Industry News

Derek Egeberg Brings KBLU, Yuma Back to Life

Local businessman Derek Egeberg announces he’s acquired KBLU-AM, Yuma, Arizona and is relaunching the station as a news/talk outlet. Egeberg had hosted a weekend financial show on the station for years when former owner El Dorado Broadcasting took the station dark. He decided to take on the task of buying and imgreinventing the station. He posted to Facebook: “Eighty-six years ago, this station was created right here in Yuma as a local voice for local people. Over time, like many great American institutions, KBLU became part of larger corporate ownership. But now the story changes. KBLU is once again locally owned, locally operated, and locally directed. This is more than a radio station changing hands. This is a comeback story… And we’re proud to announce that ‘The Russ Clark Show’ is back on the air weekdays from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. That matters because local radio should sound like the community it serves. It should know the streets, the businesses, the families, the farmers, the veterans, the first responders, the leaders, and the heartbeat of Yuma.” The station will feature programming from Premiere Networks, including Sean Hannity, “The Clay & Buck Show,” Michael Berry, “Our American Stories,” and more.

Industry News

iHeartMedia Moves “The Huddle” to Afternoons in Milwaukee and Madison

Local sports talk outlet WOKY “FOX Sports 920” is moving “The Huddle,” starring Drew Olson, Billy Schmid and Armen Saryan, imgfrom morning drive to the 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm daypart beginning on Monday (10/12).  The program also airs on iHeartMedia’s Madison sports talker WTSO “1070 The Game.” The move is happening in part so the hosts and cover evening Green Bay Packers games and not have to turn around and get up before dawn. The station will air “2 Pros and a Cup of Joe” starring LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn, and Jonas Knox.

Industry Views

“Superfans Are Driving Podcast Usage Now”

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgThe “Pareto Principle” is a rule-of-thumb that roughly 80% of revenue comes from about 20% of customers, in many industries. Including radio, where so-called “First Preference” or “P1” listeners – those who listen to your station most – contribute most of your Time Spent Listening.

Ditto for podcasting, where 17% of podcast listeners are the ballgame, according to Point-To-Point Marketing and Strategic Solutions Research. If you missed Tuesday’s webinar “The Podcast Study: Turning Listeners/Viewers Into Superfans,” here’s the deck – and an appetizer: They listen while commuting, cautionary to broadcasters’ in-car dominance and opportune for podcasters.

This research also fleshes-out who these “Superfans” are, how to engage them, and how NOT to tune-them-out.

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

Industry News

Audacy: NFL Season is a Boon for Audio Advertisers

The latest from Audacy Insights centers around its NFL Attention Index that analyzes the habits of “die-hard” NFL fans. Audacy says the NFL Attention Index is “built around three dimensions – avidity, imgengagement, and performance – the Index reveals where NFL fandom is strongest, how the most passionate fans express that fandom, and what it means for brands trying to reach them.” Audacy says the data show avid sports fans gravitate to radio shows and podcasts: 82% of avid NFL fans listen to sports podcasts; 81% listen to sports talk radio; 81% listen to sports play-by-play – spending more time with those programs than they do with TV highlights, social media, and live game TV. Audacy says that for advertisers, NFL super fans are a gold mine as those exposed to radio ads show Awareness at 56%, Consideration at 49%, Purchase at 51%, and Loyalty at 41%. See the full story here.

Industry News

Audacy Virginia Stations Raise $15k for Tunnel to Towers Foundation

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Audacy’s Richmond, Virginia radio stations – news/talk WRVA and sports talk WRNL-AM “910 The Fan” – teamed up for the inaugural “Swing Fore Heroes” golf tournament, presented by Veterans Fire Protection. Thirty teams of four competed at Hunting Hawk Golf Club in Ashland, Virginia and helped raise more than $15,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation whose mission is to pay off mortgages for the families of fallen first responders and Gold Star families, as well as build custom, mortgage-free “smart homes” for severely injured service members.

Industry News

New Skydance Company in Control of CNN

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The merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery became official today as the companies come together under the new moniker Skydance, led by CEO David Ellison. The new company also includes the two news divisions CBS News and CNN. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison (right inside) was a guest this morning (10/6) on Newsmax TV’s “Wake Up America” program co-hosted by Mark Lotter (l) and Sharla McBride (r) along with veteran journalist Dennis Kneale (left inside) to provide analysis about what the merger will mean to CNN’s programming. The question was: will the change of ownership push CNN’s programming to the “center” or “right?” Harrison said that “ratings and revenue” will ultimately determine CNN’s political positioning regardless of who owns it. He explained – from an industry programming perspective – it is a mistake to assume that like-minded TV news channels are allies. You can see the Newsmax segment here.

Industry News

Andy Hooser Partners with Salem Media for Daily Show

Talk host Andy Hooser’s Hooser Media Network – owner of his program “The Voice of Reason with Andy Hooser” – announces a imgnew deal for the Salem Radio Network to serve as the new home for his daily 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET program. Additionally, the two-hour weekend version of “The Voice of Reason” currently distributed through the Salem Radio Network, expands to three hours. Hooser comments, “We are excited for the new opportunities working closely with Salem Radio on the program as we continue to grow, becoming one of the fastest-growing independent talk radio shows in the nation!”

Industry News

Rita Cosby Interviews Administration Officials

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WABC, New York talk host Rita Cosby is pictured above interviewing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during a recent media day event at the White House. Red Apple Media says Cosby – co-host of the daily “Cats & Cosby” show alongside John Catsimatidis – was part of a select few journalists and talk hosts who were invited to take part in the high-level media day event. Cosby spoke with a number of cabinet secretaries, financial advisors to the president, and White House communications officials.

Industry News

NYC Councilman Morano Pushing Chatbot Privacy Bill

New York City Councilman Frank Morano – a former, longtime talk radio host on WABC, New York – is promoting legislation establishing new privacy, security and transparency protections for users of artificial intelligence chatbots. Morano’s bill would require imgchatbot providers to clearly disclose that users are interacting with artificial intelligence, give users access to their own chat logs, establish data security requirements, restrict the use of chatbot conversations for advertising and behavioral profiling, require affirmative consent before adult users’ conversations are used for AI training, and establish stronger protections for minors. Morano says, “Every transformative technology has had growing pains. Radio changed politics and mass communication. The telephone changed the meaning of distance. Cinema and television changed entertainment, advertising and culture. Society eventually developed rules, norms and expectations around all of them.

“But AI is different in one critical respect. The telephone did not independently learn how to become a better telephone. Television did not rewrite its own programming. A movie projector could not decide to act on its own. Artificial intelligence can learn, adapt, analyze enormous amounts of information and, increasingly, take actions with less human involvement. That means we need to think about the rules earlier, not decades after the fact.”

Industry News

WWO: Big Reach Creates Future Demand

This week’s blog post from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group looks at creating future demand via two recent publications: James Hurman’s Future Demand: How Marketing to Tomorrow’s Customers Will Break Your Brand Out of the Performance Trap and Les Binet’s and Will Davis’ study Go Big imgor Go Home: How Small Thinking is Killing Advertising and What to Do About It. Both publications point to a number of conclusions that advertisers should be aware of: 1) Advertisers have two jobs: Convert existing demand by reaching the five percent who are in the market and create future demand via brand building focused on the 95% of consumers who are not in the market; 2) “Big media ads” (AM/FM radio, TV, and outdoor), are more effective at creating future demand because they create a greater sense of quality, popularity, and trust for brands; 3) Ads from “big media” (AM/FM radio, TV, and outdoor) stick in minds more than digital or social media ads. Over 85% of online ads don’t reach the 2.5 second Attention-Memory Threshold, according to Amplified Intelligence’s Karen Nelson-Field; 4) Don’t be afraid of “waste.” It’s the part of advertising that works. See full blog post here.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Compass and Pac-12 Conference Partner for Tourneys.  Compass Media Networks and  PLAYFLY Sports announced a multi-year partnership for Compass to have the exclusive national audio rights to the Pac-12 Football Championship and Pac-12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. Compass GM of sports programming Robert Blum says, “The Pac-12 Conference is an awesome addition to our play-by-play sports lineup.  We look forward to working with the Pac-12 Conference and PLAYFLY Sports to build excitement for these iconic matchups.”

Mary Louise Kelly to Exit “ATC’ Host Role. After more than eight years co-hosting NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Mary Louise Kelly is stepping down from that role and from her hosting the podcast, “Sources & Methods.” She says, “I’m stepping down as host of ‘All Things Considered’ and ‘Sources & Methods.’ Twenty-five years since I first set foot in this newsroom! I’ll continue to contribute interviews. NPR remains a place where I can do the kind of work I came to journalism to do. Now, on to the next adventure.”

Industry News

Applications Open for MIW’s LAUNCH Mentorship

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing female leadership in radio, and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) announce that applications for the 2026 LAUNCH Mentorship Program will be accepted October 6–30, img2026. LAUNCH was created to develop and advance women pursuing careers in broadcast engineering, audio production and technical operations. The year-long mentorship pairs a rising professional with an experienced industry leader for one-on-one guidance, professional development and deeper exposure to the technologies and operations powering today’s broadcast and audio industry. MIW Board President Sheila Kirby said, “As technology continues to transform every part of the broadcast business, we need more women building, operating and leading the systems that will take our industry forward. Expanding LAUNCH to include women working with our technology partners and vendors allows us to reach talented professionals across a much broader part of the broadcast ecosystem. This program is about giving women access to the mentorship, technical knowledge and relationships that can help turn career potential into long-term leadership.”

Industry News

Karoline Leavitt Joins FOX

Former Trump Administration Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is joining FOX News Media as a as a contributor. She’ll begin providing commentary and analysis on November. 1. CEO imgSuzanne Scott says, “Karoline’s firsthand experience in the White House and on the presidential campaign trail gives her a distinct understanding of today’s political landscape. We look forward to her providing our audience with authentic and sharp insight across all FOX News Media platforms.” Leavitt’s experience includes running as the Republican candidate for congress in her home state of New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, serving as communications director for then-House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and during the first Trump Administration serving as a presidential writer and assistant press secretary.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: Looking for Work?

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imgToo often, for too many in radio, it has been a Blue Christmas in recent years. If you have been displaced – or if you are working, and, shall we say, “assessing your options” – don’t underestimate what you have to offer.

  • The skill set you have accumulated doing-what-you-do can advantage you in other walks-of-life. Here are 18, from a previous TALKERS column: https://getonthenet.com/CareerAlternatives.html
  • Now try this: Paste that URL in ChatGPT or MS Copilot, and ask for “opportunities near [where you live].”

Artificial Intelligence has changed the rules for your resume

Its job isn’t to get you hired. It’s to get you the interview. In the 2026 update of her “Resumes for Dummies,” Laura DeCarlo has some advice that may surprise you:

  • A better resume may contain LESS of your experience. Keep what proves you fit THIS job.
  • A plainer resume can perform better than a prettier one. Clear headings and ordinary text help screening software find your qualifications.
  • Your most impressive achievement may not be your most useful one. Relevance to the opening wins.
  • Don’t describe everything you did. Describe what changed because you did it.
  • Claiming a skill isn’t proof that you have it. One concrete example can do more than a long keyword list.
  • Your opening lines aren’t an autobiography. They’re the answer to “Why should we interview this person?”

To read a generous free sample – how AI changes your job search — scroll-down to “Recommended Reading” on the home page at HollandCooke.com 

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

Industry News

Tony Orlando Keynotes Harry Hurley Charity Fundraiser

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Legendary recording artist (and WABC, New York radio host) Tony Orlando is pictured above delivering the keynote speech at the 18th Annual Harry Hurley Charity Dinner & Silent Auction at Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City on Friday (10/2). More than 300 guests enjoyed the evening that’s become an annual “who’s who” of potentates from business, industry and electoral politics. The charity raised a record $90,000, adding to a total of more than $2.2 million raised since the event debuted 18 years ago. WPG, Atlantic City morning drive host Harry Hurley tells TALKERS, “Tony Orlando is my ‘Friend for Life,’ (an actual limited club that we formed years ago) — Tony was so generous with his time and many talents. Tony spent three days on property — arriving a day before our event.” The next Harry Hurley Charity Dinner & Silent Auction is already set for Friday, October 1, 2027, at Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City.

Industry News

NYSBA Wraps Regional Training Sessions

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The New York State Broadcasters Association has finished up its 2026 Upstate Regional Training Sessions and Awards Luncheons on Friday (10/2) in Albany after sessions and luncheons in seven cities from NYC to Buffalo. The Upstate regional gatherings opened with a training session led by Derron Steenbergen, president and founder of the Swagger Institute, in which he led broadcasters through practical strategies, including AI-powered prospecting, to give sales and management teams tools they can put to work right away. NYSBA president and executive director Heidi Raphael says, “It is a privilege to honor the inspiring broadcasters across our state who do so much for industry the communities they serve. These awards reflect the incredible talent, creativity, and commitment to public service that define New York broadcasting.” You can see the list of winners here.

Industry News

Simon Conway Interviews Administration Officials

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Pictured above is WHO, Des Moines talk host Simon Conway (right) with Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (left). Conway tells TALKERS that this is the fourth time he’s been invited to the White House to speak with administration officials. He says, “It is a true honor. You kind of have to pinch yourself actually when you realize where you are.” Conway spoke with seven officials including Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner (below).

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Industry News

FOX Business Network Sets New Weekday Programming

FOX Business Network unveils a new weekday programming lineup effective October 12 that includes “Big Money in the Morning” (6:00 am to 9:00 am ET) hosted by Dagen McDowell, Brian Brenberg and Taylor Riggs with Barron’s Josh Schafer. “The Big Money imgShow” (12:00 noon to 2:00 pm ET) adds rotating co-hosts Cheryl Casone, Marcus Lemonis, and Lou Basenese alongside current host Jackie DeAngelis. Additionally, Liz Claman will launch a new Friday night program titled, “Claman’s Power Players” (7:00 pm to 7:30 pm ET). FOX News Media president and executive editor Jay Wallace says, “We’re excited to bring viewers fresh programming from a seasoned team of journalists, offering expert insight and analysis on the forces shaping the economy and driving business news. FOX Business remains committed to delivering compelling business news, market analysis, and conversation throughout the day, and these changes will further strengthen our weekday lineup.”

Industry News

NAB Opens Entries for Crystal Awards

The National Association of Broadcasters opens the entry window for the 41st annual NAB Crystal Radio Awards, recognizing radio stations for outstanding community service. The 2027 awards will imghonor community service efforts conducted between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026. A panel of judges representing the broadcast industry and community service organizations will review the submissions and select 50 finalists. From that group, 10 stations will be named Crystal Radio Award winners. Winners will receive national recognition during a ceremony at the NAB State Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2027.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (September 28 – October 2)

Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (9/28-10/2) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:

Stories

  1. Midterm Elections
  2. The Economy / Rising Consumer Prices and Mortgage Rates
  3. Jack Smith Hearings
  4. SCOTUS ICE Deportations Ruling
  5. Trump AI Execs Meeting
  6. UK Base Attack Thwarted / FlyDubai Flight 1073 Incident
  7. Hegseth’s Pentagon Cuts / U.S.-Iran War
  8. Cornell Rape Allegations
  9. U.S.-China Relations
  10. Christa Pike Execution Attempt

People

  1. Donald Trump
  2. Ken Paxton / James Talarico
  3. Abdul El-Sayed / Mike Rogers
  4. Jon Ossoff
  5. Jack Smith / Eric Schmitt
  6. Pete Hegseth
  7. Masoud Pezeshkian
  8. Benjamin Netanyahu
  9. Xi Jinping
  10. Christa Pike

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