelly. The Bubba the Love Sponge show has been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana long before it was the cool thing to do. Our listeners understand these facts, which is why many loyal Bubba Army members from my national audience have moved to Colorado since they legalized weed, so it will be like hooking up with old friends. I can’t wait to fire it up in Denver.” Both the AM and FM signals are strongest to the West and Northwest of downtown Denver.

Larry Elder Show to Air on CRN Digital. Los Angeles-based talk host Larry Elder’s three-hour talk show is now airing on CRN Digital Talk Radio. Elder – a longtime KABC, Los Angeles personality – debuted his self-produced talk show online back in January. This program will air from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET.

Odds & Sods. CentralFloridaRadio reports that Jack Bradshaw is the new program director at iHeartMedia’s talk WTKS-FM, Orlando “Real Radio 104.1.” The site notes that Bradshaw started at the station in 1998 as an intern and has been APD in addition to his role on “The Philips Phile” program – a duty he will continue along with his new responsibilities……50kw KTRB-AM, San Francisco is being sold by Pappas Radio receiver Susan Uecker to U.S. International Radio LLC for $6.5 million. The station is being operated under an LMA by Deportes Media airing ESPN’s Spanish sports radio format. That LMA will continue under the new ownership…..Nick Boynton will be back in the radio play-by-play role for the Arizona Coyotes when next the 2015-16 NHL season begins. Boynton was suspended after being charged with disorderly conduct at a Buffalo-area casino. Boynton agreed to a sentence of community service and attendance at an alcohol counseling program. Coyote games air on flagship Bonneville’s KMVP-FM and KTAR-FM in Phoenix…..Former sports talk WUCS, Hartford and Maxim Radio personality Michael Bower is filling in all this week on KFMB, San Diego.

Peter D. Kiernan – Mega-Popular Talk Radio Guest — to Release New Book Next Week. One of the most popular news/talk radio/television guests, Peter D. Kiernan, is set for the launch of his second book, American Mojo: Lost and Found — Restoring Our Middle Class Before the World Blows By (Turner 2015) and will be available for talk media interviews. Kiernan — an award-winning bestselling author — is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and advisor to businesses, non-profits and government. After a multi-decade Wall Street career, he left in 2000 to pursue venture capital start-ups, non-profit work and writing. His first book, Becoming China’s Bitch (Turner 2012), won the International Book Award and was a New York Times bestseller. It also earned Kiernan a loyal following among talk show hosts representing all points of the ideological spectrum – left, right and center — for his articulate analysis of America’s economic challenges and no-nonsense support of the nation’s middle class. In American Mojo: Lost and Found, Kiernan focuses on what he describes as America’s greatest challenge ― and opportunity ― restoring the middle class to its full promise and potential. For information about booking Kiernan please click here.

WRKO, Boston’s Jeff Kuhner Hosts Ted Cruz in New Hampshire. United States Senator and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz (right) appeared with WRKO, Boston morning personality Jeff Kuhner (left) during a Town Hall at Southern New Hampshire University in Hooksett, New Hampshire Saturday, May 30. The two hour event – during which the two discussed the presidential race and took questions from the audience – was broadcast live on WRKO.

SiriusXM’s Joe Madison Hosts ‘Stand Up, Speak Out’ Event in LA. Pictured here is SiriusXM talk personality Joe Madison broadcasting from among the crowd at the satcaster’s exclusive “Stand Up, Speak Out” event to discuss police brutality. The live radio program took place on Saturday, May 28 at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

TALKERS | March 31, 2015

iHeartMedia Brings News Pro Dan Mitchinson to Mornings at KFBK, Sacramento. Saying that Dan Mitchinson “brings a unique combination of experience and success in the news/talk format, along with a passion to evolve our appeal to the next generation of listeners,” iHeartMedia Sacramento SVP of programming Don Parker announces the radio and TV news pro will join Amy Lewis as co-host of the KFBK Morning News, effective Monday April 6. In a press statement, the station notes that “Mitchinson’s radio work has been heard on the FOX and CBS networks. His TV credentials include stories appearing on ‘ABC‘s World News Tonight’, ‘Nancy Grace’ and ‘Geraldo.’ He’s covered presidential visits, natural disasters as well as some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Mitchinson has received the Edward R. Murrow Award for ‘Best Newscast,’ a Golden Mic award for Best News Special, and the Best Newscast and Single News story award from the Oregon Association of Broadcasters. KFBK program director Bill White adds, “We’re very fortunate to have someone of Dan’s talent and his credentials speak to his passion for covering and delivering news. He’ll be a great partner with Amy Lewis as the ‘KFBK Morning News’ continues to inform Sacramento and Northern California.”

Looking to the Future at KCMO, Kansas City. TALKERS magazine observes that heritage news/talk outlet KCMO, Kansas City has been gradually adjusting the “attitude” of its programming to reflect the style of issues-oriented talk that a younger audience are reported to be demanding these days. Just two months ago, the station brought in Rob Carson to host the daily morning show. Carson’s hiring appears to dovetail well with Greg Knapp’s afternoon drive show, the nationally syndicated Dave Ramsey show in early afternoons and the late morning Chris Plante program. Carson (who’s been in and around the business for the past 26 years, ironically writing for Rush Limbaugh during a portion of those years) tells TALKERS, “I really believe there is a quantum shift happening in talk radio, and it involves a move away from purely political monologue and phone call talk shows and more towards a conservative-style ‘The Daily Show.’” Note that Carson uses the word conservative. He adds, “Some are moving completely away from politics and I believe they do so at their own peril as politics is such a massive part of the popular culture.” Still, Nielsen Audio’s PPM survey tells the tale of the tape and KCMO-AM ranked 18^th (1.7 share, persons 6+) in the February PPM survey, well behind talk leader KMBZ-FM (10^th place with a 4.2 share, persons 6+) and non-com runner-up KCUR-FM (12^th place with a 3.9 share, persons 6+). Only time will tell if KCMO’s programming strategy will pay off, but it’s apparent that Rob Carson is going to keep swinging from his position in morning drive and that something new and interesting is afoot.

Opinion: Radio in 2015 – Getting Back to the Basics. Radio sales and management pro Bill Brady writes in an opinion piece published in TALKERS magazine today (3/31) that owners and operators must deal with the fact that it’s not 1988 anymore and adjust their programming accordingly. Brady writes, “For the most part, the talk format has devolved into a niche within a niche within a niche. Today’s talk product is not mass appeal ‘topic A’ stuff. It’s not even mass appeal politics – just conservative politics which severely limit the format’s appeal. The answer to the problem is very simple: play the hits.” Read more from Bill Brady here.

Ackerman Retires from Coleman Insights. Vice president Chris Ackerman exits Coleman Insights following a 22-year run at the Raleigh-area research company. President and chief operating officer Warren Kurtzman comments, “Chris is going to be missed on so many levels. Our clients will miss his advice and counsel. We will miss his presence as a fabulous mentor to employees at every level of our organization. Most of all, however, I am going to miss having my good friend for the last 20 years down the hall. Everyone at Coleman Insights wishes nothing but the best for Chris and we thank him for his incalculable contributions to the success of our company.” Ackerman remarks, “[My wife] Kathy and I are deeply grateful for the opportunity [founder and chief executive officer] Jon Coleman and Warren Kurtzman have provided us, and for the support and friendship of all our Coleman colleagues. I am also grateful for the many clients I’ve had the honor and privilege to serve through the years.” Prior to joining Coleman in August 1992, Ackerman was vice president and general manager of Capitol Broadcasting Orlando’s WSTF “Star 101.” The Miami University (of Ohio) graduate previously held the same vice president and general manager title at Renda Broadcasting Pittsburgh; WJYE, Buffalo; and WKQQ, Lexington, Kentucky.

CBS Radio Transfers Blumhagen to Los Angeles. Nine-year general sales manager of CBS Radio San Francisco hot AC KLLC “Alice@97.3” and CHR KMVQ “Now 99.7” Larry Blumhagen will relocate in three weeks (4/20) to become vice president and director of sales for the company’s six-station Los Angeles cluster. CBS Radio Los Angeles senior vice president and market manager Dan Kearney states, “Larry has been successful since the day he joined the company in 1992. He has developed great relationships internally as well as throughout the advertising community. We are very fortunate that Larry is bringing his strategic and creative expertise to Los Angeles.” Blumhagen remarks that he is “very excited” to have the opportunity “to work with some of the most legendary brands in broadcasting,” and that he is “fortunate to continue to work with CBS Radio.” Past credits for University of Oregon alum Blumhagen include being general sales manager of Portland adult alternative KINK (2001 – 2006). CBS Radio Los Angeles properties include mainstream CHR KAMP “Amp Radio”; adult hits KCBS-FM “Jack-FM”; all-news KNX; alternative KROQ; classic hits-oldies KRTH “K-Earth 101”; and smooth AC KTWV “The Wave.”

Odds & Sods. Last weekend, Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters presented its annual awards at a luncheon in Charlottesville and Hubbard Radio’s WTOP, Washington picked up five honors – four superior and one meritorious. WTOP reporter Andrew Mollenbeck was awarded superior in the Best Documentary or In-Depth Report category for “New Arrivals,” reporter Megan Cloherty meritorious in the Best Feature or Human Interest category for “A Typical Day Turned Deadly,” and Chris Core superior for “Core Values” in the Best Editorial or Editorial Series category. The WTOP Newsroom also received superior awards for the following: Best Coverage of a Spot News Story – “The Bob McDonnell Verdict”; and Best Coverage of a Continuing News Story – “The Search for Hannah Graham.”…..The Philadelphia Eagles and CBS RADIO-owned sports talker WIP, Philadelphia “SportsRadio 94WIP” renew their deal for the station to serve as flagship for Eagles play-by-play for years to come. The agreement also includes new elements such as an HD Radio station devoted exclusively to the Eagles 24/7 with year-round programming. CBS RADIO Philadelphia stations have carried play-by-play coverage of the Eagles since 1992. Eagles radio announcers Merrill Reese, the NFL’s longest tenured play-by-play announcer, and former Eagles All-Pro wide receiver Mike Quick will continue to provide commentary of the games…..All-Pro receiver Steve Smith, currently with the Baltimore Ravens – is joining the roster of expert hosts on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Smith will host “The Opening Drive” alongside co-host Bob Papa every other Wednesday live from 7:00 to 11:00 am ET.

Cool Job Opportunity. KKOH, Reno needs a full-time talk show producer and on-air operator with mad skills who can do it all: run the studio, screen calls, schedule guests, research topics, locate/edit audio, post content to social media, update the website, maintain podcasts, create promos and work with a well-established team. The ideal candidate has on-air experience and passion for the news and important issues of the day, plus the ability to multi-task, handle stress and deadlines. We’re a conservative talker, but it isn’t just about politics. It helps if you don’t mind crazy hours, too. Reply with resume and air check to renoradio.jobs@cumulus.com. EOE.

WCKG, Elmhust, Illinois Teams with High School Station to Create ‘Study Hall Radio.’ An award-winning Chicago-area high school radio station – WLTL, La Grange (serving Lyons Township) – is working with commercial talk radio station WCKG, Elmhurst to produce: Study Hall Radio” that will air on WCKG on Saturdays at 2:00 pm. Student broadcasters, under the guidance of faculty advisor Chris Thomas, will feature student reporters, interviewers and more. Thomas says, “WLTL’s student broadcasters are generating the topics, researching and reporting the stories and conducting the interviews. I am just the person helping to put all of the pieces together and making connections for the listening audience as to why adults should care about what is on the minds of students today.” The April 4 premiere episode will focus on driving and teenagers. Additional programs are planned to cover topics such as prom and dating, graduation and summer plans, jobs and activities for teenagers. The purpose of each program will be to inform Suburban Chicago listeners of what is happening at the high school level, and how and why it affects our community.

Religious Freedom Act Controversy, Obama-Netanyahu Relationship, 2016 Presidential Prospects, Iran Nuclear Program Negotiations, Hillary Clinton Email Case, ISIS Violence, Germanwings Flight 9525 Investigation, and NCAA Hoops Tourney Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (3/30). The political controversy in Indiana over the implementation of that state’s religious freedom act; the strained relationship between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; the potential candidates for president in 2016; the ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program; the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of her private email for State Department business; the battle against ISIS; the state of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz and the downing of Germanwings Flight 9525; and March Madness were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Monday, February 9, 2015

TALKERS | February 9, 2015

WMAL, Washington Tower Site Up for Sale. Perhaps more valuable than the signals and the radio formats themselves, is the real estate upon which sit so many of the towers of America’s heritage AM stations. A report in The Sentinel, says Cumulus Media is now accepting offers on the Bethesda, Maryland site of its WMAL, Washington transmitter through March 12. Local real estate experts tell the paper the 75-acre piece of land in one of the toniest suburbs of DC should fetch “hundreds of millions” of dollars. The brokerage firm CBRE Group, Inc.’s SVP John Sheridan says, “Seventy-five acres in Bethesda. You don’t need to say anything more than that. It is a huge parcel of land with some of the highest income demographics. There’s the potential to build 300 or more homes.” In 2014, Cumulus put the 10-acre parcel of land occupied by KABC and KLOS transmitters in Los Angeles up for sale and that is going to command $125 million.

Beers Becomes Equity Partner, Board Member at Business Rockstars. Saying that his arrival will “bring the attention of the television and media community to the company’s broadcast, mobile and social platforms,” Business Rockstars announces multimedia CEO Thom Beers joins the board of directors for the company as well as making an equity investment in it. Beers is CEO of FremantleMedia North America. He’s a two-time Emmy Award-winning producer who brings 25 years of experience and success to Business Rockstars, producing some of the most recognizable TV shows such as: “American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent,” “The Price is Right” and “Family Feud,” plus multiple shows on the Discovery Channel and the A&E family of networks. Beers joins Steve Lehman, chairman of Business Rockstars and former CEO of Premiere Networks, along with co-founder and president Ken Rutkowski, as well as their recent addition, Andy Schuon, co-founder of REVOLT Media & TV. Beers comments, “People like to follow ‘smart money,’ and my investment is a strong endorsement and recognition of the platform, and partners of Business Rockstars. By leveraging television content and major media relationships, Business Rockstars will surely continue to grow and reach their goals. I’m glad to be part of their bright future.” The company says that Beers’ investment presents much opportunity to Business Rockstars as it plans to align with a major TV company for possible future content. Steve Lehman adds, “Thom Beers is a Rockstar. He is one of the brightest guys in TV today. He’s intuitive, smart and will be a huge asset in helping to expand our TV and Over-the-Top content platform.”

WTKS-FM, Orlando’s Russ Rollins Served Divorce Papers on the Air. The “Monsters in the Morning” program heard on iHeartMedia’s WTKS “Real Radio 104.1” has been headed by ringmaster Russ Rollins since its inception and the show’s cast members have always “lived their lives on the air.” A classic example of that was when Rollins was recently served divorce papers while on the air. Whether Rollins knew about the coming papers or not is in question – the process server indicates Rollins chose the time and place to receive the papers – but the show has posted video of the papers being served on its website and Rollins appears surprised. Although Rollins’ estranged wife claims in the papers that Rollins physically abused her, his attorney tells WFTV-TV, Orlando that the police were called to Rollins’ home at one point but they investigated and have filed no charges.

Triplett Named DOS at Beasley Tampa Bay Cluster. The newly acquired Beasley Media Group Tampa Bay cluster names Steve Triplett director of sales. The cluster consists of: WYUU “92.5 MAX!MA”; WBRN, “BUBBA 98.7”; WQYK, “Tampa Bay’s Country Station 99.5”; WRBQ “Q105”; WLLD “WiLD 94.1”; and WHFS-AM, “Money Talk 1010.” Triplett comes to Beasley from his most recent gig as president and founder of the marketing firm Contact Media Inc.

Odds & Sods. At iHeartMedia’s Des Moines sports talker KXNO, a realignment of personalities takes place with Chris Williams and Ross Peterson being named the afternoon drive team. The new “Morning Rush” show will consist of Heather Burnside and Travis Justice…..Meanwhile, across town at Cumulus Media’s sports talker KBGG “The Champ,” Marty Tirrell and Ken Miller – as has been reported in recent weeks – will reunite to host the afternoon drive program beginning today (2/9). Tirrell and Miller first began working as a team at KXNO in the mid-1990s…..Mark Grote is named host of the pre- and post-game shows for Chicago Cubs broadcasts on all-news WBBM-AM. Grote, who has been with the CBS RADIO Chicago station group since 2002 and is sports anchor on WSCR’s “Mully & Hanley” program, is also expected to appear on sports talk WSCR regularly as a Cubs reporter, according to a story in the Chicago Tribune.

Monday, October 27, 2014

TALKERS | October 27, 2014

WDBO-FM, Orlando Morning Host Joe Kelley Sidelined by Enterovirus D68. The morning drive personality posted his status on the WDBO-FM, Orlando “News 96.5” website confirming he’s been diagnosed with the Enterovirus D68. Joe Kelley was admitted to the hospital on Friday, October 17 and has been in an isolation ward since his diagnosis. As you might suspect, Kelley was questioned about whether he traveled to West Africa because the flu-like symptoms were similar to those exhibited by Ebola patients. Read what Kelley has to say about what he’s been going through here.

WPHT, Philadelphia Re-Signs Dom Giordano. Philadelphia talk radio host Dom Giordano signs a multi-year deal to remain with CBS RADIO’s WPHT “Talk Radio 1210.” The station says Giordano will continue to host his 9:00 am to 12:00 noon daily show. CBS Philly SVP Marc Rayfield comments, “Dom has been a staple of Philadelphia talk radio for over 25 years and is a cornerstone of WPHT. We are pleased that Dom will be with us for years to come.”

Stitcher Acquired by Deezer. The San Francisco-based digital spoken-word audio aggregator Stitcher is being acquired by French digital audio service Deezer. The financial terms of the acquisition are not being announced. Deezer offers about 35 million music tracks and has about 16 million monthly active users around the world. Meanwhile, Stitcher has 1.5 million registered users. According to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle, the deal will give Deezer the rights to deliver some 35,000 talk shows and spoken-word podcasts to its users. Deezer North America CEO Tyler Goldman says, “About 35 percent of terrestrial radio listening is non-music. We thought it was an important offering to provide to our users.” The story reports that Deezer will keep Stitcher a separate company and its 23 employees will remain with it.

Westwood One Announces Staff Hires for News Network. As Westwood One continues to build its eponymous news network that is set to debut at the end of the year, the syndicator announces the addition of several news pros joining the project. They include: CNN correspondent Steve Kastenbaum who is joining to serve as senior correspondent and New York bureau chief; Bob Costantini of NBC News Radio becomes the network’s Washington correspondent; veteran CNN broadcast journalist Jim Roope will be the network’s West Coast correspondent based in Los Angeles and Alan Scaia will serve as the Midwest reporter, based in Dallas.

Sayfie Review Debuts Sites for New York, California and Texas. Some talk radio broadcasters are already aware of the Sayfie Review – a digital news service that has operated in Florida that is described as “a 12-year-old, award-winning, must-read Florida political news website that is beloved by Florida’s top political and opinion leaders.” It’s also been a resource for radio hosts and producers in the Sunshine State. Now, Sayfie is expanding to provide a similar service in New York, California, and Texas. The sites are Drudge Report-like in that they are aggregators of political news. The company – founded by Ft. Lauderdale-based attorney Justin J. Sayfie – promises that “Sayfie Review New York, California and Texas will each continuously curate political and public policy news items from dozens and dozens of state political news sources, including major news outlets, top political blogs, editorial boards, featured columnists and influential Twitter users.” See the sites at: SayfieReviewNewYork, SayfieReviewCalifornia, and SayfieReviewTexas.

WalletHub.com Ranks Most and Least Politically Engaged States. In what could be an indicator of both the potential for political advertising as well as interest in politically oriented news/talk radio, the site WalletHub.com releases its study detailing what it considers the most and least politically engaged states in the country. WalletHub defines itself as “a one-stop destination for all the tools and information consumers and small business owners need to make better financial decisions and save money.” Saying it has analyzed the 50 states plus Washington, DC across six key metrics, WalletHub finds Massachusetts the most politically engaged state and West Virginia the least. The site reports that only 14.8% of registered voters have taken part in the first 25 primary elections held this year. See more from the study here.

Odds & Sods. The nationally syndicated program “The Money Pit” is celebrating its 15^th year in syndication. The two-hour call-in show is heard on more than 335 affiliate stations and is co-hosted by Tom Kraeutler (left) and Leslie Segrete (right)…..At the Queen B Radio’s five-station group that serves the southwest Wisconsin area, Steve Hemmer is named news director. Hemmer will be in charge of news operations at the three stations licensed to Platteville and the two licensed to Lancaster, Wisconsin (which also serve the Dubuque, Iowa market).

TRN’s Jerry Doyle Expands Epic Times Site. Nationally syndicated talk show host Jerry Doyle announces his EpicTimes digital news network is launching a new platform that includes additional contributors to the site that also provides aggregation of audio, video, social media, articles, blogs, photo-galleries, and more. Joining EpicTimes are John Layfield (a.k.a. John Bradshaw Layfield or JBL) and Michael Cole, best known for their work on “WWE Monday Night Raw” and “Friday Night Smackdown.” EpicTimes was founded by Talk Radio Network personality Jerry Doyle and is run by CEO Elaine Kunda.

KFTK, St. Louis Awards Cash to “School Spirit” Contest Winner. This year’s 2nd Annual FM NewsTalk 97.1 School Spirit Award goes to St. Agatha School of New Athens, Illinois for receiving the most votes during the contest. The school was presented $5,000 to spend as it sees fit. Pictured here are (from left to right): ): KFTK’s Denys Schaefer, St. Agatha principal Sarah Lanham, St. Agatha parents David and Leslie Graw, and KFTK morning host Jamie Allman. Lanham says, “We’re so grateful. I want to purchase a new double water fountain for the school. Right now we have one water fountain in the hallway and we have about 50 kids in those services. After recess, we can have a line of up to 20 kids waiting for water.” She says she’ll ask St. Agatha parents for ideas on how they would like to use the rest of the money since the victory was a group effort.

A Pig in a Pen. Well, actually the “pen” is WRVA, Richmond afternoon host Jeff Katz’s office. The pig seen here is Tucker and he’s a source of local controversy. A local family keeps Tucker as a pet but neighbors insist he’s livestock and violates the local zoning regulations. WRVA morning drive host Jimmy Barrett recently had Tucker and his owners on the air to discuss the matter (Tucker himself has been silent on the issue). Barrett says, “I’m a sucker for Tucker.” But Katz says the only question he has about Tucker is, “Should the BBQ sauce be vinegar or ketchup based?”

Thursday, October 23, 2014

TALKERS | October 23, 2014

Dick Morris to Leave WPHT, Philadelphia Talk Show. The notorious political operative has been hosting the afternoon drive program on CBS RADIO’s WPHT, Philadelphia for the past 18 months, but now informs the company he will exit after the mid-term elections to return to the political campaign business, focusing on assisting Republicans in 2016. Dick Morris made the announcement on his Wednesday program and the Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that CBS RADIO Philly SVP and market manager Marc Rayfield says, “He has done a great job for WPHT and we knew his busy schedule might one day make doing a daily radio show difficult.” Rayfield expects to have news of the station’s plans for the daypart as soon as next week. Philadelphia talk radio pro Gary R’nel co-hosts the 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm show alongside Morris and has been a largely unsung component of the program’s professional smoothness and appeal. Also, it is reported in the Daily News story that noted media consultant Walter Sabo has been seen at the station in recent weeks and has even recently hosted several talk programs during nighttime hours under a fictitious name – fueling speculation that the Sabo Media CEO is either involved in the station as a consultant or even more provocatively as a potential replacement for an on-air talent opening. Although Sabo’s involvement is officially denied by CBS market management, TALKERS magazine editorial intelligence indicates it is not unusual for well-known programming consultants to occasionally moonlight as fill-in talent simply for the sake of keeping their first-hand “feel” for the format active… or as is likely in the case of Sabo, simply for the fun of it. Regarding developments at WPHT, Walter Sabo tells TALKERS, “Under [OM] Andy Bloom and [PD] Jared Hart, WPHT has become a dynamic, Philadelphia radio station. They’ve made a series of great decisions, they will make the right one again.”

New Local Show to Debut on WHBO, Tampa and WHOO, Orlando. The two sports talk stations are operated by Genesis Communications and, although they carry the slogan “The Team,” are branded collectively along with the website of the same name, “Sports Talk Florida.” Now the simulcast adds a new local show to the program lineup. Debuting in the 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm slot is “The Front Office,” hosted by Tom Veit, a.k.a. The GM. The station says the program “will take a unique look at the Central Florida sports world giving listeners the perspective from those that make the deals and the sports insiders that know how they’re made. Veit is a seasoned sports executive with over 25 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry.” Veit comments, “With 10 major professional sports teams and seven all sport Division I collegiate programs in Florida, there needs to be a place during the midday to talk local sports. Every day there will be passionate debates on the hot topics. After spending so many years working in the Central Florida sports scene, the one thing I know is that there is passion from every point of view.”

Westwood One’s Unique Fourth Down. Pro football fans this Sunday (10/26) will experience either pure nirvana or pigskin overkill when Westwood One airs four consecutive NFL games. The league’s “International Series” affair between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons from London’s Wembley Stadium kicks off the coverage, beginning at 9:00 am (ET). Assigned to that contest are Dave Sims and Mark Malone. Kevin Lee and Ross Tucker will call the Houston Texans versus Tennessee Titans game, which starts at 12:30 pm (ET). Immediately following, the Philadelphia Eagles play the Arizona Cardinals, with Tom McCarthy and Rod Woodson handling play-by-play and analysis duties, respectively. Wrapping up Westwood One’s quadruple-header marathon is the 7:30 pm (ET) tussle between the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, with Kevin Kugler, James Lofton, and Chris Doering doing the broadcasting honors.

On the Scene in Ottawa. As Canada deals with the attacks at the country’s National War Memorial and Parliament that happened on Tuesday, ABC News Radio‘s Aaron Katersky is on the scene. He’s pictured here just down the road from the Parliament building in Ottawa reporting after Michael Zehaf-Bibeau killed Canadian Army reservist Nathan Cirillo who was serving as a guard at the capitol.

Michael Brown Autopsy Report/Ferguson Tensions, Mid-Term Elections, Ebola Pandemic Threat, Monica Lewinsky Speech, Canadian Killings, Battle Against ISIS, and Renee Zellweger Flap Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (10/22). The unofficial release of the autopsy report on Michael Brown indicating he was shot at close range and the tensions in Ferguson, Missouri; the looming mid-term elections and speculation about a majority change in the Senate; the Ebola pandemic threat and the Obama Administration’s response; the revisiting of the Monica Lewinsky–Bill Clinton affair after Lewinsky’s recent speech blaming the Drudge Report for “ruining” her life; the recent killings in Canada related to homegrown “jihadists”; the coalition battle against ISIS in Iraq; and the flap over actress Renee Zellweger’s changed appearance were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

TALKERS | September 4, 2014

Comedienne and Talk Host Joan Rivers Dead at 81. Media personality Joan Rivers will be remembered for her work as a comedienne – most notably for her acerbic red carpet commentary shows and her long stint guest hosting “The Tonight Show” for Johnny Carson – but she was also a radio talk show host who worked for five years both on WOR, New York and the WOR Radio Network. Former WOR program director David Bernstein – who now serves as GM of TALKERS broadcast operations – hired Rivers for her radio gig to replace Barry Gray at the station. Bernstein says, “Joan loved radio. She understood that timing in comedy translates differently on radio than on TV, or any other medium. And she let me teach. She was hungry to conquer a new medium.” Bernstein says Rivers was unlike stars from other media who dabble in radio. “She may have been the hardest-working person I’ve ever supervised. She showed up at the station to do her show even while on vacation. I asked her, ‘What are you doing here?’ She said, ‘My plane came in early, so why not work? I love being on the radio!’” He says Rivers was also very generous to those around her at the radio station. “She filled in for me in Providence at WPRO. She came to Rhode Island, bought lunch for the entire six-station cluster and did every TV interview I could set up. She also hosted Rush’s show for one of the weeks he was out. She knew she’d upset the apple cart, and that pleased her.” Bernstein says managing Rivers left him with no end of funny stories. “I had to tell her she can’t have her nails done during the show because she is not close enough to the mic, not to mention it screws up her concentration. But, perhaps that most memorable night was when she came in for her show straight from cosmetic surgery, and was…uh, unable to do a comprehensive show. I pulled her off after the first break, and instead of anger, she expressed gratitude that I protected her image by taking her off the air that night. As you can imagine, her language had always been an issue. After three bad words, I had to suspend her for a week. Although she was angry, I convinced her that she should go on the media tour to discuss the FCC language rules, and she hit “Entertainment Tonight,” “The Today Show,” “Larry King Live” and a slew of others. It was a Joan Rivers bonanza – great press for WOR – all thanks to Joan’s skilled use of the word ‘shit.’”

Sean Hannity to Lead WDBO-FM, Orlando Live Event. The live stage production is being called “Red, White, & Truth: Solutions for America,” and is presented by Cox Media Group-owned news/talk WDBO-FM, Orlando “News 96.5.” It will take place October 30 at the CFE Arena at the University of Central Florida. Premiere Networks and Fox News Channel star Sean Hannity, along with Radio America-syndicated personality Dana Loesch, Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade and talk host Herman Cain will present “a dynamic on-stage discussion about current issues in the news, including the 2014 Florida Congressional Gubernatorial races.” Listeners can buy tickets starting at $25 and have the option of a VIP experience that includes a meet-and-greet plus photo op with the hosts. “News 96.5” program director Drew Anderssen says, “We often tell our listeners, ‘when we’re not doing the news, we’re talking about the news,’ and this event gives listeners an opportunity to engage with our hosts in a live, interactive setting, to hear their off-the-cuff remarks on major topics affecting the nation and Central Florida.”

Spencer Hughes Exits KSFO, San Francisco. After a six month stint hosting the late morning show on Cumulus Media’s KSFO, San Francisco, talk personality Spencer Hughes resigns from the station. On his Facebook page and website, Hughes says he refuses to be negative about his departure from the station and says, in part, “I am at peace with my departure from KSFO. It was the home of my talk radio debut back on December 31, 1994. I worked and befriended some of the biggest legends in the business. This New Year’s Eve would have been my 20th anniversary hosting the Spencer Hughes show and I had always envisioned it would be behind the mic of the station that gave birth to my vision and dream 20 years ago.” Hughes promises fans his show will be back “even bigger and better.”

Nielsen Audio Today: 68% of Americans Hear Network Radio. The latest Nielsen “Audio Today Report” indicates that nearly seven in 10 Americans – 68% — are reached by network radio that emanates from such distributors as AdLarge Media, American Urban Radio Networks, Crystal Media Networks, Premiere Networks, United Stations Radio Networks and Westwood One. Among the data Nielsen reports includes: Listeners reached by these networks are highly qualified consumers — 74% of all full-time workers listen to network radio; 69% of those with household incomes over $75,000 per year listen to network radio and 66% of college graduates tune in each week, too. Nielsen also says the study indicates 51.5 million Millennials are “engaging with network radio.” Read the entire study here.

Steve Gallagher Launches Creative Talent, Inc. Longtime broadcasting executive Steve Gallagher announces the formation of Creative Talent, Inc. – a broadcast talent agency focused on talent, content management and representation. Most recently, Gallagher was an EVP with Sun Broadcast Group. He says in a statement, “We are in a new age and never before has the power of the personality and content creator been more important. Never before have there been more platforms, distribution channels and opportunities for all creative talent to advance. At Creative Talent, we are committed to representing the most talented personalities and content creation companies and provide them with the individual attention for them to amass huge success and reach their full potential. At the same time, Gallagher announces his company has formed a strategic alliance with ConnectPal – the platform recently debuted by talk media personality Andy Dean. Dean comments, “Steve Gallagher gets it. Steve is a forward thinker and his great talent relationships are the key to unlocking the future of content distribution. I am extremely excited to work with Steve and Creative Talent, Inc.”

Premiere Networks and DirecTV Renew Dan Patrick Deal. The agreement between Clear Channel’s Premiere Networks and DirecTV for the Dan Patrick sports talk show is renewed, though the term of the deal is not announced. The pact means Premiere Networks will continue providing exclusive ad sales representation and radio distribution for the show and it will continue to be part of the Fox Sports Radio Network lineup.

Round Two of August PPM Data Released. The second of four rounds of August 2014 PPM data from Nielsen Audio has been released for 12 markets including: Washington, Boston, Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period was July 17 through August 13. TALKERS magazine’s sister publication RadioInfo has all of the numbers from subscribing stations here. In addition, managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his “Ten Takeaways” from this batch of ratings on the main page at RadioInfo.com here.

Michael Bloomberg Returns to Bloomberg LP. Nine months after leaving the New York City mayor’s office, Michael Bloomberg has a renewed presence at news organization Bloomberg LP. At the end of this year, current president and CEO Daniel Doctoroff will exit the company and it’s being reported by USA Today that Bloomberg will not seek an immediate successor to Doctoroff but will run the company with the assistance of other company executives. Doctoroff is a close friend of Bloomberg and served as Deputy Mayor until 2008 when he left to become president of Bloomberg LP. He became CEO in 2011. Though the two deny there is any bad blood between them over Bloomberg’s return to the company, it’s being reported that Doctoroff was irked by Bloomberg’s becoming involved again in day-to-day operations.

Odds & Sods. WFAS-AM, White Plains, New York talk show host Lisa Wexler is now heard on WGCH, Greenwich, Connecticut as the 4:00 pm hour of her program is being simulcast on the station…..Hubbard Radio’s WTOP, Washington and WTOP.com become the first U.S. radio partner to enter into an agreement with the Waze Broadcast Program – a network of news media using the Waze navigation service’s real-time information to supplement their traffic reporting. The partnership will allow the WTOP traffic department access to a special version of the Waze app to help reporters identify, capture and report the most newsworthy incidents in real-time. In exchange, WTOP is branding Waze user content when the information is incorporated into reports…..WING-AM, Dayton “ESPN Radio 1410” is adding another hour to the program “Dayton Sports Scene with Mark Neal” — doubling the show to two hours. Alpha Media reports the new show time — from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm — comes as the result of Alpha Media’s recent entry into the Dayton market with the commitment of more “live and local” programming.

‘We’ll Miss You, Ann.’ Those are the words on the cake you see being presented to retiring ABC News Radio White House correspondent Ann Compton aboard Air Force 1. She was toasted in the press cabin en route to Estonia yesterday morning and treated to the rich, chocolate layer cake in celebration of her final flight after 41 years. Upon landing, Ann was invited for a private visit to the front cabin with President Obama. She was given a peek at his private quarters – complete with double-sink bathroom, full shower, and living area — which Ann says still looks the same as when President George H.W. Bush gave her a tour back when the Boeing 747 had its first presidential flight 20 years ago!

Cool Job Opportunity. If you love pro sports, have the passion to sell and have a track record of winning, WTMJ Radio may have the opportunity for you. WTMJ has a rare opening in its sports marketing group for a sports account manager to drive revenue for flagship WTMJ’s Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers broadcast partnerships. Connect with WTMJ’s director of sales, Tom Sheridan at tsheridan@jrn.com and let him know how you can play a big role on a winning team.

US-UK’s NATO Tactic Against ISIS/Journalist Beheadings, Russia-Ukraine Military Tensions, Hacked Naked Celeb Pics/Apple iCloud Troubles, Mid-Term Elections/2016 Presidential Prospects, Ebola Virus Pandemic Threat, Ferguson PD to Be Investigated by Justice Department, and Start of NFL Season Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (9/3). The US and UK’s plans to seek a NATO coalition to fight ISIS and the beheadings of American journalists; the ongoing military tensions between Ukrainian forces and Russia; the controversy over the hacking of celebrities’ naked photos and questions about the security of Apple’s iCloud; the looming mid-term elections and prospects for the 2016 presidential race; the threat of an Ebola virus pandemic; the U.S. Justice Department’s plan to investigate the Ferguson, Missouri police department; and the start of the NFL season were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

TALKERS | August 5, 2014

Sean Hannity Broadcasts from Israel. Nationally syndicated talk radio superstar (and Fox News Channel prime time personality) Sean Hannity broadcasts his Premiere Networks-syndicated radio program from a radio station in Tel Aviv (left) while touring Israel to report on the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hannity will host his show from Israel again today (8/5) before returning to the United States. Premiere reports that on his program Hannity has been reporting on numerous aspects of the conflict including “the Iron Dome anti-missile technology protecting the country from militant rockets, the Hamas tunnels used to capture and kill Israelis, what life is like there under constant threat, and more.” At right, Hannity (center, in denim) is pictured standing on a military-style bulldozer interviewing Israeli troops near the Gaza border.

Dr. Joy Browne Returns to the Air in NYC. Formerly based at crosstown WOR, New York (and syndicated from Buckley Broadcasting’s old WOR Radio Network for many years), Dr. Joy Browne is now heard in New York again via Salem Communications WNYM, “AM 970 The Answer.” WNYM VP and general manager Jerry Crowley says, “Joy is a consummate radio pro. Her show was consistently one of the most talked about shows on WOR. Her voice was prematurely silenced across the street, as was John Gambling’s, and it is my pleasure to allow her many fans to find her again.” Browne’s show is currently syndicated via Radio America. She comments, “I am beyond thrilled to be back on the air in New York and working with John Gambling and Jerry Crowley and Lou Dobbs again makes it feel like coming home. We have been besieged by listeners who wanted to know where I went and how to find me, and now they will know.” Salem Communications market VP Phil Boyce adds, “The talk radio format is nothing without superstars who have built that unique bond with their audience. Not all stations understand that anymore, so we are able to make that happen on our New York stations. The addition of Joy Browne proves that.”

Trimmer to Program WRVA and WRNL, Richmond. Moving from Clear Channel’s Rochester, New York cluster where he programmed news/talk WHAM and sports talker WHTK “Sports 1280,” is Aaron Trimmer who heads south to the company’s Richmond, Virginia station group to serve as director of programming for news/talk WRVA and sports talk WRNL-AM. Trimmer – a Richmond native – takes over for PD Jimmy Barrett who now focuses on his WRVA morning drive hosting responsibilities.

Entercom Q2 Revenue Dips 1%. Considering the recent Q2 financial reports by some other broadcasters, the 1% drop in net revenue could be considered a plus. Entercom’s revenue was $100.2 million during the second quarter of 2014. The company reported that free cash flow decreased 21% to $15 million. Entercom CEO David Field states, “Revenue declined 1% from the prior year as results were impacted by sluggish business conditions during the quarter. Operationally, we continue to focus on developing our powerful local brands, content and digital capabilities and building our new SmartReach Digital division. These efforts are enhancing our value to listeners and customers and raising our growth potential. Broadcast radio fundamentals are strong with growing, massive audience reach and a superior ROI to competitive forms of media.” Entercom reduced its outstanding debt by $4.1 million (net of cash) during the quarter. As of June 30, 2014, the company had $7.1 million in cash and $489.8 million of senior debt and senior notes.

Pandora Eyeing Talk and Sports Formats. In an interview with Sonali Basak for Bloomberg, Pandora CFO Michael Herring hints the company is planning to add talk and sports talk content to its service, though the type of content and when it might appear on Pandora is not known at this time. Herring points to the popularity of talk and sports by commuters in autos as the reason for his company’s interest in the formats. “Music’s an important piece of radio listening in the car, but if there’s a place where spoken word is also equally, and more important really, it’s in the car…As the car becomes more important, thinking about other types of content that are important for the car becomes more critical. That’s why Sirius spends so much money on Howard Stern, sports and news.” Basak reports that Pandora is currently available in about 33% of cars while SiriusXM can be accessed in about 71% of autos. Usage by Pandora listeners in cars rose from about 2.5 million people during the second quarter of 2013 to about 7 million during the second quarter of 2014. Read the entire Bloomberg piece here.

Hofstra University’s WRHU Named College Station of the Year. The student-operated station WRHU, Hempstead, New York “88.7 FM Radio Hofstra University” has been named the best college station in the country, according to The Princeton Review. The publication rates colleges in America and, as part of that, also ranks college radio stations. Hofstra University’s WRHU came in #1 this year after being ranked #5 last year. The station is the flagship radio outlet for the NHL’s New York Islanders since 2010 and is the first and only college radio station to have an exclusive broadcasting agreement with a professional sports team. WRHU is a finalist for a prestigious 2014 Marconi Radio Award from the NAB as the top non-commercial station in the country. The station’s reporters have won top honors from the New York Associated Press Association, the Press Club of Long Island, the Society of Professional Journalists and New York Women in Communications. TALKERS/RadioInfo publisher Michael Harrison, who began his illustrious radio career on WRHU (when it was still using the call letters WVHC) and is a charter inductee of the WRHU Hall of Fame, states, “I am so proud of this great radio station’s progress and accomplishments over the years since I first broadcast there in 1967. This ranking is a tribute to the fantastic faculty staff running the operation and to the entire Communications Department at Hofstra which, in my opinion, is second to none in American academia.” Harrison sits on the Hofstra University Department of Communication advisory board.

KMG Networks’ Krantz to Work with Sun Broadcast Group. A new partnership struck by Sun Broadcast Group and Krantz Media Group/KMG Networks will have KMG president and CEO Gary Krantz joining SBG as strategic advisor. The companies say that “together, Sun and KMG will focus on new initiatives in content, digital, and services to superserve media partners in the audio entertainment sector. These exciting new opportunities will be separate initiatives from existing and planned partnerships that Sun and KMG are involved with, respectively.” SBG CEO Jason Bailey adds, “Gary and I have known each other for years and have always shared the same exciting vision for this industry. With all that’s going on in the network radio space there are countless opportunities to make a real difference with amazing program partners who share our passion for change. I’m stoked to work more closely with KMG on a professional basis in advancing our mission to make radio an experience for a whole new generation.”

Round One of July PPM Data Released. The first of four rounds of July 2014 PPM data from Nielsen Audio has been released for 12 markets including: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The survey period was June 19 through July 16. TALKERS magazine’s sister publication RadioInfo has all of the numbers from subscribing stations here. In addition, managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his “Ten Takeaways” from this batch of ratings on the main page at RadioInfo.com here.

Odds & Sods. Talk radio personality Bradlee Dean, host of the “Sons of Liberty” syndicated radio series, has been honored with the Education Liberty Award from the Education Liberty Coalition for his appearances on their behalf at some 350 high schools in 24 states nationwide. Among the goals which Dean has been promoting is ELC’s campaign for students to study at their own instructional level and for parents to make school choices for their children. Dean’s most recent stop was in Marietta, Georgia…..Genesis Communications‘ sports platform – Sports Talk Florida – is providing “exclusive coverage” of Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp complete with live practice updates, video interviews, and behind-the-scenes developments with reporters Jenna Laine and Amanda Borges. Genesis says that its digital platform, along with the affiliated radio stations WHOO, Orlando and WHBO, Tampa, are keeping Bucs fans informed. The company says, “With a plethora of exclusive photos, written articles and video content covering the Buccaneers, Sports Talk Florida leads the way in merging radio, web-based media, mobile sharing and social media.”

Israel-Hamas Violence, ISIS Iraq Campaign, Ebola Outbreak Scare, Mid-Term Elections/2016 Presidential Race, Immigration Reform/Southwest Border Crisis, Russian Ukraine Aggression, and James Brady Dies Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (8/4). The ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip; the continuing campaign by ISIS to create a caliphate in Iraq and Syria; the threat of the Ebola virus as a possible pandemic; the looming mid-term elections and the possible candidates for president in 2016; the battle in Washington over immigration policies and the border crisis in the Southwest; Russia’s support of Ukrainian rebels and the probe of the downing of Flight 17; and the death of Reagan Administration Press Secretary and anti-gun crusader James Brady were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Monday, August 4, 2014

TALKERS | August 4, 2014

Talk Host Ethan Bearman Brings Microphone to Israel – Reporting Observations on Interested Talk Shows. Forty-eight hours ago rising talk show juggernaut Ethan Bearman – heard locally at KSFO, San Francisco and nationally via GCN — returned from a whirlwind trip to Israel where he gathered first-hand experience regarding the situation on the ground. During his self-sponsored trip, Bearman did a number of live reports from the scene on KSFO as well as his GCN affiliates plus a number of other interested stations around the US. Bearman first visited the front-line cities of Ashkelon and Sderot, observing the conflict in Gaza. He met with citizens and officials on the ground, observed ambulances bringing the wounded to Barzilai Medical Center, and examined an Iron Dome installation. He then travelled to the West Bank. Delving deep into the region he stopped at settlements, a university, and an industrial zone. His final day involved Old City Jerusalem during a Palestinian “Day of Rage” and a trip to Tel Aviv to see the cosmopolitan city and get a read on how the latest escalation of conflict has impacted day-to-day life there. Bearman tells TALKERS, “While on the hill overlooking the fighting in Gaza, I called in to the KSFO morning show. Sheri Yee answered the phone and put me on live with Brian Sussman and Katie Green. While sharing my experiences, a volley of artillery fired. It was so intense, my call was interrupted. After the call, I turned to look toward Gaza.” Bearman continues, “It was here that I felt the stress, this deep emotion, the subconscious recognition of danger, as I observed smoke in the distance, military vehicles nearby, explosions of a terror tunnel being blown up, the earth shaking from howitzers.” Bearman’s interviews originated in the Voice of Israel studios involving top government officials, former ambassadors, soldiers, a pastor, a Meronite IDF soldier, and others. Bearman also interviewed well-known Israeli actress Sendi Bar (pictured above), from the TV series “The Unit” and Israel’s “Prisoners of War,” known to American audiences as “Homeland.” Bearman says the trip showed the truth on the ground to be radically different than what is regularly portrayed in social media and major international media outlets. He expresses gratitude to the US-based organization America’s Voices in Israel and Israel-based group The Face of Israel for facilitating much of his dramatic access to the action and important guests. Ethan Bearman is available to do interviews about the trip and his observations on talk shows and networks this entire week, telling TALKERS, “I did this trip at my own expense for the sole purpose of bringing an American talk radio voice and set of eyes to the action. I am gratified by the number of stations participating in my commentaries.” Interested broadcasters can reach Bearman by phone at 831-531-7131 or via email at ethan@ethanbearman.com.

Florida Talk Host Shannon Burke Debuts on Tampa and Orlando Stations Tonight. After his most recent position as part of the Bubba the Love Sponge syndicated program, Florida talk show host Shannon Burke lands a gig hosting his own program on a pair of signals (actually a trio if you count the translator) in the Sunshine State. Burke’s program begins airing this evening – 7:00 pm to 10: 00 pm on Cox Media Group’s WHPT, Tampa “102.5 The Bone” (Bubba’s home base) and on Star Over Orlando’s sports talk WRSO, Orlando “810 CBS Sports Radio” and its translator W226BT. Burke hosted his own show on Clear Channel’s WTKS, Orlando “Real Radio 104.1” for years. Burke writes on his Facebook page, “After about 90 days of talks and meetings and phone calls I’m happy to finally be able to tell you that starting on Monday at 7pm The Shannon Burke Show will be heard on 102.5 The Bone in Tampa and CBS Sports Radio WRSO Orlando 810am & 93.1FM. Finally I can get some sleep.”

Anthony Cumia’s Internet Show Debuts This Afternoon. A month after being fired by SiriusXM for Tweeting a series of racially charged messages after an altercation with an African American woman in Times Square, Anthony Cumia begins producing his eponymous subscriber-only online video show and podcast today at 4:00 pm. Formerly one half of the Opie & Anthony show with partner Gregg “Opie” Hughes, Cumia tells TheBlaze that he’s completely free of any contractual ties to SiriusXM. “They don’t have a leg to stand on as far as what I want to talk about. I can talk about any of the staff, the management over there — and believe me, I will.” Cumia says in TheBlaze interview that he’s pleased with the number of O&A fans who’ve cancelled their SiriusXM subscriptions as a result of his firing and says the subscriptions to his show have surpassed his initial target. Read the story at TheBlaze here.

George Noory Uses ‘Coast to Coast AM’ to Lead EMP Awareness Campaign. Fearing that enough attention is not being paid to the threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack or event, “Coast to Coast AM” host George Noory is announcing a campaign to protect and insulate the U.S. power grid against such an event that experts say could endanger the lives of millions of Americans. The campaign comes right after the news of a recent report by scientists that Earth narrowly avoided a catastrophic X-class solar flare on July 23, 2012, which Noory reported on “Coast to Coast AM” two years ago. Premiere Networks reports that Noory is working with WND (WorldNetDaily) to support and promote the campaign. Noory will regularly welcome scientific experts and government leaders to his program in an effort to inform the public about the vulnerability of America’s infrastructure and the need to retro fit the U.S. power grid, as well as the steps necessary to reduce the magnitude of an EMP event or attack. Noory states, “I implore all individual states, the president and members of Congress to immediately develop a plan to protect our power grid. The preservation of our great nation and the lives of its people are critical. It is not a matter of if, but when we will experience an EMP event or attack. We need to be ready now. I want to thank WND and Joseph Farah for joining this effort, which is imperative to our future.” Noory began this campaign by welcoming F. Michael Maloof, a former senior security policy analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and author of A Nation Forsaken: EMP: The Escalating Threat of an American Catastrophe, to his show for a two-hour conversation. Maloof, whose book is published by WND, discussed the potential dangers of an EMP event; why only a few members of Congress, the military and scientific community are issuing the warnings; and what we should be doing to protect the U.S. from the devastation of an EMP event or attack. Noory also recently welcomed William R. Forstchen, professor of history and faculty fellow at Montreat College in North Carolina and author of One Second After, to discuss updates on the dangers of an EMP event, as well as steps to prepare.

Tribune Completes Spin-Off of Publishing Division; Tribune Media Company Is Born. The spin-off of the publishing businesses of Tribune Company is complete today and two new entities are born: Tribune Publishing and Tribune Media Company. The latter includes the non-publishing properties including news/talk WGN, Chicago and sports talk WGWG-LP, its online audio platform WGN.fm as well as Tribune Broadcasting, WGN America, Tribune Studios, Tribune Digital Ventures, and Tribune Real Estate. Tribune Media Company president and CEO Peter Liguori says, “In the last year, we have executed a strategy designed to embrace a rapidly changing media environment. We doubled the size of our broadcast group, re-launched our national cable network, WGN America, with high-quality original programming, and expanded our digital businesses that power some of the world’s leading media brands. The result is a rich and diverse portfolio of media properties and the birth today of Tribune Media Company.”

Talkers New York 2014 Videos Are All Posted. After two weeks of daily posting of video recordings of the main sessions, speeches and presentations made during last June’s 17^th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest-running and most important national convention – Talkers New York 2014 — all of the content is now up and available for worldwide viewing on this media station. This amounts to a total of 14 files placed in the actual order that they occurred – starting with Sean Hannity’s opening keynote and concluding with Howard B. Price’s sobering advice for radio to be prepared to function in the public good during times of emergencies. The presentation of these informative and historic recordings is sponsored by WYD Media Sales, LLC., the rep firm recently launched by Ron Hartenbaum and headed by John Murphy, that specializes in the advertising sales of spoken-word media on all popular platforms. To view any or all of this tremendously valuable content at no charge, please click here. The Talkers New York 2014 conference videos were recorded by Art Vuolo. They will remain posted through the remainder of 2014.

When the Going Gets Tough…Blocked from reporting from the Detroit Lions training camp by – as Greater Media puts it – “the other sports talk station in town,” WMGC, Detroit “Detroit Sports 105.1” had to get creative. The station approached Tech Shop Detroit, whose facility borders the Lions practice field, and obtained permission to broadcast from the Tech Shop parking lot. The station then rented a 50-foot scissors lift from NES Rentals. Today, the station’s Ryan and Rico began broadcasting live for the first time from the scissor lift that you can see in the photo here. Photo: Jimmy Kemp.

Odds & Sods. With the demise of Premiere Networks’ carrying of the 24/7 Comedy format, a former affiliate of the format flips back to sports talk. Clear Channel’s WTGM, Salisbury, Maryland returns to sports programming – a format it last aired in 2012…..SiriusXM kicked off its third annual “SiriusXM College Sports Nation Camp Tour” yesterday (8/3) and will broadcast on location from college football training camps over the next 20 days. SiriusXM College Sports Nation hosts on the tour include Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George; former Alabama QB and National Championship winner Greg McElroy; former head coaches Gene Chizik, Houston Nutt and Dan Hawkins; former college coach and NFL GM Phil Savage; plus college football insiders Jack Arute, Mark Packer, Chris Childers and Taylor Zarzour.

Westwood One Kicks Off NFL Broadcast Season at Hall of Fame Weekend. The NFL’s regular season doesn’t begin until September 4 but the pre-season began this past weekend with the Hall of Fame Game between the New York Giants and the Buffalos Bills and the induction of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2014. Pictured here is Westwood One analyst James Lofton (far right) with members of the early-1990s Buffalo Bills. Bills great Andre Reed (third from left) was inducted over the weekend in the class of 2014. The other Bills greats who are already in the Hall of Fame are pictured here (from left to right): Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly, Reed, head coach Marv Levy, Bruce Smith and Lofton.

World Renowned Psychic Star of Talkers New York 2014 Now Available for Radio Interviews. She was one of the most popular figures at the recent Talkers New York 2014 performing so many consecutive healings and readings at a small table in the exhibit area that she didn’t have a moment to even break away for lunch from the long line of attendees seeking a session with her. Kathleen Ann Milner was nothing short of a sensation at the conference on June 20^th and since then TALKERS has been flooded with inquiries requesting information of her whereabouts and if and how she can be contacted for both personal readings and on air interviews. We are pleased now to report that Kathleen Ann Milner is available (at least for the remainder of the summer) to appear via telephone on talk shows. Michael Harrison describes her as “a natural side dish for this medium – one of the best and most credible psychics in the nation for those into that kind of thing.” To contact this unusual woman referred to as a “nice kind of oddity” call 571-926-8158 or visit her website at www.KathleenMilner.com.

Cool Job Opportunity. Clear Channel has a rare opportunity at its New York City station group for a full-time producer for News/Talk 710 WOR-AM. This position is based in Tribeca, New York. Responsibilities include: securing guests to appear on the radio program on an everyday basis, regularly scheduling multiple guests with prior approval of the host; you’ll be assigned the tasks of preliminary and final research information needed for the program, prior to the scheduled appearance of the guests; you’ll need to be confident, knowledgeable about the radio industry itself. Must have good writing skills and have the ability to develop great relationships and contacts; excellent judgment in prioritizing multiple stories and meeting deadlines; knowledge of current events and key local news figures; demonstrate organizational skills and must be flexible to multi-task, shift focus, and re-prioritize as the situation dictates; ability to work independently with minimal supervision and have demonstrated ability to use sound judgment and to make independent decisions; must be experienced in utilizing social media effectively; must have digital editing skills. If you’re overflowing with passion for radio and have a true desire to win and a great sense of team, we want to talk to you. Requirements: Must have 2-4 years hands-on radio producing experience in a medium and/or major market. Bachelor’s degree preferred. For more information and to apply, click here. EOE.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

TALKERS | July 15, 2014

Talkers New York 2014 Videos Begin Posting Today. First Up: Sean Hannity Keynote Address. As promised last week, today (7/15) marks the first day of TALKERS magazine’s video posting of speeches, sessions and presentations made during last month’s 17^th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important national convention – Talkers New York 2014. The presentation of these informative and historic recordings is sponsored by WYD Media Sales, LLC., the rep firm recently launched by Ron Hartenbaum and headed by John Murphy, that specializes in the advertising sales of spoken-word media on all popular platforms. The world-wide showing of these very special videos kicks off today with the event’s powerful keynote address by Premiere Networks and Fox News Channel superstar Sean Hannity. The focus of Hannity’s address is a critical look at the present state of Nielsen Audio ratings which the talk show host strongly suggests do not do an adequate job of rating the true audience of talk radio which is spread across a variety of digital platforms — none of which Hannity claims are presently represented in the giant media research firm’s metrics-gathering system. Hannity told the hundreds of broadcasters in attendance, “Clear Channel pays Nielsen $100 million a year for bad information; Cumulus pays them $50 million a year for crappy information. If we don’t confront the ratings failure that exists today and has not kept up with new technology, we are literally paying for our own demise. It’s madness!” Hannity was joined onstage during his speech by renowned talk radio programmers Phil Boyce, VP of spoken word programming, Salem Communications and Greg Moceri, CEO, Moceri Media. Both men concurred with Hannity’s premise adding their views that today’s distorted ratings picture falls into the hands of people and organizations who use it for political motives to create the false impression that news/talk radio is losing its audience and influence, when the exact opposite is true. To see the entire session, please click here. Coming tomorrow (7/16), WFAN, New York legendary personality Mike Francesa delivering the Talkers New York 2014 sports talk keynote address. The TALKERS conference videos were recorded by Art Vuolo.

Houston Talk Host Matt Patrick to Broadcast from U.S.-Mexico Border. In a series of programs dedicated to the current child immigration crisis, Matt Patrick, host of “Houston’s Morning News” on Clear Channel’s KTRH, Houston “NewsRadio 740,” and “The Matt Patrick Show” on the company’s sister station KPRC, Houston, is visiting the Texas-Mexico border this week. On Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17, Patrick will broadcast both programs live and will broadcast the KTRH show live on Friday as well. Today, Patrick travels to the border to meet with U.S. Border Patrol and local and state officials who deal with border security.

WHJJ, Providence to Air “The Financial Exchange” Show. The WRKO, Boston-based program, “The Financial Exchange with Barry Armstrong and Kim Carrigan,” is being added to the programming lineup at Clear Channel’s WHJJ, Providence beginning July 28. The show airs live from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on WRKO and will be delay broadcast from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on WHJJ. WHJJ program director Bill George comments, “We’re very excited to add ‘The Financial Exchange with Barry Armstrong and Kim Carrigan’ to the ‘NewsRadio 920’ programming lineup. Barry and Kim talk about the economy and its impact on our everyday lives like few radio personalities can. This isn’t just a show about money. From your job, to your home, to planning for your family’s future, it’s about the topics that matter most to people in Southern New England.”

Genesis Communications Launches ‘The Power Hour’ on Florida Sports Talkers. On the company’s sports talk simulcast of WHOO, Orlando and WHBO, Tampa branded “Sports Talk Florida,” Genesis Communications debuts what it’s calling a “sports and pop culture mash-up show titled, “The Power Hour.” Hosted by SportsTalkFlorida.com digital director Matt Sardo, the show “features a lively mixture of athletes, pop culture personalities, and insiders from SportsTalkFlorida.com, all uniting to smash stereotypes and bring a new twist to sports radio.” The show is being co-hosted by Amanda Borges, assistant digital editor of SportsTalkFlorida.com and a self-described “college football junkie and health and fitness freak.” Borges states, “This show is an awesome way to get to know athletes for their strange quirks and hobbies. It’s not every day that you get to talk to tough quarterbacks about their secret love for chick flicks and Taylor Swift.”

Radio Show “Super Session” Headliners: Mason and Pittman. CBS Radio president Dan Mason and Clear Channel chair and chief executive officer Bob Pittman will participate in this year’s Radio Show “Super Session.” NAB executive vice president of radio John David will moderate the “From the Control Room to the Board Room” discussion. One common thread Mason and Pittman share is that the two group heads started in the industry as on-air talents. The session is, therefore, intended to illustrate how their early careers influence current leadership and programming decisions. Produced by the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and the NAB, the Radio Show will be held in two months (9/10 – 12) in Indianapolis. The Mason-Pittman “Super Session” takes place on September 11.

”Super Human Radio” Gets GCN Syndication Deal. Carl Lanore has been broadcasting “Super Human Radio” since 2005. Beginning the middle of next month, Genesis Communications Network (GCN) will begin syndicating the Lanore and Alisa Profumo-hosted program,which is dedicated to providing health, fitness, and longevity tips. GCN owner Ted Anderson comments, “We are very excited to have ‘Super Human Radio’ join the Genesis Communications Network. ‘Super Human Radio’ is a perfect fit for our listeners and will give them great insight into the importance of health and wellness.” According to Lanore, “No matter what religious theology you subscribe to, we have this one life right now and we want to make it the best life we can. We want to live long healthy lives. Something as simple as not getting startled with avoidable disease is our right and not a privilege.” Having weighed more than 300 pounds, Lanore experienced his own major weight-related health issues, however, he transformed himself about 14 years ago. The 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm weekday “Super Human Radio” discusses ways to deal with similar issues for those facing potential complications with weight gain and diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyle.

MMG Slots Sanders as Senior VP/Sales. Former Focus 360 LLC director of strategic development/national accounts Michelle Sanders is appointed Media Management Group’s senior vice president of sales. MMG president and chief executive officer Jeff Schwartz comments that his company “specializes in lifestyle programming that has amassed a large and loyal following both on-air and online. Michelle is absolutely one of the best in the business at explaining the benefits of this targeted content to prospective sponsors.” Sanders remarks, “I am profoundly honored to join the talented team at MMG, a company that is dedicated to developing, promoting, and providing integrative advertising solutions for its nationally syndicated media clients. MMG has shown itself to be able to adapt to the ever-changing media environment, which is critical in today’s marketplace. I am delighted to take on this new role and to be joining MMG at a time when it is positioned for such growth and future success.” Sanders will manage cross-platform advertising sales for MMG Radio Network‘s “The Frommers Travel Show,” “The Pet Show with Warren Eckstein,” “Intelligent Medicine with Dr. Ronald Hoffman,” and “Home Wizards with Cindy Dole and Eric Stromer.” Sanders’ previous background includes an eight-year run with Interep as regional market director.

Odds & Sods. The Syracuse Post Standard is reporting that Syracuse.com community engagement specialist – and former WSKO, Syracuse sports talk personality – Brent Axe will begin hosting a one-hour, daily show titled, “On the Block with Brent Axe,” to air at 5:00 pm on Galaxy Communications-owned simulcast WTLA and W249BC “ESPN Radio 97.7” on August 4…..Detroit public radio host Craig Fahle is exiting Wayne State University-operated outlet WDET-FM and his daily weekday morning program to take a position with the Detroit Land Bank Authority…..Just off her recent gig on ABC TV’s “The View,” controversial celeb Jenny McCarthy will do a limited-run talk show on SiriusXM beginning tomorrow, July 16. The one-hour, weekly program is titled, “Dirty, Sexy, Funny with Jenny McCarthy,” and will feature her “trademark humor and outspoken style to discuss topics such as parenting, sex, dating and marriage.” Celebrity guests will include: Chelsea Handler, Perez Hilton, Jenny’s fiancé Donnie Wahlberg and many others…..CBS RADIO’s all-news KNX, Los Angeles is announcing the next installment in its “Ask the Mayor” series with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Thursday, July 17 at 10:00 am. The show is a live, listener call-in program hosted by KNX anchor Tom Haule and chief investigative reporter Charles Feldman.

‘Cities 92.9’ Bloomington Host Ian Bayne Fights City Gas Tax. Pictured here is WRPW, Bloomington-Normal, Illinois morning drive host Ian Bayne (left) with a listener (right) who’s placed a flamingo on her lawn as part of the Bayne-organized campaign to fight a city gas tax to help fund a flamingo museum in the region. Bayne reports he recently had Mayor Tari Renner on the Pilot Media-owned news/talk station “Cities 92.9” to defend the gas tax hike comment on the flamingo sign campaign. Meanwhile, Bayne says of this effort, “This campaign is just the beginning of a listener revolt here in central Illinois to fight back against government oppression. I have three words for this – yes we can.”

Child Immigration Crisis-Amnesty Proposals, Israel-Hamas Violence, Obama Approval Ratings, Clinton, Inc. Book to Be Released, Elizabeth Warren Presidential Bid Speculation and World Cup Final Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (7/14). The ongoing child immigration crisis in the Southwest and the war of words over immigration reform; the violence between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip; chatter about President Obama’s approval ratings and suggestions he’s losing popularity among Democrats; the soon-to-be-released book about Bill and Hillary Clinton titled, Clinton, Inc.; Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren’s populist message and talk about her presidential candidacy in 2016; and Germany’s victory over Argentina in the World Cup Final were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

TALKERS | July 10, 2014

Power of WTIC, Hartford Key to Prosecutors’ Case Against Former Governor John Rowland. According to a story in the Hartford Courant by Edmund H. Mahoney and John Lender, prosecutors in Connecticut are contending that former Governor John Rowland, who was working as the afternoon drive talk personality on CBS RADIO’s WTIC, Hartford, was “secretly selling the muscle behind his long-running political talk show on” the station when pitching his political consultation services. Rowland is facing conspiracy, obstruction and other charges connected to his setting up of secret consulting contracts. The paper notes that in Connecticut political circles it was known that Rowland’s radio program was used to push his personal agenda, but the court filing is the first time the allegation has been detailed to this degree. Rowland is accused of making a calculated on-air campaign against the political opponent of one of his paying clients. Read the Courant story here.

TALKERS Career Moves. In a promotion for Clear Channel West Palm Beach director of sales Mike Scott, he takes on the new role of regional market manager overseeing the Mobile-Pensacola, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Biloxi and Laurel/Hattiesburg markets for the company. Scott says of his new gig, “I am thrilled to become a part of these five amazing markets — they are filled with great people and fantastic stations. I also owe a big thank you to the incredible West Palm Beach team.”…..Nationally known financial expert and talk show host Chris Markowski is embarking on his first week as host of the new morning show at Genesis Communications-owned Florida news/talk duo WWBA, Tampa and WAMT, Orlando. Markowski is known for his nationally syndicated program, “Watchdog on Wall Street.” He leads the ensemble of personalities including Jenna Laine, most recently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers insider for Sports Talk Florida, news anchor Robert Pankau and entertainment talent Kurt Shriner. Markowski says, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be covering all the important news and events in one of the most important areas in the country – Tampa Bay, Orlando and the entire I-4 corridor.”……NAB nabs FCC chief of technical analysis Robert Weller who is joining the organization to serve as vice president/spectrum policy. With the FCC, Weller has led the group charged with rulemaking and analysis of spectrum policy areas, including radio propagation, interference, RF safety, frequency allotments and new technologies.

No Reissue of PPM Data for Los Angeles. A memo to client stations from Nielsen Audio states that after the completion of an impact analysis relative to the presence of a media-affiliated household in the Los Angeles PPM panel for the past year, it has concluded that a reissue of the ratings beyond what has already been done is unnecessary. The memo states, in part, “After comparing the audience estimates without this home in the panel to those we originally published which included the household, we have decided not to reissue currency Los Angeles data for any prior report periods. We have concluded that a reissue of prior currency data would be of limited commercial benefit to customers and would result in further disruption to the marketplace.”

Round Two of June PPM Data Released. The second of four rounds of June 2014 PPM data from Nielsen Audio has been released for 12 markets including: Washington, Boston, Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period was May 22 through June 18. TALKERS magazine’s sister publication RadioInfo has all of the numbers from subscribing stations here. In addition, managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his “Ten Takeaways” from this batch of ratings at RadioInfo.com here.

WGAC, Augusta Host Austin Rhodes Threatened; Accused Teen in Custody. The person who threatened KFTK, St. Louis and Radio America personality Dana Loesch via Twitter recently may never be identified because he or she took precautions to hide their identity. The teenager accused of threatening WGAC, Augusta, Georgia talk show host Austin Rhodes via Facebook did not and has been arrested for terroristic threats. WRDW-TV, Augusta reports the teen is not being identified because he doesn’t face adult charges in the case at this point. Rhodes himself reported the threat to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office after seeing a thread that said his show would “be dead” and that he further received a private message saying, “You a dead man.” The suspect also threatened Rhodes’ wife. The suspect is being held at the Regional Youth Detention Center.

Bonneville to Split ‘Arizona Sports’ Simulcast; ESPN Radio to Air on KTAR. The simulcast of KMVP-FM and KTAR-AM in Phoenix – branded “Arizona Sports” – will end on September 15 and KTAR-AM will become “ESPN Phoenix” carrying ESPN Radio shows including Mike & Mike, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” and “The Dan Le Batard Show,” along with signature programs like “ESPN Gameday” and broadcasts of the Major League Baseball playoffs, the NBA Finals and other significant sporting events. Bonneville Phoenix vice president and market manager Scott Sutherland says “It’s the best of both sports worlds as we’ll now be providing world-class local programming on ‘Arizona Sports 98.7’ as well as full-time programming from the worldwide sports leader on ‘ESPN Phoenix 620.’” Sutherland adds that “ESPN Phoenix 620” will attract many Valley sports fans who now live in Arizona but closely follow sports news from their hometowns. “This now gives our advertising community a chance to leverage the power of sports marketing from a local, national and even global perspective.”

Odds & Sods. Rhode Island Monthly names WPRO-AM, Providence talk show host John DePetro’s program Best Talk Show in Rhode Island as part of its Best of Rhode Island feature. DePetro comments, “I am honored the people have chosen me, voted for me, and continue to support the work I do on WPRO. I have always wanted to do a talk show that was entertaining and informative, and it is rewarding that so many people enjoy my work, and took the time to vote me ‘Best Talk Show.’”…..A new show will air on cable’s ESPN 2 comprised of the best segments of Colin Cowherd’s daily ESPN Radio-syndicated program. The 30-minute show is called “You Herd Me” and will air at 4:30 pm ET beginning Monday, July 14. ESPN says, “The fast-paced production will be highlighted by Cowherd’s unique opinions and personality. He will introduce the segments from that day’s radio show and at times provide additional context. During football season, the show will feature the best moments from “Colin’s Football Show” including “Cage Confessionals,” interviews with top names in sports and entertainment…..At SiriusXM, a new morning show hosted by the satcaster’s Taylor Zarzour and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy titled “The First Team” begins airing on July 14 on the College Sports Nation channel. The show will air from 7:00 am to 10:00 am ET. Zarzour previously worked with Marc James as co-host of “The Drive” at CBS RADIO’s Charlotte sports talker WFNZ “The Fan” before joining SiriusXM.

PodcastOne Debuts Eddie Trunk Podcast. Rock and heavy metal radio and TV personality Eddie Trunk begins a relationship with Norm Pattiz-founded PodcastOne producing the Eddie Trunk Podcast with premiere guest Judas Priest. The new, weekly podcast will focus on Trunk’s expertise and connections in the world of heavy metal music and will “bring his insight, commentary, reviews and in-depth, unfiltered interviews to the podcast world in a way like never before!” Trunk comments, “I’ve been asked for many years by fans about adding a podcast to my platforms. Really excited to finally launch one with PodcastOne and see where this new adventure takes me. Look forward to connecting with everyone on this exciting new outlet.”

Child Immigration Crisis, President Obama’s Strained Relationship with Democrats, Israeli-Palestinian Violence, ISIS Iraq Campaign, Obama in Colorado, Hillary Clinton in 2016 Prospects, and Obama Impeachment Talk Subsides Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (7/9). The continuing controversy over the influx of child illegals in the Southwest and the concerns over infectious diseases; speculation about the strained relationship between high-profile Democrats and President Obama in the wake of his sinking approval ratings; escalating violence between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip; the continuing campaign of ISIS in Iraq; President Obama’s visit to Colorado; chatter over Hillary Clinton’s prospects for the 2016 presidential race; and the subsiding talk about impeachment proceedings against President Obama were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Friday, June 13, 2014

TALKERS | June 13, 2014

Changes in Evenings at WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte; Krantz & Whitmire Exit. The duo of Brad Krantz and Britt Whitmire are out at Greater Media’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte where they hosted the 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm show for the past two years. The station moves late evening host Doc Washburn up to the 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm slot and is airing the newsy “Charlotte at Six” from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Krantz and Whitmire worked together at Curtis Media’s former talk outlet WZTK-FM, Greensboro, North Carolina and at WPTF, Raleigh. Krantz worked at WBT from 1999 through 2003 alongside Richard Spires in afternoon drive. The Charlotte Observer’s Mark Washburn reports that Krantz is unhappy with the lack of support he believes the duo received from station management over the course of their two-year stint. He also says he believes the reason the show didn’t track well with WBT listeners is because of the swerve toward the far right the station took in recent years. “We were hired to break the WBT noon-to-6:00 pm right-wing sewer that had been led by Jeff Katz, Tara Servatius and Vince Coakley. We did that, got high ratings but got no support from management.” Read Washburn’s entire piece here.

Al Gardner Partners with Marty Hurney at ‘ESPN 730’ in Charlotte. Longtime Charlotte talk personality Al Gardner – 14 years as morning drove co-host at crosstown WBT-AM/FM – is paired up with former Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney for the mid-afternoon program (1:00 pm to 3:00 pm) on HRN Broadcasting’s sports talk WZGV “ESPN 730.” The “Hurney and Gardner” show moves to the earlier time slot beginning Monday, June 16 and “The Pulse with Bobby Rosinski and Chris Allison” moves into the 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm slot. In addition to his stint with the Carolina Panthers, Hurney also worked for the Washington Times as a sports writer.

Final Round of May PPM Data Released. PPM data from the final round of four groups of 12 markets for the May 2014 period (April 24 – May 21) has been released by Nielsen Audio. Those markets include: Austin, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Providence, Raleigh, Norfolk, Nashville, Greensboro, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Memphis, and Hartford. TALKERS magazine’s sister publication, RadioInfo, has all the (subscriber) numbers here. Managing editor and West Coast bureau chief Mike Kinosian offers his “Ten Takeaways” from the report at RadioInfo.com here.

Journal News/Talk WTMJ, Milwaukee Credits Ratings Growth to ‘Broader Appeal.’ The just-released PPM numbers for the Milwaukee market show Journal Broadcast Group’s news/talk WTMJ in the top spot (Persons 6+) with a 9.4 share in Nielsen Audio’s May 2014 PPM survey. Vice president and GM of radio operations for the Milwaukee market for Journal, Tom Langmyer, comments, “We returned WTMJ to its roots of being broad in appeal and have seen strong results.” Milwaukee market media observers tell TALKERS the “broader approach” is evident in numerous dayparts, including morning and afternoon drive where hosts Gene Mueller and John Mercure, respectively, are entertaining a wider variety of topics during what had been a more tight rotation of hard-news issues. The station usually sees a summer ratings surge due to its position as flagship station for Milwaukee Brewers baseball, but Langmyer hints recent ratings growth doesn’t appear to be just the result of baseball cume. Meet Tom Langmyer at Talkers New York 2014 on Friday, June 20.

Odds & Sods. Even being on vacation won’t stop WHO, Des Moines afternoon drive personality Simon Conway from cracking the mic when he’s in demand. Today, Conway filled in as morning drive personality on Clear Channel’s WFLF, Orlando “Newsradio 102.5 WFLA” and he’ll be back behind the mic this evening sitting in for Andy Dean on Premiere Networks’ syndicated “America Now” program…..Morning drive host and general sales manager Brian Collamore is taking time away from his on-air duties at Catamount Radio-owned news/talk WYSB, Rutland, Vermont to run for state senate. According to WCAX.com, Collamore will continue his sales duties while running. Collamore says he believes his years of experience on the air have given him the opportunity to interact with the people of the region and learn what their needs are.

ABC News Radio’s Vic Ratner Honored. Longtime ABC News Radio newsman Vic Ratner (left) was honored by the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association on Thursday evening (6/12) Washington, DC. Ratner, pictured here with ABC News Radio’s Cheri Preston (right), was honored with the Career Achievement Award for Distinguished Reporting on Congress.

Watch Out for Your Ear, Marc! Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson visited the Marc Hochman show in Beasley Broadcasting’s WQAM, Miami studios yesterday prior to attending game four of the NBA Finals. He spent almost an hour on air chatting about the Heat and his own life. Pictured here are (from left to right): Victor Bermudez, Sha Tabb, Hochman, Tyson, and Zach Krantz.

Eric Cantor Defeat Tops Talkers Ten^TM for Week of June 9-13. The primary election defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and related discussion about the looming mid-term elections was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio during the week. Landing at #2 on the Talkers Ten^TM was talk about Hillary Clinton’s latest memoir. At #3 was the 2016 presidential race followed by the political instability in Iraq at #4. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio. It is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS and is published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

TALKERS | June 3, 2014

Hearst Baltimore Hires Pahigian as President/GM. Former Saga Communications Portland, Maine president and general manager Cary Pahigian will succeed Ed Kiernan in the same capacity at Hearst Baltimore talker WBAL and WIYY “98 Rock.” Kiernan recently announced his retirement. According to Hearst president Jordan Wertlieb, “Having worked for some of the nation’s most honored radio stations, including most recently overseeing stations of various formats, Cary brings a wealth of experience. He is a passionate advocate for local broadcasting and understands the importance of community service and how it is the fabric of leading radio stations.” Prior to his tenure at Saga’s Portland properties, Pahigian was station manager at heritage Boston outlet WBZ-AM; operations manager and program director of Philadelphia sports station WIP-AM; vice president of operations at Sconnix Broadcasting; and vice president and general manager of Boch Broadcasting on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Chris Markowski and Jenna Laine to Co-Host New AM Show at Genesis’ Tampa and Orlando Stations. On the news/talk simulcast of WWBA, Tampa and WAMT, Orlando, Genesis Communications debuts the new “Your Wake Up Call” morning drive program co-hosted by Chris Markowski and Jenna Laine with news anchor Robert Pankau and entertainment reporter Kurt Shriner. Markowski is known for his nationally syndicated weekend program “Watchdog on Wall Street.” Laine most recently served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Insider for Sports Talk Florida. Markowski comments, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be covering all the important news and events in one of the most important areas in the country: Tampa Bay, Orlando and the entire I-4 corridor.” Laine adds, “Whether it’s news or sports, the one constant for me as a journalist has always been ‘people.’ I love telling your stories and I care very much about issues that affect our communities.”

Kitchin Elected to Museum of Broadcast Communications Board. Radio pro and Sound Mind co-president Kraig Kitchin is elected to the board of directors of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Downtown Chicago’s MBC has housed America’s only National Radio Hall of Fame since 1992. MBC founder-president-chief executive officer Bruce DuMont comments that, “Kraig is one of the most talented and respected radio executives in America. He will bring his energy and vision to the museum, and help raise awareness of our mission nationally.” Kitchin remarks that for over 25 years, “The Museum of Broadcast Communications has done a remarkable job of recognizing great accomplishments in both radio and television. I am thrilled to join the MBC board and help chart the future of the museum and the National Radio Hall of Fame. More than ever, it is important to recognize the great work done by broadcasters behind the microphone and in front of the camera.” Sound Mind was launched in 2008 and offers management services to radio, television, and production companies. Kitchin works with radio personalities in both talk and music genres. He previously was the longtime president/chief operating officer of the Premiere Radio Networks. Kitchin is a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee that supervises the induction process; the NRHOF Class of 2014 will be announced later this week.

Radio Industry Mourns Tom Rounds. With considerable recent focus on the plight and deteriorating health of iconic personality Casey Kasem, it is an unfortunate, eerie twist of irony that the man who in 1970 – with Kasem and producer Don Bustany – launched and marketed “American Top 40 with Casey Kasem” passed away on Sunday (6/1). To state that Watermark founder Tom Rounds was a broadcasting innovator is actually an understatement. Many within the industry are still in shock regarding the death of the 77-year-old Rounds (he would have been 78 this coming Friday, 6/6) who expired in Los Angeles, reportedly from complications related to a “minor surgical procedure.” His wife – Barbara Rounds – was with her longtime husband when he passed away. By the 1980s, “American Top 40” was heard on more than 500 U.S. radio stations. Approximately three years following ABC’s 1982 acquisition of Watermark, Rounds founded and was chief executive officer of entertainment program supplier Radio Express; by the late-1990s, Burbank (California)-based Radio Express was producing most of its own product. It presently handles syndication outside the United States for American radio programs such as “The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40″ and “American Country Countdown.” Radio Express vice president of sales Jessica d’Agostin notes, “We are deeply saddened by T.R.’s passing. We will profoundly miss his humor, his wisdom, and his kindness. He was a great man. He loved his wife, his family, and radio with all his heart. We will continue to move forward at Radio Express in his honor and as a living tribute to the example ‘T.R.’ set for excellence in all things.” Amherst College (Massachusetts) alum Rounds entered radio at the campus station in the late-1950s. Shortly thereafter in a stunt at Hawaii’s KPOI, he would set a record for staying awake on the air for 260 consecutive hours, while doing his show at a department store. By the mid-1960s, he landed in San Francisco to program top 40 KFRC. Among those commenting on Facebook regarding Rounds’ passing is Ed Mann of MannGroup Radio who states, “I’m just sick about it. Tom was my first producer at MannGroup Radio. I had the opportunity to work ideas with him for years after. He was truly one of the great guys in this business. He was my model as a businessman – such a great combination of creative and manager. We had not talked in years, but this hurts plenty. [Mann’s wife] Mindy and I send our condolences to Barbara and the family.” Former Radio & Records (R&R) country editor/Clear Channel director of production Jim Duncan recounts, “When I first moved to Los Angeles from San Diego to be part of R&R, I had lunch with Tom and [R&R founder/publisher] Bob Wilson. He tried to get me to come do some production at Watermark. I chose to work at Westwood One producing shows. I saw Tom many times over the years and he kept trying to get me to work with him. Sorry I didn’t – he was somebody very special.” Veteran programmer and imaging voice Charlie Van Dyke writes, “Tom Rounds, of course, was a successful program director and part of the original Watermark organization that gave birth to ‘American Top 40.’ He was a great friend to me over the years.” Another legendary voiceover talent, Joe Cipriano, states, “I was honored to co-host with Adrienne Walker the ‘World Chart Show’ for Tom for several years.” Former KIIS “Kiss-FM”, Los Angeles general manager Wally Clark is among the many to simply remark, “Sorry to hear this news.” Sabo Media‘s Walter Sabo describes Rounds as a “great gentleman,” while Sonoma Media Group president Michael O’Shea opines that Rounds was, “a great guy. Radio, as an industry, suffered today.” Former Radio Et Cetera sales manager and ex-general manager of suburban Los Angeles adult contemporary FM trimulcast KLIT, KNJO, & KXEZ Rick Lemmo remarks that, “Tom was a true gentleman. I loved working with him in so many ways.” Ed Scarborough, who has programmed numerous stations, including Los Angeles CHR KKHR and San Antonio adult contemporary KQXT, succinctly declares that Rounds was, “a legend.” MultiBrand Media International owner/president Bill Pasha reflects that he recently made a new friend. “His name was Tom Rounds. Through business, I was fortunate enough to enjoy the wit and wisdom of the man who founded the largest syndication company in the U.S., Watermark. He was a good friend of my pals – Toby Arnold and Tom Merriman – who passed away before ‘T.R.’ I enjoyed his war stories of the biz we both love. About three weeks ago, I spent almost two hours on the phone laughing, chatting and learning from this wonderful guy who was not too busy to offer me advice on how to grow my business. Good men are never truly gone. They live on in our hearts and in the contributions they made to our industry. Tom Rounds was one of those guys.” Salem Media of Hawaii program director Phil Abbot summarizes his thoughts by declaring, “I am speechless. Thank you ‘T.R.,’ for all the help and the masterful instruction along the way.” When Norm Garr was on the air in Oxnard-Ventura-Santa Barbara (California), his station was an “AT 40” affiliate. The station’s on-air talents were allowed to buy a copy of the year-end program. “After I left radio and moved into TV,” Garr recollects, “I wrote Tom the next year asking if I could buy a copy of the next year’s year-end show. For the longest time, he sent me a copy at no charge. What a ‘mensch.'” One of Rounds’ former employees, Cindy Jo Hinkleman, remarks, “I am in shock to receive this news about Tom Rounds passing. Working for Radio Express was one of the highlights of my life so far. He believed in me and gave me the most amazing opportunities to shine. He will stay dear to my heart. I will always remember his smile.” Offering philosophical perspective, Mark Brower writes, “I learned a very difficult lesson today on how precious life is. The world lost one of the best. Not only my boss but also a wonderful friend. He was a wonderful teacher of life, a wonderful storyteller and a wonderful person – definitely my mentor. He was very passionate and music was definitely his life. I learned a lot from Tom Rounds – I will never forget you.” His wife Barbara; a daughter Michelle; a son Tommy; a stepdaughter Debbie; and four grandchildren survive Tom Rounds. A memorial service will be held this Sunday (6/8) at 5:00 pm at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. Memorial donations may be made to City of Hope Cancer Center.

Caine to Bloomberg. Former WestwoodOne CEO Paul Caine joins Bloomberg Media Group to serve as chief revenue officer. Caine was with WestwoodOne for not quite a year before that company’s acquisition by Cumulus Media forced him out. Prior to that, Caine spent 23 years at Time Inc. during which he rose to president and group publisher of the Style & Entertainment Group.

Cox Media’s Multi-Media Convergence in Dayton Analyzed. There are only a few instances in which media operators are producing content and selling advertising for radio, TV, newspapers and digital and Cox Media Group’s Dayton operation is one of them. Michael Depp at NetNewsCheck.com writes a multi-part piece on how WHIO-AM/FM and siblings WHIO-TV, the Dayton Daily News and its affiliated digital properties are performing three years after merging the media into one cohesive effort. From a news and information perspective, the piece begins by illustrating how news staffers produce for all four media. Check it out here.

Odds & Sods. One of Charlotte’s favorite summer traditions returns as Greater Media’s news/talk WBT-AM/FM and sister AC WLNK team with the Charlotte Knights minor league baseball club to “SkyShow Charlotte” – a fireworks spectacular – on July 4 at BB&T Ballpark. The station says WBT’s “SkyShow” continues its tradition of providing a great free street festival including a ferris wheel, interactive kids’ activities and live entertainment…..Hubbard Radio-owned WFED, Washington “Federal News Radio” launches a new weekly program titled, “Women of Washington,” a weekly interview series featuring some of Washington D.C.’s most ambitious and influential female executives. The program is hosted by Aileen Black and Gigi Schumm. WFED program director Lisa Wolfe says, “I’m very excited about this particular program, not only because Aileen and Gigi are so well informed about the federal market, but because they have a higher goal to inspire young women to reach and excel at the executive level.”…..World-renowned pastor Joel Osteen gets his own channel on SiriusXM as the satcaster announces the debut of “Joel Osteen Radio” this fall. The programming will include services from his Lakewood Church in Houston as well as content from his catalogue of past sermons and more…..The Voice of America signs a new agreement with digital call-to-listen platform AudioNow for the latter to provide VOA programming inside the United States. The new agreement expands an on-going relationship between VOA and AudioNow, which already distributes programming from VOA in 34 languages by phone.

Bergdahl Prisoner Swap Controversy, Russian Aggression-U.S. Allies Support, Texas Open Carry Demonstration, Male Unemployment Stats, and NBA-NHL Playoffs Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (6/2). Controversy over the Guantanamo prisoner swap for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl; Russian aggression in Ukraine and the Obama administration’s seeking $1 billion for NATO allies; the furor over the Open Carry Texas-orchestrated open carry demonstration and the NRA’s response; new statistics indicating one of every six young American males is unemployed; and the NBA and NHL playoffs were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

TALKERS | May 1, 2014

Bubba the Love Sponge Expands into Orlando; Adds Shannon Burke to Cast. The Tampa-based Bubba the Love Sponge show announces it will be airing in the Orlando market beginning Monday (5/5) on Star Development Group-owned sports talk WRSO-AM/FM, “810 CBS Sports Orlando.” The move into the market will mark the return of Shannon Burke – who recently joined the program – to the Orlando airwaves. Burke previously served at Clear Channel’s WTKS-FM. The Bubba show reports that Star Development Group owner and president Carl Como is coordinating the new morning show launch on Monday along with his newly added FM translator launch that will augment Orlando metro coverage on the FM in addition to his 20k AM signal, which reaches a population area of 2.5 million people. Como states, “I wanted a show that had real punch and would make an impact. I know Orlando radio fans will love hearing Bubba return.” This comes as the program celebrates its recent debut in the Reno, Nevada market on Times-Shamrock’s rock KRZQ. That company’s market manager, John Burkavage, says Bubba and his team produces “one of the best morning shows I have heard in 30 years. Bubba will grow my station fast and that is why we added his show, it’s a show that will go viral very quickly.” Bubba comments, “This is an incredible thing for me and my crew. We are already blowing up the phones in Reno – such a great group of people to work with at KRZQ. The show has never sounded better and we are now top three ranked in almost every market we are in. I am thrilled…We are extremely excited about coming back to a place I consider home. We have a huge fan base there and I have no doubt people will be thrilled to have us back in morning drive in Orlando.”

Erica Farber to Moderate Heavyweight Advertising Panel at Talkers New York 2014. The agenda for the forthcoming 17^th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important national convention is shaping up as being nothing short of spectacular. One of the conference’s highlights is a panel titled “The State of Radio Advertising and Sales” which will be moderated by Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) president/CEO Erica Farber. Panelists include (in alphabetical order): Ron Furman, chief revenue officer, WestwoodOne; Kraig Kitchin, CEO, Sound Mind, LLC; Joe Puglise, president/market manager, Clear Channel New York; and Julie Talbott, president, Premiere Networks. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “This is going to be a very important, informative and productive session that will discuss key issues brewing at the very heart of not only talk radio – but all of radio as well. These participants – Ron Furman, Kraig Kitchin, Joe Puglise, and Julie Talbott have their fingers on the pulse of every aspect of radio’s sales and marketing condition, encompassing local, national and network perspectives. And there is absolutely no one more qualified to facilitate such a conversation than Erica Farber.” More than 65 industry leaders will be speaking at the conference which according to its directors is about two weeks away from being a sellout. For registration information and an up-to-the minute agenda, please click here.

Mike Calta Show Cast Member Galvin Arrested in Prostitution Sting. The Tampa Bay Tribune reports that Gregory James Galvin – known to WHTP, Tampa “102.5 The Bone” listeners as simply Galvin – was arrested on a charge of unlawful acts as a precursor to prostitution during a sting on Tuesday (4/29). Galvin is part of the Mike Calta afternoon drive show (formerly the Cowhead show). According to the paper, the sting operation had been put in place after residents complained about prostitution in the area. Galvin allegedly approached the undercover officer and while attempting to negotiate a deal, asked the officer to show her breasts to prove she was not a police officer. When she refused he attempted to leave but was cornered by police. The station has made no comment about the incident.

Hybrid Urban Music and Talk to Air on WTMP, Tampa. According to a story in the Tampa Tribune, WestCoastMedia is announcing it is buying WTMP and will flip the station back to the urban music and talk hybrid format that aired on the signal for 57 years prior to the Spanish and tropical formats that have aired for the past three years. WestCoastMedia is buying the station from Davidson Media Group. Station manager Lawrence Hines tells the paper, “We’ve been gone for way too long. This community needs its voice back, and AM 1150 WTMP is that voice.” Programming will consist of primarily Reach Media-syndicated shows including Tom Joyner in AM drive, Rev. Al Sharpton and D.L. Hughley in afternoons, James Fortune in evenings, and station veteran Larry Steele hosting a midday show. Music will consist of “old-school R&B, soul, funk and jazz.”

Fisher House Offers Memorial Day Special. The program is designed for news/talk stations and is called, “Our Greatest National Treasure.” The Fisher House Foundation says the special, three-hour, highly produced program “shares powerful, inspiring stories of service and sacrifice.” As regular TALKERS readers know, the Fisher House Foundation provides no-cost housing and other support for the families of wounded warriors while their loved ones receive treatment at military and VA hospitals. The special program is hosted by KIRO-FM, Seattle personality Dave Ross and features compelling stories from the front lines and the home front including: Lorie Southerland of Sanford, North Carolina whose 20-year-old son died in the Iraq war, telling about her transition to being a Gold Star Mom and now manager of a Fisher House, helping other military families; One of five surviving quadruple amputees from the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, Travis Mills of Frisco, Texas, discusses the role Fisher House played in his recovery; and reporter Kim Dozier, critically wounded while on assignment in Baghdad, says knowing that Fisher House was taking care of her family eased her treatment. The show is produced by Marshall Adams and distributed by Premiere Networks. For more information and to sign up for “Our Greatest National Treasure,” contact Kurt Kretzschmar at Premiere Networks.

Odds & Sods. At Cumulus Media’s news/talk KKOH, Reno, Jim Fannin is promoted from news reporter to news director. At the same time, the station welcomes new anchor/reporter Daniela Sonnino from her most recent post as news director at country KLAD-FM, Klamath Falls, Oregon. She’ll anchor news on “Reno’s Morning News With Ross And Monica.”…..Paul Goldsmith leaves his position at Salem Communications-owned WIND, Chicago where he was director of promotions and marketing to join CURE International as VP for marketing…..All-news KNX, Los Angeles is honored with two 2013 APTRA Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism from the Associated Press Television-Radio Association. The station won for Best News Broadcast: KNX Morning News, and Station Spot News for its coverage of the LAX Shooting. APTRA board president John Shaffer comments, “The APTRA Awards represent the highest standards of broadcast journalism in the western 13 state region we represent. This year the awards were more competitive than they have been in the past thanks to an increase in the numbers of entries, both on the individual and station level.”…..SiriusXM is offering comprehensive coverage of the Kentucky Derby, the first jewel of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, from Churchill Downs, this Saturday, May 3. Listeners will hear Horse Racing Radio Network’s live race call of the 140th “Run for the Roses” starting at 5:00 pm ET…..ESPN Radio is broadcasting live all 64 games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, from the Brazil vs. Croatia opener on June 12 through the Final on July 13. This will be ESPN Radio’s second FIFA World Cup, having also done all 64 games in 2010 from South Africa.

Anderson, Giles to Host Gracie Awards Luncheon. When the Gracie Awards are handed out in New York next month, iHeartradio‘s Moll Anderson (“The Moll Anderson Show”) and CBS News contributor Nancy Giles will host the 39th annual awards luncheon. The Gracie Awards were established in 1975 and are presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation. This occasion will honor accomplishments of women in media and entertainment at the local, public, online and student levels. AWMF chair Kay Olin observes that the luncheon is “a wonderful chance to recognize the amazing accomplishments of women in so many forms of media. Moll Anderson and Nancy Giles represent a diverse range of media and reflect the Gracies’ strong commitment to recognizing accomplishments of all markets of talent.” Anderson comments, “It’s an honor to be included among so many amazing and accomplished women, those who have blazed new trails and shown the way for others in media and entertainment. According to Giles, “The Gracies are my favorite events of the year. They are such a wonderful way to honor the unique work that women are doing in an array of media.” National winners will be honored later this month (5/20) in Los Angeles (Beverly Hills). The Gracies recognize exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of electronic media, as well as individuals who have contributed to the industry.

Talkin’ Sports and More with Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath. Sports talk host Jay Mohr recently welcomed Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath into the Fox Sports Radio studios to talk about numerous subjects including Sugar Ray’s upcoming “Under the Sun” tour and returning to the process of making new music, NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s decision to fine and ban Donald Sterling from the NBA in response to allegations of racism, as well as predictions of who the next Clippers owner will be.

Weak Economic Growth Report, Donald Sterling-Clippers Controversy, Russia’s Ukraine Aggression, 2016 Presidential Race, Mayor Rob Ford Admits Problem, Lethal Drug Execution Policy, and Financial Markets Activity Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (4/30). Criticism of the Obama Administration’s economic policy after a weak economic growth report; the continuing controversy surrounding LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s taped racist rant; Vladimir Putin’s military aggression in Ukraine; speculation over candidates for president in 2016; Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s admission he has a problem and is seeking treatment; the debate over the effectiveness and ethicality of current lethal drug cocktails used in executions; and the Dow’s record high were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

TALKERS | February 18, 2014

What Are Clear Channel’s Plans for AM Drive at WOR? With the departure of “DC101” morning host Elliot Segal from the air at Clear Channel news/talk WOR, New York has industry watchers speculating about the company’s next move for the daypart. Mark Simone was in for Elliot today (2/18). Segal told his DC audience that he was not moving to New York after all and the company issued a statement saying, “After much thought and discussion it’s clear that we’d have to make significant changes to ensure the show resonates as successfully with the NY audience as it does with Elliot’s DC audience. And given Elliot’s loyalty to his DC fans, we support his decision to continue to broadcast from Washington.” This change is not that surprising. To many, the Elliot move seemed an odd pairing and some industry watchers tell TALKERS they thought – even with the chatter about Elliot moving to NYC – it was a temporary move. It seems Clear Channel wants to shake up the AM drive show and not go with another “typical conservative” morning host on WOR but the company also appears to want to go with a younger and local program. There are rumors that recently “retired from WPLJ” personality Scott Shannon is talking with WOR but at first blush, that would also seem to be an unusual hire.

Saga Launches Sports Talker in Ithaca. The new station – branded “98.7 The Buzzer” – is airing on translator W254 BF licensed to Ithaca and features programming from CBS Sports Radio Network. It will also serve as an affiliate for Buffalo Bills football and for Cornell University Men’s basketball. Chet Osadchey is the vice president and market manager for Saga’s Cayuga Radio Group and he tells the Central New York Business Journal that this is an “excellent” expansion of sports in the Ithaca market. “We are particularly excited about the Jim Rome show. For several years, we have received numerous requests to carry this show and now we are able to fulfill that goal. Jim’s show is the most interactive, contemporary, and authentic in the sports radio arena.”

America’s Talk Radio Network to Debut. The start date for the programming being offered by new syndicator America’s Talk Radio Network is March 1 and vice president of affiliations and programming Jon Patch (formerly of Business TalkRadio Network) says, “America’s Talk Radio Network programming features full-service solutions for our hosts and transactional, educational, entertaining and exclusive content for our partnering stations.” The operation is based in Tampa Bay and programming is delivered via Cumulus XDS. Patch adds, “I’ve been working in radio for approximately 30 years and I look forward to working with our variety of unique programs and affiliate stations servicing the needs of our partners on a daily basis.” At start-up, the network is offering four programs: “My Cool Inventions” featuring Akos Jankura “The Solutionist” and John Cremeans “The Doctor of Shopology”; “Talkin’ Pets” with Jon Patch; a morning program called “Sunrise America”; and “Akos The Solutionist.” For more information visit www.americastalkradionetwork.com.

Odds & Sods. News/talk personality Simon Conway – heard daily at Clear Channel’s WHO, Des Moines in afternoon drive – is doing double duty this week as he fills in on the morning drive program all this week and next Monday at the company’s WFLF, Orlando “News Talk WFLA.”…..Tennis great John McEnroe is getting expanded duties with ESPN on both radio and TV that will see him work outside the world of tennis as well. As part of his radio duties, he’ll work on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning, O&O WEPN-FM, New York “ESPN New York 98.7” and make appearances on ESPN2’s Keith Olbermann program.

Cool Job Opportunity. America’s most successful FM news/talk station needs America’s best news anchor/reporter. This is a rare opening at Alpha Broadcasting’s KXL in Portland, Oregon. We need someone who can talk to an FM listener with AM credibility. We need someone who can write and use sound to tell the story. Is this you? Minimum 5 years in the broadcast industry required. Please send your resume and sample of your on air work to: Rebecca.marshall@kxl.com. No phone calls please. Must pass a background investigation. Alpha Broadcasting is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

GOP Infighting, Hillary in 2016, ObamaCare Criticism, Sochi Olympics, Tenn. VW Workers Vote Down Union Move, and Winter Weather/Global Warming Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (2/17). Solidarity problems within the Republican Party; speculation about Hillary Clinton running for president in 2016; the continuing scrutiny of the rollout of the Affordable Care Act and its effects; the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia; the failure of the UAW to convince VW plant workers in Tennessee to go union; and harsh winter weather and the debate over global warming were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Friday, January 10, 2014

TALKERS | January 10, 2014

Will Nielsen’s Dominance in Online Measurement Hurt Radio Buys? According to some analysts – most notably J.P. Morgan’s Doug Anmuth – the answer is yes. In a piece published at MediaPost News by Joe Mandese, Anmuth asserts that Nielsen’s Online Campaign Ratings is growing in acceptance and may become the dominant “currency” for digital ratings and that it will drive ad budgets from TV and radio to digital. Mandese writes that though some marketers and agencies prefer comScore’s vCE ratings system used to plan, buy and validate online ad buys, Nielsen’s dominance in the ratings in other media will give it the ability to leverage that into cross-platform ratings. With YouTube’s recent adoption of Nielsen’s ORC system, it’s being predicted by Anmuth the move could “drive material change in TV buyer behavior.” Similarly, Nielsen’s imminent rollout of its streaming audio measurement will affect radio buys. Anmuth writes, “Just as we are seeing a shift in digital video measurement with YouTube, we expect streaming music providers including Pandora to gravitate towards partnerships with traditional measurement providers. Nielsen is deeply engaged in developing the technology to measure streaming radio and it is working to fully integrate Nielsen Audio.” Check out the story here.

Emmis Net Revenue Up 3.4% — on Strength of Publishing. The loss of political advertising that all broadcasting companies are dealing with – the fall of 2012 was a good year for that sector and Emmis’ fiscal Q3 measures September, October and November – affected the company’s 2013 Q3 to 2012 Q3 comparison and the result was a 0.4% increase in revenue for Emmis’ radio division. The publishing segment of the business carried the day with a 9.8% increase in net revenue. Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan says in a statement, “The government shutdown in October, coupled with non-recurring political revenues from the prior year, caused significant headwinds for us and the radio industry. However, Emmis’ ability to grow revenues despite these challenges is a testament to the talent, ingenuity and hustle of the Emmis team. Our radio revenues are rebounding in our fourth fiscal quarter as these challenges have abated and our publishing division continues to post impressive revenue gains. NextRadio, the Emmis-led industry initiative to make FM broadcast radio available on mobile phones via a pre-loaded app, continues to gain momentum and recently exceeded 100,000 activations. I’m excited about the progress we are making and the momentum we have heading into calendar 2014.”

TalkersRadio Hits the Ground Running for 2014 with New Hosts, Shows and Programming Directions. TalkersRadio, the “experimental” talk radio station launched last fall by TALKERS magazine to provide the industry with a “work out space” and “showcase for new talk programming concepts” has, according to its general manager David Bernstein, “hit the ground running” in 2014 with the announcement of several new hosts and shows scheduled to join its programming roster this month. Set for launch this weekend (1/12) is “Radio Lifeboat with DG & Mickey Gooch,” described by Bernstein as “a raw, emotion-packed ‘reality’ show that sure ain’t no cruise.” The one-hour-per-week program, emanating live on Sunday evenings at 7:00 pm ET from Malibu, California, is hosted by the mother/son team of Diane “DG” Gooch and her son Mickey Gooch. The show is basically a weekly therapy and educational support session helping people and families overcome the challenges of addiction. Also debuting this month (1/25) is a new program from Lionel – one of the most iconoclastic, impossible-to-peg, and intellectually stimulating talk show hosts of the modern era. A veteran of such major outlets as WABC and WOR, New York among others, as well as being a podcast pioneer at lionelmedia.com the quirky, satirical and extremely original observer of the human condition has been enjoying tremendous success conceiving, writing, producing and performing daily commentaries on the heritage WPIX-TV, Channel 11 for the past four years in New York City where the ex-prosecutor’s also added his insight and experience as its resident legal analyst. However, he has not forgotten his roots in and love for radio and promises that his 9:00 am to 10:00 am Saturday show will provide Lionel enthusiasts around the country with a version of his work that is “like nothing they have ever heard before. This will truly be Lionel unchained!” Another program getting readied for launch on TalkersRadio in either late-January or early-February is “The Hard Question with Blanquita Cullum.” Hosted by veteran talk show host, Washington-insider, and former member of the United States Broadcasting Board of Governors, Blanquita Cullum, the one-hour-per-week show will cover the hottest and most-pressing economic, environmental and political issues facing the country from a non-partisan, non-ideological perspective. Cullum tells TALKERS, “I’ve been in this business too long to mess around playing the old right versus left game that is quickly getting us nowhere. It is time to get serious – especially having this marvelous platform upon which to perform – and dust off the old journalism skills. Just as the name implies, I will be asking big shots and policy makers from the worlds of energy, finance and government the hard questions. None of that easy, puff-piece stuff. This show is going to get down, dirty and real!” These new shows will join the already-developing programs on TalkersRadio that include “The Brent & Meg Radio Show” hosted by the dynamic husband/wife duo Brent Seltzer and Meg McDonald, “Green Connections” hosted by Washington, DC-based energy and sustainability expert, journalist Joan Michelson, “Healed Planet” hosted by well-known talk media star Alan Colmes, “The Robbie Student Show” hosted by record producer and urban philosopher Robbie Student, and “The Talkers Show” hosted by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison. To read more about TalkersRadio, check out a full feature story posted today by TALKERS VP/executive editor Kevin Casey by clicking here.

Regan Communications Group Names Kahn EVP/Sports Media. Former Entercom vice president and New England market manager Julie Kahn joins public relations firm Regan Communications Group as executive vice president of sports/media. Over and above that, she will be a special advisor to company president/founder George Regan, who comments, “Julie Kahn’s talents, skills, mind, and passion for this business are a grand slam for our company. This is a great start to our new year.” Kahn “had the pleasure” to work with Regan Communications for the nearly 14 years that she was with Entercom. “I am excited to become part of the management team and help Regan continue its growth and success,” she remarks. Among Kahn’s new duties will be working with her former employer – Entercom, Boston – which is one of Regan’s clients. In addition to being a board member of the Boston Sports Museum, Kahn is on the Boston board of directors for the National Sports Management Network. The holder of a JD/MBA from Northwestern University, Kahn began her radio career in WGN, Chicago’s sales department; was general manager of KSAN, San Francisco; and vice president/director of sales for Susquehanna, San Francisco.

Baldwin/McCullough Show Auditions on WNYM, New York. With the move of talk personality Curtis Sliwa to crosstown WABC, Salem Communications news/talk WNYM “Am 970 The Answer” is putting the XtreMedia-produced Baldwin/McCullough program on this afternoon and next Friday as an audition. Actor Stephen Baldwin and media entrepreneur and talk host Kevin McCullough have been hosting the Baldwin/McCullough program as a weekend show for the past several years. Also, Iowa-based talk personality Steve Deace is set to audition in the afternoon drive slot on WNYM next Monday through Thursday.

Midday Changes at Entercom’s ’95.7 The Game’ in San Francisco. The late morning show featuring Sean O’Connell, Matt Steinmetz and producer Justin Kleisley is out and program director Jason Barrett announces “friends since high school” Guy Haberman and John Middlekauff are partnering up for the new 10:00 am to 12:00 noon program. Haberman serves as host of the station’s pre- and post-game shows for Oakland As broadcasts and was host of the evening show at KGMZ during 2013. Middlekauff was West Coast scout for the Philadelphia Eagles for the past two years and served as an NFL analyst for the station since the beginning of the 2013 NFL season. The new pair begin hosting the “Mid-Morning Show” on January 20. Matt Steinmetz had been working at KGMZ in the late morning daypart for the past 18 months. He was joined by O’Connell last February.

Julie Buehler and Geoff Bloom Re-Up with KXPS, Palm Springs. The “Buehler’s Day Off” afternoon drive show at CRC Media West-owned sports talker KXPS, Palm Springs “Team 1010 KXPS” will continue with the station through this year. Sports media pro Julie Buehler and co-host Geoff Bloom joined the station in June of 2012. Buehler comments, “I love the Coachella Valley! Love the vibrancy, the spectrum of sports fans and the rich culture and I’m honored to be a voice for such a passionate community. I know with the vision from CRC Media West and our team’s ability to execute such a thorough game plan, 2014 will be even more groundbreaking, history-making fun than the past 18 months.”

Dan Le Batard Has Baseball Hall of Fame Vote Taken Away. In November, WAXY, Miami and ESPN Radio personality Dan Le Batard – also a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (which votes for Hall of Fame players) – gave his vote to Deadspin.com in a protest saying his vote has become pretty worthless in the “sanctimonious” atmosphere of the process. There’s a rule against that and the BBWAA board of directors voted to strip Le Batard of his vote this season and beyond. He also will not be able to cover any baseball event this season as a sanctioned BBWAA member.

New Morning Show at WRSO, Orlando. At sports talker WRSO, Orlando “810 CBS Sports Radio,” there’s a new morning team in the 7:00 am to 9:00 am slot. Former TV anchor Dave Baumann and local radio personality Big Joe are taking over the slot. The station is owned by Star Over Orlando and it says the program will soon also be heard on the 93.1 frequency as well.

Odds & Sods. All-newser KNX, Los Angeles continues its “KNX on Your Corner” series on January 31 when it takes an in-depth look at the unique aspects of the Crescenta Valley communities lying between the San Gabriel Mountains and the Verdugo Mountains: La Crescenta-Montrose, La Cañada Flintridge, Sunland and Tujunga. The CBS RADIO station will broadcast live from the Black Cow Cafe in the heart of Old Town Montrose. News anchors Tom Haule and Vicky Moore will kick off the day from 5:00 am to 9:00 am, Frank Mottek will host the “KNX Business Hour” from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and Chris Sedens and Diane Thompson will be on hand from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm…..KSCO, Santa Cruz talk host Ethan Bearman will host the KSFO Talk Show from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on Cumulus Media’s KSFO on Monday and Tuesday January 13 and 14. The slot currently has no permanent host…..Talk show host Dr. Daliah Wachs – syndicated nationally via Genesis Communications Network – celebrated her 5^th anniversary on the radio yesterday (1/9). She tells TALKERS magazine that she began her radio career five years ago on KLAV…..MSNBC shuffles its daily lineup after the departure of Martin Bashir. Alex Wagner moves into the 4:00 pm ET slot previously held by Bashir and the network will feature a rotating cast of hosts for Wagner’s 12:00 noon slot – including Joy Reid who’s been sitting in the 4:00 pm slot lately…..For the 3^rd consecutive year, Entercom’s WEEI, Boston will serve as the official radio partner for the 2014 Pan-Mass Challenge August 2 and 3. The PMC – a 190-mile bike event starting in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and ending in Provincetown and the tip of Cape Cod – is the largest single athletic fundraising event in the country and, since 1980, has raised more than $414 million for the Jimmy Fund, which supports adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

TALKERS Weekly Affiliate Roundup. The “Savage Nation” show hosted by Michael Savage is added to the programming at the following stations: WCFO, Atlanta; WVGG, Lucedale, Mississippi; WLBY, Saline, Michigan; KBHS, Hot Springs, Arkansas; KVPI-AM, Ville Platte, Louisiana…..Business talk host Phil Grande’s “Phil’s Gang” show is added to the lineup at KDWN, Las Vegas…..Cumulus Media Networks’ Mark Levin is now heard on WFNC, Fayetteville, North Carolina; WVLK-FM, Lexington; WFNR, Blacksburg, Virginia; KFAY, Fayetteville, Arkansas; and WALG, Albany, Georgia…..Conservative/libertarian Genesis Communications Network-syndicated talk host Jason Lewis is added to the program schedule at KZRG, Joplin, Missouri…..From WYM Media, the Leslie Marshall show joins the programming at KABQ, Albuquerque and Phil Hendrie’s program is now heard on KNEW, San Francisco and KTNF, Chico/Redding, California…..“Freedom Feens” with Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi is added to the programming at WVFT-FM, Tallahassee; WYOO-FM, Panama City, Florida; and KENN-AM/FM, Farmington, New Mexico.

Chris Christie Scandal Top News/Talk Story for Week of January 6-10. The Fort Lee lane closure scandal that’s rocking New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s administration was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week making it the #1 story on the Talkers Ten^TM. At #2 this week was former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ book Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War (Random House 2013), which criticizes President Obama and his administration. Following at #3 was the “polar vortex” chilling much of the nation tied with the companion topic of global warming and at #4 was Janet Yellen being confirmed chief of the Federal Reserve. The Talkers Ten^TM is a chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week. It is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS and is published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.

Friday, November 8, 2013

TALKERS | November 8, 2013

Cox Media Orlando Names Scott Anez Host of ‘Orlando’s News at Noon.’ There are a couple of moves to report from CMG’s news/talk WDBO-FM “News 96.5” and sports talk WDBO-AM “ESPN 580” and they center around longtime Cox Orlando air talent Scott Anez who’s been with WDBO for the past 23 years. Since the company flipped the AM side to sports a year ago, Anez has been hosting “ESPN Afternoons” from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on “ESPN 580,” “Orlando’s Evening News” from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on “News 96.5” as well as “Inside Magic” prior to Orlando Magic broadcasts. Now, Anez will take over the “Orlando’s News at Noon” program to free up his packed afternoon schedule. Program director Drew Anderssen says, “As a listener favorite, moving Scott to host ‘Orlando’s News at Noon’ will allow him more flexibility in his schedule and a greater focus on each show, ultimately providing our listeners a more consistent listening experience.” This move allows news director Joe Kelley to relinquish the noon show on-air duties and focus on hosting “Orlando’s Morning News” and serving as news director for the station. The station expects to announce a new permanent host for the “Orlando’s Evening News” program soon and will use its stable of hosts and reporters to anchor the show for now.

J.D. Hayworth Sues Broadcasting Company of the Americas for XEPRS, San Diego Termination. Talk radio host – and former Arizona congressman – J.D. Hayworth has filed suit against the company that operates sports talker XEPRS, San Diego “Mighty 1090” after he was dismissed six months into a two-year deal. Hayworth – whose background in radio is largely as a political news/talker – was inked to a two year contract to co-host the morning drive show on XEPRS alongside market vet Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton in March. The company let Hayworth go in late August and now Hayworth is suing for breach of contract and four other complaints. The thrust of Hayworth’s complaint is, according to the contract, he could only be terminated for “for Cause,” and that when he was let go, the station either refused or was unable to specify how he had failed to live up to the contract. He’s seeking the pay due under the terms of the two-year contract, plus attorneys’ fees and more. If the case goes to trial, it appears it will be Hayworth’s goal to prove that the fact that station management felt Hayworth’s pairing with Hamilton wasn’t working out was not something that can be defined as a “violation” of his contract and therefore something that fell under the “for Cause” clause in the pact. In a sentence, if you have a no-cut contract, just because it’s “not working out,” isn’t reason not to get paid.

KNX, Los Angeles’ Frank Mottek Honored. KNX, Los Angeles business anchor and host of the “KNX Business Hour” program, Frank Mottek, was honored with the “Outstanding News Professional” award from the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Los Angeles chapter on Wednesday, November 6. The 49th annual PRism Awards gala took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The awards were established decades ago to honor a select number of companies, individuals and programs that most exemplify above-and-beyond industry and community impact. PRSA is the largest public relations organization in the world, with more than 21,000 members nationally. Pictured here (from l-r) are: KNX news director Julie Chin, director of programming Andy Ludlum, Mottek and CBS Radio SVP/Los Angeles market manager Dan Kearney.

Odds & Sods. Tribune’s WGN Chicago names Scott Miller executive producer for the late night Pete McMurray show that airs from 11:00 pm to 2:00 am. Miller had been working freelance for the show and he tells TALKERS, “During my freelance time on the Pete McMurray show, I have booked: Buddy Guy, Billy Corgan, Mike Love, Dr Oz, Paul Rodriguez, Frankie Valli, Nora Dunn, Lester Holt, Nick Offerman, Aaron Paul, Mo Rocca, Kevin Cronin, and Bruce Hornsby to name a few. Famed Comedy Club owner Jamie Masada voted me ‘Chicago’s Funniest Media Personality’ at Laugh Factory Chicago!”…..NRG Media’s KOIL, Omaha was recently recognized by Omaha’s Child Saving Institute for its commitment to children and families with the organization’s “Corporate Award” at the CSI Awards luncheon earlier this week. KOIL has hosted the CSI Radiothon for the past 14 years raising more than $1 million for services to local children in need. This year’s radiothon is December 13…..WRKO, Boston morning drive talk host Jeff Kuhner (pictured here on stage addressing fans) celebrated his one-year anniversary as host of “The Kuhner Report” on Wednesday evening at the Pearl Street Café in suburban Saugus, Massachusetts. Some 200 fans packed the restaurant to help Kuhner celebrate the benchmark…..At Clear Channel’s sports talk KXNO, Des Moines, Tim Fisher leaves the morning show to relocate to Houston for personal reasons. Travis Justice and producer Ross Peterson continue to host the “Morning Rush” program.

ObamaCare Rollout Criticism Tops Talkers Ten^TM. Talk of the problems with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, the implementation of the federally run website, and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ role in the process was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week, landing atop the Talkers Ten^TM. At #2 was Tuesday’s election day results. Following at #3 was Republican Party strategy for the 2014 and 2016 elections and at #4 was President Obama’s declining approval numbers. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. View this week’s entire chart here.

The Doctor and Mr. Cain. Genesis Communications Network nationally syndicated talk show host Dr. Daliah Wachs (right) poses for a photo with WestwoodOne-syndicated talk host (and former presidential candidate) Herman Cain (center) at a fundraiser for Congress of National Equality spokesman Niger Innis (left) who is running for U.S. Congress in the 4^th district of Nevada.

TALKERS Weekly Affiliate Roundup. “Free Talk Live” with hosts Ian Freeman and Mark Edge joins the programming at KINX-FM, Great Falls, Montana; KVFC, Cortez, Colorado; and KSZL, Barstow, California…..GCN-distributed “Freedom Feens” with Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi is picked up by WNFZ-FM, Powell, Tennessee…..Talk Media Network-syndicated “Fat Guys at the Movies” with Kevin Carr and Kristin Dreyer Kramer is added to the Saturday program schedule at KVEC, San Luis Obispo, California.

Friday, September 27, 2013

TALKERS | September 27, 2013

Dennis Glasgow Named OM/PD at Capitol Broadcasting’s Sports Properties. Sports talk radio programming pro Dennis Glasgow joins Capitol Broadcasting as program director and operations manager for the company’s sports talk operations including WCMC-FM, Raleigh “99.9 The Fan”; WDNC, Durham “620 The Buzz”; WCLY, Raleigh “ESPN Deportes”; and WCMC-HD3 “99.9 The Ticket.” During his career Glasgow has served as vice president and operations manager for Red Zebra’s WTEM, Washington; PD at KFXX, Portland and KNML, Albuquerque; and most recently programmed Pamplin’s news/talk KPAM, Portland. Capitol Sports Radio general manager Brian Maloney says, “Dennis brings passion and a wealth of knowledge about radio along with experience and understanding of social media and web, both of which are a key part of the sports radio listener lifestyle.” Glasgow adds, “Having the opportunity to work for Capitol Broadcasting and their sports properties is a genuine thrill. I look forward to continuing the commitment of great sports radio in the Triangle region.”

“Shotgun” Tom Kelly to Speak at Talkers Los Angeles 2013 on October 10. For the first time in the 16-year history of TALKERS magazine’s annual convention, a music radio “disc jockey” will be presented as an official speaker in the agenda line-up. KRTH, Los Angeles “K-Earth 101” late afternoon/early evening legend “Shotgun” Tom Kelly will be participating as a panelist at “Talkers Los Angeles 2013” – a one-day, power-packed gathering of movers and shakers from the talk radio industry representing talent, sales, management and ownership. Kelly will be on a panel moderated by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison titled “The Big Picture” which, in addition to Kelly, will include Phil Boyce, VP Spoken Word Format, Salem Communications; Kraig Kitchin, CEO, Sound Mind, LLC; Mike McVay, SVP programming, Cumulus Media; and Harvey Nagler, VP, CBS Radio News. The session will be introduced by Don Martin, SVP sports programming, Fox Sports Radio. In making the announcement of Kelly’s inclusion on this panel and as a speaker at this conference, Harrison states, “This particular panel has always dealt with the broad strokes overview of where talk radio fits into the overall radio scene – not just now but over the horizon – and where radio, in general, fits into the larger media/cultural landscape. At this point in the evolution of radio, it is appropriate that the beleaguered role of the music radio disc jockey be examined because we believe that the very existence of music radio in the new digital age DEPENDS upon the revitalization and to a certain extent, the reinvention, of the position within the mix of elements that will keep radio a distinct and unique genre capable of warding off exotic digital age competition and the perils of being assimilated into the utilitarian ‘sameness’ easily imposed by the internet. We also believe that in order for talk radio to have a healthy future within the context of being ‘radio’ we need to preserve the health and viability of music radio as well. ‘Shotgun’ Tom Kelly is the quintessential radio disc jockey whose mastery of the art form and ability to survive and thrive decades of change while still going strong makes him the perfect person to perform this function as a speaker at the conference.” The sold-out “Talkers Los Angeles 2013” is open only to members of the working media. It is being presented in association with the Los Angeles Press Club at the historic Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood on Thursday, October 10 between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. For information and remaining sponsorship opportunities call 413-565-5413. To see the entire up-to-date agenda, please click here.

Simon Conway is a Busy Man. WHO, Des Moines afternoon drive talk host Simon Conway is pulling double duty today and on Monday. Conway will host his 4:00 pm CT show on the Clear Channel news/talk outlet and then sit in as host on Premiere Networks’ “America Now with Andy Dean” this evening. On Monday, Conway will sub in morning drive on Clear Channel’s WFLF, Orlando “News Talk WFLA FM 104.5 and AM 540” in addition to his regular show on WHO.

SiriusXM’s Jim Meyer Says Howard Stern and NFL Remain Important to Satcaster. At the Goldman Sachs Communacopia taking place in New York during Advertising Week, SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer told analysts that two of the big contracts the company would like to renew when they come up at the end of 2015 are those of Howard Stern and the NFL. Meyer said the company is very comfortable with the amount of money it is spending on content right now and sees both franchises as important. Regarding Stern, Meyer said, “I will be clear with you today. As long as Howard Stern wants to work and as long as Howard Stern is as motivated as he is today to make a show as good as it is today, we want him on SiriusXM Radio.” But in a follow-up question from an analyst, Meyer said Stern would have to remain exclusive to SiriusXM for him to remain.

Odds & Sods. As had been predicted, CBS Radio’s WBZ-FM, Boston “98.5 The Sports Hub” signs a deal to serve as the flagship radio station for Boston Celtics basketball. It’s a multi-year deal that brings the Celts to WBZ-FM from Entercom-owned crosstown rival WEEI which chose not to renew with the team after last season…..Dan Le Batard’s nationally syndicated sports talk program debuts on ESPN Radio Monday, September 30. Le Batard – whose show emanates from Lincoln Financial Media’s WAXY, Miami “The Ticket” – will continue to do a local hour from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm but goes national from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Le Batard also is featured on ESPN2’s “Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable.”…..Collegiate multimedia rights holders IMG College and Learfield Sports extend their deals with SiriusXM through June of 2016. The new pacts will allow listeners to hear live coverage of NCAA football and men’s basketball games from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12, American Athletic Conference and Army, as well as basketball from teams from the Big East and several mid-major conferences. In addition, it will feature select coaches’ shows and college athletic programming on SiriusXM College Sports Nation.

WMAL, Washington’s Mark Weaver Retires After 45 Year Career. DCRTV.com’s Dave Hughes reports that WMAL, Washington afternoon news anchor Mark Weaver is working his last shift for the Cumulus Media news/talk outlet today (9/27) and will retire to Florida. Weaver worked for WMAL for the last 25 years of his 45-year career. Weaver will be replaced at WMAL by news pro Rachel Sutherland who most recently worked at America’s Radio News Network. Prior to that, she served for 10 years at Metro Networks in the DC market.

TALKERS Weekly Affiliate Roundup. Cumulus Media Networks’ Michael Savage is added to the program schedule at WGTK-FM, Greenville, South Carolina and WIQO, Lynchburg, Virginia…..Cumulus’ Mark Levin picks up new affiliates KBND, Bend, Oregon; KPSI, Palm Springs; and KYYA, Billings…..Doug Stephan’s nationally syndicated “Good Morning” program adds a dozen new affiliate stations. They are: WTNT-AM/FM, Washington; WVWI, San Juan, Puerto Rio; KLPW, St. Louis; KLO, Ogden, Utah; WVOV, Chattanooga, Tennessee; WRHL, Rockford, Illinois; WCCM, Manchester, New Hampshire; KBTM-AM/FM, Jonesboro, Arkansas; WRPW-FM, Bloomington, Illinois; WRIK, Paducah, Kentucky; WATX, Algood, Tennessee; and WFLN, Arcadia, Florida…..Talk radio personality Chris Markowski – host of the weekly “Watchdog on Wall Street” show, also produces the free, daily feature called “Money Minutes.” That feature is added to the programming at WMPL, Hancock, Michigan…..Talk Media Network’s “Frontlines of Freedom” with Lt. Col. Denny Gillem is added to the program schedule at WENY, Elmira and WENI, Corning, New York.

The Implementation of ObamaCare Tops Talkers Ten^TM for week of September 23-27. The move by some Republicans to defund the Affordable Care Act and controversy over what the implementation of the law will mean was the most-talked-about story on news/talk radio this week. Coming in at #2 on the Talkers Ten^TM was the threat of a government shutdown. At #3 was Iran’s nuclear program and the nation’s diplomatic overtures to the U.S., and at #4 was the continuing unrest in Syria and the United States’ policy regarding the use of chemical weapons. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed on news/talk radio during the week. It is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS and is published every Friday at Talkers.com. You can view this week’s entire chart here.

Cher Chats with ABC News Radio. Hollywood icon Cher (l) sits down with ABC News Radio’s Andrea Dresdale (r) during Cher’s visit to ABC TV’s “Live with Kelly and Michael” to promote her new album “Closer to the Truth.”

Monday, September 16, 2013

TALKERS | September 16, 2013

Tag: "Orlando"

June 2017 PPM Ratings

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Friday, December 16, 2016

Monday, December 12, 2016

Friday, November 18, 2016

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Friday, June 24, 2016

Monday, June 13, 2016

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Friday, January 8, 2016

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Monday, August 24, 2015

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Monday, June 8, 2015

Monday, June 1, 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Monday, February 9, 2015

Monday, October 27, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Monday, August 4, 2014

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Friday, June 13, 2014

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Friday, January 10, 2014

Friday, November 8, 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

Monday, September 16, 2013

Tag: "Orlando"

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