Industry Views

Monday Memo: Calculating Taylor Swift

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

imNow that every single thing is a political argument, the angry social media conversation about Taylor Swift is unsurprising. And with the Super Bowl looming, the decibel level amps-up.

So, kudos to SiriusXM and CNN host Michael Smerconish. I’ve previously cited him here as technique worth emulating when it comes to:

– Polling the audience on an ongoing basis (a sponsored feature on smart radio stations)
– Leveraging social media to give audience ownership of the show; and
– Genuine curiosity. His centrist approach earns him scorn from both sides in this Cold Civil War we’re living through. I can relate. When I managed WTOP, Washington, the quickest way to make the phone explode was to announce a crowd estimate for an abortion rally. Both sides jammed the lines to damn the number.

This preposterous Swift kerfuffle had been all heat until Smerconish shed light on it this past weekend. Noting rumors shared by FOX News that she would photobomb the Super Bowl with a Joe Biden endorsement, his poll question was “Could Taylor Swift determine the outcome of the presidential election?”

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Just now, you answered that question in your own mind. But – for our purposes – the more useful approach is to consider information Smerconish curated unfiltered by personal politics:

– Swift has 279 million Instagram followers
– She has (so far) sold 4.35 million pricey tickets for The Eras Tour. Its “record-shattering revenue” (so far) is $1 billion+
– $200 million (so far) in tour merchandise. Her gray $45 T-shirt is now sold-out in all but 3XL and 4XL.
– 26 billion+ Spotify streams in 2023.
– SSRS polling: 59% of USA adults identify as Swift fans, 63% of women; and her fans are evenly divided 50/50 between Democrat or Dem-leaning and Republican or GOP-leaning.
– On her urging, several hundred thousand Americans younger than 25 have registered to vote.

Add it all up? “Taylor knows your social media interactions, where you saw her on tour, how much merch’ you’ve bought from her website, she knows the size of your T-shirt, the number of downloads you’ve made. We’re embarking on an election cycle which will be (a) the most expensive in history, and (b) will see much of the money spent on ‘micro-targeting,’ the use of online data to tailor – pun intended – advertising messages to individuals based on the identification of recipients’ personal vulnerabilities and interests. In order to target effectively, data is essential. And Taylor’s got lots and lots of it, and on a demographic that is exactly what the Biden team needs the most: disproportionally female, young, and passionate. With truly the touch of a button Taylor Swift is uniquely situated to use the data at her disposal to impact the presidential race.”

Leave it to your nerdy consultant to ask: Are WE using OUR listener data to OUR benefit?

Bigger-picture issues:

– Privacy: We have all volunteered LOTS of information about ourselves. Look what pops up in your email and your social media.
– Vulnerability of the Electoral vote process: The last two Republican presidents took office after losing the popular vote. Taylor Swift is my coastal Rhode Island neighbor, and if she votes here, neither of us matter. Our state has four electoral votes. Just 40 thousand-some popular votes in three key states gave Biden his 2020 win.
– Tone: The measurable appeal of Swift’s sunny disposition vs. “I am your retribution.”

Good for us. News/talk radio is in the suspense business. “What JUST happened??? What happens NEXT???” So, we should wish Nikki Haley well.

Inquisitive Smerconish sounds like dispassionate Mr. Spock: “What [Swift detractors on the right] should be worried about is her data.”

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

OutKick announces that FOX News contributor, New York Times best-selling author and former professional wrestler, Tyrus, a.k.a. George Murdoch, joins the platform to host the new show, “Maintaining with Tyrus.” The first episode launches on February 1 featuring a sit-down with talk TV host Piers Morgan, followed by interviews with Wolf of Wall Street inspiration Jordan Belfort, and “How America Works” host Mike Rowe.

ESPN is expanding the reach of its ESPN podcast offerings starting January 29 as ESPN2 will televise an ESPN video podcast every weekday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET. The premiering lineup will include: “First Draft,” “The Hoop Collective,” “The Lowe Post,” “The Mina Kimes Show” and “The Elle Duncan Show.” Mike Foss, ESPN SVP, production says, “This strategic content initiative provides our ESPN podcasts with a tremendous opportunity for continued growth and audience expansion, while simultaneously lending compelling content to our ESPN2 television lineup.”

New England Public Media promotes Elizabeth Román to managing editor – daily and digital news. NEPM says, “Although her title did not dramatically change, her responsibilities have evolved and Román will now be taking the lead on delivering daily news programming on the radio, NEPM website and social media channels.” Román says, “As a lifelong Springfield resident and Western Massachusetts native. I’m excited to continue working with our skilled news department to bring you even more stories that highlight the needs, concerns and successes of the people living and working in this community.”

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One is presenting play-by-play coverage of this weekend’s NFL Conference Championships presented by lead sponsor Intuit Turbo Tax. Doubleheader coverage begins with the pregame show at 2:00 pm ET on Sunday before the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens meet for the AFC Championship game and the Detroit Lions battle the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

Industry Views

SABO SEZ: Five Golden Actions for 2024

By Walter Sabo
Consultant, Sabo Media Implementers
A.K.A. Walter Sterling
Radio Host, “Sterling On Sunday”
Talk Media Network

imResearch shows that readers to trade publications like articles with five bullet points. Here are my five bullet points for 2024. If these were to be deployed, you could be thriving by the end of the year. These actions would increase sales and audience share.

1. Radio should be easy to buy. It’s not. Easy fix: Look at your website. Based on the website how would you buy time on your station? It should be as simple as a realtor’s website. Put up pictures of your salespeople with ALL of their real contact information – not a FORM. Offer their email and cell number. Offer a “tour” of the offerings with information about the talent and the audience. What does the host sell best? How about a very brief audio message from each host to your potential advertiser?
2. Every medium creates its own stars. Example – David Caruso, good on TV, bad in movies. Your hosts, good on radio, lousy at original podcasts.  Sure, edit up the interviews or bits and make them into a podcast. But don’t ask a host to get off the air and make brand new content for a podcast. Engage locals who are good at making original podcasts and offer them a stage.
3. Sell the biggest number. Your morning show probably has more listeners than the “Tonight Show” has viewers in your city. 1010 WINS has more listeners in New York than FOX News has viewers nationwide. Go check. Those are the numbers that put radio in perspective!  Stop selling the smallest number, TIME SPENT LISTENING. Who came up with that!?
4. Don’t make potential advertisers jump through hoops. If you have spent your career in programming, you may not know the tyranny of MEDIA CREDIT. New radio advertiser: Good buy, high rate, longterm business. Sounds great. Not so fast. At most companies, new business still has to go through the gauntlet of a MEDIA CREDIT CHECK. End that.
5. What’s wrong with the hosts? Many hosts use a content formula that MUST generate a diminishing audience size and older and older and older demos.  Repeat. WHY? If you start to trust that what you talk about socially, with your friends, your audience will grow and grow younger. Be more like Bruce Collins, PD at WBAP, Dallas. Bruce just hired James Parker who has been featured for years on “Sterling On Sunday.” James is going to talk about life, fatherhood and funny. He joins “New Jersey 101.5” alumnus, Casey Bartholomew, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, who talks about life, fatherhood and funny.  It’s working so well that WBAP will now be simulcast on Class C2 FM, KLIF.

Five bullet points. Goals: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Walter Sabo was a founding architect of SiriusXM and began the recruitment of Howard Stern. He has consulted RKO General, PARADE magazine, Hearst Broadcasting, Press Broadcasting, and other premium brands. He launched the first company to engage online video influencers, Hitviews. As an executive, he was EVP of NBC FM RADIO giving Dr. Ruth Westheimer her first media job and fostering the creation of adult contemporary. As VP ABC Radio Networks, Sabo hired Ringo Starr to be a DJ for a 24-hour special.

Industry Views

Monday Memo: News Tune-Out/Tune-In

By Holland Cooke
Consultant

im“Most registered voters avoid the news at least some of the time. Of those who disengage, over half avoid national politics coverage,” according to the “Voices of Value 2023 Report” by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University.

It’s a survey of registered voters in Rhode Island, where I live, and this data mirrors national polls: “Democrats and Republicans hold deeply negative views of their political counterparts. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans and Democrats view their political opponents as very close-minded. Independents are less likely to judge their counterparts as harshly.”

— Also reflecting national data: “More Rhode Islanders trust local than national news, but Republicans and Independents are less trusting than Democrats, given their concerns of partisan media as a threat to democracy.”
— “All parties are skeptical of news from social media sites as they are concerned with fake news and disinformation.”
— “Partisan differences exist beyond this fatigue of national politics. Republicans are the most likely party to distrust the news media and the least likely party to say they avoid the news. Over half receive most of their news from FOX News.”

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What this means to radio:

— If you do local news, tout it.
— If you’re an affiliate, remind them that you’re FOX News in the car. It’s the source they trust. Those who disengage aren’t listening.

Holland Cooke (HollandCooke.com) is a consultant working at the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. He is the author of “Close Like Crazy: Local Direct Leads, Pitches & Specs That Earned the Benjamins” and “Confidential: Negotiation Checklist for Weekend Talk Radio.” Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke

Industry News

Yesterday’s (11/29) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The release of more hostages and the extended truce between Israel and Hamas; Henry Kissinger dies at 100; the 2024 presidential race; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; tonight’s Gavin NewsomRon DeSantis debate moderated by FOX’s Sean Hannity; the UN’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai; Elon Musk’s anti-Semitic tweets and X’s loss of advertisers; the scheduled vote to oust George Santos from the House were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

The Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) announces a new partnership with the International Coaching Federation Foundation (ICF) that will provide AWM members with the unique opportunity to access professional coaching at an exclusive discounted rate. Participants in the AWM Coaching program can anticipate a series of six to 10 coaching sessions with their individual ICF Coach, ensuring a productive and tailored coaching experience. The schedule and goals for these coaching sessions will be established between the coach and participant. Learn more about the program here.

Gemini XIII’s United Stations Radio Networks announces a new partnership with Yea Networks to represent the advertising sales for “The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show.” Gemini XIII CEO Spencer Brown states, “The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show is one of the most popular and successful morning shows in the country, and we are confident that sponsorships, cross-platform opportunities and activations for brands will once again be a part of the media mix for clients looking to activate with female demos in a meaningful way.”

FOX News Audio expands its partnership with Audacy to include FOX Weather, FOX News Media’s free, ad-supported streaming television (“FAST”) weather service. This deal expands FOX News Audio’s existing relationship with Audacy, which also distributes FOX News Podcasts and the FOX News Talk audio streams.

Industry News

iHeartMedia Debuts “The Patriot” in Vero Beach

iHeartMedia Treasure Coast announces the debut of the new “Newsradio 107.9 FM/1370 AM The Patriot” on (former oldies) WZTA-AM/W300BQ, Vero Beach. The station is airing “The Brian Mudd Show” in morning drive, simulcast from its home base at WJNO-AM, West Palm Beach. Otherim programming includes Premiere Networks’ “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” and “The Jesse Kelly Show,” as well as programming from Westwood One. iHeartMedia SVP of programming Jason Carr says, “We’re excited to bring ‘The Patriot’ to Vero Beach with local talk and news from ‘The Brian Mudd Show’ and some of the biggest names in national talk radio. ‘The Patriot’ will super-serve the growing Vero Beach community, with the most up-to-date news, weather and sports updates, including sources like FOX News and the Florida News Network.”

Industry News

CTBS Podcast Net Launches Karol Markowicz Show

Premiere Networks announces that the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network will debut “The Karol Markowicz Show” to its lineup of podcasts on October 9. Markowicz is a New York Post and FOX News columnist and is co-author of the best-selling book, Stolen Youth (DW Books, 2023). Premiereim says, “The new podcast expands on the topics that drive Markowicz’ most-popular columns, namely, the cultural and social issues that affect us all. From marriage and family, to career and relationships, Markowicz aims to find real answers to the deep questions that really matter, while taking listener questions and welcoming some of the biggest names in news, politics and entertainment for candid conversations.” Markowicz says, “I’m thrilled to join The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network on iHeartRadio. I’ve been approached, over the years, to do a podcast but it never felt like the right fit. Joining Clay and Buck is a dream. I’m such a big fan of both of these men and can’t wait to join the team.”

Industry News

WABC’s Curtis Sliwa Arrested Again Over Migrant Camps Protest

Guardian Angels founder and WABC, New York host Curtis Sliwa was arrested yesterday (8/20) for blockingim the street along with other protestors in front of the Midland Beach Migrant Shelter on Staten Island. According to a report by Greg Wehner at FOX News, Sliwa was protesting the at the former Midland Beach Senior Citizen Home. It was the second time in a week that Sliwa was arrested. On Wednesday of last week (8/16) he and others protested in front of the Creedmoor Hospital Grounds where a tent shelter for migrants has been built. Read the FOX News piece here.

Industry News

Newsmax Says Ratings Are “Surging”

Newsmax says that its surge in the Nielsen cable TV ratings continued through July registering “large weekday ratings boosts year over year, and FOX News continues to see significant declines. The July ratings book foundim Newsmax registered an impressive 88% percent jump in prime time, among all viewers, year over year. Nielsen also reported Newsmax witnessed 62% in total day and 56% in day-time ratings Monday through Friday.” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy states, “It’s clear millions of Americans have made the switch to Newsmax, and they like what they see. They also like our powerhouse lineup starting with Greta Van Susteren every night at 6:00 pm Eastern.”

Industry News

FOX News Sends Tucker Carlson a Cease-and-Desist

According to a report by Mike Allen at Axios, FOX News has sent a cease-and-desist to Tucker Carlson related to his two “Tucker on Twitter” programs. Carlson and FOX parted ways in the aftermath of theim Dominion Voting Systems settlement but Carlson remains under contract to FOX (through the end of 2024) and is still being paid by FOX. This is a fairly standard non-compete situation found in most television and radio contracts. Carlson and his attorney, Harmeet Dhillon, argue that FOX is attempting to stifle Carlson’s First Amendment rights. This case appears to be headed to court. Read the Axios story here.

Industry News

Tucker Carlson Debuts on Twitter; FOX News Cries Foul

According to a report by Axios, FOX News has notified Tucker Carlson’s attorneys that they believe his Tuesday Twitter broadcast is in violation of his contract. The Tuesday program was Carlson’s first broadcast since he exited FOX News Channel in April. FOX argues that the showim was a violation of the non-compete portion of his contract. Axios reports that Carlson’s lawyers say, “Any legal action by FOX would violate [Carlson’s] First Amendment rights.” The Axios piece goes on to say that Carlson is accusing FOX News of breach of contract for breaking their promise to not settle the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit in a manner in which it would indicate wrongdoing on the part of Carlson. It’s been reported that firing Carlson was a part of FOX’s settlement agreement with Dominion. Read the Axios report here.

Industry News

Salem Front and Center at NRB Conference

im

More than 4,000 Christian broadcasters are in Orlando this week attending the 79th annual National Religious Broadcasters conference. Among those in attendance are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, evangelist Franklin Graham, and authors like FOX News personality Raymond Arroyo (above, left) being interviewed by Salem Radio Network news correspondent Lori Tradup (right.)

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of April 24-28

FOX News Channel’s firing of Tucker Carlson was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s spending cuts in exchange for expanding the U.S. debt ceiling deal, followed by the legal battles facing former President Donald Trump at #3. The Talkers TenTMis a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (4/25) Top News/Talk Media Stories

President Joe Biden declares candidacy in ’24 and the related questions about his age; the aftermath of the firing of FOX News’ Tucker Carlson and CNN’s Don Lemon; House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s strategy to tie $4 trillion in spending cuts to raising the debt ceiling; criticism of the Biden administration’s FHFA mortgage subsidization plan; the legal battles facing former President Donald Trump; Montana transgender state rep faces expulsion; and actor-singer-activist Harry Belafonte dies at 96 were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Industry Analyzes Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon Exits

The news/talk media industry spent Monday afternoon digesting the one-two punch that FOX News and Tucker Carlson had parted ways and that CNN had fired longtime anchor and host Don Lemon. Whileimage conservatives were likely to cheer the news of Lemon’s dismissal, the Carlson departure was far more nuanced as it came a week after FOX agreed to a $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and after discovery in the case revealed imagetexts that offered a behind-the-scenes look at FOX News personalities’ frank opinions about the 2020 election, January 6, and their co-workers and bosses. The breaking news even prompted the vacationing Mike Gallagher to find a studio in London from which to do a special edition of his Salem Radio Network program today (4/25). Salem VP/news & talk programming Tom Tradup says, “Mike Gallagher’s programming instincts are second to none. Despite being on vacation overseas, he recognized the importance of the Tucker Carlson departure and insisted on parachuting back into his talk show to give listeners the chance to sound off of what likely will be one of the biggest political stories on 2023.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s (4/24) Top News/Talk Media Stories

FOX News Channel’s Tucker Carlson and CNN’s Don Lemon exit their roles with their respective media organizations; the 2024 presidential race and Joe Biden’s official announcement he’s running for reelection; former President Donald Trump’s legal battles; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ battle against Disney; North Dakota passes law banning almost all abortions; the violence in Sudan and the exit of diplomatic personnel; and the trial of Proud Boys leaders for seditious conspiracy relative to January 6 were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media this week, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Dan Bongino’s FOX News Show Ends

As reported by the AP, FOX News and talk media personality Dan Bongino have parted ways. Bongino’s relationship with FOX News goes back almost 10 years. The former cop and Secret Service agent has been a commentator on FOX and has hosted the Saturday night show “Unfiltered” since 2021, as well as the “Canceled in the USA” program on FOX Nation. Bongino said on his radio show and podcast that they just couldn’t agree on a new deal. “It’s not some big conspiracy. There’s no acrimony. This wasn’t like some WWE brawl that happened. We just couldn’t come to terms on an extension.” The report indicates Bongino may even make guest appearances on FOX in the future. Read the full story here.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Media Stories for Week of April 17-21

The settlement of the defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against FOX News was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the Supreme Court’s hearing of arguments in the mifepristone abortion drug lower court ruling, followed by the various legal battles facing former President Donald Trump at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media this week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (4/19) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The Supreme Court pauses recent court rulings stopping the sale of the abortion drug mifepristone while it considers the case; the Democrats’ Dianne Feinstein problem; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis battle against Disney and criticism of the move by fellow Republicans; the aftermath of the FOX News-Dominion settlement; the shootings of people approaching the wrong house or car and the controversy over self-defense laws; House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s strategy in dealing with the debt ceiling; an IRS agent requests whistleblower protection in connection with the Hunter Biden investigation; China’s saber-rattling and its designs on Taiwan; and the Russia-Ukraine war and Russia’s efforts to keep Ukraine out of NATO were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.