NAB Mum On Latest Threat To Broadcasters

It started Sunday night with a Truth Social eruption. More than 1,600 words across multiple posts, and the targets were familiar: the Supreme Court, the Fed, Jack Smith. But buried in the rage was something new — a direct threat against the journalists covering his war. Media organizations making false claims about the Iran conflict were "pretty criminal," Trump wrote. On Air Force One, he went further, calling war coverage potentially treasonous and telling one reporter she was "a very obnoxious person." ABC News, he declared, was "maybe the most corrupt news organization on the planet."

CNN Brian Stelter's reporting transforms FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's broadcast license threat from mere bluster into evidence of direct coordination with President Trump. Stelter revealed that Carr posted his warning—urging local broadcasters running "hoaxes and news distortions" on Iran war coverage to "correct course" before license renewals, or risk losing them—while at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. 

Stelter himself was on the same flight home from Fort Lauderdale as Carr, adding context to the timing. Carr attached one of Trump's Truth Social messages criticizing "terrible" Iran war reporting to the post, reinforcing the appearance of alignment. 

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has remained conspicuously silent on the threats, which critics attribute to many station owners having mergers or regulatory matters pending before the FCC. 

This caution prioritizes potential regulatory relief over defending First Amendment rights, even as experts like public interest lawyer Andrew Jay Schwartzman describe Carr's warnings as legally hollow—the agency lacks authority to revoke licenses based on content dissatisfaction. From CNN's Aaron Blake: "Even if Carr doesn't have authority to do what he's threatening, these threats matter greatly. He's recruiting MAGA to a more restrictive view of the First Amendment."

Inside CNN, the reaction was disgust. "The administration has made clear they expect the American press to root for President Trump," a network executive told Status. "That is not the role of the American press."

FCC Chair Warns Broadcasters On Reporting War News

FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcasters' licenses if they continue what he called "hoaxes and news distortions" in their coverage of the U.S. war with Iran.

Carr made the warning on social media Saturday, stating broadcasters must "operate in the public interest" and could lose their licenses during renewals if they fail to do so. He urged them to "correct course" now.

According to USAToday, The statement followed President Trump's sharp criticism of media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, for reporting that Iranian strikes damaged five U.S. Air Force refueling planes at a base in Saudi Arabia. Trump called the coverage "intentionally misleading," insisting four of the five planes suffered "virtually no damage" and were already back in service. He accused the outlets of wanting the U.S. to "lose the War" and labeled journalists "sick and demented people."

Carr's post echoed Trump's complaints, framing critical or disputed reporting as "fake news" that could violate FCC standards.

The threats drew immediate backlash as potential government censorship. Adam Terr, director of public policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, condemned the remarks, saying they amounted to the government censoring information about a war it is waging and violating the First Amendment.

How The News Media Led To Downfall of ICE Queen

Former ICE Queen Kristi Noem

President Donald Trump fired Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary on March 5, 2026, after months of scandals involving cronyism, self-promotion, misleading testimony, and mishandling of immigration enforcement incidents that drew bipartisan criticism and congressional scrutiny.

ProPublica played a central role by exposing key issues that fueled her downfall. Its November 2025 investigation revealed that a $220 million taxpayer-funded DHS ad campaign—featuring Noem prominently—secretly benefited the Strategy Group, a consulting firm run by the husband of her chief spokesperson and tied to her aides. This sparked congressional demands for probes and armed lawmakers (notably Sen. John Kennedy) with facts for aggressive questioning during March 2026 hearings, where Noem falsely claimed Trump approved the campaign. 

Study: Late Night Comedy, Not So Funny

The Media Research Center (MRC), through its NewsBusters division, has released a study examining the content of late-night television humor during the initial week of Operation Epic Fury, a U.S.-led military campaign involving airstrikes against Iranian leadership and targets. This operation, which began in early March 2026, prompted the MRC to analyze how hosts on major networks addressed the conflict in their monologues and segments.

The study reviewed 20 episodes from five prominent shows airing between March 2 and March 5, 2026: ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Comedy Central's The Daily Show (hosted by Jon Stewart and correspondent Michael Kosta during the period), NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. 

Analysts identified a total of 250 war-related jokes, defined broadly to include references to military actions, politicians or commentators supporting the U.S. position, historical administration statements on conflicts, or speculative humor about Iran's regime. Allies were classified as any nations participating alongside the U.S., such as Israel and certain Arab states responding to Iranian aggression.

Where Things Stand: TikTok Music Trends

TikTok remains a dominant force in shaping music preferences among teens (roughly ages 13-19), who make up a huge portion of the platform's active users. Teens drive and discover viral trends through short-form videos, dances, edits, lip-syncs, and mood-based content. Music discovery here is fast-paced, often prioritizing catchy hooks, relatable lyrics (e.g., heartbreak, empowerment, fun vibes), sped-up/remixed versions, and sounds that pair perfectly with visuals like GRWM (get ready with me), friendship montages, or dance challenges.

Key Characteristics of Teen TikTok Music Trends in 2026Genres dominating: 

• Pop, hyperpop, R&B, rap/hip-hop, indie/alternative, and emerging country-pop crossovers. There's a mix of nostalgic remixes (e.g., older tracks sped up or revamped) and fresh releases from major drops.
• How trends spread: Songs explode via user-generated content, influencer challenges, algorithm boosts, and cross-platform sharing (e.g., to Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts). Teens favor emotional, relatable, or high-energy tracks for personal expression.
• Platforms influence: TikTok heavily impacts streaming charts (Spotify, Apple Music) and Billboard (via the TikTok Billboard Top 50, which tracks viral audio usage).
• Current vibe (March 2026): A blend of new album rollouts, viral dances, and storytelling sounds. Breakup anthems, feel-good pop, and cinematic edits are big among teens.

Top Trending Songs/Sounds on TikTok Right Now (March 2026)

Matt Vasgersian To Call MLB’s Opening Day Broadcast

Veteran broadcaster Matt Vasgersian is set to be the prominent voice for MLB's 2026 season opener across multiple platforms, earning him the unofficial title of "Mr. Opening Day."

Vasgersian will handle play-by-play for Netflix's debut MLB broadcast on Wednesday, March 25, when the New York Yankees face the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco at 8:05 p.m. ET. 

This marks Netflix's first regular-season MLB game as part of its streaming deal. The broadcast team includes analysts CC Sabathia and Hunter Pence, with Lauren Shehadi as reporter and Elle Duncan hosting.

Less than 24 hours later, on Thursday, March 26, Vasgersian will call Opening Day coverage on NBC and Peacock for the Pittsburgh Pirates (with Paul Skenes) at the New York Mets at 1:15 p.m. ET.

Michael Kay MIA For Yankees' Opener

The New York Yankees' Opening Day game will air exclusively on Netflix for the second straight season, sidelining YES Network broadcaster Michael Kay from the call.

"To be blunt, it sucks," Kay told Newsday in a telephone interview. "It really does."

The Yankees open the 2026 season against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on March 25, streamed globally on Netflix as MLB's Opening Night. Netflix's broadcast team features Matt Vasgersian on play-by-play, CC Sabathia as analyst, and Lauren Shehadi as sideline reporter, with a pregame show including former Yankee Anthony Rizzo.

Kay, the longtime YES play-by-play voice, will be in San Francisco but won't call the opener. He'll contribute to YES's Opening Day pregame coverage, then handle play-by-play for the second game on March 27 (also on YES). The series finale goes to Fox.

"It doubly sucks because we just have the middle game," Kay said. "And the third game is a Fox game. 

Townsquare Reports Nearly 10 Percent Revenue Drop

Townsquare Media reported Q4 2025 net revenue of $106.5 million, down 9.6% from the prior year, and swung to a net loss of $4.8 million compared to $25 million in net income in Q4 2024. The results met the company's previously issued guidance for net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.

For the full year 2025, net revenue declined 5.2% overall (or 2.8% excluding political advertising), while Adjusted EBITDA fell 12.2% (or 3.0% excluding political). The full-year net loss narrowed by $1.2 million to $9.8 million.

Segment performance in Q4 showed mixed trends amid the company's shift to a Digital First Local Media strategy:

• Total Digital Segment Profit decreased 14.8%.
• Digital Advertising Segment Profit fell 28.0%.
• Subscription Digital Marketing Solutions Segment Profit rose 12.0%.

Bill Wilson

Broadcast Advertising net revenue dropped 17.8%.CEO Bill Wilson highlighted resilience in a challenging environment, stating: “I am pleased to share that Townsquare’s fourth quarter and year end results met our previously issued net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance, reflecting our team’s hard work in the current environment. We are proud that the execution of our Digital First Local Media strategy allowed us to deliver excellent results for our clients, while also outperforming competitors and gaining market share.”

He added that strong expense management kept Adjusted EBITDA margins (excluding political) flat year-over-year despite revenue declines, underscoring progress in the digital transition where digital now drives a majority of revenue and segment profit.

Good Morning! Let's Check The Pulse for Monday, March 16

Radio Broadcasting

Radio Deal Market Shows Early 2026 Momentum:  Radio station sales surged in January 2026, with 36 stations traded (more than double January 2025's 15), totaling $15.7 million in value. Key deals included Arkansas River Valley Radio acquiring 12 full-power stations and translators for $6.7 million, and Audacy selling a Providence FM for $4.9 million. Analysts see 2026 poised for opportunistic buying amid potential regulatory easing, though large-scale consolidation remains tied to FCC ownership limit reviews.

Radio Listening Remains Strong; Podcasts Level Off:  The 2026 FMR/Eastlan Ratings National Radio Listening Survey shows 84% of adults 25-64 listening weekly to radio—stable from recent years—while podcast usage held at 40% (up slightly from 39% in 2025 but post-election stabilization). Satellite radio stays modest at 16%. This reinforces radio's resilience in audio consumption despite digital competition.

CMA To Highlight Music Listeners:  The Country Music Association (CMA) has conducted research on music listeners, including a specific 2025 Teen Music Listeners Study. This is a custom research report focused on understanding what drives the next generation of Country Music fans. It explores how teens spend their time, how they engage with music, and related behaviors to identify growth opportunities for the genre among younger audiences. Survey results will be presented Wednesday during CRS 2026 in Nashville

Media Industry

FCC Chair Threatens Broadcasters Over Iran War Coverage:  FCC Chair Brendan Carr (under the current administration) has issued threats to revoke local station licenses for ABC, NBC, CBS, and other broadcasters, claiming their coverage of the Iran conflict constitutes "fake news." Critics note this appears to be political pressure rather than enforceable action, as the FCC has limited direct authority over content, but it highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and traditional media outlets.

U-S News

US-Iran War Enters Third Week: Trump Faces Tough Choices on Continuing Strikes or Declaring Victory, the conflict intensifies with US and Israeli strikes, including on Iran's key oil hub Kharg Island. President Trump has urged allies to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (a critical global oil route that's effectively disrupted), but responses have been cautious. Trump claims Iran is ready for a ceasefire but says he's not accepting their terms yet, while officials predict the fighting could end in weeks. Oil prices have surged past $100–$105 per barrel, driving up US gas prices (average now around $3.70/gallon, up sharply since late February). There's also a US military refueling plane crash in Iraq killing 6 service members amid operations tied to the war.

Michigan Synagogue Attack Linked to Hezbollah: A suspect rammed a truck (possibly with explosives) into a Michigan synagogue with over 100 children inside. US and Israeli officials say the attacker's brother was a Hezbollah commander recently killed in strikes (likely tied to the Iran conflict). This has heightened domestic terror concerns and synagogue security fears amid Middle East tensions.

The Oscars: “Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan took home the Best Actor Oscar while “One Battle After Another” snagged the Best Picture award. “Hamnet” star Jessie Buckley won Best Actress while “Weapons” star Amy Madigan won for Best Supporting Actress. Sean Penn won Best Performing Actor for his role in “One Battle After Another.”

Team USA Advances At World Baseball Classic: Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each hit solo home runs in the fourth inning and Team USA’s pitching kept the mighty Dominican Republic lineup in check enough to secure a 2-1 victory in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday night.  The United States advanced to its third WBC final in a row and will try to win its second Classic championship and first since 2017 when it takes on the winner of the Venezuela-Italy semifinal on Tuesday night in Miami. Venezuela and Italy play their semifinal game on Monday night in Miami. DeRosa confirmed that right-hander Nolan McLean will start Tuesday’s final.

Radio Remains The Most Reliable In-Car Option

In-car audio trends in 2026 reflect a dynamic shift toward connected, digital, and premium experiences, driven by smartphone integration, streaming growth, electrification (EVs), and advancements in infotainment technology. While traditional AM/FM radio remains dominant in many markets—especially for captive listening during commutes—the rise of online streaming, podcasts, voice assistants, and immersive sound systems is accelerating a "digital migration" in vehicles worldwide.

Key global highlights include:

• Market Growth and Projections — The global automotive car audio market is valued at around USD 12.17 billion in 2026, projected to reach USD 24.95 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 8.3%. This is fueled by demand for premium sound quality, smart connectivity (e.g., Bluetooth, AI-enhanced audio), and integration in electric vehicles.
• Premium audio systems (high-end speakers, spatial audio like Dolby Atmos) are expanding rapidly, with the segment growing from USD 4.50 billion in 2025 to USD 6.25 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of ~5.6%. Asia-Pacific (APAC) leads as the fastest-growing region, accounting for over 37% of demand due to rising affluence, premiumization, and EV adoption in countries like China, India, and Japan.
• Infotainment and in-car entertainment systems (broader category including audio) show strong momentum, with markets projected to grow significantly (e.g., automotive infotainment from ~USD 32.8 billion in 2026 onward at ~7%+ CAGR in various reports). Trends emphasize wireless connectivity (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), AI voice controls, and seamless smartphone mirroring.

Digital vs. Traditional Shift — In the U.S. (a major benchmark via Edison Research's Infinite Dial 2026), AM/FM radio holds strong at 73% usage in the car (among drivers/riders in the past month), but online audio streaming has surged to 48% (more than double from 2016), and podcasts at 37%. Younger drivers (18-34) lean heavily digital: 73% stream online audio and 55% listen to podcasts in-car, while older groups (55+) favor radio at 81%. Phone integration like CarPlay/Android Auto is used by 83% of those with it equipped.