The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has granted the FCC's request to dismiss appeals in the consolidated Free Press v. FCC case, clearing a key legal obstacle to Nexstar Media Group’s approved acquisition of TEGNA.
The ruling represents a significant win for both the FCC and Nexstar, the nation’s largest local television station owner. It removes a major regulatory hurdle that opponents had hoped would derail or delay the multi-billion-dollar merger, which regulators had already approved.
With the D.C. Circuit appeals now dismissed, Nexstar will shift its legal focus to the Ninth Circuit, where it is appealing a preliminary injunction. That injunction currently requires the company to maintain TEGNA as a separate “hold separate” entity, limiting integration and operational synergies while the broader litigation continues.
Nexstar officials said the company remains committed to completing the transaction and will pursue all available avenues to lift the hold-separate order. The Ninth Circuit appeal is expected to address whether the injunction should remain in place during ongoing proceedings.
The Free Press v. FCC challenges centered on arguments that the FCC improperly approved the merger, claiming it would reduce competition, harm local journalism, and concentrate too much control in the broadcast television industry. By granting the FCC’s motion to dismiss, the D.C. Circuit effectively upheld the agency’s regulatory decision and rejected those challenges at the appellate level in that venue.
The development marks the latest chapter in a high-stakes battle over media consolidation. If ultimately completed, the Nexstar-TEGNA deal would create an even larger broadcast powerhouse, owning hundreds of television stations across the country. Proponents argue the combination delivers economies of scale and strengthens local broadcasting; critics contend it threatens viewpoint diversity and local news independence.
More than six months after Radio One moved WBT’s news-talk programming from its legacy 1110 AM frequency to 107.9 FM, the future of the Carolinas’ first commercial radio station is still unclear.
At the end of 2025, the station’s owners shifted the format to FM, promising an announcement on the AM signal “soon.” Since then, 1110 AM has aired only an instrumental music loop and a recorded message directing listeners to the new FM home. The powerful 50,000-watt “clear channel” signal continues to legally identify as WBT.
Radio listener Johnny Caudle has launched a Change.org petition to preserve part of the historic broadcast site. He cites reports that the 19-acre transmitter property on Nations Ford Road in south Charlotte is for sale and fears the three towers could be removed for redevelopment.
“I think they are probably doing the best they can locally with the cards they’ve been dealt, but their silence leaves everyone out here to draw conclusions on our own,” Caudle said. “I heard the land was for sale… I started thinking we need to save something.”
Caudle emphasized he is not trying to block any sale, only to protect a piece of local radio history. Several prominent Charlotte radio personalities, including John Hancock, Sheri Lynch, and Arroe Collins, have signed the petition.
First licensed in 1922, WBT was the Carolinas’ original commercial radio station. Its strong AM signal was once heard from Miami to Maine. The station’s transmitter site is now marketed as a “garden multifamily development opportunity” in south Charlotte. (Hat Tip To WCNC-TV)
iHeartMedia has agreed to overhaul its sponsorship disclosure practices following a U.S. senator’s complaint about alleged payola-style arrangements in which radio airplay was allegedly traded for free artist performances at company events.
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau adopted a consent decree Wednesday closing the investigation with no fine. Under the agreement, iHeart admits the factual findings but does not admit any legal violation.
The company must appoint compliance officers, create a formal compliance plan, train relevant staff, implement new public disclosures for major events, and file regular reports with the FCC over the next three years.
Senator Blackburn
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sparked the probe with a January 2025 letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. She alleged that iHeart stations were offering artists increased airplay in exchange for performing free shows at company events, with the implicit threat of reduced airplay for those who declined.
Days after the complaint, the FCC issued an industry-wide enforcement advisory on the practice.
Chairman Carr followed up directly with iHeart in February 2025, seeking information related to the iHeart Country Festival in Austin. iHeart responded that artists appeared for promotional value—likening short festival sets to movie trailers—and said airplay was never part of any arrangement.
The Enforcement Bureau opened a formal inquiry in May 2025 and a supplemental inquiry in February 2026.The resulting consent decree requires iHeart to name a corporate compliance officer and market-level contacts within 30 days, develop a formal compliance plan within 60 days, and train employees who interact with artists, managers, and labels on sponsorship identification rules.
AM/FM radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, giving advertisers the broadest, most consistent audience of any major media platform, according to Nielsen Audience Insights.
The medium performs even stronger with younger listeners, reaching 81% of Adults 18-34 weekly — higher than any other measured platform.
Despite Americans spreading their time across more media options than ever, radio continues to deliver massive scale and reliability that complements today’s fragmented media habits.
Weekly Reach Across Platforms 18+
As consumers spread their attention across an ever-growing array of platforms, radio remains one of the few media channels that delivers broad, consistent reach across virtually every audience. According to Nielsen Audience Insights, radio continues to deliver exceptional reach among Black Adults 18+ and Hispanic Adults 18+, outperforming or strongly competing with other measured media in these important segments. For advertisers seeking to connect with America’s increasingly diverse consumers, radio offers unmatched scale and efficiency.
For the 12th straight week, “World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.128 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of June 29, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.
“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.128 million), Adults 25-54 (964,000) and Adults 18-49 (741,000).
“World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.160 million, 856,000 and 612,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+32%/+1.968 million), Adults 25-54 (+13%/+108,000) and Adults 18-49 (+21%/+129,000).
“World News Tonight” widened its margins over “NBC Nightly News” week to week in Total Viewers (+30% – 1.968 million vs. 1.517 million), Adults 25-54 (+66% – 108,000 vs. 65,000) and Adults 18-49 (+231% – 129,000 vs. 39,000). “World News Tonight” delivered its largest Total Viewer lead in 6 weeks and its biggest margin in Adults 25-54 in 5 weeks — since the week of 5/18/26 and 5/25/26, respectively.
“World News Tonight” widened its Total Viewers margin over “NBC Nightly News” year to year by 14% (1.968 million vs. 1.726 million).
FOX News Channel (FNC) ended the week of June 29th with 2.5 million weekday primetime viewers and 224,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, dominating ABC (2.2 million viewers), NBC (2.2 million viewers) and CBS (1.9 million viewers) according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel.
In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC claimed 2.5 million viewers, and in Monday – Sunday total day, FNC averaged 1.6 million viewers. Notably, FNC also posted the most growth week-to-week in total day, notching a 16% increase in total viewers and a 24% increase in the 25-54 demo.
On Saturday: FNC delivered its highest-rated July 4th in network history, averaging 3.5 million viewers and 357,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 2.3 million viewers and 262,000 in the 25-54 demo across total day – leading CBS in primetime (2 million viewers).
Special coverage in Washington D.C. hosted by Bret Baier, Sean Hannity, Dana Perino, Harris Faulkner and Brian Kilmeade from 7 PM-1 AM/ET secured 3.9 million viewers and 459,000 in the 25-54 demo – capturing 73% of the cable news share. FNC’s Independence Day coverage peaked at 5.7 million viewers and 701,000 in the 25-54 demo during President Trump’s speech from 11:15-11:45 PM/ET.
The network’s special program, America 250: Celebrating Freedom led the day with over 3.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched program of the weekend and the week. It was followed by America 250: America’s Newsroom with 2.9 million viewers and America 250: Outnumbered with 2.5 million viewers.
On Friday: FNC clinched 2.8 million viewers and 240,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 1.8 million viewers and 155,000 in the 25-54 demo throughout total day. Markedly, FNC outperformed CBS (1.7 million viewers) and NBC (1.5 million viewers) through primetime. FNC’s coverage of the America250 Times Square ball drop also garnered 2.1 million viewers and 197,000 in the 25-54 demo from 11:30 PM-12:30 AM/ET, leading ABC (2 million viewers).
Rogers Communications in Canads this week said declining audiences and ad revenue are behind its decision to shut down two Vancouver radio stations.
But Kevin Desjardins from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, a trade association for private broadcasters, says the government and regulators also share some of the blame.
The closures, which took effect Tuesday, July 7, 2026, include:
Vancouver: Sportsnet 650 (CISL-AM), the city's last remaining all-sports station, and 1130 NewsRadio (CKWX-AM).
Calgary: Sportsnet 960 (CFAC-AM) and 660 NewsRadio (CFFR-AM).
Beasley Media Group is pleased to announce that Jen Scordo has been named the new Midday Host at Country station 92.5 WXTU-FM in Philadelphia. The announcement was officially unveiled at 9am Friday, July 10th during the Andie Summers Show. Jen will begin her new role immediately.
A familiar voice to WXTU listeners and a longtime Philadelphia broadcaster, Scordo officially joins the station’s weekday lineup after serving as the station’s fill-in midday host. Over the years, she has worked in the promotions and engineering departments at Greater Media, served as an audio technician and stagehand at NBC10, hosted middays at Cat Country 107.3, worked as a producer and on-air personality at 97.5 The Fanatic, filled in as an anchor for This Morning with Gordon Deal, and held on-air roles at WMMR, WMGK, and WXTU.
Jen Scordo
“Jen has earned this opportunity through her talent, professionalism, and ability to build authentic connections with listeners,” said Paul Blake, Vice President and Market Manager of Beasley Media Group Philadelphia. “She understands the WXTU brand, embraces the Philadelphia community, and has done an exceptional job on the air. We’re excited to officially welcome her to the midday lineup and look forward to what’s ahead.”
“She is a true talent and has a natural ability to connect with listeners in a real and authentic way,” said Chuck Damico, Program Director of 92.5 WXTU. “Jen has a tremendous work ethic, a great sense of humor, and the ability to make listeners feel like they’re spending time with a friend. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the WXTU family full-time.
“I honestly couldn’t be happier,” said Scordo. “Philadelphia has been my home for the past 25 years, and WXTU has always represented everything I love about country radio. To have the opportunity to spend middays with the incredible listeners of XTU Nation is truly a dream come true. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait for what’s ahead.”
FCC Ends Payola Probe: iHeartMedia has agreed to overhaul its sponsorship disclosure practices following a U.S. senator’s complaint about alleged payola-style arrangements in which radio airplay was allegedly traded for free artist performances at company events.
Reach Is Radio's Thing: AM/FM radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, giving advertisers the broadest, most consistent audience of any major media platform, according to Nielsen Audience Insights.
Towers Dilemma: More than six months after Radio One moved WBT’s news-talk programming from its legacy 1110 AM frequency to 107.9 FM, the future of the Carolinas’ first commercial radio station is still unclear.
Netflix is discussing the addition of live channels that continuously stream specific programs or genres, as well as bundling other subscription services like NBCUniversal’s Peacock into its app, according to people familiar with the matter.
The moves would appear as tiles on the streamer’s homepage and mark a significant shift from its on-demand roots.
The initiatives aim to boost engagement as the company faces mounting pressure. Shares have fallen more than 40% over the past 12 months. In April, Netflix issued disappointing second-quarter guidance, including lower year-over-year operating margins.
Its share of TV viewership dropped to 7.8% that month, the lowest since May 2025, per Nielsen data.
Executives have also explored selling subscriptions to rival services through Netflix’s main platform, similar to how Amazon and Apple already operate.
The discussions signal Netflix’s willingness to pivot. For years, co-founder Reed Hastings emphasized focus and simplicity as keys to success. However, the company now contends with intensifying competition from Disney, HBO Max, and YouTube, while fast-growing free ad-supported services like Tubi and the Roku Channel—featuring linear channels and more casual viewing—are rapidly gaining audience share.
Disney Entertainment Television marked the nation’s historic 250th anniversary, reaching 49.6 million Total Viewers with the ambitious 24-hour programming block “Disney Celebrates America,” which kicked off Friday, July 3, and continued through Saturday, July 4.
“World News Tonight” anchor and managing editor David Muir led the coverage alongside a powerhouse team of national and local news talent, featuring 70 live remotes and reporting from all 50 states. Coverage included stories about local celebrations and hometown heroes, along with a unique exploration of the seven natural wonders of America.
The sweeping programming event, which was available across ABC, Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, National Geographic, Freeform, FX and ABC News Live, culminated in a one-of-a-kind celebration from the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, as Emmy® Award-winner Ryan Seacrest hosted the three-hour live special “Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash.”
“Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest” (12:30-1 p.m. EDT) delivered 5.017 million Total Viewers and a 0.68 rating among Adults 18-49, vaulting to an all-time high in Total Viewers. The half-hour special more than tripled last year’s performance, up +209% in Total Viewers (vs. 1.624 million) and +48% in Adults 18-49 (vs. 0.46 rating) over last year.
➦In 1856…Nikola Tesla was born. (Died – 7 January 1943). He was an inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.
Nikola Tesla
Tesla, one of history’s most under-appreciated and under-acknowledged engineers. Credit for his work is often gray and debated, sometimes due to unscrupulous competitors and sometimes due to timing.
Indeed, Tesla is known to have worked on a radio before Marconi, an X-Ray machine before Roentgen, an induction motor around the same time Ferrari claimed his, and experimented to find “small charged particles” years before Thomson was credited with proving the existence of electrons.
Tesla is perhaps best known within engineering circles for his work on AC (alternating current) and his “War of Currents” feud with Thomas Edison (side note: Edison, an employer of Tesla’s for some time, is known in some engineering circles as the man who copied and used Tesla's ideas).
Even with such challenges and a lifetime of illnesses, Tesla accrued about 300 patents. He died penniless and in debt in his New York apartment on January 7, 1943, at the age of 86. After his death, much of Tesla’s papers and works were impounded by the United States' Alien Property Custodian office. This was despite the fact that Tesla had become a US citizen at 35 years old.
Eventually many of his personal notebooks and works were declared “top secret” by the FBI and shuttered away from public view. Reasons given for doing so were that Tesla had done significant work with various US government agencies.
Tesla's theories on the possibility of the transmission by radio waves go back as far as lectures and demonstrations in 1893 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the National Electric Light Association. Tesla's demonstrations and principles were written about widely through various media outlets. Many devices such as the Tesla Coil were used in the further development of radio.
SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz addressed rumors of a potential merger with iHeartMedia, the evolving audio competitive landscape, the company’s growing partnership with YouTube, and positive trends in customer metrics during a sit-down interview with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin.
Witz discussed the reported combination talks amid a broader push for scale in the audio entertainment sector, emphasizing SiriusXM’s focus on strategic opportunities to strengthen its position without confirming specifics of any deal.
Competitive Landscape and Strategic Moves
In the interview, Witz highlighted SiriusXM’s efforts to stand out in a crowded audio market that includes streaming giants, podcasts, and traditional radio. She pointed to improvements in subscriber engagement, customer satisfaction, and retention as key signs of progress. The company continues to invest in premium content, multi-platform distribution, and advertising growth to compete effectively.
Witz elaborated on SiriusXM’s partnership with YouTube as a significant step in expanding reach and enhancing its streaming presence. This collaboration aligns with the company’s strategy to meet listeners across more platforms in an increasingly digital audio environment.
Bob Stroud, one of Chicago’s most beloved classic rock radio voices for nearly 50 years, has started fulltime retired.
The 75-year-old delivered his final “Ten at 10” last week on WDRV-FM 97.1 The Drive, his home for the past 25 years, closing out a career that built a dedicated following known as the “Stroud Crowd.”
“I look at my radio career as so lucky how everything just happened,” Stroud said. “I never really sought it out. It’s been a very humbling experience.”
Stroud’s signature shows, including the long-running “Ten at 10,” “Rock ‘N’ Roll Roots,” and “One 45 at 1:45,” introduced listeners to deep cuts, one-hit wonders, and nostalgic themes from rock’s golden eras. He continued producing “Ten at 10” and other specialty programming after stepping back from his daily midday show in 2022.
His final broadcast on June 30 opened with “Lake Shore Drive” — the first song played when The Drive launched in 2001 — and closed with Jimmy Buffett’s “Lovely Cruise.”
His passion for radio traces back to 1962, when as a sixth-grader in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he first heard Dick Biondi on WLS-AM.“I can say that’s square one of how my life changed that night,” Stroud recalled.
The FCC’s Media Bureau has approved iHeartMedia’s request to update its foreign ownership structure, authorizing new foreign investors and entities to hold indirect stakes in the company while keeping overall foreign ownership limits unchanged.
In a Declaratory Ruling released Tuesday, July 7, the Bureau granted iHeart’s petition under Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act. The decision reaffirms the broadcaster’s ability to maintain up to 100% aggregate foreign ownership. It specifically allows the transfer of holdings from existing investor Global Media & Entertainment Investments Ltd. (GMEI) to its related U.K.-based entity, Global Media Investments Limited (GMI), and approves additional foreign executives and entities tied to the group.
The restructuring does not increase iHeart’s total foreign ownership or exceed previously approved limits.
The Bureau determined the changes serve the public interest by giving iHeart greater flexibility to access foreign capital and compete in the media market. Officials found no new national security or law enforcement issues beyond those already reviewed.
Connoisseur Media has reached an agreement to sell the 94.5 FM broadcast signal licensed to Gilroy, California—currently operating as KBAY-FM—to K-Love, Inc. for $2 million, the company announced Thursday.
The deal allows K-Love to expand its Christian programming in the San Jose market while Connoisseur retains the KBAY-FM call letters, intellectual property, and country music format. The transaction does not include the ongoing operation of the current KBAY format or Connoisseur’s flagship San Jose station, KEZR-FM.
The sale remains subject to approval by the FCC and is expected to close in early fall of this year.
This move continues Connoisseur’s broader growth strategy, building on its acquisition of Alpha Media stations in September of last year and the more recent purchase of Bonneville’s San Francisco properties last month. “We were approached about selling our frequency to K-Love, Inc., who want to expand their Christian offerings in the San Jose market with the addition of the 94.5 FM frequency,” said Jeff Warshaw, Founder and CEO of Connoisseur Media. “We found a way to do that but retain our KBAY-FM country format. Stay tuned!”
Connoisseur Media is a multi-platform broadcasting company known for combining traditional radio with innovative digital offerings and marketing services. The company operates a coast-to-coast portfolio that reaches approximately 20% of U.S. listeners and focuses on delivering trusted local content to audiences and strong results for advertisers.
FOX News Channel (FNC) delivered its highest-rated Fourth of July in network history during its marathon America 250 programming across total day and primetime peaking at 5.7 million viewers and 701,000 in the 25-54 demo during President Trump’s speech from 11:15-11:45 PM/ET according to big data + panel ratings from Nielsen Media Research.
FNC averaged 3.5 million viewers and 357,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 2.3 million viewers and 262,000 in the 25-54 demo across total day on July 4 leading CBS in primetime (2 million viewers). Special coverage in Washington DC hosted by Bret Baier, Sean Hannity, Dana Perino, Harris Faulkner, and Brian Kilmeade from 7 PM – 1 AM/ET secured 3.9 million viewers and 459,000 in the 25-54 demo commanding 73% of the cable news share.
On July 3, FNC posted 2.8 million viewers and 240,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 1.8 million viewers and 155,000 in the 25-54 demo throughout total day. Notably, FNC surpassed CBS (1.7 million viewers) and NBC (1.5 million viewers throughout primetime. Coverage of the Times Square ball drop led FNC to 2.1 million viewers and 197,000 in the 25-54 demo from 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM/ET leading ABC (2 million viewers).
FNC has averaged 2.4 million viewers in primetime and 1.6 million viewers in total day over 11 days of America 250 coverage broadcast in multiple locations from June 24-July 4.
iHM, SiriusXM Merger Talk: SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz addressed rumors of a potential merger with iHeartMedia, the evolving audio competitive landscape, the company’s growing partnership with YouTube, and positive trends in customer metrics during a sit-down interview.
New Cumulus Regional VP: Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted Don Boyd as Regional Vice President, expanding his oversight as RVP for Cumulus Media’s stations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans, LA, and Columbus Starkville, MS. Boyd will continue to lead Cumulus Mobile, AL, and its audio brands across its radio and digital platforms.
That's A Wrap: Bob Stroud, one of Chicago’s most beloved classic rock radio voices for nearly 50 years, has started fulltime retired.
U.S. states concerned that Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would harm competition could sue to block the deal as soon as next week, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken the lead in investigating whether the merger violates U.S. antitrust laws. A spokesperson for Bonta’s office declined to comment. Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The proposed combination of two of Hollywood’s major studios has drawn sharp criticism from actors, writers, and others in the industry who fear widespread job losses. Theater owners strongly oppose the deal, warning it would reduce the number of films released, limit consumer choice, and erode competition. Warner Bros. produces blockbuster franchises such as “Harry Potter” and “Superman,” while Paramount Pictures is behind many other major releases.
Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted Don Boyd as Regional Vice President, expanding his oversight as RVP for Cumulus Media’s stations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans, LA, and Columbus Starkville, MS. Boyd will continue to lead Cumulus Mobile, AL, and its audio brands across its radio and digital platforms. A 25-year veteran of Cumulus Media, Boyd has served in his most recent role as Regional Vice President/Market Manager over Cumulus Mobile, AL, Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola, FL, since 2023.
Don Boyd
Boyd joined Cumulus Media in 2001 as General Sales Manager for Cumulus Nashville, TN, and went on to serve as Vice President of Advertising for Dickey Publishing from 2008-2010. In 2014, Boyd segued to General Sales Manager for Cumulus Atlanta, GA. In 2018, Boyd was promoted to Vice President/Market Manager of Cumulus Mobile, AL, and in 2023, he was promoted to Regional Vice President with expanded leadership duties over Cumulus Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola, FL.
Bob Walker, President, Operations, Cumulus Media, said: “We are excited to expand Don’s role in the region. He is an accomplished leader that helps markets focus on how to help clients grow their business with unique partnerships with our brands and our digital solutions. We are eager to see the impact he will have on the broader region.”
Don Boyd commented: “I’m very excited to take on this expanded role. We’ve got top-performing radio stations, strong digital capabilities, and a great team in place. Looking forward to relocating to Baton Rouge and getting to work across these markets.”
Brittany Schaffer has been named the next CEO of the Country Music Association, succeeding Sarah Trahern as part of a planned leadership transition. Schaffer will join the CMA on Sept. 8 and officially assume the role on Jan. 1, 2027.
She currently serves as Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University. Before academia, she worked for more than a decade as an entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb LLP and later as Head of Artist & Label Partnerships, Nashville at Spotify, where she developed strategy for Country, Christian/Gospel, and Americana genres and built key industry relationships.
Brittany Schaffer
“Country Music meets people where they are, and it changes lives every day,” Schaffer said. “Serving songwriters, artists, and everyone who carries this music to fans around the world is the honor of a lifetime. I’m grateful for Sarah Trahern’s mentorship and look forward to building on her foundation by reinforcing connectivity within the community, energizing our signature events, and connecting Country Music with new fans globally.”
Trahern, who announced her retirement earlier this year after 13 years leading the organization, praised the transition process.
“Leading this organization for 13 years has been the honor of my life,” Trahern said. “I’m grateful to our search committee for their care and integrity, and I wish Brittany every success.”
CMA Board Chairman Jay Williams said the search focused on finding a leader who understands the responsibility of representing the industry.
“We believe Brittany is exactly the leader to carry this organization into its next era and ensure Country Music’s influence continues to expand well beyond Nashville,” Williams said.
A federal judge has dismissed a $3.8 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s social media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, against The Washington Post.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber in Tampa ruled Thursday that Trump Media failed to present sufficient evidence that The Post published the allegedly defamatory statements with “actual malice” — the high legal standard required for public figures in defamation cases. Barber granted The Post’s motion for summary judgment and denied the plaintiff’s motion. A full written opinion is forthcoming.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, centered on a May 13, 2023, Washington Post article about Trump Media’s efforts to secure financing ahead of its merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The company went public in March 2024 under the ticker symbol DJT.
Under the landmark 1964 Supreme Court precedent New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, public figures must prove that a defendant knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
Trump Media’s complaint described the article as the culmination of a “years-long crusade” and an “egregious hit piece.” After the discovery phase, The Post published a correction to the story on May 22, 2026.
“We are pleased with the court’s decision and look forward to reviewing its written order upon release,” a Washington Post spokeswoman said.
A New York federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to pay E. Jean Carroll more than $5 million plus interest from a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump civilly liable for sexually abusing and defaming her.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan issued the order Wednesday, directing the release of nearly $5.8 million that Trump deposited with the court three years ago to cover the May 2023 judgment. The disbursement follows the Supreme Court’s rejection on June 29 of Trump’s request to hear his appeal.
Kaplan’s ruling cited the clear terms of a prior agreement between the parties, which required the money to be paid to Carroll if the Supreme Court denied review. The judge rejected Trump’s arguments that payment should be delayed pending an unlikely request for reconsideration by the high court.
Trump’s legal team immediately appealed Kaplan’s order to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a statement, a spokesman for Trump said: “The American People stand with President Trump as they demand an immediate end to all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes. President Trump will keep winning against Liberal Lawfare, as he continues to focus on his mission to Make America Great Again.”
The case stems from Carroll’s allegation that Trump raped her in a New York department store in the mid-1990s. A jury in May 2023 found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million. Trump lost a related defamation case in January 2024, resulting in an additional $83.3 million judgment.Trump’s lawyers had argued Tuesday that collection could not proceed while any Supreme Court proceedings remained pending and warned that Carroll has said she plans to donate any recovered funds, making repayment difficult if the verdict is later reversed.
Alicia Denise Brown, 37, was arrested Monday night in North Georgia on outstanding kidnapping warrants from Baltimore and felony child custody interference charges in Fulton County.
The Hart County Sheriff’s Office located Brown after receiving a “Be on the Lookout” alert for her vehicle. She was pulled over with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol while driving on I-85 with two children and taken into custody on July 6. She is expected to be extradited to Maryland.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Brown is the estranged wife of Atlanta radio personality Big Tigger, whose real name is Darian Morgan. Recent public disputes between the couple, including Tigger’s recent arrest for alleged aggravated battery against his wife (which he denies), have made headlines and led the host to step away from his V-103 radio show. The couple shares a 1-year-old son.
Prosecutors declined to proceed with the case during a preliminary hearing late last month. In a statement Wednesday, District Attorney Kevin Steele’s office said it reviewed additional information and determined the charges should be withdrawn.
“In every case, we are always continuing to investigate after charges are filed,” spokesperson Kate Delano said. Missanelli’s attorney, Brian McMonagle, declined to comment. Missanelli did not respond to a request for comment.
Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer renowned for her powerful, gravelly voice and signature 1980s power ballad “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” died Wednesday at a hospital in Portugal. She was 75.
The cause of death was an illness, according to a statement posted on her official Facebook account.
Tyler had undergone emergency intestinal surgery in May at a hospital in Faro, Portugal—where she maintained a home—and was placed in a temporary coma before remaining in intensive care, the account said.
The announcement marks the end of a career that peaked with dramatic, larger-than-life anthems during the MTV era. “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” released in 1983, became one of the decade’s defining pop-rock hits, reaching No. 1 on charts around the world. Written by Jim Steinman—the producer behind Meat Loaf’s bombastic soundscapes—the song’s soaring melody, operatic vocals, and repeated plea “Turn around, bright eyes” captured the ache of desperate, unrequited love.
Its dramatic music video, complete with wind machines, billowing curtains, and gothic imagery, became a staple on MTV. The track remains a cultural fixture today, with streams spiking during actual solar eclipses; it has surpassed one billion plays on both Spotify and YouTube.
➦In 1933...Radio producer/voice actor Dick Orkin was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Orkin was 16 when he began his radio career as a fill-in announcer at WKOK 1070 AM Sunbury PA . After earning his BA in speech and theater from Franklin & Marshall College he attended the Yale School of Drama, then returned to Pennsylvania to become the news director at WLAN 1390 AM Lancaster in 1959. Later he joined the staff of KYW Cleveland. In 1967 Orkin moved to WCFL Chicago and created 'Chickenman', a Batman parody which chronicled the exploits of a crime-fighting “white-winged warrior” and his secret identity as mild-mannered shoe salesman Benton Harbor.
Chickenman’s 250-plus episodes have been syndicated around the world and can still be heard on internet, making it the longest-running radio serial of all time. At WCFL Orkin also produced more than 300 episodes of another popular serial, 'The Secret Adventures of the Tooth Fairy'.
Inspired by the commercial parodies on Stan Freberg and Bob & Ray’s radio shows, Orkin created the Famous Radio Ranch in 1973 to produce his own comedic radio spots. Stationed in California since ’78, the Radio Ranch, currently headed by his daughter Lisa, has produced hundreds of memorable ads for a variety of clients, ranging from Time magazine to First American Bank to the Gap, and garnered more than 200 awards in the process.
Dick Orkin was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2014. He died December 26, 2017.
➦In 1955..."(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets peaked at Number One, where it remained for eight weeks. It was the first rock 'n roll record to hit Number One on the Billboard charts.
Dick Clark
➦In 1956…In Philadelphia, 26-year-old Dick Clark made his debut as host of "Bandstand" on WFIL-TV following the DUI arrest of the show's former host, Bob Horn. The program's name changed to "American Bandstand" when it became a network show on ABC in 1957. Clark relinquished his hosting duties in 1989 to David Hirsch, but the program was cancelled within a matter of months.
➦In 1960…77WABC-AM, New York introduced the WABC MusicChart
➦In 1972....Johnny Donovan started at Musicradio 77 WABC.
He grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, nicknamed "Sarge," after his father's rank in the United States Army during World War II.
A radio enthusiast from an early age (with an amateur radio station K2KOQ in a corner of the basement), he became a DJ ("Large Sarge") on WHVW in nearby Hyde Park, after helping build the station.
He went on to stations in Kingston (WBAZ) and Binghamton (WENE), New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey (WMID) before landing in New York City, first at WOR-FM, and finally at WABC.
Donovan stayed on at WABC as Production Director and staff announcer when WABC went to a talk format in 1982.
After 44 years of service at both MusicRadio and TalkRadio 77 WABC production guru Johnny Donovan retired in May 2015.
Eric Sevareid
➦In 1992…News correspondent and commentator Eric Sevareid died of stomach cancer at age 79 in Washington, D.C. He was one of a group of war correspondents who were hired by CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow and nicknamed "Murrow's Boys." Sevareid was the first to report the Fall of Paris in 1940, when the city was captured by German forces during World War II.
Traveling into Burma in the Pacific theater in 1943, his transport aircraft was shot down, and he was rescued from behind enemy lines by a U.S. Army Air Forces search and rescue team.
Sevareid followed in Murrow's footsteps as a commentator on the CBS Evening News for thirteen years, for which he was recognized with Emmy and Peabody Awards.
➦In 2004...longtime Cleveland deejay Bill Randle succumbed to cancer at age 81. He had been instrumental in introducing Elvis Presley, along with the likes of Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Rosemary Clooney, Johnnie Ray, Sarah Vaughan and Fats Domino to the national music scene.
Rogers Sports and Media has shut down six radio stations across four Canadian cities, affecting about 80 employees as part of a broader cut of 230 positions.
The closures, which took effect Tuesday, July 7, 2026, include:
Vancouver: Sportsnet 650 (CISL-AM), the city's last remaining all-sports station, and 1130 NewsRadio (CKWX-AM).
Calgary: Sportsnet 960 (CFAC-AM) and 660 NewsRadio (CFFR-AM).
Halifax: NewsRadio 95.7 (CJNI-FM).
Kitchener: 570 NewsRadio (CKGL-AM).
Rogers Sports & Media cited declining audience numbers and advertising revenue after a thorough review of its radio operations. A company spokesperson described the move as a “difficult but necessary decision,” while noting that it will continue to operate 44 radio stations in nearly 30 communities and invest in local news in the affected markets.
Fox’s English-language telecast of the United States’ Round of 16 match against Belgium drew an average of 30 million viewers on Monday night setting a new record for the most-watched soccer broadcast in U.S. history. Another 12 million viewers tuned into the Spanish-language broadcast on Comcast’s Telemundo and Peacock streaming service.
The lopsided 4-1 loss to Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle eliminated the U.S. Men’s National Team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending American hopes for a deep home-tournament run despite strong group-stage momentum. Early Nielsen data showed the Fox broadcast peaking at nearly 37 million viewers, surpassing the previous English-language record set by the U.S. victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina (final average of 26.4 million on Fox).
Belgium dominated early and often, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice and assisting another goal, while Romelu Lukaku added the fourth. The U.S. managed one goal in a match that exposed defensive vulnerabilities and left fans and analysts calling the performance a major letdown.
WSJ Graphic
The record audience underscores surging U.S. interest in soccer during the home World Cup, with Fox and partners seeing massive engagement as the tournament advances into knockout stages. This figure ranks among the decade’s biggest U.S. sports broadcasts outside the NFL.
Despite the on-field exit, the high viewership highlights growing popularity of the sport and the USMNT’s ability to captivate national attention even in defeat.
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