Broadcasters and cable companies are urging the FCC to scrap a proposal to require on-air disclosures when political ads use artificial intelligence.
MediaPost reports the FCC's proposal, which aims to combat deep fakes in political ads, would apply to broadcasters and cable operators. But, given that the agency lacks jurisdiction over internet content, the proposed rule wouldn't apply to social media companies, streaming video operators and other online publishers.
Groups that represent cable companies and broadcasters are now arguing that a different standard for on-air and online political ads will leave viewers puzzled.
“Americans are likely to be confused by seeing the 'same' political advertisement containing AI content with disclosures on television and without disclosures online,” the NCTA--The Internet & Television Association writes in comments filed Thursday with the FCC.
The National Association of Broadcasters makes a similar argument.
In a new blog post, Rick Kaplan, NAB chief legal officer and executive vice president, Legal and Regulatory Affairs contends that the FCC’s proposed rules for disclosing AI content in advertising are misguided and risk “doing more harm than good."
In a new Sept. 20 blog post, Kaplan admitted that “artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the entire political landscape, influencing not only how campaigns are conducted but also how voters access and process information about them. Its rise brings serious risks, including the spread of deepfakes – AI generated images, audio or video that distort reality. These deceptive tactics threaten to undermine public trust in elections and NAB supports government efforts to curtail them.”
But Kaplan noted that those problems are best addressed by Congress, not the FCC.
“The proposed rules favor advertisers who advertise on streaming and online platforms over those who advertise on platforms subject to the FCC’s jurisdiction because their advertisements will not be subject to the FCC’s disclosure requirements,” the NCTA contends.
“It is not difficult to conclude that if only broadcast ads require these disclosures, advertisers would think twice about placing ads with radio and TV stations,” the National Association of Broadcasters adds.
Media company Fox can avoid a shareholder vote on a measure asking it to consider different labels for its news and opinion shows, the top U.S. securities regulator said.
The Securities and Exchange Commission wrote in a Thursday letter seen by Reuters News that it agreed with Fox's, opens new tab argument that the proposal from activist investors related to "ordinary business." That is one of the criteria the agency uses to judge company requests to leave investor proposals off their proxy statements.
The decision marks a win for the parent of conservative-leaning Fox News Media ahead of its annual meeting, traditionally held in the fall.
The proposal was filed by private investor John Chevedden and is similar to one from 2023, which was withdrawn before last year's meeting. Both cited Fox's $787.5-million settlement of a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems over Fox's coverage of false vote-rigging claims in the 2020 election.
The suit "highlights the risk of a news organization inadequately differentiating its news reporting from its opinion and entertainment programming," stated this year's proposal text. Proponents asked Fox to consider some type of "public differentiation" between news and other programming, as well as a Fox board report on the matter.
In addition to arguing the matter related to ordinary business, Fox told the SEC the proposal could be excluded for being misleading.
"By its nature, journalism can encompass both news and opinion, news broadcasts can incorporate elements of opinion, and opinion broadcasts can incorporate elements of news. Consequently, the Proposal’s implication that differentiation between journalism and opinion is possible is materially false and misleading," an attorney for Fox, Lyuba Goltser of law firm Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP wrote the agency on July 2.
The SEC said it was not necessary to address that argument.
Red Apple Media and WABC Radio Owner John Catsimatidis has taken a leading role in the Save AM Radio campaign, responding to car manufacturers’ plans to phase out AM Radio from electric vehicles. Along with airing promos on WABC, Catsimatidis has funded multiple ads in the New York Post and other media to amplify the message.
A well-known figure in Washington, Catsimatidis has used his political connections to highlight AM radio’s critical role in delivering emergency information. “Americans need to understand that removing AM radio from cars puts lives at risk,” Catsimatidis stated. “The fact that this issue has bipartisan support reflects the vital role radio plays in emergencies. When all else fails, AM radio still delivers life-saving information.”
He further emphasized the importance of AM radio by recalling the 9/11 attacks and past blackouts: During those times, when landlines and cell service were unreliable, New Yorkers and the country turned to their radios for real-time updates.”
Catsimatidis also pointed out the relevance of AM radio in national security. “Space Force was created to protect our satellites, but if they’re ever compromised, AM radio be our only lifeline.”
The most recent New York Post ad ran on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Warner Music expects to lay off more employees than it originally forecast as part of a restructuring plan aimed at boosting its core recorded-music business.
The entertainment and record-label conglomerate said Thursday that it would reduce its workforce by about 750 employees, representing 13% of its total headcount. The company had previously said it would lay off 600 employees, or 10% of its workforce.
Warner Music first disclosed its cost-cutting measures in February. Universal Music followed with its own restructuring plan, which is expected to deliver 250 million euros, equivalent to $279 million, in annual savings by 2026.
Most of the cuts are still expected to be related to O&O Media Properties, as well as corporate and support functions.
The restructuring plan is designed to free up more funds to invest in music and accelerate growth for the next decade, Warner Music said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Warner Music added that it now expects to book pretax restructuring charges of $210 million, up from an original estimate of $140 million.
The company’s updated cost-cutting measures come about a month after it reported a slight decline in quarterly revenue after its recorded-music business took a hit from a terminated distribution agreement with BMG.
In August, the company made two organizational changes at Atlantic Music Group and other regional hubs to restructure its recorded-music business and drive revenue growth.
Fans of the morning-radio personalities “Ace & TJ” were blindsided by the news on Friday that the long-running duo on Beasleyt'd Classic Hits WKQC was splitting up — after more than a quarter-century on the airwaves together in Charlotte.
The departure of David “Ace” Cannon from the popular syndicated program was announced on its social-media platforms at 7 a.m. like this: “The new TJ & Riggins Show begins Monday, September 23. Expect much of the same content and products with some new additions to be announced soon. Ace is no longer associated with the show.”
Cannon did not immediately respond to attempts by The Charlotte Observer to reach him. The duo’s manager, Adam Goodman, told the Observer “we have an agreement with Ace that’s basically a nondisclosure agreement,” but added that “we want to try at least to relay that ... he is still our friend.”
Commenting was turned off for the identical statements posted to Instagram and Facebook.
Hundreds of users shared the announcement on Facebook, however, and expressed varying degrees of shock and bewilderment.
Just a sampling:
“What happened? “This is a joke, right?”
“I need to know the tea. That’s drastic.”
Cannon and Beams had been an on-air duo since 1993, when the Louisiana natives were paired up for the first time on a Top 40 station in Alexandria, near their hometowns of Pineville and Winnfield. They moved from nights to mornings, then on to Baton Rouge, then to stations in Huntsville and Birmingham in Alabama, before being hired to do Kiss 95.1’s morning show in Charlotte in 1998.
Locally, “Ace & TJ” had moved up and down the dial, including to “Channel 96.1” WHQC in 2012; back to WNKS in 2022; then to “K104.7” WKQC in May. The show was syndicated to several stations in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, and spawned a podcast.
Said Goodman: “We’re doing the exact same show (starting) Monday. It’s just called something different — and Ace isn’t there.”
WNYC began regularly scheduled broadcasts on the FM band on March 13, 1943 at 43.9 megacycles. Known originally as W39NY, the FM outlet adopted its present WNYC-FM call letters and its present frequency of 93.9 MHz within a few years.
➦In 1948..."Life With Luigi" debuted on the CBS Radio Network. It continued to March 3, 1953.
➦In 1965..KYW 1060 AM in Philadelphia flipped to an all-news format.
KYW began in 1921 in Chicago, Illinois. It was jointly owned by Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Commonwealth Edison. Westinghouse later bought out ComEd's share and became sole owner of the station.
In 1927, Westinghouse aligned its four radio stations (KYW, KDKA in Pittsburgh, WBZ in Boston and WBZA in Springfield, Massachusetts) with the NBC Blue Network, which originated from former sister station WJZ (the present-day WABC) in New York City. Westinghouse had been a founding partner of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), NBC's original parent company.
On September 21, 1965, shortly after Westinghouse regained control of 1060 AM, the newly rechristened KYW once again dropped its NBC radio affiliation and was converted into one of the first all-news stations in the country. Newsman Steve Porter read the first newscast. It had been edited by Fred B. Walters, the former Harrisburg bureau chief and eventual Executive Editor.
Five months earlier Westinghouse Broadcasting converted 1010WINS, KYW's New York sister station since 1962, from a Top-40 format to all-news. A similar move was made three years later at another Westinghouse-owned station, KFWB in Los Angeles. KYW has been one of the highest-rated radio stations in the country since that point and has been the market leader in Philadelphia for much of that time. The Westinghouse all-news trio, meanwhile, revolutionized and defined the all-news format. KYW's early format elements were shared with WINS, such as the distinctive teletype sound effect playing in the background, and the slogans "All News, All the Time", "The Newswatch Never Stops", "Listen 2, 3, 4 Times a Day" and "You Give Us 22 Minutes, We'll Give You the World".
KYW's present format runs on a 30-minute cycle. Regular segments include contains traffic and mass transit reports from Metro Traffic every ten minutes on the "twos" (six times an hour), sports updates every quarter-hour (twice an hour, at :15 and :45), weather reports as much as six times an hour (four regularly scheduled reports at :07, :14, :37 and :44 past every hour with breaking weather news plus special forecasts for the New Jersey Shore and the Poconos), and business news from Bloomberg twice an hour (at :25 and :55). When breaking news warrants, KYW will break format to provide continuous coverage of any event.
Its television sister took advantage of the radio station's popularity by incorporating a version of KYW's musical sounder into its news themes from 1991 to 2003. In addition, a television program entitled KYW Newsradio 1060 This Morning aired from 5 to 8 a.m. on sister station WPSG (channel 57) in the early 2000s, adapting KYW's "clock" to television. The show was popular among local cable programming in its daypart, and in late 2004 was usurped (due in part to a new affiliation to Traffic Pulse) by television staffers and assumed the name Wake UP News.
Westinghouse Electric announced its purchase of CBS in 1995, and upon its completion KYW became a sister station to its long-time rival, CBS-owned WGMP (1210 AM, now WPHT). That station, under its original WCAU call letters, attempted to compete with KYW in all-news programming during the late 1970s but failed, dumping the format after only three years. Today, the news format continues and the station is owned by Entercom.
KYW is currently the easternmost station in the United States whose call-sign begins with the letter K. It is also one of three such stations in Pennsylvania, the other ones being KQV and sister station KDKA, both in Pittsburgh.
➦In 1968...Harry Harrison air his last show at WMCA 570 AM. In 2-days he started at 77WABC.
➤From '65...
➦In 1970...Bob Grant aired first show at WMCA 570 AM as WMCA flipped from Top40 to Talk, calling itself "Dial-Log Radio."
➦In 2012... Michael Rye died at age 94. He was born John Michael Riorden Billsbury; March 2, 1918) and his decades-long career spanned radio, television, animated cartoons and video games. Aside from his voice over work, Rye also acted in on-screen television roles as well, including parts in Dr. Kildare and 77 Sunset Strip.
Michael Rye
He began his career during the 'Golden Age of Radio' when radio programming was at the height of its popularity. Rye, who broadcast from Chicago, participated in an average of forty network radio shows per week.
He was cast in numerous lead roles for radio shows, including Gary Curtis for the NBC soap opera, Ma Perkins; Tim Lawrence on Guiding Light; Jack Armstrong on the radio adventure series, Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy; and Pembroke in the soap opera, Backstage Wife.
He starred in radio productions produced and broadcast from Hollywood, including the ABC crime drama, This is Your FBI; the radio anthology series, Lux Radio Theater; the radio drama, The Whistler; the CBS radio comedy, Meet Millie; and the CBS drama, Suspense. He also provided the narration for the world's first full-length recorded book, the 1969 audio adaptation of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.
Don Felder is 77
🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:
Author-comedian Fannie Flagg is 83.
TV and film producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 81.
Guitarist Don Felder (The Eagles) is 77.
Author Stephen King is 77.
Actor Bill Murray is 74.
Filmmaker Ethan Coen of the Coen Brothers is 67.
Actor-comedian Dave Coulier (“Full House”) is 65.
Actor David James Elliott (“JAG”) is 64.
Actor Serena Scott Thomas is 63.
Actor Nancy Travis is 63.
Actor Rob Morrow (“Numb3rs,” ″Northern Exposure”) is 62.
Actor Angus Macfadyen (“Braveheart,” “Saw” movies) is 61.
Actor Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) is 59.
Country singer Faith Hill is 57.
Drummer Tyler Stewart of Barenaked Ladies is 57.
Actor-talk show host Ricki Lake is 56.
Actor Billy Porter (“Pose”) is 55.
Actor Rob Benedict (“Supernatural,” ″Felicity”) is 54.
Actor James Lesure (“Las Vegas,” “For Your Love”) is 53.
Actor Alfonso Ribeiro (“America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) 53.
Actor Luke Wilson is 53.
Actor Paulo Costanzo (“Royal Pains,” ″Joey”) is 46.
Actor Autumn Reeser (“Entourage,” “The O.C.”) is 44.
TV personality Nicole Richie (“The Simple Life”) is 43.
Actor Maggie Grace (“Fear the Walking Dead,” “Lost”) is 41.
Actor Joseph Mazzello (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Jurassic Park”) is 41.
Actor Ahna O’Reilly (“The Help”) is 40.
Rapper Wale is 40.
Singer Jason Derulo is 38.
Actor Ryan Guzman (“Heroes Reborn,” ″Pretty Little Liars”) is 37.
Actor Nikolas Brino (“7th Heaven”) is 26.
✞REMEMBRANCES
In 1974..Jacqueline Susann, American author (Valley of the Dolls), dies of cancer at 56
In 1974..Walter Brennan, American actor (Real McCoys, At Gun Point), dies at 80
In 2003..Tom Glazer, American folk singer and songwriter (Because All Men Are Brothers; A Dollar Ain't A Dollar Anymore), dies at 88
In 2007..Alice Ghostley, American stage and screen actress (Bewitched, 1969-72 - "Esmeralda"; Designing Women, 1986-93 - "Bernice"), and singer dies of colon cancer and stroke complications at 84
In 2007..Rex Humbard, American television evangelist (Cathedral of Tomorrow), dies at 88
In 2016..John D. Loudermilk, American country singer and songwriter ("Tobacco Road"), dies at 82
In 2020..Tommy Devito, American rock baritone vocalist and guitarist (Four Seasons - "Sherry"), dies of COVID-19 at 93
On Wednesday, September 18th, FOX News Channel’s Gutfeld! delivered its highest-rated telecast in program history, averaging 4.9 million viewers and 744,000 in 25-54 demo. The program featured former President Donald Trump’s first late-night appearance since a 2016 interview with NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Additionally, Gutfeld! was the most-watched show in all of cable and broadcast primetime defeating the debuts of CBS’s Survivor (4.7 million P2+) and ABC’s The Golden Bachelorette (2.8 million P2+) . Since its launch in 2021, Gutfeld! has continued to upend the late-night television landscape, routinely beating all programs in the genre. **Data from broadcast late-night shows will be available tomorrow morning.
According to Nielsen MRI Fusion, Gutfeld! attracts more Independents and Democrats than all broadcast late-night programs. Notably, for 2024 so far, Gutfeld! is outpacing all broadcast and late-night television, including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS’ After Midnight and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Since its launch in April 2021, Gutfeld! has increased its audience by 81% in total viewers, 37% in the 25-54 demo and 52% in the 18-49 demo. Gutfeld! is also home to the most affluent audience in the 25-54 demo and the most politically balanced audience in its cable news timeslot, according to data from Nielsen and Nielsen MRI Fusion, respectively.
The 2024 Class of Radio Hall of Fame Inductees. Pictured: Kraig Kitchin, Phil Hendrie, Lorianne Crook, Matt Siegel, Mary McCoy, Barry Mayo, Charlie Chase, Lee Harris, Jaime Jarrín with Master in Ceremonies Lon Helton (Kris Rae Orloski photo)
The Radio Hall of Fame inducted its 2024 class of honorees last night, Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the induction ceremony and dinner at the Omni Nashville in Nashville, TN. 2022 Radio Hall of Fame Inductee, Lon Helton was Master of Ceremonies for the event, with Radio Hall of Fame Co-Chairmen, Kraig Kitchin and Dennis Green, welcoming attendees with opening remarks.
The eight Class of 2024 Inductees are:
Lee Harris (inducted by Scott Herman)
Mary McCoy (Inducted by Larry Galla)
Phil Hendrie (Inducted by Patrick Reynold)
Crook & Chase/Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase (Inducted by Reba McEntire and John Zarling)
Matt Siegel (Inducted by Tom McConnell)
Jaime Jarrin (Inducted by Orel Hershiser)
Barry Mayo (Inducted by Tony Gray)
Kraig T. Kitchin (Inducted by Jim Rome)
Six inductees were determined by a voting participant panel comprised of more than 900 industry professionals and two inductees were voted on by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. The confidential ballot was conducted by Votem.com and overseen by Miller Kaplan’s Andrew Rosen.
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.
New York magazine’s Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi was placed on leave after she had an alleged romantic relationship with former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr while covering his campaign.
Nuzzi, without naming the 70-year-old Kennedy scion, admitted in a Thursday night statement that earlier this year “the nature of some communications between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal.”
The 31-year-old star political reporter insisted the relationship was not physical in nature.
RFK Jr
Sources told The NY Post that Nuzzi and RFK. Jr. — the son of RFK and nephew of John F. Kennedy — were allegedly sexting while she was engaged and he was married.
Nuzzi penned a profile on Kennedy that was published in November 2023 and sometime after that two began their alleged fling, STATUS news reported, citing sources.
While reporting out the feature article, Nuzzi visited RFK. Jr’s sprawling Brentwood, California home and the two went hiking together in the Santa Monica Mountains.
“Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece,” a Kennedy spokesperson told The Post when asked about their alleged relationship.
After recently coming clean to editors at New York magazine, Nuzzi was placed on leave.
She confessed “she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures,” the publication said in a statement.
A small but growing share of U.S. adults are regularly getting news on TikTok. In fact, since 2020, no social media platform we’ve studied has seen faster growth in the share of Americans who regularly turn to it for news, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.
Bar chart over time by age group showing that about 4 in 10 young adults in the U.S. now regularly get news on TikTok
In just four years, the share of adults who say they regularly get news from TikTok has grown about fivefold, from 3% in 2020 to 17% in 2024.
TikTok, primarily known for short-form video sharing, is especially popular among teens – 63% of whom report ever using the platform – and young adults.
Young adults also stand out when it comes to turning to TikTok for news. Today, 39% of adults under 30 say they regularly get news there, compared with much smaller shares of adults ages 30 to 49 (19%), 50 to 64 (9%) and 65 and older (3%).
News consumption is also trending upward when looking at TikTok users, specifically. Around half of TikTok users (52%) now say they regularly get news there, up from 43% last year and just 22% in 2020. TikTok users are now more likely to get news from TikTok than Facebook users are to get news from Facebook. Still, TikTok users are less likely than users of X (formerly Twitter) to get news on the site.
A star-studded virtual event hosted by Oprah Winfrey Thursday night to build enthusiasm for Kamala Harris' campaign was marked by teary moments and celebrity endorsements, drawing hundreds of thousands of viewers across social media.
Reuters reports Winfrey hosted the "Unite for America" event with activist group Win with Black Women, that aimed to register people to vote and bolster Harris in states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan that are set to decide the Nov. 5 election.
Harris campaign advisers say nearly 200,000 people signed up to watch the livestream, and its YouTube audience was nearly 100,000 by the end. Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and Twitch accounts for both Winfrey and Harris also showed the event.
Shanette Williams, the mother of Amber Nicole Thurman, a 28-year old Georgia woman who died in August 2022 after a hospital treatment delay related to the state's restrictive abortion laws, told the audience: "You're looking at a mother that is broken, the worst pain ever that a mother, that a parent can ever feel."
Audacy has announced a multiyear contract extension with BIG 94.5 (KOOL-FM) afternoon show host Niko Petrou. Petrou will continue to be heard on “The Niko Show” on weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MT.
“We’re ecstatic to bring listeners Niko’s electrifying energy for another three years,” said Dave Pugh, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Phoenix. “After two decades on the radio, Niko still knows how to put on a lively show, and we’re excited for him to continue turning up the party during afternoons on BIG 94.5!”
Niko Petrou
“I’ve had an amazing experience since joining Audacy and moving to Phoenix. I’m beyond grateful for the listeners who have matched my vibe and helped me feel at home here,” said Petrou. “Thanks so much to Dave Pugh, Chris Hernandez and Larry Morgan for continuing to support this playground we call work. There are BIG things to come, and I cannot wait to continue relishing in all that Phoenix offers.”
Petrou is a 20-year radio veteran who joined the Company in 2018 as a morning show co-host for sister station KMLE Country 107.9 (KMLE-FM). Before KMLE Country 107.9, Niko held various roles at WBMP-FM, including assistant program director, music director and midday on-air personality, as well as evening on-air host for WHTZ-FM in New York. He also previously hosted Music Choice’s “The Cut" and announced some of the biggest artists at Madison Square Garden.
🎧Listeners can tune in to BIG 94.5 (KOOL-FM) in Phoenix on air and nationwide on the Audacyapp and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.
Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Theresa Vicari Ahee as Regional Sales Manager for the company’s six radio stations in the Detroit and Ann Arbor, MI, markets. Vicari Ahee brings more than 16 years of experience in media, public relations, and marketing to leading Cumulus Media’s Detroit and Ann Arbor sales teams.
In her new role, Vicari Ahee will help oversee sales operations, foster new business partnerships, and drive revenue growth for Cumulus Detroit/Ann Arbor. Her deep understanding of media sales, strategic planning, and customer-focused solutions will play a crucial role in leading her team to success.
Theresa Vicari Ahee
The appointment marks a return to Cumulus Media for Vicari Ahee, who was recruited by Cumulus Detroit’s 760 WJR-AM in 2015 as Senior Account Executive, where she excelled at developing new business and managed a variety of local accounts for six years. Prior to that she spent eight years as Marketing Manager and Media Buyer for the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group in Detroit. She started her career as Entertainment Publicist for Allied Advertising in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Steve Finateri, Regional Vice President and Market Manager, Cumulus Detroit/Ann Arbor, said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Theresa back with Cumulus, and we are confident she will help lead us to even greater successes in both the Detroit and Ann Arbor markets. Theresa brings a special kind of energy to our highly talented sales teams and there could not be a better brand ambassador for us, as she has always excelled at building and maintaining outstanding client relationships.”
Finateri continued: “Theresa is also a well-regarded team player who will work collaboratively with our Programmers and On-Air Talent to help us create and execute the most successful marketing campaigns for our customers.”
Theresa Vicari Ahee commented: “I am so pleased to rejoin my Cumulus family! I look forward to the opportunities that this elevated role will present in the Detroit and Ann Arbor markets. Cumulus stands at the forefront of both radio and digital media, supported by the very best people in the industry and we have clients that are truly second to none. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this amazing organization. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Steve Finateri for his guidance over the years and for this incredible career opportunity.”
Cumulus Media owns and operates two powerhouse stations in Detroit, 760 WJR-AM (News/Talk) and 96.3 WDVD-FM (Adult Contemporary), and four popular stations in Ann Arbor, 107one-fm/107.1 WQKL-FM (Alternative Rock), W4 Country/102.9 WWWW-FM (Country), Big 1050 WTKA-AM (Sports), and 1290 WLBY-AM (Talk).
Audacy announces “FOX Across America with Jimmy Failla” on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia. Failla’s nationally syndicated political show will be heard weekdays from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET beginning October 7. “FOX Across America with Jimmy Failla” features guests from across the political spectrum for lively discussions on the day’s leading headlines.
Jimmy Failla
“Jimmy’s coverage of today’s top stories brings a refreshing lightness to the political polarization in America, uniting listeners from all parties with laughter,” said David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Philadelphia. “Talk Radio has proved to be a reliable news source for listeners, so we’re proud to add this renowned program to our airwaves as the anticipation builds for the 2024 presidential election.”
“As a former taxi cab driver, I am thrilled to join a station that's built the same strong relationships with its listeners as I built with my passengers,” said Failla. “I can't wait to take this ride!”
In addition to his radio program, which is heard on 150 stations nationwide, Failla hosts the television show “FOX News Saturday Night,” where he uses his experience as a stand-up comedian to add humor to the biggest stories of the week. He is the New York Times bestselling author of the FOX News book Cancel Culture Dictionary and began writing for the network in 2016.
🎧Listeners can tune in to Talk Radio 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia and nationwide on the Audacyapp and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.
CBS News officially released details of its 90-minute vice-presidential debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance starting at 9:00 PM, ET on Tuesday, Oct. 1 that will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network and live streamed on all platforms where CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ are available. The debate will also be made available to simulcast.
CBS EVENING NEWS anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell and FACE THE NATION moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan will moderate the debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. Information on format and additional details will be released at a later date.
In addition to the live debate on Tuesday, Oct. 1, CBS News will deliver 6+ hours of coverage on television and streaming beginning at 4:00 PM, ET on CBS News 24/7 and at 8:00 PM, ET on CBS and CBS News 24/7. CBS News chief political analyst and anchor of THE DAILY REPORT on CBS News 24/7 John Dickerson and 60 MINUTES correspondent Cecilia Vega will anchor coverage leading up to and after the debate from CBS News’ election headquarters in Times Square. Anthony Salvanto will provide polling and analysis throughout the coverage, and the team of political journalists from across CBS News and Stations will deliver the latest reporting and analysis.
Benztown, a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company, announces that it has signed Hope Media Group’s KSBJ-FM in Houston to its growing group of Contemporary Christian Music affiliate stations airing the Benztown Contemporary Christian Music Library.
In addition, Benztown announces that Salem Media has added two new Christian-formatted affiliate stations in Oxnard, CA, 98.3 The Word/KDAR-FM, and Honolulu, HI, 99.5 The Word/KGU-FM, to their existing partnership with Benztown for the CCM Library. Salem currently airs content and imaging from Benztown’s CCM Library on 10 stations across the U.S.
The Benztown Contemporary Christian Music Library, launched last year, is the first of its kind and is the only imaging and production library that addresses the artists, community, and lifestyle of the Contemporary Christian Music format.
Randy Fox, Program Director, KSBJ-FM, said: "The Benztown Christian imaging library adds cutting edge imaging elements to KSBJ, that give us the fresh sound that we have been looking for."
Masa Patterson, Vice President, Sales & Operations, Benztown, commented: "CCM is the fastest growing format in the country, and we are extremely proud that its best and brightest brands turn to the Benztown CCM Library to help curate their sonic identity.”
Cari Laque, who co-hosts the News Radio 1200 WOAI talk show with title talker Joe Pagliarulo, posted Wednesday she's battling stage 4 colorectal cancer. The post comes with a link to a GoFundMe her son Jacob set up to help with medical costs.
The San Antonion Express-News reports Laque was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in late July, according to the GoFundMe. CT scans and an MRI revealed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. A liver biopsy showed two cancerous tumors as well.
Laque's son noted on the GoFundMe his mother is in for at least six months of chemotherapy, followed by another set of scans to determine if the tumors have shrunk enough for surgery, then more chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
"My Mom works when she can but with upcoming treatments and surgeries that will be hard to do some days," Jacob Laque posted. "We want to make sure she gets the best medical care as possible but with out of pocket costs and high deductibles it's a financial strain that is challenging.
It's unclear if Laque has discussed her cancer on "The Joe Pags Show." Pagliarulo, on the other hand, has spoken out loud and at length about his own bout with testicular cancer.
➦In 1921...KDKA Pittsburgh established the world's first radio newsroom. The first daily radio newscasts featured a reports from The Pittsburgh Post.
Harry Harrison
➦In 1930...NYC Personality Harry Harrison was born in Chicago. (Died January 28, 2020)
Harrison is the only DJ to be a WMCA "Good Guy", a WABC "All-American", and on the WCBS-FM line-up when the New York station flipped to the "Jack" format in June 2005.
He attended a seminary, intending to become a priest. But he decided to make broadcasting his career after spending nearly a year as a teenager glued to the radio while bedridden with rheumatic fever.
Harrison worked at WCFL in the early 50s as a summer replacement, yet remained there eight months, substituting for the permanent DJs. In 1954, Harrison became program director at WPEO, Peoria and hosted the morning show as the "Morning Mayor of Peoria." In just six months, Harrison made WPEO the top station.
In 1959, Harrison joined WMCA, New York, as the mid-day "Good Guy." Joe O'Brien (mornings) and Harrison gave WMCA a "one-two punch" for over eight years. In 1965, he recorded the nationally charted holiday narration "May You Always" on Amy Records.
Harrison became popular with his "Housewife Hall of Fame” feature, and participated in the 1966 WMCA Good Guy picnic. Often, he scored the highest ratings on WMCA. WABC program director Rick Sklar took note.
In 1968, when WABC morning man Herb Oscar Anderson left the station, Rick Sklar hired Harrison to replace him. Harrison was followed in the WABC day by Ron Lundy.
UPDATE: Thursday 10AM: According to Nielsen MRI Fusion, Gutfeld! attracts more Independents and Democrats than all broadcast late-night programs. Notably, for the third quarter to date (7/1/24 - 9/16/24) Gutfeld! has averaged 2.7 million viewers and 408,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing all broadcast and late-night television including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS’ After Midnight and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Earlier Story...
Former President Trump expressed regret for not going after ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis during last week's presidential debate.
"I think my only regret is that I wanted to be elegant, and I didn't want to go after the anchors. I wish I did, in a way," Trump said during an appearance Wednesday on Fox News Channel's "Gutfeld!"
"I was very unfairly treated by the anchor. I'm not fans of those guys anymore – and his hair was better five years ago," Trump quipped, referring to Muir, adding, "That happens with the clock."
Critics railed against Muir and Davis for repeatedly fact-checking Trump during the debate while going easy on Vice President Kamala Harris.
"They didn't correct her once, and they corrected me- everything I said, practically," Trump said.
The former president knocked the "fake news" for its fawning praise of Harris' debate performance, accusing her of producing a "word salad" during her first response after she was asked whether Americans are better off financially now than four years ago.
"If I were Winston Churchill- he was a great debater, by the way, and an elegant debater. If I were Winston Churchill, they would say, 'Well, he was okay, but he wasn't special tonight,'" Trump said.
Sirius XM is planning to launch the cheapest in-car subscription ever at only $10 a month. This music-only plan will also include streaming services. reports SeekingAlpha.com.
Sirius is already offering a discounted $17-a-month Music Showcase plan which includes a limited in-car content offering, targeted at younger audiences. Why would the company start offering an even cheaper alternative to an already discounted offer?
SeekingAlpha first heard about these plans on September 11, during the interview with Jennifer Witz at the Goldman Sachs investor conference. The share price of Sirius XM is down 17% after the announcement. The markets are also clearly asking the same question.
Jennifer Witz
Sirius XM has been struggling to gain traction with younger user cohorts as the conversion rates decline. By further lowering the entry-level price, Sirius hopes to retain younger customers, but average revenue per user will come under pressure.
Sirius hopes to grow the subscriber base and increase the revenue pool, even as the average revenue per subscriber potentially declines. Subscriber numbers have been stagnant as of late, however, and management seems to think that pricing is the issue.
A significant price reduction for the in-car satellite product is a bald bet on the price sensitivity of the core customer base as well as the attractiveness of Sirius' proprietary content. There are risks involved, no doubt.
The launch of the new music-only in-car subscription plan was announced by the CEO of Sirius XM during an investor conference, and the company has yet to release an official announcement. The details are limited as of now. On the other hand, the markets have already reacted to the news.
To avoid confusion, late last year, Sirius XM has already launched a streaming-only subscription plan for $10 per month. These subscribers can only access the service through their mobile phones or other streaming devices.
This new announcement relates to a different plan entirely. For the same $10 a month, subscribers will now be able to listen in-car via their satellite receiver. The in-car satellite is the premium service generating the highest ARPU for Sirius.
As Jennifer Witz explained this: So in December, we launched streaming only at $9.99, which is a really compelling price point, and we've been looking for a better entry price entry price point for the car side of the business as well. And so we are going to start rolling out a $9.99 price point for MPAR, which is music only. It does include streaming.
The CEO has also acknowledged that there is a large population of car owners to whom the service offered by Sirius is not essential. These customers are a lot more price-sensitive by definition.
The management also seems to think of this low-price subscription strategy as an additional funnel for capturing loyal full-service and high ARPU customers.
A panel of U.S. House lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would force automakers to install AM radio in all new cars.
The measure, titled the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, advanced through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with broad bipartisan support. The only lawmaker to express outspoken opposition was Republican U.S. Rep. John James.
"I feel like I'm taking crazy pills," James said during the committee meeting. "We're putting an unfunded, unnecessary mandate for a problem that doesn't exist. This is exactly why people hate Washington."
Republican and Democratic lawmakers from both the House and Senate have advocated since early 2023 for a requirement that automakers keep AM radio in all new vehicles, especially as some companies — including Tesla Inc., Volkswagen AG, Volvo Cars and BMW AG — are eliminating the frequency from electric vehicles because battery motors interfere with signals.
Ford Motor Co. previously had plans to exclude AM radio from all new vehicles but reversed course after opposition from the public and policymakers.
Advocates for AM radio have said it is crucial for reaching people during weather emergencies and holds a special place in American culture as a longtime home for sports broadcasts and conservative talk shows.
James said the safety concern is overblown thanks to new developments in emergency preparedness.
"The Emergency Alert System has never been more robust. The Integrated Public Alert Warning System, IPAWS, pushes alerts through — in addition to AM radio — through digital AM/FM radio, internet-based radio, satellite radio, cellular networks," he said.
James continued: "Following a test of the system last fall, 95% of Americans reported getting that alert via their cellphones. You know how many people got it on AM radio? One percent. Over 98% of new cars today already come with AM radio, and even if they were phased out from every single new vehicle today, it would take 30 years to have no AM radio. So what are we even doing here?"
The auto industry has also opposed the requirement, with one top lobbying group previously calling it a "mandate" that is "unnecessary and contrary to the principles of a free-market economy."
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the industry's leading voice for regulatory affairs, made that statement in a May 2023 letter to lawmakers.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) commends the House Energy and Commerce Committee for its strong bipartisan passage, by a roll call vote of 45-2, of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act out of committee today.
“NAB is grateful for the leadership of Chairs Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Gus Bilirakis, Ranking Members Frank Pallone and Jan Schakowsky and the committee members for their recognition of AM radio’s unique and vital role in protecting public safety,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “As one of the most reliable and resilient communications platforms, AM radio continues to be a lifeline for communities in times of emergency. We urge congressional leadership to ensure this bill moves forward and becomes law, safeguarding AM radio’s indispensable service to the public.”
.png)
