iHM Claims Radio Didn't Get Enough Of The Political Ad Spend

iHeartMedia reported quarterly results below Wall Street expectations, citing weakness in its Multiplatform Group and advertising-market pressures that proved greater than anticipated.

CEO Bob Pittman pointed to four factors: lower-than-expected political advertising revenue, brands delaying campaigns until after the election, a faster shift to programmatic audio buying and broader economic headwinds. He said “ongoing industry and macroeconomic revenue headwinds” had weighed more heavily on results than expected.

Political advertising on broadcast radio fell short as local television stations captured a larger share of campaign spending. Pittman said television received about half of political ad dollars during the cycle, leaving less spending to flow to radio. At the same time, some large advertisers postponed campaigns amid the crowded election ad market, reducing general-market spending.

The shift toward programmatic audio buying also accelerated before iHeartMedia had fully rolled out its own programmatic and attribution tools. The company is developing AudioGraph to let advertisers buy radio inventory alongside digital advertising. Management expects the platform to help attract new spending, including from digital advertisers, and is targeting $100 million in additional broadcast programmatic revenue next year.

Nashville Radio: Garth Brooks To Acquire WRLT-FM

Country singer Garth Brooks’ Sevens Network LLC has agreed to acquire adult alternative station WRLT-FM (100.1), known as Lightning 100, from Tuned In Broadcasting for $3 million, subject to Federal Communications Commission approval.

Brooks plans to use the frequency for FM-100, a country station that will feature artists from across the format’s history, from established legends to emerging talent. The station will also emphasize greater airplay for female country artists, which Brooks has described as addressing a longstanding imbalance.

Veteran Staffers Leaving CNN, CBS News

Ellison, Thompson, Weiss

David Ellison’s Skydance is losing longtime employees at CNN and CBS News that the company had hoped to retain, as cost-cutting buyouts prompt unexpected departures, the Status newsletter reported Tuesday.

At CNN, some senior managers in the New York bureau have accepted buyouts, while experienced employees in Atlanta and veteran camera operators are preparing to leave, according to the report. The departures have alarmed some CNN managers, though other executives are relieved that longtime employees have the chance to leave on their own terms. One insider described the exits as a “brain and production drain.”

Appeals Court Rules VOA Chief Illegally Fired

A federal appeals court has ruled that Michael Abramowitz, the director of Voice of America, was illegally fired by former agency head Kari Lake.

Abramowitz was dismissed in August 2025 after refusing Lake’s ultimatum to accept a lower-level position in North Carolina or be fired. He called the dismissal “illegal” and asked a court to reverse it. He was already suing the government over Lake’s effort to dismantle VOA, the international broadcaster established in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, agreed that the firing was unlawful. 

Memphis Radio: 98.1 The Max Radiothon Raises $1M+

(L-R) Tyrone Ballinger, Maylana McGhee, Ditch, Danni Bruns, Country Cory, Jill Crocker, and Ross Turner

Cumulus Media announces that Memphis Rock station 98.1 The Max (WXMX-FM) raised $1,143,524 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis in its annual 98.1 The Max Ronald McDonald House Radiothon on Friday, November 6th. This is a record-breaking milestone in the station’s long-standing partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis and is the third consecutive year that 98.1 The Max has topped over $1 million in the popular one-day community fundraiser.

The 98.1 The Max Ronald McDonald House Radiothon leveraged the power of the station’s on-air and digital platform to raise awareness and funds for the beloved nonprofit. The Radiothon was presented live from 9:00am-5:00pm on 98.1 The Max, with special family features throughout the day.

Dems Use Thumann Nomination Hearing To Attack FCC Actions

Senate Democrats on Tuesday pressed Danielle Thumann, President Donald Trump’s nominee to join the Federal Communications Commission, about actions by the agency under Chairman Brendan Carr that critics say threaten press freedom.

Thumann, a senior counsel to Carr, is expected to win confirmation, with Republicans controlling the Senate and House. But Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., said Democrats would closely scrutinize the agency when they take control of the Senate in January.

Luján repeatedly asked whether Thumann supported Carr’s actions, including an order in late April requiring ABC to apply early to renew licenses for its local stations. The order followed criticism of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel by Trump and first lady Melania Trump. Carr was also accused last fall of pressuring ABC affiliates to drop Kimmel’s show.

“Do you support Chairman Carr’s illegal campaign to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the nation’s airways?” Luján asked.

“I have not worked with the chairman on any media-related issues, and I’m not familiar with all of the details regarding the investigation of ABC or the early license renewal of their licenses,” Thumann said. She added that she had not been involved in discussions about ABC’s practices or Kimmel.

Luján asked Thumann to identify an issue on which she disagreed with Carr. She did not name one. He also asked whether it was appropriate for the FCC to call Disney’s broadcast licenses up for early renewal.

Other Democrats questioned Thumann about the agency’s treatment of broadcasters. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., asked whether the FCC could punish a broadcaster because the president disagreed with its news coverage.

Urban One To Cut $20M In Costs

Urban One said it has identified at least $20 million in annualized cost savings for 2027 after posting weaker-than-expected third-quarter results and cutting its full-year profit outlook.⁠

CEO and President Alfred C. Liggins III said management is “hyper-focused on cost reductions heading into next year.” He made the comments while discussing results for the three months ended Sept. 30.⁠

The media company, which operates radio stations, the TV One cable network and digital properties aimed at Black audiences, reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $119.2 million, or $26.39 per share. That compared with a loss of $2.8 million, or 64 cents per share, a year earlier.

SiriusXM Names Anjali Sud To Revive Subscriber Growth

Anjali Sud, from board member to CEO in 20-months

SiriusXM has named Anjali Sud, chief executive of Fox’s free, ad-supported streaming service Tubi, as its next CEO. Sud will take over Jan. 1, 2027, the company said Monday.

Jennifer Witz will step down as CEO and leave the board Dec. 31. She has worked at SiriusXM for about 25 years, including nearly six as CEO, and will remain an adviser through the end of 2027. The company said the transition was Witz’s decision.

Sud, 43, has served as an independent SiriusXM director since March 2025. She became Tubi’s CEO in September 2023. During her tenure, the service’s monthly active users grew from 64 million to more than 110 million. Sud previously led Vimeo and took the company public. Her departure from Tubi became public Nov. 6, the day Fox closed its $22 billion purchase of Roku.

Subscribers Stagnant (in millions)

SiriusXM has had difficulty growing its subscriber base, which has remained near 33 million for about six years. Subscribers fell from 34.76 million in the first quarter of 2020 to 32.85 million in the third quarter of 2026. Revenue has declined for three consecutive years since 2023.

The company has increased profit through pricing and efforts to control cancellations. It has also sought to expand its advertising business, including through exclusive YouTube audio sales and video podcasts.

“In her previous roles, she scaled audiences, expanded platforms, and led businesses supported by both advertising and subscription models,” Greg Maffei, SiriusXM’s board chairman, said in a statement. He also cited Sud’s knowledge of the company’s strategy from her board service.

SiriusXM has not exceeded 35 million subscribers since 2020. The Motley Fool has reported that monthly cancellations have held between 1.5% and 1.7%, suggesting weak customer acquisition is a key factor in the decline. The publication pointed to increased use of Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube in cars through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

SiriusXM revamped its app in 2023 to reach listeners beyond cars, but The Hollywood Reporter said the effort did not gain traction as hoped. Some investors viewed the appointment of a streaming executive as a positive signal for a company facing stagnant subscriber numbers, Investing.com reported.

Tubi has been the most prominent example of Sud’s record in streaming. Its monthly users grew to more than 110 million from 64 million during her three years as CEO. The service reported its first profit in the July-September 2025 quarter, and its advertising revenue rose 35% in the latest quarter. SiriusXM’s announcement described Tubi as a leading entertainment destination.

Under an employment agreement described in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Sud’s initial term will run from Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2029. The contract will renew for one year at a time unless either side gives 90 days’ notice.

Sud will receive an annual base salary of $2.6 million and a target bonus of $5.2 million, twice her base salary. Her 2027 bonus is guaranteed to be at least the target amount.

Instead of Affordability, Dems Have Retribution At Top of To-Do List

Companies that spent months preparing for the possibility of Democratic-led congressional investigations are now scrambling to respond.

After strong results in Tuesday’s election, Democrats have begun sending letters to businesses they plan to investigate, demanding records by Jan. 4, the first full day of the new Congress. Amazon, Apple, Live Nation and Walmart are among the companies contacted.

Voters’ concerns about affordability and corruption were key factors in Democrats’ return to control of both chambers of Congress, according to exit polls. The party has signaled it will take an aggressive approach to investigating major businesses.

“Usually investigations are an outgrowth of an election; this time it was the point,” said Rafi Prober, a partner at Simpson Thacher and co-head of the firm’s congressional investigations practice.

The Wall Stret Journal reports companies are moving with urgency. One recalled receiving a signed retainer from a client Wednesday after weeks without a response. Conflict-of-interest rules can limit which clients law firms accept, leaving some companies racing to find attorneys with congressional investigations experience.

Democrats have outlined a broad range of interests, with companies’ ties to President Donald Trump and his signature projects among their priorities. Two days after the election, Sen. Richard Blumenthal sent dozens of letters notifying companies that he intended to scrutinize them.

R.I.P.: Dick Lamb, Longtime Hampton Roads Radio Personality

(1938-2026)

Dick Lamb, one of Hampton Roads radio’s best-known voices, died Tuesday morning at 88. He passed away peacefully at home after a lengthy illness, according to a statement.

Lamb began his local radio career at Top 40 station 1310 WGH in the 1960s. In 1978, he and Gene Loving became ownership partners in Max Media and launched adult contemporary station “101.3 2WD” WWDE, where Lamb hosted mornings.

After selling the station to Entercom in 1998, Lamb remained in the morning slot until January 2005. Max Media then acquired its current Norfolk cluster, and Lamb became its director of operations. Following his non-compete period, he returned to the air as morning host at adult contemporary station “92.9 The Wave” WVBW. He stepped down in January 2019 and later worked as program director and midday host at Oldies station 1310 WGH.

Thank-You Veterans: The Pulse for Wednesday, Nov 11

Radio Broadcasting

FCC Nom: Senate Democrats on Tuesday pressed Danielle Thumann, President Donald Trump’s nominee to join the Federal Communications Commission, about actions by the agency under Chairman Brendan Carr that critics say threaten press freedom. MORE

Missed Out On Politicals: iHeartMedia reported quarterly results below Wall Street expectations, citing weakness in its Multiplatform Group and advertising-market pressures that proved greater than anticipated. MORE

Garth Radio Owner: Country singer Garth Brooks’ Sevens Network LLC has agreed to acquire adult alternative station WRLT-FM (100.1), known as Lightning 100, from Tuned In Broadcasting for $3 million. MORE

Media Industry

Many In Media: Companies that spent months preparing for the possibility of Democratic-led congressional investigations are now scrambling to respond. MORE

Brain Drain: David Ellison’s Skydance is losing longtime employees at CNN and CBS News that the company had hoped to retain, as cost-cutting buyouts prompt unexpected departures. MORE

VOA Turmoil: A federal appeals court has ruled that Michael Abramowitz, the director of Voice of America, was illegally fired by former agency head Kari Lake. MORE

Trump Defamation Lawsuit Against The BBC Will Proceed

A federal judge on Tuesday allowed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC to proceed, while dismissing his claim that the broadcaster engaged in unfair trade practices.

Trump sued the British publicly funded broadcaster over edited clips of a speech that made it appear he had directed supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The case is one of several lawsuits Trump has filed against news organizations over coverage he dislikes.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz in Florida said Trump had plausibly alleged that the BBC damaged his reputation and knew or should have known the clip was misleading. The ruling does not determine whether Trump has proved those claims.

NFL Can't Wait..It Wants More Media Cash

The NFL is pushing Paramount Skydance for a substantial increase in the rights fee CBS pays for its Sunday afternoon package, with the midpoint of the current bid-ask spread landing in the 50-60 percent range, according to CNBC’s Alex Sherman.⁠

CBS currently pays roughly $2.1 billion per year on average under its existing deal. A 50 percent hike would push that annual figure past the $3 billion mark, adding at least $1 billion a year.⁠

In return for the higher fee, the league would drop the opt-out clause it holds after the 2029-30 season. That would give CBS a firm runway for the same package of games through the end of the 2033-34 season, with the elevated payments beginning as early as next season for the remaining eight years.

Grand Rapids Radio: WLAV Adds Dave & Chuck The Freak to Mornings

Key Networks has announced that nationally syndicated morning radio show Dave & Chuck The Freak has signed its newest affiliate, Cumulus Media Classic Rocker WLAV-FM in Grand Rapids, MI. The show is heard weekdays in morning drive from 6:00am-10:30am on WLAV-FM.

Dave & Chuck The Freak is a fast favorite with male audiences 25-54 in markets across the country. The show currently airs in mornings on stations in Detroit, MI; Boston, MA; Tampa, FL; and Fort Myers, FL.

B-Dub Radio Hits Affiliates Milestone

B-Dub Radio has expanded to 70 weeknight affiliates with the addition of KLAD-FM in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The independently owned country music show, syndicated by Skyview Networks, reached 50 weeknight affiliates in early 2025 and 60 in December.

Its weeknight lineup includes KPNW-FM in Seattle, WIL-FM in St. Louis, KYGO-FM in Denver and KWEN-FM in Tulsa. The separate B-Dub Radio Saturday Night show airs on more than 70 affiliates, bringing the host’s syndicated schedule to six nights a week.

Syracuse Radio: 93Q Scores Nearly $10,500 To Benefit Cancer Research

93Q's Rick Roberts, Samantha Mazza, Patrick Kelley, Holly Sleeth

Cumulus Media announces that Syracuse’s #1 Hit Music station 93Q (WNTQ-FM) has raised a total of $10,442.34 in donations to the American Cancer Society during the month of October, benefitting breast cancer research and raising awareness of breast cancer across Central New York. 

Radio History: Nov 11

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

➦In 1928...WGL-AM, Fort Wayne, IN signed-on. The station, now 1250 on the AM dial, was the first to broadcast in the city of Fort Wayne. Chester Keen and Lauer Auto founded what was originally called WCWK when it signed on in 1921. Keen bought the Lauer interests in WCWK in 1925. That same year, WOWO was established by the Main Auto Supply Co., with studios above Main Auto's downtown factory.