iHeartMedia Inc. is in preliminary talks about a possible sale to Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
Media Confidential
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Saturday, April 25, 2026
iHM, SiriusXM Talking Possible Merger
iHeartMedia Inc. is in preliminary talks about a possible sale to Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
Why A Possble Merger Makes Sense
At least on paper, why a iHeartMedia and SiriusXM merger makes sense.
- 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).
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.
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.
R.I.P.: Wayne Moss, Versatile Nashville Guitarist
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| 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.
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).
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.
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| 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.
Friday, April 24, 2026
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.
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.
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.
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.



















