Spotify Making A Strategic Bet On Joe Rogan

Spotify’s multi-year renewal with Joe Rogan is less about locking down an exclusive and more about securing the right to sell the show and its advertising.

Writing in Media, Built, Steve Raizes frames the deal as a licensing and ad-sales arrangement rather than a pure content exclusivity play. Spotify has not disclosed the financial terms, though The Wall Street Journal reported they are similar to Rogan’s 2024 agreement, which was valued at up to $250 million. Unlike his original Spotify contract, the new deal is not exclusive: Rogan continues to publish episodes on Apple and YouTube.

CMA Broadcast Winners Revealed

The 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in country radio, were announced earlier today. Reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Zach Top personally called radio stations and broadcast personalities across the country to surprise them with the news of this year’s winners.

Full-time, on-air broadcast personalities and radio stations in the U.S. and Canada were eligible to enter, regardless of CMA membership. Entries were judged by a panel of distinguished broadcast professionals representing all market sizes and regions. Winners of a CMA Broadcast Award are ineligible to compete in the same category the following year, so 2025 recipients were not eligible for the 2026 awards.

“Country radio is an important part of our ecosystem, and we’re delighted to celebrate the people who show up for their listeners and communities every day,” said incoming CMA CEO Brittany Schaffer. “Congratulations to every personality and station, and thank you for all you do for country music.”

🎤CMA BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:

WEEKLY NATIONAL: “The Highway Hot 30 Countdown with Buzz Brainard” (Buzz Brainard) – SiriusXM

DAILY NATIONAL: “Big D & Bubba” (“Big D” Derek Haskins, “Bubba” Sean Powell, Carsen Humphreville, Jonathan Shaffer, and Garrett Freche) – Silverfish Media

MAJOR MARKET: “The Andie Summers Show” (Andie Summers, Jeff Kurkjian, Donnie Black, and Shannon Boyle) – WXTU, Philadelphia

LARGE MARKET: “The Jesse & Anna Show” (Jesse Tack, Anna Marie, and Jake Thomson) – WUBE, Cincinnati

MEDIUM MARKET: “Steve & Gina in the Morning on Kat 103.7” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs

SMALL MARKET: “Officer Don and DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington

Judge Extends WH Access For Three News Outlets

A federal judge delivered a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, extending White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after finding that Trump likely broke the law by trying to shut them out.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction that keeps the reporters’ credentials intact until he issues a final ruling in the case, unless a higher court steps in. The decision expands on his September 24 emergency order that first forced the White House to restore their access.

Kelly concluded that Trump’s own words made the motive plain: the ban was punishment for reporting he disliked, not a response to any genuine national security risk later claimed by government lawyers. “Simply put, that is unlawful viewpoint discrimination,” the judge wrote. At the same time, he cautioned that nothing in the ruling means Trump’s complaints about the coverage are necessarily wrong.

Pentagon Names Editor For Stars and Stripes

The Pentagon has named one of its own public affairs officials as acting publisher of Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper long valued for its editorial independence, and he will continue serving in both roles at once.⁠

Christian Devine, an executive director and principal adviser in the Pentagon’s public affairs office, was appointed by chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. Devine will split his time between the two positions until a permanent publisher is hired, according to Navy Capt. Bill Urban, the paper’s military deputy to the publisher.⁠

The appointment places a single official inside both the office that shapes the military’s public message and the newsroom charged with covering the Defense Department independently. Devine, a retired Marine Corps colonel and longtime military public affairs officer who left active duty this summer before taking his civilian Pentagon role, reports to a senior public affairs official in the dual capacity.

Civic Media to Acquire 13 Stations In Two States

Wisconsin-based Civic Media announced Tuesday that it is preparing to acquire 13 radio stations in west central Illinois and southeast Iowa from Pritchard Broadcasting Corporation, Titan Broadcasting LLC, and Galesburg Broadcasting Company.

The stations involved are:

• In Galesburg: WGIL 93.7 FM/1400 AM, FM 95 WAAG, 92.7 The Laser, and Classic Hits Z106.1
• In Knoxville: 105.3 KFM
• In Burlington: News Radio 99.3/1490 KBUR, 93.5 KKMI, Big Country 103.1, and The New Mix 107.3 KGRS
• In Fort Madison: Fox Sports 104.5/1360 KBKB-AM and 101.7 The Bull
• In New London: Hot 97.3
• In Dallas City: KQ92

The sale remains subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission.

Roger Lundeen, general manager of Galesburg Broadcasting Company, said, “While we are sad to see the end of the Pritchard family’s long-standing media legacy in Galesburg, joining Civic Media brings valuable resources for our team and a shared commitment to our local community. We look forward to investing in Galesburg, strengthening our commitment to local information, community involvement, and helping the businesses we serve grow and succeed.”

John C. “LJ” Pritchard, who has owned Titan Broadcasting LLC since 2007, said in a release that the stations joining Civic Media “provides the best path forward for these stations to continue to serve the local communities today and grow.” Pritchard Broadcasting Corporation and Galesburg Broadcasting Company had been owned and operated by John T. Pritchard until his death in August 2026.

Civic Media, founded in 2022, is a public-benefit corporation that currently owns radio stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa. The company describes its mission as championing “the practice of democracy through the power of honest and informative local voices.”

Sage Weil, Civic Media’s CEO and founder, said in a release, “Across our footprint, we are committed to covering the stories most relevant to the markets we serve. We believe radio plays a crucial role in our local communities and we look forward to supporting the teams at Titan Broadcasting, Pritchard Broadcasting Corporation, and Galesburg Broadcasting Company in fulfilling that role.”

Political Ad Spend Approaching $5B

Broadcast and digital ad spending has already reached $4.7 billion this election cycle, with Republicans outspending Democrats by just $400,000, according to AdImpact and a Puck report. The total includes primary contests and is on track to surpass $5 billion by Election Day. It already exceeds the $4.3 billion spent in the entire 2024 cycle, which featured a presidential race.

Most of the money is coming from PACs, primarily the parties’ affiliated House and Senate groups. F.E.C. filings expected next week should reveal more about the super PAC donors behind the spending; Elon Musk is already known to be among them.

Ad spending in the Texas Senate race alone has hit $500 million this cycle, AdImpact data shows. That figure includes the record-breaking Republican primary between Sen. John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, which accounts for $378 million of the Republican total—far more than the party expected to spend in a solidly red state. The number is expected to climb further in the weeks ahead, in part because of Musk.

R.I.P.: Jimmy Carter, Nashville Entertainment Reporter

Nashville journalist Jimmy Carter died Tuesday, Oct. 13, two days before his 74th birthday. No cause of death has been announced.

Carter, a longtime Nashville-based broadcast journalist, media producer, and entertainment reporter, spent more than 50 years covering country music and Hollywood. He was a frequent presence on heritage stations and networks including WSM, NBC, ABC, CBS, TNN, and BBC Scotland.

WSM paid tribute on social media, calling him “a dear friend and cherished member of the WSM family.” The station noted that for many years Carter brought his passion for country music, unforgettable stories, and deep industry connections to Coffee, Country & Cody. 

“A well-respected and well-loved figure in Nashville media for decades, Jimmy was a trusted source, a gifted broadcaster, and a friend to countless artists, listeners, and colleagues,” the post continued. “We’ll miss his warmth, his humor, and his friendship. Our hearts are with Jimmy’s family and loved ones. Jimmy Carter’s contributions to WSM, country music, and the Nashville media community will not be forgotten.”

Study: Consumers Prefer Shorter Clips vs. Full Episodes

A third of Americans prefer TV highlights to full episodes, rising to 43% among Gen Z, according to a new Bango survey of 2,500 U.S. adults. The findings point to growing demand for shorter clips on streaming services as they compete with social media feeds, while also highlighting continued interest in full series and cheaper bundled subscriptions.

Four in 10 Americans (40%) say they would use streaming services more often if short clips from shows were available, a figure that climbs to 53% among Gen Z. Thirty-seven percent report using their streaming service more frequently now that it includes vertical video clips, rising to 47% among Millennials. More than half (51%) say such clips help them discover shows worth paying to watch.

The preference for shorter formats does not erase demand for complete stories. Sixty-five percent of respondents say new episodes of shows they follow remain important to their decision to keep a streaming subscription. Forty percent say original or exclusive short videos could help justify a subscription’s price.

Alongside shorter viewing options, 61% of Americans say they would be more likely to retain a subscription if they could get it for less through a bundle. Younger consumers are already shifting toward this model: 21% of Gen Z say they moved from paying for a service separately to receiving it through a bundle in the past year to save money. Consumers also see added value in combining streaming with other services, including music subscriptions (23%), food delivery benefits (20%), and shopping memberships with free shipping or discounts (19%).

NYC Radio: NY Public Radio CEO Abruptly Exits

Christy Tanner is stepping down as President and CEO of New York Public Radio after less than nine months in the role. The organization announced the departure Tuesday with little explanation.

NYPR, the parent of WNYC and Classical WQXR, said three people with strong ties to the organization will form a temporary Office of the CEO while the Board conducts “a thoughtful search for NYPR’s next permanent leader.” The interim group consists of longtime media leaders and current Board members Jenna Weiss-Berman and Gary Knell, along with former President LaFontaine Oliver, who will also serve as interim acting President.

Bad Optics: Streaming of Firing Squad May Be Canceled

President Donald Trump is considering canceling a planned livestream of the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan after learning that Hasan is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair, two sources familiar with the discussions told CNN.

Trump and his advisers have been debating whether to call off the public broadcast, the sources said. The president was not initially aware that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had announced last week that the administration intended to let the public watch the execution, and he was unsure what to make of the idea at first. Trump has firmly supported executing Hasan by firing squad, multiple officials told CNN, and has often defended that decision publicly.

Radio Matters With Commuter Voters

With Election Day approaching, Audacy’s Haley Teare-Lombardo and Ray Borelli spoke with Campaigns & Elections about a growing challenge for political advertisers: reaching more of the voters who matter without simply paying to reach the same people again.

In the interview, they share new Audacy research conducted with YouGov and MRI-Simmons that explains why commuters are a particularly valuable audience for the 2026 midterms—and how radio can help campaigns extend beyond traditional TV and digital buys.

Good Morning! It's Wednesday, Check The Pulse for Oct 14

Radio Broadcasting

Radio Winners: The 2026 CMA Broadcast Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in country radio, were announced earlier today. Reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Zach Top personally called radio stations and broadcast personalities across the country to surprise them with the news of this year’s winners. MORE

Abrupt Exit: Christy Tanner is stepping down as President and CEO of New York Public Radio after less than nine months in the role. The organization announced the departure Tuesday with little explanation. MORE

Spotify Strategy: Spotify’s multi-year renewal with Joe Rogan is less about locking down an exclusive and more about securing the right to sell the show and its advertising. MORE

10 Owners Control 75% of Local TV Newsrooms

The 10 largest owners control 75% of the 678 distinct local commercial television newsrooms in the United States, according to a new report from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications.⁠

The finding comes from the school’s 2026 State of Local News Report, which for the first time conducted a full census of commercial local TV newsrooms that produce original local content. Researchers counted newsrooms rather than individual stations to avoid double-counting outlets that share a newsroom and broadcast the same coverage.⁠

The five largest owners control more than half of those newsrooms. By comparison, the 10 largest newspaper owners control less than a quarter of all local newspapers and about two-thirds of daily papers, the report said.⁠

Local television remains one of the most popular sources of local news, but ownership is more concentrated than in the newspaper industry. At least 10 local TV newsrooms disappeared through mergers so far in 2026, according to the report.

Dolly Parton’s Nephew Fights Restraining Order

Dolly Parton’s nephew is asking a Nashville judge to dissolve a temporary restraining order against him, arguing that messages flagged by her estate after her August death were not serious threats of violence.

Bryan Seaver, the son of Parton’s sister and her former head of security, filed his first written response Tuesday, according to a court filing obtained by Billboard. He contends that She’s Alive LLC, the entity managing Parton’s posthumous affairs, has mischaracterized a “private, profane and ultimately friendly exchange between two longtime friends” as a claim of terror.

A court hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday, Oct. 20, to decide whether the temporary order issued last month should be extended into a longer-term injunction. The estate must file its written reply by Friday, Oct. 16.

Jury Awards Fired WOOD-TV News Execs Close To $4M

A Michigan jury has awarded nearly $2 million each to two former newsroom executives at Nexstar Media Group’s WOOD-TV after finding the broadcaster violated their privacy rights in connection with their 2023 firings, though it rejected their defamation claims.

Former News Director Stanton Tang and Assistant News Director Amy Fox won the verdicts in simultaneous trials. Fox received $2.393 million and Tang $1.683 million, amounts that include exemplary damages, according to court records.

The executives had sued Nexstar and some of its officials under state privacy law, alleging the company improperly confirmed details of their terminations to other reporters, including a CNN journalist. The jury sided with them on those claims while dismissing the defamation allegations.

Las Vegas Radio: MIX 94.1 Raises $236K+ for Food Bank

MIX 94.1 (KMXB-FM), an Audacy station in Las Vegas, raised $236,739 during its “Four Corners Food Drive,” with the support of its sister stations 98.5 KLUC (KLUC-FM) and Q100.5 (KXQQ-FM). All proceeds benefit the Three Square Food Bank of Las Vegas, providing 473,478 meals to Southern Nevada families facing food insecurity.

“Every year, the generosity of the Las Vegas community completely blows us away,” said Micah Powell, Promotions Director, Audacy Las Vegas. “The ‘Four Corners Food Drive’ allows us to connect directly with our listeners across every corner of the valley, giving us the opportunity to turn the community spirit into hundreds of thousands of meals for families in need.”