Good Morning: Check The Pulse To Start Wednesday, May 20

Radio Broadcasting

The Museum of Broadcast Communications announced today the selection of eight new inductees into the RADIO HALL OF FAME for 2026. The 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Inductees will be honored at the in-person 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Trump Supports AM Radio: The fight to preserve AM radio in new vehicles remains one of the most prominent issues in U.S. radio broadcasting, with President Donald Trump recently recommitting to strong action against automakers removing the technology.

SiriusXM, NASCAR Renew: They have announced a multi-year renewal of their broadcasting agreement, ensuring fans across North America will continue receiving live radio coverage of every NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series race, plus year-round programming on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Media Industry

Shorter Leash: Paramount executives are engaged in informal discussions about reducing Bari Weiss’s direct authority over television broadcasts at CBS News, according to reports.

Times To Sue: The New York Times is suing the Pentagon, accusing the Defense Department of imposing unconstitutional restrictions on press access in retaliation for a previous court defeat. The newspaper filed the legal challenge after the Pentagon introduced new rules that limit journalists’ ability to report from inside the building and interact with officials.

Carr Critics: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr continues to draw heavy criticism for threats to revoke broadcast licenses over alleged "fake news" or "hoaxes," particularly regarding coverage of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. President Trump has publicly backed these statements. Civil liberties groups, press advocates, and experts call this unconstitutional "jawboning" that chills free speech and violates First Amendment norms. 

U.S. News

Trump Coat Tails: President Trump’s handpicked House candidate defeated longtime GOP antagonist Rep. Thomas Massie, underscoring the president’s iron grip on the Republican Party and the dire political consequences for lawmakers who defy him headed into the midterm elections.

Senate Moves: Days after Trump celebrated ousting incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s GOP primary election, Cassidy voted in favor of advancing a resolution that would limit Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran without congressional approval. The procedural vote, which passed 50-47, marked the first time Cassidy had supported such a resolution since Trump launched the war against Iran in February. 

Beach Mayhem: Three beachgoers were stabbed while hundreds of teens took over packed New England beaches in separate incidents on Tuesday, sparking fights and forcing evacuations of the summer hotspot.

And The 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Inductees Are...

The Museum of Broadcast Communications announced today the selection of eight new inductees into the RADIO HALL OF FAME for 2026. The 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Inductees will be honored at the in-person 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Tickets are on sale now at: www.radiohalloffame.com. A portion of ticket purchases is a tax-deductible charitable donation to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, home to the Radio Hall of Fame.

The 2026 Radio Hall of Fame inductees include:

• Boomer Esiason-WFAN-AM/FM, New York City
• Dennis Green, COO Sun & Fun Media/Key Networks
• Shotgun Tom Kelly-60’s on 6 - Sirius XM
• Helen Little-WLTW-FM, New York City
• Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.
• Rickey Smiley-Urban One/Reach Media
• Charlie Van Dyke
• Fred Winston

Six inductees were determined by a voting participant panel comprised of more than 950 industry professionals invited to cast votes and two inductees were voted on by the Radio Hall of Fame 2026 Nominating Committee. The confidential ballot was conducted by Votem.com and overseen by Miller Kaplan’s Andrew Rosen.

Kraig Kitchin, Co-Chair of the Radio Hall of Fame, said: “Our congratulations to each of our 2026 Inductees, on this well-deserved recognition. Each of these inductees has performed at the highest levels for a sustained period of time to make our industry that much more impactful to listeners and advertisers as a result. I’m thrilled to see them properly recognized by this announcement and the forthcoming Induction ceremony this October. Thank you to our 2026 Nominating Committee and to the hundreds of voting panel participants for confirming our 2026 Class of Inductees.”

Tribute Book ads for the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony are available for purchase now. Contact Linde Thurman at: Linde@radiohalloffame.com for more information and to buy a Tribute Book ad for the October 8th event.

The Radio Hall of Fame was founded by the Emerson Radio Corporation in 1988. The Museum of Broadcast Communications took over operations of the Hall in 1991.

Radio Recap Day 2: More April PPMs Released

Nielsen continues rollout of the PPM results for the month of April. It covers the period from April 2nd through the 29th. It featured the Easter.

SAN FRANCISCO:  Talk Rules

KQED and KCBS once again dominated the San Francisco 6+ ratings, continuing their stronghold on the market, 6+ Rankings

• KQED (N/T) remained #1 for the fourth consecutive book, rising from 8.6 to 9.2.
• KCBS (All News) slipped slightly from 8.6 to 8.7, taking second place.

The music stations battled for third. KOIT (Bonneville AC) claimed the spot with a 4.8–4.6 share. KMVQ (99.7 NOW Hot AC) held steady at 4.4 (down from 4.5) and tied for fourth with surging KIOI (Star 101.3 Hot AC), which climbed from 4.1 to 4.4. KISQ (98.1 The Breeze Soft AC) eased from 4.5 to 4.3, landing at #6.

KOIT remained the cume leader despite a 10.7% drop (1,145,600 → 1,022,900). Overall market listening was down 1.6%.

25-54 Demo:  KQED and KIOI emerged as the new co-#1 stations. KQED posted a slight gain.

KIOI delivered its fifth straight up book.

KMVQ fell from #1 to #3 with a modest share loss.KYLD (WiLD 94.9 Pop CHR) jumped from #6 to #4, posting its strongest performance in over a year. KRZZ (La Raza 93.3 Regional Mexican) also delivered its best share in over a year, rising from #7 to #5.

KITS (Live 105 Alternative) and KOIT dropped out of the top five, sliding to #6 and #7 respectively after tying for #4 last month.

ATLANTA: Magic  Returns

Urban One  Urban AC WAMJ (Majic 107.5/97.5) roared back to the top of the Atlanta 6+ ratings with its highest share in over a year.6+ Rankings

• WAMJ jumped from 6.9 to 7.5, reclaiming the #1 spot.
• Cox Media Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 The River) held strong at #2, rising from 7.0 to 7.4.
• N/T WSB-AM fell from #1 to #3, sliding from 8.5 to 7.0.
• Audacy Urban AC WVEE (V-103) remained steady at #4 with a 6.7 share.
• Cox' Urban AC WALR (Kiss 104.1) rounded out the top five at 6.3 (down from 6.4).

AC WSB-FM (B98.5) continued to lead in cume listeners, growing 2.2% from 770,600 to 787,500. The overall market was up 0.4%.

25-54 Demo: WAMJ and WSB-FM both delivered their best performances in over a year, rising together to become the new co-#1 stations.WVEE slipped from #1 to #3 with a modest share loss.
WSRV held at #4 with a slight dip. Audacy's Sports WZGC (92.9 The Game) climbed from #8 to #5 in a strong rebound. WSB-AM and WALR tied for #6.

Report: PSKY Executives Move to Curb Bari Weiss’s Oversight

Paramount executives are engaged in informal discussions about reducing Bari Weiss’s direct authority over television broadcasts at CBS News, according to reports.

According to Dylan Byers at Puck News, The moves stem from growing concerns inside the company that placing an executive with no prior experience in linear television in charge of steering the legacy network toward the center has produced a string of damaging consequences: persistent negative headlines, declining viewership, and high-profile operational failures. 

A notable example is a botched visa process for anchor Tony Dokoupil that contributed to a cameraman collapsing on live television during a broadcast from Taiwan.

Paramount pushed back against the reports in a statement to Mediaite, declaring that “Bari has the full support of Paramount and David Ellison as the editorial leader overseeing CBS News and 60 Minutes. Reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.”

The challenges have mounted since Weiss assumed a prominent editorial role. Industry observers, including media reporter Alex Byers, point to a pattern of ratings declines and visible missteps that “have laid bare the corrosive effects of her inexperience in television news.”

While much of the public debate has centered on the broader ideological shift Weiss represents—with left-leaning critics decrying changes to CBS’s editorial direction—the more immediate pressure appears to come from the unforgiving mechanics of daily live television production. Tasks such as coordinating remote shoots, managing technical crews across time zones, navigating international logistics, and maintaining smooth on-air execution have exposed gaps in operational expertise.

NY Times Suing the Pentagon..Again

The New York Times is suing the Pentagon, accusing the Defense Department of imposing unconstitutional restrictions on press access in retaliation for a previous court defeat.

The newspaper filed the legal challenge after the Pentagon introduced new rules that limit journalists’ ability to report from inside the building and interact with officials. The Times argues these measures violate the First Amendment and represent a direct response to an earlier courtroom loss suffered by the Defense Department.

The restrictions effectively required news organizations to agree to policies that curtailed independent coverage. Many reputable outlets refused to sign, resulting in their exclusion from working inside the Pentagon.

“In other words, they were asked to not do their jobs or, more accurately, to behave like state-run media,” said Jones. “Most reputable news organizations, of course, refused to sign the policy and were then banned from working inside the Pentagon.”

The escalating conflict highlights broader tensions between the current administration and independent journalism. Observers see the new barriers as part of a systemic effort to create structural obstacles for reporters seeking to cover national defense and military matters. The lawsuit underscores ongoing disputes over transparency, press freedom, and government accountability at the highest levels of the U.S. military establishment.

NYC Radio: Trump Supports AM Radio Act

The fight to preserve AM radio in new vehicles remains one of the most prominent issues in U.S. radio broadcasting, with President Donald Trump recently recommitting to strong action against automakers removing the technology.

President Trump, in a May 12 call-in interview on 77WABC’s “Sid & Friends,” described automakers’ moves to drop AM radio as “so ridiculous” and vowed to stop it. He acknowledged the issue had temporarily slipped his radar amid other priorities but pledged renewed focus, noting he had personally intervened to block similar removals during his first term. 

Trump framed the matter as critical for public access to information and emergency communications.

SiriusXM, NASCAR Extend Multi-Year Broadcasting Deal

SiriusXM and NASCAR have announced a multi-year renewal of their broadcasting agreement, ensuring fans across North America will continue receiving live radio coverage of every NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series race, plus year-round programming on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90).

The extension guarantees uninterrupted access to full-race broadcasts and daily NASCAR content for SiriusXM subscribers in vehicles and on the app.

This week, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio is broadcasting extensive live special programming from the Charlotte area ahead of this weekend’s races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Sports Podcasts Surging

Triton’s Q1 2026 U.S. Podcast Ranker shows Comedy, News, and Society & Culture remain the dominant genres, while Kids & Family and Health & Fitness are rising quickly. The data indicates podcast listening is shifting toward everyday, functional use, with audiences turning to on-demand audio as part of daily routines.

Top Sales Networks by Average Weekly Downloads

• iHeart Audience Network
• Audioboom
• Cumulus Podcast Network

Top Podcasts by Average Weekly Downloads

• Pod Save America (Audioboom)
• Stuff You Should Know (iHeart Audience Network)
• The Dan Bongino Show (Cumulus Podcast Network)

Sports Podcasts Surge in Popularity

Sports emerged as the leading genre for new entries (ranker debuts) this quarter, signaling a broader evolution in how fans consume content. Daily talk formats and athlete-hosted shows are gaining ground, offering personal, conversational alternatives to traditional sports coverage. This trend points to sports audio becoming more habitual, personality-driven, and integrated into listeners’ everyday routines.

Orlando Radio: CMG Urban Stations Unite to Silence Violence

Cox Media Group Urban stations will air a live national broadcast, “Stopping the Music to Silence the Violence,” on Sunday, May 31, from 7-9 p.m. ET to raise awareness about domestic violence and its impact on families and communities.

The two-hour special, originating from WCFB-Star 94.5 in Orlando, will be simulcast across all CMG Urban stations nationwide. It aims to spotlight the crisis, promote mental health support, trauma recovery, and breaking generational cycles through expert discussion and resources.Recent tragedies have highlighted the urgency, including the domestic violence-related death of a South Florida public official, a murder-suicide involving a former Virginia lieutenant governor, and the loss of multiple children in a Louisiana case. 

Radio History: May 20

➦In 1901...Reginald Fessenden applied for high-frequency dynamo patent.  Fessenden (October 6, 1866 – July 22, 1932) was a Canadian-born inventor, who did a majority of his work in the United States and also claimed U-S citizenship through his American-born father.  During his life he received hundreds of patents in various fields, most notably ones related to radio and sonar.

Fessenden is best known for his pioneering work developing radio technology, including the foundations of amplitude modulation (AM) radio. His achievements included the first transmission of speech by radio (1900), and the first two-way radiotelegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean (1906). In 1932 he reported that, in late 1906, he also made the first radio broadcast of entertainment and music, although a lack of verifiable details has led to some doubts about this claim.

Reginald Aubrey Fessenden, is generally ignored and largely unknown. On December 24, 1906, at 9 P.M. eastern standard time, Reginald Fessenden transmitted human voices from Brant Rock near Boston, Massachusetts to several ships at sea owned by the United Fruit Company.

The host of the broadcast was Fessenden. After giving a resume of the program Fessenden played a recording of Handel's "Largo" on an Ediphone thus establishing two records - the first recording of the first broadcast. Fessenden then dazzled his listeners with his talent as a violinist playing appropriately for the Christmas season, "Oh Holy Night" and actually singing the last verse as he played. Mrs. Helen Fessenden and Fessenden's secretary Miss Bent, had promised to read seasonal passages from the Bible including, "Glory to God in the highest -and on earth peace to men of good will," but when the time came to perform they stood speechless, paralyzed with mike fright. Fessenden took over for them and concluded the broadcast by extending Christmas greetings to his listeners - as well as asking them to write and report to him on the broadcast wherever they were.

The mail response confirmed that Fessenden had successfully invented radio as we know it.

Technically, he had invented radio telephony or what radio listeners would call "real" radio as opposed to Marconi's Morse code broadcasting. Fessenden could truly lay claim to be the inventor of radio and he fully expected the world to beat a path to his door. Instead, he never received his due recognition, lost control of his patents and the ensuing revenue which made other inventors and companies immensely wealthy. Even today the Encyclopedia Canadiana does not give him a separate listing. Mention of him is only included under the listing for his mother Clementina who established Empire Day in Canada. Reginald is mentioned as one of her four sons, "inventor of the wireless telephone, the radio compass and the visible bullet for machine guns, he also invented the first television set in North America in 1919."

➦In 1919...The Canadian Marconi Co. was licensed for  XWA (Experimental Wireless Apparatus) in Montreal and in 1920,  it became the first commercial broadcast radio station (CFCF) in Canada, operating at 600 AM.

➦In 1954...Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” was released. It didn’t catch on until it appeared on the soundtrack of “Blackboard Jungle” the following year.

➦In 1960...WRCA 660 AM in NYC became WNBC...again.

WNBC signed on for the first time on March 2, 1922, as WEAF, owned by AT&T Western Electric. It was the first radio station in New York City.

The call are popularly thought to have stood for Western Electric AT&T Fone or Water, Earth, Air, and Fire (the 4 classical elements).   However, records suggest that the call letters were assigned from an alphabetical sequence. The first assigned call was actually WDAM; it was quickly dropped, but presumably came from the same alphabetical sequence.

Tampa Radio: OM Rick Thomas To Exit Beasley

Beasley Media Group announced today that Rick Thomas, Brand Manager of its Tampa cluster, will depart the company effective June 1 to step away from the radio industry and focus on family.

Thomas joined Beasley Media Group’s Tampa operations in January 2023 and quickly took responsibility for leading the market’s full station cluster. 

Rick Thomas

His oversight included rhythmic CHR “Wild 94.1” WLLD, country WQYK (99.5), classic hits “Q105” WRBQ, Spanish tropical “92.5 Maxima” WYUU, the former classic rock “98.7 The Shark” WPBB, and the former sports station WHFS-AM. 

In addition to cluster-wide leadership, he served as Program Director for both WRBQ and WQYK.Beasley Media Group Tampa Vice President and Market Manager Ron deCastro praised Thomas for his contributions during his tenure. 

“We appreciate Rick’s leadership in the market,” deCastro said. Prior to Beasley, Thomas held the role of National Format Leader at Summit Media. His extensive programming career also included key leadership positions with Cox Media Group’s Tampa cluster and with CBS Radio, where he worked on stations in both New York and Los Angeles.

Thomas’s exit marks the end of a more than two-year run in which he guided Beasley’s diverse Tampa portfolio through evolving market conditions in one of Florida’s most competitive radio markets.

NPR Launches Newsroom Restructuring and Job Cuts

NPR is restructuring its newsroom and cutting reporting and editing positions as it works to adapt to shifting audience habits and operate without federal subsidies.

The moves aim to close an $8 million gap in the organization’s roughly $300 million annual budget. 

NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher said the network expects to receive $15 million less in fees from member stations this year, along with declining corporate sponsorship revenue, after Congress eliminated federal support for public media.

In a memo to staff, NPR is offering voluntary buyouts to approximately 300 employees, primarily those in newsgathering desks. Staffers on NPR’s news programs, including hosts, are not eligible. Officials expect up to 30 buyouts to be accepted, with targeted layoffs possible if voluntary participation falls short by the May 26 deadline.

The network currently employs 425 people in its newsroom. Seven existing vacancies will remain unfilled as part of the reductions.

45M Planning Memorial Day Travel

AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for Memorial Day between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25. This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car and 3.66 million expected to fly to their destinations. While gas prices are higher than last Memorial Day weekend, average ticket prices for flights are lower than last year for those who booked early. 

“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.” 

🛫Memorial Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation