Industry News

Spotify Posts Q4 2023 Financial Date: Revenue Up 16%

Reporting both its fourth quarter 2023 and full-year 2023 operating results, Sweden-based Spotify reveals Q4 2023 revenue of €3.67 billion, an increase of almost 16% over the same period in 2022. Forim the full year of 2023, Spotify posted revenue of €13.25 billion, an increase of almost 13% over the full year of 2022. However, the company also reports a net loss of €70 million for Q4 of 2023 and a net loss of €532 million for the full year of 2023, the latter an increased loss of almost 24% from 2022 to 2023.

Industry News

“The Ramsey Show” Tops Amazon Podcasts Chart

The Ramsey Network announces that “The Ramsey Show” reached the #1 position on the Apple Podcasts Top Shows chart. The show was also named one of the Top Shows of the Year on Amazonim Music, and it reached #1 in the Business category on Spotify in 2023. Program co-host Dave Ramsey says, “Thank you to everyone who works daily on our show. And thanks to all our listeners for choosing to spend your time with the Ramsey personalities and me. I’m honored.” On the program, Ramsey is joined each day by a rotating cast of co-hosts, including Rachel Cruze, Ken Coleman, Jade Warshaw, George Kamel and Dr. John Delony. The Ramsey Network says that in 2023, callers to the show paid off more than $36 million in debt, inspiring the millions of people that listen to the show on podcast and radio or watch on YouTube.

Industry News

Cumulus/Signal Hill Release Podcast Download – Fall 2023 Report

Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights are releasing the Podcast Download – Fall 2023 Report that looks at the latest podcast audience trends. Some of the findings include: 1) Podcast consumers continue to embrace YouTube as the number one podcast platform, especially with podcast discovery;im 2) Audio is powerful. Podcast consumers spend a significant amount of time on YouTube listening to podcasts without watching the video; 3) Since 2019, YouTube and Spotify have been growing among podcast newcomers at the expense of Apple Podcasts; 4) More than half of the weekly YouTube podcast audience say they have listened to the same podcasts in another place; and 5) Podcast consumers who watch video podcasts often have eyes on the screen. More than 6 in 10 look at the screen at least some of the time, even during ads. Since October 2021, podcast watchers have been increasing their time spent with eyes on the screen. See more about the study here.

Industry News

New Research Shows Audio Advertising Drives Significant Attention Over Other Platforms

Research and consulting firm dentsu announces the results of its research measuring attention in audio advertising that was conducted in partnership with Lumen Research and with audio firms Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media. Dentsu measured attention in various audio formats and environments across three unique studies in podcasts, radio and music streaming. The podcast study was conducted with participating partners Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media. The radio study was conducted with Audacy, Cumulus Media, and iHeartMedia. The study found that audio advertising (including podcasts, radio and music streaming) drove significant attention compared to other ad platforms: 1) Average attentive seconds per (000) APM for audio advertising was 10,126 compared to dentsu norms of 6,501 APM; 2) On average, 41% of audio ads generated correct brand recall (vs. 38% of dentsu norms); and 3) Brand choice uplift for audio ads was 10% (vs. 6% for dentsu norms). The study also found that each audio destination has its own unique strength in driving attention and brand impact: 1) Podcasts (measured across Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media) drove the highest attentive seconds per thousand impressions compared to other digital, social and TV benchmarks. In addition, we saw that brand choice uplift was higher for host reads compared to traditional audio ads within podcasts; and 2) Radio (measured across Audacy, Cumulus Media and iHeartMedia) also impressively drove higher attentive seconds per thousand impressions compared to other digital, social and TV benchmarks. Radio shined as the most efficient of the audio formats studied, proving to be 10x more efficient when compared to the average online video ads measured through dentsu’s Attention Economy. Dentsu Media US EVP Jennifer Hungerbuhler states, “We understand that radio advertising is a cost-efficient way to build reach, that podcast listeners have great affinity not only to the programming but also podcast hosts, and that smart speakers are a compelling new destination for audio ads on streaming services. It’s nice to see each of these unique strengths of different audio formats validated by our audio Attention Economy Study.”

Industry News

Cohn Named Westwood One SVP, Sales & Digital Partnerships

CohnFormer Spotify director of global podcast sales David Cohn joins Cumulus Media’s Westwood One as senior vice president of sales & digital partnerships. Cohn will oversee digital sales for Westwood One nationwide, focusing on growing brand partnerships across podcasting. In addition, he will have responsibility for the New York and Atlanta sales teams. Based in New York, Cohn will report to Westwood One president of sales Brandon Berman, who comments, “David is an accomplished sales leader with an exceptional command of the digital landscape. With his proven client-focused, multi-platform sales success, he is positioned to make an immediate impact on our business.” Cohn adds, “I’m super excited to join Westwood One. The opportunity to expand our digital footprint with the company’s amazing podcast and streaming assets was a natural draw for me. I’m excited to dig into the integrated advertising opportunities available in the red-hot audio space.” Prior to Spotify, Cohn held positions with Megaphone, Warner Media, Ziff Davis, and the WWE.

Industry News

Spotify Tops Edison Research Top Podcast Networks Chart

Edison Research releases its latest ranking of the Top Podcast Networks in the U.S. based on total network reach for Q4 2022 – Q1 2023 among weekly podcast listeners age 13+. They are ranked by the reach of theim producer or network that represents the advertising for the show, not the platform or app that the listener uses to access the podcast. For this period, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast Network, and iHeartRadio take the top three spots, respectively. Other commercial radio-related networks making this ranker include: Audacy (#8), Cumulus Podcast Network (#10), The Ramsey Network(#25), and Blaze Podcast Network (#28).

Industry News

WWO Audio Active Group: The Power of AM/FM Radio in Cars

This week’s blog post by Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group shows a brand-new comprehensive analysis of listening data from the Nielsen Fall 2022 Survey, MRI Simmons, Edison Research‘s “Share of Ear,” and Advertiser Perceptions “that reveal 82 million reasons to keep AM radio in vehicles, illustrating why AM/FM radio is still the queen of the road.” Citing the Nielsen Fall 2022 survey, the study concludes: 1) 82,346,800 Americans listen to AM radio monthly; 2) 57% of the AM radio audience listens to news/talk stations, the very outlets that Americans turn to in times of crisis and breaking local news; and 3)ban One out of three American AM/FM radio listeners are reached monthly by AM radio. From the Edison study: 1) AM/FM radio dominates listening in the car with an 88% share of ad-supported audio; 2) AM/FM radio’s near-90 share of in-car ad-supported audio has been steady as a rock for the last six years; 3) AM/FM radio’s ad-supported shares in the car are dominant across all demographics, even among 18-34s; and 4) ‘Perception’ vs. ‘reality’: Agencies and advertisers underestimate AM/FM radio shares and overestimate Pandora and Spotify audiences (‘Perception’ from Advertiser Perceptions data). MRI Simmons shows Ford owners represent 20% of all U.S. AM radio listeners and are more likely to listen to AM radio. Cumulus chief insights officer Pierre Bouvard comments, “AM stations serve very unique, targeted constituencies and represent many languages and voices. As automobile manufacturers consider eliminating AM radio, it’s important to underscore that the AM dial is one of the most diverse media platforms in the world. Why would we eliminate this variety from the car?” See the blog post here.

Industry News

Podcast Radio Announces New Production House

Podcast Radio announces that it is launching a new production house to “create, promote and distribute podcasts alongside its radio stations.” The company says, “The new venture will provide end-to-end bespoke podcast production solutions to brand partners worldwide. Suitable podcasts will be made and distributed on Podcast Radio itself and other platforms such as Apple, Spotify and Google. Podcast Radio will also provide promotional opportunities by way of advertising campaigns and on-air interviews with the podcast host or contributors.” Company founder and CEO Gerry Edwards adds, “This is a natural extension of what we do. We’ve made our own Podcast Radio Originals for some time, but we now want to extend our extensive production skills to brand partners as well.” Podcast Radio intends to take podcast content to radio listeners. It plans to begin distributing a 24/7 American version of its programming to radio stations and groups across the US beginning soon. To that end, it has partnered with New York-based KMG Networks to syndicate the programming.

Industry News

VoodooVision Consumer Study Findings Revealed

NuVoodoo Media Services announces that it is releasing the results of its VoodooVision nationwide consumer study in a series of free webinars this month. The study of more than 5,300 respondents between the ages of 14 and 54 is intended to “guide marketers through the myriad options available in the digital media and audio entertainment space.” NuVooDoo says, “The VoodooVision consumer study findings reveal that despite the steady increase of Internet-connected infotainment systems in vehicles, broadcast radio continues to hold itsLogo - Text own. It remains competitive with podcasts and DSPs (Digital Streaming Providers, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and others) when consumers are in vehicles or public transit during the early morning and late afternoon commutes, and on weekends.” Respondents were asked to select a top preference from a list of audio entertainment choices and their top choices were (for morning commuters), broadcast FM/AM radio with 19% of the sample, followed closely by podcasts, with streaming coming in at third. The study indicates the competition is closer during the late afternoon commute, where podcasts and streaming barely eclipse radio as the top choice among commuters at 15% vs. 14% of the sample, respectively. And radio remains competitive as an audio entertainment favorite among listeners on the go during the weekend, sharing the top spot with DSP’s and eking ahead of podcasts. You can register now for one of the two remaining webinars here.

Industry News

NPR Announces Workforce Cuts

As reported by NPR’s own David Folkenflik, the public radio corporation is announcing it will trim its workforce by about 10%. NPR CEO John Lansing revealed the plans to staffers in a memo. Folkenflik reports that the laying off of at least 100 staffers is due to “the erosion of advertising dollars, particularly for NPR podcasts, and the tough financial outlook for the media industry more generally.” Lansing writes, “When we say we areNational Public Radio - Logo eliminating filled positions, we are talking about our colleagues – people whose skills, spirit and talents help make NPR what it is today. This will be a major loss.” The story goes on to state, “On an annual budget of roughly $300 million, Lansing says, revenues are likely to fall short by close to $30 million, although that gap could reach $32 million.” Folkenflik notes, “The layoffs are in keeping with an increasingly grim landscape for media companies over recent months. Vox Media cut jobs by 7%; Gannett and Spotify by 6%. The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, eliminated its Sunday magazine and a handful of other jobs. After becoming part of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN cut hundreds of jobs and killed off its brand-new streaming service, CNN+.” Read Folkenflik’s piece here.

Industry News

Edison: SXM Podcast Network Tops Based on Reach

Edison Research’s latest ranking of the Top Podcast Networks in the U.S. based on total network reach for Q3-Q4 2022 among weekly podcast listeners age 13+ is released and SiriusXM Podcast Network (formerly SXM Media), Spotify, and iHeartRadio take the top three spots, respectively. This ranker – measuring reachLogo - Graphics as a percentage of the weekly podcasting audience – is based on total audience reach from Edison Podcast Metrics, and Edison says the Q3-Q4 ranker includes increased sample size implemented last year and is based on surveys of 10,579 weekly podcast listeners age 13+. The rest of the top 10 are: 4) Wondery/Audible/Amazon Music, 5) Audioboom, 6) The New York Times, 7) NPR, 8)Audacy, 9) Acast Creator Network, and 10) Cumulus Podcast Network.

Industry Views

Remaining Optimistic About Radio

By Walter Sabo
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host

An article in the Los Angeles Times shows a picture of a radio DJ next to a control board boasting the headline, THE RESURGENCE OF RADIO. Dateline: 1982.  This headline appears in various forms every few months in articles and blogs throughout the country. Writers discover radio! The power of radio! The popularity of radio! Why is radio either dying or being rediscovered when neither is true?

Recent artifacts: Every single press release from Nielsen reveals that radio is doing fine thank you. After decades of promoting its television clients and bashing radio, now that Nielsen measures radio – son of a gun – radio is thriving, it’s alive, it’s growing, it’s a success. Nielsen’s tone is one of surprise that radio attracts large, loyal audiences.

Why is radio’s 100 years of success a revelation rather an assumption? First it is because radio is ubiquitous. Walk into a store, radio. Turn on the car, radio. Wake up, radio. The sound of radio has always been everywhere and continues to be everywhere. Maybe once a year I go to a gym and hear Spotify, but I have to ask an employee where that music is coming from and they are never sure! Television is not everywhere; it has to be turned on. Magazines, websites, books, direct mail have to be considered and then opened. Not ubiquitous. Radio’s ubiquity renders it invisible on the media landscape. Radio wins by losing.

Radio salespeople sell radio to negotiators, time buyers. The job of a negotiator is to criticize and devalue the product being pitched. That’s their job. A salesperson spends nine hours a day with negotiators telling them that their product is at death’s door. To a radio salesperson, every day is a bad day. They become immersed in the pessimism of radio’s future.

“Do you realize that most 19-year-olds discover new music from the Internet?” declares a time buyer to a radio salesperson. Oddly, the fact that 19-year-olds occasionally find new music on other audio media is a dark mark against proven radio. Until this moment, the location of new music discovery had never been a deal point for the Honda dealer time buyer. But, boy this “discovery” business is charts-and-graphs serious!

To perform as a programmer or talent in radio one must be an optimist about its future. A programmer or host is intimate with listener response to their work. Radio stars see the millions and millions, and millions of dollars raised for quality charities every single year by their words, their appeal — their credibility. TV stations and newspapers rarely conduct fund drives. Have you ever heard a local TV anchor ask for donations for – anything? No, probably because it wouldn’t work as well as a pitch from the morning host on your station. A powerful, yet unseen, spokesperson can be quite persuasive to a listener to donate their money to a charity.

SiriusXM satellite radio’s lead investors, Apollo and Blackstone jointly engaged me to consult the company on site for many years. During that time, I became well-acquainted with the initiatives of all-digital audio platforms: AudibleAmazonPandoraSpotifyGoogle and many others.

At digital media conferences spokespeople for those companies would sit on panels and bash the dinosaurs called AM and FM. However, those same companies insisted on branding themselves as… radio! Spotify RADIO. Pandora RADIO!

Walter Sabo is a long-time radio industry consultant and thought leader.  He hosts and produces a network radio show titled “Sterling on Sunday” 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET.  www.waltersterlingshow.com.   walter@sabomedia.com

Industry News

LiveOne Slashes $5 Million in Costs; Plans to Spin Out PodcastOne

Digital content platform LiveOne announces that “as part of its focus on generating cash from operations on a consolidated basis, (it) is implementing additional cost and expense reductions from both operations and corporate overhead, which is anticipated to increase the previously implemented annual cost savings to a total of over $30 million in its fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.  On December 29, 2022, the company revealed that Courtside Group, Inc. (dba PodcastOne) has filed an S-1 with the SEC for its planned spin-out and special dividend to LiveOne’s stockholders of record on January 16, 2023. The company says that PodcastOne is expected to record revenue of $25 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2023 ending December 31, 2022.

LiveOne adds, “PodcastOne’s proprietary internal Content Management System allows creators and producers to track metrics about shows on an episode-by-episode basis.  CMS is the platform where podcast episodes are uploaded, RSS feeds are created and distributed to listening platforms, and the listening data is analyzed and displayed in a dashboard for the creators/producers to see. This fully owned and operated enterprise CMS rivals other paid platforms such as Megaphone (Spotify-owned), Art19 (Amazon-owned) and SimpleCast (SiriusXM/Pandora-owned). The CMS’ day-to-day operation and maintenance is managed by a vendor we contract with and is constantly being updated to be a best-in-class system. LiveOne remains committed to spinning-out PodcastOne as a separate public company to be listed on a national exchange. In connection with such spin-out, LiveOne has moved the record date to Jan. 16, 2023 for PodcastOne’s special dividend to LiveOne’s stockholders of record. In addition, LiveOne intends to explore spinning-out SlackerOne as a separate public company during its 2024 fiscal year.”

Front Page News Industry News

Monday, October 3, 2022

Monday Memo: Yes, You Need More Cume. “It’s a never-ending problem” because budgets are tight, and with new-tech competitors chipping-away at AM/FM Time Spent Listening. In this week’s column, consultant Holland Cooke outlines three specific goals for on-air promotion; but cautions that “the only people who hear it are already listening.” Read it here.

 

Pending Business: The Aftermath of Ian. Radio sales pro Steve Lapa has been affected by natural disasters numerous times during his career – including the long list of hurricanes that have impacted Florida in recent decades. In today’s column, he offers five takeaways for radio sellers working in markets affected by Ian, as well as those who may face a similar situation in the future. Read it here.

 

Morning Host Chris Stigall Re-Ups with Salem’s ‘The Answer’ in Philly. WNTP-AM, Philadelphia “AM 990 The Answer” morning host Chris Stigall signs a multi-year extension to continue with the Salem Media Group news/talk station. The host of “Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall” says, “It’s been the highlight of my career to call Philadelphia morning radio my professional home for 12 years now. It’s so gratifying to work with principled, faith-first broadcast partners in Salem Media Group who genuinely respect their audience, their clients, and their broadcasters. Thank you to Salem Media, our sponsors and the smartest audience in all of radio for allowing me the privilege to continue hosting your morning show for years to come. All glory and honor to God!” Salem Philadelphia general manager Lorenzo Caldara adds, “Since the day Chris began with Philadelphia’s ‘AM 990 The Answer,’ he has engaged Philadelphians in intelligent and relevant conversation that has served to entertain and stimulate much thought in the minds of our audience. He has secured such an attentive audience that can’t wait to listen and call in to him everyday Monday through Friday.”

‘Smart Money Happy Hour’ Podcast Debuts at #1. The latest podcast from the Ramsey Network, “Smart Money Happy Hour,” debuted last week at #1 in Apple Business, #1 in Spotify Business and #19 in all Apple podcasts. Ramsey Network says the “Smart Money Happy Hour” is a mix of solid advice and snark from two friends who also happen to be money experts. Co-host Rachel Cruze says, “People will talk about almost anything these days, except money. These conversations shouldn’t be awkward or boring, but rather give listeners a sense of relief that they aren’t alone in their money journey – whatever circumstance or stage of life they’re in.” Co-host George Kamel adds, “The show is a good balance of real-life humor mixed in with money advice listeners can relate to. We’re willing to go there, have those conversations, and be that friend for you.” “Smart Money Happy Hour” topics include: Is Convenience Worth Being Broke? The TV Network That Brainwashed Us All; How to Leave a Royal Legacy for Your Family; and Can the Middle Class Still Afford to Go to Disney?

SRN’s Mike Gallagher Raises Funds for Hurricane Ian Relief. Pictured above in front of what’s left of a Venice, Florida car dealer’s lot is Salem Radio Network personality Mike Gallagher broadcasting live. In the wake of Hurricane Ian’s devastation in Florida and the Carolinas, Gallagher is broadcasting from disaster sites today (10/3) and is raising funds to help people impacted by the huge storm. Gallagher is partnering with Christian non-profit relief organization Food for the Poor to rush hurricane emergency kits and hurricane flood relief kits to impacted areas. Gallagher says, “This is what radio does best: opening the hearts and wallets of listeners to help fellow Americans they will likely never meet.”

TALKERS News Notes. A new deal between FOX Sports Radio and LaVar Arrington’s Up On Game Presents and Brinx.TV provides for distribution of programming across both platforms. The sports platform Brinx.TV is operated by John Brenkus – host of “Sports Science.” As part of the agreement, “The NIL House” will be the first joint property to be distributed by the Up On Game Presents podcast feed (available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard) and Brinx.TV. The venture launches today (10/3) at 3:00 pm ET. Arrington says, “We are thrilled to be partnering with a pioneer like John Brenkus and Brinx.TV. This relationship will dramatically expedite our slate of programming and positively impact the sports entertainment industry.”…..Cumulus Media’s news/talk KMJ-AM/FM, Fresno recently teamed with local agriculture company Gar Bennett to raise money for the Central California Food Bank for the 2022 Feeding Families Fund Drive. Gar Bennett Inc. matched every donation with 50 cents on the dollar as the effort raised $656,000 to fight hunger in the Central Valley. Cumulus Media Fresno VP and market manager Patty Hixson says, “I’m overwhelmed by the support of our community. We can always count on the generosity of our KMJ listeners! A special thanks to Karen and Greg Musson of Gar Bennett, Farm Credit and Amazon for their massive contributions and to our talented on-air team for their hard work on this important effort.”

Russia-Ukraine War, Hurricane Ian Aftermath, Economy/Financial Markets, Mar-a-Lago Documents Case, Brazilian Elections, and Indonesia Soccer Riot Among Top News/Talk Stories Over the Weekend. The move by Vladimir Putin to attempt to annex parts of Ukraine as he calls up more troops in Russia’s war against its neighbor; the aftermath of Hurricane Ian’s destruction of the Fort Myers-Naples region; inflation and the bear market that’s pushed the world’s financial markets to lows not seen since 2009; the battle between former President Donald Trump’s lawyers and the Department of Justice over the Mar-a-Lago records case; conservative Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro forces runoff election with opponent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; and the soccer riot in Indonesia that left 125 dead were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Front Page News Industry News

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

WIBC-FM, Indianapolis Personality Rob Kendall Sues Political Activist for Defamation. WIBC-FM, Indianapolis late morning personality Rob Kendall is suing conservative political activist Gabriel Whitley, Spencer McDaniel, and Young Conservatives of Southern Indiana for defamation after the group posted comments on Facebook in which they refer to Kendall as “Pedo Rob,” implying that he’s a pedophile. The Evansville Courier & Press reports the story, noting that Whitley is a declared candidate for mayor of Evansville. Kendall co-hosts the late morning program on Radio One’s WIBC-FM with Casey Daniels. Kendall is being represented by fellow WIBC personality Abdul Hakim-Shabazz. McDaniel says the Facebook page is a satire page and as such is protected speech. He says, “Gabriel Whitley had no part in this, I run the page but it was a joke and I take full responsibility for the joke. We will win and all charges will be dropped.” The suit states, “The satiric effect emerges only as the reader concludes by the very outrageousness of the words that the whole thing is a put-on.” Hakim-Shabazz says that “the context of the post does not allow a reasonable reader to think the defendant’s words were a ‘put on.’” Kendall is seeking $50,000 in damages, punitive damages as the court deems proper,  attorney fees and court costs, and other relief the court deems proper.

Comrex Unveils New Remote Contribution Solution. The new cloud service for remote, on-air or production contribution from Comrex is called Gagl, and it allows between one and five users to send and receive audio from computers and smartphones. Each user receives their own mix-minus to hear other connected guests, and the Gagl audio is delivered to a Comrex hardware codec (such as ACCESS or BRIC-Link, usually in a studio). All participants can hear other participants and the codec “sends” audio back to them. Comrex says that participants can connect and send audio by simply clicking a link using any common web browser. Gagl is designed to be used with consumer grade equipment, so contributors only need a device and a headset to get on the air. Gagl uses the Opus audio encoder, with a bit rate that delivers both voice and music in excellent quality. Gagl also delivers audio directly to a Comrex codec with all the stability enhancements, pro-grade audio connections, and features that hardware codecs provide. The simple user interface makes it easy for users with any level of technical experience to use. Comrex adds that Gagl could be used as the hub for a news program or for a morning radio show to support multiple simultaneous contributor connections. Because it offers low latency, it’s appropriate for call-in talk radio. Gagl could also be used to allow a single contributor to connect back to the studio from a computer or smartphone. Gagl works with Comrex hardware IP audio codecs including the AES67-compatible ACCESS NX Rack IP audio codec and ACCESS MultiRack multi-channel IP audio codec as well as the BRIC-Link series. Find out more about Gagl here.

Edison Research: Spotify Takes Over as Top U.S. Podcast Network. The latest Q2 2022 data from Edison Research’s ranking of the Top Podcast Networks in the U.S. reveals that Spotify, SXM Media, and iHeartRadio take the top three spots, respectively. Spotify surpassed SXM Media’s weekly reach by a tiny margin. Edison’s ranking is based on surveys of 8,000 podcast listeners in the U.S. and measures reach as a percentage of the weekly podcasting audience. Rankings are compiled by measuring the total unduplicated reach of all the shows represented by a given network. See the complete list of the top 30 podcast networks here.

Podtrac: iHeartRadio Top Podcast Publisher for August 2022. The ranking of top podcast publishers from Podtrac has been released for August and, based on Unique Monthly Audience, iHeartRadio is ranked #1 with more than 35.5 million UMA for its 689 active shows. Wondery is ranked #2 (24.5 million UMA) for 204 shows, and NPR comes in at #3 (19.7 million UMA) for 49 shows. See Podtrac’s entire chart of the top 20 podcast publishers for August 2022 here.

Brian Kilmeade in Albany. Pictured above is FOX News Channel and FOX News Radio star Brian Kilmeade (center) on stage at The Egg Performing Arts Center in Albany on September 8. With him is FOX News Channel producer Alyson Mansfield (left) and news/talk WGDJ, Albany owner Paul Vandenburgh (right). Kilmeade’s radio program is heard from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon on WGDJ.

KFAN’s Dan Barreiro to Be Enshrined in Hall of Fame. Longtime Twin Cities sports talk personality Dan Barreiro – host of “Bumper to Bumper with Dan Barreiro” and “Sunday Sermons with Dan Barreiro” – is being honored this Saturday (9/17) at the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Barreiro was a sports columnist at the Star Tribune for 17 years. He joined iHeartMedia’s KFXN-FM, Minneapolis “KFAN 100.3” in 1992. iHeartMedia Minneapolis market president Greg Alexander says, “Dan epitomizes the make-up of a tremendous talk show in the Twin Cities. He puts together compelling interviews and has the ability to break down any and every topic to entertain our listeners. He is a true talent.” Market SVP of programming Gregg Swedberg adds, “There isn’t a radio personality who has had the kind of ratings success over the last three decades that Dan Barreiro has. He has done it by hosting intelligent, entertaining, and compelling radio. He’s more than the ‘Big Ticket,’ he is the blueprint.”

Audacy’s I’m Listening Mental Health Campaign to Produce Sixth Annual Special Program. The ongoing mental health public service campaign from Audacy includes the two-hour audio program, “I’m Listening,” once again co-hosted by Carson Daly and by Dr. Alfiee M. Breland-Noble. Each year, Audacy activates “I’m Listening” through national campaigns featuring artists, celebrities, and athletes who share their experiences with mental health. Partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, these events help raise awareness and support of issues that we all face in our daily lives. Guests on this year’s program will include: Carrie Underwood, Ed Sheeran, Adele, Vice President Kamala Harris, Lizzo, Ricky Williams, Maren Morris, Charlie Puth and Stephen A. Smith, who will share personal mental health stories. The special airs nationwide on Wednesday, September 21 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm local time across more than 230 Audacy stations and will be live streamed via its digital app and website. Also, returning to the Hollywood Bowl for its ninth year, the star-studded concert “We Can Survive” takes place on Saturday, October 22 with featured acts including Alanis Morrisette, Garbage, Halsey, OneRepublic, Weezer and more.

Trumps vs DOJ, Inflation/Financial Markets/Railroad Strike, Lindell Search Warrant, Russia-Ukraine War, British Royalty, Musk-Twitter Case, and Ken Starr Dies Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (9/13). Former President Donald Trump’s battle with the Department of Justice over its investigation into documents he kept at Mar-a-Lago; the still rising rate of inflation, Tuesday’s financial markets beating, and the looming railroad strike; MyPillow founder Mike Lindell has phone taken by FBI in warranted search; Ukraine’s retaking of territory from Russian forces; the royal family’s activities in the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth’s death; the court battle between Elon Musk and Twitter over his canceled acquisition bid; and former special prosecutor Ken Starr dies were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Advice

Monday Memo: Promoting Your Podcast with Email

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

 

BLOCK ISLAND, RI — You DO regularly communicate with an email list…right? Few opportunities to engage are more powerful than the ongoing conversation you have with followers. It’s a relationship that Pandora and Spotify and SiriusXM can’t emulate and smart radio hosts exploit well.

Send a link to your latest episode, invite feedback, and (of course) “Share with a friend.”

(more…)

Front Page News Industry News

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Rhode Island Talk Radio Host John DePetro Arrested During Facebook Live Stream. According to a report from WLNE-TV, Providence, WNRI-AM, Woonsocket talk radio personality John DePetro was arrested on Tuesday (8/16) after producing a Facebook Live stream outside a home in Warwick, Rhode Island that was previously investigated relative to the disappearance of a local woman named Charlotte Lester who’s been missing since May of this year. DePetro was charged with willful trespassing. He tells WLNE-TV, “We can continue to search for answers into the disappearance of Charlotte Lester. We will offer a vigorous courtroom defense and I expect to be fully exonerated at trial where we will call the owner of the home to the stand.” DePetro has a September 1 court date.

Triton Digital Releases Top U.S. Podcasts Chart for July 2022. The most recent monthly chart of the Top 100 Podcasts in the U.S. from Triton Digital is released for the month of July 2022. Triton Digital’s chart is based on Average Weekly Downloads and ranks entities that opt-in for measurement. Sitting at the #1 spot again this month is “The Ben Shapiro Show” from Cumulus Podcast Network/Westwood One. “NPR News Now” is #2 and audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie” is #3. Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” rises to the #7 rank in the July chart. Other shows related to the radio business that went up in rank from June to July include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “Mark Levin Podcast” at #18 and “The Michael Knowles Show,” which rises to #22.

Edison Research’s Top 50 U.S. Podcasts for Q2 2022 Published. This chart of the U.S. Top 50 Podcasts Q2 2022 from Edison Research ranks the 50 biggest podcasts by audience size, based on Edison Podcast Metrics. Edison notes that Edison Podcast Metrics is “the only podcast measurement service that measures the relative audience size and demographics of all podcast networks in the U.S. It is the only measurement based on actual podcast listening, not downloads, and does not require an opt-in from podcast networks.” The top six podcasts did not change from the previous survey: #1 is “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “Crime Junkie” from audiochuck is #2, and “The Daily” from The New York Times is #3. Other radio related shows on the chart include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” at #7, Cumulus’ “The Dan Bongino Show” at #16, and “The Ramsey Show” from Ramsey Networks at #29. Edison says its Top 50 Podcasts of Q2 2022 list is derived from data collected continuously Q3 2021 – Q2 2022, from surveying podcast consumers ages 18 and older in the U.S. Participants indicate which podcasts they listened to in the past week along with a variety of demographic, psychographic, and purchase behavior information.

Andrew Williams Named Brand Manager for BetQL Network. Radio producer and programming pro Andrew Williams is named brand manager for Audacy’s BetQL Network. In this Washington, DC-based role, Williams will oversee all producers, talent and audio content for the BetQL Network’s 100 hours of original content per week. Audacy SVP of sports Matthew Volk says, “Andrew possesses a proven track record of creatively reaching audiences through the creation and development of rich multimedia content, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to BetQL Network as that is one of the core principles of the network. We look forward to welcoming him and his leadership to our brand, which has seen rapid growth across all platforms over the last year and watching his experience and expertise help continue to grow the network.” Williams most recently served as senior producer for SiriusXM in Washington D.C.

AdLarge Names Matt Turck Head of Podcast Growth and Strategy. Podcast advertising pro Matt Turck is named head of podcast growth and strategy at AdLarge. In this role, Turck is charged with overseeing revenue development, partnership growth and with contributing to the overall strategy of the podcast portfolio. Turck co-founded Megaphone (acquired by Spotify in December of 2020) and most recently served as the head of Megaphone Publisher Solutions at Spotify. AdLarge co-CEO Cathy Csukas says, “Matt brings an abundance of experience and expertise to the AdLarge team. With the speed at which the marketplace continues to move, it’s wonderful to have him on board to help us continue our expansion as well as provide exceptional service and products to the industry.”

FBI Raid/Documents Investigation, Midterms/2024 Presidential Race, Giuliani Grand Jury Testimony, Inflation, CDC Overhaul, U.S.-Taiwan-China Tensions, Russia-Ukraine War, Opioid Ruling, and Drought Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (8/17). The aftermath of the FBI raid on former President Donald Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago and the documents investigation; Liz Cheney’s primary loss on Tuesday, the November midterms, and the 2024 presidential race; Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani’s appearance before a grand jury in Atlanta related to the 2020 election; inflation’s effect on U.S. household income; the CDC promises an overhaul after admitting shortcomings dealing with COVID and Monkey Pox; the tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan; Russia’s losses in Crimea after Ukraine strikes; a judge awards damages against CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart in the opioid crisis; and the ongoing drought were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Front Page News Industry News

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

New TALKERS 2022 Video Posted: Today, TALKERS magazine posts the latest in an ongoing series of video presentations from the TALKERS 2022 convention held on June 10 at Hofstra University on Long Island. Today’s video addition features the panel discussion titled “Programming News/Talk Radio in the Digital Era” moderated by Mike McVay, president, McVay Media Consulting.  Panelists include Dr. Asa Andrew, CEO/host, The Doctor Asa Health Network (“Believe”); Grace Blazer, VP, national NTS brand coordinator, director of news and AM programming Florida region, iHeartMedia Miami; Phil Boyce, SVP/spoken word format, Salem Media GroupSalem Radio Network/operations VP, New York Region; Kevin DeLany, VP, news & talk programming, Westwood One; and Greg Stocker, program director, WPHT, Philadelphia.  The introduction was provided by Steve Goldstein, CEO, Amplifi Media. You can watch the video here.

iHM Jacksonville Boosts Lawrence To Senior VP/Sales. Two-and-a-half-year iHeartMedia Jacksonville vice president/sales Stacey Lawrence advances to senior vice president/sales of that Florida cluster. Lawrence will report to iHeartMedia North Florida area president Paul Rogers, who comments, “When I joined the market [in March 2021], I took a long time to evaluate our team, including our management team. I wanted to learn their values, their work ethic, and observe their commitment to our team, our customers, and to iHeart. Stacey flat-out earned it, and her strong working relationship with vice president/digital sales Brooke Adams is going to be crucial and what takes us over the top.” Lawrence remarks, “I’m thrilled to step into my new role with this incredible team in Jacksonville. Although I’ve been with iHeartMedia less than three years, it did not take me long to realize this was where I belonged. [It’s] a forward-thinking company that is customer-centric at its core. Jacksonville is exploding and I plan on leading this team to their fullest potential. I look forward to making a difference in our community and helping businesses achieve their marketing goals through our world- class, multi-channel offerings.” Lawrence spent 14 years with Hibu (formerly YellowBook USA). She later held sales management positions for two Jacksonville TV stations, including Graham Media Group’s  WJXT-TV. Among the stations in iHM Jacksonville is Spanish news/talk WFXJ “Acción 97.3.”

Moore Becomes MAB’s Main Man. Most recently the vice president of programming for iHeartMedia New Hampshire, Tim Moore is named president/chief executive officer of the Maine Association of Broadcasters. Moore succeeds Suzanne Goucher, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. MAB board chair/WMTW-TV, Portland president/general manager David Abel states, “The Board was looking for someone with deep experience in Maine broadcasting and extensive relationships throughout the state; Tim stood out among some very qualified candidates. There is much to be done to position the MAB for the future and we are excited to have Tim lead that effort.” According to Moore, “I’ve loved the MAB for years and believe in the mission to advocate for broadcasters on every level. My thanks to David Abel; incoming chair Corey Garrison; and the entire board of directors for placing their faith and trust in me. I’m beyond excited to lead the MAB into the future and cannot wait to get started.” Moore began his Maine radio career in Bangor at WKSQ. He later went to Portland as operations manager of WHOM and WJBQ. A former MAB board chair, Moore is a member of the MAB Hall of Fame and was awarded the inaugural (2010) “Broadcast Achievement Award.” The Maine Association of Broadcasters was formed in 1947 to “cultivate a friendly spirit of cooperation in matters of common interest” to radio and television stations throughout the “Pine Tree State.”

Wexler Wins NFPW’s Top Spot For Best Radio Interview. Just hours after Jim Himes spent a marathon day and night at the U.S. Capitol following the January 6 (2021) riot, Connoisseur Media Bridgeport news/talk WICC’s Lisa Wexler interviewed the Connecticut congressman live on her 10:00 am – 12:00 noon show. That January 7 interview enabled Wexler to win first-place for “Best Radio Interview” in the National Federation of Press Women’s Awards. Wexler comments, “Interviewing congressman Jim Himes after he experienced all that transpired on January 6 felt like history in the making. I urge all to listen to it now, with the benefit of hindsight.” Connoisseur Media senior vice president Kristin Okesson remarks, “The role of radio is as vital as it’s ever been, and Lisa Wexler is a fantastic example of what makes the medium so critical right now. Lisa has developed a deep connection to her audience through her no-nonsense interview style and down-to-earth storytelling. Through these stormy past few years, Lisa was there to help guide her listeners through. She remains a reassuring voice during an uncomfortable time in our nation and the world. Connecticut and WICC are lucky to have Lisa Wexler behind the microphone.” NFPW is a nationwide organization of women and men pursuing careers across the communications spectrum, including radio, television print, electronic journalism, freelancing, new media, books, public relations, marketing, graphic design, photography, and advertising. Winners from throughout the country were honored this past Saturday (6/25) during the National Federation of Press Women communications contest ceremony in Fargo, North Dakota. Nearly 2,000 entries were judged in a wide variety of categories. Only first-place winning entries at the state level are eligible to enter the national contest. All entries were published or broadcast between January 1 – December 31 (2021). “The Lisa Wexler Show” took first place for the Jim Himes interview at the Connecticut Press Awards.

“Share Of Ear” Q1 2022 Findings. Among this week’s Cumulus Media/Westwood One Audio Active Group blog highlights is that among registered voters, terrestrial radio has a 75% share of ad-supported audio. Meanwhile, AM/FM radio’s audience is 13 times bigger than Pandora and 19 times that of Spotify. Trending ad-supported audience shares from Q1 2020 to Q1 2022, terrestrial radio sees little change (78% to 76%). As podcast shares bump up from 7% to 11%, Pandora’s shares are down 25% (8% to 6%). Also in single-digits are Spotify (4%) and SiriusXM (3%). Terrestrial radio leads total ad-supported shares among key buying demographics; podcast shares are greater than Spotify and Pandora combined. In the car, AM/FM radio shares have been in the high-80s the last six years. Most Americans only listen to terrestrial radio and never listen to Pandora and Spotify. Over six years, the proportion of terrestrial radio listening occurring through online streaming has nearly doubled (8% to 15%). More radio listening is occurring via stream (15%) than the entire AM dial. With a 43% share, terrestrial radio leads ad-supported listening on the smart speaker. Edison Research’s quarterly “Share of Ear” study surveys 4,000 Americans to measure daily reach and time spent for all forms of audio.

TALKERS News Notes. The first-ever “Black Effect Podcast Festival” is set to take place August 28 at the Avant Gardner in Brooklyn. Premiere Networks’ “Breakfast Club” co-host Charlamagne Tha God will join the festival, along with some of the Black Effect Podcast Network’s most popular personalities for a day of live podcast tapings and discussions aimed at aspiring podcasters in the black community. According to Charlamagne Tha God, “The Black Effect Podcast Network was created to amplify black voices for new and established content creators and storytellers, giving them a space to showcase their creative vision in the ever-growing podcast game. I’m excited to celebrate the first-ever Black Effect Podcast Festival, where talented black creators and aspiring podcasters will come together for a day to uplift and inspire one another. This festival is for the culture and is one of many events the network will host for the black community.” Launched in September 2020 and curated by Charlamagne Tha God, the Black Effect Podcast Network has debuted 32 shows. Black Effect Podcast Network partners include AT&T, BetterHelp, Hulu, Molson Coors, Nissan and State Farm … Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is coming back to the organization to be part of this year’s radio broadcasts on iHeartMedia Charlotte. A first-round pick by the Panthers in 2012, Kuechly will be in the booth for six home games and the road trip to his hometown of Cincinnati. He comments, “I just love the Panthers. I want to be attached to the team and the game. I think it could be a lot of fun.” Kuechly played eight seasons in Carolina and retired following the 2019 season. Other members of the Panthers radio team are Anish Shroff; Jordan Gross; Jake Delhomme; Kristen Balboni; and Jim Szoke … Among the three specials ABC Audio will provide to affiliates this July 4th weekend is ABC News Radio’s three-hour Jason Nathanson-hosted “Press Play.” Nathanson and ABC News correspondents venture across the country thrill-seeking and learning new skills.

Podtrac Releases Weekly Podcast Data. Downloads for Podtrac-measured shows (June 20 – 26) are up 1% over the previous week and gain 70% versus the corresponding period last year. Whereas “Health & Fitness” displays the strongest week-over-week growth (+9%), “Comedy” registers the weakest week-to-week loss (-4%). The category with the strongest  year-over-year improvement is “Health & Fitness,” climbing 183%. Across all Podtrac-measured podcasts, download growth for the 52-week period (June 21, 2021 – June 26, 2022) was up 70%, while week-over-week (June 20 – 26, 2022) download advancement  was up 1%. Year-to-year download growth was +183% for “Health & Fitness”; +116%, “Comedy”; +87%, “True Crime”; +83%, “Sports”; +64%, “News”; +62%, “Business”; +60%, “Society & Culture”; +47%, “Science”; +44%, “History”; and  +12% for “Arts.” Download week-over-week gains are made by “Health & Fitness” (+9%); “Arts” (+3%); “News” (+3%); “Society & Culture” (+3%); and “Sports” (+2%). “History” remains even, while “Comedy” is -4%; “Science” and “True Crime” are both -3%; and “Business” is -2%.

Front Page News Industry News

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Round Two of April PPMs Released. The second of four rounds of ratings information from Nielsen Audio’s April PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including: Washington, DC, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. Nielsen’s April 2022 sweep covered March 31 – April 27. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways for this round of markets. In Boston, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO sheds four-tenths to finish with a 4.3 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) but rises to the #7 rank, and sister all-news WBZ-FM dips by eight-tenths to finish with a 4.7 share and remains ranked #6. Bonneville International’s news/talk KIRO-FM, Seattle loses 1.1 shares and wraps the survey with a 6.3 share that pulls it out of first place to #2. Meanwhile, Lotus Communications’ crosstown all-news KNWN-AM/FM dips by seven-tenths for a 4.3 share finish good for the #9 rank. In the Twin Cities, Audacy’s news/talk WCCO loses half a share for a 3.8 share finish and the #13 rank, while iHeartMedia’s crosstown news/talk KTLK-AM sheds six-tenths for a 3.0 share and the #14 rank. And Hubbard Broadcasting’s talk KTMY-FM ticks up one-tenth for a 2.7 share finish good for the #15 rank. You can see Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets (as well as the first round) here.

 

WOLB-AM, Baltimore Morning Host Larry Young Recovering from Leg Amputation. The Baltimore Sun reports that WOLB-AM, Baltimore morning drive host Larry Young is recovering after having surgery to remove his leg below the knee, the result of an infection in his foot that was complicated by his Type 2 diabetes. The 72-year-old Young has been off the air since April 10. He’s been hosting the morning show on Radio One’s WOLB-AM for the past 25 years and is planning to retire from the station at the end of this year. As noted in a story below, Young is being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from TALKERS magazine at TALKERS 2022 at Hofstra University on June 10. Young tells the paper that he expects to be back on the air in June and back to normal activities by August.

 

Cumulus-Signal Hill: YouTube Most Used U.S. Podcast Platform. The latest Podcast Download – Spring 2022 Report from Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights that examines weekly podcast listeners has been released. Cumulus says the report is part of its commitment to share insights and research findings with the podcast community. Cumulus EVP, marketing and president, Westwood One Suzanne Grimes says, “Our new Podcast Download Report uncovers a major surge in video podcast audiences as YouTube becomes the most-used platform to access podcasts. Podcast advertising reaches millions of younger consumers who have abandoned linear television for advertising-free video streaming services.” Some highlights from the report: 1) Six in 10 weekly podcast listeners say they prefer podcasts with video. When asked how they prefer listening to podcasts, 28% say they like a podcast video they actively watch while listening and 29% indicate they have the video in the background/minimized while listening. 43% say they use audio only with no video; 2) YouTube is now the leading audience destination. When asked which platform they listen to the most to access podcasts, 24.2% say YouTube, followed by Spotify (23.8%) and Apple Podcasts (16%); 3) The greater the time spent with podcasts, the more the podcast ads generate consumer response and business outcomes. As a result of hearing a podcast ad, heavy podcast listeners (those who listen six-plus hours per week) are more likely to have searched online for a product, discovered a new product/service, made a purchase, used a promo code, or followed a brand on social media. See the complete report here.

 

Edison Research: SiriusXM Top Podcast Network by Reach. According to just-released data from Edison Research, the Top Podcast Networks in the U.S. for the first quarter of 2022 are: SXM Media, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, respectively. This ranker measures reach as a percentage of the weekly podcasting audience. Rankings are compiled by measuring the total unduplicated reach of all the shows represented by a given network. Listening is credited to the producer and/or the network that represents the advertising for the show, not the platform or app that the listener uses to access the podcast. Rounding out the top 10 are: 4) NPR 5) The New York Times 6) Audioboom 7) Audacy 8) Cumulus Podcast Network 9) Wondery and 10) PRX. Edison Research director of research Gabriel Soto says, “Edison Podcast Metrics is the only dataset that covers the entire U.S. podcast space. By surveying listeners and measuring their actual consumption, the data doesn’t depend on opt-ins from networks and isn’t subject to the various issues with counting downloads. These top networks offer a diverse range of shows that appeal broadly to listeners.”

 

TALKERS Announces Recipients of 2022 Awards. Ian Freeman, Mandy Connell, Larry Young, and Jeff Katz to be recognized at TALKERS 2022.

Ian Freeman is the co-host, along with Mark Edge, of a long-running syndicated radio talk show titled, “Free Talk Live,” that emanates from Keene, New Hampshire evenings 7:00 pm – 10 pm ET. The main theme of the contemporary news and topics show is freedom and the ideals of the First Amendment. Although still on the air regularly, Ian Freeman is currently under federal arrest on a wide array of charges ranging from money laundering to wire fraud. He maintains his innocence and claims the FBI and other government agencies are hell bent on shutting him up after years of dealing with the nuisance of the show’s activism and controversial information on such subjects as civil disobedience, including taking a frontline stance on the emergence and controversies of cryptocurrencies. He will begin his trial later this year. Ian Freeman will receive the TALKERS Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of Speech (also known as the “Freedom of Speech” award) at TALKERS 2022 at Hofstra University on Friday, June 10.

Mandy Connell is the 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm midday host at KOA, Denver. Prior to her present position, her radio background includes KHOW, Denver as well as heritage station WHAS, Louisville. She began her career in Florida doing news/talk and hot talk after having been a flight attendant who decided to attend broadcasting school and begin a career in radio. She is widely recognized as an influential, reasonable, and independent conservative political voice as well as an entertaining conversationalist whose repertoire includes all aspects of pop culture and day-to-day issues. Her star continues to be on the rise. Mandy Connell will receive the TALKERS Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Woman to Talk Radio (also known as the “Woman of the Year” award) at TALKERS 2022 at Hofstra University on Friday, June 10.

Larry Young has been the beloved morning show host on African American community talker WOLB, Baltimore for the past 25 years and is about to retire at the end of 2022. The “Larry Young Morning Show” is widely regarded as the top black radio talk show in Maryland. The “Larry Young Morning Show” was also named “Best Radio Station” by Baltimore City Paper in 2007, 2008, 2009 and in 2010. He also has been honored by the community with such awards as the 2007 Pinnacle Award given by American Development Consortium, 2009 Ed Bradley Award given by Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2011 Unsung Hero Award given by Grace Outreach Fundraising Committee, 2012 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award given by Greater Baltimore Urban League and he was the recipient of the TALKERS Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2015. Larry Young will receive the TALKERS Lifetime Achievement Award at TALKERS 2022 at Hofstra University on Friday, June 10.

Jeff Katz is the 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm host at WRVA, Richmond. He is a former police officer in Philadelphia who traded his badge for a microphone and began a successful three-decade, award-winning career as a talk show host on major stations in in Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia, San Francisco and, since 2013, at the legendary WRVA. Jeff volunteers thousands of hours to help members of the community with a special focus on law enforcement officers and disabled children. President Donald J. Trump honored Jeff’s service by presenting him with The President’s Award for Volunteer Service. In addition, FBI Director Christopher Wray honored Jeff by naming him the winner of The Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2019. Katz will be the recipient of the TALKERS Sharon L. Harrison Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service by a Radio Talk Show Host (also known as the “Humanitarian of the Year” award) at TALKERS 2022 at Hofstra University on Friday, June 10.

 

TALKERS News Notes. According to the latest data from Comscore, FOX News Digital finished April 2022 as the “top-performing news organization in the competitive set in multiplatform minutes.” FOX News Digital closed out the month reaching 2.9 billion total multiplatform minutes, 1.5 billion total multiplatform views, and 77 million multiplatform unique visitors. FOX News says April also marked the 14th straight month that it outpaced every news brand in the competitive set in multiplatform minutes. While FOX News Digital eclipses competitor CNN.com in multiplatform total views and total minutes, CNN.com tops FOX News Digital in unique visitors by a wide margin…..iHeartMedia Charlotte and the NFL’s Carolina Panthers strike a deal for the teams games to be heard on classic rock WRFX-FM “99.7 The Fox” starting this season. The team’s game broadcasts have been heard on Radio One’s WBT-AM/FM for the past 17 seasons. 99.7 The Fox will carry all Panthers game broadcasts, the Panthers pregame and postgame shows as well the team’s weekly coach’s show. The station will provide unique listener experiences and will have an on-site presence at Bank of America Stadium during Panthers game days. In addition, the new relationship will benefit from iHeartMedia’s audio partnership with the NFL, which features podcast distribution via the iHeartPodcast Network…..iHeartMedia chairman & CEO Bob Pittman and president, CEO & COO Rich Bressler will participate in a question and answer session during J.P. Morgan’s 50th Annual Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference in Boston on Tuesday May 24 at 3:30 pm ET. A live webcast of the session will be available to the general public at the start of the session through a link on the Investors homepage of iHeartMedia’s website.

 

Dick Rakovan Dies. Radio executive Dick Rakovan has passed, according to numerous reports, including this one from Radio Ink. Consultant and TALKERS magazine columnist Holland Cooke says, “His CapCities resume included WJR, Detroit; WKBW, Buffalo; and WPRO, Providence where he was our station manager in the 1970s – radio Camelot. Later, when he ran the radio group for Outlet Broadcasting, he vectored me into programming WSNE, Providence and WTOP, Washington. He also served with WFYR, Chicago and WWRC, Washington and was VP of the Radio Advertising Bureau.” Rakovan was honored by the Illinois Broadcasters Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. See that video here.

 

Buffalo Shooting/Great Replacement Theory, Midterm Primaries/Trump & the GOP, the Economy, Russia-Ukraine War/Finland & Sweden Apply to NATO, Elon Musk & Twitter, COVID-19, and UFO Hearings Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (5/17). The aftermath of the deadly Buffalo shooting and talk of the Great Replacement Theory; the primary races for the November midterm elections and Donald Trump’s influence over the GOP; the financial markets, inflation, and concerns about a major recession on the horizon; Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Finland and Sweden apply to NATO; Elon Musk’s attempt to take over Twitter; the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.; and Tuesday’s congressional hearing on UFOs were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Advice

Monday Memo: Your Egg-Timer?

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

 

BLOCK ISLAND, RI — Baseball stations: Exhale. WE HAVE A DEAL. As you read this, Spring Training is underway, and Opening Day is April 7.

We need it. Pandemic-weary and weathering climate change, we’ve been tested. Now, the Ukraine crisis breaks our hearts and inflation busts family budgets. And one of baseball’s best showed me a simple trick that suggests how radio can matter more to listeners in these challenging times.

(more…)