Timeline of Events Following the Incident

This sequence captures the rapid progression from the immediate on-scene response and Trump’s initial reactions, through coordination with law enforcement, to the early stages of formal charging and public communication. 

8:34:29 PM: Surveillance video shared by the president shows a person barreling at full tilt through a Secret Service metal detector, stunning a half dozen officers. A swarm of officers chase after. Just down a staircase, 2,600 WHCD guests dine on a salad appetizer in the… pic.twitter.com/cI3eVrV8A9

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 26, 2026

The events unfolded over roughly two hours, highlighting swift action by both the Secret Service/protective detail and federal prosecutors.

Approximately 9:17 p.m. ET:
Former President Trump issued his first public statements after the shooting. He praised law enforcement for acting “quickly and bravely” in response to the incident. In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that “the shooter has been apprehended.” He also recommended that the event proceed without interruption, emphasizing resilience and continuity.

Approximately 9:37 p.m.:
Roughly 20 minutes later, Trump posted a follow-up update on Truth Social. He revealed that law enforcement had asked him and others at the venue to evacuate the premises for safety and security reasons. Trump stated that he was complying with the request. He added that the event would be rescheduled “within 30 days” to ensure it could take place under secure conditions.

Approximately 10:30 p.m.:
Trump held a formal press conference at the White House, joined by the Director of the FBI and the Acting U.S. Attorney General. During the briefing, Trump and senior law enforcement officials provided an initial update to the public. They reported that preliminary investigations indicated the suspect had acted as a lone shooter, with no immediate evidence of additional accomplices or broader coordination. The appearance underscored a coordinated federal response and aimed to reassure the public amid heightened tensions.

Approximately 11:13 p.m.:
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, addressed reporters. She announced that the suspect was being formally charged with two key federal offenses: Using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. These charges reflect the gravity of the attack on protected personnel and the use of a firearm in the commission of the crime.

The events unfolded over roughly two hours, highlighting swift action by both the Secret Service/protective detail and federal prosecutors.

Shooter Detained After Trump Whisked From Stage

President Donald Trump was swiftly evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night after multiple loud sounds echoed through the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, prompting immediate Secret Service action and sending attendees scrambling for cover.

Trump was seated prominently on stage at the front of the cavernous ballroom when the disturbance occurred, midway through the evening’s program. Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump, and several members of the Cabinet were also in attendance, making the gathering one of the most high-profile concentrations of senior U.S. officials in a single venue in recent memory.

Secret Service agents moved quickly, escorting the president off the stage and backstage within seconds. According to a White House official, once safely behind the scenes, Trump calmly remarked that the event should continue despite the scare.

In a social media post shortly afterward, the president praised the rapid response:
“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely.”

Attendees described a moment of chaos as the sharp sounds reverberated across the large room. Guests who had been enjoying dinner instinctively crouched under tables and sought shelter, while security personnel scanned the area. The precise nature of the sounds — whether they were fireworks, a mechanical failure, a prank, or something more concerning — was not immediately clarified by authorities.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner traditionally brings together Washington’s political elite, prominent journalists, Hollywood celebrities, and business leaders for an evening of speeches, comedy roasts, and networking. This year’s event was no exception, drawing top administration officials alongside members of the press and influential figures from across the country into the Hilton’s expansive ballroom.

No injuries were reported, and the president was confirmed to be safe.

Radio History: April 26

➦In 1916...Vic Perrin born (Died of cancer at age 73 – July 4, 1989). He was a  radio, film, and television actor, perhaps best remembered for providing the "Control Voice" in the original version of the television series The Outer Limits.  He was also a radio scriptwriter as well as a narrator in feature films and for special entertainment and educational projects, such as the original Spaceship Earth ride at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Perrin was a regular performer on many commercial radio programs. In 1941 he became a staff announcer for NBC, staying there for several years before moving to ABC and becoming chief announcer at the Blue Network.  His first credited role came in 1943, when he served as the announcer for "The Last Will and Testament Of Tom Smith", a radio episode of Free World Theatre, which was produced and directed by Arch Oboler.  He narrated too "A Star With Two Names", part of the segment "Behind The Scenes Hollywood Story" of The Hollywood Music Hall radio program. At the same time, he joined Charles Laughton's theatrical repertory group.

Perrin was also a regular guest star on the radio version of Gunsmoke, and he wrote or co-wrote five scripts for that popular Western series between 1959 and 1961.  Perrin was a series regular as well on the anthology radio drama Family Theatre, played Ross Farnsworth on One Man's Family, and was featured as cavalry trooper Sergeant Gorse in Fort Laramie in 1956. He performed too as several characters in Escape, Pete Kelly's Blues, Dragnet, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, and Have Gun – Will Travel. In an uncredited role, he also impersonated Clyde Beatty on The Clyde Beatty Show.

He played supporting roles on TV, many of them as a voicist on cartoons, for more than 30 years.

➦In 1921…Radio station WEW was the first to broadcast weather news and forecasts.

Saint Louis University established the station 9YK around 1912, using Morse code to communicate seismological and weather information.

Brother George E. Rueppel, assistant director of the Meteorological Observatory at SLU, worked with 9YK before he founded WEW in 1921.

Audio transmissions began at 10:05 a.m. on April 26, 1921; the first voice heard was SLU president Rev. William Robison. The station received radio license #560 to broadcast on 618.6 kHz (wavelength 485 meters) as WEW on 23 March 1922.

➦In 1924...WHO Des Moines is believed to have signed-on, although the actual on-air start date is in dispute.

A WHO memo from June 14, 1951 states that the first broadcast was on April 10, 1924; this is contradicted by Barry Mishkind Database which states that the First Broadcast License was effective on April 10, 1924 (the FCC's records indicate that the license took effect on April 15, 1924) with the first broadcast on April 26, 1924.

iHM, SiriusXM Talking Possible Merger

iHeartMedia Inc. is in preliminary talks about a possible sale to Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

According to Bloomberg, the discussions are early-stage, with no guarantee a deal will materialize, and representatives for both companies declined to comment. The report frames the potential combination against the backdrop of ongoing struggles in the traditional radio industry.

iHeartMedia is the largest U.S. radio broadcaster by audience reach. It operates roughly 858 stations (including major brands like Z100, Kiss FM, and Power 105.1), its iHeartRadio streaming app, and a vast live-events business. It is also the No. 1 podcast publisher in the U.S. by downloads and reach (ahead of the next two largest publishers combined), according to Podtrac and Triton data. 

The company emerged from a lengthy Chapter 11 restructuring in 2019 and carries significant debt.

SiriusXM is the dominant satellite-radio provider, with a large base of subscription revenue (roughly $8–9 billion annually in recent periods). It also owns the Pandora streaming service and has aggressively expanded into podcasts. The company became fully independent in September 2024 after a Liberty Media Corp. split-off and re-listing as standalone SIRI. 

Subscriber growth has slowed in recent years as consumers shift to on-demand audio.

The Bloomberg sources emphasize the talks are preliminary.  Initial Market Reaction to news of the talks triggered an immediate positive response. iHeartMedia shares (IHRT) surged as much as 14% intraday on the report, while SiriusXM (SIRI) also rose. Investors appear to be pricing in a potential catalyst ahead of SiriusXM’s Q1 earnings on April 30.

iHeartMedia, the nation’s largest radio operator with more than 860 stations across 160 U.S. markets, has shifted much of its focus in recent years toward building a major streaming business. The company has found particular success in podcasts, expanding many of its audio hits into video formats and forging partnerships with platforms such as Netflix and TikTok.Standout shows on its network include Charlamagne tha God’s The Breakfast Club and This Is Important, hosted by Workaholics stars Adam Devine, Anders Holm, and Blake Anderson.

SiriusXM has followed a similar path, evolving beyond its satellite radio roots to offer robust streaming options in news, talk, and podcasts. Its lineup features major hits such as Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, SmartLess with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, and Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend—all of which landed nine-figure deals with the company.

Bottom Line:  A combined iHeartMedia–SiriusXM entity could emerge as a powerful traditional-media counterweight to the growing dominance of Big Tech in the audio and entertainment space.

Why A Possible Merger Makes Sense

At least on paper, why a iHeartMedia and SiriusXM merger makes sense.

The audio-media sector is under intense pressure from digital streaming giants (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music) and shifting ad dollars. Traditional broadcast and satellite radio have seen ad revenue soften, while podcasts and on-demand platforms capture younger listeners and higher-margin digital ad spend.

A tie-up would theoretically create the “undisputed king of broadcast + satellite + podcast audio,” reaching nearly every American ear each month:

• iHeart brings massive free, over-the-air terrestrial distribution and podcast dominance.
• SiriusXM brings high-margin subscription revenue and established satellite/streaming infrastructure (including Pandora).

Combined, the entity could bundle satellite subscriptions, ad-supported broadcast/streaming, and podcasts into a more competitive “Spotify killer” product, improve ad-tech scale, cut overlapping costs, and cross-promote content.

SiriusXM has been pushing podcasts aggressively (it is now one of the top podcast networks by reach), but integrating them with its satellite base has proven challenging. iHeart’s terrestrial reach and influencer network could accelerate that effort. 

Conversely, iHeart’s ad-dependent model would gain a stable subscription revenue stream to offset declining broadcast ads.

This isn’t the first time a SiriusXM-linked entity has eyed iHeartMedia. In 2018–2019, Liberty Media (then SiriusXM’s controlling shareholder) proposed investing roughly $1.16 billion for a 40% stake during iHeart’s bankruptcy restructuring; those talks ultimately went nowhere amid creditor negotiations and regulatory concerns. DOJ antitrust scrutiny was a factor in earlier explorations.

Potential Hurdles:  Antitrust/Regulatory: A merger of this scale in U.S. audio media would almost certainly draw close DOJ and FCC review. Past attempts were already flagged for concentration concerns; today’s even-larger podcast and streaming footprints could intensify scrutiny.

Debt: Both companies are described as among America’s more leveraged audio players. Any deal would need to address balance sheets carefully.

Execution: Integrating satellite infrastructure, hundreds of broadcast stations, and disparate digital platforms would be complex.

Audience Is Aging For Traditional Radio

Radio’s core audience is aging rapidly and shifting away from traditional over-the-air listening, according to Jacobs Media’s Techsurvey 2026.

The annual survey of nearly 31,000 P1 (primary) listeners from 506 U.S. commercial radio stations shows broadcast now accounts for just 54% of time spent with favorite stations in a typical week — down from 59% last year — while digital platforms have climbed to 44%. 

The once-dominant gap between broadcast and digital has narrowed from 71 points in 2013 to only 10 points today.

Among younger respondents, the shift is even further along: Gen Z listeners already prefer digital (49%) slightly over broadcast (48%), while Millennials split 52% broadcast to 46% digital. The average respondent is now 58.4 years old, up from 58.0 in 2025 and 55.5 in 2023. One in three is 65 or older, compared to one in four just three years ago. Boomers represent 45% of the sample, Gen X 40%, Millennials 12%, and Gen Z only 2%.

Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs noted the same aging trend appears in the company’s public radio and Christian-format surveys, indicating it reflects the makeup of station email databases rather than a sampling anomaly. He challenged the industry’s long-standing habit of dismissing listeners 55+ as “out-of-demo,” pointing out that device ownership and digital behavior in this group have risen sharply since COVID.

Smart TV ownership among those 55+ has increased 16 points since 2021 to 75%, weekly streaming audio use has reached 72%, and smart speaker ownership has jumped from 30% to 42%. AI usage in the cohort rose from 3% in 2024 to 14% this year.

In the car — once radio’s strongest domain — AM/FM listening has fallen to 50% of weekday in-car audio time, down from 62% in 2018. SiriusXM holds 20%, streaming audio 10%. Connected car infotainment system ownership has grown from 24% to 40% over the same period, with the two trend lines moving in near-perfect opposition.

At home, working radios that respondents actually use have dropped to an all-time low of 72%, down from 83% in 2018. Among Millennials, the figure is just 61%.

The survey was conducted online from January 7 to February 8 and weighted to Nielsen 2025 market population data. It represents station database members, not the broader U.S. population. Audacy’s return to the survey this year created the largest year-over-year sample shift in recent history, which may explain some of the observed trends.

R.I.P.: Wayne Moss, Versatile Nashville Guitarist

Wayne Moss (1938-2026)

Wayne Moss, a versatile Nashville session guitarist who played on landmark hits by Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Bob Dylan, died Monday at his home in Madison, Tenn. He was 88.

His death was caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, his family said in a statement.

A member of Nashville’s elite A-Team of studio musicians, Moss performed on dozens of hits in the 1960s and ’70s by artists including Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride and others. He was one of the three guitarists behind the iconic staccato riff that opens Orbison’s 1964 chart-topper “Oh, Pretty Woman.” 

He also contributed the distinctive guitar work on Dylan’s “I Want You” (1966), Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” (1973), “Coat of Many Colors” (1971) and “I Will Always Love You” (1974), and Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” (1968).

“Wayne Moss was a guitarist of dexterous skill and sophisticated taste,” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement. “Listen carefully and you’ll hear innovative electric lead parts that drew attention to Nashville’s world-class musicianship.”

Moss was equally skilled on bass, laying down the funky groove on Joe Simon’s Grammy-winning “The Chokin’ Kind” (1969) and the distinctive part on Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” from the 1966 album Blonde on Blonde.

After moving to Nashville in 1959, Moss built a reputation as a first-call session player. By 1962 he had appeared on his first No. 1 record, Tommy Roe’s “Sheila.” 

He later helped push country music into new territory as a founder of the experimental country-rock bands Area Code 615 (1969) and Barefoot Jerry (1971). Barefoot Jerry released six albums in the 1970s and earned a notable shout-out in the Charlie Daniels Band’s 1975 hit “The South’s Gonna Do It.”

Radio History: April 25

➦In 1874...Guglielmo Marconi born (Died – 20 July 1937).  He was an Italian inventor and electrical engineer, known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission, development of Marconi's law, and a radio telegraph system. He is credited as the inventor of radio, and he shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Karl Ferdinand Braun "in recognition of their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy".

Marconi was also founder of The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company in the United Kingdom in 1897 (which became the Marconi Company). He succeeded in making an engineering and commercial success of radio by innovating and building on the work of previous experimenters and physicists

His father was a wealthy land owner and his mother was a member of Ireland’s Jameson family of distillers. Marconi was educated by tutors and at the Livorno Technical Institute and the University of Bologna.

Marconi 1901

In 1894 Marconi became fascinated with the discovery by German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz of “invisible waves” generated by electromagnetic interactions. Marconi built his own wave-generating equipment at his family’s estate and was soon sending signals to locations a mile away. After failing to interest the Italian government in his work, Marconi decided to try his luck in London.

The 22-year-old Marconi and his mother arrived in England in 1896 and quickly found interested backers, including the British Post Office. Within a year Marconi was broadcasting up to 12 miles and had applied for his first patents. A year later, he set up a wireless station on the Isle of Wight that allowed Queen Victoria to send messages to her son Prince Edward aboard the royal yacht.

By 1899 Marconi’s signals had crossed the English Channel. The same year, Marconi traveled to the United States, where he gained publicity offering wireless coverage of the America’s Cup yacht race from off the coast of New Jersey.

Marconi joined the Italian Fascist party in 1923. In 1930, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini appointed him President of the Royal Academy of Italy, which made Marconi a member of the Fascist Grand Council.

Marconi died in Rome on 20 July 1937 at age 63, following a series of heart attacks, and Italy held a state funeral for him. As a tribute, all radio stations throughout the world observed two minutes of silence on the next day.  His remains are housed in the Villa Griffone at Sasso Marconi, Emilia-Romagna, which assumed that name in his honor in 1938.

In 1943, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a decision on Marconi's radio patents restoring some of the prior patents of Oliver Lodge, John Stone Stone, and Nikola Tesla.  The decision was not about Marconi's original radio patents and the court declared that their decision had no bearing on Marconi's claim as the first to achieve radio transmission, just that since Marconi's claim to certain patents were questionable, he could not claim infringement on those same patents.

➦In 1908...Edward Roscoe Murrow born  at Polecat Creek, near Greensboro, NC (Died from lung cancer at age 57 – April 27, 1965), He was a broadcast journalist and war correspondent. He first gained prominence during World War II with a series of live radio broadcasts from Europe for the news division of CBS. His live, shortwave broadcasts relayed on CBS electrified radio audiences as news programming never had: previous war coverage had mostly been provided by newspaper reports, along with newsreels seen in movie theaters; earlier radio news programs had simply featured an announcer in a studio reading wire service reports.

During the war he recruited and worked closely with a team of war correspondents who came to be known as the Murrow Boys.

A pioneer of radio and television news broadcasting, Murrow produced a series of reports on his television program See It Now which helped lead to the censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

➦In 1949…An article in LOOK magazine predicted that radio was doomed because if the growing popularity of television.  However, radio reinvented itself as a local service and became bigger than ever, while LOOK disappeared in 1971.

Boston Radio: WEEI Overhauls Struggling PM Drive

Audacy's Sports WEEI has once again reshuffled its afternoon drive programming in an effort to reverse persistent ratings woes in one of Boston sports radio’s most competitive dayparts.

On Wednesday morning, the station informed co-hosts Andy Hart and Nick “Fitzy” Stevens that they were being let go. Third co-host Ted Johnson, a former New England Patriots linebacker, will remain with WEEI in a role that has not yet been fully defined. 

Johnson could continue on the 2-6 p.m. slot, but the station is expected to announce its new lineup on Monday morning during The Greg Hill Show at 9 a.m.

Hart and Stevens had been with WEEI since 2019 and joined the afternoon drive program in one of its many recent iterations in August 2024. Johnson came aboard in January 2025, completing the trio that branded itself as “WEEI Afternoons.” The show consistently lagged far behind its primary rival, 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger & Mazz. 

Nielsen's Radio Ratings Wraps-Up March PPMs

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER: Lovey Dovey

Cox Media's Soft AC WDUV (101.5 The Dove) continued its dominance, claiming the #1 spot for the second consecutive book in the 6+ rankings. The station delivered a strong gain, climbing from 8.6 to 9.8 — its highest Frosty-free share in more than a year.

Radio Training Network's Contemporary Christian WCIE (The Joy FM) held steady at #2 but slipped slightly from 7.3 to 7.0, its lowest share since October. CMG’s Classic Hits WXGL (107.3 The Eagle) repeated in third place with an unchanged 6.5 share. Beaslery's  Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105) remained in fourth, posting its fourth consecutive gain, rising from 5.5 to 5.9.iHeartMedia’s Active Rock WXTB (98 Rock) made the biggest leap of the book, surging from #8 to #5 with a solid increase from 4.9 to 5.7 — its best showing since April. CMGH's AC WWRM (Magic 94.9) eased one position to #6, ticking down from 5.3 to 5.1.

WDUV also strengthened its hold on the market, remaining the clear cume leader with a slight uptick from 653,500 to 655,100 (+0.2%). Overall market listening was up 1.8%.

25-54 Breakdown: WDUV posted another convincing win in the key 25-54 demographic, securing back-to-back #1 books while posting its highest Frosty-free share in over a year. WXTB had a standout performance, jumping from #6 to #2 with its strongest 25-54 book in twelve months. WRBQ settled into third place after a three-book upward run. iHM's Pop CHR WFLZ (93.3 FLZ) slipped to #4, ending a five-book surge. WCIE landed at #5, where it was joined by WWRM, which moved up one spot despite recording its fourth straight down book. iHM's AC WMTX (Mix 100.7) fell two positions to #7.

TV Primetime Ratings: CBS Tops Broadcast, Fox News Tops Cable TV

Fox News Channel swept primetime cable ratings for the week of April 13-19, 2026, claiming all 10 of the top cable programs, while CBS delivered the strongest primetime performance among the broadcast Big Three (ABC, NBC, and CBS) with multiple original series cracking Nielsen’s national top 10.

Nielsen’s linear TV rankings (Persons 2+, Live + Same Day) showed CBS dramas and reality programs driving broadcast primetime, with ABC benefiting from NBA playoffs and CBS news programs also performing strongly overall. NBC’s primetime entertainment slate did not crack the top 10 broadcast list. Evening news programs across the networks dominated overall combined viewership, but the cable primetime category highlighted Fox News’ ongoing dominance.

Philly Radio: Jeff Hurley Named SVP/Programing for iHM

iHeartMedia Philadelphia has announced Jeff Hurley has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for the market’s 105.3 WDAS FM, Power 99, ALT 104.5, Q102, Rumba 106.1, Fox Sports The Gambler 1040 AM stations.

In his new position, Hurley will oversee programming operations across the market while continuing to maintain his Executive Vice President of Programming responsibilities outside of Philadelphia, including the Upstate New York, Mid-Atlantic and New England Areas. He will report to Thea Mitchem, Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia.

iHM Imports The Fred Show In Baltimore and DC

iHeartMedia Washington, D.C. & Baltimore have announced the addition of the Premiere Networks nationally-syndicated morning program, The Fred Show, on Hot 99.5 and Z104.3 effective Thursday, April 30. The show will be heard live on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and available on demand.

First debuting in 2011, The Fred Show delivers the perfect mix of humor, heart and real connection. Led by Fred and his cast of unforgettable personalities including Kaelin, Keke, Paulina, Showbiz Shelly and Jason Brown, the show’s genuine chemistry and unpredictable moments keep listeners coming back every day. Whether you’re tuning in for the first time or you’re a loyal fan, The Fred Show promises to brighten your day and keep you smiling.

Music Publishers Drop Verizon Copyright Lawsuit

Major music publishers, including UMG, Warner Music, and Sony Music Entertainment, have dropped their copyright infringement lawsuit against Verizon Communications, citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that sharply limits internet service providers’ liability for users’ online piracy.

The plaintiffs filed a voluntary dismissal notice on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, ending the case with prejudice. The joint stipulation means both sides will bear their own costs, and the claims will not be refiled.

The suit, filed in 2024, accused Verizon of contributory copyright infringement by allegedly profiting from tens of thousands of subscribers who used its internet service for illegal downloading and distribution of music via peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent. The music companies, which represent the bulk of the industry, had sought more than $2.6 billion in damages.

Analysis: U.S. Podcast Consumption Grows

In another sign of the growing importance of video podcasting, a new analysis from S&P Global Market Intelligence shows that podcast listening in the United States is experiencing significant growth, increasing 10 percentage points in early 2026, with nearly 60% of US online adults now reporting they listen to podcasts.

S&P Global Market Intelligence attributed the surge in usage to the evolving landscape of podcast content and the rising popularity of video podcast platforms.

Other highlights from the analysis include:

Age emerged as the clearest differentiator for podcast consumption patterns, with respondents aged 55+ comprising 44% of the survey population but accounting for only 17% of listeners. The 25-34 age group forms the largest single segment of podcast listeners, representing a significant generational gap in adoption. Meanwhile, the 65+ age group showed the smallest engagement at just 7% of total survey participants.

Gender strongly shapes genre selection, with 75% of sports podcast listeners being male and 63% of true crime listeners being female. News & politics dominates as the most popular category, followed by comedy, sports, and true crime. Health and wellness content attracts a 59% female audience, while business and entrepreneurship podcasts draw a 66% male audience.

Video podcasts are reshaping consumption habits, with 62% of podcast listeners reporting they watch video podcasts on YouTube, followed by Netflix at 34%, Spotify at 23%, and Apple at 11%.

Platform usage shows Spotify leading the market at 45% of podcast listeners in 2026, up from 40% in 2025, with YouTube Music at 39% and Amazon Prime Music at 30%. Listening behavior demonstrates high engagement, with 67% of the podcast audience tuning in at least weekly, and 69% of listening occurring at home. Apple Podcasts maintained steady usage at 23% for both years.

Good Morning: Here's The TGIF Pulse For April 24

Radio Broadcasting

How We Listen: The gap between traditional AM/FM broadcast listening and digital consumption of radio station content has narrowed dramatically, with broadcast now accounting for just 54% of time spent with a listener’s favorite station and digital platforms making up 44% — a mere 10-point difference, according to the Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026.

WEEI Making Changes: Audacy's Sports WEEI has once again reshuffled its afternoon drive programming in an effort to reverse persistent ratings woes in one of Boston sports radio’s most competitive dayparts. The station has informed co-hosts Andy Hart and Nick “Fitzy” Stevens that they were being let go. Third co-host Ted Johnson, a former New England Patriots linebacker, will remain with WEEI in a role that has not yet been fully defined. 

Hurley Promoted: iHeartMedia Philadelphia has announced Jeff Hurley has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for the market’s 105.3 WDAS FM, Power 99, ALT 104.5, Q102, Rumba 106.1, Fox Sports The Gambler 1040 AM stations.

Digital Gains As Source For Radio Content

The gap between traditional AM/FM broadcast listening and digital consumption of radio station content has narrowed dramatically, with broadcast now accounting for just 54% of time spent with a listener’s favorite station and digital platforms making up 44% — a mere 10-point difference, according to the Jacobs Media Techsurvey 2026.

For the first time in the survey’s 22-year history, the divide has shrunk to single digits, down from a 15-point gap the previous year and a staggering 71-point chasm in 2013, when broadcast dominated at 85% versus 14% digital.

This line graph illustrates the dramatic narrowing over 13 years. Broadcast listening has declined from 85% in 2013 to 54% in 2026, while digital has risen from 14% to 44%. The gap shrank from 71 points to just 10 points.

The findings, drawn from nearly 31,000 responses by core listeners of more than 500 U.S. radio stations, signal a fundamental shift in how audiences access audio content and underscore the urgency for broadcasters to strengthen their digital strategies.

🎧Key Trends and Demographic Variations

Digital listening has surged across multiple platforms, including station apps, website streams, smart speakers, and connected car systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The crossover has already occurred in key segments: digital consumption now exceeds traditional broadcast among Gen Z listeners and sports radio fans, with many other formats and demographics close behind.

The Techsurvey 2026, released Thursday, also highlights growing engagement with related digital video platforms such as YouTube, where 62% of core radio listeners report weekly or more frequent usage.

In 2013, when the tracking began, mobile streaming was emerging and smart speakers did not yet exist. Broadcast listening occurred overwhelmingly on “regular radios” in homes, cars, and workplaces. The rapid closure of the gap reflects broader consumer adoption of smartphones, in-car connectivity, podcasts, and on-demand audio options.

Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media, described the trend as a “megatrend” that requires radio stations to “rethink everything,” regardless of department. He warned digital deniers that they are “swimming upstream” and urged the industry to integrate digital applications into sales, programming, marketing, and content decisions.

While broadcast radio retains strengths, particularly its free, easy access in vehicles, the data indicates an approaching inflection point where digital may surpass traditional delivery. 

These pie chart show how the split varies across formats. For example, CHR leans more digital (43%), while formats like Classic Rock remain stronger on broadcast. Sports radio has already flipped to majority digital. 

60 percent of respondents cite radio personalities as a key reason for listening, compared to 53% for music.

The survey also explores other evolving behaviors, including podcast preferences, push notifications, and concert attendance, providing stations with segmented insights by age, gender, and format.

Jacobs Media presented detailed findings in a free industry webinar emphasizing that core listeners’ habits serve as leading indicators for the wider audience. As external pressures like AI-driven advertising and media fragmentation intensify, stations that fail to close the execution gap on digital risk losing relevance in an increasingly competitive audio landscape.

DOJ, Local TV Station Reps Huddled During The NAB Show

Justice Department antitrust officials met this week with broadcast-television station operators to discuss the accelerating migration of live sports from traditional over-the-air broadcasting to streaming services, part of a broader investigation into the sports-media marketplace.

The meetings occurred during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, where DOJ representatives sought feedback from local TV station executives on how the shift is affecting their businesses, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The talks specifically addressed the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, the decades-old law that grants professional sports leagues limited antitrust protection to collectively sell national TV rights packages. Regulators are examining whether this exemption still applies — or should apply — as leagues increasingly license games to paid streaming platforms.

The meetings are tied to the DOJ’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the National Football League and other major sports leagues’ media rights strategies. Launched earlier in April 2026, the probe focuses on whether leagues’ deals with streamers and premium outlets have made it more expensive and fragmented for consumers to watch games, potentially harming competition and viewers.

Concerns include:

• The proliferation of streaming services requiring separate subscriptions.
• Reduced availability of games on free or widely available broadcast TV.
• Impact on local stations that rely heavily on sports advertising revenue.

According to The Wall Street Journal, The NFL and other leagues have not been formally notified of wrongdoing, and the full scope of the investigation remains under wraps. However, the DOJ is evaluating whether current practices violate the spirit of the 1961 law, which was designed for an era dominated by free broadcast television.

Jimmy Failla To Host Fox News Saturday Night Special

FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Jimmy Failla will host a special White House Correspondents’ Dinner edition of FOX News Saturday Night program this Saturday, April 25th at 9 PM/ET. Taking place at the Washington Hilton, the two-hour special will feature Failla as he speaks with celebrities, politicians, athletes and his FNC colleagues as they make their way in and react to the dinner.

Throughout the evening, Failla will not only get live reactions from dinner attendees, but will also engage with viewers via a live, interactive text messaging feature, where they will weigh in on everything from the red carpet outfits to mentalist Oz Pearlman’s performance and President Donald Trump’s speech as the night unfolds.

Featuring comedic commentary on cultural, political and lifestyle issues, FOX News Saturday Night (Saturdays, 10 PM/ET) has been the timeslot’s top-rated program since it launched in January of 2024. 

Each week, Failla welcomes a wide range of guests alongside a rotating group of FNC personalities to discuss some of the more comical news of the week. He also hosts the nationally syndicated radio program FOX Across America, which airs weekdays from 12-3PM/ET on FOX News Radio. 

This will be Failla’s second year hosting FOX News Saturday Night live from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner red carpet.

Radio History: April 24

➦In 1947...One of Jack Webb's short-lived pre-Dragnet detective-adventure radio show Johnny Madero: Pier 23 debuted on the Mutual Broadcasting System.

➦In 1949…Dick Powell began a four-year run as "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" on NBC Radio. The radio series centered on a wisecracking, former police officer turned private detective. Episodes typically opened with a client visiting or calling cash-strapped Diamond's office and agreeing to his fee of $100 a day plus expenses, or Diamond taking on a case at the behest of his friend and former partner, Lt. Walter Levinson

In the late 1950s, Powell's company, Four Star Television, produced a TV version of the series starring David Janssen. His secretary, Sam, was shown only from the waist down to display her beautiful legs. Initially, those were the legs of budding actress Mary Tyler Moore, but later, the legs of other actresses were shown.

➦In 1953...Eric Bogosian was born in Woburn, Massachusetts. Bogosian is best known for his starring role in the movie, "Talk Radio", a 1988 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Bogosian, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Greene, and Leslie Hope.

Portions of the film and play were based on the assassination of radio host Alan Berg in 1984 and the book Talked to Death: The Life and Murder of Alan Berg.  Berg was murdered while working for Denver's KOA 850 AM.

In the movie Barry Champlain, a Jewish radio personality in Dallas, Texas, is a host with a caustic sense of humor and a knack for condescending to his audience with his controversial political views.bio.

➦In 1954...Billboard magazine, the music industry trade publication, headlined a tsunami to come in the music biz. The headline read, “Teenagers Demand Music with a Beat — Spur Rhythm and Blues” … a sign of the entertainment revolution that was underway.

NYC Radio: WABC Is America’s Top Talk Radio Station

Newspaper Ad

John Catsimatidis, the 77-year-old billionaire owner of New York grocery chains and oil assets, has transformed the once-fading AM station WABC into the most listened-to talk radio station in the United States, according to Nielsen data. Since acquiring the station in 2019, he has grown its weekly audience to more than 400,000 listeners.

According to a Los Angeles Times profile, Catsimatidis co-hosts the station’s award-winning evening show “Cats & Cosby” alongside veteran journalist Rita Cosby, interviewing political figures and like-minded guests daily. 

He maintains close ties with President Trump, a relationship spanning 45 years that has helped place WABC in the national political spotlight. In December, Trump first revealed the U.S. military’s initial land strike on Venezuela during a call into the station.

The billionaire’s profile is rising further with a cameo role as businessman Christopher Galanis in the Oscar-nominated film “Marty Supreme,” which begins streaming on HBO Max on April 24 and reaches about 60 million U.S. subscribers. Director Josh Safdie cast him after noticing his “larger-than-life regional businessman” persona during his 2013 New York City mayoral run.  Catsimatidis previously rented a basement apartment to real-life table tennis champion Marty Reisman, who inspired the film.

While many billionaires fund space exploration or longevity research, Catsimatidis chose to invest his fortune in reviving a traditional AM talk radio station past its prime. In a midtown Manhattan studio overlooking Third Avenue, he appears distracted on air—scrolling his phone—but snaps to attention with concise opinions when prompted.

“He can look like he’s taking a little bit of a nap, but he’s always ahead of you in the conversation,” said radio consultant Jerry Crowley, who first gave Catsimatidis his own show years earlier.

Catsimatidis built his empire from humble beginnings. 

Born in Greece, he immigrated to the U.S. as a toddler after his father served 16 years as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island. Raised in West Harlem, he studied electrical engineering at New York University but dropped out to pursue business. 

As a teenager, he sold aftershave from his car trunk. In the late 1960s, he bought a 50% stake in the Manhattan supermarket where he worked as a clerk and grew it into the Red Apple Group, which now includes Gristedes supermarkets, hundreds of gas stations, an oil refinery, and extensive real estate holdings.

The station remains a passion project for the self-made magnate, who continues blending business success, on-air commentary, and unexpected Hollywood cameos into a larger-than-life career.

WBD Shareholders Approve $110B Sale to P-SKY

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders overwhelmingly approved the company’s $110 billion sale to Skydance-owned Paramount on Thursday, clearing a major hurdle and moving the blockbuster media merger closer to completion.

In a shareholder vote held Thursday, the vast majority backed the deal, according to preliminary results. 

The transaction values Warner Bros. Discovery at $31 per share in cash and includes prized assets such as HBO Max (now Max), the “Harry Potter” franchise, CNN, Warner Bros. studios, and extensive content libraries.

The merger, which creates a massive new media powerhouse, still requires regulatory approvals in the U.S. and Europe and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.

The combination would reshape Hollywood and the broader media industry by uniting Paramount’s assets with Warner’s premium content, streaming platform, and global distribution reach. It follows intense bidding competition that included Netflix and marks a significant consolidation wave as traditional media companies seek scale to compete with tech giants.

The deal was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies earlier this year. Gulf sovereign wealth funds have committed nearly $24 billion in equity backing to help finance the transaction.

This approval represents a key milestone for Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, in its aggressive push to build a next-generation global entertainment company capable of rivaling larger streaming and media players. Final closing remains subject to customary regulatory reviews and other conditions.

Atlanta Radio: Kristen Gates Exits 94.9 The Bull After 18-Year Run

After 18 years as the heartbeat of 94.9 The Bull, Kristen Gates — the longest-serving on-air personality in the station’s history — has exited the country powerhouse.

The 52-year-old Atlanta radio veteran made the announcement on social media, leaving fans and industry insiders stunned and searching for answers. Gates offered no explanation for her sudden departure.

Kristen Gates

Gates built her career in the fiercely competitive Atlanta market. She first burst onto the scene at Kicks 101.5, sharing mornings with the legendary — and now late — Cadillac Jack. In 2008, she made the bold move to rival station 94.9 The Bull, where she quickly became a morning show staple. She co-hosted first alongside Jason Pullman, then later teamed with Spencer Graves, helping shape the station’s sound for more than a decade.

Her run took a turn in 2022 when iHeartMedia shifted her to afternoons to make room for a new locally produced morning show featuring Brian Moote, Jeremy “Otis” Maher, and Kimmie Caruba. That experiment proved short-lived: the show was unceremoniously dumped in 2024 and replaced with the Nashville-based syndicated “The Bobby Bones Show.”

After nearly two decades of loyalty and on-air chemistry that helped define Atlanta country radio, Gates’ departure marks the end of an era at 94.9 The Bull.

Radio Digital Sellers Urged To Think Bigger

Radio’s digital advertising revenue reached a record $2.3 billion in 2025, now accounting for 24.4% of the average station’s total ad revenue and serving as the primary force stabilizing the industry after years of decline, according to the 14th Annual Digital Benchmarking Report released at the 2026 NAB Show.

Borrell Associates CEO Gordon Borrell told NAB Show attendees during a session with the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) that while digital has arrested radio’s long revenue slide and is forecast to grow to $2.5 billion in 2026, many sellers are still not capitalizing on the massive untapped opportunity — particularly the 74% of existing radio customers who are not yet buying the station’s digital products.

Streaming audio ranks as the top digital revenue source, followed by targeted banners. The report, sponsored by Marketron, analyzed data from 3,763 radio stations across 852 market clusters, along with surveys of 406 local radio advertisers and 242 radio managers.

Borrell noted that traditional broadcast revenue continues its gradual decline, but strong digital gains have caused overall radio ad revenue to flatline and begin trending slightly upward.  Digital has grown dramatically from a $600 million supplement in 2016 to the $2.3 billion engine it is today.

A key theme Borrell emphasized is the low-hanging fruit among current clients: stations already have billing relationships, trust, and brand awareness with these advertisers, making digital upsells far easier than winning new accounts.

Bonneville International VP of Digital Sales Aleece Southern confirmed the pattern exists in every market regardless of size, drawing from her experience building Townsquare Media’s digital business.