As the middle of 2026 approaches mergers, acquisitions, and aggressive cost-reduction efforts are triggering significant job losses across the U.S. media and journalism sectors, with major companies targeting workforce reductions to achieve billions in savings.
Paramount Skydance has initiated the most substantial cuts so far. Following its merger, the company began laying off roughly 1,000 employees in late October 2025, with another 1,000 expected soon, for a total of about 2,000 jobs — roughly 10% of its combined workforce.
A potential Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery integration is projected to deliver up to $6 billion in annual synergies, raising concerns about thousands of additional job losses through overlapping operations, though executives have emphasized non-labor efficiencies.
CBS News executed multiple rounds of cuts, most recently in March 2026, laying off about 6% of its workforce (around 60 employees) while fully shutting down its historic CBS News Radio division.
Nexstar-owned local TV stations have seen targeted reductions, including roughly a dozen on-air staff cuts across major markets like KTLA (Los Angeles), WPIX (New York), and WGN (Chicago) in early 2026, with broader creative services and station-level eliminations ongoing.
WWNN (Worldwide News Network) is a newly launched 24/7 national audio news service from Red Apple Audio Networks (owned by John Catsimatidis, parent of WABC New York). It debuted on May 23, 2026, immediately following the shutdown of CBS News Radio, positioning itself as a direct replacement option for affiliates.
It offers top-of-the-hour and bottom-of-the-hour newscasts every hour, 24/7, emphasizing hard news, breaking headlines, fact-driven reporting, speed, credibility, and authority. Leadership includes National Radio Hall of Fame inductee Lee Harris (former longtime WINS New York anchor) as VP/News, plus several former CBS News Radio voices and other established broadcasters.
Key Competitors in National Radio News Networks for Affiliates
Major players include services from large radio groups and wire services that provide newscasts, headlines, and features to local stations.
ABC News Radio: The country’s largest commercial broadcaster with a network of more than 1,400 radio stations and digital distributors. ABC News is committed to serving radio stations and the millions of Americans who get their news there every single day.
iHeartMedia’s 24/7 News Network and NBC News Radio: A major established option with broad reach. It delivers unbranded national news updates, breaking news, and features (business, tech, health, etc.). Strong infrastructure and integration with iHeart stations, but often seen as more corporate and less personality-driven in pure news delivery.
Associated Press (AP) Radio Network: Long-standing wire-service style provider of hourly newscasts and audio. Reliable for straightforward, fact-based reporting, but many note it is not a full 24/7 staffed operation like WWNN (more limited hours in some cases). Frequently used as a fallback or supplement.
Fox News Radio / Other Talk-Oriented Services (e.g., Salem Radio Network): Strong in conservative-leaning markets with commentary-heavy options. Provide news but often bundled with opinion/talk programming. Less focused on pure, neutral hard-news newscasts compared to WWNN’s stated mission.
The historic Washington Star newspaper, which ceased printing more than 40 years ago, has resumed publication under media executive Dovid Efune, owner of The New York Sun.
The revival comes just weeks after the politics website NOTUS announced it would rebrand as The Star and broaden its coverage to include Washington-area local news and sports. Both outlets intend to compete directly with The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, which recently cut one-third of its staff amid financial losses.
“We’re reviving one of the great and epic rivalries of American journalism,” Efune said in an interview. “For decades, The Star was The Washington Post’s fiercest competitor and an important editorial and ideological counterweight in the press in our nation’s capital.”
Gen Z (roughly ages 13–28) leads all generations in daily audio consumption, averaging around 4 hours and 10 minutes to 4 hours and 30 minutes per day depending on the exact cohort and survey.
Music dominates this time, delivered primarily through on-demand streaming services, YouTube, and social platforms, while traditional AM/FM radio retains a meaningful — and sometimes surprising — foothold, especially among younger teens.
This blend of hyper-personalized digital access and lingering linear habits reflects a generation that grew up with unlimited catalogs, algorithmic curation, TikTok virality, economic caution, and a need for audio as emotional support amid multitasking lives.
Daily Breakdown: Where the Time Goes
According to Edison Research’s Gen Z Audio Report (ages 13–24):
Streaming music (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.): 42% of daily audio time.
YouTube (music videos and tracks): 20%.
AM/FM radio and streams: 16% — still ahead of podcasts (8%) and other sources.
Total daily audio: 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Broader 13–34 data from Edison’s Share of Ear (Q1 2026) shows even higher consumption at 4 hours and 30 minutes daily, outpacing older groups.
Gen Z listens mostly on smartphones (57% of audio time), often while commuting, studying, working out, gaming, or scrolling. Audio serves practical and emotional roles: 86% use it to boost mood, 63% say it helps them cope with difficult times, and many treat it as a “coping toolkit.”
Music Dominates Audio TSL: Gen Z (roughly ages 13–28) leads all generations in daily audio consumption, averaging around 4 hours and 10 minutes to 4 hours and 30 minutes per day depending on the exact cohort and survey. Music dominates this time, delivered primarily through on-demand streaming services, YouTube, and social platforms, while traditional AM/FM radio retains a meaningful foothold.
Radio News Nets: WWNN (Worldwide News Network) is a newly launched 24/7 national audio news service from Red Apple Audio Network. It debuted on May 23, 2026, immediately following the shutdown of CBS News Radio, positioning itself as a direct replacement option for affiliates.
Texas Hall: Nominations for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame’s 2026 Induction Class open at Noon on June 1, 2026.
Gen Z on Long Island is increasingly saying “no thanks” to driver’s licenses, bucking a generations-old American rite of passage and signaling a broader shift in how young people navigate independence, mobility, and responsibility.
According to Newsday, fewer teens everywhere are rushing to take road tests at age 16, and many who eventually get licensed are using their cars far less than their parents or grandparents did. The trend stands in sharp contrast to the cultural touchstone of Olivia Rodrigo’s 2021 megahit “Driver’s License,” which turned the laminated card into a symbol of teenage freedom, heartbreak, and coming of age. For many members of Gen Z (born 1997–2012, now ages 14–29), that freedom feels more like a burden.
According to the latest New York State Department of Motor Vehicles figures from May, only about one-third of 16- and 17-year-olds on Long Island hold a junior driver’s license. The state DMV does not track year-over-year comparisons, but the numbers align with a clear national decline.
Federal Highway Administration data shows the share of 16-year-olds with a driver’s license dropped from roughly 50% in 1983 to just 25% in 2022.
Young Americans—particularly teens—have specific, practical complaints about the movie business: endless franchise fatigue, repetitive “corporate” storytelling that feels manufactured by algorithm rather than artists, perceived heavy-handed ideological tweaks, over-reliance on the same stars in similar roles, and marketing that fails to reach them where they actually discover content (TikTok, YouTube, memes, and friend recs rather than trailers or billboards).
A national study of 17- and 18-year-olds, highlighted in Puck News alongside Matthew Belloni’s annual L.A. teen focus groups, reveals franchise fatigue as a top issue. Teens are tired of reboots, remakes, and spin-offs that feel like “soulless corporate filmmaking” designed by committee.
Celebrity power has diminished. Stars matter less; “content and concept” rule. Teens reject idolization and note actor oversaturation—examples include avoiding films with Chris Hemsworth or Pedro Pascal because “they’re in too many movies,” or criticizing Zendaya, Dwayne Johnson, and Kevin Hart for repetitive roles. Directors barely register for many.
Messaging feels forced. There is pushback against what teens describe as “woke algorithmic content modifications”—stories altered to fit corporate social trends, identity checkboxes, or activist points rather than serving organic narratives. This undercuts the narrative that only older audiences resist such changes; younger viewers increasingly see it as inauthentic and preachy.
President Trump called for the cancellation of the planned “Freedom 250” concert series in Washington, D.C., and suggested replacing it with a giant “Make America Great Again” rally.
Trump made the remarks on Truth Social late Saturday, just days after most announced performers dropped out of the event, which was scheduled for June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall.
“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain,”
Trump wrote. He also proposed giving a speech instead of hosting concerts.
Trump linked the decision to his failed attempt to take over the Kennedy Center earlier this year. A federal judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the center’s facade on Friday.
“Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center,” Trump posted. He criticized U.S. District Judge James Cooper as “highly conflicted” and “crooked,” called for his impeachment, and blamed him and his wife for blocking the effort to revitalize the venue.
Artists who dropped out of the Freedom 250 event include Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, and Young MC.The concert series was intended to mark America’s 250th anniversary but has faced significant setbacks following the wave of performer withdrawals.
Bundles now account for 33% of all new major streaming service subscriptions in the United States and represent 28% of total subscriptions, according to data from research firm Antenna — a sharp rise from just 10% of new subscriptions in 2014.
The findings highlight how consumers and streamers are increasingly turning to discounted package deals combining services like Disney+, Hulu, Max, and others as the streaming market matures and cord-cutting households seek better value.
Antenna’s analysis shows bundles have roughly tripled their share of new sign-ups over the past decade, reflecting a major shift away from standalone subscriptions. This growth has accelerated in recent years amid widespread “bundle fatigue” and promotional partnerships among major platforms.
As of the latest reported period, bundles make up nearly 28% of the overall U.S. streaming subscription base. Industry observers note that bundled plans often deliver stronger retention rates than individual services, helping streamers combat churn in a saturated market.
The trend underscores broader changes in how Americans consume video entertainment. With households juggling multiple services, bundles offer convenience and cost savings, effectively recreating elements of the traditional cable package in a more flexible, on-demand format.
Additional details on specific bundle performance and year-over-year growth are expected in Antenna’s forthcoming reports.
Nominations for the Texas Radio Hall of Fame’s 2026 Induction Class open at Noon on June 1, 2026.
The nominations portal will be accessible to voting members at www.TRHOF.net through Friday, June 30, 2026.
In the initial phase of the selection process, qualified candidates may be nominated by voting members in good standing, a status that is open not only to broadcasters but their fans, friends, and family.
“During our 2025 nominations period, the TRHOF’s Executive Board added a new category of recognition, the Lone Star Legacies, to accommodate worthy nominees who are deceased,” says Doug Harris, a 2011 Inductee who now serves as the organization’s Executive Director. “For the 2026 season, we are introducing the “Small Markets/Big Voices” category to salute those broadcast professionals who have built their careers serving listeners in small and medium size markets.”
Foster Sylvers, the former child star of the 1970s R&B group The Sylvers, has died at age 64. His brother, Leon Sylvers III, confirmed the news Saturday, May 30.
Leon said Foster had been battling prostate cancer that had metastasized to other parts of his body.
A standout member of the famed Sylvers family, Foster’s youthful voice, charisma, and stage presence helped make The Sylvers one of the most successful family acts of the decade. The group blended soul, funk, and pop, achieving major commercial success and influencing generations of R&B and funk artists.
➦In 1921...Conductor & musician Nelson Riddle was born in Oradell New Jersey. His career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. His work for Capitol Records kept such vocalists as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Johnny Mathis, Rosemary Clooney and Keely Smith household names.
He found commercial and critical success again in the 1980s with a trio of Platinum albums with Linda Ronstadt. His orchestrations earned an Academy Award and three Grammy Awards.
He died of liver ailments Oct 6, 1985 at age 64.
➦In 1936...the NBC Blue network’s Lux Radio Theater moved from New York City to Hollywood. On the first show from Tinseltown, program host and “producer” Cecil B. DeMille introduced Clark Gable and Marlene Dietrich in The Legionnaire and the Lady. It attracted a remarkable (for the era) listening audience of 40 million.
➦In 1945...WLB-AM in Minneapolis MN changed call letters to KUOM.
➦In 1961..WVNJ 100.3 FM signed-on (today it is iHeartMedia's WHTZ Z100). 100.3's origins date back to 1942 when it was WMGM, licensed to New York. The station went off the air in February 1955. During 100.3's down time, the frequency was allocated to WFHA in Red Bank. On June 1, 1961, 100.3 was resurrected as WVNJ, now licensed to Newark. WVNJ featured an easy listening/jazz format that continued until August 2, 1983, when WHTZ "Z100" was born.
➦In 1961...FM stereo began. At 12:01 a.m., GE's WGFM 99.5 FM (now WRVE) Schenectady, NY became the first FM station in the United States to broadcast in stereo. The station, which had been simulcasting WGY 810 AM, started airing classical music.
The first commercial FM broadcasting stations were in the United States, but initially they were primarily used to simulcast their AM sister stations, to broadcast lush orchestral music for stores and offices, to broadcast classical music to an upmarket listenership in urban areas, or for educational programming.
By the late 1960s FM had been adopted by fans of "Alternative Rock" music ("A.O.R.—'Album Oriented Rock' Format"), but it wasn't until 1978 that listeners to FM stations exceeded those of AM stations in North America.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Top 40 music stations and later even country music stations largely abandoned AM for FM. Today AM is mainly the preserve of talk radio, news, sports, religious programming, ethnic (minority language) broadcasting and some types of minority interest music. This shift has transformed AM into the "alternative band" that FM once was.
➦In 1967...The Beatles released 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album.
➦In 1968...'Mrs. Robinson' by Simon and Garfunkel hit Number One
Don Imus
➦In 1968...Don Imus started at KUTY in Palmdale, CA. He stayed at the station until 1969 when he left for a job at KJOY, a small radio station in Stockton, California. He was later fired for saying "hell" on air. After being fired in Stockton, he went to KXOA in Sacramento, California.
Three years later, he landed the morning spot at WNBC in New York City before his firing in 1977.
