Trump Nominates Danielle Thurman To Be FCC Commissioner

President Donald Trump on Friday nominated senior FCC lawyer Danielle Thumann Severs to one of two open seats on the five-member Federal Communications Commission as he presses the agency to revoke broadcasters’ licenses.The White House said Trump is tapping Thumann, who serves as senior counsel to FCC Chair Brendan Carr and goes by Thumann professionally, for the post.

Carr praised the nomination in an interview Friday, calling Thumann “a total pro” who has led key parts of the FCC’s economic agenda, including cracking down on robocalls, combating fraud, bridging the digital divide, and advancing public safety.

Trump has repeatedly urged broadcasters to drop comedy or news programs he dislikes or that have been critical of him, and has pressed the FCC to revoke licenses of outlets he deems unfair. 

Last month, he called on the agency to revoke the licenses of Comcast-owned NBC and Walt Disney-owned ABC for not airing his remarks on election security.

The FCC currently has two Republicans and one Democrat, Commissioner Anna Gomez. The commission is historically structured 3-2 in favor of the president’s party. The law requires three members for a quorum; if Thumann is confirmed, it could allow Trump to fire Gomez.

Trump has already fired two Democrats on the Federal Trade Commission and dismissed numerous other Democratic officials.

Dem Lawmakers Want More Parity On FCC

Anna Gomez

Senate Democrats on the Commerce Committee will object if Republicans try to advance President Donald Trump’s Republican nominee for the FCC without a matching Democratic pick for the agency’s other vacancy. 

Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) made the position clear, stating that advancing the GOP nominee alone “will be a problem” and emphasizing, “We want pairing.” The stance reflects longstanding Senate practice of advancing bipartisan pairs of FCC nominees to maintain the agency’s traditional partisan balance of no more than three commissioners from the president’s party. 

Trump nominated Danielle Thumann Severs, a senior counsel and longtime aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, for one of two open seats. Severs previously served as a legal advisor in Carr’s office from 2021 to 2023, worked in the private sector on government relations for a telecommunications infrastructure provider, and returned to the FCC in 2024. Carr praised her as a dedicated public servant who has delivered results on broadband, consumer protection, and public safety. The nomination covers a five-year term retroactive to July 1, 2024. 

The move comes without any announcement of a Democratic nominee for the remaining vacancy or renomination of the sole Democratic commissioner, Anna Gomez. Confirmation of Severs would expand the Republican presence on the five-member commission (currently operating with Carr, Republican Commissioner Olivia Trusty, and Gomez) and could enable further changes, including potential removal of Gomez while preserving a quorum. 

Severs must first clear the Senate Commerce Committee, where Democratic objections are expected to take center stage before any full Senate consideration. The dispute continues a pattern of friction over FCC nominations and the agency’s composition during the Trump administration.

FCC Chair Expects Legal Challenges to Ownership Cap Vote

The FCC on Thursday voted 2-1 to eliminate the 22½-year-old 39% national TV ownership reach cap established by Congress.

Democrats, including Commissioner Anna M. Gómez, reacted with anger, while Republicans and National Association of Broadcasters President Curtis LeGeyt cheered the party-line decision.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency is prepared for legal challenges. 

Responding to a question at a post-Open Meeting press conference, Carr noted that anyone is free to appeal FCC decisions and that the process works that way.

“Everyone is free to litigate. Folks have litigated FCC media regulation decisions historically. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s appeals here and we will allow the courts to work through them. But we’ve done our part,” he said.

Carr framed the move as the correct policy choice, drawing parallels to the local newspaper industry. “I don’t want to be the FCC Chair that sat back and observed the trend and did nothing,” he said, reiterating remarks made when he voted for the Report & Order.

Country Songs Make-Up The Top 5 On Billboard's Hot 100

For the first time since the Billboard Hot 100 launched in 1958, the top five is entirely country songs.

On the chart dated Aug. 8, Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” holds No. 1 for a record-breaking 16th week. Morgan Wallen’s “Been by Now” debuts at No. 2, Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” sits at No. 3, Langley and Wallen’s duet “I Can’t Love You Anymore” is No. 4, and newcomer Stella Lefty’s “Boston” rounds out the top 5.

The Hot 100 combines U.S. streaming (official audio and video), radio airplay, and sales of physical singles and digital tracks. This milestone reflects country music’s strongest popular period since the early 1990s, when artists such as Garth Brooks, Clint Black, and Alan Jackson dominated. Unlike then, today’s hits benefit from streaming and often bridge pop and country audiences.

Country came close before. 

On the Sept. 9, 2023 chart, the genre held the top four: Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves’ “I Remember Everything” at No. 1, Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” at No. 2, Wallen’s “Last Night” at No. 3, and Oliver Anthony Music’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” at No. 4.

Several factors drove the current dominance. Country streaming has surged among younger, streaming-savvy listeners. Luminate’s 2026 half-year report shows Wallen’s I’m the Problem and Langley’s Dandelion leading all genres in streaming album equivalent units. 

“Choosin’ Texas” was the most-streamed song across genres in the first half of 2026 with 570.9 million streams (including user-generated content); Langley’s “Be Her” ranked fourth with 289.1 million. Ella Langley has risen rapidly. She had not yet appeared on the Hot 100 a little over two years ago. In the past 25 months she has placed six songs in the top 30, including three in the top 5. “Choosin’ Texas” rules the chart, “Be Her” reached No. 2, and “I Can’t Love You Anymore” peaked at No. 4.

Morgan Wallen has been the most consistent force across pop and country charts. More than 18 months after I’m the Problem’s release, “Been by Now” enters the Hot 100 at No. 2 while “Don’t We” tops the Country Airplay chart—his 21st No. 1 there and the album’s seventh without a deluxe edition, a first for any Billboard airplay chart. His earlier collaboration with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2024.Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You,” written with Jack Antonoff, is positioned as a return to her country roots 20 years after her debut. The largely acoustic track features banjo, mandolin, and harmonica and is sung from the perspective of the cowgirl character Jessie in Toy Story 5. MCA promoted it to country radio, where it peaked at No. 7 on Country Airplay.

Women are also gaining ground after years of limited country radio airplay. Alongside Lainey Wilson, Langley, and Megan Moroney (whose Cloud 9 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 earlier this year), Stella Lefty has broken through with “Boston”—her first Hot 100 entry and a top-five hit—and “Something to Lose,” featuring her boyfriend Vincent Mason.

Fox News’ Value Praised During Another Company’s Earnings Call

Fox News’ dominance has become so pronounced that its value was highlighted in the earnings report of an unrelated company.

On Wednesday, FuboTV CEO Alisa Bowen told investors on the sports streaming service’s earnings call that the Fox News component of Fubo’s Sports package is “particularly valued by our subscriber base and is working well for us.” 

She noted the package’s optionality across sports calendars and business cycles, adding that it competes with YouTube TV’s sports offering while benefiting from unique elements such as Fox News.

The same week, Fox Corporation held its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter earnings call. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said Fox News “remained the leader in live news” with market share “well ahead of all of its competitors combined.” He credited strong audience engagement and the addition of 400 new advertisers during the year for driving record revenue at Fox News Media in both the fourth quarter and the full fiscal year.

Nielsen data underscored the network’s unchallenged position: in July, Fox News averaged more daily primetime viewers than CNN and MS NOW combined.

Atlanta Radio: John Kincaide Returns To the Fan

John Kincade will join Matt Chernoff as co-host of the afternoon show on Atlanta’s 680/93.7 The Fan starting Aug. 31. Chuck Oliver, who has co-hosted the program with Chernoff for 18 years, is stepping aside. His final day on the show is Aug. 18. Oliver will focus on his daily two-hour syndicated college football show and podcast, carried on dozens of stations across the Southeast via the Southern Sports Today network. He will no longer appear daily on The Fan but will continue providing college football coverage and analysis through exclusive segments and promotions such as Win Chuck’s Dinner.

Oliver approached Fan owner David Dickey last November about leaving the afternoon show. After 12 years of balancing both programs, he said he was burned out by the six-hour daily on-air load. “It’s a silly, insane schedule,” Oliver said on air Thursday. “I can’t do both shows anymore … I’m getting older. It’s getting a little tougher. I don’t want anything to slip. I want to focus on Southern Sports Today.”

Kincade is a familiar voice at the station. He spent 20 years on air with Buck Belue until 2020, when budget cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic ended that run. After leaving, he returned to his hometown of Philadelphia and hosted mornings at 97.5/The Fanatic for six years; his final day there was July 31.

 “I’m honored to come back to 680/The Fan, to be joining the place I called home for so long and never left in my heart,” Kincade said on air Thursday. “My family is thrilled to be back.”

The station announced Kincade’s return last month but waited until Thursday to reveal his new role. Dickey said he was pleased to bring him back. “He is a great broadcaster and an honorable man,” Dickey told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

“He and I have enjoyed a wonderful relationship ever since we first met. The move made all the sense in the world for John and his family and the Dickey Broadcasting family.”

The change comes two weeks after The Fan announced multiyear contract extensions for both Oliver and Chernoff. Kincade and Chernoff, who started his Atlanta career at the former 790/The Zone in 1998, bring a combined 48 years of local airtime.

Lisa Barry Joins The Christian Music Network

Lisa Barry

Christian FM Media announced Friday that veteran broadcaster Lisa Barry has officially joined the Today’s Christian Music (TCM) Network, marking a major expansion of her daily program that will also continue on the AC Total network. The Lisa Barry Show, now airing on 126 stations across the United States and Canada.

Barry, known for her warm storytelling, authentic faith perspective, and decades of on‑air excellence, brings her signature blend of encouragement and real‑life connection to TCM’s growing national audience. Her addition strengthens TCM’s commitment to delivering relatable, hope‑centered content that resonates with listeners in every market.

“Lisa is one of Christian radio’s most trusted and beloved voices. Her ability to speak directly to the heart - while keeping things fun, honest, and deeply encouraging makes her a perfect fit for Today’s Christian Music. We’re thrilled to see her reach expand to even more communities.” said National Affiliations Director Geoff Moore.

Barry’s show features uplifting conversations, listener stories, faith‑driven insights, and her trademark ability to make every listener feel seen and valued. With her move to TCM, stations across the country gain access to a proven talent who consistently drives engagement and strengthens listener loyalty.

The Lisa Barry Show is available through Christian FM Media's delivery platform. Add her to your station and connect to your listeners.

Radio History: Aug 8

➦In 1933...singer Joe Tex was born Joseph Arrington, Jr. in Baytown Texas. This soul and Disco singer-songwriter was most popular during the 1960s and 1970s leading the Joe Tex Band. His style of speaking over music, which he called “rap”, made him a predecessor of the modern style of music. His hits include I Gotcha, Hold What You’ve Got, Skinny Legs and All, and Ain’t Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman. He died following a heart attack Aug 13, 1982 just days after his 49th birthday.

Robin Quivers

➦In 1952...Robin Quivers, famous sidekick to Howard Stern, was born.

In 1979 after military service, Quivers returned to her hometown of Baltimore where she studied at the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland and worked in a hospital.  She landed her first job in the radio industry with a newscasting position at WIOO 1000 AM in Carlisle, PA, followed by WCMB 1460 AM in nearby Harrisburg. She then moved back to Baltimore for a consumer reporter role at WFBR, where she also read newscasts with morning disc jockey Johnny Walker.

In March 1981, radio personality Howard Stern started his new morning program at WWDC in Washington, D.C.. He wanted an on-air newscaster to riff with him in the studio on the news and current affairs.   That was when station program director Denise Oliver played Quivers a tape of Stern interviewing a prostitute on the air.  She "had never heard anything like it...I just said, 'where do I sign? I’ll do anything just to meet this guy!'"

➦In 1952..WMCA 570 AM NYC banned singer Rosemary Clooney's latest hit 'Botch-A-Me.

➦In 1963..."Louie Louie" by the Kingsmen was released and some radio stations thought it contained obscene lyrics.

➦In 1966...WABC moved to 1330 Avenue of the Americas

➦In 1982...WNBC-AM, New York City began broadcasting in AM Stereo.

➦In 1986...legendary DJs, Bobby Ocean and Dr. Don Rose aired their last shows on KFRC 610 AM, San Francisco.

Cumulus Reaffirms Support For Podcast Network

Cumulus Media denies reports that it eliminated the entire staff of its Cumulus Podcast Network amid a new round of layoffs across its broadcast, network and digital operations as the company continues financial restructuring.

A company spokesperson said Cumulus “made the difficult decision to eliminate certain roles as part of a broader organizational realignment,” but stressed that the podcast network “is operating in full force,” with dozens of employees still handling production, content acquisition, operations and monetization. 

The company reaffirmed its commitment to the podcast network, its podcasters, partners and advertisers.

The cuts include Senior Vice President of Marketing and Podcasting Carolyn Chauncey, who had overseen the network’s day-to-day operations, content acquisition, editorial and production since August 2024. Chauncey was a founding member of the team that launched the network and previously led marketing, audience development and creative services for Westwood One. 

Also departing is Vice President of Podcast Operations and Production Jason “Jay” Soderberg, who managed the network’s audio and video production; he noted in a social media post that he received the familiar “good luck with your future endeavors” call.

Podcasting had been a relative bright spot for Cumulus while broadcast radio revenue declined. In Q3 2025, podcasting revenue rose 15% on a normalized basis even as combined broadcast revenue fell double digits. The next quarter showed a similar pattern, with the company highlighting digital marketing services and podcasting as evidence the business was not simply shrinking, though results were more muted in Q1 2026.

Workforce reductions also affect other areas. Sales and programming positions have been cut in markets including Washington, D.C., Columbia, S.C., Mobile, Ala., and Shreveport, La. High-profile departures include KNBR/San Francisco sports broadcaster and San Francisco 49ers play-by-play voice Greg Papa and co-host Greg Silver.

FCC Vote Likely Will Lead To Radio Ownership Caps Change

The FCC voted 2-1 on Thursday to eliminate the longstanding 39% national ownership cap on broadcast television stations, replacing the bright-line limit with a case-by-case public interest review of any deals that would exceed it.

The party-line decision, with Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez dissenting, marks the first modification of the rule in roughly two decades and grants the agency greater flexibility to approve or reject transactions based on whether they serve the public interest. 

Republican Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Olivia Trusty supported the change. Broadcasters who have long lobbied against the caps welcomed the outcome. National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt called it “a generational step toward strengthening local stations and ensuring they can compete in today’s media marketplace.”

Opponents, however, vowed legal action. Public interest group Free Press announced plans to sue shortly after the vote, describing the order as an “unlawful power grab” and arguing that only Congress has authority to alter the ownership limits established in a 2004 law. Legal challenges are widely expected to follow.

Carr framed the repeal as essential to protecting local journalism in a media environment dominated by big tech and streamers such as Netflix. “I don’t want local broadcast TV to go the way of local newspapers, and yet the risk is real,” he said, noting that more than 80% of local journalism jobs have disappeared over the past two decades. 

He described the old 39% cap as a “blunt instrument” that the new case-by-case approach would replace with more nuanced analysis focused on localism and economic sustainability.

While the vote applies only to television, industry observers see it as a potential signal for radio. No formal proceeding is underway to lift local radio ownership limits, but radio groups have intensified lobbying efforts as part of the FCC’s ongoing quadrennial media ownership review.

Nielsen to Acquire DoubleVerify In Billion Dollar Cash Deal

Nielsen will acquire DoubleVerify in an all-cash deal valued at about $2.15 billion in enterprise value, taking the digital ad verification company private.  DoubleVerify shareholders will receive $13.60 per share in cash, a 30% premium to the company’s 60-trading-day volume-weighted average price as of August 5, 2026. The transaction, approved by both companies’ boards, is expected to close by the first quarter of 2027, subject to DoubleVerify shareholder approval, regulatory clearances, and other customary conditions. 

Upon closing, DoubleVerify will become a privately held unit of Nielsen and its shares will be delisted from public markets. It will continue operating under its existing name and brand. Nielsen will finance the deal through committed debt from Barclays, BofA Securities, and Citi, plus incremental equity financing and cash on hand. Funds affiliated with Providence Equity Partners, which hold roughly 11.8% of DoubleVerify’s shares, have agreed to vote in favor of the deal and will exit upon closing. 

The combination aims to create an independent end-to-end media intelligence platform that pairs Nielsen’s audience measurement and cross-screen data with DoubleVerify’s tools for verifying media quality, detecting invalid traffic, ensuring brand suitability, optimizing ad performance, and proving campaign outcomes. 

The companies project the combined entity will generate more than $4 billion in pro forma annual revenue and serve clients representing over $300 billion in advertising spend. Nielsen CEO Karthik Rao said the deal extends the company’s reach deeper into digital media so that advertising dollars reach real people in brand-suitable, verified environments. 

DoubleVerify CEO Mark Zagorski described it as an opportunity to accelerate innovation by combining DoubleVerify’s quality signals with Nielsen’s deduplicated audience measurement to create a single currency for both audience delivery and media environment quality. 

The announcement comes as advertisers and media companies increasingly seek unified measurement across linear TV, streaming, and digital channels. Nielsen, already private since its 2022 take-private by a consortium including Brookfield and Elliott, continues expanding beyond traditional TV ratings. 

DoubleVerify, a leading software platform for media verification, reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $193.8 million, up 3% year over year. The move follows a similar take-private of rival Integral Ad Science earlier in the year.