Kelly Ford Named MD, Afternoon Host for WMZQ, WPOC

Kelly Ford

iHeartMedia has named veteran country radio personality Kelly Ford as Music Director and afternoon drive host for Country 98.7 WMZQ in Washington, D.C., and Country 93.1 WPOC in Baltimore, effective immediately.

Ford will host weekday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on both stations and report directly to Jeff Kapugi, iHeartMedia’s Region Senior Vice President of Programming.

The move brings Ford back to major-market country radio after her most recent stint as Music Director and afternoon host at WWWF-FM on Long Island. Her extensive career also includes syndicated hosting roles for Backstage Country and Westwood One, as well as on-air positions in New York City and Nashville.

Throughout her career, Ford has earned recognition from the industry’s top organizations. She has been honored by the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM), received three Gracie Awards from the Alliance of Women in Media, and won a prestigious NAB Marconi Award.

Kapugi said the decision came quickly after meeting Ford in person. “There’s really a lot of good talent out there, but after meeting Kelly and spending time with her, I knew she was the one,” he said. “She’s special in so many ways and I can’t wait for DC and Baltimore to experience Kelly Ford on WMZQ & WPOC!”

Ford expressed enthusiasm about joining the two iconic country brands and working with Kapugi.

“I’m so excited to plant my flag in the DMV and honored to join two iconic brands like WMZQ and WPOC as Music Director and Afternoon Host,” she said. 

“The cherry on top is getting to work with Jeff Kapugi as our views of what makes great, compelling radio and building community align perfectly.  And I get to do it in America’s 250th year — great timing!”

The dual-market appointment strengthens iHeartMedia’s country programming footprint in the important Mid-Atlantic region, placing an experienced programmer and on-air talent at the helm of two long-standing stations during a milestone year for the United States.

U.S. Gas Prices Hit $4 a Gallon Again

U.S. gas prices jumped back to a national average of $4 a gallon on Monday as the United States and Iran launched additional attacks, intensifying fears of a broader conflict.

According to AAA, the average price for regular gasoline reached $4 nationwide, up sharply from $3.14 a year ago. While this is a national average, drivers in some states are already paying well above $4 per gallon due to local supply issues and varying tax rates.

Oil prices climbed in tandem with the renewed hostilities. Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 3.2% to $90.95 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark crude gained 2.8% to $84.04 per barrel.

Gas prices first topped $4 a gallon at the end of March before falling below that level in mid-June after an interim U.S.-Iran deal helped ease crude oil costs. Even then, President Donald Trump voiced frustration that pump prices were not declining as fast as oil prices.

Higher energy costs are expected to ripple through the economy, pushing up prices for groceries and other goods. Affordability is likely to become a major issue for voters in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. People worldwide are also facing elevated gas prices tied to the ongoing conflict.

Judge Ruling Halts PSKY, WBD Merger

UPDATE 2PM July 20:  A federal judge on Monday temporarily stopped Paramount from completing its $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery while she considers a lawsuit that argues the deal violates antitrust laws, a disruption to one of the biggest media deals in history.

Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order that was requested by 12 states that have sued to block the deal. The restraining order lasts 14 days.

Earlier Story....

U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín (Northern District of California, Oakland) held an ~80-minute hearing on Friday, July 17, regarding a request from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general (led by California's Rob Bonta) for a temporary restraining order (TRO). She is expected to make a ruling by Wednesday, July 22.

This could pause the proposed Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery merger (valued around $110–111 billion) for up to 28 days while litigation proceeds. She indicated she would issue a ruling by July 22, 2026 (next Wednesday). The companies have stated the deal won't close by that date anyway.

The states filed their antitrust lawsuit earlier in the week (around July 13–14), alleging the merger would reduce competition in film/TV production and distribution, streaming, cable, and news/content diversity — potentially leading to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.

Ownership Caps: Relief Pending For Radio

The FCC is poised to eliminate the decades-old 39% national television ownership cap, replacing it with a case-by-case review process — a move that has radio broadcasters asking whether similar relief for AM and FM stations could soon follow.

The Commission announced last week it will vote at its August meeting on an order to repeal the bright-line national audience reach limit for TV stations. Under the proposed new approach, the FCC would evaluate individual transactions on their merits, approving deals that serve the public interest and rejecting those that do not, rather than applying a uniform 39% ceiling to every merger regardless of circumstances. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s Republican majority is expected to approve the change, marking the first actual modification to the cap since it was set at 39% in 2004. 

The agency argues the current limit is outdated and unfair, as streaming and digital competitors face no such national restrictions while TV broadcasters are artificially capped. Officials say the shift will promote competition, strengthen localism, encourage investment in news, and create a more level playing field in the modern media landscape.

Dawn Dish Soap Tops US Most Trusted Brand

Dawn Dish Soap has once again ranked as the most trusted brand among US consumers, according to Morning Consult’s annual survey, with a net trust score of 60.4 — up slightly from 59.8 last year.

BAND-AID held steady in second place with a score of 59.4 (up from 58.7), while Google climbed one spot to third with 57.4. The rankings are based on surveys conducted from January through mid-May, measuring the percentage of consumers who trust each brand “a lot” or “some” minus those who trust it “not much” or “not at all.”

Radio Listening In Europe Continues To Decline

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has published its latest Audience Trends: Radio report, revealing that radio still reaches the vast majority of Europeans each week, yet both reach and listening time have continued to erode over the past five years. 

Weekly radio reach across Europe stands at 81.3%, a drop of 2.7 percentage points compared to five years ago. Average daily listening time is now 2 hours and 10 minutes, down 15 minutes from five years earlier and a full 50 minutes less than 20 years ago. 

Monday Deadline For DOJ To Answer Ruling On NYT Subpoena

The New York Times won a temporary victory Thursday when a federal judge postponed a Trump administration effort to compel three of its reporters to testify before a grand jury about their confidential sources.

In a Manhattan courtroom last week, the newspaper asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to block what it called an extraordinary attempt to force reporters Julian Barnes, Eric Lipton, and Eric Schmitt to reveal their sources. The subpoenas — delivered directly to the journalists’ homes — stem from The Times’ reporting on security concerns surrounding a Qatari-donated jet that President Trump has sought to use as the next Air Force One.

According to Jon Passantino at Status, Judge Subramanian granted The Times’ request, delaying the reporters’ scheduled grand jury appearances while the court considers the paper’s motion to quash the subpoenas. A hearing on the motion is now set for July 23. The judge ordered the Justice Department to file its response today and to address whether any of The Times’ court filings should remain sealed. 

Trump Pledges Support For AM Radio

More than 30 state broadcast associations converged on Washington, DC, last week to lobby lawmakers for passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, bolstered by President Trump’s public pledge of support during a Monday radio interview ahead of Capitol Hill meetings.

The push gained an unexpected lift when Trump addressed the bill live on Salem Media’s Hugh Hewitt Show, just as House Speaker Mike Johnson entered the Oval Office. Hewitt noted House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s reported reluctance to advance the legislation.

Dem Lawmakers Concerned Over FOX Roku Deal

A group of congressional Democrats is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to rigorously scrutinize Fox Corporation’s proposed $22 billion acquisition of Roku, citing risks to consumer choice and potential undue influence over a major streaming platform. 

In a letter dated July 16, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) led the effort, urging Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward to ensure the Antitrust Division conducts an impartial review free from political interference. The lawmakers warned that the deal could allow the combined company to favor Fox content across Roku’s platform, which reaches roughly 100 million U.S. households.

Salem Media Getting Cut of Israeli Influence Campaign

Israel is conducting a multimillion-dollar influence campaign in the United States to bolster its reputation amid criticism of its policies, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict with Hamas and broader regional tensions.

The Wall Street Journal reports the effort relies on influencers, Trump administration allies, conservative media networks, AI-generated content, and mass text messaging. At the center is a contract exceeding $45 million with Brad Parscale, a former Trump campaign digital strategist and current chief strategy officer at the conservative Salem Media Group. 

Parscale’s firm, Clock Tower X, receives about $1.5 million per month for the work, which includes producing pro-Israel content, targeting younger audiences, and shaping online narratives.

Core Elements of the Campaign

• Mass AI-driven outreach: Automated text messages sent to Americans, often framed as coming from “peace” organizations, to promote positive views of Israel.
• Social media and Gen Z focus: Creation of at least 100 original pieces of content monthly, with 80% aimed at TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and podcasts. The goal is 50 million digital impressions per month.
• AI model influence: Efforts to steer how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini describe Israel and the war.
• Conservative media integration: Initial plans included embedding narrative messages into Salem Media properties and aligned channels, home to hosts such as Hugh Hewitt, Scott Jennings, and Lara Trump.
• Influencer partnerships: Funding through entities like Influentable, which pays creators for posts.

The campaign, registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), was publicly positioned as combating rising antisemitism online. It began intensifying after events like the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and has continued through shifts in U.S. administrations.

Israel has faced declining support among younger Americans and some conservative circles, especially following high civilian casualties in Gaza and debates over ceasefires. The Israeli government turned to U.S.-based digital experts to counter this trend and maintain strong bipartisan backing in Washington.

Parscale, known for his data-driven work on Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns, brings extensive experience in micro-targeting and online amplification. His dual role at Salem Media has drawn scrutiny, though he has stated that the Israel contract does not directly influence Salem hosts or independent voices.

Good Morning: Here's The Pulse For Monday, July 20

Radio Broadcasting

Cap Relief Pending for Radio: The FCC is poised to eliminate the decades-old 39% national television ownership cap, replacing it with a case-by-case review process — a move that has radio broadcasters asking whether similar relief for AM and FM stations could soon follow.

Podcast Audio Dominates: New Nielsen data confirms that audio remains the dominant way Americans consume podcasts, even as video options grow, with 90% of monthly podcast users choosing to listen compared to 62% who watch.

Radio Listening Declines In Europe: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has published its latest Audience Trends: Radio report, revealing that radio still reaches the vast majority of Europeans each week, yet both reach and listening time have continued to erode over the past five years. 

Study: Listening Remains Podcast Foundation

New Nielsen data confirms that audio remains the dominant way Americans consume podcasts, even as video options grow, with 90% of monthly podcast users choosing to listen compared to 62% who watch.

Nielsen’s Scarborough Podcast Buying Power service shows a clear preference for listening across the board. Among the top 10 most popular podcast genres, more than 96% of consumers listen to content. A duplication analysis reveals that just 2% of users watch podcasts exclusively, while 29% listen exclusively and 69% do both. 

The findings align with Nielsen and Edison Research’s Q1 2026 Share of Ear report, which found podcasts accounting for 20% of daily ad-supported audio time among adults 18 and older. That places podcasts behind traditional radio (62%) but ahead of ad-supported streaming (16%) and satellite radio (2%). 

Four Distinct Groups Comprise American's Engagements

A new Pew Research Center study finds that Americans’ engagement with news, politics, religion and civic life falls into four distinct groups rather than a single spectrum of activity.

Conducted as part of the Pew-Knight Initiative, the report reveals that U.S. adults show varied patterns of participation across political action, community involvement, religious attendance and news consumption. Instead of dividing neatly along one dimension from highly engaged to disengaged, people cluster into four meaningful segments that reflect different priorities and behaviors.

TV Shopping Segments Booming

GMA Shopping

TV Shopping Segments Boom as Revenue Lifeline for Struggling Networks and StationsShopping segments embedded in NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CBS Mornings and other programs have expanded significantly in recent years, using on-screen QR codes that let viewers instantly order products through dedicated e-commerce sites. 

The shows earn 20% or more of the resulting revenue. Hosts and trusted contributors present household items, fashion and personal care products in these segments. While hosts rarely pitch directly, their presence lends credibility that boosts purchases.

The format has become standard on syndicated talk shows such as “The View,” “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” “Entertainment Tonight” and “Inside Edition,” and has spread to local TV stations. Ownership groups have forged deals with companies that connect them to brands seeking deeper exposure than traditional 30-second commercials provide.

Radio History: July 20

Loomis in 1865

➦In 1872...Mahlon Loomis was awarded a patent for wireless technology heralding the beginning of radio. Loomis was the first wireless telegrapher.

In the mid-1800s it had been well established that the Earth was surrounded by a significant electrical field, and Loomis felt passionately that this was an overlooked resource of vast potential, both for generating electrical power, and as a conduit that would support worldwide wireless communication.

Loomis was also a dentist, the inventor of artificial teeth (patent #10,847 May 2, 1854), and the earliest inventor of wireless communication (patent #129,971).

He was born July 26, 1826 in Oppenheim, New York and died, October 13, 1886 in Terra Alta, West Virginia.

Verna Felton

➦In 1890...Character actor Verna Felton born in Salinas, CA  (Died from a stroke – December 14, 1966). She was best known for providing many voices in numerous Disney animated films, as well as voicing Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law Pearl Slaghoople in Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones (1962–1963).

She also had roles in live-action films; however, she was most active in radio programs. She was known for her husky voice and no-nonsense attitude. Two of her most famous roles were as Dennis Day's mother Mrs. Day on The Jack Benny Program (1939–1962) and as Hilda Crocker on the CBS sitcom December Bride (1952–1959).

Felton worked extensively in the 1930s and '50s in Hollywood radio, notably playing The Mom in The Cinnamon Bear, Junior the Mean Widdle Kid's grandmother on Red Skelton's radio series, Hattie Hirsch on Point Sublime, and Dennis Day's protective, domineering, and authoritative mother, Mrs Day, who was always looking out for him while trying to boss around Jack Benny on The Jack Benny Program. In addition, she performed on radio as a regular on The Abbott and Costello Show and The Great Gildersleeve.

➦In 1935…The crime drama G-Men debuted on NBC Radio. It was renamed Gang Busters in January 1936 and moved to CBS Radio. The series ran for 21 years.

➦In 1937…Guglielmo 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.

When Marconi made his famous first transatlantic radio transmission in 1901, rival inventor Nikola Tesla claimed that it was done with 17 Tesla patents. Thus began years of patent battles over radio with Tesla's patents being upheld in 1903, followed by a reverse decision in favor of Marconi in 1904.

In June 1943, the United States Supreme Court restored patent rights to Tesla, saying their decision had no bearing on Marconi's claim as the first to achieve radio transmission, just that because Marconi's claim to certain patents was questionable, he could not claim infringement on those same patents.